A/N: I'd just like to point out that this story has over 100 hits, but only 3 reviews. I told you, even if it sucks, could you PLEAAAAASE review? Thank you.
"M'quiggly! I told you to duck!" Q'ron, the weyrlingmaster yelled after him and Blith.
No Threads will get me! Not while we are together!
"Easy, there, lad. You are the bravest, smartest dragon on all of Pern, but even you must learn to take precautions," even though it had only been an exercise, M'quiggly worried about his dragon's tendency to rebel against him, thinking he knew better. At that, M'quiggly had a laugh. He realized how much his own blue Blith was like himself.
Q'ron saw the admonishment administered to the blue beast and was sufficiently satisfied that the problem would not occur again. He did worry, though, that M'quiggly did not seem to have as much control over his beast as he ought. He wondered if the man's strange origins had anything to do with it. But, no, M'quiggly had lived in the weyr for about a turn now and seemed to blend in exceedingly well. Out of the corner of his eye, Q'ron caught S'fehlad looking on, wistfully. Q'ron knew that S'fehlad had been M'quiggly's rescuer, but he wondered what other bonds the two enjoyed.
"You over there! You must remember to duck more quickly!" More weyrlings faultering pulled Q'ron out of futher rumination about that very odd stranger of Pern.
"Ahoy there, S'fehlad!" M'quiggly greeted his friend fondly, "bit of an exciting day we had there!"
S'fehlad treasured these moments when M'quiggly sought him out. He was not used to having to be so patient, especially in the weyr. But he just could not judge M'quiggly's feelings. He sought out his Munchimuncheth in a crowd of dozing dragons and idly wondered if Blith would be ready when next rose-
"S'fehlad?" M'quiggly gently questioned his friend.
"I'm sorry, M'quiggly. My mind was lost between," S'fehlad mentally kicked himself for not paying enough attention to his friend.
You pay enough attention to him, S'fehlad.
Munchimuncheth! Am I neglecting you again? I'm so sorry my beauty! As soon as the words were thought, though, S'fehlad realized that all the anger she used to have toward M'quiggly had vanished. He wondered if his beast had finally accepted the man.
Bltih finds him acceptable, so must I.
At this, S'fehlad raised an eyebrow. DidMunchimuncheth favor the blue dragon?
"What's Munchimuncheth got to say?" M'quiggly assumed it must be terribly important because the greenrider usually was very involved in their conversations.
"Oh, she just remembers our days as weyrlings," the man lied. He smiled up at M'quiggly, hoping he would believe him.
"All the way back then, huh?"
At this, the two riders shared a laugh, for it had been only three turns since S'fehlad has Impressed his green. The laughter turned into quiet smiles. M'quiggly found such calm intimacy unnerving, not used to such friendship with a fellow human. He quickly excused himself and Blith, saying they must wash off the stench of the firestone.
"Come on, lad. It's time for your wasing."
I was so enjoying the sun with the others. Must I bathe now?
"Must you always defy me?" Both rider and dragon sighed, but M'quiggly knew he had won.