Atarikath bugled happily as she took flight with the rest of the wing, finally back to fighting thread after her rider's injury. The other golds looked at her annoyedly but Atarikath ignored them. She was happy to be back in the wing, even if it was a night fall.
I don't see why you're so happy, Zulyeva complained, pulling her riding jacket closer. It's cold as between out here! How're the threads even going to fall?
I'm sure it will find a way, Atarikath chirped in eager anticipation.
Zulyeva raised an eyebrow. Did you eat a bad herdbeast this morining?
Atarikath gave a snort. You may have been happy to be laid up in the weyr, but I was very very bored. Why won't the sharding things start falling already?
You're going to see Fadra when we get back, Zulyeva told her. For now, stop being so happy!
The leading edge of the malicious silver rain appeared right on schedule and the wings sprang, perfectly in position, into the air to meet it. All playfulness drained out of Atarikath's manner in an instant as she left the ground and was replaced by that of a keenly alert fighter. The thread was harder to see, even with bursts of flame illuminating the night sky, so there were many clumps to be seared by the flamethrowers of the queen's wing.
One Falas bronze who looked vaguely familiar, however, was not having a hard time seeing at all. In fact, he was showing off. Atarikath craned her neck to watch him and then snorted with disgust. Bronzes. Always showing off like they have nothing better to do.
Zulyeva chuckled. You have to admit though, Atty, he is pretty good at what he does.
He's still a show off, Atarikath growled. I can't stand show offs!
Calm down, Atty. You don't need to get so worked up over one bronze, Zulyeva tried to calm her dragon. Concentrate on the fall and ignore him.
Yes I do! I can get worked up over whatever I sharding please! Atarikath bellowed, punctuating her metal tone with a vocal to match.
The other golds and their riders turned to look at Atarikath, who glared back at them. What are you looking at? she demanded of them.
"Proddy, eh?" Kasiese shouted from where Polanith was leading the wing. "Better take her back, proddy queens and falls don't mix well."
Zulyeva felt her stomach lurch. Proddy? She wasn't ready for her Atty to rise yet. All she knew about the subject, which was not much, she had learned in classes. And, as she had found out many times as a healer, classes never taught you everything you needed to know.
I am not proddy and I will not be taken back to the Weyr! Atarikath roared. I am staying and finishing this Fall!
The Weyrwoman told us to go back, whether you're proddy or not, Zulyeva told her dragon firmly. C'mon Atarikath. Back to the Weyr.
I will not go! Atarikath protested, and gave a defiant roar to show she meant what she said.
Zulyeva thought of asking the weyrwoman for help, but realized she'd have to control an even more irrational Atty when the gold rose. Atarikath, go back to the Weyr. Now.
Atarikath roared again, but this one was not as defiant or strong as the first. No!
Atarikath! Back to the Weyr! NOW! Zulyeva commanded. I don't have time for you to be difficult and you're putting us in danger by staying. Back to the Weyr.
Atarikath roared again, just to show she was going against her will, and then went Between and back to the ledge of their private weyr.
While Zulyeva changed out of her riding gear, Atarikath paced her ledge restlessly, bugling now and then. I want to go somewhere!
Zulyeva sighed. Where?
I don't know where! Atarikath told her frustratedly and trilled anxiously. Away from Quinalt. I might rise soon, you know, and there's no way I'm rising here. I want to go somewhere with good, strong bronzes.
How about Ryslen? They've always got lots of males to choose from there. Sigleth's clutching there, Zulyeva suggested.
The last thing I need is Sigleth breathing down my neck, Atarikath grumbled. How about Opal Moon? That's good and far away from Quinalt, none of these annoying bronzes will follow me there.
If that's where you want to go, then that's where we're going, Zulyeva told her.
Well what are you laying in bed for then? Atarikath asked. Get some clothes on and let's go!
Not now, Atty, Zulyeva groaned. It's the middle of the night! How about we leave in the morning?
NOW! Atarikath bellowed angrily.
Zulyeva, not eager to lock minds with her queen again, rolled out of bed, pulled her riding clothes on and ran out to Atarikath.
Within a few minutes, they were on their way. Atarikath gave one last farewell bugle and then winked between, reappearing at Opal Moon Weyr.
It was midday at Opal Moon, much to Zulyeva's dismay. Atarikath dropped her in the weyrbowl, already snarling at the other dragons around her, and Zulyeva started off to find the flight board and the weyrwoman to ask for a guest weyr.
