Welcome to Gaia! ::

M'zaji smiled fondly at both father and son, realizing the relationship they must share. He, on the other hand, had never known his father. The bluerider did not think his personality or mental well-being lacked from it, but he had sometime found himself wondering what it might have been like to know his birth parents. But, his foster mother had been sweet, caring, and nurturing; M'zaji could not have asked for a better upbringing.

The bluerider grinned widely at Dhiren's reaction; it was exactly how he had wanted the boy to react! M'zaji laughed, wondering how he could have ever doubted the boy. Of course any twelve-turn old would be ecstatic to be a candidate! Was it not every little boy's dream to find his majestic dragon on the hot sands and soar through the wide, open skies of Pern with eachother? Kaedrelath warbled softly, affectionately as he intercepted his rider's thoughts. M'zaji remembered how he had dreamt of being a rider, and then that dream had come true; he could not have asked for a better partner.

"Oh, you'll see all of that, and more!" M'zaji promised the boy, his own eyes bright and wide with excitement, though not nearly as much as Dhiren. The bluerider looked to Ryaln next, placing a hand on the man's shoulder and squeezing reassuringly. "We'll take good care of him, and I'll make sure I check in on him every now and then. I'm sure he won't have a problem settling in and making friends," M'zaji tried his hardest to make this as easy as possible on the father. "When the Hatching starts, too, I'll come and find you, and I'll bring you, and your wife, in to watch him. Personally," M'zaji offered, smiling warmly.

M'zaji watched as Dhiren went off to say his good-byes and gather his things. It was a good sign that the boy showed no signs of reluctance to leave his home, or his life. He'll settle in very well, M'zaji thought to himself with a small smile. Looking over at Ryaln, the bluerider nodded. "He'll be able to stay at the Weyr until he's twenty one," he said. It was a long time, but sometimes it took that long for a dragon to be shelled and find their rider. "If he wants to leave before then, he can. We aren't holding him captive, simply giving him an opportunity. Once he turns twenty one, he will be free to return here. Or, if he shows any useful skills, the Weyr may remain his home," M'zaji explained the process as quickly and succinctly as he could to the father.

M'zaji went on to ask Ryaln where he'd be around the time of the hatching. Though it was difficult to pinpoint exactly when the hatching would occur, the bluerider did his best to give a rough speculation of when it might happen. "If we know where you are, roughly, it won't take us long to find you. especially since you travel so close to the Weyr," M'zaji said. It wouldn't be hard to find the traders~ for Faranth's sake, they wandered on an island! Sure, the island was large, but there were only so many places they could be.

"Well! You ready to go?" M'zaji said to the boy, sure that Dhiren would be eager to travel to the Weyr and settle into the candidate's barracks. "You've got all your things, said good bye to your family and friends? Let's be off, then!" M'zaji said to the boy, standing. He held his hand out to Ryaln, a smile on his face. "I want to thank you for your hospitality, and for your son here," the bluerider said with a jerk of his head towards Dhiren. "We'll take good care of him,y ou have my word on that!" Kaedrelath was eager to return to the Weyr also; the blue remained on his belly, making the mount easier, but his wings were held half-extended, ready to be thrown open in only a moment.

M'zaji laughed at Dhiren's attempt at mounting, and brushed the young boy aside. "Let me up first, then I'll help pull you up," he instructed gently. With the mark of practiced ease, M'zaji leapt from the ground to Kaedrelath's extended forearm, and grabbing a hold on the riding straps, hefted himself up and strapped himself in. "Now, just reach up," M'zaji instructed and reached down to grasp the boy's hand. He held on as Dhiren clambered up, and made sure that the boy was securely fastened. "Just hold me around my waist, like that yes. We'll be going between, and you won't be able to feel me, or Kaedrelath underneath you anymore. But don't worry, we'll only be between for about three heartbeats!" The bluerider warned and explained, then signaled for Kaedrelath to take off. "Let's go home!"

OOC~ aaaand, fin! I'll work on starting the bathing RP if you want to change the title to mention that it's finished, or something? 8DDDD