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It was the evening after the hatching, just about dinner time. While Shen always ate at home with his family, Sh'en found himself entering the public dining hall with Bajenth at his side. It wasn't that his father had said anything. Well. That was the point. He hadn't said anything. He'd taken one look at the dragon at Sh'en's side, shaken his head and walked out of the room. Sh'en's mother was full of reassurances that it would take time, that his father only needed to get used to the idea. But the fact of the matter was that Sh'en had always failed his father and now he was making it worse. Leaving the family trade, entering one that made the possibility of children almost non-existent. No family, no life, in the sense he'd been meant to have.

Usually, Sh'en just bowed his head and accepted the weight of disappointment. But with love of Bajenth buzzing bright and irrefutable in his head, it'd done more than sting. It'd made him angry. And Sh'en didn't do angry. So, he was eating in the public hall. It was better than simmering at home.

It was strange though. Everything was strange. Even Bajenth, who already felt like everything Sh'en had ever needed, was strange.

He is a fool. He doesn't understand you. He thinks you are a failure. I do not think so. I understand you. I love you. I will never reject you.

And it felt so true.

Well at least someone wanted to congratulate him, whispered the sharpest, coldest corner of his mind. At least someone wasn't expecting him to fail at this the way he always failed. The bitterness was surprising and brief, washed away by a wave of affection and warmth from Bajenth.

Because Bajenth really did love him. Loved him with a ferocity that demanded domination. It was something that neither the bronze nor his rider understood and probably never would. Better that way.

"B'hec. I'm so glad you Impressed. Please, join me. How is-" he stopped, searching for the dragons name. He knew Bajenth had mentioned it to him.

He is called Rayth. And then, directly to the blue, who was so tragically absent. Rayth, I and Mine are with Yours. Please come join us. I miss you.

"Rayth." Sh'en finished, rather late. "How are you, umm, settling? It's weird, isn't it? And I just... I can barely haul stone and now--" he gestured helplessly to Bajenth, "I don't know if I can do this."

So long as I am with you, you will be fine.

If Rayth wanted someone to whine to, he couldn't have found an audience more willing to listen then Bajenth, though the dragon seemed completely unaware, or at least unwilling to acknowledge, the smaller dragons nervousness around him. He projected the offended protector well, sitting up from his lounging position his eyes picking up a touch of irritated yellow as he looked back toward where the blue had come from.

They need to be careful of you. He growled as he spoke, a low disapproving rumble, his tail lashing. He stood then, in one sharp motion, looking ready to stride over to the kitchen. I will tell them. And then, a pause, as he remembered how little Rayth had reacted to his earlier conversation with B'hec. Very gently he added, Do you want me to speak with them?

Picking up the edges of his dragon's conversation, the leaking between their minds strong with the newness, Sh'en placed his hand firmly on the dragons neck, trying to discourage him from storming off. But if he wanted too, well, Sh'en wasn't going to ask him to stop. Bajenth knew what he was doing. Knew better than Sh'en ever had. "He umm, I think he really likes Rayth." A fond smile now, the newness of the bond still powerful. It didn't last long, as the comment about the kitchens reminded him of his own earlier encounter. "Is your family... proud of you? Do they like him?"

Bajenth made a low huffing noise at Rayth's response, but he settled back down, scooting forward a bit to get closer to the blue. Oh, Rayth could retreat alright, but Bajenth would just keep moving forward, slowly. He was willing to be patient, for now. Water against a stone. Rayth was delicate, as he saw it. He took courting. They would be friends. Oh, yes they would.

If it happens again, tell me. I will take care of it. The concern and irritation were not feigned, he did not like the idea of those who were his being mistreated. You do not like it in the kitchens? I do not like it in Mine's house. His father is a fool, who does not appreciate him.

"I thought my father'd be the same. Just glad to get me out of his hair." Sh'en huffed, doing a pretty decent imitation of Bajenth's earlier irritated noise. "But he's so convinced that his sons all have to follow the trade. Now I've gone and messed it up."

The resentful front was fading, giving way to more honest emotions. Like, guilt. And, fear. He'd be leaving his family. Not now, but soon. Not just his family but everything he'd ever know. No, he wasn't a good mason but he knew the craft. Knew it better than anything. Certainly better than he knew dragons. He'd made a mess trying to oil poor Bajenth after the hatching. He got the feeling he'd be making lots of such messes.

Left to his own devices, at least around those that didn't need cheering up, Sh'en's conversation always tended to head down a gloomy track. He couldn't help it. When it came to himself, there was a lot to be gloomy about. And facing something new, something THIS new with no one to guide him--

I guide you now. Bajenth interjected, firmly.

And he would. And that was good. And things would be okay. So new to the bond that he wasn't even sure whose thoughts those were, he never the less allowed them to calm him down, giving his head a brief shake. "Nevermind. This is-- This is a good day. Look at us, both of us. Dragonriders. Even if the hatching--" his expression fell into confusion as he remembered, "What do you think it meant, so many going to outsiders? Our queen--"

I see you. I will always see you. We are friends. Whether that was what poor shy Rayth wanted to hear or no, Bajenth spoke with a resolve that was hard to argue with, even by a dragon much more forceful than the little blue. The kitchen sounds very dangerous! If you like, I will come watch after you. I will make sure you do not get stepped on.

Sh'en had been picking at his own plate, there was still plenty of food left that he hadn't touched. Generally, the skinny former mason inhaled food (for all the good it did him), but today his thoughts were so tangled it was slowing him down. Not responding to B'hec's thoughts on the outsiders, as Sh'en wasn't sure what his opinion was to give it, he shook his head.

"Nah, I'm alright. Well, klah would be nice, if you're going." He smiled, but his eyes were distant, still stuck on thoughts of the hatching.

Would they stay? Did he want them too? Those were Ghenzan dragons. Their dragons. Their queen! All their bronzes, but for Bajenth. And in that, at least, he could feel something akin to pride. He would stay with Ghenza. Bajenth would stay with Ghenza, where they belonged.

"Do you want them to stay?" He asked his dragon, reaching down to stroke that bronze neck for reassurance.

My clutchmates made their choice. They can do as they wish. I worry, for Wilth though. It will scare him, to leave for somewhere strange. He should remain here, with me.

Sh'en smiled fondly at the dragon's answer. So like him, to always worry about others. He was such a good dragon.

Dragon's neither chuckled, nor smiled, so Bajenth did neither. But, nonetheless, his amusement at Rayth's response was apparent enough. You're so clever, Rayth. That's exactly it. You are blue, and I am bronze. You will always be little. You need someone who is big that will protect you. Someone who will always see you, like I will. That is why we are friends.

There, now. That was settled then. As it should be. Bajenth stretched out his neck to give the blue a light bump to the shoulder with the side of his head. Poor little Rayth. Still worried he didn't mean what he said. But he'd always mean it. Rayth needed him. Rayth would always need him. So he would always be there.

I am going to speak to Yours now. I will try not to startle him, I promise. He told the blue gently, before inclining his head upward so that he could see B'hec. His tone was sweet, warm and honeyed. Trustworthy. I am sorry I startled you earlier, B'hec. Rayth is my friend and I wanted to be sure he was safe. You may come to me, if you ever need help with him. Or, if the kitchens are too crowded, Mine works outside. I can look after him while you work.

Sh'en, meanwhile, accepted the klah while nodding in enthusiastic agreement. I've been walking everywhere, looking like I'm talking to myself. I don't know how the senior riders do it. And... There's all this--" his hands fluttered helplessly in the air, "noise. Stuff that's Bajenth, not me. The floor under him. His wings. I have itches in places I don't actually have."

Somewhere, deep in the darkest hissing corner of Bajenth's mind something twisted and growled. Oh, so B'hec thought he could keep Rayth to himself did he? Thought he could take one of Bajenth's own? Well, even little Rayth wouldn't be kitchen sized for long. And then, the dragon fields, where Bajenth would have full reign.

But at the surface the irritation flashed and faded like ash in air, leaving only the barest hint of it behind. At the surface, he thought only of how much he wished B'hec would agree, how nice it would to be to have Rayth at his side during the day when Sh'en was busy. But, of course, his rider would want him near too.

Of course you will. Rayth would not have chosen you if you couldn't care for him. The dragon replied, all conciliatory noises. As if shocked at the implication that criticism might have been intended. And then, remembering Rayth's earlier comment, he added. Please, be sure that no one sets him on fire.

Poor Sh'en picking up only the edges of this conversation, wasn't sure how to react. B'hec and Rayth both seemed uncomfortable, but as far as he could tell, Bajenth was only trying to be helpful. And he wasn't going to apologize for that (not that he'd ever apologize for anything Bajenth did).

"He's very--" Shen clutched his klah, now wishing they were elsewhere, somewhere less awkward. Was he doing this rider thing wrong? Should he intervene? "He's not shy."

You are nervous, Mine. You should not be, but that's alright. We will go now. Tell B'hec that you are taking me to feed. The dragon rose, almost gracefully, to his feet. Goodbye, Rayth. You may call me, whenever you need.

"I-- he's hungry now. I guess. Sorry. We better go."