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Who comes?

There was no real challenge in the voice; it was clear that the dragon recognized Tyeth from one of his several trips out to aid with guarding the nearly-lost Hatchlings or from his presence in the Weyr. Tyeth's voice, when he replied to the standard inquiry, was a hint condescending, but not impolite.

Bronze Tyeth and rider. I can see you are doing your job well. We come to bear one of the hatchlings back to Trine Weyr, of course.

The Brown allowed the much larger Bronze to descend and land in a clear space barely large enough to fit him. We will take whichever hatchling is larger, as another, smaller dragon comes to bear forth the other. I am sure they will not mind the distinction between passengers.

N'mol let Tyeth handle the pleasantries between dragons as he unstrapped and slipped down to hash things out with the riders standing guard. He glanced at where the Brown and Green and their riders were huddled together, waiting for this moment. They'd been out here for days; it was about time they were able to come back to the weyr. The Revolutionaries were mad; it was entirely possible they might have made a second attempt to kidnap the new riders if they had discovered the Weyr hadn't immediately moved them back to the Weyr.

"N'mol of Bronze Tyeth." He nodded to the first guard he came to, not having met him previously. He watched him suspiciously for a moment, but none of the other dragons or humans seemed suspicious, so he assumed this rider was legitimately from Trine. "I've come to take the first Weyrling back to Trine."

His blue eyes turned to the pair and he smiled at the two boys and their companions. "I'll take the Brown and his rider. I'm not sure which dragon will be assigned to come here next, but Tyeth is big enough to take a Brown and it will be less trouble in the event that you get a Blue or Green to transport the other Weyrling."

The Bluerider he was talking to nodded and turned to the pair of boys. "All right. Soral, you and your Green stay here. M'rine, you're up first."

N'mol smiled and nodded at the boy, extending a hand for him to shake when he got closer. "N'mol of Bronze Tyeth. Are you ready to move, Weyrling M'rine?"

Tyeth rumbled a greeting of his own, pleased at Belith's cheerful response to their arrival. His voice when he spoke to the little one was patronizing, but full of approval. You're very welcome, Belith. It is good to see that you are excited to return to your brethren. That energy will do you good when you begin your lessons. There will be food enough for everyone when we return.

"Well, then we shouldn't keep Belith waiting," N'mol replied as Tyeth bespoke Belith. N'mol smiled at the energetic young Brown. "As Tyeth is assuring Belith now, there will be food enough at the Weyr for everyone, not to mention the chance to get settled into your new living quarters. You've been luckier than the other groups who got caught away from the Weyr; you at least had the chance to bathe."

N'mol grinned at M'rine as they headed back toward their dragons. The boy was somewhat retiring, but that might be something he overcame in time. He was, after all, just barely Candidate age still, if N'mol didn't miss his mark. He was very young, but... well, others had said the same for N'mol. He had earned a Brown, and N'mol was determined that he wouldn't allow the boy's age to effect how he viewed himself as a rider. At 17 Turns and a Wingleader through several Falls, N'mol was proof that you didn't need age to be a good rider. (It helped that he looked older than 17, of course, but that wasn't the point.)

"We'll get you settled in the back there," N'mol instructed, pointing out where M'rine was going to settle. I'll pass Belith up to you and he'll sit between us for the trip back. I'll strap him in a bit, but try to make sure he doesn't fidget too much. I know how young dragons can be when they're excited, but the trip will be easier if he stays still, at least until we land again."

"Right." N'mol made sure M'rine and Belith were settled, and then easily pulled himself up into his seat with grace born of long-practice. He opted to sit behind M'rine, so that he could better keep an eye on them-- it just felt safer all around, too. "All settled? Good. Hang on."

Gently, Tyeth.

You may guide me during Fall, mine, but otherwise do not attempt to tell me how to perform my duties. In spite of his haughty chastisement, Tyeth's take off was as careful as he could make it. He certainly didn't want to jostle his passengers too much, or risk Belith somehow slipping from his straps and falling to his death in the jungle below. That sort of thought drove even a dragon's blood beyond cold.

Sorry, N'mol replied with a good dose of amusement and sarcasm. They would take a straight flight back to the Weyr, rather than risking between on a dragon that was still so young. It wasn't far, since the Revolutionaries hadn't been able to make it too far beyond the Weyr before they were forced to abandon their kidnapping scheme, but the trip would give N'mol time to get to know M'rine a bit better as well. He was a Weyrling N'mol intended to keep his eye on.

N'mol leaned forward to speak loudly into M'rine's ear, combating the muffling effect of the wind. "In spite of you being a Weyrling now, you'll find things aren't that different. You keep the same hours as you did as a Candidate, only now when you get up the first thing you'll do is feed your dragon. You'll also spend your time training with and learning to care for Belith, rather than doing chores for the Weyr. Other than that, it's about the same as being a Candidate. Well, plus you have a partner who can read your mind now." N'mol grinned, even though he knew M'rine couldn't see it.