"No, it's not! Hello! Kasir has totally dissed me!" Nacime nodded in agreement, silently braiding her hair. Tiodon raised an eyebrow at the twelve-year-old.

"You're too young to be getting involved with boys, little sister," said Tiodon dryly, and Limeda flared up again.

"I am not, Frog! You're the one who's never been in a serious relationship before!" Tiodon stood up, slowly unfolding his legs from his comfortable position. He stood a good eight inches above the short girl, and Nacime was sitting down. Snake - Nacime - ignored Tiodon and Limeda, continuing to do her hair.

"Way not fair!" Limeda complained sulkily, standing on her tip-toes to try and make up some of the difference. Tiodon snorted.

"You listen to me, Cobra. You won't do any of us any good by going around chasing the Holdboys. Do you really want us to get found? What if your Kasir was really someone like Xandoi?" Limeda shook her head stubbornly, light brown hair glinting in the firelight.

"He's not! He looks nothing like Xandoi!" His point stated, Tiodon settled back down on the couch, amber eyes flashing.

"You never know, Limeda. Just because you don't care about the gang -"

"She does too," Nacime interrupted. "Leave her alone, Tio'. And Cobra, Tio' has had an affair. Remember Rywea?" Limeda tilted her head, and immediately plopped down on the chair nearest Nacime's.

"Who's Rywea?" Her sharp glance shot over at Tiodon. "Frog?"

"Just a greenrider," Tiodon said roughly. Nacime gave a placid smile, one that hid daggers, and flipped her single braid over a shoulder.

"Not just any greenrider. The daughter of a Weyrwoman. Needless to say, dear Mama was not very pleased at dear Daughter's newest Friend." Limeda gave a squeal.

"You had it going on with someone like that? How did you meet her?" Tiodon glowered at the two girls.

"Why do I even try with you? Remind me to step on every snake I see for the rest of my life!" Nacime's placid smile stayed plastered on to her face.

"Anything you wish, Tio'." Tiodon leaned back, surveying the two girls. Out of the two of them, he didn't know which was worse. They stuck together because of their similar affiliations - both snakes - and he usually managed to end up in the same space as them both. He would have preferred staying with someone like Polye. Even Antino and Melea, even though he had seen them work together.

"What's going on?" Antino trotted down into the main room, wincing. "You guys are so freaking loud.."

"Canthyi and Helia are missing, that's what," Melea snapped, entering from the side opposite Antino. "I need someone to come with me and find them. They were supposed to be at Healer Hall and be back here by now." Her eyes scanned the four Reptilians, and Tiodon ducked his head immediately, concentrating hard on his feet. Nacime and Limeda bent inwards to whisper excitedly together, and Melea's gaze was stuck on Antino.

"Oh no," Antino groaned and Melea's eyes narrowed.

"Antino, you're coming with me then. It's been way too long since you've done fieldwork," Melea said crisply, and Antino started to protest weakly.

"Then why start with a mission like this? Frog's Healer-bred!" Tiodon's head shot up.

"Uh, no. They'll know immediately who I am and that I dropped out. Not a very good thing, Toad." Limeda stifled a giggle as Tiodon and Antino had a brief staring contest while Melea stood there, arms crossed and her right foot tapping impatiently.

"Let's just do," she growled, and stormed across the room. She latched on to Antino and started to drag him bodily out of the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" complained Antino, and the pair headed out the door.

"Good thing Turtle wasn't here," Nacime observed, gray eyes surveying the place where Antino had been standing. "Want to for a walk, Cobra?" Limeda tried to subtly watch Tiodon's reaction as she shrugged.

"I guess. Don't want to be here if Melea needs anymore volunteers." Limeda helped up Nacime, and brushed off her skirts, straightening them fussily. Tiodon merely stared.

"Are you coming?" It was hard to discern Nacime's meaning, and Limeda knew that the elder Nacime was a better snake than she was. Tiodon gave a shrug, as though mocking Limeda.

"I suppose," he said dryly. Limeda studied him, wondering if he was going a.) because he wanted to, b.) because Nacime was going, or c.) because she, Limeda, was going. Tiodon raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem with you?"

"No!" Limeda denied quickly, and hooked her arm with Nacime's. "C'mon. I want some air." Nacime wandered obediantly after her, and Tiodon came up the rear.

The night was cool, and Nacime smiled up at the stars. She leaned back against Tiodon, as Limeda had finally let go. "Up there," she murmured, pointing at the stars almost directly overhead. He nodded.

"Very nice." Nacime, scowling inwardly, backed off to stand next to Limeda. Younger Limeda was _always_ able to get the boys to like her; why was Tiodon so oblivious?

"Do you like him?" Limeda was always able to pick up on that sort of stuff, and Nacime frowned down at her. "I mean, he is kinda cute."

"Limeda! He's five years older than you!" Limeda gave a shrug.

"So was Kisar." Which was news to Nacime. She stayed silent, and Limeda gave up waiting for an answer. "So.. know any of these constellations?" The question was open-ended but neither of her companions answered.

"Actually, the one on the horizon is commonly known as Dragon's Tail." The voice was a different one, masculine (of course!), and Limeda turned her head, hands busy checking her hair.

"Give it a rest, Lime'," Nacime murmured. Limeda stared. This was Nacime talking? And not Tiodon? She would've thought that Frog would say that, but most definately not Nacime. "Good evening, sir. I am Nacime, this is Limeda, and this is Tiodon." Nacime reached forward to shake the man's outstretched hand.

"K'roohan, rider of brown Takanath of Dragonhope Weyr." The man stepped forward another step, but the starlight and torchlight wasn't strong enough to illuminate his shoulderknots. The three Reptiles merely stared at him, impassive. "Usually that's a cue for you to ask why I'm here," K'roohan prompted, but he didn't get a response. "Alright, then. I'm a Searchrider from Dragonhope."

"That's nice." K'roohan's eyes focused on Tiodon, as though he knew Tio' was being insolent on purpose.

"And Takanath finds Candidates to Stand and Impress," K'roohan continued, sentence dangling with a not-so-subtle hint. Limeda tossed her head.

"And you want us to Stand? Please!" Nacime poked her in the ribs before she could stare laughing.

"That would be right. I was wondering when you'd catch on." It was a forced cheeriness, and it was Limeda's turn to poke Nacime to keep her from laughing.

"But people like us don't get Searched," Tiodon started to explain to the brownrider, but K'roohan cut him off.

"People like you? You're a normal Holdbrat. Why wouldn't you?"

"No reason," Nacime said quietly. "Dragonhope, you said?" K'roohan nodded. "I don't know if we can accept.. family ties and such." K'roohan waved a hand as if that was of no importance.

"We don't have family to report to, Nacime, remember?" Limeda added irritably. Tiodon refrained himself from thwapping her, but only barely. K'roohan's smile grew.

"Then there's no reason you shouldn't accept the Search. Really, there isn't." Nacime shot a glare at Limeda, but let Tiodon speak. He was the oldest. And a male.

"I guess not.." he said slowly, signalling to Nacime with the coded hand signal for "talk later." He stared at the two girls, warning them silently to stay quiet. "I guess we'll accept, then?"

dragonhope weyr: http://www.geocities.com/saxxon_of_dragonhope/