The four who hatched at the last hatching, Ananith, Kitanath, Alaioth, and Tenjurith, tried to imitate the older dragons in their riders' group. They practiced flying and hunting, waitng for the day their own riders would be able to fly with them. B'tian noticed that Ananith always defered to the 'queen' of the group, who was not the gold-cream. Tenjurith was more laid back than many true golds. No, it was Jaicie's Kitanath who acted the most like a spoiled queen.
Thinking about it, he couldn't understand it. Jaicie was a sweet, shy girl; nothing like the bold, out-spoken cream-copper. But they seemed to get along very well. In fact, Jaicie seemed to have gotten a bit more bold since Impressing her. She certainly spoke more comfortablely with more people than she used to. She had also gotten more friendly towards him, deeping the friendship they had had for several years, into something that could develop into more, once the dragons were more mature.
Oh, that's much better. Thank you. I want to look my best for the flight. The dragon's tone was sly, as he glanced back at his rider.
B'tian started to slide down from Ananith's shoulder, when his words registered. "Wait a minute. What flight?" He lost his grip and slid to the ground, landing badly and dropping the oil jar. He stood back up, looking at his partner with a confused and slightly scared look. He was interested in only one woman, and she hadn't mentioned that her dragon was anywhere near rising.
Don't worry, it's a private flight. The female doesn't want anyone to know until it's time. Even then, it will only be her and I, and our riders, who know. She heard that the FGPC is hosting a special frenzy and she wants us to participate. Ananith looked at his rider thoughtfully. I am sorry. She asked me not tell you who she is, yet. She doesn't want her rider to know who she has chosen to chase. Neither of you will have long to wait. She should rise very soon.
"I don't like this, Ananith. I don't like not knowing who this dragon or her rider are. I'm not crazy about the idea of spending the night with a woman I may never have met before. At a normal flight, you can at least meet the female's rider, and she can meet all the potential males, before the flight."
B'tian was scowling slightly by now.
Fine, then I will tell her to have her rider find someone she likes to spend the night with, and I will take you to whomever you choose. That way you don't have to deal with someone you may not know. What do you think of that?
"I suppose that's fair," he said after a moment. "I really don't want to deny you a chase you want to participate in."
With that settled, they returned to their weyr, and went to bed.
The next morning, Ananith woke B'tian earlier than normal. B'tian, wake up! It's time; she's ready to fly. Hurry up!
B'tian hurried to put on some clothes, then jumped to Ananith's back. Before he could say anything, or even look toward the feeding grounds to see which female was blooding her kill, he found himself dumped into Jaicie's weyr, and Ananith dropped to the feeding grounds. Now he could see Kitanath down there, blooding a herdbeast. He spun to look for Jaicie, and found her huddled on her bed, as if expecting the worst. He closed the door as Ananith took off after the speeding female.
