Golds need baths too (open)

[shadowreine]

Saeryth sighed with pleasure as her rider scrubbed a particularly itchy spot. She would be sands bound soon enough, she was already approaching too egg heavy to fly. Kevia just kept working the sweetsand into the amber gold hide. "Feels good, doesn't it."

She was beginning to relax. To accustom herself to the new situation. At least *she* was not about to end up as senior weyrwoman...a position she frankly hoped to go through life avoiding...

[Sparrow]

Yaphorath didn't seem too sure about taking a bath at the same time as the egg-heavy Gold. Few things really intimidated him, but the great queens could occasionally. I'm sure my itchy spots can wait, A'vicMine, he said softly.

A'vic gave the Blue's shoulder a pat. It's just another dragon. She won't hurt you. From his perch in the hollow of Yaphorath's neck, little Cork chirped. He had hatched only a day ago and seemed to be quite enjoying life- especially the constant feeding he recieved. Even now A'vic had a few strips of meat in his pocket for whenever the little Brown got hungry again.

Well, I don't think she would hurt me. But I don't think the queens like Blues. That is why we don't fly them. Yaphorath's eyes continued to whirl uncertain shades of yellow.

[shadowreine]

Saeryth lifted her head. You know, this lake is more than big enough for both of us she sent reassuringly to the blue. her rider glanced over and waved. In the hollow of Saeryth's neckridges, perched a brown firelizard. Chirp!

[Sparrow]

That should be invitation enough. A'vic smiled at Yaphorath and the Blue finally relaxed slightly and waded into the water. His rider followed and waved to Kevia. He had heard from G'ryn the story of how the queens had just appeared in the Weyr and wasn't sure what to think of it, but thought better of asking. It seemed they hadn't told the Brownrider much, no reason to tell him.

Cork scrambled up Yaphorath's neckridges to perch atop the dragon's head so he could get a better view of who it was that was chirping to him. Who was it? Another Brown? The hatchling trilled excitedly.

[shadowreine]

Kevia smiled. "I think your brown wants to say hi to my brown." Timber, who was full grown, lifted off, chirpling some more to the hatchling. "Kevia," she introduced. "Gold Saeryth's. And the little one is Timber." Timber and Cork...that might be somewhat ironic.

Her eyes flicker over the blue. All the dragons here looked healthy...she reminded herself to poke her nose in the candidate barracks. Maybe this bluerider would help make sure they had enough.

[Sparrow]

"Heh, probably." A'vic smiled as Cork flexed his wings, contemplating whether to join the adult in the air. "I'm A'vic," he replied. "This is Yaphorath, the fire-lizard is Cork."

Yaphorath dipped his head to Saeryth. Hello.

[shadowreine]

Hello, Yaphorath, the gold responded, somewhat formal in her tones.

"Your dragon looks in very good condition," Kevia complimented as she turned back to scrubbing before she forgot which bit of the gold she was working on.

[Sparrow]

A'vic nodded. "So does yours." Yaphorath gave him a nudge to remind the rider what he had come out here for and the Bluerider scooped some sand from the lake and set to rubbing at his dragon's hide.

His decision made by Yaphorath moving his head and upsetting Cork's perch, the little Brown took off and joined Timber in the air. His eyes whirled faintly with awe as he looked over the bigger adult. Someday he could be that big.

[shadowreine]

Kevia glanced at the two browns. "How old is your firelizard?" She used the full name for the little creatures, carefully and precisely as she continued to work on Saeryth's brilliant hide.

[Sparrow]

"About a day." A'vic spoke as he rubbed vigorously at a spot just behind Yaphorath's shoulder that always seemed to have dry skin. The dragon leaned towards his rider, his eyes taking on a contented shade.

Cork continued to hover, deciding he didn't want to look as young as he was to Timber despite the hunger that was rising again in his belly. He figured he would have to learn to stand it someday...

But not quite yet. Giving in, Cork dove to A'vic's shoulder and began to chirp piteously. The Bluerider wiped the sand off his hands and handed the hatchling a strip of meat before returning to working on Yaphorath.

[shadowreine]

Kevia smiled. "I thought he looked really young. I'd be disappointed about missing the Hatching, but there will be plenty more if I decide I need another one."

Saeryth snaked her head around to regard Yaphorath. So, Yaphorath. Do you fly Search?

[Sparrow]

"Yeah, there are always plenty of fire-lizards." A'vic paused briefly to watch Cork as he left the rider's shoulder again to rejoin Timber in the air. The hatchling chirped excitedly the whole time.

Yaphorath fought the urge to draw back a step away from the Gold. Yes, sometimes.

[shadowreine]

Saeryth actually nodded to the blue. Good. Find some good candidates for my children, please

Kevia glanced at Saeryth. "Saeryth? Don't harass him."

The great gold head turned to regard her rider. We need the best candidates we can find.

"True, but breathing down the search dragon's necks doesn't always help."

And breathing down the candidates' necks does?

[Sparrow]

Yaphorath looked at Saeryth strangley for a moment and then turned his head to face A'vic. Saeryth said she wants Candidates for her eggs.

Well, she hasn't laid them yet. There's plenty of time. A'vic shifted to work some sweetsand into the hide just behind the wing-joints. Cork spiraled down and started rubbing playfully at Yaphorath's hide too.

[shadowreine]

Kevia chuckled. "I'm sorry. Every time Saeryth is carrying eggs, she hassles the searchdragons, and the candidates they find are never quite good enough. She settles down after she's laid them. I think it's a maternal hormone thing."

Not that Kevia didn't want and desire quality candidates. But she also trusted the judgment of the dragonets.