Picnic and Exploring

[kandykat]

One Kelth was free of the Hatching Grounds, Shador had invited the junior Violetrider, Inolyn, on a little trip. She thought it was time they get to know each other and make a day of it, just the Violets. Shador wasn't really sure what kind of girl Inolyn one, but hopefully she was the type who liked exploring, because Shador had chosen the Overgrown Island for their rendezvous.

The pair of Violets burst out of between above the Island. Kelth circled above, searching for a good place to land, and alighted on the sandy beach. Shador dismounted gracefully, careful not to jostle the picnic basket she was carrying.

Come, little sister. Let's swim,[/color] Kelth told Jorindath, wading into the water.

[Jenth]

The locks of long brunette hair that escaped her helmet whiped in the winds over the beach as they came in to land. Again Inolyn marvelled in her dragon's wings that scooped at the air, enjoying every second of flight. Not long graduated it hadn't quiet dawned on her that she was no longer being drilled and hassled on landmarks for flying between and that for the most part she was free to fly anywhere she pleased when time persisted. No long she was a weyrling, but a rider and a violetrider at that.

Once Jorindath had landed near Kelth and she slide to the ground, instently she started to strip her flying gear. With an accepting slap on the neck the violet followed her elder to the water. I may be younger, but I am bigger. Jorindath said as she splashed into the water without a hint of selfishness or pride. It was truth and she was just pointing that out. 'Little' sister just didnt sound right.

"Do you come out here often?" Inolyn asked Shador, looking around at their surroundings.

[kandykat]

"Often enough," Shador answered, taking off her helmet and shaking out her brown hair. "It's fun to explore, and there aren't usually other people around." Despite her sociable nature, even Shador just wanted to be alone with her dragon sometimes.

Kelth warbled in amusement at Jorindath's comment. This is true...it's hard to believe you are all grown up! But I'm glad I'm not the only Violet,[/color] she said, splashing Jorindath playfully.

"So, food or walking first?" Shador asked Inolyn.

[Jenth]

"I think food first. With firelizards around it might not be here when we get back." That was a mistake many firelizard owners made, and with the less trained, unsuspecting people. Here on a beach, she wouldn't put it pass wild firelizards to snap up their picnic while their dragons played. Even her own two who were fluttering around somewhere she didn't trust entirerly.

I never tought of it that way... In the confinment of weyrlinghood she had been the only queen the imature dragons had really cared about. Even when Volspath had hatched Jorindath was older, larger and still a queen in her own right. Unfurling her wings Jorindath flapped at the water, powerful wings splashing at the water.

[kandykat]

Shador nodded, wondering where her own firelizards were. They had disappeared somewhere on the island, maybe making friends with a wild fair. "Well then, let's get started." Setting the large picnic basket down, she opened it and took out a folded blanket, which she set out on the ground. Plopping down onto it, she patted the space next to her. "We've got sandwiches, redfruit, and some little pastries," she said, setting the food out as she listed it off.

I sometimes think Nayarath doesn't like us Violets very much,[/color] Kelth admitted to Jorindath. But maybe it's just me. She doesn't like that Wuith flew me, I think.[/color]

[Jenth]

"Don't mind if I do, I'm starving!" Picking up sandwhich Inolyn nibbled as she watched their dragons in the surf. It was strange, they were both the same yet so different. Both violet queens, yet they were noticibly different in size, shade of purple and personality. At least they got along, with each other and others, unlike gold queens were said to. Inolyn didn't really know, it wasn't very often she had to deal with them.

I don't think mother likes us either... And I think she was upset for you stealing a male from her, even one she doesn't like. It didn't make all that much sense to the young violet, there were plenty of males. Many were worthy of being mates, something Jorindath was yet familiur with just yet. But the topic made her rider slightly uneasy.

"I don't think I look forwards to Jorindath mating, but I can't wait to see the hatchlings she'll clutch." the young woman said, half in thought.

[kandykat]

Shador took a sandwich as well and munched on it while Inolyn spoke. She had to hold back a smile when the topic of Flights came up. She'd had a feeling the younger Violet rider would want to talk about it. "I was a little apprehensive myself the first time Kelth rose, but if you trust in your dragon, it's not a bad experience," she said. "It might help if you have someone in mind who you'd like to win. Do you?" She was leaning forward expectantly, always eager to hear about someone's new crush.

Well, he was the best one I could see,[/color] Kelth said contritely. Jorindath was right; Nayarath didn't even like Wuith! He should have been fair game. I don't care. He sired a good clutch.[/color] Her tone was unusually stubborn.

[Jenth]

Inolyn blushed a little, turning a brighter red the closer Shador leaned. It wouldn't be like her to lie, and she would achieve nothing trying to hide it. besides, it was written all over her face there was was at least someone she liked and hoped would win. "There is, a bronzerider. T'lat and his Hansth."

The man was unusually quiet and detatch compared to all other bronzeriders. He had inner demons he needed to vanquish and Inolyn had helped lead him back onto the right path. In the begginning it had been more her duty as a queenrider, but feelings didn't take long to grow and now they had a quiet little relationship kept private. They hadn't done anything more then kiss...just yet.

Jorindath fluttered her wings on the water's surface, showering herself in the splashing. Males were fun to flirt with, liking them all and not all that perticularly bothered by who caught who. She wasn't even old enough to mate just, and thinking of hatchlings now wouldn't make them real. The best male was the one she would choose, and being the largest violet on Pern may or may not affect the size of her clutch and not just who she chose.

[kandykat]

Shador grinned. She could tell by Inolyn's face that she had someone in mind. The Violet rider gave a squeal of delight when Inolyn fessed up to her crush. "That's so cute!" She exclaimed. She didn't know T'lat at all, and she made a mental note to have Kelth point out his dragon to her sometime. "What's he like? Does he know you like him?" She wanted all the juicy details, and maybe she could find some way to help with the matchmaking. Her sandwich lay forgotten in her hands; she wasn't really hungry, and this conversation was much more interesting.

[Jenth]

Inolyn jumped slightly at Shador's squeek, not quite expecting to get that kind of reaction from her. "He knows!" The words just fell out of her mouth, still in a slightfeeling of shock which almost broke her voice. With a small cough she straightened herself out. "He knows, and he liked me. We're working on how serious we want to take things. Weher to wait, jump in or just think its not going to work out and see other people."

The last part was the least likely. As a violetrider she recieved enough attention from rider's of the larger males, but T'lat had shown no interest in anyone but her. He was loyal, eyes never wondering. A girl could only dream for something like that.

[kandykat]

Shador nodded, calming down a little as Inolyn explained further. Kelth glanced up at her Shador, amused by her sudden outburst. She'd certainly never seen her rider act like that about one of her own crushes. "Maybe it would be best to wait until after the Flight to get too serious, just in case," she advised. "Although it is possible to be weyrmates with one person and still have your dragon mate with someone else's dragon." Shador wasn't as much of an expert here. She'd never had a long term relationship and didn't even completely understand why some people wanted one.

"Anyway, if you need any romance tips, you know who to ask," she concluded with a wink at Inolyn.

[Jenth]

Inolyn laughed at her hinting, Shador's seducing was almost legendary. "I'll be sure to remember that." Rank or dragon color didn't matter, she took them for who they were but it helped if they had looks. In a way the younger woman was trying to be like her elder, just not in the same way.

"I'm sure he would understand if Jorindath wasn't caught by Hansth, he is a smaller bronze." Inolyn left out the other little detail. Hansth so far hadn't been the most masculine of males towards her. Jorindath treated him like all the others mostly, the only difference that warrented some sort of affections from her was the fact that their rider's were involved.

"Ok, I told mine, now you have to tell me your's. Who do you currently have your eyes set on?"

[kandykat]

Shador nodded. The fact that Kelth had never really mentioned Hansth probably showed that the bronze was a shy one. "Then again, a rising female can bring out the best in a male," she added, chuckling. Ekirith for example...Shador never would have guessed the brown would even chase Kelth, but he had managed to win her the first time around.

She paused to consider Inolyn's next question. Currently was the key word there, she thought wryly. No man could hold her attention for long. "Well, I do rather like L'han, I have to admit. He seems a little scared of me, though..." She frowned. "Come to think of it, J'ran was too. I wonder why that is? I don't think I'm a bad weyrmate." Of course, after the Flight she had woken J'ran with an order to find food for her new flitts, but it wasn't her fault they chose that time to hatch!

[Jenth]

"L'han isn't a bad choice." Inolyn had never really thought about it, but the tanrider wasn't all that much older then herself. Still, she had heard this and that but the young violetrider was already spoken for. At least for the moment.

"I heard that L'han liked Kora, but that hasn't been turning out so well. Aren't they quarreling at the moment?" Maybe, just maybe it would provide some hope to Shador that she should try again. A rider of a tan scared of something? That didn't seem right

[kandykat]

"Huh. I wouldn't be surprised." Shador picked up her sandwich again and finished it off. "Maybe she's just missing Y'xem and taking it out on him. I wonder where the Weyrleader went, anyway?" She sighed, shaking her head. Y'xem had seemed like a good leader but apparently all men had their faults.

"Anyway...maybe if Wuith doesn't catch Nayarath, he'll catch Kelth again," she thought out loud, her eyes on the Violet. Kelth was finishing her swim and climbing back onto shore for some sunning.

[Jenth]

"I can't see a reason why he wouldn't, Nayarath doesn't seem to like Wuith anyway." A tan wasn't a bronze just like a violet wasn't a gold. While they were similar you couldn't deny that they were still different despite similarities. For a long time Nayarath was thought to be the only true queen on Pern till Kelth showed that golds weren't the only clutching dragons. Dragon tradition was pretty much beign thrown out the window.

"So I'm guessing Wuith is the favorite to catch Kelth? Then maybe you can try again with L'han!" Jorindath was so engrossed in her play that she didn't see Kelth heading for the beach till the oldr violet was nearly out of the water. Clammering after Kelth she trotted up onto the sands and dug herself a little wallow to sit in.