Fr'dyre
Brown Xhishoth: Chasing

 [ Stats ] [ Impression ] [ Hatchling ]
[ Weyrling ] [ Adult ]

Gone! She's gone! Xhishoth had been the first to know; his mental voice blasting through Fr'dyre's mind. And then, a moment later, he was echoed by all the dragons of the Weyr, who crooned sorrow for the death of a Weyr.

Xhi', shut up! Fr'dyre hadn't meant to snap, but the mental noise was so loud it was almost painful. And, sadly, the brown did as he was commanded, voice fading into silence.

Thank you, his rider murmured in quiet apology. And then: Who's gone, Xhishoth?

My Lovanith... O my Lovanith... my love... The great brown had reared, upset, at the first news; now, he slumped upon the floor, head on his forearms, and eyes first-lidded in sorrow.

What? Fr'dyre's eyes widened; he strode to stand beside his bond's head, speaking slowly and seriously. Dear heart, I need you to tell me exactly what happened.

Xhishoth's response was slow and unwilling, as if it hurt to speak of the tragedy. Keandyn Weyr died, and all its dragons - all went between. Lovanith and...

Tauryn! Frantic with worry for his pretty, much-loved weyrmate, Fr'dyre ran down into the weyrbowl, taking the stairs three at a time, and dashed to the weyr that was Tauryn and Lovanith's. If she was there - if Lovanith had died, she would be -

Or worse, if...

It was worse. The small weyr was immaculately bare, devoid of any sign that the Light green dragon and her rider had once lived there. In shock, Fr'dyre collapsed upon the bare dragon-couch. It was still warm.

She knew... she had known...

Anger flared through him; anger that her Weyr had taken her, had forced her to follow it into oblivion, and a little anger for her, because he'd loved her, because she was gone...

Blue Hanashimazu blinked out of between over the brownrider's curled body; he chittered something unintelligible, and disappeared once more. And then a dark head peered into the weyr.

They're together, Xhishoth reminded him, voice infinitely soft. They're happy.

It wad probably true; something inside him realized that Tauryn would never have been happy, would never have been his Tauryn, the one he loved, with her Lovanith dead. I know. But we can't be...

It hurts, the brown agreed, laying his head beside his rider's body. It hurts.

They returned to Abri, only a few days later; it hurt too much to remain at Ryslen, with the constant reminder of Light green and greenrider. And somehow, Fr'dyre led his wing into Threadfall, though it later seemed a miracle that no one was hurt.

And so life went on, though Fr'dyre wasn't sure that he lived. After anger and pain and sorrow had come... a blank, as if his emotions had been exhausted.

And then Xhishoth surprised him out of apathy, with a statement he'd never expected to hear again. Fr'dyre... I need to chase again.

What! He rounded on his bond, angry. Xhi', how could you?

I'm sorry, Fr'dyre, Xhishoth apologized, miserably. But I need to chase. I don't have a choice. And then his voice brightened. But there is one - the green Hydrath, who will rise at Lantessama. Her rider Xasnis is already weyrmated.

Then you barely stand a chance, dear heart, Fr'dyre told him, wearily. You know that.

No! Xasnis's husband is no rider, so she asks that those who ride the chasers of her Hydrath recognize that they will not gain her as a weyrmate.

Fr'dyre's lips quirked in a smile at his dragon's cleverness. But that would scarcely be a problem for us, Xhi... Would it?

I think not, Xhishoth smiled into his mind, flexing strong brown wings.

Then fly, and fly well, dear heart. And may you win. Xhishoth deserved a mate, even if he himself did not wish another relationship. And so he mounted to the brown's back, slapping the warm hide affectionately. To Lantessama!

Xhishoth is chasing green Hydrath at Lantessama Isle!

Go back to Fr'dyre and Xhishoth's first flight?

 

Fr'dyre Impressed brown Xhishoth at Ryslen Weyr of the