I snickered mentally.
The two candidates looked like I had just told them that dragons did not exist.
Semmal and Caelki, however, looked thoughtful.
"We have two green Aru - Wingseconds - at the Deragonray, remember?" Semmal said to the two.
"It doesn't matter what color you Impress, just what you and your bond can do together."
"Is that why you're just a Nuin?" Rioalnaar asked innocently, recovering from his shock.
Semmal glared at him.
"Nuin are just as good as Aru or Thar!" She growled.
"Besides, I decided not to try to be an Aru or a Thar.
Too much responsibility."
"And less time to tinker with genetics." Caelki added.
"Indeed." She agreed, giving him a scathing look.
I grinned to myself.
"How about we find somewhere to sit?
My legs are killing me." I asked.
The dragonrider smiled.
"Let's go to my temporary quarters, Kishyth says she chose some that're rather close." She offered.
So, we walked over to the temporary quarters.
It was just a two-meter drop but, as the shortest of the group, Demeirsaatt and I could not get up.
Caelki and Kishyth decided to lend a hand, the former turning back into his templa'loki shape to get on the ledge.
I leaned against the shape-shifter, his warm black hide giving off a nice level of heat.
The other settled themselves according to their natures.
Neiden, Detrenim and Ayukay spread themselves out on the ground around me, soaking in the last few rays from the sun.
"So, Shailey, is there anything you need to know about Pern?" Semmal asked.
"Here at Falas, they don't have classes unless you really need them.
From what I gather, you don't need them that badly.
As such, we're going to help you learn what you need to know."
I grinned.
"I think I know more than you think I do, Semmal." I answered.
"Besides, I'm not as useless as most people think."
"The Rurachi says the meal is ready and we are to get our rumps down there." Caelki said, shifting to his human shape.
I sat up of my own accord as he changed and stood up, gently picking Detrenim up by the tail.
Neiden and Ayukay flew to my shoulders as the flightless brown clung to my arms.
Demeirsaatt stood up just as a tiny pair of fire lizards appeared above her head.
"Yes, yes, I know that the food is ready." She said, smiling at her green and blue.
"If you guys all shut up, I'll give you a few pieces." Rioalnaar said as his Sinn'deai settled on his head.
That shut up the three older flits.
Even Ayukay tilted his head at the candidate.
Neiden warbled smugly and leaned into my shoulder.
He obviously thought I would feed him.
And I probably would end up doing so.
We headed down to the meal.
It seemed F.G.P.C. candidates were welcome around the Weyr at any time.
As such, nobody thought it strange to see me and Rioalnaar there.
As we went to sit with the other candidates, Caelki shook his head and grabbed my shoulder.
"Come sit with us.
We don't have assigned seating here on Pern." He said with a grin.
I brushed my errant hair from my eyes.
"Really?
I thought it was more strict than Earth." I answered.
"Nah, just different." He replied, leading me to a table with Semmal, Ch'vi, Ke't and the Rurachi herself.
"Bringing a guest to the table, Caelki?" The latter asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Bringing conversation to the table, Rurachi?" I retorted, sitting beside the shape-shifter.
Semmal smirked.
"Now this is going to be a fun supper." She observed.
Ke't grinned and leaned forward.
"Of course it will.
It's the Ultimate Battle of Wills."
"And mouths." Ch'vi added.
I noticed that each rider had their fire lizards with them.
Loyal little things.
Ch'vi's blue Mabne, brown Fane, and green Jene were all cluttered around the center of the table with Shayniie's brown Nanook and bronze Mawnek.
Ke't's gold Summer was in the center of the group and his talking copper-silver Fayel was a bit off to the side.
My trio fluttered to the table to converse with them.
Detrenim gave me a hesitant look and ushered him towards them.
Loyal indeed.
"So, where do you plan to go if you Impress, young Earthling?" Ch'vi asked, a wise expression on his face.
I grinned maliciously.
"To the Deragonray of Enzan Shi." I answered innocently.
The Rurachi blinked.
"You are not going to terrorize my peaceful planet!" She said quickly.
"Sorry, Rurachi, but you've already done that." I responded, smiling innocently.
The bronze-rider shook her head, grinning.
"Now I know how Seneca, Yakima and M'hant felt." She observed.
I noticed a saddened look on the others' faces.
I sighed.
"No use mourning them for the rest of our lives." I pointed out.
"Might as well try to remember the good times and stop feeling sad."
Stupid me.
I always spoke before I thought.
It got me in trouble every time.
I was used to getting spiteful looks from people older than me.
Like teachers.
However, these people did not glare spitefully at me.
Instead of making me feel happy, this made me feel homesick.
I missed my old life, with the teachers that hated me or enjoyed mocking me.
I sighed dejectedly and Detrenim waddled back to me and put his paws on my arms, which were lying on the table, to put his nose right below my eyes.
He snuffed at me and chirped, flicking his wings and tilting his head.
I smiled slightly and freed an arm to stroke his eye ridges.
The food came around then, carried by the Weyr's candidates.
They placed the platters in front of us and I tried hard to keep a straight face.
One thing I did not look forward to about Pern was the food.
I was notoriously picky on Earth, I was afraid I would starve on Pern.
Caelki must have seen my face as he burst out laughing.
"It isn't all that bad." He assured me.
"You're not as picky as I am." I retorted and gingerly took a piece of what I assumed was wherry.
All eyes were on me as Detrenim sat innocently below the piece of meat.
I took a tentative bite and swallowed, suddenly grinning.
Surprisingly enough, it was good.
So, I devoured the piece.
After that, it was rather easy to devour the other things.
I just did not think about what I was eating.
And Detrenim took care of all my scraps, while Neiden and Ayukay got the things I did not like.
The Eslings chatted amiably all the while about things on Enzan Shi.
I listened attentively.
"We're lucky it's the warm season now," Ke't was saying,
"otherwise we'd all have to stay and patrol constantly."
"What with our best Thar and Aru out flying, we'd be doomed if we met the yenren in battle." Semmal agreed.
"I think we need to try and boost our larger Uuranor.
Poor B'nor has about thirty Nuin and the rest of us have only ten or so." The Rurachi pointed out.
"You need to recruit some more." I said, gesturing with a wherry leg.
"Stop that." Caelki said, dodging the meat as I waved it in random directions.
"Oops, sorry." I said, finishing it off.
"Tastes like chicken."
Everyone stared blankly at me.
"I like chicken." I added, grinning at their incomprehending looks.
