As a dragonrider, as a Silver rider for Malvren - there was cause for stress. Further stress came from the fact that his girlfriend was Inaari, the rider of Malvren's Junior Queen...who's maiden flight with a Benden Bronze had resulted in a small-but-incredible clutch. A white dragon! And a brown, that had gone between.
T'ron was stressed out not only because of the Mystweed problem, the missing riders (they'd come back though, of course they would come back - but they were young and it was only natural that he would worry for them) and his lack of time to relax.
Oh no, the true reason that he was stressed out had everything to do with Inaari's dragon, Ianath. Ever since the hatching, Ianath had been suicidal - Cavenath informed him that she only stayed because of Inaari. Ianath didn't want to harm Hers like that; even though the queen dragon was broken-hearted and half-crazed with grief...she wouldn't abandon Inaari.
T'ron was grateful to Ianath even as he and Cavenath were trying to help both females.
When the forays out for Mystweed were continued, T'ron thought it would be a good idea to insist that Inaari and Ianath go with him. It was his hope that doing so would help focus both dragon and rider on something else - the dragon more than the rider. His girlfriend wasn't as hurt by the hatching events as her dragon was, but she was still down and no amount of lovemaking or romancing could change that.
He'd been quite insistant when he'd told her about it; so early that day, after the dragons had been fed and cleaned, he and Cavenath went to see Inaari in her weyr. T'ron was dressed in his riding leathers and Cavenath already wore the harness and saddle; an impressive length of leather that had earned the monsterous Silver a lot of "Trying to out-grow the Golds, eh?" when being fitted by the smiths.
"Morning beautiful. You ready to go hunt some Mystweed?"
Cavenath rumbled from behind T'ron, calling for Ianath cheerfully. 'Come Ianath! The sun tells me it misses you, come and outshine it with me while our silly riders look for the greens~'
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:45 pm
Inaari was where she had been doing the most good lately, in the arms of her great golden dragon. They both had been doing their duty to the Weyr to the letter since the Hatching, albeit with heads bowed and a little less enthusiasm than previously. No, no one could really criticize them, but the looks were enough. There had been so much promise seen in the blinding gold, with her energetic flight, to provide only a single brown that had betweened. Inaari had not even been able to crack her own dragon's eggs, so consumed had she been with keeping the bereaved Ianath from lashing out at those totally undeserving of her grief and anger. It was never easy, losing a child.
Unfortunately for Inaari, it had only cemented Ianath's ideas that there was no bronze that could fly her successfully, and she would only try again if pleased by those that would be chasing. How could the rider explain to the dragon that she would rise regardless of who was there to see her and fly her? Inaari wasn't about to trouble the Weyrwoman with this, nor Feynath, but the intense depression displayed by her dragon at the lack of impressive hatchlings was taking its toll on the girl. Rounded hips were showing more and more bones as she neglected herself to take extra-special care of her beloved soulmate, who was as beautiful and shining as ever.
All in all, the whole thing had been rather catastrophic for the pair. It was badly timed, to say the very least! Pale circles showed under Inaari's eyes, though she smiled in the direction of her unspoken weyrmate with relief. Cavenath was one of the few comforts the gold would take shelter in, giving the teen time to rest and renew her spirits; save Ianath, nothing made the brunette happier than T'ron and his loving attention. He'd saved her more than once in the past few weeks so she was not keen to refuse him this favor. A flight would do them all good!
Ianath was roused by the voice of her most steadfast companion and raised her great head from Inaari's lap with a light snort. 'I suppose I could stretch my wings with you, Cavenath. Inaarimine has said that we will not go between again for some time, so it will be a nice long flight. Do you think you can keep up? It was the one thing that Inaari had bent her full will upon Ianath to wrangle from the dragon's stubborn clutches. Of course the gold would do absolutely nothing to harm her rider, but the sleek rider was taking absolutely no chances with either of them! After all, Eirlyn herself had called them 'too important to send' through time. Ianath was needed, depressed or not!
A hand was held out to her lover, smile brightening at the casual assent from the gold. She'd expected much harder! "Good morning, you're looking rather prepared. What if I'd said no?" It was as joking as Ianath's question; Inaari had never refused T'ron a single thing!
T'ron chuckled a little bit; Inaari was - of course - with Ianath; that was pretty much where she'd been since the hatching. He brought her food, braved the kitchens to get her delicious morsels, and also tried to bring treats for her flitters and for Ianath herself. Bree helped with that, thankfully, or it would have been even harder. "I would have thought of something." T'ron went to Inaari, catching her outstretched hand to kiss her fingers before dipping his head to kiss her lips.
"Ianath, you're looking beautiful as always."
Cavenath shifted his wings and thumped his tail to agree with his rider - Ianath was the most beautiful creature in creation! "Come on ladies, let's get you ready." They would have help, getting ready to ride; T'ron had already picked up the items they would need if they located any mystweed as well as having gotten a pack of food for their flight; so there were two important tasks already cared for.
'T'ronmine said we would take the scenic route, it will be good to fly with you.' He snorted a bit; of course he would keep up! He was the fastest, most beautiful, amazing dragon alive! After Ianath, of course. Cavenath had always been odd; he was kind of snobbish in that he knew there were none better...but when it came to the golden dragon before him...he accepted that She - and she alone - held a position higher than his own. 'I will not fall behind, unless it is to watch the shine of your hide, Ianath!'.
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:51 pm
The kiss decidedly brought some color into the goldrider's face, using the hand to haul herself up onto her feet for another light brush of lips. "Thank you." It was quiet and said just as Ianath was rather coyly responding to Cavenath's flattery. It was the best way to win into the gold's affections, flatter her into distraction so that she regained some of her old confidence and drive. 'You will have to be very careful so that you do not mistake the sun for me then, Cavenath! I would be very sad if you flew away from me to never come back as well.' Even depression hadn't kept Ianath from knowing about the riders that had gone away and not yet returned; she worried for them quietly even as she dealt with her own failure.
It didn't take long for Inaari to strip and slide into her riding leathers, fastening the skirt that Jarest had given his opinion on just a few weeks ago around her waist so that modesty could be honored. Weyrbound now or not, there were still just a few morals that this girl was unwilling to give up! Modesty was one of them though the hat that was being pinned into place with a scowl was decidedly something that she would have discarded in a moment was not one of them! "Maybe one day someone will ask that wherbred Ancientcrafter how to cure sunburn! I would love to go out without this sharding thing for once in my life!" Numbweed salve was not a cure for the painful burns that would cover her face and neck like a crimson blanket if she wasn't careful, yet the hat was so...so ugly!
"Come, glorious sunshine, we need to saddle you up if I'm not to fall off!" It felt like it was going to be a great day, it certainly did! T'ron had already graciously pulled the great mass of buckles and leather from where Inaari had it stored after daily polishings, the girl simply had to crawl around her dragon and fasten it while the two great beasts bantered playfully. Truthfully, though she could only hear one side it brought lightness back to the rider's heart. Nothing could truly be wrong with Ianath if she could still rise to Cavenath's flattery levels, could it?
'Never! You outshine the sun at every turn, Ianath. I always know.' The shining, gleaming silver hide flashed as he moved closer to nose at his golden companion before the two humans got her harnessed up.
T'ron, having gotten Ianath's leathers out, had managed to keep his eyes off of his dressed-undressed-redressed girlfriend though he couldn't help appreciating her form in the riding leathers before the skirt went around her hips. "I know it's awful, but having you pink and peeling is worse than wher-farts." Yep, he was a guy - a good guy, but still a guy - and said awful things like that.
"Maybe we can see if L'tan can dream up a more attractive hat? Something to look good with that skirt?"
Like Inaari, T'ron could hear only part of their dragon's flirting - that was what it was, really - and he was pleased; it sounded (and seemed) like he and Cavenath were doing just what he'd planned. Perfect!
"Getting to go on a trip with two very beautiful girls, how did we get so lucky Cav?" Man and dragon puffed up - today, they had decided, really was going to be awesome.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:39 am
Sticking out her tongue at the silverrider as the last buckle was in place, Inaari settled on her truest love with a stroke to the gold's broad neck. "You only say that because then you can't touch me as you'd like when I'm that way, and you know it!" Had her hair been down the girl would have tossed it. As it was, she simply mentally nudged Ianath to move for the ledge. The gold was more than happy to do this, though her wings and tail brushed playfully against Cavenath's side as she squeezed past into the open. Throwing back a flirtatious look of her own the hat did nothing to diminish her adorable sweetness in that moment. "But yes, I would like that. I'll have to talk to L'tan later." Another brush against Ianath's mind and she was leaping aloft in a beautiful and elegant movement.
It was the first time the two had flown together since before Ianath's rising and almost immediately the need to discard her hat and let her chocolate hair stream behind her was almost irresistible. Nothing in this world could ever compare to the feeling of flying, though there were moments that T'ron tried his very hardest to make her feel close to this sense of euphoria and came delightfully close. 'Feel this, my love? You're so magnificent and graceful in the air, see how Cavenath stares at you from down below?' It was true, the silver always watched Ianath wherever she went. A long time ago it had concerned her slightly, for the pair could never truly be anything more than companions and friends, but that seemed to distress Ianath little. The comment only served to have her spreading her wings fully to rise up into the sun and pose somewhat dramatically.
'Of course you are right, Inaarimine. It feels very good to be in the sun and feel the air again. Cavenath is not the only one watching me. Vanity, thy name was Ianath! It brought an echoing laugh of delight from her rider as intended as she turned back to call out to her weyrmate. "Come on, T'ron! We've not got all day!" What started as a morose morning in a stretch of depressing days had suddenly taken a turn for the better!
Dragon and rider watched the females; Inaari was correct to his reasoning - she usually was - and of course T'ron and Cavenath would wait for Ianath and hers to take off.
It was a thrilling, beautiful sight: Golden Ianath with the lovely Inaari astride. T'ron watched the pair for a few moments before hauling himself up into the saddle, Cavenath's large wings stretching a bit as they waited on the ledge. When Inaari called back, T'ron gave Cavenath a 'go!' and called out to her "Just enjoying the view!"
The massive silver unfurled his wings and lept; airborn and climbing higher at a good clip. No explosively fast flight today, but then today wasn't about speed or anything else. Cavenath knew that they were supposed to find some of the green-growing weeds, but he also knew that if they could keep his beautiful Sun happy and didn't find anything else, the trip was a success.
'All stop and look at you, Ianath! You shine so brightly, and I am here also! How could they not?' Clearly, both dragons were vain - but understandably so. Ianath was a Queen...and Cav? Well, he was a massive, massive Silver. One of the biggest dragons around and with dark, glorious markings also one of the most striking. They were made to be eyecatching.
"Alright, let's head out. Just like the map this morning!" Atop Cavenath's broad back, T'ron felt like he could take on the World. Today, he only had to take on Malvren's environs...and mystweed and Ianath. A little harder, perhaps, than taking on the world...but he could do it!
Cavenath bugled a quick good-bye to the watch-dragon and snaked his shining body in the direction they were to go -- Ianath was certain to wheel with him. That they flew well together, there could be no doubt.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:24 am
One of Inaari's few regrets was that their dragons were so large that it was impossible to fly and hold hands. It would have made the entire day perfect in that one moment, everything about the young woman buoyant at the fact that for the first time in almost two weeks her dragon seemed almost back to her usual self. Leave it to Cavenath! Certainly she was rising to the occasion as their bodies rose on the warm winds out in a circle away from the Weyr, as if only away from the scrutinizing eyes of everyone could the gold truly be free. Inaari was feeling it, peeling the skirt from her body and fastening it to the edge of her riding harness; what did she care of Ther saw her body?
He'd seen enough of it already.
Ianath was busy telling Cavenath exactly what she now had planned for the entire day. 'We are going to find quite a lot of this plant that the crafter wants, Cavenath. We will show them that I am not a useless queen because I will find what they cannot! Won't they be impressed when we come back with some? That is, if they are not blinded by our glory.' Well. Almost free! Any renewed interest in restoring what Ianath viewed as a 'ruined' reputation was a good thing, at the very least! The vanity had always remained, and it was that sometimes maddening vanity that drove Inaari to distraction. She had none of her own to truly worry about it!
Recalling the map in her mind with eyes closed, a gloved finger pointed off in a direction. "I think you will find what you want out that way, my love. Maybe you ought to race Cavenath? I think you could beat him!" This was answered with a bugling challenge and a bunching of muscles as they tore away, a challenge floating back behind the gold.
No hand-holding, but they could gaze at each other across the expanse...or just wait until they were back together again...much easier to hold hands and kiss and do all those things they very much liked to do...close together. Until then, they'd just fly...and he would be slightly (okay, more than slightly) distracted by Inaari pulling her skirt from her hips.
She had a magnificent arse...Cav touched His mind to bring his attention back before they got in trouble or hurt or something.
Cavenath was deep in conversation with the gold dragon. 'Yes, we will find the most - because you are an amazing queen and I am at your side!' He bugled his approval - they would find the stupid weed and they would amaze everyone with how incredible they both were.
Being aloft was wonderful, having Ianath flinging a request to race at him was even better! 'Absolutely!' Dragon and rider bunched muscles as their minds united - the chase was on. Cavenath put every ounce of strength and energy into chasing his Sun; she deserved his best. His absolute best.
With T'ron on his back, craned to be small and aerodynamic - totally one.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Ianath greatly needed a victory, perhaps it had something to do with Inaari's magnificent backside tautly exposed by leathers as she leaned over her dragon's neck, alright and they'd had a head start! But Ianath was firmly convinced that she was the victor as they reached the area where the weed had been marked to potentially be located in the area around Malvren, a gold's triumphant bugle ringing out in the air. 'That was a very good try, but I am still faster! I think maybe you were too blinded, Cavenath. You should be much more focused...but I do not mind. Of course she didn't mind! Inaari couldn't help but laugh helplessly at her poor vain creature, rubbing her ridges and crooning encouragingly at the gold.
"You really are the most wonderful, silly, beautiful dragon on Pern. Cavenath is magnificent of course, but you really are the very best, Ianath!" Arms stretched around the big neck as much as she could before the full force of her shining smile was turned onto T'ron and his dragon, calling out her consolations. "Better luck on the way back, maybe?" Unwilling to look away, she nonetheless did so towards the ground.
With any luck, they would fulfill all the gold's hopes and bring her back triumphant!
'I think you were right, my Sun. But a better place to be there is not.' He twitched his tail behind him as he landed; gleaming head snaking this way and that. He was looking for the tells of the mystweed but more interested in snaking his his head against Ianath's.
'We will find it at the next place, the weed knew we had not flown enough!'
T'ron chuckled a little at the antics of their dragons and smiled broadly back at his girl. "Yeah, maybe. I get the feeling that we're gonna be playing second-fiddle to you two for a long, long time." He paused a moment before speaking again. "Cav says there's nothing here, so we'll head off to the next place, the one near that lake?"
And once Inaari agreed she knew; he and Cav would be airborne again. Flying quick and sure to the next location: No, they hadn't searched for an extended time at the first location, but they'd been there long enough to know it was bare of the weed they sought.
It wouldn't take long to get to their next location. T'ron just hoped they'd find what they were looking for this time! Then they could be happy about that while they were enjoying their meal and their dragon's got a bath!
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:44 am
Unfortunately for the draconic duo, this place did not yield any weed as well even if the picture was truly idyllic. A small waterfall fed into the lake beneath so that beneath the Malvren sun it all glittered and sparkled on that afternoon. From above it was truly a gorgeous picture, but when the young goldrider felt the cool air drifting up from the lake on her face she couldn't resist. 'My love, you'll have to pardon me and go swim. I need to eat more often than you do, beloved, and I can't think of a better place. I'm sure we'll have better luck once we review the map.' And once she had some time alone again with T'ron.
Ianath was more than happy to be unsaddled and swim with Cavenath. It looked deep enough that she might be able to go under the surface and the pair had learned previously that being beneath any falling water tended to make her body feel very good indeed. The great gold shared this with her partner eagerly. 'Come, Cavenath. Have you ever sat beneath the falling water? It is almost as good as being sanded by a full team and will make your scales shine even brighter. Though I think if you do that, every other dragon will be jealous of your shine.' Discarding the saddle with little care for a change, Inaari was already pulling the hat and pins from her hair so that it fell down her back and she collapsed to cool grass in the shade. Flying in the sun was lovely but after so long it had taken its toll on the young woman.
"You did bring lunch, right?" It was unlike her to forget, yet things had been so jumbled lately that food had been the furthest thing from the weyrwoman's mind.
Roll one for severity, roll two for good/bad DM Random Event!
Little did Inaari or T'ron know that the idyllic picnicking spot that they had chosen was host to more than a waterfall and lush vegetation. A great snarl split the air as a pair of bodies rolled across the scene. The first, a large and very, very angry Bronze wher, and the second a hissing tunnelsnake. Ah yes, the quiet resting place was quiet no longer, and a bellow rattled from the wild wher. Like an enraged bull, he went crashing into the Silver dragon's path, the tunnelsnake rearing back to strike! There was nothing sane about the wher's eyes as he frothed in a mad frenzy, lashing out at anything that came his way, feet attempting to trample the tunnelsnake who would not be subdued.
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