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It had been the worst and best month of Cai's life. Cai had thought it was impossible to get even less sleep than he already did (not being able to sleep until he'd completely exhausted himself into the act, then waking up at the first sign of light in the skies). Having a hatchling dragon though, didn't matter how small he was, had taken it's toll. The red head was showing visible signs of strain.

All was due to the fact that as someone who'd had a set life path that did not involve riding, he had no intention of quitting his craft to become a rider. Dragon or not. He just scheduled time to care for Genith and sometimes attend lessons into his already busy schedule.

The blue certainly was concerned for his rider's health, but Cai was happy in his craft and that made Genith happy. Cai was also happy when he was spending time with Gentih, which also made the young blue happy. He had no intention on changing that unless Cai decided it needed to change.

Genith had even managed to make himself somewhat useful to the healer. He was small, and fit comfortably within the infirmary without being obnoxious or underfoot. Cai found treating people easier when they were distracted by a baby dragon. Especially the children. So long as no one harmed Genith (who would?), and he wasn't pestered with too many questions, Cai was glad to have Genith at his side as he worked. He had considered getting a flit for this purpose before, but Genith was a much better assistant. He didn't cause trouble.

Today though, Cai had requested a meeting with the Weyrlingmaster who no doubt wanted to talk with him as well but Cai was determined to do things under his own power, on his own time. It was time they had it out once and for all. The healer, dragon at his side, rapped sharply on the door to the Weyrlingmaster's office. "Journeyman Cai. Here to see the Weyrlingmaster."

Cai nodded somewhat graciously and folded his long limbs into the seat before him. Genith took his place at Cai's right side, the young blue training his eyes on his rider after giving the room a quick once over. "Thank you Weyrlingmaster." He noted the man didn't use his title, but he did that with all of the weyrlings even though Cai consistently tried to make it clear that he was not of their number. "No pastries, please. I would appreciate a cup of klah when it's ready though." He planted his feet on the ground and leaned forward slightly, facing T'rel across the older man's desk.

Not one to beat around the bush, Cai launched right into his purpose. "I have two things. First: We need to talk about Genith." The blue's eyes whirled at the mention of his name. "It can't have escaped your notice, it certainly hasn't mine, that he is incredibly small. Even for a hatchling he was tiny. The other dragons have almost tripled in size already and he's hardly bigger than he was out of the shell. Maybe half again the size he was." Genith was finally too large for Cai to carry, but that was a small consolation. Frustration crept into the healer's voice as he roughly pushed a hand through his orange hair. "I've fed him regularly. I oil and brush his hide. He seems to be in perfectly good health, not that I'm a dragonhealer, but he's Just. Not. Growing."

Of course Cai didn't feel he was in competition with any of the other weyrlings. Once again, in his mind he wasn't a weyrling. Genith's small size concerned him purely because this was his dragon and if he was sick and Cai couldn't diagnose it, then something was severely wrong. No one had said anything to him yet about his dragon's size which irritated Cai and the strain of waiting to see if Genith was maybe just slow to start on top of everything else Cai was juggling was really what would make the young man crack. It was why he finally went to T'rel about it. The man had seen countless hatchlings grow into full dragons. It made the perfect ice breaker to his next point anyways.

Food. When had Cai last eaten? He couldn't remember but then he felt no hunger. The meatrolls were forgotten within moments as Cai's mind refused to leave it's current problem. "Maybe it's the wrong kind of meat?" There had to be SOMETHING they could do about it. Beastcrafter's had different types of feed they gave to their cattle for various aspects of growth they wanted to affect. Genith was just another type of beast, a more complicated one, but in Cai's mind so were humans. In people, if a child was small he was most likely malnourished and a change of diet would usually bring them up to speed as long as there was nothing else wrong, or the issue hadn't gone on long enough to cause damage.

Unless Genith had a huge growth spurt, Cai didn't see him catching up with his peers anytime soon. The damage may already have been done by his own neglect. Had he waited too long to seek outside help? T'rel's look of pity made the bile rise in the back of Cai's throat. He was a disgrace to the title of healer. Mine! Genith's voice cut through his mind. You asked me to and I have told you! I am well. I feel no pain, no itch and no hunger. What does it matter what size I am? For you, I am the right size.

Cai frowned and stroked the blue's face. He still wasn't satisfied. He huffed and turned grey eyes back to the weyrlingmaster, fixing him with a stubborn look. "I suppose that brings us neatly to my second point then. As he has said oh so pointedly to me, his size isn't the issue so long as he is healthy. We will not be 'Riders'." He paused just a second, to make sure that he was heard. "I figure it best we get this out in the open and out of the way sooner rather than later. I am a healer with a busy schedule and have the continued care of my dragon added on top of that."

Ovine? Yes, might be better than wherry and herdbeast, a less lean of a cut might help Genith as long as it didn't all go to his gut. Genith licked his chops. He would be getting a different meat from his clutchsibs? Well it was only right if that's what his rider wanted. Genith wasn't about to complain for the special treatment.

Cai was caught off guard by how easily T'rel agreed with him. He'd been gearing up for a good fight. It was almost refreshing, if surprisingly disappointing. The admission by the man that Genith would not grow to full size was a slap in the face though. It stung. It was insulting. It made Cai angry in an instant. His voice rose in pitch, strained. "You just said that he will grow though. Now you're saying that despite that he may not reach full size? How small are we talking here?" Instincts wouldn't be a problem. In intelligent creatures, instincts could be controlled and Cai had plenty of experience with internal conflict. Cai had been rough-drafting some alternative ideas to use as bargaining chips though and many of those flew out the window if he couldn't even ride Genith.

"Will he even be able to fly or do I have an intelligent wher on my hands?" Genith snorted with amusement at that, not taking offense at the comparison. Of course I will fly. I am a dragon. And if you want to fly with me then we will. It's as simple as that. Whatever his rider wanted, Genith would see realized. If he wanted to fly, Genith didn't care if he didn't grow another inch, they would fly.

The last little sentence out of T'rel's mouth grated on Cai's ears. It was ok for a green to be runty, but it was a tragedy if a blue did? Cai had plenty he could say about that, but that was an argument for another day. It was filed away for later though.

Cai grabbed a meatroll and took a bite mechanically, not paying attention to the food any more than he needed to to shut T'rel up. "Well he doesn't seem to be opposed to the idea of extra food. I don't want him getting fat though."

Cai stood from his seat and shrugged his shoulders, allowing his shirt to fall back into place without touching it. "If that's all settled then, I'll keep my current schedule with the healers and wait to hear from you on the plans for Genith's new feeding schedule. I'll send a letter to the Healers Hall as well. They'll want to know what our plans are in case they needed to send another journeyman."

"Idleness is not in my vocabulary." Cai agreed, finishing off his meatroll quickly and dusting the crumbs from his hands in the air. T'rel would be mortified if he knew how accurate his assumption of Cai's eating habits were. "I understand. We can certainly schedule time for any necessary lessons that don't revolve around Threadfighting. Flying, the basics of formation even, between. The things required for his safety health and happiness. I will be willing to make time for those. Drilling, firestone, and the like will not be necessary."

"It is no strain. I will let them know though. Once you have the date for our first lesson please send word. I will fit it in. Now if that is all, may we be excused?" Genith stood and wound his small body around Cai's calves, warm hide pressed softly into his rider's limbs as he watched T'rel's reactions. He was proud of how Cai had taken control of the situation and got exactly what they desired. He'd expected no less.

The hint was subtle, but taken. Whether or not it would be acted upon or remembered even was anyone's guess. Cai was dedicated to his work and while he intended to be just as dedicated to Genith time for his own health may not come to mind in that process.

Cai nodded, gave a short dip of his head and shoulders then turned and left T'rel's office, waiting for Genith to follow him out the door before shutting it carefully behind him.