Eating for Ten

[fadingmemorie]

Aliath came out from between, and Gaelle took a deep breath of fresh air. She'd only gotten to Black, Blacker, Bl-- before appearing in Paradise Bay Hold. Or, rather, where the Hold would be if there were enough people to operate the Hold Proper. Fortunately for Gaelle and her hungry golden dragon, the holders were so kind as to have left herds of herdbeast and runners when they died. The gold mother-to-be could have a feast every few days and never deplete the Weyr's stock.

Of course, no one knew the Queenrider made the visits to the foreign holds. No doubt if E'dian knew, he would ban Gaelle from taking Aliath there to feed. Oh, his reasoning would be sound enough; he didn't want her hurt. But he just didn't understand how healthy the wild beasts were for Aliath. She'd been feeding her here for about three weeks, two of the weeks prior to the First Flight, and already Aliath looked pristinely healthy and glowing. And in Gaelle's expert opinion, it wasn't just due to pregnancy.

Let's land, Aliath. Let me relax on the beach, and you go do your hunting, okay? It was the same old song and dance by now. They'd been here a few times before, and were familiar with this part. In a few weeks, they'd have to follow the herd to a new location. But a-dragonback, it wasn't hard to track a massive herd of wildbeasts.

Yes. That would be excellent. Aliath rumbled in her throat, and Gaelle felt the gold's body quiver as a ripple of hunger went over her. I'm so hungry now.

"I'm told that's normal for you," Gaelle reassured her, smiling and scratching her eyeridges. "Get to feed before we get caught now." A few seconds later, the dragon was off, and Gaelle was laying in the sun, huge stick nearby.

[LyricalBlue]

Bronze wings passed over the sun as Xialanth circled lazily over the long abandoned Hold. Both rider and dragon were quiet as the surveyed the scene below them. Aliath's sinuous golden body clearly visible as she pounced on a herdbeast that didn't have the sense to get out of the ravenous dragon's way fast enough.

The Weyrleader thumped the dragon's shoulder and Xialanth slowly spiraled downwards. The bronze landed a small distance away from Gaelle and her feeding gold. The last thing E'dian wanted to do was upset Aliath. Not at this stage in the game, but then upsetting the Weyr's Queen was never a good idea.

As E'dian leaped off Xialanth's tall back in a rather dangerous maneuver, worry was clearly registered on his face. He walked up to Gaelle wordlessly and looped an arm about her waist, looking back out at Aliath.
"She looks like shes still growing. I'd swear she was a length longer."

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle jumped about a foot in the air when she was grabbed. Her first instinct was to defend herself, so she did. Grabbing his arm, she raised her foot to stomp on the attacker's foot when she heard his voice. Instead of stepping down hard, she twirled in his arm. "Hello, Weyrleader," she purred, placing a soft, sweet kiss on his neck.

Aliath's eyes whirled blue and green as she recognized the thoughts of their weyrmates. Abandoning the hunt, she flew to where the bronze had settled down after E'dian had dismounted. My mate, she said, and the cherishing feeling sounded through her voice. She nuzzled the copper-bronze and bumped his chin with her eyeridge. I missed you. I wanted to bring you too. The food here is delicious.

[LyricalBlue]

Hmm, well. It was not like he could stay mad at her long anyway; Gaelle was such an imp. He ruffled her hair affectionately and bent down to kiss her forehead. E'dian did not, however, release his grip around her waist.
"I don't think I need to tell you how stupid it is to be out here on your own."

Both rider and dragon blinked as Aliath abandoned her hunt to lavish affection on her weyrmate. Those attentions however were enthusiastically returned. Xialanth looped his neck over the gold's in a display rather like his rider's current hold on Gaelle.
I do not need to eat. Do you need help hunting? You were gone. E'dian worried for -her-.

The bronze had eaten just a couple days before so he lavished admiration on the still growing gold. Of course it would look soon as if Aliath was growing as much sideways as longways. Xialanth nuzzled her neck again and E'dian followed in similar fashion, giving Gaelle's neck the same attention Aliath's was receiving.

[fadingmemorie]

Gaelle fought an inner battle. On one hand, she was not a child and could make her own decisions. But his lips felt so good on her neck. She made a compromise with herself. "Well, I know, but Aliath eats so much better here, and it doesn't take anything away from the Weyr. Plus, I know it's strange, but I swear she's been growing since I started bringing her here." She hadn't missed his comment earlier about her gold's size. Her face met his and she kissed him slowly.

After a brief spell in the sun with her weyrmate, Gaelle said, "How did you find me, anyway? I thought I was beyond tracking distance." The sun shined down on gold and bronze hides, a beautiful sight. Gaelle looked into E'dian's eyes, the feelings in her threatening to overwhelm. "Oh, E'dian," she sighed happily.

[LyricalBlue]

The Weyrleader found himself studying the Queen and mused. Now why would moving where she ate increase her growth? Aliath should have reached her full growth by now, she was already larger than Arizith had been by several spans. But then, the old Queen had always fed within Weyr bounds. It was not until Gaelle's further comment that his mind snapped out of that particular line of thought.

Shrugging in his usual inexpressive manner, E'dian replied quietly. A small smile threatened to show across his mouth at the young woman's display.
"I cheated. Xialanth always knows where Aliath is. He happens to be my own personal Weyrwoman finder."

The bronze rumbled in a rather amused manner, still keeping his neck over the gold's.
You are better together.
E'dian turned his head to grin truly at the bronze, imp of a dragon that he was. He was right though, Gaelle gave him a perspective on many things he would not have otherwise seen. And such views were highly valued by the rather eccentric man. Four eyes saw more than two after all. She also seemed just about the only individual who could follow his rather convoluted patterns of thought.
"Yes, Xi, we are better off together."