Almost a week had passed since Andrelion had arrived at Falas Weyr. He'd quickly settled into the daily routines and classes that accompanied candidate training. Though the only 'friends' he could boast of were those going through the same lesson torment as himself, he was happy here.
The sun was warm and high and not a cloud marred the perfect blue of the sky. Lessons had just ended and most of the candidates had run off for a swim in the lake. Andrel had declined the swim, though it would have been nice. Instead, he lay on his bed in the barracks, staring up at the long, plain roof above him.
Only a week had passed, but he was already beginning to miss the bustle and excitment of the Warren. He especially missed Damier, Letanri and Explosion. Just watching them provided a great amount of entertainment.
Andrel grinned at the thought of the happy-go-lucky, rightly named fralamar. He and his bond, Damier, got into more trouble then anyone thought possible. It wasn't their fault that oppertunity presented itself so often to the trouble making duo. A slight chuckled escaped Andrel's throat, immediately making him wish he had just such a companion.
But that's why I'm here. The silver haired boy thought cheerily. He swelled with pride and joy at the thought of being a dragon rider, following in his parent's footsteps, joining a Wing and soaring the skies of Tris'Hath. Unlike S'ron and Melodia, he was an adventurer. While they buried themselves in books, he was scaling the cliff side.... and often times waiting for a dragon rider to rescue him when he got stuck.
Andrel ran a hand through his silky soft hair, coming up short at the back of his head. Thought of his lost braid still brought a coil of anger to his heart. But the satisfactory knowledge that he was a candidate and the other boys were still stuck at the Warren, doing chores, quelled the emotion. It had taken a long time for him to grown that braid. It would take just as long for it to grow back; but at least it would grow back.
A sudden thump and scraping against the wooden floor had Andrel bolting upright in his bed and looking around the room frantically. He hadn't thought anyone else was in here. He was right... in one case.
The figure that caught his attention wasn't human, but it certainly interesting enough to catch and hold his interest. Scrabbling to his feet on the floor was a winged-wolf, just like Explosion. The fralamar was black from nose to tail tip. Onyx wings fluttered at his sides to keep his balance on the uncertain floor and amber eyes steadily watched his paws to make sure they didn't slip out from under him again. The wolf was almost fully grown, though had the look of a pup in an adult's body. Andrel guessed him to be about the age of a teenager. When the fralamar looked up, fixing Andrel with those bright, amber eyes, the boy froze.
"Hi!" His voice was light and bouncing with energy. A pink tongue lolled out over hidden, white teeth while his muzzle broke into a wolfish grin. Andrel blinked and stepped a bit closer to the fralamar, throughily confused as to why one would be here.
"Hi..." He returned slowly.
"Man! That was some trip." The fralamar began sniffing around the room, trotting from bed to bed with interest. "I didn't know jumping could take me that far. Uh..." He paused and looked up at Andrel again. "Where am I anyway?"
"The candidate barracks... at Falas Weyr." Andrel stood in the middle of the room while the winged-wolf aquainted himself with his surroundings. He was often circled, sniffed at, passed by; but every movement was followed with his eyes.
"Falas...? Uh-oh." The black wolf suddenly stopped, his gaze sparking with worry as he looked around a second time. "King Alynn isn't going to like this."
"You're from Marbethil, aren't you?" Bright, Andrel. Just bright. He accused himself. Everyone knew that fralamar came from Marbethil.
"Yep! Name's Zallarn, by the way." Zallarn was once again chipper in his tone. He padded towards the door and sniffed at the edge. "Hmm... think you could open this for me?" The fralamar looked back at Andrel with a quizative gaze. "I need to get a good running distance if I'm going to jump all the way back to Alskyr."
"Andrel." Andrel returned. His initial shock had worn off and he quickly strode over to the door to open it for Zallarn. "Isn't Alskyr a bit far for a jump?"
"Yeah... but I got here ok!" Zallarn bounded out into the bright daylight of the Old World sun. Light shone off his black coat, glittering shades of gray and silver like a shadowed lake. Andrel grinned as he watched the juvinal wolf roll through the grasses and flap his wings like a playful pup. He stopped suddenly, almost falling onto his nose with the impact of the thought. "How do you know about Marbethil and the fralamar?" Zallarn asked, curious gaze studying andrel.
The boy grinned, leaning back against the barrack's wall. "One of my friends bonded a fralamar. Explosion."
"Hmm...." The black winged-wolf seemed to fall into deep thought. A wide grin broke his face and he lifted his head happily. "Nope! Never heard of him."
Andrel laughed. "He was born on Tris'Hath. His parents are Nisil and Elmyka."
"Ooooh!" Zallarn jumped and bounded over to Andrel's side, tail wagging at full speed. "You're from another world! That's gotta be cool."
"Yep. Born and raised on the world of magic." Andrel grinned, boastful of his home world.
"Cool..." Zallarn was awed by the idea of a completely different world, filled with things very few fralamar had seen. He blinked and the expression of wonderment left his eyes. "Speaking of home, I guess I should be going to mine. King Alynn won't be happy that I jumped all the way to the Old World."
"Mind if I come with you? I'll get a ride from one of the riders." Andrel offered. He'd always wanted to see the place where fralamar like Nisil and Elmyka had come from.
"Sure!" Zallarn replied energetically. He was already bounding towards the nearest dragon rider when Andrel laughingly broke into a run to catch up.
* * * The ride to Alskyr had been shorter then Andrel had expected. Of course, it was a shorter distance then from Tris'Hath to basically anywhere else. Zallarn managed to jump successfully and babbled about his mastery of the skill as soon as Andrel joined him at the East Gate. Yet he wasn't the only one to meet the pitch black wolf there.
"Zallarn!" A low growl greeted the pair before they had even set foot inside. Zallarn gulped and darted behind Andrel. A poor hiding place but at least the human stood between him and his angered King.
King Alynn padded through the gate, a dark glare fixed on the young fralamar. Andrel looked from one to the other and prayed he wasn't dragged into the middle of this. Unfortunately, that's exactly where he was.
"Where were you?" The King snapped, fixing Zallarn with a stern gaze. "A rider came by looking for a bond and you weren't here. How are you supposed to find a bond if you don't even show up when a candidate is present!"
He turned suddenly and the fire left his eyes. King Alynn nodded politely to Andrel. "I'm sorry for any trouble this one," another glare at Zallarn, "has caused you. If you would care to enter the Valley, someone will be able to show you around."
"I'm sorry, King Alynn." Zallarn crawled out from behind Andrel and hung his head in shame. "I- I just wanted to try jumping and-"
"You jumped?! How far?" The fralamaraz King growled. Zallarn faced his lord with a low tail and hung head. Andrel stood to the side of the argument, forgotten by both.
"Excuse me-" Andrel tried in a small voice, to no effect.
"Just to the Old World." Zallarn mumbled.
"The Old World?" Alynn was stunned by the news. The shock passed quickly and he growled his disapproval. "You could've gotten yourself killed! How are you supposed to find a bond if you're dead, Zallarn?"
"I wouldn't mind-"
"I just wanted to see what it was like! There're still other people out there who still might want me. I just... haven't had any luck yet."
"I'd like to bond-"
"Luck? You've been gone almost every time!"
"Hey!" Andrel shouted. He'd had enough of being ignored and wanted to catch both wolves' attention. Shouting worked. Both King Alynn and Zallarn looked to him slightly bewildered. Andrel smirked slightly. "I wouldn't mind bonding Zallarn. If it's alright with him."
Alynn was speechless. His jaw hung slack in what would be a comical expression if Zallarn hadn't still been in trouble.
"Really?" Zallarn asked first. His ears perked up with the hope of finally finding someone who wanted him.
"Yeah." Andrel shrugged, still grinning. "I think you're pretty cool. Besides, I wouldn't mind having a friend around while I wait to Impress."
"Yes! I have a bond!" Zallarn jumped for joy, his shout startling Alynn back to his senses. "WOO-HOO!" The celebratory call turned into a happy howl as he continued to prance around. "Ha!" He looked at King Alynn and quickly backed away after that last outburst. Though Alynn was grinning even as he glared.
"Fool's luck." The fralamaraz King muttered. "Well," He turned to Andrel with his regained authority and dignity. "if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the Ziel-er-Baaer to fill out the proper paper work."
Andrel nodded and began following the fralamar's King with Zallarn at his side. The black winged-wolf looked up at him, calmed after his little victory dance. "Thanks." He said simply. Andrel smiled.
"For what? I'm really looking forward to getting to know you. Friendship's something that happens. Not a favor."
Zallarn blinked in slight confusion, amazed by the wisdom in those simple words. He had a friend now. He said nothing more for the rest of the journey. At least until the bond had been finalized and he could gloat to the other waiting fralamar.
Zallarn is from: Marbethil Valley