Training Grounds
The marks of thousands of claws give testament to the shuffling of the young dragons that have torn up what little grass once grew in this corner of the bowl. Tucked in between the feeding pens to the south and the curve of the Weyrleader's complex, the training grounds are home to daily exercises and classes, all taking place well out of the way of the hectic bustle of the rest of the bowl. Cut deep into the cliff face, the large, covered openings leading into the extensive weyrling barracks rise high over the heads of any who come near, although the height of the caldera's spindles far above cast their own reaching shadows across the hard packed earth.
It is a spring midmorning.
Soaring high overhead are Cythe, Amrald, Litza, and Searcher.
Gold Chayath, blue Sakuruth, green Zaqith, brown Lisulath, and green Alymath are here.

Alymath
The materialistic sparkle of vibrant emerald adorns the finely tapered muzzle to the point of saturation, before pouring in diluted jade against the understated arch and subtle crescendo of her neck. Like moonlight filtered through viridian, spaded leaves, silver's tapped touch airbrushes the arpeggio of sharp 'ridges, an ethereal breath across otherwise earthly, moss-touched spine. A roseate blush spreads faintly across lanky torso, a would-be gaudy pink acting as filler in places where jade fails to perform. Haze's vaporous movements end in scintillating mica rays which variate wildly over open-angled, sleek haunches. A coda of green, frosted with champagne's golden rush, twirls into a loopy tail and ends with a flash fanfare of verdant sage.
Alymath is 2 months and 4 days old.
She is 3 meters long, with a wingspan of 5 meters.

"Alymath! You could've waited a little!" The plaintive whine comes from Liseria's direction as the girl hurries out of the barrack. Four legs go faster than two, don't you know? Especially when they're bigger. Still, the rider grins as she runs over to Alymath's side.

Alymath stops in the middle of the training grounds, big head craning back to look at her rider. Eyes roll a lazy blue-green as the green slowly shifts her wings.

Alymath thinks to you, << You were slow. >>

You think to Alymath, >> You were too fast. <<

Alymath thinks to you, << I am just walking as always. You can keep up. >>

Harme shimmers in from ::between::, a honeyed perfection.

Lis raises a hand up to Alymath's muzzle, patting the vibrant jade parts of it lovingly. "'M here, now," the girl adds with a smile. Finger still check for patchy skin; but there's none on Alymath's muzzle. Thankfully.

Harme
Mellow bronze drips like honey and liquid amber over the translucent hide of this firelizard. About his thin gaunt frame is a certain ethereal quality, not of being unreal, for he is solid as wire over steel, but that at any moment he may simply fade into nothingness, leaving no trace of himself behind, but an elusive memory. Something about the cock of his head, the gauntness of his frame exudes a sad sort of melody, that tingles in the back of the mind in unchained perfection.

His small bronze foreleg is painted with a simple black and blue, subtly noting his humanpet as a resident at High Reaches Weyr.
Harme is 1 Turn, 10 months, and 6 days old.

Alymath lowers her head, sending her mate a tender look. Mmm, scratching? One big eye swirls at the small bronze popping in, the young green rumbling slightly. How peculiar..

Harme chirples, and alights on the ground, just staring up at the green. His head cocks curiously. Not a bigbigbigbig Chayath dragon? Not even a meany bigbig Mrrdynth dragon? He likes Alymath, then.

Lis's hand slides upwards to her green's eyeridge, rubbing it oh-so-softly as she cranes her head to see what's so intersting to her lifemate. Ah, firelizzen. The 'ling chuckles, reassuring her dragon just in case.

You think to Alymath, >> It's only a firelizard, Alymath. And don't try to eat it. <<

Alymath half-closes her eyes as Lis' hand starts it's moves. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Another rumble is given, this time a little disappointed. She can't even eat it? But they're always disturbing her sleep.

Harme takes littleflitter backsteps at the rumble. Maybe not so nice....his little eyes look up a tad sadly at the green dragon. Mrrdynth mean? *sniff*

Lis shakes her head at Alymath again, a firm 'No' this time spoken, for emphasis. "Of course," she adds with a sardonic smirk, the rest fading out into mindspeak to the green. What diabolical idea is Lis planting in Alymath's head now?

You think to Alymath, >> You /can/ sniff 'em, just not too hard. <<

Alymath watches the bronze mini-dagon thoughtfully. Then again, this one doesn't /look/ familiar. Green head is suddenly extended, giving Harme a good snifffff, then long tongue perks out, reaching towards the bronze. Ooh, strange.

Alymath thinks to you, << They are too small to play with. What good do they do then? >>

Harme gives a little flitter shriek, jumping up, then landing, and just sits there. Dragons don't hurt flitters, right? Meany Mrrdynth never hurt him....except that one time when he snatched him outa the sky....eep.

Lis pokes Alymath lightly in the side with her elbow. Stoppit. She saw that tounge... Her head cocks dragonwards at a silent question. This one may actually take some pondering, it will. One hand is brought towards her chin pensively.

You think to Alymath, >> They're like little dragons, for all the people who don't have big dragons. <<

Alymath rumbles in her sweet tone, the sound almost like a laugh. Harme gets a long stare before green turns her attention back to her lifemate, silently commenting.

Alymath thinks to you, << So they flame too, like us? >>

Harme squirms a bit, eyeing the two big 'uns with burning curiousity. And caution. Plenty of caution.

Hmm... Lis needs to think for a little while again. Curious things, these dragons. A kind smile is given Harme-wards in the midst of her rumination; they're not too scary really. Just big.

You think to Alymath, >> I would guess so, but mine don't. <<

You think to Alymath, >> I would guess so, but mine don't. <<

Alymath decides to look at Harme then, while Lis thinks. Head prods forward again as she gets her answer, thoroughly looking over the bronze. Aha.

Alymath thinks to you, << Yours are noisy. The little green makes noise while I sleep. She lacks politeness. >>

Harme musters up enough courage for a bold chirrup, his own head darting out to sniff at the green.

Alymath rumbles and pulls back her head as the small creature suddenly moves. Eyes move towards her lifemate again, silently quering.

Alymath thinks to you, << They are not afraid of me? >>

Lis giggles at the sight. Oh, it's just /too/ cute... At least the little one's not scared stiff any more. "Hmm?" is asked aloud again - she still needs to work on the whole 'in your head' thing - as she leans on Alymath's forearm.

You think to Alymath, >> Why should they be? You're not going to eat them are you? <<

Alymath thinks to you, << Well, no, not if you say I mustn't. >>

Harme gives another little sadsniff. She doesn't /like/ him....

You think to Alymath, >> Good, then. And /do/ forgive Jaibyrd. She's broody, and was only proddy two sevendays ago! <<

Alymath flicks her tongue at Harme. She does too like him, and he look like he tastes even better. But Lis tells her not to harm him, so she won't.

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath thinks << Join us outside. There is a funny creature.. >> to him. >>

Lis glances up at Harme, then back at Alymath. Then back and forth again. Sheesh. Rubbing her fingers 'gainst the nearest surface, - which just so happens to by Alymath's leg - the girl consents to her dragon's insistence. At least she's not begging to try /cookies/.

Alymath senses Druseth responds with salty crimson swirls, an essence of confusion. << A funny creature? Is it good to eat? >> to her.

Druseth glances about watchfully, slowly slinking in from the Weyrling Barracks.

Lylia walks in from the Weyrling Barracks.

You think to Alymath, >> I guess you could lick him, if you wanted. Just make sure you're gentle! <<

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath thinks << I don't know. Lis won't let me try. >> to him. >>

Grumble, grumble. "What is it Druseth?" The still-sleepy weyrling follows after her brown, lagging behind his quick strolling pace. Lylia peers over at Lis, eyebrow raised in question. Emerald eyes dart over towards Alymath, before she poses the question. "Um, what's going on? Druseth said something about wanting to eat a funny creature...?"

Alymath is too busy looking at Harme to notice the brown. Tongue flick out again, lightly touching the bronze's head. Hmm, salty.

Alymath senses Druseth sends an affirmative answer, the palest of shadows woven into the words. << She won't? Does it look good to eat? >> to her.

Harme trembles, seeming to be building up a shriek. No, nonononooo....you don't eat flits! Don't you? *cringe*

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath replies, sweet confusion mingled in her thoughts. << It tastes funny. Too small to eat. >> to him. >>

Druseth gently turns his head back to his tired lifemate, before turning his attention back. Alymath? He slowly trundles over by the green, whirling eyes peering curiously up. Little bronze.... thing.

Lis grins as she turns Lylia-wards. Finally, some human company; not that she minds Alymath, though. "Alymath wanted to eat this bronze, here, and I wouldn't let her. SO she decided to /taste/ it." Eyes are rolled, and arms are folded comically. Dragons!

Alymath rumbles her answer to Druseth before peering intently on the small bronze creature. Definitely too salty for her refined taste.

Harme snorts defiantly up at Druseth. Not thing! Firelizard! Brave bronze dashing Harme firelizard! Draggiething...*snort*

Alymath senses Druseth sends a shivering answer of gilded hope. << It tastes funny.... but are there many around? Salty isn't bad... >> An image of gushing crimson blood accompanies, the saltiness mixed with the sweet taste of wine. to her.

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath sends an image of a large dragon eating a small firelizard. "Not big enough. Salty is good, but I would have to eat many to get satisfaction. Takes too long time. >> to him. >>

Druseth isn't impressed by the little bronze thing. Very small, but perhaps Alymath has the right idea... Slowly, he tromps a little closer, his own tongue flicking out, gently touching the back of the bronze. He turns thoughtfully. Not bad...

Alymath watches Druseth expectantly. He agrees with her, right? Would take too long time to be full from eating those small 'uns. Tongue flickers out to touch Lis' shoulder gently. Mmm, lifemate-taste..

Lylia merely watches Dru in amusement. Strange.... She won't let him eat the firelizard. Really. She backsteps slightly, crossing her arms as she stands near Lis. "I take it she didn't like it?"

Lis grimaces Lylia-wards. "Nope, they say he's too salty. But oh, if only you could see the images they're whipping back and forth!" True, Lis may only catches pieces of them, but they're gory 'nuff. "Aw, Alymath!" Lis bats at the tounge on her shoulder. Dragongoobers.

Alymath senses Druseth sends an answer trickling with amusement. A fuzzy image accompanies, fairs of firelizards lining up to jump in a large dragon's open mouth. << Salty is good, indeed... But they are too small. Little creatures. >> to her.

Alymath rumbles and draws back from her rider. Fine, be that way! The green rolls her eyes towards Druseth.

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath sends a bleary image of a big cave with lots of sleeping firelizards. That what the riders call the kitchen? << Maybe as a snack? >> to him. >>

Harme finally lets out that shriek, and launches upward, hovering high (hah) above the ground. A whole four feet, really! He looks entreatingly towards Lylia and Lis. Help me?

Lylia pauses for a moment. Her head tilts, eyes unfocused for merely a second, before snapping back. "Druseth says it's salty, though not bad... and did convey an 'interesting' image or two to me." And the slight smirk creeping up her face shows her dragon's idea of interesting is quite amusing.

Alymath rises on her hind legs, tongue flicking towards Harme. Not that she needs to rise, but it gives respect. Plus, it gives her an excuse to spread her wings and look cute.

Like dragon, like rider. Lis rolls her eyes at Alymath, rubbing her pink belly thoughfully. "Silly dearish. You /know/ I love you." Oh dear, was that aloud? Harme is given one of her motherly smirks. Poor thing. "Aye, Alymath says the same," Lis replies. Interesting sure is the word...

Harme manages to stick his little tongue out at Alymath. I can fly away now! He beams foolishly at the green.

Druseth doesn't care to look 'cute'. He cares about the snack with wings. Slinking slowly past Alymath, he raises slightly on his hind legs, flaring his wings. Fangs bared, his tongue flicks out once or twice. Perhaps not tasty, but a challenge at least.

Sakuruth heads west towards the Northern curve of the bowl.

Alymath lowers her forearm to the ground again, tail flicking coyly around her legs. Lis gets a loving glance, just in case she was going to yell.

Sakuruth wanders in from the Northern Bowl, keeping an eye out for Weyrlings on Patrol.

Alymath senses Druseth sends mild confusion, shifting violets tinging his words. A faint image of the many fire lizards around the Weyr follows, fairs sweeping through the skies. << There are many though. And an interesting snack... One stays in my couch, but I will not eat him. He helps scrub my back. But there are many who do not around, all the time. >> to her.

Sakuruth heads 'neath the immense arches and into the barracks.

Alymath thinks to you, << I bespoke Druseth with: Alymath sends a dismayed thought of a glowing, green firelizard squealing in her ears. << One makes noise in my couch, but Lis says she is proddy and can therefore be excused. >> to him. >>

Druseth also lowers himself, a brown, dragon shaped shadow creeping across the ground. Hunting snacks is hard. A mournful glance of slow-whirling eyes is turned back to his lifemate, her adoring gaze strengthening him. A slight glance is thrown towards Alymath, before once more rumbling.

Harme's eyes bug out at the /fangs/. Oh my. He falls down, wrapping himself 'round Lylia's neck and into her hair. Meep!

"You!" Alymath's just too smart. Either that, or Lis doesn't have as much control on her mind as she'd like to think. Just before the girl can repremand her lifemate, she's caught by her loving gaze. Melt. Sighing, the girl goes a bit lighter on the green.

You think to Alymath, >> Just don't hurt him! And make sure Druseth's not getting too out of hand... <<

Alymath senses Druseth sends a few vague pictures, a blue scrubbing his back, a brown peering cheerfully at him. << Mine are quiet and send interesting images sometimes. Proddy? >> A vague recognition from his lifemate's mind. << Ah. >> to her.

Alymath sweeps her head until it is in front of Lylia, peering curiously at the bronze now hidden in her hair. Tongue flicks out lightly. Come out and play?

Alymath thinks to you, << I am not hurting anyone, I am playing. And I like Druseth, even if he likes the little ones. >>

Druseth has quite nice fangs, thank you. He bares them once more, this time in a loving glance directed at his Lylia. He creeps closer, slinking towards his lifemate.

"Um..." Lylia finds herself under the gaze of two dragons, not to mention being strangled by a bronze. Meep, certainly. Backing up slightly from the tongue-flicking green, and sending a worried glance to her adorable brown lifemate, she turns to Lis. "Err... I've got a bronze in my hair. What should I do?"

Alymath rumbles at Druseth's rider. She could help with the bronze?

Harme shakes his head vehemnantly. No! You /eat/ bronzes who come out to play....no, no help, Alymath, no help. He's quite fine the way he is now, thank you.

Lis smirks at Lylia's plight good-naturedly. "Run?" the girl offers not-so-helpfully. "Just don't let the dragons eat him..." Just in case Lylia /might/. "I can keep Alymath back..." Lis adds a little unsteadily. Alymath's a little more persuasive than most.

Lylia doesn't like the taste of fire lizard... Larson wouldn't be amused, at least. A neutral gaze is turned on Druseth and Alymath. "Now, now." Aw, there goes her solution. Thanks Lis. "Run..." And suddenly, she does that, pelting backwards a bit across the training grounds. Seems the safest option...

Alymath thinks to you, << He is scared, and I only want to play. >>

You think to Alymath, >> Wouldn't you be scared if someone was trying to lick /you/, if they were many many /many/ times bigger than you? <<

Alymath thinks to you, << Who wouldn't want to lick me? >>

Druseth watches Lylia's quick movement sadly. His Lylia trying to get away? From him? No, this won't do... Lumbering, the brown manages to have a fairly quick pace after his lifemate. Slow down... And don't eat the bronze, we claimed him.

Alymath snorts haughtily at Lis, having given an obvious answer.

Harme shrieks fit to kill a banshee, and just grips tighter. He brightens. They're leaving the meanydraggies behind! Go, Lylia, go!

Lis glares back up at Alymath, as best the little 'ling can. "Hmph." At least the green's not running after Lylia. And speaking of which, the girl peers in the brownrider's direction. "Aw, Lylia! I didn't think you /would/!

Alymath lowers her head until it's on level with her lifemate, muzzle gently puffing the girl on the shoulder. Eyes gives Lis a truly pitful look, peering up at her. Aww?

Lylia can manage running for herself. But having a shrieking bronze clinging to her isn't helping. She stops, still near enough. The pitiful cry from Druseth certainly makes her stop cold, taking a few tentative steps back towards the dragons. Awwww. "I couldn't help it, Lis!"

Druseth takes another few clumsy steps towards Lylia. You slowed? My Lylia.... He gives a low, content growl.

Shaking her head, Lis just beams down at Alymath. Don't even try it. An arm is slung over her head, hugging the headknobs lightly. Of course, Lylia is running for her life... "'M sorry Lylia! Just get rid of that bronze and you'll be fine!" she calls in her fellow-'lings direction. The 'lizard can between, right?

Alymath rumbles softly, nuzzling her lifemate back. Big wings flutter slightly for balance as the green leans on Lis - as much as she can without knocking the girl over of course.

Lylia retraces her steps now, mumbling to the bronze. "I'm going back to Druseth, I suggest you disembark now. You can fly high enough to stay over them." And with that, she hurries her pace. Need to get back to Dru....

Harme gives a sad little chirp...but the hair is soft. And draggies don't lick hair...still, he lauches upward, and fights his little way seven feet above the ground. High, ain't he?

Lylia glances upwards, the bronze swooping up. Well, her hair may be comfy, but it's often got a dragon nuzzling it. Cute little bronze, really... And Druseth lumbers closer, nudging her side happily.

Lis scuffs her boots in the dirt as she stumbles backwards. "Oof." Big heavy Alymath-head nuzzling her. Her eyes are directed on Harme, now leaving Lylia all alone. "You alright, Lylia?" The girl /has/ been dashing around with a bronze crunching her neck. Not to mention Druseth chasing after her...

Alymath rolls her eyes apologetically at her lifemate. She's so small, not her fault, and the green's so big, not her fault either.