eryknoni

E�ryk laughed as Keroth snorted at the jar of sand, blowing grains of it�s contents across the stone floor.
Why does it do that? Keroth asked, and E�ryk shrugged.
�It just does love.� Keroth rustled with an �o� type manner, and then scuttled on to investigate something else. It was the day after his hatching, and Keroth was curious about everything. With another snort Keroth wobbled a bit and stared up at a large tapestry on the stone wall. It was soft when he nudged it, and moved. Keroth crooned at it, trying to see if it would respond to him. He had already deduced that soft things were usually alive. As he grew more frustrated trying to �awaken� this thing, E�ryk sighed and went over to where his beautiful little dragonet was having difficulty.
Grabbing one end of the dragont tapestry, and waving it about, E�ryk showed his dragon what was behind it: cold stone wall.
�See Keroth? It�s woven from thread to keep the draft out.�
Thread? That�s very dangerous. Keroth backed away, eyeing the tapestry warily. E�ryk laughed and shook his head.
�No Keroth, the other kind of thread; from animal fur. That�s what makes it soft.�
Oh. Keroth sat where he was, and continued to look a the tapestry, causing E�ryk to do the same thing. It�s beautiful. The hatchling stated, and E�ryk, not thinking about what this statement entailed, nodded.
�I know. Noni made it.� Then E�ryk blushed, and turned his head away then. Before the clutch had hatched, he had made quite good friends with another Candidate, Noni. She was from a place called Rathlin, he had never heard of it of course, but it seemed to occupy most of her thoughts and dreams. Apperantly she had been a Candidate there, and hadn�t been able to Impress. Well, there was one incident with her best friend and a green, but he didn�t know much about that. Anyway, K�var had come to Rathlin, and found Noni there. He was certain she was meant for a Dark Moon dragon, although Noni swore before she left she would return to Rathlin.
Before the hatching she had confessed her fears of not Impressing to him. In E�ryk, Noni found a true friend, and they spent much time together. He comforted her, told her to have some confidence, but privately he thought she didn�t need to worry. She seemed perfect for a fighting dragon; although he didn�t say this, because maybe she really wanted the queen?
But no, Noni had Impressed green Kozuth yesterday, and seemed happier for it. She hadn�t even looked a bit envious when the other girls Impressed their queens and their whites. After hatching, when he had been engulfed by Keroth, and her by Kozuth, they had seen each other for a brief moment while feeding their dragonets.
Thank you. She had told him. For everything. And then she had looked down at Kozuth and smiled. I never really like golds anyway; much to big. Kozuth here is much more important. Kozuth had crooned and looked up at Noni with adoring eyes. Noni promised once Kozuth was asleep the next day she would come to visit him and Keroth. But so far she hadn�t shown up.
She�s coming now. Keroth interrupted. I feel her walking towards us and Kozuth is asleep. Keroth paused, and looked at his newly chosen partner. I think I will sleep now too. Everyone else is gone feeding, but I am not yet hungry. With that Keroth turned quickly around and trotted over to his pile of straw and blankets next to E�ryk�s cot in the weyrling barracks. Just as Keroth dozed off, Noni appeared in the doorway, beaming and looking very pleased with herself.
�Kozuth is asleep.� She informed E�ryk, and glanced at Keroth. �I didn�t want to leave her, but she insisted that it was okay. One of the other greenriders also suggested I visit my �friends� while I can, before I go home.� Noni�s voice faded off, and she seemed suddenly upset about something as she looked at E�ryk.
�What is it?� He asked her, obviously shy of all the attention that she was focusing on him. She sighed as her dark eyes met his, suddenly mysterious and sensuous. E�ryk was glad Keroth was asleep now. He�d never thought Noni could be so, so, womanly.
�Oh E�ryk!� She sighed, and sat on his cot, watching to not wake Keroth. "I know Alina will be upset that I didn't Impress the gold! I'm glad I didn't get the queen, Kozuth is everything to me...but what happens when I return, and because Rathlin needs more queens, she is angry with me?"
Noni's fears where presumptuous and unrealistic, she knew that, but they were still there. She had come to E'ryk because she had made good friends with him in the few sevendays they'd spent at Dark Moon, but now Kozuth was there. But even the perfect little darling couldn't answer the questions attacking Noni.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about. You said yourself Rathlin needs more fighting beasts, and that's all Kozuth will produce in the future; small, agile fighting beasts. I think you give the Weyrwoman less credit than she deserves."
"I give her more credit than she deserves! Didn't I promise to come back? Even after she and the Weryleader were a hair away from kicking me out? Had K'var not shown up just then, I'd be at my family's failing little Hold and working in the mud." Noni's voice was calm, but her eye's were stormy, and E'ryk knew he's better try to change the subject.
"Hmmph. I think you look better in the mud anyway." E'ryk bent over to clean up the sandsoap Keroth had snorted everywhere, ignoring the look Noni gave him. For a tense moment he thought she was angry, but then she smiled and laughed outright at him.
"I suppose that's a good thing then." And she bent over to help him clean the mess. "You know," She said slowly, "they're assigning rooms tomorrow. Two new dragonets to a room, and we get to chose who we go with." Her eyes swept the length of the floor slowly. "You know, I don't really know any of the other girls here that well." She looked up at E'ryk, smiling sweetly and almost laughing. He pretended to think about that for a moment.
"I don't really know any of the other guys that well either." He seemed to be deep in thought, getting as excited as Noni was for no apperant reason. "I suppose that means we should go together? I mean, we're better friends with each other than anybody else. It makes sense..."
"Well," Noni's voice was deadly serious. "There will be many assumptions made. They'll think we're 'together'. But given the situation, I don't think we have much choice, do you?" E'ryk shook his head.
"None at all. We can easily enough tell people we're not that close, just good friends. But you're right, there is no other way..." Then Noni and E'ryk both burst into childlike laughter. They were both very lighthearted and feeling young and happy because of their dragons. Keroth and Kozuth, at least, knew what was good for their riders.

The next day Noni and E'ryk were struggling with fitting two cots through the doorframe of their new "residence". They, of course, weren't romantically involved, but they'd gotten plenty of raised eyebrows when they announced they would be sharing quarters. But Noni had patiently explained to anyone listening that E'ryk was her "best friend", and she was his. Their dragons liked each other very well, and they didn't really know anybody else still available as a roomate. Besides, she would be returning to Rathlin when Kozuth could fly, and he would be going to Dawnsisters to add to their wings.
E'ryk thought Noni was pushing that point a little too strongly, because people still had mixed feelings about Dawnsisters Weyr, but it didn't matter much he supposed. Noni, however, thought she didn't push that point enough, because people were still whispering about her and E'ryk.
Why do you care? You are a rider now Noni, and you don't need to explain yourself to them. Kozuth's voice was firm and I'm-too-right when she told that to Noni. She was lounging in the corner with Keroth, watching the activity of the two weyrlings moving all the heavy things. Two brown fire-lizards, both Noni's, were perched on the one windowsill in the room, grooming each other and chirping at the two hatchlings.
Because darling, I care what people think. I'd like them to know the real me; and the real me doesn't move in with men a few sevendays after meeting them. Kozuth eyed her rider warily and snorted, causing Keroth to jerk his head up in surprise. Kozuth snorted again, with disgust, at Keroth. Although she enjoyed his company he was very young still; as opposed to her, Kozuth, who was infinately mature and wise.
Noni heard these thoughts going across her dragon's mind, and smiled. Kozuth was wonderful, Alina would definately approve of the haughty little green.
Why would she not? As if it matters anyway. But I am much better than a queen who can't even flame properly.
Of course you are Kozy, but Alina may not think so.
Then between with Alina! I am Kozuth the Green, and the best dragon of all! She sat up, creening proudly and then immediately informed Noni that she itched. Noni laughed as she went to relieve her dragonet, explaining to a confused looking E'ryk what Kozuth had said.