Disclaimer: The Temeraire Universe and the Temeraire Series is copyright to Naomi Novik. Thus, I do not own the Temeraire Universe or the Temeraire Series. This fanfiction was created under the fair use clause and no profit is being made. None of Naomi Novik's canon characters are used in this fanfiction, or ever will be used.

Author's Note: Please, read on and enjoy the chapter. I'm sorry for the long delay with chapter 8. I got a new puppy and she's been taking up a lot of my time. That, in combination with more writer's block didn't help. I'm going to try to get chapter 8 done in a week and a half if I can, but of course there's no guarantee. I keep falling behind on this and I'm going to have to change that.

Chapter 7: Never a Boring Day

Virtus watched with interest as Saevio dived down and easily dispatched a cow in the feeding pen. He then gave his attention to Obson and lowered his head so that one eye was level with the Captain, "Well I see that you have both made excellent progress in the last week and six days. I'd estimate that your Saevio is a ton and a half now, perhaps even a little more. Now, I expect you shall update me on the events of the past few days," he requested, though it was clearly an order on his part.

Obson had been leaning up against the fence watching Saevio, but he soon gave the training master his full attention, "Yes Sir! Well Saevio has been taking in both knowledge and food voraciously. He knows the signal flags by heart now, since I've drilled him on them every day thoroughly. He also knows the basic formations, even though he hasn't had the official training yet. I'm also happy to report that he's perfected his landings, and he's built up more endurance when flying," he reported dutifully. Obson then frowned and glanced back towards Saevio, "Sir, I hesitate to bring this up, but I must voice a few concerns I have about Saevio," Obson requested formally.

Virtus rumbled to forestall Obson from speaking further. A quick look was given in Saevio's direction, but the dragon was busy feeding. Virtus sighed and replied to Obson, "There is no need Captain Obson. Saevio is becoming more aggressive, and that is to be expected for his breed. I received a complaint yesterday from the Captain of a Yellow Reaper. He informed me that your Saevio stole away a cow that his Avara had killed for her meal. Apparently he took it right out from under her nose and refused to give it back when she asked politely. She did not challenge him over it and in the end he had an extra meal. You are going to have to tell him that sort of behavior is unacceptable. I am afraid that you are going to have your work cut out for you Captain. He is only going to get more aggressive and if you let him have his way, he'll eventually become uncontrollable. If that happens, well you know the consequences. Use that steadfastness of yours to your advantage. That is one of the reasons why the Admirals selected you," he informed Obson in a serious tone.

Obson looked back at Virtus and nodded stoically, "I shall Sir, you may have my word on that. I am sorry that he has caused trouble for another dragon. I was unaware that he'd done anything of the sort. If I had been approached about it directly, then perhaps I would have been able to do something about it sooner. As things stand, I plan to have words with him about it shortly," he promised earnestly. There was a brief pause before he ventured a question to the training master, "I have a quick question Sir, if you have the time. Saevio has been asking me often about that feral that was caught. Have you any news of her that I may relay to Saevio?"

Virtus was a bit surprised by the sudden change in subject, and he gave an amused rumble, "Very good Captain Obson, I believe the Admirals made a good choice with you. As for the feral, you may tell Saevio to have patience. He is certain to find out tomorrow when he begins his official training. I shall tell you no more than that. I believe tomorrow will make for a very interesting day for both of you. Now if you will excuse me, I must return to my charges. I left an off-duty Yellow Reaper to keep an eye on them, but he's not the most dependable sort. Good day to you Captain Obson, and I shall expect you to be at the training yard just past sunrise tomorrow," he announced. Virtus then rose up onto his hind legs and pushed off, his great wings churning the air rapidly. He climbed in height and then glided off in the direction of the training courtyard.

Obson watched the training master go and then turned to look at Saevio. The Grey Widowmaker was making short work of his second cow. Obson sighed and decided he'd better get the unpleasant business of lecturing Saevio over with. He hated to have to do it, but the training master was right. If it wasn't done, the Grey Widowmaker might take it in his head to do something far more serious. The last thing Obson wanted was for Saevio to be sent off to the breeding grounds. Grumbling to himself, Obson stepped up onto the second slat of the fence and waved one arm wildly to get Saevio's attention.

Saevio gulped down the last scraps of his second cow and looked around for more. Unfortunately, the other dragons present had already taken care of the rest. Saevio rumbled in annoyance and twisted his head around, hoping that one of the other dragons eating their meals would be slow enough in eating that he could snatch their kill from them. The only other dragons feeding at the time were both heavyweight Chequered Nettles. He wasn't afraid to challenge them for their food, but he decided against it. He felt like having more, but he knew he didn't need it. Saevio suddenly saw a flash of movement and realized that it was Obson waving him in. The Grey Widowmaker quickly loped his way over to stand by the fence, "Pray, do not worry Obson, for I am done now. The cows were very good, though I wish they would let me have more," he complained in an annoyed tone.

Obson did his best to look stern while standing on the fence, "That is actually what I wish to speak to you about. You have just missed the training master, who came to check up on our progress. I was told that you stole food from another dragon yesterday. That is very unbecoming of you, and I am deeply ashamed. You should have known better than to do that. It worries me, that you seem to be acting more and more like Chlotharius these days."

Saevio narrowed his eyes and made a strangled noise that was half rumble and half growl. The Grey Widowmaker then lowered his head and shook it in denial, "I am not like Chlotharius, I really am not! I was just very hungry and they wouldn't give me any more cows. The Yellow Reaper was only picking at hers and didn't look all that hungry. I did not think it would hurt if I helped her finish it. She only asked for it back out of spite," he announced, trying to defend his actions despite the fact he knew he was in the wrong. His wings drooped at Obson's stern look and he caved, "Oh very well, I shall not do it again," he promised in a serious tone.

Obson stared Saevio down as he tried to decide what to do. He could tell that Saevio had meant what he'd said, but at the same time he didn't seem to believe he'd done anything wrong. Obson decided he'd have to press the issue and replied, "Not all dragons eat at the same rate, and not all of them are bottomless pits like you either. They work hard for their meals, and they deserve to be able to eat without having to worry about their food being stolen. How would you like it if you came back from a long and harrowing battle, only to have your food snatched away from you? You would not like it very much I bet. Saevio, there can be no more of this behavior. If you keep it up, you will have no choice but to go to the breeding grounds, and I would be stationed aboard another dragon. I did not want to have to tell you that, but it is the truth."

Saevio found he could no longer look his Captain in the eye and so he turned his head away. His shoulders hunched dejectedly and when he spoke, his voice was softer, "You are right my Captain. I did not think of it at all like that. I should never have done it, I understand that now. I will go and apologize to the Yellow Reaper if that is what you wish."

Obson's expression softened immediately and he quickly shook his head, "Pray, do not do so. There is no need since the training master already apologized to Avara and her Captain on our behalf. I did not want to be so harsh with you, but you gave me little choice in the matter. You have never broken your word to me before, and so I shall accept your apology. Let us drop the subject and speak of more pleasant things. I asked the training master about the feral, and he told me to tell you to be patient. Apparently we shall both find out about her tomorrow when we begin official formation training. Anyway, are you feeling refreshed? I believe it is time we went on our first flight together. You are certainly large enough now, and the training master told me a few days ago that we could go on either of the last two days before official training."

Saevio raised his head, as if hardly believing at the change in his Captain's mood. It seemed to affect him as well, and he stood up straighter. His navy blue eyes gleamed with eagerness and he rumbled, "Ah, well I have waited this long to find out. I suppose I can wait yet another day. Yes, my Captain I am feeling well, so let us go for a flight together..." he trailed off suddenly as he realized something. Saevio tilted his head to the side slightly, "Wait, is the training valley not in use? I think we shall have to wait until the others are done with it," he remarked in a disappointed tone.

Obson waved off Saevio's concern, "Yes, the training valley is in use at the moment. However, you may fly above the hills and do a few laps over the forest beyond. We can't go to the channel because it is too dangerous, but the forest itself should be safe enough," he announced. There was the brief sound of scuffling as Obson climbed a few more slats of the fence. He balanced precariously at the top in a half crouch. Obson quickly called out, "Pray, move alongside the fence quickly so that I may climb the harness. I am not able to keep this up for long."

Saevio moved alongside the fence obediently, though he could hardly contain his excitement. He was going to get to show off his flying skills to his Captain, only this time Obson wouldn't have to watch from below. Thinking to make it easier for his Captain, Saevio hunkered down as far as he could go. Saevio then inquired, "Do we not need signal flags of some sort? It is not as though we will be going over the training valley. We might need those flags in order to signal our departure," he reminded his Captain sternly.

Obson was too busy trying to figure out where to climb up on the harness to respond at first. He studied Saevio's side with narrowed eyes, and then chose one of the wider straps to begin his climb. Reaching up carefully to hold onto a strap above with both hands, he then placed one foot after another onto the wide strap he had chosen. The climb did not take him long, not since he'd had plenty of prior practice. Obson chose to hook his carabineers at a likely spot just in front of Saevio's shoulder blades. There was a brief gap between the spines there, and it was as good a choice as any. The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement and he replied to Saevio, "Your training has stood you in good stead I see. You need not worry, as I have already made arrangements. I would like you to make a brief stop at the main courtyard before we head out over the forest. There we shall meet up with Captain Mackay and his Winchester Cadmus. I spoke with Captain Mackay at length yesterday, and he has agreed to lend us his spare set of signal flags. I could have requested them from the training master, but I did not want to impose upon him further."

"Ah, you have had this planned out I see. Well then, let us be on our way," Saevio informed him. That was all the warning he gave before he unfurled his wings and extended them. He leaped up into the air and took off with a practiced ease that he had lacked before. It took only a few deep wingbeats for him to rise to a higher altitude, and then he allowed the wind to do most of the work. He could tell by Obson's indignant sputtering that his Captain was upset, but he was too happy to be in the air to be bothered by it. He'd done it because he was tired of listening to his Captain go on and on. The man really did talk too much. Either Obson had gotten his message, or he was just too angry to talk. Either way, Saevio got to enjoy the short flight to the main courtyard in silence.

Obson stood up on Saevio's back as soon as the Grey Widowmaker had made his landing. He shaded one hand above his eyes and then glanced around, trying to pick out a small Winchester in the crowd of people and dragons. Thankfully Cadmus wasn't hard to see, not with his vivid purple markings. The Winchester looked to be sprawled out in the far right corner of the courtyard, with his Captain standing near his head. Obson then sat back down just in front of Saevio's shoulder blades and held onto the straps. He was still a little miffed at Saevio, though he understood the Grey Widowmaker's message. All he'd been trying to do was to make sure that Saevio had all the information he needed, but the Grey Widowmaker had become more impatient as of late. Obson was short as he spoke, "Pray, take us through to the far right corner."

Saevio ambled towards the Winchester, and hissed in annoyance as a Cadet got in his way. The loud noise and the press of bodies all around him served to irritate the Grey Widowmaker further. He had to restrain himself from snapping at the Cadet to get him moving. The low throaty growl that he gave was enough to send people scrambling out of his way. Thankfully there were no dragons directly in between him and the Winchester. His greeting to the Winchester and his Captain was less than polite, "My Captain and I are here now. Can you just give us those signal flags so that we may go?" he asked, without so much as a proper greeting.

Cadmus was quick to stand up and set the young Grey Widowmaker to rights, "I may know your Captain, but I do not know you. I shall not lend you my spare set of signal flags if this is how you insist on acting. You will address me as Cadmus and introduce yourself properly. If you truly desire to borrow those signal flags, then you shall ask for them politely. I would think that your Captain had taught you better manners than this," he lectured Saevio severely.

Captain Mackay ignored Saevio's behavior and addressed Obson only, "Good morning Captain Obson, I've been expecting you. Although, whatever happened to the well-mannered and tractable dragon you told me about? This beast of yours has a temper fit for a fire-breather!"

Captain Obson quirked his lips in amusement and climbed down Saevio's side to the ground. The only admonishment he gave Saevio this time was a warning look. He replied to Mackay's inquiry with good humor, "Good morning to you as well Captain Mackay. Yes, I am quickly finding that out. Well, he may have started out that way, but he's changed over the past two weeks. I shall manage though, for it is not as though it is entirely unexpected," he explained, with a meaningful look aimed at Saevio. He then looked over at Cadmus, "Good morning Cadmus, you are as sharp-tongued as ever I see. I believe Saevio could certainly learn a few things from you."

Saevio hastily backed away from Cadmus a few steps, mostly out of surprise. The only Winchester he knew was Citatus, and he was rather shy and lacked self-confidence. This Winchester was far bolder and didn't seem to fear him in the least. As Saevio looked over Cadmus from a distance, he noticed several scars around the shoulders and down his front legs. This Winchester wasn't young, and looked to be rather experienced. After a bit of considering, Saevio gave way to the authority of the older dragon. He bowed his head slightly and replied, "My apologies Cadmus, I did not address you properly. I am Saevio, and I have come to borrow your spare set of signal flags, if you would be so kind as to lend them to my Captain. Also, if I may ask, how do your Captain and my Captain know one another?" he inquired curiously.

Cadmus nodded politely to Captain Obson, but his attention was mainly on Saevio. He looked the youngster up and down once, then huffed in amusement, "There, now that is much better. Yes you may borrow the spare set of signal flags, though I expect them to be treated with care. No tearing them up with your claws if you get upset over something," he warned in a stern tone. He then directed his gaze to his Captain, "Mackay, pray bring Obson my spare set of signal flags if you will," he requested before turning his head to answer Saevio's question, "He has not told you of us I see. Well, that is not all that surprising, considering my Captain and I were stationed out at the Edinburgh covert for the past two months and we only returned to Loch Laggan week. As to how we know one another, well your Captain and mine grew up in the covert together. They've known one another since they were just squeakers."

Captain Mackay lugged over a leather satchel and set it down just in front of Obson. It had been partially concealed before by one of Cadmus's forelegs. There was a set of 24 signal flags total, though a couple of them were extras. The material the flags were made of was a little worn, but they were in good condition otherwise. Captain Mackay looked to Obson with a serious expression, "Cadmus is right of course. These flags were the first set we were ever given, and while of few of them had to be updated, most of them are still the originals. I will part with them only for today, and I expect they shall be returned by this evening. Is that understood?"

Obson crouched down to examine the signal flags with interest, though he quickly looked up upon hearing Mackay's stern warning. He stood up and nodded in understanding, "Of course, I shall endeavor to keep them safe from harm. Thank you for lending them to us. I assume you both have courier duty, so I shall not impose upon either of you any further. Be assured, the flags are going to be returned in a timely manner. Both of you take care." Obson carefully hefted the strap of the satchel up over his shoulder and turned to face Saevio, "I know you are anxious to be off, so let us go now. Pray crouch down, so that I may board," Obson instructed Saevio.

Saevio was restless and shuffled his feet as he waited for Obson to finish speaking with Mackay, his curiosity having waned after learning Mackay was yet another childhood friend, much like Alcedonia's Captain. He distracted himself by replying to Cadmus, "You have a very handsome set of flags. They are quite impressive. You need not worry about me tearing them up, as I have no desire to do so. I shall simply let my Captain handle them," he assured the Winchester and then crouched down as his Captain had requested. He waited only long enough for his Captain to climb up and clip a carabineer in place. Saevio made a powerful leap and beat his wings rapidly. Saevio flew so low that the edge of his tail brushed against the top of one stone wall.

Obson held onto one of the harness straps with one hand, while the other was wrapped around the strap of the satchel. He carefully lowered the satchel onto Saevio's back and then worked to secure the satchel to the harness. That way there would be no chance that the satchel of flags would fall. His forehead scrunched up in concentration as he lifted the flap on the satchel more so that he could see which flags he wanted to use. He selected two of them and brought them out, waiting patiently for Saevio to get clear of the covert walls. He spotted a Yellow Reaper and his Captain on guard duty, and waved the flags in their direction. He was signalling to them that he and Saevio were going out. Obson squinted as he saw the brightly colored signal flags flashing back at him. They had been given the all-clear to depart. Obson immediately put the signal flags away safely in the satchel.

Saevio was content to let his Captain worry about the flags. Their departure had already been cleared by the training master ahead of time, so he wasn't worried about whether or not he was allowed to go. He raced away from the covert as fast as his wings could carry him, and revelled in the feeling of the wind against his face. He stretched his neck out and angled in the direction of the forest, and this time he knew there was nothing to fear. The sky was cloudy but that was normal, and the turbulence he'd experienced last time was no longer an obstacle to him. Saevio's one-ton form was steady in the air and he was able to keep on a level flight path. After a few minutes of flying in silence, he ventured to ask his Captain, "So what do you think?"

"I think that you didn't give me any time to check the straps, and you didn't bother to check to make sure we were given clearance to leave. I also think you need to work on your take-offs a bit. Other than that, I believe you are getting the hang of flying. You shall be giving most dragons a lesson in speed before long. You are far faster than any of the dragons I have served aboard," Obson both criticized and complimented within the span of a few minutes. Obson was beginning to enjoy the flight, and was content to watch the hills seem to blur away beneath them.

Saevio rumbled a little bit at Obson's criticism, but he had to admit that his Captain was right. There were still a few things that he needed to work on. At the same time, he was also pleased at the compliment. He responded by beating his wings faster and working hard to reach the edge of the forest that he saw up ahead. As he flew, he thought back to their meeting with Mackay and Cadmus. Saevio then asked, "Obson, you seem to know a lot of people and dragons, and you're well-liked by most of those we've met. Why is that?"

Obson thought about it for a moment and answered, "It is not as though I am special. I think it is simply because I have spent my whole life at the covert. They watched me grow from a squeaker to a man, and many of them knew me when they were youngsters themselves. They have had plenty of time to judge what kind of person I am," he informed Saevio in a contemplative tone. It wasn't long after he finished speaking that they reached the edge of the forest. Obson then jokingly remarked, "Pray do not go down into the forest this time. I do not think the Admirals would be pleased to have to send out a search party again."

Saevio gave a series of rumbles that almost sounded like a chortle and responded, "I think I shall be fine this time. There is no storm to worry of, and no missing dragonet. It is nice to be able to take you flying, and to not have to worry about any sudden emergencies. I will try to work on those things you complained of. As for what kind of person you are, well you are my Captain, and that is all that matters," he told him, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his Captain. The pair flew in silence for a while, and it was a peaceful time for them. Any worries seemed to be carried away by the wind.

The peace lasted for about half an hour of flying over the forest, before Obson suddenly spotted something. He leaned out as far as the harness would allow and shielded one hand above his eyes. At first it was just a grey and scarlet smudge out over the forest, but as it came closer, Obson saw that is was a bloody dragon that was laboring hard to fly. He immediately pointed it out to Saevio, "Saevio, you must take us to that dragon, and quickly. I do not think it can stay in the air much longer. Why, those wings are all over with blood," he ordered, his voice rising a bit with alarm.

Saevio saw the dragon not long after Obson did, and he immediately banked hard to the right and headed towards it. The dragon was clearly a British one, and Saevio was able to identify it as a Greyling. Obson had shown him a book with all of the British dragon breeds in it, and that's how he knew what this one was. The Grey Widowmaker noticed that the dragon had a Captain and a sparse crew once he got closer. He also knew that there was no way he could help keep the dragon in the air. The Greyling was full-grown at an estimated five tons, and it would be impossible for him to carry it. Just as he was moving in to within a few meters, he saw the gleam of rifle muzzles. He reacted quickly by folding his wings against his sides and dropping. He had moved just barely in time as the sound of gunshots rang out. He didn't understand what was happening. Why was he being attacked? He didn't understand it, but if they didn't want him near, well he wasn't going to force it. He pulled out of his stoop and back to level flight, and he just flew forward as fast as his wings would allow. It wasn't hard for him to pull away from the range of their rifles. The Greyling's shredded wings were barely beating fast enough to keep it in the air.

Obson's face had gone red from a mixture of anger and an elevated heart rate. The acrid smell of gunpowder had sunk into his jacket, but at least he hadn't been hit thanks to Saevio's quick reaction time. He had directed Saevio towards the Greyling to investigate and after seeing it was a British dragon, he had been ready to offer any assistance he could. It was truly unexpected to have been fired at, but he soon realized why. Saevio had no crew save for him, and he'd put the signal flags back in the satchel a while back. Obson had originally intended to use the signal flags once they were closer in visual range, but obviously he should have used them sooner. He quickly came to the conclusion that they'd probably thought Saevio was a french dragon coming in for an attack, and that was why they had been fired upon. He patted the base of Saevio's neck and ordered, "Fly a bit higher and then bring us about. One we are within range, slow your speed and I shall wave the signal flag for parley. If they show signs of firing again, drop like you did before," he instructed. It was a risk to them, but he couldn't just leave them when they were obviously in serious trouble.

Saevio wasn't afraid, especially now that he was confident enough of his reflexes. Saevio had already guesses by then the reason for the attack. The men aboard the Greyling were well-trained and could have aimed for his head. They hadn't missed him at all, he'd realized. They had just fired the shots to scare him off. Saevio did as Obson asked and angled upwards, climbing to a slightly higher altitude. He then veered around in an aerial u-turn and headed back in the direction of the injured Greyling. As the injured dragon came back into view, Saevio was alarmed to see that it was flying lower than it had before. Blood was streaming from a dozen open wounds and the wing sails looked to be split in several places. The Greyling still had enough wingsail left to fly, but the loss of blood was weakening it. This time Saevio was coming towards the Greyling from behind and slightly above, rather than at the front. Saevio tensed up as he pulled alongside within rifle range and slowed his speed to match the nearly crawling pace of the Greyling.

Obson already had the flag for parley out and waved it wildly, hoping that Greyling's crew wouldn't fire upon them again. Thankfully they were in luck this time. Either that, or the Greyling's crew were almost out of ammo and were conserving the rest. Obson looked towards the spot on the dragon where the Signal-Ensign was normally stationed. To his relief, he saw a flag waving back at him, demanding that they identify themselves. He put the parley flag back in the satchel, and then dragged out two more flags. He was glad he'd decided to borrow them for training purposes, or else they both might have been in even more serious trouble. As it was, he waved the flags to identify himself and Saevio as trainees for the British Aerial Corps. He then lowered one flag at a downward angle, indicating that he wanted them to land. Signal flags could be useful, but he didn't think the Greyling could stay in the air in its current condition, and he wanted to speak to the Greyling's Captain. He thought at first that they would refuse, but then the Greyling dropped in altitude and angled for a clearing in the forest. Obson put the signal flags away and requested, "Saevio, please wait until they have landed safely, and then take us down in that clearing."

Saevio was greatly relieved to see the rifles no longer pointed at him, and was surprised how effective the signal flags were for communicating. He watched as the Greyling glided to a landing in the clearing, and then collapsed in an exhausted heap. He could see the crew go to work staunching the wounds with great white swaths of cloth. His only answer to his Captain was a loud rumble, and then he tilted the trailing edges of his wings and went into a shallow glide. It didn't take long before he touched down a little ways north in the clearing from where the Greyling had landed. He covered the rest of the distance walking with his tail dragging in the grass. He stopped a few meters away and crouched down so his Captain would have an easier time getting off. He looked over towards the Greyling and saw that its Captain was dismounting too.

Captain Obson met the Greyling's Captain half-way between both dragons. He immediately identified himself before anything else, "I am Captain Obson of Grey Widowmaker Saevio. Our official training is set to start tomorrow, and we were out on a flight for practice purposes when we encountered you. I should hope you would have a good explanation for firing at us. If it is what I suspect, then I will let it pass. Now, will you please tell me who you are and just what is going on?"

Captain Speir stood stiffly at a distance from Obson, with one hand clenched around the butt of a pistol for protection. He glanced at the man warily, but relaxed a bit once he saw clear signs that Obson was everything he said he was. His hair was messed up and his clothing reeked of gunpowder, and it was also covered in the near-black blood of his Greyling. He looked at Obson as if measuring his worth and then began his explanation, "I am Captain Speir of Greyling Paulus. We are from Longwing Lucilenta's formation. We were stationed on patrol over the channel when we were attacked by not one but two french formations. My Greyling was injured in the initial attack by a Roi-de-Vitesse. We were ordered by the formation leader to leave the fight and bring the news back to the covert with a request for reinforcements. When we saw you, we thought a french dragon had pursued us and circled around to come at us from the front. There is no time for apologies right now. The others in our formation are still fighting as we speak. Paulus is too injured now to fly, which is the only reason why I complied with your request to land. Now the task shall have to fall to you, trainee or not. Take your beast back to the covert and carry out our orders immediatly, and send help back for us as well," he ordered.

Captain Obson's eyes widened at the news, but he knew there was no time to waste. He bowed stiffly and then straightened up to look the Captain in the eye, "Yes Sir, my Saevio may be young, but he is almost as swift as a Greyling. We shall carry out your orders with all due haste," he promised. Obson turned without another word and made his way swiftly back to Saevio's side. There was no doubt in Obson's mind that Saevio had been listening in, so he did not have to worry about an explanation. He climbed up the harness to sit in front of Saevio's shoulder blades and clipped a carabineer into the harness. The Captain then leaned forward, "Away Saevio, we must go back to the covert immediately. This will certainly test your newfound endurance, but I believe you are up to the challenge. Lives are depending on us now, as unexpected as it is."

Saevio's eyes gleamed eagerly and he nodded to his Captain, "I shall not fail," he told him. His wings snapped open and he made a leap into the air. Within seconds they were aloft and headed in the direction of the covert. Saevio stretched out his entire body from his neck to his tail in order to cut down on wind resistance. At least the weather held, and it was still cloudy but not raining. The wind was steady, which helped with his speed. They were half an hour away from the covert, but he hadn't been going at his full speed before. There hadn't been a need to do so until now. He figured he could get to the covert in half that time at full speed, but there was no way to tell for sure but to try. There was no chatter between the Grey Widowmaker and his Captain, and thus there were no distractions. There were just miles of forest to cover, which appeared to roll by like a giant green carpet beneath him.

Despite his earlier words, Obson was a bit worried about Saevio. The Grey Widowmaker had done aerial laps over the course of two weeks, but never had he been asked to fly so far at top speed. Obson also worried about the formation still fighting over the channel. The longer they took, the more chance there was that lives would be lost. The french had the advantage both in numbers and heavy weights. Never had he imagined that he and Saevio would be shouldering such a huge responsibility so soon. At least he knew that Saevio was giving all that he had, and he was both exhilarated and a bit scared at being carried at such high speeds. Most of all, Obson felt completely helpless to do anything. He dared not even give Saevio a word of encouragement, because of the danger that he might distract him.

Saevio lost track of how long he had been flying. His muscles had begun to protest the steady fast pace, but he forced them to keep at it. He was a Grey Widowmaker, and he certainly wasn't going to fail on his first official mission, even if it had been assigned by the Captain of a Greyling. The sight of the green hills up ahead was a most welcome one and Saevio rumbled to alert his Captain. It wouldn't be long before they would reach the covert. He could only hope that he had been fast enough, because he felt the weight of responsibility as much as his Captain did. As the towers of the covert came into view in the distance, Saevio was allowed to slow down at last, if only so that they wouldn't overshoot the covert on their approach.

Obson was so relieved to see the covert that he didn't even have words for it. He just took the signal flags he would need out of the satchel. He waited until they were close enough to the covert, and then began to wave the flags to signal their return. The second flag he used conveyed emergency. The same Yellow Reaper from before was still on guard duty, and the Signal-Ensign aboard him flashed a flag back in acknowledgement, followed by another one that conveyed an order to land. Obson ordered Saevio to do so immediately, "We are to land by that Yellow Reaper now. Good flying my friend," he praised Saevio at last.

Saevio was breathing heavily as he glided in for a landing, and he was surprised to find that he was slightly shaky when he touched down. He wasn't sure whether it was from excitement or exhaustion. He was more than happy to crouch down, both making it easier for his Captain to get down and giving him an excuse to rest for a moment. For once he wished he could have just have gone on a nice flight without something happening. He seemed to have either the best or the worst luck when it came to that. Saevio was too tired to speak, and decided to leave it up to his Captain to relay the news. He just remained crouched and dragged in deep ragged breaths of air.

Captain Bothy saw the condition the young dragon was in, and realized that there really was something wrong. He immediately climbed down from Placida's back and waited for the Grey Widowmaker's Captain to do the same. Once Saevio's Captain was on the ground, he approached him at a swift walk. He was quick with his line of questioning, "You signalled an emergency. What is it?" he asked in all seriousness. This sort of thing was not something to take likely.

Captain Obson didn't waste time either, "Saevio and I met an injured Greyling out over the forest. We landed and spoke to the Greyling's Captain. The Greyling's name is Paulus and his Captain's name was Speir. He told us they were from Lucilenta's formation. Long story short, Lucilenta's formation was attacked by two french formations over the channel. I know not the details, only that they are in desperate need of reinforcements. Paulus was unable to make it here due to injuries to his wings. They Greyling, his Captain, and their crew can be found half an hour over the forest in a clearing. They shouldn't be hard to miss since most of the forest is dense."

Captain Bothy listened carefully and then took out a notepad from his jacket pocket and quickly scribbled down a couple missives. He then looked over towards the Yellow Reaper and called, "Mr. Borrel and Mr. Dynham, pray come here and take these missives off to the Admirals immediately," he ordered before looking to Obson, "Thank you for bringing us this news. My runners shall take these missives to the Admirals, and they will decide what course of action to take from there. I suggest you let your beast rest a bit, then take him off to the feeding grounds, as he is bound to be ravenous," he informed Obson. He had just finished speaking when the young officers approached, took the missives, and then took off into the covert at a run.

Saevio was quite relieved to be done with his mission. He had done what he could, and now it would be up to the Admirals to decide what was to be done about it. He quite liked Captain Bothy's suggestion that he get a meal. His stomach was beginning to growl, and he knew that Captain Bothy was right about him being ravenous. Saevio lowered his head and directed his gaze to Obson, "Pray, may we go to the feeding grounds now? I am sure that the Admirals will take care of the situation as they see fit. My wings are tired though, so I would prefer it if we could walk there," he requested in a hopeful tone. He was happy to hear it when his Captain agreed to go.

The walk to the feeding grounds took far longer for either of them than it should have. Saevio was so tired that he dragged his feet and Obson had too much on his mind to be in any sort of hurry. Obson turned his head to speak to Saevio, but the few words he said were drowned out by the sound of several wings beating at different speeds. Obson looked up to see a fairly large formation leaving the covert and flying out in the direction of the channel. The formation was being lead by a Regal Copper, followed by two Chequered Nettles, then four Anglewings, six Yellow Reapers, and two Grey Coppers. They were flying in a staggered vee pattern from what he could tell. Once they were clear he muttered to Saevio, "I must give credit where credit is due. The Admirals have worked fast and hopefully it shall make a difference. I am afraid we shall not find out the outcome for several hours, perhaps even longer."

Saevio rumbled in agreement with his Captain, "Yes, I expect it shall be so. I will admit I am anxious to find out, but I know there is little more we can do. That Captain Bothy is a smart fellow. He knew what to do right away. Perhaps his advice should apply to you as well. You should go inside and get yourself something to eat," he suggested, and then parted his muzzle in a great yawn. He then ambled up to the gate of the pen and waited impatiently for the herders to open it and send out a cow so that he could eat.

Obson followed after Saevio and silently indicated to the herders with a hand gesture to send out one cow for Saevio. The dragon had already eaten earlier, and just needed one cow to make up for the amount of energy he had expended. Obson then shook his head somberly, "I am afraid I shall not have the time. No doubt the Admirals will send out a Cadet to fetch me. I suspect they will want me to debrief them on every detail of the incident. That could take several hours at the very least. There shall be plenty of paperwork that needs to be done as well. Will you be fine on your own during that time?"

Saevio gave a derisive snort at the question, "Of course, I shall be entirely fine on my own. I intend to eat and then sleep, so there is no need for you to worry about my welfare," he assured him. He then stretched his head out and nuzzled his Captain briefly, "Take care my Captain, and be sure not to let the Admirals requisition all of you time," Saevio informed him, as if his Captain had a choice in the matter. Saevio then lunged his way forward as soon as the herders opened the gate for him. A single cow was let out into the pen, but that was all Saevio needed. He downed the cow with a swift swipe of his claws to the neck, and then carried it off to the far right corner of the pen to eat. Out of the corner of one eye he saw a sandy-haired Cadet run up to his Captain. The two appeared to speak briefly, and then Obson followed the Cadet up the hill and into the covert.

It turned out much like Obson had said it would. Obson was grilled for hours about every little detail of the incident that the Admirals could drag out of him. Saevio went to the main courtyard and fell asleep on the warm flagstones. Obson was later released from his meeting with the Admirals, and went to the Officers' club to have supper. After that Obson went out to the main courtyard and found Saevio still fast asleep. So the Captain just sat down near his dragon and read a book for a while. Tired from the long meeting and the excitement of the day, even Obson succumbed to sleep. Unfortunately, Obson only got a few hours of sleep in before both he and Saevio were wakened by two full wings returning to the covert at last. This time wasn't at all like the last one where injured dragons and men had needed to be tended by anyone with a steady hand. No, this time the Admirals were prepared and had several surgeons on standby and a plethora of people ready to assist. A cross Surgeon actually ordered Saevio and Obson out of the main courtyard so that there was more room for the arriving dragons.

Saevio happily let Obson climb aboard and flew off to land on one of the hills that surrounded the covert. It was a good sign that so many dragons were returning, even though some bore some pretty nasty looking injuries. It looked as if the second formation had gotten there in time to save the first. Saevio's sleep had done him some good, but there wasn't much for him to do since it was after dark and he got bored. He had almost fallen asleep again, when there was the sudden sound of beating wings. He opened his navy blue eyes wide and was able to make out the silhouette of a dragon down the middle of the hill. He wouldn't have known what kind of dragon it was, but the dragon had white striations that stood out in the dark. It had to be a Yellow Reaper, but it was far too small to be a full-grown dragon. That's when Saevio's memory clicked and he shouted, "Alcedonia, it's you!"

Alcedonia answered in a surly tone, "Of course it's me. Who did you think it was? I've been hearing all sorts of wild rumors about you. Thanks to you, I got kicked out of sleeping in the main courtyard by the surgeons, so they could tend to the injured dragons. I could have gone to the training courtyard, but it is much cooler there with the winds. I see you've grown quite a bit. You're still rather shrimpy though," She remarked before turning her head and looking back, "If you could please get off now, I'd appreciate it. I am not going anywhere else tonight, it's gotten too dark to fly. The covert does have some light, which is why the formations were able to make it down, but still, I'm no Fleur-de-Nuit."

Captain Rowlett was happy enough to oblige Alcedonia and climb down. As soon as he reached the ground he asked, "You aren't still carrying a grudge against Saevio for waking you up that one time are you? This is hardly Saevio's fault, as those dragons were injured in battle. I have to say, it is actually quite remarkable that he made it back to the covert as fast as he did. He certainly made it back much faster than that injured Greyling ever could have," he pointed out in the Grey Widowmaker's defense. He then turned and smiled at Saevio, "Hello young chap. I've heard a few stories about your adventures now. You're beginning to make quite a name for yourself," he commented and squinted up at Saevio's back. There was just enough light being cast from the covert for him to be able to see a man-shaped silhouette. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Are you coming down Obson, or shall I just yell at you from here?" he asked, obviously trying to prompt the Captain to come down and speak with him.

Obson would have recognized Captain Rowlett's loud voice anywhere. He immediately set himself to climbing down Saevio's harness, which proved to be a bit of a tricky task in the dark. He knew the width between the straps at least, and using that knowledge he was able to make his way safely to the ground. He walked up to Captain Rowlett since he was the only other man-shaped silhouette on the hill, and reached out to heartily shake his hand. He then stepped back and looked off towards the covert, "Rowlett, it's good to see you again, and you too Alcedonia," he added as an afterthought. Obson faced Rowlett again and asked, "Has word of what happened already spread that fast? I knew the covert was a rumor mill, but that kind of speed is unreal," he commented in a rather surprised tone.

Saevio snorted in disapproval at Alcedonia, "You are as rude as ever I see. Why did you have to come to this hill anyway? There are a dozen others just like it around here. I know your Captain and mine are friends, but that is no excuse. You never liked me from the beginning, and the feeling is mutual. Go find your own hill and sleep, since that is the only thing you are good at doing anyway," he told her sharply. He just wanted to go back to sleep, and that wasn't going to happen with Alcedonia and her Captain around. His reply to Captain Rowlett was a little more civil, "Thank you, I thought she was being quite unreasonable about that too. I am not exactly trying to make a name for myself, but this sort of thing seems to keep happening. I think I shall have to sleep, and hope that tomorrow will be a little more peaceful."

Alcedonia stuck her muzzle in the air and hmmphed, "If I am rude, then you are that much worse. I was going to share with you a bit of news, but now I think I shall just keep it to myself. Anyway, I wouldn't expect a peaceful day tomorrow if I were you. You are to begin your official training after all, so there will be very little rest to be had. It does not even matter what you did today. Virtus is a strict task master, and he will not go easy on you no matter what. I look forward to seeing what he has in store for you tomorrow," she informed him. She then paused and turned her head in the direction of her Captain, "You almost sound as if you admire him," she remarked in an accusatory tone.

"Both of you, quit it with that sniping of yours. It is unbecoming, and it is giving me a headache," Rowlett complained. He then turned his attention back to Obson, "Yellow Reapers are clannish by nature, as you well know. Alcedonia just so happened to stop and chat with Placida when she went to the main courtyard to rest after a long day of training. She was that Yellow Reaper that had been on guard duty. Still, I expect the news has made it all around the covert by now anyway. Word spreads fast when that sort of thing happens," he informed him. Rowlett suddenly felt a few drops of moisture hit his face and grumbled, "Ah, the weather has gone sour again. I don't know about you Obson, but I believe I shall make my way to my quarters. The main courtyard will likely not be open again until tomorrow at any rate, and there is no point in spending a night out in the rain when I don't have to," he announced and turned to Alcedonia, "I believe he did a good thing, that is all. Do not make it out to be any more than it is, you fickle jealous creature. Now, I shall be heading inside; I trust you can manage on your own for tonight?"

Obson moved to underneath the shelter of one of Saevio's wings, in order to escape getting wet from the light shower of rain. He had no doubt that the weather was due to get worse. Obson peered through the darkness back at Rowlett,"Well that certainly explains it. I shall do the same thing as you and head back to my quarters. Thank you for coming over to check up on us," he told his friend and then turned to Saevio, "You are a tough fellow. I am sure you can handle a bit of rain on your own can you not?"

Saevio was happy enough to leave off on the bickering and turn his attention back to his Captain. He barely felt the rain yet, and so he rumbled in agreement with his Captain, "Oh yes, I shall manage nicely. The water will run down the hill anyway, so it will not be so bad here. You humans are delicate creatures, and I would not want you to catch a cold for my sake. Pray, go inside and get warm."

Alcedonia wasn't nearly as forgiving as Saevio and gave a grumble of annoyance, "Oh yes, a little rain and you want to go in, that figures," she muttered and then lowered her head near her Captain. She then gave him a light push with her muzzle to start him down the hill, and rumbled in amusement as he stumbled. Alcedonia called after him, "Off you go then, I will be fine. Just remember to come wake me in time for training. I do not want another lecture like the one I had to endure a few days ago," she informed the man. She squinted and watched as both Captains headed off in the direction of the covert. It was a few seconds later that she realized just what sort of situation she had gotten herself into. She was alone on a hill, in the dark, and in the rain. The only company she had was the bratty Saevio.

Saevio gave a rumble of farewell to his Captain, and then raised both his wings as a shield against the rain. He then sprawled out on the wet grass and ducked his head underneath his right wing. Saevio didn't bother to look at Alcedonia or speak to her, as he knew they would just quarrel if he did. He just pretended that she wasn't there, and tried to get some sleep. He closed his eyes, but sleep was slow in coming. Saevio could hear the steady patter of rain, which was interrupted every now and again by Alcedonia's loud snoring. His mind didn't want to be quiet and he couldn't help but think about what tomorrow might bring. It was going to be a big day, and he would finally get to find out what had happened to Mimosa, among other things. Saevio was looking forward to seeing Citatus and Lentesco again too. Saevio didn't think he was going to get to sleep at all, but as time wore on he found it harder and harder to think. Eventually he slipped off into sleep, and ironically woke Alcedonia briefly with his own loud snoring.

In the morning Obson and Rowlett climbed up the hill; both were feeling much refreshed from the day before. They had both slept in their own quarters, and after getting up then had met up with several other fellow officers to have breakfast. The sight that met their eyes caused both Captains to stop in their tracks. Saevio and Alcedonia were curled up against one another and were still asleep. Obson had to clap his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter, but Rowlett showed no such restraint. The man roared with laughter that bid fair to wake both dragons out of their sound sleep.

Saevio was the first to wake, and he was surprised to feel a heavy form next to him. He opened his eyes to get see a wall of yellow scales and white stripes. Saevio gave a sound very much like a dog's yelp, and scrambled away from Alcedonia as fast as he could. He stopped at the end of the hilltop and half-flared his wings in agitation. Saevio managed an expression of disgust, and stared over at Alcedonia with anger, "You! Just what were you doing?" he demanded, sounding absolutely horrified.

Alcedonia groaned and squinted blearily at the light of morning. It was with a great sigh that she heaved herself to her feet. Only then did she eye Saevio balefully, "Ugh, must you always wake me up? If you must know, the rain came down harder last night and the wind grew quite miserable, so I curled up against you for warmth. It's not like you were my first choice, but there were no Yellow Reapers around, and I wasn't about to go flying around in the dark to find them," she told him. At that moment she spotted her Captain and lumbered forward to greet him much more cheerfully, "Good morning Rowlett. I take it is time for us to head out to the training courtyard?"

Rowlett's laughter faded away and he looked to Alcedonia with a guilty expression, "I am sorry that you had a bad night of it. Perhaps I should have stayed out with you after all. But yes, it is time to go to the training courtyard. It is a bit early yet, but I expect that some of the others will already be there. Obson and I spoke on our way into the covert last night, and we agreed to come fetch you both early," he explained. Rowlett then walked around to Alcedonia's side and expertly climbed his way up the straps until he was on Alcedonia's back. He clipped himself into the harness and ordered, "Let us be off. I want to get there before the training master does, so that we may chat a bit with the others."

Saevio calmed down a bit at Alcedonia's explanation and turned his attention from her to his own Captain. Saevio greeted Obson with a fond rumble, "Good day to you my Captain. It seemed to take forever for this day to come. For two weeks I have prepared myself for the start of my training. I am just as anxious as Rowlett to go. Pray, hurry and get on Obson," he requested, and then crouched like he usually did so that Obson could board. He forced himself to hold still as Obson climbed aboard, and waited to hear the telltale click of a carabineer being locked into place. He looked back quickly to make sure his Captain was secure, and then he flared his wings widely. Saevio made a nimble jump off the top of the hill and flapped his wings to gain some altitude. A flash of yellow and white streaked past him, and he realized that Alcedonia was going to try to beat him to the training courtyard. Saevio put on a burst of speed and passed her, and then kept right on going. He actually slowed his speed on the approach to the training courtyard, and then glided in for a near-perfect landing.

Alcedonia landed shortly after Saevio, and waited only long enough for her Captain to dismount. She then headed off to the far left corner of the training yard and curled up, before promptly falling back asleep. She trusted that her Captain would wake her when the training master arrived.

Saevio looked around the training courtyard and was surprised to see that there was only one dragon and their Captain present. He looked at the dragon to see who it was, and he thought he saw...Mimosa? He blinked twice but there was no mistaking her green and brown serpentine form. Not only was he surprised to see her, but he also noticed that she was in harness. Saevio could hardly believe his eyes, and he could only conclude that she must have found someone suitable to be her Captain. He looked toward the person standing near Mimosa's head and rumbled in shock. The Captain was a female with short cropped auburn hair and piercing dark brown eyes. Forgetting that Obson was still aboard, he strided his way toward her and called out, "Mimosa, it's me Saevio. Why whatever are you doing here?" he asked, curious to find out just what had happened in his absence.

Obson had been about to unclip his carabineer from the harness and climb down, but that plan was cancelled when Saevio went striding forward. Obson held onto the straps and looked down to see what had caught Saevio's interest. He saw Mimosa immediately, but it was the woman by Mimosa's head that caught his attention. The woman was wearing a Captain's uniform, so it was easy for him to come to the understanding that she was Mimosa's Captain. His eyes glinted in sudden recognition and he burst into laughter. So this was the surprise that Saevio had been told to be patient about. It was a good thing Obson was still hooked into the harness, because he nearly doubled over from laughing so hard.

Mimosa had been talking to her Captain, but she stopped and looked up immediately upon hearing Saevio's voice. She saw the young Grey Widowmaker approaching her with his Captain on his back. Mimosa ignored Saevio's Captain at first, since he seemed awfully foolish. She was quite pleased to see Saevio though. Mimosa noticed how much he had grown, and he appeared to be in good health. She opened her mouth to greet him, but Obson's laughter started to get on her nerves. She pinned him with a savage glare and remarked, "I did not realize that they let monkeys become Captains these days. I would be more than happy to speak with you Saevio, if only you would get that maniac on your back to stuff it."

Saevio looked back at his Captain with confusion and finally protested, "Obson, I do not know what is so funny but please stop. You sound like Alcedonia's Captain last night," he remarked in a disapproving tone. He then lowered his head in an apologetic manner to Mimosa, "I am sorry, I do not know what has gotten into my Captain. Anyway, it is good to see you again Mimosa. How have you been faring?" he asked, tilting his head slightly as he awaited her answer.

Eileen looked from Mimosa, to Saevio, and then to Obson. She had little idea what was going on, but she recognized Saevio's name. Mimosa had told her about him before. Eileen stepped forward to deal with the situation, "Excuse me for interrupting, but I believe you are upsetting Mimosa. I will have none of that. She had to go through enough when trying to deal with my father. If you have a problem with me being Mimosa's Captain, then feel free to take it up with him," she scolded Obson firmly.

Obson stopped laughing abruptly and quickly unclipped himself from Saevio's harness. He climbed down Saevio's side, and then swept into a bow as soon as he reached the ground. Obson straightened up and looked at Eileen steadily, "My most sincere apologies Captain Merton, and to you as well Mimosa. I have no issue with female Captains, nor will I ever. I was laughing simply because of the poetic justice. After all, it was your father Admiral Merton that forced Mimosa to either stay and choose a Captain, or to go to the breeding grounds. The fact that she seems to have turned it around by choosing you as her Captain is rather ironic. I did not mean to give offense."

Captain Merton nodded in understanding, "Ah, well that explains it. The irony is not lost on me either Captain Obson. Mimosa assured me that she didn't choose me just for that reason. I was supposed to be in line to take over as Captain of my Mother's dragon, Longwing Lucilenta. Mimosa here has changed all that, but I cannot say that I am displeased. My father was outraged of course and threatened to have Mimosa executed, though it was really just all bluster. I've already grown quite fond of her, and although Mimosa is full-grown, we still both have to undergo the training. Mimosa is actually only a little over a year old, so she isn't that very old at all as far as dragons go," she informed him. She turned her gaze upon Saevio next, "I must thank you for keeping Mimosa's secret as long as you did. If you hadn't, we might never have met. You see, I was serving as a Midwingman on an Anglewing at Edinburgh covert. I didn't transfer here until almost two weeks ago. If she had been discovered sooner and had to make that choice, I wouldn't have been there."

Mimosa looked to her Captain fondly and then glanced back to Saevio, "As you can tell, I am doing quite well. My Captain is certainly much smarter than all the uncouth males running around here. Speaking of which, I've been hearing a fair bit about you recently. I heard you helped to find Citatus, and that you carried a message for an injured Greyling. That is all quite impressive for a dragon as young as you," she praised.

All further discussion came to a halt when the training master arrived. Virtus touched down in a flurry of wings, and then swung his head around to look at those present. He immediately made his way towards the small group and rumbled in greeting, "Good morning everyone. Ah Saevio and Obson, I see you have met with Captain Merton here and Mimosa. I was just as surprised as everyone else at the choice Mimosa made, but they are proving to be good trainees. I will give you the news now, before either of you set expectations for yourselves any further. We received word from Edinburgh covert that they are willing to send us a young Regal Copper and his Captain. Something unexpected happened, and they had two Regal Coppers hatch within two months of one another. Both were male, and as a result they do not get along very well. You know the danger that two male Regal Coppers may fight. So it is quite convenient for them to send one to us. Unfortunately, the Captain of the Regal Copper they want to send to us just so happens to have a problem with Grey Widowmakers. His father attempted to harness one a decade ago, and paid for it with his life. The only way the pair are willing to transfer here, is if we send you both away to another covert. I am sorry Obson and Saevio, but you know how badly heavy weights are needed. There is indeed a chance you might be sent away. The Admirals are set to deliberate on the matter tomorrow," he explained in a grim tone. It was a pity really, but Virtus was a dragon and he wasn't going to be allowed a say in the matter.