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It had been a handful of weeks since they'd been transferred and Sharath had had enough. She was tired of being looked down upon, of the disappointed or disapproving comments, and of being assumed unable to do things. Sure, she was still a Weyrling but she was a gold! She and the rest of those weyrlings that had come from High Reaches were not weakling, runts, or unfortunates. They were strong and proud, or at least they should be!

It was towards the end of the day, when the riders were released from their day's work and the dragons were rousing to meet their lifebonds when she trumpted loud enough to call attention to herself. Even expecting it, Amelia had started at the volume and strength of determination of the call. I wish to speak to the Weyrlings of High Reaches!

Stretching her wings out to their fullest, she rumbled and tossed her head, expecting several of the clutch to come at her beckon.

By her side, Amelia simply shook her head in amusement. From leader to pampered queen in two seconds flat... Sharath was growing but she was still prone to her naive and pompous expectations. "What if no one comes?"

They will. I've called them, Mine. They will come and listen to me. They would be foolish not to. I am tired of this... I am no runt. No unfortunate weakling. None of us are. Something must be done. She replied smoothly, confidence strengthening her words - words she broadcast to anyone listening.

Jounoth was sulking in a corner of the fields when he heard the call. The blue's lip curled in a silent snarl as he raised his head, the metal chain on his muzzle jingling as he moved. AmeliaSharath wanted to talk to their clutch? Why would she want to talk to them? He did not want to speak with her. He did not want to speak with any of them. But, as it stood, they were the only dragons he knew, which meant they were the only ones who knew to stay away from Janga. The Ghenza dragons did not want him protecting His. They wanted him to stay away and mind his own business. Perhaps if he talked to AmeliaSharath she would tell the other dragons to let him guard His.

AmeliaSharath wants to speak to us, he told his rider as he got slowly to his feet.

So go if you want, came the standard reply. Janga was busy working in the fields, having recently been recruited by the farmers to help with the moving of crops. It was a sort of mindless job, but it was better than cleaning the latrines, so the girl wasn't about to complain.

The blue shook his head, chain jangling again as he set off to go find out what AmeliaSharath wanted. He certainly didn't get anywhere near as close to her as Nachith, disliking to be that close to anyone, even the gold. Head swaying to and fro, Jounoth eyes whirled yellow and orange as he watched, and waited. He certainly didn't feel the need to state the obvious by telling her he was listening.

Sharath had settled her wings after a moment and folded them against her sides, sitting up proudly with a noble arch to her neck and a determined whirl of colour in her eyes. First came Nachith and she smiled at him, inclining her head in greeting to show she had heard him

When Jounoth came too, she was surprised but grateful. The blue might be possessive and aggressive but he was still one of them, as much reason to be irritable about circumstance as she was.

Sakneth was an expected presence as the bronze and she was of like mind in this matter, so she spared him a nod and brief greeting before the greens arrived. She answered their greetings as well, though she seemed to have something far more profession then a simple gossip-party in mind.

Five total so far. That was good. Good enough to start, the rest would come, she was certain.

So... you've got their attention, now what? Amelia asked as she stepped to the side and let Sharath take the spotlight. These were dragons and this was the business of dragons. Sharath had every right to try to bring change, to be a leader... and it pleased Amelia greatly that the gold was taking steps towards becoming what she longed so strongly for.

The gold blinked at that. She... hadn't really thought that far ahead. Wasn't it obvious? What do you mean, Mine?

Well, you've got to tell what you're summoning them for, you know. You can't just expect them to know what you're up to. Sure something needs to change, but what? How? That's up to you. Amelia replied conversationally, nodding her head to the gathered group.

The gold snorted them and lifted her high, looking every bit a queen as any Senior gold. I see.

The exchange was short, its end signalled by the way she shifted and turned her head to take in all of those assembled. I called you because things need to change. They take Ours to the fields, treat them poorly - nothing more then free labour. There are no good words, no help... they stay away from Ours! Ours are Riders of High Reaches, not common drudges. They deserve honour!

She rumbled her displeasure at the mistreatment of their riders loudly, angrily as she continued, And they treat us, the Dragons of High Reaches as runts! Weaklings! Are we weaklings!? No! They leave us in the field, whisper and rumble and gawk at us... and for what? Nothing! Are you satisfied? Is this what we deserve? Her call was obviously meant to be answered and the gaze she levelled on the individuals was demanding, willful. Would they lay down like spineless cowards? The question, though unspoken, hung in the air.

If she was the only one to desire change this would be useless... the golds were muzzled moreso then Jounoth here. She knew she needed them in this.

Kalth had arrived perfectly on time to hear the rumbling and grumbling of his clutchmates, and had let himself stretch out in the sun, eyes a serene blue as he listened to Sharath vent. He may even have appeared amused.

It took him a while, but he finally spoke, posing a question to the group. He seemed unconcerned. Here, Everyone works. It is the way things are done. They work just as hard as Ours, if not harder, and there is no fault in that. Why assume they mean us ill will, friends? It is simply a different way of living, a way in which some of Ours are happy.

Letting out a sort of chortle, he raised his brow ridge, but didn't bother to sit up. Nonetheless, it will not be many fortnights before those that dislike this place may return to the cold weyr. Why look for trouble? Ours are not riders. Ours are but young, learning the ways of a rider. One of those ways is hard work. I think it is good for them to learn to give without expecting something in return. What is the harm?

Kalth was no coward, as Sharath silently had implied, proven by his willingness to counter her demands.

Sharath shifted to Kalth then, and while Amelia was tensing - ready to tell her dragon to stop - the gold merely rumbled, as if that was the perfect segway into her next bit. What, exactly, that was, Amelia was not at all sure. Her partner was only starting into her 'speech' as it were.

It is not that they make us work, Kalth. It is that they treat us as less. Are you less of a blue for being born at High Reaches, or less because of your size - small in comparison to them? She arched her head, the next question obviously barbed, Am I any less for my size? The answer is no, Kalth. And I am tired of being treated as such.

She thumped her tail loudly against the ground as Ry'san approached Amelia but she did not intervene there. She was speaking to the dragons now, not the riders. They think us weak because ours are taking time to adjust to their harsh methods and tell us there is no need for us to work. We are left to bask in sunlight like so many rotten vegetables because of that - because they think us less. We are strong, agile, capable.

Amelia turned to Ry'san and shook her head, "An emergency of pride, I think. But I may be wrong... you didn't have to come to. Sharath just wanted to speak to everyone."

It was a good thing she paused when she did, as Sharath came to the point there. I say we, the dragons of High Reaches, show the Ghenzan elites that we are no runts. We can do what they do, faster, better. Their greens may be large but ours turn on a mark. Even I could maneouver better then their golds. We become a Wing, for this, and practice as they do, wheel and turn and perfect our flying skills. And when we are not in the air, we help Ours - regardless of the task - in their work. I am gold, but I am not better then Mine. I will help her with the fields, and the mines and the Ghenzans will think twice.

Amelia's jaw dropped at that and she couldn't help but chuckle. This, this was what she'd been trying to impress upon Sharath. It was the first true step to leadership since she'd hatched and it made pride bloom in Amelia's chest.

They understand only work? Show them it! Show them how foolish they are to underestimate us! She huffed then, rustling her wings, Will you join me, Weyrlings of High Reaches? They must see us united as they are united. We need to work together to do so. Again, she fell quiet of mind but she thrummed vocally, hoping the Weyrlings, regardless of their grudges against her, would see her point. She was right, though, and while demanding their cooperation would work... it would not help their cause if she were to do so. It was not a lot that she asked, really. Only decided obvious effort on the parts of the dragons - the humans need not change at all. But the dragons... the dragons should show their pride in their home, in their riders, and in themselves.

The lack of respect must stop now as far as she was concerned. But it would only work if they all put in that effort.

Smiling like a proud mother, Amelia leaned against her gold and patted her leg, obviously encouraging her lifebonded. Pride and an overblown sense of importance might have instigated this but, the means and the method were not too arrogant. She hoped, alongside Sharath, that something would come of it. If no one chooses to stand with you, what will you do Sharath?

The gold's brow ridges lowered at that and she snorted, glancing at her rider, Some will side with me. And if they don't, I will make them see on my own. I lead this group. I am their queen, I will set the tone if no one else is brave enough.

Amelia smiled. Always so confident, also so sure. It was comforting, really, to know even failure would not faze her dragon.

As more dragons arrived, the blue tucked his head against his chest and arched his back in an effort to make himself look bigger. Whether it helped or not was debatable, but it certainly seemed to make him feel better, as the whirling slowed marginally in his eyes. The fact that his rider wasn't with him was rather like a double-edged sword: on one hand, one didn't have to worry about him being overprotective of her, but on the other she wasn't there to reign him in if he decided to make things physical. Muzzle or no muzzle, Jounoth could still throw his weight around when he felt threatened.

Sakneth received the slightest curl of a lip, but thankfully the bronze seemed to want to be near his blue clutchmate as much as Jounoth wanted him there. Mutual dislike was, at the very least, something they could agree upon. The arriving greens got tip of his head and a flick of his tail, which was at the very least nicer than the greeting he'd given the bronze.

His attention was pulled from the gathering dragons to Sharath when she addressed the group. Words, word, word. Jounoth knew words. He didn't particularly like them much, if only because they were complicated and hard to understand. Humans said things that they didn't mean, and when they said things but didn't do them then it left the blue in indecision. How was he to know when someone was really threatening His or just pretending? Actions were much better. If someone came towards His then he could intercept them and make it clear where he stood on the matter. But with words? Who knew. Thus, he responded to the gold's outrage with a low hiss. He had not come to listen to so many words.

Kalth spoke before him, in almost more words than Sharath had used. Jounoth began to weave once again, swinging his head from side to side as he struggled to understand what was going on. Sharath did not like her place at the bottom. It would have been funny if the blue had had a sense of humour. Kalth thought their place was fine. Sharath thought everyone said they were weak and lesser, but she thought they were better. Sakneth thought they were better, but should only fight Thread. Hrmph.

Talk, talk, talk. I do not believe you and your words. You talk, you get dragons angry, you get everyone in trouble and we will never work with Ours. I am behaving and I will be able to work with Mine. You will talk proud and get Yours in trouble. Then you will blame it on all others but you. You are the bottom here. Lesser, weaker, whatever words you want to use. It is good for you to learn what is lesser. It is good for you to see what the bottom is like. The blue flicked his snout at Sharath, causing his chain to jingle. I do not want your proud talk and your trouble.

R'ysan listened as Reg repeated what was said and just watched while he mulled over the thoughts. Reg already didn't care for the idea because it sounded like work and how was she suppose to shovel and help R'ysan in the fields? Maybe she could pull the cart or carry stuff but she wasn't going to be able to do other things. And well, the Ghenza dragons weren't mining or farming! So why them?

She glanced back at her rider because really she didn't want to be involved with some sort of fight to prove oneself. She was small but R'ysan didn't care. She liked being small because she get to things she wanted to do. Was there really a problem?

Reg just felt lucky because R'ysan was a tough b*****d that able to get things she wanted. And well he didn't seem to mind things around here too much, he could hold his own. He cared for her...she cared for him. Who cared what others thought. R'ysan smiled at his dragon because that was his opinion exactly.

So Reg finally spoke up, "What's wrong with just being who we are? I don't feel any less for being smaller than their greens. My rider and I don't feel the need to prove ourselves to anyone. They can accept us for who we are or...mm...go jump in a lake. It's no skin off my snout."

R'ysan grinned because she said it pretty much in the same vein. Yep, his green was slowly coming into her own. He glanced over at Amelia and said, "Yeah, I didn't have to but I did. I think you're right about pride. She's got a lot of that. These people ain't going to accept us like other parts of the world. They're isolated, fearful and paranoid. It would take awhile to win a war of hearts and minds here. Tell her to start small if she wants to take up that fight and talk to some Ghenzan folk. Learn their culture first."

He figured that was enough said from him on the situation because he knew that there would be plenty of others speaking their thoughts. Sure he was smart enough to strategize what could be done and how to handle the 'enemy' but really what was the point. Luci didn't say they were staying here forever.

Regedth suddenly became distracted and turned to see Nachith sitting off to the side. He looked quite handsome today and she walked right on over with the invitation. "Oh nice of you to save me a spot, Nachith." she said and gave him an affectionate body nudge as she sat down beside him.

R'ysan glanced over and smirked for a moment wondering if B'ram would be appearing out of nowhere to beg 1000 apologies for his dragon...again. He had this odd feeling that poor B'ram was going to be at a loss when Reg finally took flight. She might just let Nachith catch her. Yes, that was an amusing thought indeed. Oh well, B'ram was rather cute when he blushed.

Reg winked at R'ysan once as she snuggled to the blue. Yep...poor B'ram.