Disclaimer: the Dragonriders of Pern is copyright ot Anne McCaffrey.
:You look so funny when you're sleeping, are you supposed to have your mouth open like that?:
Along with the voice speaking in his head and a sudden assault of urgent hunger, B'riin was startled awake, and he sat up even before he had actually opened his eyes.
"Huh?" he managed to say, as he had never been much of a morning person, it took some time before he recalled the events of the previous day and the reason for that he was being awakened so early. By the scant amount of light that came through the window, it seemed that the sun was about to rise.
:I'm very hungry now B'riin, some food would be nice..:.
With a groan, B'riin rolled over on his belly and reached out with his arm to stroke Tolaketh's nose.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Tolaketh. Just wait while I get dressed, ok?"
:Good, Greteyth and her rider have already gone. Koreketh is trying to wake his rider now,: Tolaketh paused.
:Oh, he stole the pillow:.
B'riin yawned as he swung his legs out of the bed, sitting there for a few moments before he stood up and headed over to the chest by the foot of the bed to get his clothes.
"Good morning L'grehn" he said with a grin to his friend, who was unsuccessfully trying to convince Koreketh to give back the pillow.
"Good morning, hah!", L'grehn snorted, "c'mere you pillow-stealing monster!"
Trying to snatch the pillow from Koreketh's jaws, the young man sighed as the blue dragonet threw the pillow to the other side of the room.
"Ah, you'll just have to get used to it. We're both going to be stuck with our dragons for the rest of our lives you know" B'riin teased, quickly getting on his shirt. Not surprisingly, Tolaketh was quite eager to get his breakfast now and he didn't want to keep his dragonet waiting for longer than absolutely necessary.
:I'm not a burden to you, am I:
Tolaketh hummed deep in his throat as he looked up at B'riin.
"Of-course not, I was just joking" B'riin replied, giving the little brown a reassuring pat before they headed for the exit. If he remembered the instructions from the candidate master correctly, there should be a bowl of meat waiting just outside, so Tolaketh wouldn't have to wait so long to be fed.
Not today at least..
Just as he had though, there was two bowls with meat standing just to the left of the exit, and grabbing one of them before Tolaketh could get to it, he hurried outside.
"It will probably be a warm day, so I thought that you could just as well could have your breakfast outside" he said before Tolaketh could protest, and although he didn't appear to be sharing his persons opinion, the brown quietly followed him outside.
Just a few minutes later, the last scrap of meat was gone and Tolaketh appeared to be satisfied, so B'riin placed the bowl beside him on the bench.
"Do you think that you can stay awake for long enough for me to oil your hide before you sleep again?",
Indicating the sandy area a few meters away where several dragonets were already sleeping, B'riin grinned at Venaket as she came over to give him the jar of oil she had used for Greteyth.
Suddenly Tolaketh raised his head and snorted.
:Who are they?:
"Good morning kids, it's good to see you again", both grinning widely, Brialli and Itra walked into sight, nodding a greeting to the Weyrling Master before they stopped by the bench where B'riin sat.
Very glad that his mother had managed to come for a visit(although the HQ didnt encourage it), B'riin smiled as he stood up.
"Tolaketh, this is my mother, Brialli, and her friend Itra" he said, scratching the browns head-knobs as the little dragon gazed up at the two women.
:Hello: he said, appearing to be somewhat confused as he sniffed at Itra
:Perhaps they would like to help you to oil my hide..:
Laughing at Tolaketh's sly tone, Itra shook her head, "perhaps another day little one. Brialli and I have other things to do you see, so unfortunately we can't stay here for long". Then she bent down to pat Tolaketh lightly on the underside of his jaw, gazing into his eyes as she did so.
:You are different, why?: the little brown asked, appearing even more confused as he turned his head to gaze at his person. But almost instantly he turned his eyes back at Itra, the faceted orbs whirling with increasing agitation.
"Relax Tolaketh, it's nothing to worry about" B'riin said, suddenly feeling quite anxious as he hadn't expected that his dragon would have been capable of sensing such things at such a young age. It could be that Tolaketh had been cued by something in his mind, but he hoped not, as their mental screen was supposed to make that impossible.
:Ok then, but can't you oil my hide now.. I'm itching and I want to sleep..: Tolaketh muttered, continuing to stare at Itra even as he leaned against his person.
As B'riin gazed at his mother, she simply smiled.
"It's nothing to worry about. He's a bright young dragon, although you may find it necessary to impress upon him that he cant under any circumstances reveal any unusual things he gets from your mind to any others" she said quietly.
Starting the task of rubbing oil into Tolaketh's hide, B'riin nodded, fortunately it seemed that the dragons were good at keeping their riders secrets..
However, it was obvious that Tolaketh was both facinated and confused at Itra's presence, the dragonet just couldn't understand what was so different about her. But as long as his rider didn't mind, he guessed that it was ok.
"It really is Tolaketh".
While he continued to oil the brown's hide, B'riin couldnt help but wonder about just how much more noticeable the coloration of Tolaketh's hide was out in the daylight. And especially now when the oil added a sheen to his hide. Suddenly nuances in the colors that he hadn't noticed inside became much clearer.
"He's a real beauty that one, just as I told you" Itra said, before she glanced up at a group of dragons flying above, smiling as they suddenly disappeared when going between.
Finding that he liked to be the center of attention, Tolaketh turned his head around to gaze at his left side, studying his own hide.
:I like my color too,: he said with a happy chirp:but can I sleep now since you are done with oiling me?:
"Of-course, of-course," B'riin said, "I'm sorry for taking so long".
Then he walked with Tolaketh over to the sandy area, waiting patiently while the brown laid down beside Greteyth, folding his wings in such a fashion that they shielded his eyes from the sunlight, promptly falling to sleep.
Although B'riin knew that no harm could come to Tolaketh, there were several adult dragons who would be watching over the brown and his clutch-mates, he hesitated for several moments before he walked back to join his mother, Itra and Venaket. Then he indicated the entrance to the lower caverns.
"Perhaps you would like to join me and the others for breakfast?" he asked.
Just this first day as a dragonrider, he wouldn't mind being seen with his mother, and she probably had a few instructions to give to him and the others too.
"Well..., I guess we can stay for half an hour or so" Itra said, giving him a wink, "are you sure that you don't regret your choice to come here? I'm certain of that there would have been a dragonling at home who might have chosen you as a rider eventually".
B'riin snorted and shook his head.
"You know as much about the pernese dragons as I do, I would never trade Tolaketh for anything even this soon after I Impressed him. He's my dragon and I'm his person".
The mere thought of the possibility that he might never have Impressed the little brown, made B'riin feel uncomfortable, he could never have done without his dragon now.
Ignoring Itra's chuckle, he walked quickly after Venaket into the lower caverns, the prospect of breakfast made his mouth water. Not to forget the tempting smells that came from the Dining Hall, undoubtely they were serving some of the leftovers from the Feast.
"Stop teasing the poor boy now, Itra, you know just as well as me just how strong the link between a pernese dragon and its rider are" Brialli said, "it's no less /right/ because of that".
B'riin silently agreed, the relationship between a pernese dragon and its rider was by far stronger than that of the dragons he was used to.
"How's my siblings doing though, have you heard anything from them since yesterday?" he asked, gazing around for a vacant table as they entered the Dining Hall.
:Yep: Itra replied.
:Trelaar wanted me to let you know that she'll 'hate' you forever. As you very well know, the HQ won't consider her for candidacy before next year. It seems like pernese dragons are becoming quite popular among the young men and women back home:.
As B'riin had expected, his mothers friend didn't appear too pleased about that fact.
"That's nice to hear, I'm sure that the project leaders are thrilled ".
With a shrug, he looked back at the sleeping dragonets. So like Trelaar to respond in such a way. Too bad that he wouldn't be able to introduce Tolaketh to her for several months yet. Suddenly B'riin's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he looked forwards again, seeing Jesece in the company of a familiar young woman.
But that young woman was certainly not someone he had expected to see at Pern at all, unless the HQ had decided to change their policies considerably..
:Hi there, B'riin, long time no see!:
With a few long steps, dragging Jesece with her, she more or less pounced at B'riin, a glint of yellow visible in her brown eyes for a moment as she gave him a hug.
:Or do you prefer that I call you Briin now that you're the rider of a pernese dragon: she asked, sounding quite pleased over having surprised him.
:B'riin would do fine, Catene. I have to get used to that name now when I'm a weyrling. What are you doing here though?:
:They needed someone too keep an eye at Jesece, and since I'm her friend, but not likely to take any crap from her.. The project leaders also want to find out if it's possible for a pernese dragon to Impress to someone who's not human. And since they happened to choose me, I'm here:
Resting her left arm on the shoulders of a not too happy-looking Jesece, Catene chuckled.
"I must admit that I look forwards to spend time here. The Weyrs have always facinated me. Not to forget the dragons, so very different from my own kind".
B'riin had to make an effort not to laugh. That Catene and Jesece had ended up as friends was always something that had confused him. But at the same time, Catene had a restraining influence on Jesece, that did make the slightly younger girl tolerable at times.
With a shake of his head, B'riin grinned back at Catene. Not that he was particulary happy about the possibility of sitting by the same table as Jesece, but at the same time he did want to talk with Catene.
In the meantime, Brialli had found a vacant table, so when she called to them to come and join her; they headed quickly over to the table.
"L'grehn and Ch'rek will probably be along shortly, they're in the process of oiling their dragonets right now" Itra informed them.
Wrinkling her nose in disgust at the smell of roasting meat coming from the kitchens,she tooka handful of what looked like a mix of herbs and small gemstones out of a small pouch on her belt. Then she dropped it in the cup with hot water that Brialli had brought.
"You should have seen L'grehn and Koreketh a while ago, that blue is rather sly", a smile spread across B'riin's face at the memory of the pillow-stealing dragonet, "he snatched L'grehn's pillow right from under his head".
Venaket giggled, " I wish that I could have seen that. It sounds to me that Koreketh already knows how to deal with his human".
But a moment later she stood up, declaring that she wasn't going to wait a moment longer to get some breakfast. And being as hungry as his fellow candidate, B'riin couldn't do anything but to agree. Although he usually didn't become hungry before late morning, it seemed likely that he would have to get used to that his body would react when Tolaketh was hungry, to mention one thing that he had been taught in the lessons while he still was a candidate.
Taking several slices of bread and some boiled eggs, B'riin returned to the table, beginning the task of removing the shell from the first egg.
"Anyway, what I forgot to say is that you must tell Trelaar that I wish her good luck and that I hope that she will be selected to become a candidate" he said, pouring some water up into the glass he had brought from the serving table.
"Of-course I will".
After giving her son a quick smile, Brialli bit into the apple Catene had just tossed to her.
"But there's a chance that she might Impress at the project facilities, some of the golds there are almost old enough to Rise now, so soon only the most promising candidates will be sent to Pern".
As he was chewing at a piece of bread, B'riin could only nod, but he also wondered about which of the golds at HQ that would be the first to Rise. Not that he knew any of the riders, but that event was certainly significant for the project. From what he had heard, there was some people who didnt like that the project had gotten as much support as it had. But it seemed unlikely that the project would be shut down now when it had been active for so many years and with such a high rate of success.
Still, he couldn't help but be a bit disappointed at hearing that his younger sister might never come to Pern. It was never easy to say what the people in charge might decide, so it might be a long time till he could see her if she Impressed back home.
"Then I'm glad that I was able to come here now" Catene said, putting an end to the conversation between her and Jesece.
"Despite what others may think, there are many assets with living here", the shadow of a smile appeared on Catene's lips before she crammed a piece of meatroll onto her mouth.
"There's thread of-course, and some would say that the planet's society is primitive by our standards. I would agree with that, to a degree, but it is an excellent learning experience—one that I am going to enjoy"
To B'riin, it seemed quite clear that Catene's last comment was directed at a certain person.
"That is the spirit!" Brialli said.
Then she pushed back the chair before she slowly stood up.
"But it seems that I and Itra have to leave now, I'm afraid that we are needed elsewhere, yet again. Unfortunately I think that it will be some weeks till our next visit, so I hope that all of you will have a good time in the meantime. Take care of each other and be careful, ok?".
Nodding to show that he understood, B'riin also stood up and gave his mother a quick hug, "of-course we will" he said. With Tolaketh to take care of and his friends to talk with, he didn't have the slightest doubt about that he wouldnt manage. Especially now when Catene had arrived..
"Thats right, you two shouldn't worry at all. We are healthy young adults and fully capable of taking care of ourselves, aren't we?"
Beriin almost shuddered as he saw the gleam in Venaket's eyes.