More Of The Little Bit

[**Auria (etc)**]

Every sound made him jump, for he was certain beyond certain he was not supposed to possess that which was tucked warmly against his heart. No one had known S'tar had made that trip up the river valley, well beyond the place where the Weyr canyon began. He'd thought to provide the Weyrwoman with some land-layout, using the charting skills he'd learned at sea, but instead, the tall fair-haired greenrider had slipped quietly back into the Weyrling Barracks and to his bunk.

He had slipped the charts, as well as a hastily scribbled, and anonymous, report regarding the robbers he'd encountered, into the Weyrwoman's office when no one was around.

Since then, he'd been sneaking to the kitchens and pocketing bits of high protein food, day and night. The little bit of a bronze firelizard that now wiggled restlessly inside his tunic was wont to wake at all hours, and S'tar had to make sure he always had a bite of food to chew, spit out, and feed carefully -- and quickly. To his knowledge, no one had caught him with the flitter yet, because he'd managed to hush the faintest hint of a creel before it gained volume.

Fortunately, at this time of day the other Weyrlings were usually out doing chores, cleaning out weyrs and passage ways, organizing supplies, and performing other necessary tasks. S'tar sat on his bunk, the ever growing snout of his mossy green Hatsheth so close that her warm breath tousled his hair with each exhale.

The wad of meatroll in his mouth was growing more slimy by the minute, and he was beginning to reach the point that it should be swallowed and a new bite started. The tiny, almost translucent, bronze opened his maw and let out a soft trill just in time, however, and S'tar spit another bit onto his little finger and slid it into the hatchling's mouth.

Eyes whirled pale blue with content as the flitter swallowed. With each bite, the premature creature bonded more strongly to the young man who fed it. He was a slow eater, methodical, as if he thought about the taste of every bite, and appreciated each more than the last. The feelings S'tar sensed from him were so different than those he shared with his beloved Hatsheth, and yet, there was a similarity in the connection that brought such satisfaction.

"You need a name," he said softly, and the tiny thing trilled and raised his head in an effort to stretch. S'tar unfastened the front of his tunic, glancing around nervously, and ready to wrap it up tight should anyone approach. The tiny neck reached outward, jaws opening wide in a yawn. Little wings, long and narrow, stretched to their full length, shuddering slightly as they did so. S'tar realized he could see his own hand, which cradled the dragonet gently against his chest, right through the wing sails.

Hatsheth reached out and sniffed the tiny creature carefully. Her eyes whirled nearly the same shade of blue as the little bronze's, and she tilted her head whimsically to try to get a better look at this miniature cousin.

I do believe his color grows brighter, she said. Those orange shadings look like flickers of flame if you look at him just right..

S'tar smiled. Flame? Why, he's barely a spark.


The little one rattled his wings happily and chirped, stretching so high to brush against his human's face that he nearly fell over backwards.

"Spark?" Could the tiny one have heard his thought? Was it possible? Or was it just coincidence? Nuzzling the tiny firelizard in return, the green rider glanced up to meet the approving gaze of his dragon. "Spark it is."

At that, Spark let out a trill so loud, S'tar was certain it must have been heard well beyond the limits of the barracks. He hastily chewed another bit of meat roll and stuffed a bite into the cheerful little mouth, his heart racing as the flitter settled into his careful swallowing routine.

[Journye]

K'yan rolled his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck, groaning slightly. C'train had worked him hard in helping work on the stables and barn buildings needed for the herd beasts. He didn't mind the hard work, enjoyed it really, but the sore muscles he didn't enjoy.

He pushed the barracks door open, looking forward to a short break and maybe a small nap. Herculith rumbled his agreement with the thought of a nap and pushed past his rider. K'yan grinned and patted his bronze on the shoulder as he passed. Just then the sound of a loud trill caused K'yan to jump.

What was that? he asked his bronze who was looking toward the far end of the barracks where one of the doors was shut.

It appears that Hatsheth's own has a little cousin. I believe he is more happy then distressed though,[/color] Herculith replied before moving to K'yan's and his own little room. K'yan shook his head and looked at the closed door. Now he was curious. He walked down the hall way, hearing Herculith settling onto his couch, more determined to have a nap then to look at a little cousin.

If you have seen one little cousin you have seen them all mine,[/color] the bronze informed his rider sleepily. K'yan chuckled and shook his head before knocking on the door.

He waited a moment the pushed it open to peek in with a grin. He could see S'tar sitting on his bunk with something cradled to his chest, but he couldn't see what it was. K'yan cleared his throat and waited to be invited in. "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I couldn't help but hear your little friend's exclamation over something."

[**Auria (etc)**]

Warm, pleasant, slightly superior emotions suddenly rose from the green dragon lying on the stone couch as Hatsheth turned her head toward the door.

Herculeth comes, she said softly.

S'tar could have guessed that the sounds in the outer barracks area were made, at the very least, by a brown--more likely a bronze--clutchmate. As retiring as he himself was, preferring to slide below the public eye as much as possible, Hatsheth was an unusual (sometimes it worried him) green, and always seemed to enjoy pleasant banter with the larger, more mentally attuned, dragons.

Greetings, clutch-brother, she called out softly, before S'tar could stop her.

Then, as he was fumbling with one hand to cover Spark (who was resisting, mouth open for another bite, his head waving about like a tiny tunnelsnake), a soft knock sounded and the door slowly opened.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, but I couldn't help but hear your little friend's exclamation over something." the voice said.

S'tar froze for a moment, and then looked up to see K'yan standing just outside, his head leaning into the room.

"I, Um... ::cough, cough, cough::" The slimy chewed bite of meatroll began to slide, uninvited, down his throat as S'tar tried to respond. The hand which had been attempting to hide the flitter shot upward to catch the glob that was forcefully ejected by the cough. His cheeks turned red as he swallowed hard, and then again, and again, to clear his mouth. He stared, mortified, at the gooey mess that began to drip out between his fingers.

Spark saw it, too, and, with some effort, climbed onto the upturned wrist. He carefully nibbled away at the slime.

Still blushing, S'tar looked up to meet K'yan's gaze, wondering what he would find there. Ridicule? Judgment? "I ... I found him. Or, his egg," he said just barely above a whisper, "It was cracked. He's premature, I...." his words trailed off as he realized the young man was still standing in the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry, please come in...."

[Journye]

K'yan winced slightly as S'tar choked on what ever was in his mouth. He hadn't meant to startle the green weyrling that badly.

Herculeth paused just inside the room he and his rider had been issued as his green clutch sister spoke to him. He didn't wish to be rude since she had spoken to him, so he decided to follow his own down the hall, slipping in beside his rider. K'yan grinned and shut the door soft.

Greetings to you and yours, clutch-sister,[/color]he said as he moved to sit beside the green's stone couch. K'yan watched his bronze for a moment as S'tar recovered from choking. Herculeth was growing quickly, he was already larger then the other bronzes that had been in his clutch, K'yan wondered if he would rival M'kel's Tirenth one day.

He shook his head and turned his attention back to S'tar and the little firelizard eating the pre-chewed bit of food. It was a tiny thing, so he could see that he had indeed hatched to soon, but he seemed to be doing well. He looked up at S'tar's face and smiled, shaking his head.

"I won't tell S'tar. As far I see it the little fellow is lucky you found his egg before he did hatch and the wherries got to him," he said kindly, crouching down to get a closer look at the little bronze.

He appears to be strong despite his tiny size. I do think he will grow into a fine little cousin,[/color] Herculeth said in to Hatsheth.

[**Auria (etc)**]

The captain of the marauder's vessel that S'tar had ... served ... on had waved his brown flitter about like a badge of rank. No one onboard other than he and the first mate (a haughty young fellow with an amorous overweight green) had been allowed to have firelizards. Thus, when the young bronzerider showed only pleasant interest in Spark, S'tar was both startled and pleased.

He slid to the head of his bunk, to make room for K'yan to sit if he wished (and also to move closer to Hatsheth), just as the young green did likewise on her own couch.

I do not know if you will fit, she said to Herculith, her tone proud but polite, But if you would like to try, I am glad to share....

S'tar, who knew his dragon had deliberately broadcast her thoughts for her rider's mind, couldn't help smiling. The idea of the large young bronze and the larger-than-usual green both trying to squeeze into a green's couch that was already growing too small was amusing to say the least. The fact that his dragon was squishing herself as far over toward the end of her couch as possible at the moment made her intentions quite obvious.

Without giving consideration to his usual reluctance to interact too closely with others, S'tar looked up at K'yan with a sparkle in his eye, and nodded ever so slightly toward the mossy green dragon.

Careful not to let his dragon know he was amused by her polite, though slightly ludicrous, actions, he returned to the more obvious topic.

He shifted the chewed meatroll to one side of his mouth so he could speak without making a mess. "I call him Spark. I worried that he wouldn't survive the first night," he said softly, then dabbed another bite of goo on his little finger to fill the begging maw, "But here he is, several days later, eating up a storm. I really do think he's stronger."

Spark made much ado of chewing his mush and carefully swallowing, and then it dawned on him that a new human had leaned close to admire him. He chirped sweetly and reached up to nibble, ever so gently, at the tip of K'yan's nose.

S'tar's cheeks reddened, but he couldn't hold back the laughter that bubbled from his throat. "Sorry about that," he said with a grin.

[Journye]

K'yan smiled and sat on the end of the bunk when S'tar shifted to give him room. He tilted his head slightly when S'tar's green shifted on her couch.

Herculith tilted his own head as he watched his green sister move and offer to share her couch with him. Ah, dear clutch sister I do no wish to spoil your comfort. I am much to large to share your couch in comfort and it is better for you to be at your comfort then I,[/color] he said kindly, reaching out to nuzzle her in a brotherly fashion.

K'yan grinned and chuckled, giving S'tar a friendly wink before leaning down to inspect the little bronze. His chuckle turned into a full blown laugh when the little one nibble on his nose. He sat back up straight and smiled. "Spark is the perfect name for him I think, and no need to apologize. It didn't hurt at all," he said. "I certainly think he'll win the hearts of everyone over."

[**Auria (etc)**]

Hatsheth's eyes whirled a gentle blue as her bronze brother nuzzled her politely. She loved rubbing elbows, as they say, with the 'big colors', after all. If you are sure you're comfortable.... she said, settling herself again and spreading out slightly.

When K'yan laughed at Spark's actions, she shifted her thoughts to the fire lizard. I like our new little cousin, she said to Herculith. We found his egg when the robbers dropped him.

S'tar hadn't picked up on the dragon's thoughts this time, else he'd have begun to panic that their unapproved excursion had been uncovered. He was absorbed in the little one who sat contentedly, and finally (for a moment or two) full, in his hand. Feelings of a happy belly drifted from the nearly translucent bronze, and the greenrider swallowed the latest mouthful of meat roll.

"I had no idea how quickly they grow on a person," he said softly. "In fact, I really don't know much about firelizards at all. The cap'n of the vessel I worked aboard before coming to the Weyr wouldn't even let us touch his brown, and the creature had picked up his self-righteous attitude, so it's not exactly like anyone really wanted to." He stroked Spark, whose outer lids were starting to droop sleepily. Then, wondering hopefully, he glanced up at K'yan. "Do you know much about them? Do you think he'll live?"

S'tar, sensitive to a fault but guarded against ever allowing himself to connect with anyone previously, suddenly found himself whole-heartedly bonded to another. Not only had his union with Hatsheth changed him in sometimes uncomfortable ways, now he found himself caring deeply for this tiny bronze flitter, and he fought back the fear that fate might take Spark away.

[Journye]

Herculith nodded his head and settled comfortably on the floor, his front legs tucked under him like a feline. He tilted his head at the mention of robbers having taken the egg. They were nest robbers?[/color] he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

K'yan listened as S'tar spoke, watching the little bronze in his fellow weyrling's hand. He frowned slightly as he chewed lightly on his bottom lip thoughtfully. He had seen other flits around, but he had never actually been around one closely. But could they be that much different then other baby animal? He looked up at S'tar's face and offered a gentle smile.

"I don't know much about firelizards personally no, sorry. But, he seems to be eating plenty and doesn't seem to be distressed. I think Spark will be fine S'tar, especially with you to take care of him," he said with a brighter smile.

[**Auria (etc)**]

Unused to any kind of praise, S'tar's cheeks turned rosy pink when K'yan complimented his care of the little firelizard. He opened his mouth, and was looking for the proper words to thank the weyrling bronzerider, when Hatsheth's thoughts interrupted him.

I do not think they were just nest robbers, she said, turning her response toward her rider as if seeking confirmation, But they certainly had at least one bronze little cousin egg, which we found all covered with cracks after it fell off the beast. They were riding those beasts Mine always tells me I am not allowed to eat, she went on, adding a slight snort to express her feelings about that. And they had many other things tied to the beasts. Things that were shiny and rattled and clanked, and things that looked soft and bulky, and bags of other things that jingled. I believe they were Everything Robbers!

S'tar's mouth hung open. Aboardship, had an underling ... and one the equal of a "Shadow", no less ... taken it upon himself to explore, and to claim the booty of that exploration (here he clutched Spark ever so slightly closer to him), he'd find himself in the brig with only water and stale bread for a sevenday, and be put to emptying the slops for the next moon cycle.

His eyes shifted to K'yan, to the young bronze who sat before Hatsheth, and back to his own dragon. Had he any clue of what she was relaying to Herculith, he'd have stopped her.

Mine? Hatsheth repeated, not understanding why her rider had failed to respond. Where they Everything Robbers?

"I, uh ... yes, I think, Every-- Oh," he said, wishing he could vanish into the wall behind him. Pleading eyes turned to K'yan. "We, I, I mean.... I was only thinking to map some of the outlying, I mean.... Oh Shells...." He let out a deep sigh and turned back to his dragon, who was growing confused over her human's obvious distress.

Mine-S'tar-Own? Are you ill?" Her jewel-like eyes whirled yellow with concern.

No, not ill, he responded silently, Just a bit ... unsure of what might happen next.

She tilted her head quizzically, and reached out to nudge him gently on the shoulder. Then, turning to Herculith, she said, I do not always understand humans, even Mine-Own. Do you?

[Journye]

K'yan frowned slightly as he watched the emotions flitting across S'tar's face. His fellow weyrling looked so frightened and he reached out with a hand slowly to rest it comfortingly on his shoulder when he clutched the firelizard closer. He was aware of the concerned look in Hatsheth's eyes.

At S'tar's jumbled words, K'yan's eyebrows drew together as he struggled to understand what he was telling him. "I don't understand S'tar.," he said gently, his eyes taking on a distant look as Herculith informed him of what he and his green sibling had been talking about.

The bronze rested his muzzle gently and reassuringly against Hatsheth's shoulder. I do find them confusing many times. I think our owns confuse us more because we love them so.[/color]

K'yan glanced at Herculith and shook his head before turning his attention back to S'tar. "You ran into robbers while out doing something?" he asked softly, carefully, he didn't want to scare the green rider any further. "Then Spark is extra lucky that you found him. I don't think anyone will take him from you S'tar. I certainly won't and if you don't want me to tell anyone about him I won't breathe a word," he said, gently squeezing the green weyrling's shoulder.