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Dara watched the interaction between Khunoth and Haanyath with more than a little discomfort. He shifted his weight between his forefeet, looking away from the pair and intensely relieved when Haanyath dove away from their clutchmate. The way the pair behaved reminded him of the flirting E'rik did with women from the kitchens and the Lower Caverns, and even Candidates and other Dragonriders. They were fully grown, of course, and there were no restrictions on such behavior, but Daramulath wasn't entirely comfortable with it. He wasn't comfortable at all, in fact.

E'rik, would it be all right if I left, do you think? I don't think I'll be needed any more, and I do not feel comfortable remaining where I am.

E'rik's face didn't show any of the surprise he felt at Dara's question. It continued to amuse him that Daramulath would ask him on occasion what behavior would be appropriate among other dragons. As if E'rik would know that. He wasn't a dragon. What he knew about dragons he had learned from Harpers and his lessons at the Weyr. He was not, by any stretch of the imagination, an expert on draconic politics.

I can't imagine why it wouldn't be all right. What's wrong?

Haanyath is acting oddly toward Khunoth, and I feel like I shouldn't be here. He showed his human what he meant and E'rik understood, easily interpreting what Daramulath saw.

I don't think there's any problem with you being there, but if you'd feel more comfortable away from them I don't think that would be a problem either. You could ask Astarteth to join you, he added slyly. The horrified feelings he got from Daramulath guaranteed him that his brown would do no such thing. Just as well. He, E'rik, didn't need any further complications in his life for the moment.

There is no need to thank me, Daramulath rumbled to Khunoth. Then he added diplomatically so that all the dragons could hear, I think I will go now. I had not known Hatchings were so exciting, and I feel somewhat wearied by the events of today.

E'rik's wishes for a minimization of complication in his life didn't seem to be on the agenda, however, as he realized that T'ka and Gh'lan seemed to be somewhat mimicking the awkward flirtations of their prickly dragons. That was interesting. Of course, Gh'lan didn't seem to be fully conscious and T'ka could just be concerned, but he couldn't help wanting to know everything about everything. Seven years of Harpering did tend to leave a bit of an impression on a person. Of course, what T'ka and Gh'lan ended up doing really wasn't any of his business, and wasn't actually as pressing as the illness that seemed to have struck so many at once.

"I am every bit a gentleman in bed," E'rik said loftily, though his wicked grin belied his tone. "Ask around."

He was aware of Daramulath making his excuses to the other dragons and a part of him was proud of his dragon's diplomacy. If only Dara wasn't so awkward around females of his kind. But then, when one considered the females from Dara's clutch, it was easy to understand how the brown could have gotten that way. They were all intimidating creatures in their own way, except Isonth and Emori's gloomy green.

"A drink would be welcome," E'rik agreed. "But wine if you please." He apologized mentally to Daramulath, but the wine would help, he hoped.

The funny thing about people was how easily they could be misunderstood. Gh'lan was far from the flirtatious type, and the 'holding' he had spoken of was solely referencing his inability to hold his liquor internally. Like a good jolly drunk, he always thought he was just drunk enough to realize he wasn't sober, and he'd thought he had only taken the lightest clumsy swig back in the Stands when Kallista and T'ka had offered him that wineskin. Had he known (or been able to guess) at the thoughts crossing T'ka and E'rik's minds, he'd have been beyond embarrassed.

Tack on a fever.. and the fact that he hadn't actually had a drop of alcohol.. well you had a rather bemused and achy young dragonrider.

Grinning at T'ka (oblivious to her awkwardness) he mumbled something unintelligible before abruptly a dropping off as the medicine worked it's magic. The aches had subsided a bit, along with the fog across his mind, and with Khunoth as a constant murmur in the back of his thoughts, the brownrider found that he could at least fall into a light sleep without fearing the consequences.

If Dara was disappointed by his clutchmates' reaction to his departure, he did not show it. He simply gathered energy in his haunches and launched himself with several strong beats of his wings, circling once before flying in the direction of his weyr.

I hope all turns out well for your human, Khunoth, and the family of your human, Haanyath, he called as he left. To Astarteth he added, You take care, also.

"That shows how much you know," E'rik said in an undertone to Kallista as he sipped his wine. It had been watered more than he would wish, but it was still recognizable as wine. Barely.

"But you're welcome to see for yourself sometime." He was still teasing, but he knew he was pushing it. The evening hatching had lasted for some time, and this added excitement had prolonged it more, but that didn't give him leave to say anything too lascivious. Especially since this really wasn't the time for it. He just needed to release some of the tension he'd felt since the dragons started humming.

Another reason he continued this conversation, even though it was in questionable taste, was that it kept him from speculating about T'ka and Gh'lan. He didn't care for gossips, and didn't want to sink so low as to become one, considering how highly he valued his privacy and his personal space. That meant he felt obliged to do others the courtesy of leaving them to their own devices. To a point. Harper training had also sharpened his innate desire for knowledge to the point where it was second nature to eavesdrop unconsciously and take note of everything, and an effort to do anything less.

"In fact, if your preference is for top bunk, I'm afraid we'll be forced to share anyway. I've always preferred to be on top." He thought about it. That was as far as he dared go with this line of conversation, unless he really did want to get into something more concrete, and though he wouldn't object to sharing his furs with Kallista it would mean some awkward explanations to the drudge he'd begun sleeping with a few days ago. He hated awkward explanations.

He took another sip of his watered wine and watched as the Healer attempted to wake Kyllae. Without turning his head toward Kallista, he said even more softly than before, "I don't mean to discommode you, if I have. I speak only in jest."

Kallista turned the brightest red as if T'ka had scolded her instead of E'rik. So much for her attempts at flirting and making closer friends. Moving over to the other green rider, Kallista awkwardly patted her on the back. "It's okay, T'ka. Really. Um... E'rik and I were just teasing. I think we are all tired. Maybe we should go rest. After all, the Hatching was almost twelve hours ago."

She turned to E'rik and made a face to let him know she wasn't mad at him. That their banter was friendly and fun. It was just then that Kyllae awoke and Kallista backed up so that her friend could move. Watching the two interact, the former runner wondered if anyone in Ista would be worried about her like that if she fell ill.

YOU BETTER NOT GET SICK! Astarteth snorted angrily in her rider's mind. The green's eyes were actually tinged red at the thought. Astar truly angrily was something that rarely occurred. The events were still fresh enough that she understood Khunoth's terror and fright at his rider unable to answer him. I will sit on you until you are better.


I will try my hardest to stay in best health. Can you tell Daramulath to tell E'rik that if he is going to share the top bunk, he can sleep on the outside. That way if he snores, he is easier to push out? Communication by dragon. Kallista had never really tried to pass messages to other rider's through their dragons. She hoped E'rik would not mind.


Astarteth calmed a little. Looking in Daramulath's departing direction, Astar did her best to pass the message along. But it came out very fumbled and confusing. My rider says to tell your rider... They can share but they are sleeping outside because he snores?

The green shook her head. Somehow that didn't sound right. But the message was passed along. With both greens so proddy and close to Mating, it did Astarteth some good to take her tension out on her sister. We have gone over this. You are short and squat like the wherries we eat. And so, you must have sharp teeth and claws so that none snatch you up.

"I hope Kyllae and Gh'lan make swift recoveries," E'rik said sincerely as T'ka departed.

Taking his cue from Kallista, E'rik excused himself from the sleepers' presence, mostly for the Healer's benefit, and followed Kallista into the hallway, the very male part of his mind wondering if maybe he was going to get lucky that night. He kept his facial expression one of polite interest as he sauntered into the hallway, aware now that Daramulath was keeping a light, sleepy tab on his rider's doings. Dara had eavesdropped on him before when he took women to his bed, and now Dara asked if that was what E'rik planned to do with Kallista.

I don't have any such plans, E'rik informed his dragon firmly. But if things should go that way, I hope it goes without saying that you will not be eavesdropping.

He still held his cup of wine, he noted with an amused quirk of his eyebrows and a flashing smirk. Things were much more amusing late at night. Or maybe it was early in the morning. He wasn't quite sure, and unlike many Dragonriders who could rely on their dragon's sense of time, Dara's internal chronometer was hardly reliable. He drained the last of the wine in a single gulp and left the cup on a handy table as he slipped into the hallway after Kallista.

"It was not," E'rik agreed. "And to be perfectly honest, I have not seen my furs for nearly a full day's span at this point, and I am relieved to put off any activities - erotic or otherwise - until another time."

Now that he spoke of how little he had slept in recent times, his body seemed to realize that it had been deprived and came after him with a vengeance, striking him with a staggering wave of exhaustion. Had he not been leaning against the wall of the corridor, he might have actually stumbled standing still.

"I look forward to our singing lesson almost as much as I look forward to sleeping at this moment," he said with a weary smile. "And whatever help I provided was no more than anyone else would have, I'm sure. Have a pleasant sleep."

He was, maybe, a little disappointed by the outcome of the evening. After all, his closest friends among the Candidates had failed to Impress, people had fallen ill, and he wasn't getting laid. In a twenty year old man's world, that should have been a dismal evening. And yet he was smiling irrepressibly as he made his way to his weyr.