Serinone

Lasair Weyr
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Serinone yawned as she slid into her furs. Nessynith's clutch was supposed to have Hatched today, but nightfall had come and not a single egg had so much as twitched. So all the Candidates had headed back up to their weyrs. Now she could finally--

Serinone was interrupted by a low, deep thrumming that indicated the start of a Hatching. "Faranth!" the girl exclaimed, tumbling out of bed and pulling on her white robe as she hurtled down to the Hatching Grounds. All the other Candidates looked half-asleep, rubbing at their eyes and yawning. She herself probably didn't look much better, Serinone thought with a grin as they stepped carefully onto the hot sand.

The first egg burst open with an audible pop, spilling a damp brown hatchling out. The brown made a beeline for Carmen, surprisingly. Serinone's eyebrows went up. Browns Impressing girls didn't happen all too often. Well, she would be content with a green at any rate.

A blue and a green were next to hatch, each heading in different directions. She held her beath as the lovely emerald-green dragonet strutted up to the girls, and promptly tripped over herself. Should she go help the little dragon? Serinone wondered, but another of the girls ran forward and Impressed. So much for that.

Another, smaller, egg began to rock furiously, and long cracks appeared. The shell finally split with a loud snap, dumping its occupant into the sand. Serinone couldn't see what color it was; the little one was all covered with sand. Almost too small to be a blue, but...It tottered towards the boys, seemingly a male. Suddenly the grit-covered dragonet stopped with a sweet trilling noise, cocked its sandy head and dashed in an entirely different direction, only to stumble over one wing and sprawl in an ungainly heap at Serinone's feet. Looking quite disgusted at itself, the hatchling crooned softly.

No, I did not mean to do that. You are not angry with me? a plaintive voice murmured in the girl's mind.

Serinone gently brushed off the wet sand from the little dragon's body, gasping as a beautiful snowy-white hide was revealed. "Maiseth...No, no, I'm not angry with you darling, not at all!" she reassured her dragon in a soft voice.

Fly, darling, fly! Serinone called mentally, cheering her dragon on as Maiseth flew for the first time--riderless, of course. The weyrlings weren't allowed to carry their riders yet; they weren't quite strong enough. But Serinone was delighted nonetheless. Maiseth was so graceful and quick in the air, her small size giving added maneuverability, though for a white she was quite large.

"That was great, lovey! You're the fastest of them all! Aren't you happy?" Serinone congratulated her little dragon profusely, hugging Maiseth's warm white neck. The young weyrling crooned with pleasure, rubbing her head up and down Serinone's arm. I am happy if you are. But all this flying has made me hungry! Maiseth declared, flaring her wings.

Serinone burst out laughing, causing the other weyrling riders to stare. Maiseth looked hurt. What did I say? she inquired plaintively. The rider patted her head reassuringly. "Nothing, dear. You didn't say anything wrong! I was just laughing at myself, you see!"

"Oy, Maise, 'tis a fine day! Get yer lazy self up!" Serinone clapped her dragon on the shoulder good-naturedly. Maiseth rumbled in annoyance, shifting slightly on the weyr ledge. I'm not lazy. I work when I have to work. Right now I want to sleep in the sun. the white told her rider firmly. Serinone put both fists on her hips and glared at her dragon. "You keep sleepin' an' I swear I'll dump a bucket o' water over yer indolent head! Now git!" she scolded.

Maiseth grumbled again and opened one opalescent eye, slowly sliding into an upright position.

Serinone chuckled and dropped a kiss on the lowered white muzzle. "There, that wasn't so 'ard, was it?" she teased, climbing up onto her dragon's gleaming neck. Hmph. was the only reply.

"C'mon, dearie, I'm sure ye want ta be oiled 'n' bathed. I promise to give ye an extra-long oiling today, all righ'?" the rider consoled her disgruntled lifemate. Maiseth snorted but Serinone could feel that the white was happy with the suggestion.

Maiseth lounged in the warm sunlight as her rider diligently oiled her clean white hide. She surveyed the massive Weyrbowl idly, her posture regal as any queen's, and made various warning noises at any dragon that came too close. "Really, Maise, other dragons do 'ave the right ta be 'ere too, ye know!" Serinone admonished as she spread another paddleful of oil onn her dragon's pale neck.

I am just warning them not to muss up your perfect oiling, my rider. Who knows what those clumsy males might do! I certainly don't want you to have to redo it again because some big oaf of a dragon has kicked up dust all over me. Maiseth replied in a reasonable tone, hissing at one of the nearby bronzes. It was a rather comical sight, since the bronze was more than twice the little white's size.

Serinone chuckled and started to say something when she realized exactly what her dragon's words portended. Maiseth had never shown such animosity for male dragons before and had always rather liked getting dirty. And that meant..."Maiseth, are ye gettin' ready ta fly?"