Shalna smiled at her dragon indulgently. Of course you wouldn't see anything special about a human, dear one. You're a dragon. But I just know you and Arzanth would be perfect for eachother.
Then let them come here, I don't intend to fly halfway across the continent just to say hi to some bronze, Nachth informed her rider imperiously.
It'll only be a short hop Between for either of us once you and I learn to go Between, Shalna reminded her black.
Still, Nachth persisted stubbornly, the male ought to come after the female if he really wants her.
Neither of you are old enough to rise or chase, Shalna reminded her dragon. By the time you rise, you and Arzanth will already be as close as P'sol and I are.
Nachth snorted. No male will be close with me unless he catches me.
Vain little thing, Shalna accused, softening her words by reaching out to scratch Nachth's eye ridges affectionately. Nachth hummed happily and turned her head into her rider's caress.
I itch on my belly and back, Nachth announced, drawing her head back to regard her rider with imploring eyes.
Funny, I seem to remember a little black dragon I met a few minutes ago who refused to be oiled, Shalna chided as she rose from her bed and went over to the trunk which contained her supplies for mixing oil.
Nachth butted her rider's back playfully yet insistently as Shalna kneeled and opened the trunk. I itch now, I did not itch then, she explained in a logical tone.
If you'd let me oil you then, Shalna reasoned as she rumaged through her supplies, you wouldn't itch now.
Nachth snorted and pretended she hadn't heard her rider's comment. Haven't you found your oil making things yet? she complained.
Shalna sat back, careful not to hit her dragon. I'm out. I'll have to go get more. Care for a walk?
Might as well, the black grumbled, though it was obvious to her rider that she really wanted to get outside.
Nachth waited impatiently as Shalna laced up her boots, craning her head back over her shoulder to watch. Must you take so long? she half-asked half-whined.
Boots take longer to lace up than it takes for a dragon to stand up and go on their way, Shalna informed her dragon, finishing the last tie and standing to join her dragon. Nachth had grown since her Hatching nearly a two sevendays ago, Shalna noticed proudly.
As the pair stepped out into the warm sunlit weyrbowl, Nachth trumpeted a greeting to the weyr. A few dragons raised their heads and one of the other weyrlings bugled a response from the lake.
Must you announce the arrival of Nachth the Great to the entire weyr? Shalna chided her dragon.
Nachth dragon-smiled up at her rider. Whyever should I not?
Because you don't need wake up the entire weyr. Only weyrlings have to endure such horrible waking hours, Shalna told her dragon.
Nachth once again ignored her rider's comment and turned her attention to the brown who had bugled a reply. Now there's a nice looking dragon, Nachth crowed, sending Shalna an image of T'zer's Masseth.
Don't get any ideas, Shalna threatened, though she suspected she hadn't done a very good job of sounding threatening.
Rider and dragon continued across the weyrbowl. The kitchen workers were more than happy to supply her with materials and Nachth rewarded them with a properly endearing croon before leaving. Once they were back at the weyrling barracks, Shalna made short work of mixing the oil.
Where does it itch again? Shalna asked her dragon, dipping her oiling cloth into the jar.
On my belly and between my wings, Nachth replied, closing her eyes and crooning happily as her rider rubbed the oil onto her hide. Much better.
When Shalna was finished oiling her, Nachth promptly walked over to the raised wooden platform, hollowed out in the middle from the many dragonets who had slept in it, curled up and went to sleep.
Shalna stood watching her dragon for a few moments before retiring to her bed to write another letter to P'sol. This time, Shalna reflected, remembering the first letter she had written to him from Dark Moon, she had even more exciting news to share.