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It was a beautiful day to have be out doing sweeps! M'zaji loved flying almost as much as his dragon did, though not for the same reasons. The rider loved being alone with his dragon, relishing in Kaedrelath's exultation at being free in the skies. The blue dragon warbled happily, sending wave after wave of affection and adoration to crash over his rider; M'zaji laughed merrily, throwing his hands up in the air spontaneously. Luckily, he was strapped into the riding straps!

<< M'zaji, look, a caravan! >> the blue spotted the caravan before his rider did, but before long, the winding train of wages, beasts, and people slowly making their way from Hold to Weyr came into view. M'zaji grinned, somewhat in relief. It was nearing dinnertime, and M'zaji hadn't eaten since breakfast! The bluerider was sure that the traders wouldn't mind an extra mouth to feed, so he directed Kaedrelath to land close by. Not so close that he'd startle the beasts, but close enough that M'zaji wouldn't have to walk far.

The blue backwinged down to the ground, settling himself carefully in the middle of the road up ahead of where the caravan had stopped to set up camp. M'zaji strode towards the caravan, slipping his riding helmet and goggles off and holding them under his arm. As he approached the caravan, he tried his best to search out someone who looked like they were in charge... but the best he could do was a young boy. "You, there!" M'zaji called to the youngster, beckoning him over. "Who's in charge of this caravan? I'm M'zaji, and that's my blue, Kaedrelath. I'm hoping that your caravan won't mind another mouth to feed, for dinner?"

Kaedrelath adored being the center of attention, and he certainly played the part well enough. Holding his wings half-cocked, the well-built blue stood in place, one forearm cocked and held against his chest as though he were ready to leap into the air at any moment. He crooned and warbled with pleasure, knowing that many of the traders were staring at him, in awe and reverence. By the way you're acting, you almost look like some proddy green, crying out for attention, the rider teased his dragon, earning himself an indignant snort in response. << Well, what do you want me to do? Bellow at them and scare them all away? Might as well entertain them, >> Kaedrelath retorted, lowering his head and turning it so he could stare at his rider. M'zaji just laughed and vaguely waved at Kaedrelath to go on.

The bluerider almost laughed at the boy's response; did the boy not believe M'zaji was speaking to him? Well, soon enough the child responded and M'zaji listened to him, nodding appreciatively. "Thank you!" He called after the boy, and had wanted to ask him his name before he had darted off. The bluerider tossed a grin to the woman who had ordered the young boy off, hoping that she'd recognize it as an apology for keeping the boy from his chores.

As the boy had pointed out, M'zaji made his way to the back wagon. He rapped his knuckles on the side of it, hoping to catch the caravan leader's attention. He coughed, cleared his throat, and then called out. "Uhh, hello? Anyone home?"

Lord Rider? M'zaji felt entirely uncomfortable with the title, and the ranking. He blushed, a pale pink creeping up his neck into his cheeks and ears. He waved off the man, hoping that he'd drop the "Lord". "Just M'zaji, please," the bluerider insisted, sticking his hand out to the man by way of introduction. "That's Kaedrelath, he won't need anything to eat. He's fine, he loves all the attention he's getting," the rider said with a laugh, glancing at his blue over his shoulder.

"Anyway, the reason I'm here is because we were out sweep riding, and were wondering if you wouldn't mind a little company around the fire for dinner?" M'zaji hoped that he wasn't asking too much from the man. M'zaji had heard rumors lately that the non-riding folk were becoming increasing unhappy with the riders; M'zaji hadn't really considered that fact before landing. He was prepared, though, for rejection, and could even take a little hostility~ but the man seemed genuinely pleased to see him, so M'zaji hoped his worrying was for naught.

M'zaji blushed again at the trade leader's hearty bellow of laughter, but realized that it was in good nature. The bluerider chuckled, though not nearly as loud or exuberant as Ryaln. He was relieved to see no measure of hostility from either Ryaln, or any of his traders. In fact, they all seemed to display the normal, traditional amount of interest, respect, and awe for the dragonrider. M'zaji, never one to enjoy being the center of attention, decided that maybe just this once he'd play it up a little. He didn't know how many more times he'd encounter such good nature from non-riders.

Kaedrelath looked towards his rider and the caravan leader with interest, picking his head up as his eyes began to whirl at a faster pace. What? Move closer? Receive more attention? Why, this had not been such a bad idea after all! Kaedrelath did not doubt non-riders as much as M'zaji did, but the blue had been slightly wary about landing. Making sure that no one would be squished, the blue moved his way closer to the campfire and settled in a spot not too close, but close enough that he could be included in conversation.

"Troubling or dangerous?" M'zaji repeated Ryaln's query, furrowing his eyebrows and thinking back on what little they'd seen on their sweep ride. "To be honest, everything looks fairly normal. I don't have anything of importance to relay to you, and that's good news," M'zaji said to Ryaln with a grin. But a sudden noise made M'zaji laugh; his stomach grumbled loudly in protest of the lingering conversation. The bluerider was, apparently, hungrier than he'd thought!

Kaedrelath was not even in the slightest bit overwhelmed by the rush of people to sit around him, many of them staring up at him in awe. He warbled delightedly, dipping his nose down to sniff at this one's head, or nudge that one's shoulder. The blue moved his head to inspect one young boy, who looked so small that he could have swallowed him whole, and stopped suddenly. It seemed as though the blue had just been given a piece of devastating information~ by the way he suddenly froze, well, save for his rapidly whirling eyes.

<< M'zaji. >> Kaedrelath burst into his rider's mind with a cacophony of ringing bells, excitement the predominant feeling. M'zaji almost groaned. "Excuse me," he said to Ryaln and then turned to look over his shoulder at Kaedrelath. << M'zaji, he needs to come home with us. >> the blue said, bobbing his head up and down enthusiastically, his nose gesturing towards the small boy. What? Why? What are you going to do with a little boy? I can't take care of him-- M'zaji began to rant and dissuade his dragon, but Kaedrelath would have none of it.

The blue threw back his head and trumpeted loudly, his throat visibly vibrating with the sheer effort he exuded. << M'zaji! He will come with us! He needs too, he's going to be a candidate, >> Kaedrelath explained, roughly at first but his voice softened to remind M'zaji of some soft, delicate fabric being rubbed against his cheek. "Okay, okay," the bluerider said and then turned to Ryaln. Clearing his throat, the bluerider made a vague gesture towards the young boy. "Who is he?" He asked, trying to come off as nonchalant as possible.

As much as he enjoyed their attention, Kaedrelath forgot all about the traders sitting around him. The blue had eyes for one, and one only. Dhiren. No, silly boy, you don't have anything on your tunic; Kaedrelath lowered his nose and sniffed at the boy's head, mussing up his hair no doubt. << M'zaaaaji, his name is Dhiren? He's the caravan leader's son, ehh... He'll do! >> Kaedrelath picked up the information from his rider; as M'zaji learned of who the boy was so did his blue. The rider rarely shielded his thoughts from his dragon.

"Dhiren? A nice, strong name," M'zaji said absently, looking towards the boy. "How old is he? He looks young, maybe twelve? Thirteen, at the most," the rider mused aloud. So, the boy was just old enough to stand. He couldn't help himself; a huge grin spread across M'zaji's face as he turned back to the boy's father. At Ryaln's remark, about how Dhiren would be much too small of a snack, M'zaji chuckled. "Oh, no. Nothing like that! In fact, I have good news for you. Kaedrelath tells me that your boy has potential to be a rider," M'zaji said slowly, pausing to let the impact of his words sink in. Some families considered it a great honor for their children to be Searched, but others were reluctant to let that extra pair of helping hands go. M'zaji hoped that Ryaln would prove to be the former.

"We'd like to ask your permission, as his father, to release Dhiren to Ista Weyr's custody. He'd stand as a candidate, we have two clutches on our sands now, and can remain at the Weyr until he Impresses, or until he turns 21. Whichever comes first," he explained hastily. "Maybe we should call him over, and see what he thinks about all this?" The bluerider suggested, glancing again over his shoulder at the subject of their conversation.

Kaedrelath warbled happily as he sniffed Dhiren's head, the sound quiet and gentle so as not to frighten the boy. But, judging by the way the boy had acted so far, the blue did not think that anything he did at this point would scare away the child. However, when Dhiren was called over to where M'zaji and Ryaln were sitting, Kaedrelath stayed put. His gaze remained focused on the young boy, but he remained stationary. It wouldn't do for him to just up and leave all the other traders (though, to be honest, Kaedrelath didn't even notice them anymore).

Kidnap is a bit harsh, M'zaji thought to himself with a nigh-imperceptible frown. He could understand, though, that Ryaln might be a bit reluctant to see his son off. "You'll be able to come and visit, whenever you like," he hastily reassured Ryaln before Dhiren was in earshot. He was about to say more, but the boy had scampered over. M'zaji chuckled at the boy's immediate assumption that he'd done something wrong; was he that much of a rascal? Well, if he was, M'zaji knew he'd fit right in with the other weyrbrats!

"Dhiren, right?" M'zaji said, remaining seated while the boy stood. It put them on eye-level, and made it easier for the bluerider to address the child. "I'm M'zaji, and that's my dragon, his name is Kaedrelath," the bluerider took it slowly, introducing himself and gesturing towards his blue, who appropriately dipped his head. "You seem to get along with him well enough," the rider said, unable to stop a smile from spreading across his face. "How would you like to come back to the Weyr with us, and be a candidate? Kaedrelath tells me that he thinks you'd make a great candidate, and maybe you'll find your dragon on our sands!"