Its too Early for A Bath (Open)

[LyricalBlue]

The tiny green dragon bounced with almost obnoxious exuberance towards the lake. Morning or not, she wanted a bath. And now, it was quiet, this early none of the other dragons tended to be up and about. Which, was exactly how she liked it when bathing. Some of the bronzes just made wave after wave that sent the other, smaller dragons flying.

Behind her, a small woman trudged. Zhatiath might like this hour, but it certainly was no favorite of Estess's. Her mother had been taking care of the babe and Estess really did want to get out for some exercise. She was still carrying some baby weight around her hips, and while that seemed to have drawn more attention from the males of the Weyr, it made running a tad uncomfortable.

As Zhatiath leaped into the water, Estess plopped down beside it with a huff. She still hadn't decided what to do with the child. Her mother thought it best to let the creche raise it, as it was with most rider children. Besides, no doubt his blood father could not be there now to help. Not with being the Weyrleader now. Estess let out a long sigh. No doubt he would never look her way again. But, that was the way of the Weyr, and there were plenty of others she could entertain herself with besides.

[FireThorne]

H'seo grinned as he strode from the weyrhall, rolling his shoulders to work out a few kinks and soreness in his muscles. The bluerider was a morning person; he loved to get up early and get his day started before almost anyone in Ponaa even stirred. Of course, his love of hunting factored into his early routine. He was too busy with wing practice and his responsibilities to fit his hobby in anywhere else during the day, and so he spent a few mornings every sevenday out tracking. The headwoman always made good use of the fruits of his labor, even though the weyr could supply itself. H'seo brought fresh meat, and any addition that added to their fair was welcome. Oh, he was certain Ponaa wouldn't have starved without his help, but he liked to hunt, and the beasts went to a good cause.

Approaching his blue, the wingrider stepped with practiced ease on the outstretched foreleg and vaulted onto Reinth's back, settling down and patting the great beast's neck. Good catch this mornin'. He drawled. The headwoman was mighty pleased.

Then it is good. His dragon replied simply. Reinth was a workhorse through and through, happy to lend his aid whenever and however he could. I could use a bath, though. The blue, though never complaining about having the dead animals on his back since His made sure they were reasonably clean, still preferred a quick swim afterwards. Besides, H'seo generally needed one himself after working all morning. Reinth wrinkled his nose. So could you.

Chuckling amiably, the rider grinned. I suppose I could. Let's hit the lake, partner.

The blue leapt upward and glided toward the end of the weyrbowl, and both rider and dragon blinked in surprise as they spied a green and, presumably, her rider. It was unusual to see anyone here this early. Backwinging carefully and landing far enough away to keep from buffeting the greenrider with any breeze, Reinth stopped long enough for His to removed the riding straps and then hopped up to dive into the water. Curious as to which rider was up this early, H'seo hefted the riding straps over his shouders and headed over to the woman.

"Mornin', lady." The bluerider drawled, smiling as he approached. "What brings you out so early?" They were all Ponaa riders. No need for decorum, right?

[LyricalBlue]

The petite woman half spun around to look up at the bluerider and smirked. With a population so small, it was hard not to know anyone. But this one, she only knew by face. His name she couldn't quite come up with. She smiled, the skin around her dark eyes wrinkling with the merriment. At least she wasn't the only one who's dragon decided to drag them out this early.
Ah love... who?
Reinth. His is.... I don't remember.

Estess nodded her head in greeting and patted the ground next to her.
"Have a seat bluerider, you seem tired already. Long night?" The greenrider winked and laughed lightly. Just because the hour was awful, it certainly did not mean ones demeanor had to be. She glanced down at her outfit and winced. Ah well, at least the dull shift was clean, hardly flattering but clean.

Out in the water, the dark emerald green kept only her eyes and nostrils above water as the blue splashed in. Well, at least he wasn't a bronze, his waves were much smaller and therefor tolerable. She snorted and a small wave crested and rolled away from her nose. Lifting her head out of the water she rumbled a soft hello.

[FireThorne]

H'seo liked the woman's ready smile, her eyes shining with the effect. "Obliged, lady." The rider drawled, parking his rear next to her. He knew of her, of course, but her name escaped him. Grinning when she winked at him, the bluerider shook his head, chuckling. "Nah, long mornin'." He joked, smiling in return. "Been out hunting before dawn--giving the headwoman a little extra to throw into the pot." His eyes wandered over her quickly, glad to see he wasn't the only one that opted for casual this morning. He'd rather be comfortable than pretty.

"H'seo's the name, by the way, and my partner there is Reinth." He quickly supplied, smiling amiably as he shrugged the riding straps off his shoulder and set them carefully at his side. He was meticulous in the care of his fighting straps and leathers. "So, what brings a pretty lady out this early?" The bluerider drawled smoothly, grinning at his companion.

Practically shuddering with happiness as he slid through the water, Reinth finally broke the surface and shook his head vigorously, sending water droplets flying. Treading on the surface, the blue finally noticed the emerald dragon's eyes and nose pointed in his direction. Stilling almost completely, the blue inwardly panicked. It was a green, and therefore, a female dragon, greeting him with a soft rumble. The dark dragon was the absolute worst with females, always making a proper wherry out of himself around them at first impression.

Just say hello, partner. It ain't hard.

Easy for you to say, Mine. Nevertheless, Reinth took a deep breath and faced the dark green. He bugled a quiet greeting. Good morning, sister. He managed, stammering only slightly.

[LyricalBlue]

Blues, they always managed to get the fun assignments. Still, meeting one of them that was actually allowed outside the Weyr was interesting. Most of em were too busy being the Weyrleader's errand boys to bother too much with the rest of the population. Estess smiled and nodded, hunting was a good enough occupation. And the whole business of sending the blues out on secret errands bothered her. It was good to see one that was open about his business. She was not sure she agreed with searching outside the Weyr for Candidates. Faranth knew what would happen if the warring holds learned that dragons did indeed still exist.

"Well good morning H'seo, I'm Estess of green Zhatiath." She paused to turn her head to look out at the green dragon. "Though she seems to be imitating a rock right about now." The dragon blew out another tiny wave towards the blue. And her rider laughed lightly. "As for what brings us out here, my dear love there could not go another minute without a bath."

Zhatiath lifted her head as the blue spoke and let her wings flare out across the water for balance. When she did speak, her mind voice was a rather exuberant version of her rider's. After all, it was good to see hers out and about and not worrying about the little thing.
Good morning Reinth. The water is very nice without any of the big ones splashing around.

[FireThorne]

H’seo followed the woman’s eyes as she looked back at the lake, gazing at her green in the waters. He was more than a little amused as he watched the dragon, unable to keep from chuckling when she sent a small wave towards his Reinth. Oh boy, the blue was likely as nervous as a newborn calf. He was the worst when it came to females, whether they were flirting or not. “Pleased to meet you, Estess.” The wingrider drawled, grinning. “I’m mighty sure my poor Reinth is about as comfortable as a Bitran trying to tell the truth. He ain’t got the sense of a tunnelsnake around the ladies.”

That is not funny. The dragon shot him a quick glare.

Aw, I thought it was.

Shaking his head, the bluerider returned his attention to the woman at his side, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “I’m sure Reinth would side with her. He always did like getting up early too, even before we were given permission to spend our mornings hunting. It gives me something to do, anyway. I ain’t usually sent off too many places.” H’seo was never chosen as a searchrider, and he wasn’t sure he would want to be one even if given the chance. The forest around Ponaa he knew like the back of his hand, and could travel unnoticed by anyone. Further than that? He didn’t like that risk.

Treading carefully in the water, Reinth shifted his wings restlessly as the green lifted her head to stare at him. His nerves were almost getting the better of him, but she was a calm dragon, and that settled him slightly. Now, if she had started to flirt, he would have already made a runnerbeast-butt out of himself, but as it stood, he was doing fairly well. Considering. It is nice, Zhatiath. The blue agreed. It is hard to enjoy the water with their big waves.

[LyricalBlue]

Still using her wings as a ballast, the green found rather quickly that her long forked tail helped steer as effectively in the water as the air. In rather short order, she was spinning around in circles. This of course, sent her rider into a fit of giggles and it was several moments before either female ceased their antics.

Estess decided that maybe a turn of conversation was best, after all she hardly knew this bluerider. She couldn't imagine what it must be like with the Weyr at full staff.
"So H'seo." The impish woman found herself grinning again. "What else do you do other than providing us with more interesting things to eat?" She arched a dark eyebrow, enjoying herself more than she would have expected this early in the morning. But this bluerider seemed a nice enough sort, even if he had just about the shyest blue that she could have imagined. It seemed that Zhatiath was not put off by that fact at all though. Greens.

Greens indeed. He is sweet. Like your little one.
Love, I would not compare him to a baby where he can hear. The amusement floated between rider and dragon as the green turned back to what she considered now, her toy for the morning.

Sooooo Reinth. She slipped forward in the water, closer to the blue about as impish as her rider. I think you have more sense than a tunnlesnake, you seem very sensible to me.
Back on the shore, Estess had to choke off a comment about greens and sense.

[FireThorne]

Both man and dragon gaped at the green for a moment as she began her antics, then H’seo abruptly slapped his knee and began laughing, unable to keep from it with Estess giggling at his side and watching her spinning round and round. Reinth, on the other hand, did not laugh, but watched with utter fascination, wondering how she could maneuver so easily in water. He was amused of course, but more interested.

Finally managing to calm down, H’seo wiped a few tears from his eyes and focused on the greenrider beside him, grinning back. He liked how much she seemed to smile; he had always been a cheerful guy himself, and loved meeting others much the same. “Just the usual around here, I suppose.” The bluerider replied. “I’m big on good jokes, a relaxing evening in the weyrhall, maybe a little dragon poker, and spending time with a pretty lady, if she’ll have me.” Adopting a thoughtful look on his face, H’seo made a show of rubbing his chin. “Well now, what do you know,” He drawled, winking at Estess. “I’m gettin’ to do that right now.” Grinning, he then inclined his head toward the woman. “And what about you, lady?”

Gulping as the green came closer, Reinth felt his tail begin to twitch in nervousness. Shards and shells, he didn’t have any idea how he was supposed to act around females. If you treated them like any other guy, they got mad, but the blue failed miserably at flirting. Faranth! What to do? When she spoke, H’seo reached out to calm him, and the touch did just that. Reinth sucked in a breath.

However, when she finished, Reinth couldn’t help but snort loudly, directing another glare towards his rider on the shore. Now THAT had pleased him. Thank you, Zhatiath. He said, mindvoice amused as he turned to look at the green’s face. He was grateful she gave him an easy topic to address. Mine thinks he is a funny human. Suddenly out of things to say, the blue cast around in his mind for something that wouldn’t embarrass him. He opted for simple conversation. What is Zhatiath’s like? She seems good.