finian2

�You�re too big to be sticking your fingers in the cookin� pots Fin! I declare you�re young now as you �ere ten Turns ago!� Finian grinned and ducked as a hand came slapping at his head. He licked the some of the fruit paste from his fingers and stared back at the Headwoman, who was glaring at him with mock severity.
�Young lad, you�ll be the death of me yet! See any o�ter boys your age playin� in the pots down here? No, I only see Merda�s little five Turn ol� son.�
�Yes, but he�s not in the pots, so technically you can�t compare my actions to his.� Finian smiled and dipped his fingers back into the pot of slowly cooking fruit paste. The paste was supposed to cook until it had the consistency of broth or water, and then it was poured over sweet bread and cooked until it hardened. The stuff was Finian�s absolute favourite taste in the world, and he sneaked into the kitchens to get some whenever it was being made.
The headwoman snorted and slapped Finian�s hand away. Finian smiled as he made a show of licking it off his fingers. Tasting done, without warning he darted past the Headwoman and up the stairs to go out into the small courtyard. He ignored the Headwoman�s comments as she yelled after him. Something to the effect that he couldn�t spend his whole life dipping fingers in sweets.
Once outside, Finian stopped and whistled sharply, sending thoughts to his two greens. They came gliding off the roof, chittering angrily at each other. Their actions so mimicked those of the women in the kitchens that he wondered if there was some kind of inborn thought process in all females, regardless of species. He quickly released this thought. What would happen if some girl got a hold of that one? He�d be in it from every female around for sure. And the last thing Finian wanted to do was alienate women. For being sixteen, he enjoyed the company of women more than the other boys his age.
His mind was drawn back as Mollie landed smoothly on his shoulder, squawking angrily as Kerna attempted to do the same. Hissing and nipping at each other, the two fire-lizards misplaced themselves and tumbled off of Finian altogether. They caught themselves midair, and each settled on an opposite arm of their Impressor, glaring balefully at the other. Finian decided they were both getting ready to mate, because they were usually very friendly towards one another. He walked carefully over to one of the long tables stationed outside, and set the fire-lizards down before seating himself.
�You girls oughtta stop that. Last time we went through this you nearly clawed each others� eyes out.� Mollie chirped apologetically at Finian, while Kerna continued to hiss in Mollie�s direction. Finian sighed and smiled and then reached into his shirt-pocket for the small cup of oil he kept there. He unwrapped the rag from around it and took off the lid. He had so little free time to lavish his fire-lizards��
The two crooned with joy as he alternately rubbed and oiled each one. He didn�t expect such a warm response, and wondered how their mating would affect him. He hoped he was awake enough to realize it was going on this time. Last time they had risen at the same time in the middle of the night. Finian�s only awareness of the occurrence was when Mollie�s mental images showed him what had happened the next morning. Finian wondered why he didn�t wake up, but then was glad he hadn�t because it would be pretty uncomfortable for him to experience the fire-lizard�s passion when he was trapped in his room.
Ah well, who cares now? He thought. It�s over and done with. They�ll rise soon. Perhaps I can get one of them to mate with Lanala�s brown�.she�s such a pretty girl, and weyrbred too. She won�t have any, inhibitions, about that type of thing. Finian blushed then, realizing what he�d thought. He had no right to do that, if he wanted to get to know Lanala, he shouldn�t use a proddy fire-lizard to do it.
Finian heard the bells sounding, a signal that it was time for him to get to class. Finian sighed, not wanting to go see Master Olderill. The man was positively stifling, never letting anyone think for themselves.
So why don't you skip class today wherrybrain? You know everything Olderill has to say, he's said it all ten times over. Go swimmin' today, go to class tomorrow. You've been to every class in several sevendays anyway.... Finian justified his decision by reminding himself that he was senior apprentice, top in Olderill's class that year. One day away couldn't possibly hurt.....
Less than an hour later Finian was well away from the Hold, two flits in tow. He had sneaked easily out of the main yards and past the gate. It was getting past the window of Oldehill's class that was tricky. The Master insisted his classroom be held in the outside room of the hall; the only room that protuded past the gate. If someone wanted to break into the Weaver Hall, Oldehill's room was the way to do it.
But luckily for Finian the entire class was absorbed by Oldehill's discussion on how to prevent the thread from breaking. Finian smiled, remembering how he had hated that lecture, and not listening had 'accidently' ruined his share of thread. Oldehill had been furious, and as punishment Finian had to write one report a sevenday for two months on how to prevent thread from breaking. Finian had learned his lesson, and paid attention to all boring lectures now. If only the lessons were on something more intertering...Like how to fight Thread instead of not breaking it. Finian couldn't imagine Weyrlings' classes were so boring. At least they had dragons.
Ah well, what's it to you wherrybrain? You're not a weyrling. Finian thought as the lake came into sight. Finian stopped and admired it for just a moment before continuing.
The lake was surrounded by miniature cliffs and overhanging trees. The rock formations rose into wonderful places to sun yourself, or to jump into the deep water below. The tree branches provided excellent swinging ropes, and the water was so clear you could see straight to the bottom. This place had been purely magical to Finian when he was a young boy. Now, at sixteen, he still couldn't help but look at it with longing for his childhood years.
"Fardling fool, that's what you are Fin." A low, mocking growl said from behind him. Finian whirled to be face to face with his friend Vralen. Finian frowned, a little sourly. Vralen laughed. "Don't give me that one Fin. You know as well as I that you're suppose to be in class today. I also know that Oldehill's posatively furious with you for not showin' up. He's gonna skin your hide when you get back."
"Well then I'd better make sure a good swim cleans it first shouldn't I?" Finian snapped affectionately at his friend. "What are you doing here anyway? I'm not the only one whose supposed to be somewhere else." Vralen smiled and began to walk towards the lake.
"Naw. I had kitchen clean-up today. I saw you sneakin' out, and decided to follow you. No one's gonna miss me anyway. Not like you!" Vralen set off at a run and Finian plunged after him, ready to beat some sense into his friend. It was routine for the boys, one to sneak away, the other to follow, and then wrestle until both had bloody noses and were laughing hysterically.
Just as Finian caught up with Vralen, and was about to tumble him over, something from above stopped there progress to the lake. The boys' looked up to be faced with a huge green dragon winging in from Between. Vralen gulped, and Finian gripped his friend's arm a little tighter. Neither one had ever been close to a dragon before, and the presence of one was more than a little stunning.
"You think they called in'a rider to find us?" Vralen whispered as the green settled herself a dragonlength away. The boys were clutching at each other, terrified that they'd done something wrong.
"No, a dragonrider wouldn't come to a Hall to find a couple of boys who ducked class!" Finian whispered back, trying to convince himself. The green's rider, a young woman, came walking quickly over to them.
"Heyla boys! Sorry to, um, interrupt." Her voice was cheerful, and her manner doubly so. Finian felt himself relaxing in her presence. He nodded to her.
"Good day to you Greenrider." He lowered his eyes in respective courtesy, and knew Vralen was doing the same. They both looked up when the greenrider laughed.
"No need for that lads. I'm not one to expect foolish awe from commoners. But do tell me," she said, looking right at Finian, "what is your name?" Finian gulped.
"Me?" The woman smiled, and nodded encouragingly.
"Yes lad, you."
"Finian." The woman nodded again.
"Finian? Alright." Finian glanced over to the green beast, who was watching the goings on with great amusement he thought. She was swinging her head around and her eyes were whirling brightly as she looked to Finian, then to her rider, and back to Finian again. Finian thought he'd never seen anything so beautiful.
Why thank you lad. Most boys don't take the time to appreciate a green. They're stunned by bronzes and browns coming from the sky.
Did you just say something to me? Finian's mental voice squeeked, and he was answered by a warm, laughing feeling. The dragon rustled her wings and Finian knew she was laughing at him. He turned back to see the greenrider watching him closely.
"I'm Quara, and this lady is Dimenth." The green bugled loudly, and Finian stepped back in alarm. "Don't worry about her, the vein wherry, she's just trying to get a decent reaction from you." The green bugled again, and Finian got the idea that she and her rider were argueing a little in their minds. But it didn't appear serious because Quara was laughing and wiping a tear from her eye, and Dimenth was swinging her neck and tail in a merry fashion.
"How can we serve you today greenrider Quara?" Vralen spoke up, feeling left out. Finian had forgotten his friend was there.
"Oh, forgive me. I should have told you immiediatly." She turned to Finian. "You've been Searched lad. Would you care to be a Candidate for the clutch we've got at Tiynarea?"
Finian's mouth was hanging open, but he didn't care. Him? A dragonrider? He'd never in his wildest fantasies envisioned that type of future. He felt a conflict of emotions, but mostly he felt excitement running down his spine. Who wouldn't want to be a dragonrider when given the chance?
"Of course I'll stand Candidate greenrider. I can't imagine a better future than Impressing a blue."
Finian didn't even think about the last part until it was out. A blue? Why had he said that. The words were received with surprise from Quara, judging by the look on her face.
"A blue?" She asked suspiciously. Finian blushed and looked at the ground.
"I..I didn't mean to say that. I'd love to Impress any color that I could. I mean, blue or brown is fine with me. Although blue's are smaller, and I hear they've wonderful senses of humor....But again, any dragon that wants me! But I've no notion to Impress a bronze, I know I'm not the right type for that. "
"And what if a little green comes along and warbles at you to take her? Would that upset you?" Vralen asked, almost jealously. Finian mock punched his friend and looked back at the greenrider.
"Any dragon who would want me is fine by me. As I said, I've no notion to reject any color, they're all good. But I suppose I'd rather have a male dragon than female, 'cause I don't like boys, I like girls." Realizing what he'd said, Finian blushed again, turning red all the way down his neck. Quara laughed at him and slapped his shoulder with appreciation.
"Well said young Finian. I suppose that's a good a reason as any for wanting a male." Finian smiled shyly to himself, and he turned around to face Vralen. He was surprise to see pride on his friend's face instead of jealousy.
"Do Impress one Fin. I'd like you to come visit me on a dragon, wouldn't that make Oldehill suffer!" Finian laughed and quickly hugged and released his friend.
"Alright deal. I'll come back as soon as we can fly, if I Impress that is!" He added, looking at Quara. He didn't know what influenced a dragonet's choosing, but he didn't want to appear too snobby and confident in front of Dimenth, in case she might have something to do with it.
I assure you I do not. If you feel you will Impress instead of not, then that is good for you. Dragonet's like confidence, but just don't appear mean. Dimenth told Finian matter-of-factly. Finian smiled at the green's words, and he never heard her voice again.
But it didn't matter to Finian in the slightest. He was going to be a Candidate, and maybe Impress a dragon. Two green fire-lizards began swooping in excited circled around him, and Finian couldn't wait until the Hatching at Tiynarea Weyr!