Even in the new quarters and strange bed, and after all the excitement of the day, V’al slept soundly. But the following day was as long as the proceeding night was short. It was Lerath that woke him with a prodding nose in the early hours. The blue had explored everything in the room and wanted to go further. He remembered V’al warning not to leave without him, so would he get up already? The lethargic boy demanded breakfast first, and then they set to ‘exploring’ the halls V’al already knew well. Lerath led at an eager pace, doggedly looking into each room and crevice, his wings half spread. V’al couldn’t convince him to tuck them in, and when they were thrown out of the healer’s room (after V’al had gotten a small bandage on his cut thigh) for a shattered pot, he called the exploring to an end and led them to a secluded grove outside the weyr. There he settled in the grass, silent while Lerath nosed about the area, startling bugs and birds with his inquisitiveness.

Finally wearied by the morning jaunt and noonday sun, Lerath returned to his dark-haired, dark-eyed chosen and laid his head in V’al’s lap, crooning for scratches. When his Chosen obliged, he rolled an eye toward him. Why are we here?
I wanted to be alone, V’al answered softly. His dragon had been quick to explain he didn’t have to talk out loud to him, but he wasn’t adjusted to that just yet. He only tried now because the silence seemed dear.
You like being alone a lot I think. Is that normal?
For some people.
You won’t be alone anymore now though.
You’re different. Val patted Lerath’s long neck with affection.
So are you. I remember you from in the Dark. It was murky and hard to think clearly, but I remember.
It took V’al a moment to realize Lerath was talking about his time in the egg. He blinked surprise. You do?
Yes. I remember you being near once. You were very persistent and demanding. Most of the other seemed kind but… content.
V’al’s expression turned wry. I’m discontent. But Lerath missed his sardonic tone.
It reminded me of the large one, the one that guarded me and my siblings… The first one, not the one that watched us hatch. What happened to the first one?
V’al hesitatedbut it was impossible to lie. That was the crimson Alumanth, your mother. She was killed by one of the Benden dragons.
Lerath stared up at him for a long time, eyes whirling in mild distress and sadness before he asked more.
It took a very long time for V’al to explain everything that had happened, but for once he didn’t breeze through answers or try to distract the young dragonet from endless questioning.