The harsh summer sun had sunk well below the high rim of High Reaches Weyr, though the air still lingered with a thick heat. Salah paced nervously in her weyr, her bare feet making loud slapping noises on the floor as she did so.
'Salah stop pacing.' Came her Gold's strong mental command. The Goldrider stopped as she was bid, sighing as she turned and approached the hanging that separated her inner weyr from the outer weyr where Kraykth was resting. Pulling the hanging to the side she passed through and sat beside the great head of her life partner.
"V'hau isn't my weyrmate, I don't enjoy his company." Salah grumbled, reaching up to rub Kraykth's eye ridges.
'So don't be his weyrmate.' The Gold rumbled soothingly, though her voice was filled with a crisp sternness in the hope to pull Salah out of this anxious mindset she was in.
"But it is expected of me! You are a Gold dragon..." Kraykth snorted at this, seemingly offended that her rider had to state such an obvious thing. "That means I should have a stable relationship, more than a Greenrider. Uloth sires grand clutches with you, and you seem to enjoy his company."
'I will enjoy any dragon's company if his or her rider pleases you.' Kraykth interrupted, turning a swirling yellow eye to gaze upon her rider. Looking up Salah noticed this, and shook her head.
"I know. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll go talk to V'hau now, this is just silly." Salah stood, Kraykth nuzzling her softly in encouragement as green filtered into her eyes. "Can you take me to his weyr Kray?"
'Of course Salah.' Kraykth shifted slightly, moving her closest foreleg so that the woman could climb up onto her back. Once she was settled, the Gold walked out to the ledge, launching herself out with a powerful jump. Beating her massive wings Kraykth rose quickly up to the right height for the Bronzerider's weyr, and glided over to where it was located. Bugling quietly to announce herself she landed on the ledge, shuffling around slightly to allow Salah to dismount.
"I'll call for you when I need to leave." Salah slapped the side of the great dragon affectionately before she launched off the ledge to find a suitable place to doze in the evening heat.
Stepping into the outer weyr Salah called out, somewhat nervously. "V'hau? Are you here?" It was only then she realised that the outer weyr was devoid of Uloth. "Shards, he's probably not here." Pushing aside the hanging separating the weyr space she peeked inside, starting when she found V'hau standing there lacking clothing of any sort.
"So you do want to be my weyrmate Salah!" V'hau's voice was deep and suggestive, mirth dancing in his eyes as the Goldrider gave an awkward squawk and dropped the hanging. Rubbing at her eyes furiously Salah spun around and made her way back out to the ledge, trying to ignore the laughter that was ringing out behind her.
"Oh come back Salah, please?" V'hau pulled the hanging just enough to peek his head out, but keep the rest of his body hidden from sight. "It's not like you haven't seen it before."
"But you still must have heard me call out for you! You could have at least warned me." Salah's face was a furious shade of red, and she refused to turn around, believing that V'hau was most likely being as immodest as he could possibly be.
"Well you didn't come up to my weyr for no reason at all. Wait a moment." V'hau dropped the hanging and Salah heard him walking back into his weyr. Standing relatively still she gazed out into the Weyr, it was buzzing with activity after the hot day, the evening meal was likely to be served soon, and everyone was making up for the time they had spent relaxing during the intense midday sun. Lost in thought she jumped, making a squawking sound again as V'hau suddenly embraced her from behind. Her eyes wide with shock she froze, before noticing that the body behind her was now clothed, as a light tunic was rubbing against her bare upper arms and with a quick glance down she could see trousers instead of bare legs. Sighing and relaxing into the embrace she then realised what was occurring and she jumped again, stiffening as she tried to turn around in V'hau's tight embrace.
"Yes my darling?" He purred into her ear, causing her to shiver in disgust.
"Get off me V'hau!" He did as he was told, a grin plastered across his tanned face. Salah stepped away and turned to face him properly, glaring up at the smiling man.
"So, would you like to come in?" V'hau offered as politeness dictated, his arm gesturing towards the inner part of his weyr.
Salah's face reddened again, as she mumbled something along the lines of 'might as well'. Pushing the thick hanging to the side, Salah glanced around the Bronzerider's weyr as she walked in. It was simple and like the majority of other weyrs for the most part; a large bed, chest, and a table with a couple chairs, as well as an opening leading to a personal bathing room. There was a detailed quilt on the bed, depicting a Bronze dragon curled up with his rider with the Seven Spindles of High Reaches in the background.
"I see you like the bed." V'hau commented, causing Salah to jump yet again, her eyes instantly trying to seek something else to stare at.
"No, no! I was just admiring the quilt! It's very well woven, do you know who wove it?" Salah tripped over her words as they were lost and muddled between her brain and her mouth, her cheeks burning red with embarrassment.
"No, I don't know. It was a gift from my parents when I graduated my weyrlinghood." V'hau strode over to the table, picking up a kettle of klah and pouring a mug for himself. Offering the kettle to Salah she nodded, taking a seat at the table and accepting the mug she was given. Blowing on the steaming liquid she kept her eyes focused on it, avoiding making contact with V'hau's. He smiled at this, blowing on his own klah in the silence that sat over them. After a while V'hau had managed to down about a third of his drink, and upon noticing this he placed the cup down with an audible thud.
"I know you're not here just to sit and drink klah with me Salah. What is it you want?" He winced somewhat at his last words, hearing the harsh intonation of them well after he'd blurted them out. Salah looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, to which he smiled half-heartedly at.
"I'm here to discuss weyrmates." Her words shook slightly once she managed to get them out.
"Alright. You don't appear to desire me as your weyrmate, so what is it about weyrmates exactly you need to discuss with me?" This time it was V'hau's turn to raise his eyebrow.
"As you know, I was weyrmates with Tor'c."
"As does the entire Weyr Salah, Sprilth caught Kraykth for about 10 clutches." At this Salah shot V'hau a venomous glare, to which he decided it would be wise to stay silent until she bid him speak.
"Yes. I'm clearly not weyrmates with him anymore. I wanted to make it clear that just because Uloth caught Kraykth, doesn't mean that we're weyrmates. I don't particularly enjoy your intimate company, and do not wish to be in your general company alone often, if at all." Salah paused, somewhat lost as to where she should continue, and wondering if her words had been too harsh.
"If I may?" V'hau ventured, proceeding when Salah nodded her head at him somewhat. "I apologise if I've offended you with my habits, it's somewhat of a habit of mine, as Uloth isn't often a winner of flights."
"That's not what the Greenriders say." Salah snorted, but her mood appeared to be picking up somewhat.
V'hau chuckled at her quip. "Alright, you got me there. Perhaps it was a bit of an assumption on my part that we would become weyrmates after Uloth and Kraykth mated twice, as that's usually you know... a hint." His eyebrows raised somewhat, wondering if she understood his train of thought.
"I suppose it usually is. Kraykth seems to enjoy Uloth's company though, since I haven't really tried to sway her flight outcomes since I broke it off with Tor'c." Salah's words made it clear she understood V'hau, and his eyebrows relaxed to their usual position.
"So let me get this straight... You're not looking for a weyrmate since you separated from Tor'c, and Kraykth is mating with Uloth because she enjoys it, it's not your own influence in the choice?"
"Yes." Salah's eyes lit up somewhat, this conversation wasn't as bad nor as awkward as she had imagined it to be.
V'hau smiled, reaching out to take one of her hands in his. "Well then, my not-weyrmate, I shall leave you be then." Salah rolled her eyes at his words, before she quickly downed the rest of her rapidly cooling klah. Standing she gave him a brief smile, nodding somewhat as she thanked him for the klah.
"Anytime Goldrider." V'hau stood, nodding in return.
'Kraykth, I'm ready to leave now.' Salah sent out to her Gold as she made her way towards the outer weyr. Almost simultaneously with her words there was a slight thud and the scraping of claws on that could be heard on the ledge outside. Passing into the outer weyr Salah was greeted with a great Bronze head, slowly whirling green eyes turned to watch her.
"Oh! Hello Uloth." The Bronze dipped his head in acknowledgement of her greeting, shifting to the side and moving further in towards his stone couch, allowing Salah to make her way out.
Standing just inside of the ledge she watched as her dragon glided in to the ledge of V'hau's weyr, landing gracefully along with a similar thud and scraping sound that Uloth had. Walking out she ran her hand along Kraykth's hide, smiling at the smooth and soft feel the oiling from that afternoon had given it. Reaching her foreleg she hoisted herself up onto her neck, settling herself and giving the signal that she was ready for flight. The Gold propelled herself up with a powerful jump, wheeling around to glide across the weyrbowl.
'The evening meal is almost ready to be served, shall I take you there?' Kraykth offered, beating her wings a few times to keep a decent height from the ground.
'Yes, that would be lovely Kray.' Kraykth turned somewhat, making her way to the entrance of the dining cavern. Landing gracefully she turned a spiralling blue eye to her rider, deep and clear in colour.
'You are happier now.' The chiming voice was gleeful in Salah's mind, despite the somewhat commanding statement.
'Yes Kray, I am happier now.' She responded as she slid down the Gold's side. Slapping the dragon heartily she grinned, turning and making her way into the cavern as Kraykth launched herself up to make way for another dragon to deposit their rider for the evening meal.