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The early hatching was a boon, as far as T'rus was concerned. It meant getting the feast over with and getting to the barracks early, early enough to have some time to think. He needed that. So, with toasts and well wishes finished he moved with the small crowd of weyrlings into the barracks. It was easy, getting Akerth settled, the brown didn't require much.

Indeed, almost as soon as they reached their assigned bunk, Akerth was settled on his shelf. The brown was obviously sleepy, T'rus could feel the weight of that exhaustion weighing on him through their bond. Still, Akerth sat, his head high, his feet tucked beneath him, and watched the others as they settled. After all, if he didn't, who would make sure they were doing it right?

For his part, T'rus leaned against Akerth's perch, appearing to watch the goings ons along with his dragon. In truth, he was barely aware of anything outside his own head. He was simply reasonably good at looking attentive.

Tomorrow, work begins. The brown commented, with every sign of contentment at the thought.

Spotting Erath, Akerth allowed himself a huffing sort of sigh. The events of the hatching already behind him now with the new press of his bond and his responsibilities, he still remembered her antics, or lack of antics, back on the sands. Really, the whole thing could have gone much more smoothly. It was, disappointing, and it reflected poorly on him.

Erath will require watching, T'rus. The brown commented, lowering his head to nudge His lightly in the shoulder.

T'rus, studying Y'ul without being able to call up any distinct memories from candidacy. Yule, or something, wasn't it? A healer, he was fairly sure. Well, no time to learn like the present. Pushing himself to his feet, he smiled casually in the direction of the greenrider.

"You're a healer, right?" He called out, not yet stepping away from Akerth's side. "Or do I have you confused with another guy?"

Erath impressed to a female. Akerth interjected, disapproval obvious in his tone.

Really? Well, too late now. Just have to hope I haven't ruined things already.

Figuring he'd apologize when Y'ul took exception to the statement, he forged ahead, "I'm T'rus. I think I've seen you a few times, but I'm terrible with names."

Well, he hadn't been far off on the name and profession at least, even if he'd managed to mistake the woman's gender. Then again, if she wasn't going to correct him, maybe he'd been right to make the mistake in the first place. Well, it was something to note, anyway, even if it wasn't a subject that seemed best to pursue at the moment.

"Y'ul. I'll remember that." And he would, though he might later claim to have forgotten it again. It'd be good, having a healer among the weyrlings. Someone who could respond quickly if anything went wrong during lessons. He remembered now, that Y'ul had reentered the sands at the same time he and Akerth had.

I could have handled it, if they'd let me. Akerth interjected, irritably.

T'rus gave the young dragon a rough pat. I know.

"Akerth is still upset about that blue's antics. Did you catch who he impressed to?" he asked, already getting the feeling that Y'ul wouldn't be lingering long if he didn't get to a point. And, of course, he didn't have one. He just wanted to get a sense of the people he'd be training alongside. Well, there was no reason not to admit that. "No. Sorry if I'm detaining you. Just figure we're all going to be living pretty close for awhile, so it's best if we all know each other."

I will not allow Cavumuth to get out of line again, T'rus. Akerth allowed himself a low rumble of displeasure at the very idea of it. The Brown had a certain abiding fondness for all his clutchmates, but it didn't make him blind to their faults. If anything, he was hyper-aware of them, anxious for the chance to help those around him improve and achieve.

"Akerth says to let us know if the Blue causes you or Erath any trouble. He'd be happy to have a word with him." T'rus couldn't personally remember meeting a Ngaran, though he was sure he must have at least once. It didn't matter, he surely would soon enough, and then he'd have a chance to see whether Y'ul's assessment was accurate.

I did not say that. Akerth pointed out.

No, you didn't. But you and I need to have a talk about lying. Your going to need to learn how if you really want us to lead. He gave the Brown a firm push on the shoulder, rousing him to his feet.

"That sounds like an excellent idea. I have a feeling that before too long, we're going to be experts in dragon scrubbing whether we like it or not. Might as well get an early start."

Hearing Y'ul's complaint about Erath's lack of initiative Akerth gave a low rumble of approval, willing to acknowledge good sense, even when it did come from a female rider. Mind, a male would have put it better, would keep Erath better in line, but at least this rider had no intent of spoiling her.

You should not burden your rider so. He sent the comment to the green while all but standing at attention beside T'rus, walking at an even pace when his rider began to do so.

"Yes, and he's no small Brown at that. Thought his egg would hatch into a Bronze, at the touching." He'd thought that egg would hatch into his Bronze. But, no, nevermind. It'd hatched into his dragon, his Akerth, and with the euphoria of the sands still warm within him, he could not resent that. "Of course, it's that Bronze queen's rider who will really be kept busy with scrubbing."

He glanced at Erath, considering the fact that Akerth's opinion of the green didn't seem far from her rider's. But this was the dragon that had all but refused to hatch. "I'm sure you'll keep her lean and fighting fit. You don't strike me as the type to shirk training."

Bronzes. Too proud of their hides to see beyond them. If Erath's snapping irritated, the Brown certainly didn't let it show. There was no heat in Akerth's tone, no touch of yellow or red in his eyes. This was the truth, at least as far as he knew. I would not entrust our clutch to Morgath, who sees a green tail and loses focus, or to Pipith, who worries only about his own status.

"Dragons choose the rider they need." T'rus replied as they reached the oils. Akerth settled into a sitting position, his wings slightly spread, his attention still on Erath. "Akerth here, for example, needs to learn some tact."

He knelt beside the Brown in question, not yet starting to oil but taking a moment just to admire the dragon that was his lifemate. Such a handsome dragon, and big enough, at this time, to be a small Bronze. Bigger than Pipith, even.

"And maybe I'll learn how to be direct. I can't say you need to relax Y'ul, I hardly know you. But maybe there is something she needs to teach you, as well."

T'rus had begun work oiling Akerth, starting, somewhat inexpertly, with the Brown's shoulder-blades. He kept half his attention focused on Y'ul as he worked, glancing up frequently. Perhaps that contributed a bit to the messy results. "Then you'll butt heads." He gave a little shrug, but perhaps it was easier from his perspective. He and Akerth were getting along swimmingly. "What I mean is, you have your view, she has hers. Maybe neither of you have to win."

He might have said more, but was distracted and forced to jump back a bit as Akerth turned and snapped in Erath's direction. Yet if the action was abrupt and threatening, there was no anger in it. Akerth's eyes continued to swirl with the same comfortable blue. The point, that he was the larger of them, was hard to miss.

"Akerth?" Not privy to the dragons' conversation, T'rus reacted with surprise and evident disapproval.

Do not worry yourself. My clutchmate forgets her place. The dragon replied, his gaze still fixed on Erath.

You would do well to learn the tact of which my T'rus speaks, little green. His tone was low and level. He sounded irritated, as he always did. But it was a mild sort of irritation. This was, after all, exactly the sort of behavior he'd expect from Erath. My clutchmates do not fail. Morgath is distracted. Pipith is proud. You are lazy. All are flawed. But we will not fail. I will not allow it.

He gave a sighing sort of stretch and leaned into T'rus, who had taken up oiling again. Do not worry yourself over the place of my T'rus. I did not choose against the traditions of my Weyr.

"I get the impression they don't like each other." T'rus said, working oil along the joints in Akerth's wings.

Before Akerth could even think about snapping again, T'rus had a not so gentle grip around the new hatched dragon's headknob. His expression, for the first time, had slipped from a mild expression of amusement or happiness into something darker and harder. "Enough." His tone was low, but firm. Just that one hard word.

Akerth. We do not cause scenes. We do not allow scenes to happen around us. His mental tone was no gentler, though the levels of meaning were richer, more complex.

Erath is sound. Noise. Do not worry. Akerth, catching on to T'rus's irritation, didn't seem contrite or concerned.

It looks bad. She's a green. Ridden by a female. No one will expect her to do well. She doesn't matter. We matter. We must be above it. With that sharp rebuke, T'rus stood up, regaining a wry version of his earlier smile.

"I think that's our cue to depart. The Weyrlingmaster won't be happy if they fight, and he's already sore about our going back on the sands earlier. It was good to speak with you, Y'ul. Sorry about Akerth."