Trying to sneak away...

[etoile]

A'lexie growled, crouching behind the bushes like a tiger. There had been some nonsense earlier about having to report to the Weyrlingmaster for Weyrling training, but he would have none of that nonesense. He didn't want to be under the command of someone who hadn't challenged him. Sure, B'kay appeared to have muscles, but that didn't necessarily mean he knew how to use them. Besides, he had been avoiding contact with all other weyrlings. The few he had met didn't like his stench, which hurt his pride. He smelled manly! He smirked where he stood at the entrance to the Weyr, gazing down into the valley. He was going to teach Galeshinth to fly, to breath fire, and go /between/. He didn't need help. He had gotten here all by himself, didn't he? He could teach Galeshinth to fly. Grinning toothily, he turned to the blue, who had ambled out behind him excitedly. "All right, Gally!" A'lexie announced, watching the blue awkwardly rush him. He giggled to himself at Galeshinth's difficulty on ground. His feet were so big, but A'lexie knew that everything else about Galeshinth was absolutely perfect. "Today, we be a-teachin' ye how to be flyin'!" he told the blue smugly. Galeshinth cocked his head.

But Syth be sayin' we be huntin' today?[/color] he inquired curiously. His language, being influenced by his rider's, had become crude and poor, but he still maintained a tone mirroring the thoughtfulness of his personality. A'lexie shook his head.

"Naw, we ain't be listenin' to that dummy," he replied firmly. "He be weaklin' man till he prove hisself. But now, we be flyin' home. We be showin' ye to them villagers. Ye're a strong beastie!" He growled, demonstrating to the blue what a true dragon was like. Eagerly, Galeshinth growled back. A'lexie beamed. "See? Ye be a-scarin' the villagers, an' we be the best leader thar, aye?" he declared smugly. He cleared his throat, and went on as if Galeshinth was merely a student in a lesson. "Ye can be huntin' already. See them claws? Just kill whatever li'l beastie you think looks awful tasty. Wherry-birds, herd beasties... An' felines! We can be protectin' the village, we could!" A'lexie exclaimed, bobbing up and down as he lead Galeshinth out of the Weyr.

I be excited to be a-seein' yer village,[/color] the dragon told his rider happily. A'lexie nodded fervently.

"Aye, it ain't be all clean and bathie here. I only manage to avoid me bathies by being sneaky like them nasty felines!" The scrawny, underaged weyrling hunched, walking quickly and silently through the trees to demonstrate his prowess. Enthusiastically, Galeshinth attempted to do the same, but toppled over as he hunched, sending A'lexie into peals of giggles. "Ye be silly for such a fierce beastie!" he giggled. Galeshinth rumbled in equal amusement, straightening up. He couldn't wait to get to the village with A'lexie![/size]

[B'kay]

Gaylen puttered around the quiet weyr, stretching sore muscles, feeling the warmth grow in them as she regained a little strength. The little firelizard, who rested constantly in a sling against her heart, was also starting to recover. Memory poked her head out with a 'cheep', and Gaylen stroked her eye ridges, which were once again taking on a pale golden tinge. She wandered over to the bowl of dried meat bits that was kept continually filled, and fed a few bites to the flitter, then tucked a large handful into her belt pouch for later.

Yawning, the little queen purred in contentment and returned to her cozy nest.

The old blue dragon, his belly more satiated than it had been for turns, watched his rider with affection and caution. She seemed clearer today, seemed to know where she was. The medicine C'lyn was once again providing seemed to be helping ... some. At least she had more clear moments now than she'd had for some time.

The problem, of course, was that, as Gaylen was starting to feel a little better, she was also feeling more restless.

As if the thought, though unintended, had been shared, the bluerider turned to Alabanth and said, "I need air."

It is barely light.

I still need air ... and exercise. Banth, can you take me outside for a while? I promise to stay where you can follow easily.... Gaylen thought this to her dragon with great pain. When her mind was clear, it wrenched her soul to know that Alabanth had been turned into a nurse maid for his invalid rider.

Do not feel like that. I love you. I will do anything for you. It is my joy, you know this from my heart. But the Weyrlings are training this morning, young dragons learning to hunt. I would not want to distract them.

Just a stroll, please? I need to stretch, to find that my legs are still under me. We'll avoid the training grounds, then ... let's visit that valley that I've heard mentioned. We'll stay close to the Weyr entrance, and if I start to weaken....

I'll bring you home. Yes, I think it will be safe for just a little while.

Alabanth helped his rider with the harness, which was worn and fraying, but still good enough for a short straight flight. Once Gaylen was secured tightly with the riding belt, the old blue, with the gentle grace of a much younger dragon, soared above the Bowl and over the rim. The dragon looked down at the gathering group of Weyrlings, casting a silent but polite greeting to Syth, who returned the thought briefly.

The path through the trees just outside the Weyr tunnel entrance was rocky and rough, but Alabanth found a tall outcropping of rock to light upon. You stay astride for now, I'll scan around for a better place for you to dis.... Hrmp. What is that smell?

"Smell?" Sniffing loudly, Gaylen searched the air, but couldn't detect whatever it was that had confused her dragon.


It is dragon, mixed with very ... pungent ... human.

Growing more and more confused, the retired healer turned to watch the spot where the jungle path emerged from the trees, for that was where her dragon had directed his thoughts.

[etoile]

A'lexie's keen ears had picked up on something. Was it a person? Growling, he dropped to the ground, pulled out some of the wet grass and mud. He smeared the mud on his chest, hands, and face, then plastered the grass into it. He would scare this lady away! She was an oldie, so of course she'd be scared of a big monster like he was! He smirked. He was good at disguises. Sure, the oldies back in the village would smack him for trying to trick them, but if he could make them jump or run away, his task would be complete. He needed to scare this oldie off and get Galeshinth out of here. He was sick of the clean and all the 'proper' people. They'd probably try to convert him and Galeshinth into proper stupid fat people. No- he'd never let them steal the warriorness from him! He growled. This oldie better not even dare. So if he scared her into running, he would be free. Away from the soft, proper people. He didn't know how they lived, needing to be so clean all the time... It made him never want to take a bath again.

Do me, too?[/color] Galeshinth asked excitedly. A'lexie grinned wickedly.

Okay, he replied proud of his sneaky mind-speech. Gathering up some grass and mud, he quickly caked the top of Galeshinth's head while trying to keep a careful eye on the oldie. When he had finished, he took a pause to admire his handiwork. Galeshinth looked so savage! That oldie's a-gonna be gettin' so a-scare't! he told the blue proudly. Galeshinth puffed up his dark chest.

Why we be a-scarin' her? he asked puzzledly.

Because she be an oldie who be wantin' to tame us, A'lexie replied solemnly. She be draggin' us back to the bathies, an' be makin' us soft. So we be scarin' her. Just be careful not to be a-gettin' a smackin'. Oldies can hit like somethin' fierce.

Galeshinth sent feelings of confirmation back to the boy. Crouching carefully, he waited until the time was right, and then... Charge! "RAWWWWR!" he yelped as he leapt out of the bushes, with Galeshinth bugling right behind him as he did so. A'lexie crouched in front of the oldie, hissing like a feline, but poor Galeshinth lost balance as he tried doing the same thing, toppling over. Pretending not to notice, A'lexie continued his growling. This oldie had to go away![/size]

[B'kay]

Who is it, 'Banth? the old healer asked, straining eyes and nose to detect the approaching pair.

I am not certain, Mine, the graying blue responded, but I sense youth and determination. I believe they are a weyrling pair.

Gaylen scowled, her curiosity growing. Aren't they supposed to be in training this morning?

Mmmmm, Alabanth began, Their first hunt--

But his thoughts were broken asunder as the most bizarre sight leapt out of the bushes toward them. A lad, smeared with sod and mud, and a very young blue dragon, whose hide had also been plastered with the same, came roaring into the open.

The old blue dragon startled and stepped backward. He lost his footing, and had to flail his wings mightly to keep himself and his rider upright.

Gaylen grabbed at her dragon's neck ridges, baffled by this astounding sight. As the little blue below stumbled and attempted to right himself, his rider continued to hiss and growl at the elder pair on the rocks.

Unsure of exactly how to respond to this advance, Gaylen fought to keep her laughter hidden, and her confusion to a minimum.

"Alabanth!," she called aloud to her dragon, mentally cautioning him to play along. "Are those wild felines trying to make us their supper? Or wild aborigines on the warpath?"

Alabanth raised his head and spread his wings mightily, and responded so the young blue could easily hear, I shall protect you from these wild creatures, my rider! And he let out a roar!

And then, as so often happened to the elder healer, her world began once again to shift. The image before her swam, and the game fought with genuine confusion. Were they truly in danger? She shook her head ... no, no ... they were children, playing felines and dragons in the verdant valleys of youth.

Alabanth's eyes began to whirl with real concern now ... he was losing his rider's focus again. Images poured into his mind, for the first time in all their turns together, scenes flooded his mind of Gaylen's true childhood in the distant past ... distant, distant past, for this was not the woman's first accidental shift through time. It was a past that had been severed from her long ago, in that first fateful accident, the one which had initiated her brain-spell condition.

Before the dragon could stop her, Gaylen had unsnapped her safety straps and slid to the rock beside him and began looking for a way to clamber down.

"That was great!" she called out to the boy below in a voice that was almost not her own. It rang of submerged giggles and fun, the voice of a child. "You did that great! Now it's our turn -- we'll be the felines, and you can be the dragonrider!" She shifted her weight forward ... reached for the weyrling pair.

Alabanth, eyes sparking yellow, grabbed Gaylen's tunic just as she was about to pitch headlong off the boulder.