Seaside Lunch [Wolf]

[Sparrow]

They had been agreeing on something for the entire of this conversation, but Artemisth found it an exceedingly dull one. Time for a change, even if it would likely lead to trouble. Anything you enjoy, Hearth? That was a change in tactic, asking about somebody else. Artemisth wasn't sure how much she would enjoy his reply though, if he had one, seeing as he obviously wasn't interested in what she enjoyed.

"It's funny how dragons are so focused on thinking they dislike fire-lizards," Salise added, wishing she could somehow manage to get a lasting conversation going with N'lel. "At least they aren't straight up mean to them like they are to whers but still..." They definitely didn't go out of their way to be nice. Even among the friendliest dragons, Salise hadn't seen on that seemed fond of its riders flitters.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth considered that for a moment. He wasn't sure if Artemisth would be interested in anything he enjoyed. Probably not anything to interest you. Getting baths is fun, and sleeping is fun, and getting away from the Weyr every so often. It was always nice to be alone. That's what he'd tried to do today, but instead he ran into Artemisth.

N'lel nodded. "I really do have to wonder if any dragons actually admit they like firelizards. I've never seen one that does, but there must be at least one of them that will at least try to like firelizards." Most of them spent so long on telling their riders how much better than firelizards the dragons were. That was apparent to everyone, so it didn't really have to be brought up. Dragons just seem to have it in them that they had to prove they were better, even if they didn't have too.

Maybe there was a reason for it, and maybe not.

[Sparrow]

Those sound like pretty good things. None were particularly exciting, but Artemisth enjoyed them all. Baths were nice, sleeping, particularly in a good patch of sun, was nice. Getting out was nice, even when she ran into other dragons in the process.

"You'd think so. I've never seen them do more than tolerate them though. Sometimes they'll almost play," Artemisth did that often enough, but under the cover of trying to get Scout off of her. He just laughed about it and made it a game, despite Artemisth's efforts. "But I guess something so small just isn't... quite to their standards." Dragons were big anyways, and liked things big.

It made sense; some dragons could practically inhale a fire-lizard, the size difference was so massive. Maybe the dislike was some lucky gene that made sure dragons kept their smaller cousins alive.

[wolflover1458]

Maybe. But every sensible dragon loves those things. Well, there might be some sensible dragons that didn't like getting away from the Weyr, but other than that it was something every dragon enjoyed. Hearth didn't really have to admit to himself that there wasn't really anything special he liked to do. There didn't really have to be, but he kind of wished that there were.

"You'd think they could get used to being the largest things and get used to something really small, but I guess not. Maybe firelizards are almost like annoying insects or something sometimes, just flying around and around, and the dragons can't always get rid of them because their so tiny." That was a thought. Firelizards could be quite annoying, but they would probably be more annoying to the dragons. It was a good thing firelizards were smart enough to know, at least usually, when they had been over annoying and should move before they get in trouble.

[Sparrow]

Artemisth shifted again, rolling on to her side and pulling her wing out of the way so the sun could warm a couple usually less exposed spots. Yes. You're don't seem particularly pleased with your interests. Maybe that was why Charcoals were so grumpy.

Salise grinned. "That's a good guess." Scout probably seemed quite insect-like to Artemisth, always crawling around on her, and his chattering could be about equivalent to buzzing. Dragons probably didn't even notice bugs, they were so small in comparison. "A fire-lizard is just the right size, but without the bonus of being something they could just slap and kill." Just the right size to be a bug to a dragon, but a pet to humans. Most flitters seemed to enjoy bothering dragons; they had obviously gotten the high end of the deal.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth looked over at Artemisth. I don't have to be. Every dragon likes that anyway. Why was he bothering to tell her anyway? It wasn't like she would actually care. Artemisth already had things she enjoyed to do. That was good for her. Why did Hearth have to think about what he liked to do?

"I expect some dragons would like to slap them." No one wanted to get in the way of an angry dragon. Firelizards were tiny and quick, and quite annoying to dragons at times, but the riders thought they were cute, so obviously the dragons couldn't really do anything but tolerate the firelizards. It was a good thing the lizards didn't usually make the dragons too annoyed, because there would be trouble otherwise.

[Sparrow]

Artemisth's eyes whirled. Perhaps you should come up with something else then. Even if it was something as inane as bugging his rider, which not every dragon did. Most. In different manners though, and she guessed Hearth's would be quite different from the average annoying dragon.

"Most likely," Salise agreed. Artemisth definitely had no qualms when it came to hurling Scout places, but he seemed to enjoy that. "But I'm glad they don't." It would be a pity to lose Scout to an angry dragon- or any fire-lizard, really. How would the dragon feel? Apart from Thread and their food, they never killed anything. She didn't think a dragon would be very pleased if it killed a fire-lizard, no matter how annoying.

[wolflover1458]

Maybe I will sometime Hearth replied back to the Barred dragon. He wasn't ready to think of some hobby on the spot. It would take time to come up with anything the slightest bit good. It wasn't exactly easy to think up something, especially when he didn't have to much of an urge, besides having something to tell Artemisth, to actually have something to do. There was always plenty to do.

"That's one of the best parts about dragons," N'lel said. "They're huge, but they aren't mean at all. They'd never hurt anybody, except when their hatchlings, and those are accidents." If dragons were ferocious enough to actually enjoy killing things, there would be a lot less dragonriders, and the rest of Pern would probably live in fear of the dragons. It was great that they were so gentle.

[Sparrow]

Well, good luck until then, Artemisth said, her tone slightly sarcastic. How long had it been since he had hatched, and he had nothing particular to do? Artemisth had found her passion very quickly, much to Salise's chagrin.

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing." Dragons were massive and could easily do masses of damage, but they didn't. They were more gentle than runnerbeasts. The only time they ever even considered fighting was maybe in queen Flights, but they never actually hurt even each other. Dragons wouldn't have lasted long if they were any other way though. They weren't small and manageable like whers, which did sometimes have that problem.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth didn't bother to say anything back. He didn't want to bother getting into a fight with Artemisth over something so silly. If she wanted to care if he did anything, that was her problem. Why should he let himself be bothered about it? She could think whatever she wanted. Hearth didn't need to care.

N'lel thought about it. Dragons were impressive, and could easily hurt anything, but they didn't. It was almost hard to believe, and he knew there were people that were still scared of them. Why was that? "Some people still don't understand that about them though." Of course, unless you lived at a Weyr in close proximity to dragons, you didn't really have a chance of getting close and realizing just how gentle they were.

[Sparrow]

Starting to feel a bit too hot, Artemisth stood up and waded back into the ocean. She didn't go particularly far this time, just to where it would be up to her stomach. She let her wings droop into the water too, but didn't make any move to splash, or even invite Hearth in with her. She had thought he would be fun, since he was competitive, but he had been growing steadily less and less interesting.

"I can understand that some," Salise said. "They're so big; if I didn't know anything about them, I'd be scared. And for Holdless people, they're used almost like police, chasing them down. That would be scary, even if the dragons never actually hurt you." Luckily Salise had never been given that duty. People probably didn't trust Artemisth to do it- she didn't.

Scout, noticing Artemisth in the water again, popped off Salise's arm and flew over to the dragon. After chattering a quick hello, he landed on her back and slid down her wing into the water. Artemisth snorted irritably, but, as usual, didn't stop him.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth watched Artemisth head into the water. He watched her for a while. Going back in the water didn't sound to appealing at the moment. He was starting to feel more refreshed from the swim though. Maybe he could get up and do something sometime. The day was pretty hot. Then again, just staying in the sun was nice for now.

"It's probably just natural to be scared of something you don't know about, especially something that big and intimidating." It wasn't hard for N'lel to imagine dragons as intimidating. Just being there, they looked like something that shouldn't be messed with. They weren't exactly as cute as firelizards, and they could hurt someone without even trying. Instinct probably caused some people to be scared of them; it was only natural. It was lucky that anyone that met dragons could usually tell they were actually nice after all.

[Sparrow]

Artemisth absently watched Scout paddle around her forelegs. She was about ready to go back, but she wasn't sure about Salise. She wasn't going to force her rider to leave, particularly not when she was actually talking to someone, but she was bored. If it hadn't been for Hearth and N'lel's intrusion, they probably would have left long ago... not that there was much to do back at the Weyr either, past being assigned work.

Salise nodded. Dragons looked dangerous, and they were, just not to people. Most everyone knew that they never attacked people, but when they actually saw a dragon, it was very possible to forget that. All their grandeur and majesty came with a lot of intimidating traits. "I'm glad we all know better at least, and it doesn't take long for anyone else to learn they aren't going to hurt them."

[wolflover1458]

Watching Artemisth in the water with the little Blue firelizards paddling around next to her, Hearth couldn't help but wonder how long they would be here. The riders seemed to be having a fine time, but Hearth personally thought they could talk to each other at the Weyr as well, so long as they didn't have something else they were assigned to do. It wasn't exactly like there was much to get done now anyway.

"There are less people scared of dragons now. I guess over the Turns people just started to realize they were okay, and got other people to believe the same thing." Obviously there had to have been a time when people were more worried about dragons. As time slowly went by, there were less people like that. It was a process.

[Sparrow]

"Yeah." Salise looked over at Artemisth. "And I'm starting to believe our dragons are bored. Or at least Artemisth."

Oh yes. Artemisth rumbled. Scout popped and chattered about how he was not bored at all and would much rather stay here and play- particularly if Dare decided to join him again. But being the size he was, he was hardly in charge. Artemisth moved her leg in front of him and more or less blocked his noise as well as his body.

"Definitely Artemisth." Crazy dragon. She wasn't going to be any less bored back at the Weyr, but there was that advantage of at least being home that couldn't be denied.

[wolflover1458]

Artemisth is not the only one Hearth offered to his rider.

"I guess Hearth is bored too. Well, I think his mood is a little better anyway." N'lel could remember that that was the reason they had come here in the first place. Then they had ran into Salise and Artemisth and gotten into this conversation.

Dare didn't look much like he wanted to leave. He was chittering happily and now flitting through the air with nothing better to do, but N'lel knew he could do the exact same thing back at the Weyr.

[Sparrow]

Artemisth started out of the water again and shook off her wings. Salise frowned slightly. "Well, maybe we'll head back... I've been here a long time." Then Hearth and N'lel could get some of that alone time they were expecting, or come back with them.

"Going home will keep Artemisth occupied for all of two minutes, at least." Up, between, down.

I could maybe eat, Artemisth mused. It had been a while since her last meal.

Twenty minutes then. Salise shrugged. Scout fluttered over to Dare, chittering a bit unhappily now that his keeper was planning to leave. Would Dare be hanging around? Could he stay and play with him? Either that or they could all go back together. Back at the Weyr there would be Greens to hunt down and flirt with.

[wolflover1458]

Dare chirped back at Scout. He didn't want to have to leave his new friend when they had just ran into each other. It wouldn't be as fun without Scout around. Dare might not get a chance to see him again when they were back at the Weyr.

What do you want to do Hearth? N'lel asked the dragon.

Either stay here or go back the dragon replied.

Oh, you're helpful. "I don't think Hearth cares where he goes much. He probably just wants to do something." There was more something to do at the Weyr of course, but staying here could end up leaving them alone, which was some time Hearth might be able to make some use of.

[Sparrow]

"I think I'll go," Salise said. Behind her, Artemisth's eyes were whirling impatiently. "See you later?" Maybe not with the dragons in tow, but Scout and Dare didn't look very happy at being parted.

Scout chattered to Dare about how he wasn't too worried- Charcoal dragons were easy to recognize, so he could probably find Dare again as long as he wasn't too far from Hearth. It was too bad they had to stop their playing now, but he had to keep track of Salise.

Artemisth knelt and Salise set to fixing the straps to her back. It didn't take long, and then she mounted and waved quickly as Artemisth took off in a flurry of sand and sea spray. Once they were a few lengths above the island, the Barred betweened. She was more than ready to be home and away from Hearth.

[wolflover1458]

Dare gave Scout a quick goodbye before the Blue firelizard left to go back with his rider. When they were gone, the Brown firelizard watched the spot where they had vanished for a moment, and then chittered a bit and ruffled his wings.

"Well, that was fun," N'lel commented.

To you, perhaps Hearth commented. The dragon hadn't found it quite as fulfilling.

It was interesting for you though, and you got to meet Artemisth.

I could have done without that.

You could try to be nicer N'lel suggested, but knew enough about Hearth to know that he wasn't going to go out of his way to be nice to someone. That just wasn't the way the Charcoal thought of things.