I see you have a Ribbon... (Cait)

It had been almost six months since Davquil had Impressed to Purple-Grey Niekolgoth and only just six months—or round about—since she’d met and befriended T’vax Cavernborn. Since the Hatching, both had celebrated their seventeenth birthdays. She’d given Tiv a handwoven—by herself on a belt loom—sash that matched Slinesteth rather smartly and in return she’d been given a bundle of ribbons for her wild hair in shades of purple, gray, green and even red and blue. Her favorites to wear were the purple and gray if only because it seemed to amuse and delight Niekolgoth when he saw them.

Currently, however, she was sporting the red ribbon. It was tied in a bow around her impossible to manage hair, for the most part keeping in out of her face though a halo of frizzy curls framed said freckled face. It was summer now and while that didn’t mean the same thing so far north as it might down along the coast, it was warm enough during the day with the bright sun shining down that Davquil could wear short sleeves and a light, brown cloth vest along with her hide pants. She’d taken to the attire of a rider quite well, not minding the trousers at all, especially once she added a bit of embroidery—she wasn’t the daughter of a seamstress and a weaver for nothing after all.

She was currently on her way across the bowl, glad and saddened all at once at the loss of the snow. It was the beginning of the two sevenday break between terms two and three and she was glad for the break; and so too was Niekolgoth who had found a large, flat rock in the Weyrbowl near the lake to sprawl on much as he had done as a hatchling, soaking the sun into his hide and wings. She was going to get some oil and work it into his hide and in general spend some time with the peculiar dragon.

She’d just left the entrance that was closest to the Weyrling Barracks, jar of oil and brush in hand and was making her way back across the vast expanse of the Weyr Bowl when something dark yet shimmering swooped around her head then glided down and latched onto her mane of dark curls. With a laugh she shook her head, trying to dislodge the creature only to have it lean over and nuzzle her cheek. Reaching up she prodded the—if the corner of her eye was to be trusted, a Silverlight was on her head—firelizard in the side with the oil brush.

“That’s not a nest, for all that it may look like one, you silly flitt. Off you go.” Her tone was playful and kind and her poding gentle. If anything she found the firelizard’s antics more amusing than annoying; but that was Dav for you, the most laid back Northerner in existence. It was only when a dragonrider came jogging across the Bowl towards her, arms flailing and voice raised that she began to reconsider. She was aware that there were poorly trained firelizards about though they generally weren’t tolerated overly long by the dragons if they got particularly bothersome.

While she was distracted by the rider, the firelizard shifted on top of her head, tugging slightly at her hair and then suddenly the curling mass was released and it literally sprung free even as the Dragonrider reached Dav and lunged for the firelizard, almost punching the Weyrling in the face in the process. But the Silverlight was gone…Silk had she been called? Well that was adorable! Blinking, Dav looked up to see the little Queen with a red ribbon trailing behind her and for a moment was vaguely annoyed at its theft before amusement took over. Letting out a sharp bark of laughter she turned back to Sk’ar and grinned, her hair wild about her face. “Not brand new, no. But apparently it met the approval of your little Silk…it was Silk, yes? Cute name.”

Dav continued to grin; Silk certainly was a fitting name and she imagined that it applied in more ways than one. If firlizards were anything like dragons, they were incredibly soft when hatched, almost like silk she supposed though she rather thought that Niekolgoth had felt like velvet. Then there was her predilection for ribbons, most of which were made of silky materials.

“I have a feeling that if you asked T’vax, he would say that I reacted in much the same fashion when I got my ribbons. I can’t blame the dear for it.” She glanced towards the dragon’s shoulder and for a moment puzzled over his knots before finally it came to her; RR Flame. He was a kingrider! Well that was neither here nor there as far as Davquil was concerned; she tended to see a person before their rank and so far she saw nothing to dislike about this one.

“My name’s Davquil. I Impressed at the last clutch to Purple-Grey Niekolgoth. He’s waiting for me by the lake; I don’t suppose you two would care to join me? He tends to get a little…strange when I leave him alone for too long. You dragon can join as well if he’d like.” Friendly and inviting as ever, she gestured to the oil bucket with her brush and then continued to wave the brush about to emphasize her words. By now the Silverlight had returned and when she trilled, Dav grinned. “I’m sure I have enough oil for Silk as well, she’d probably enjoy it.”

Dav laughed, grinning, dark eyes gleaming with mirth. “Of course you are. It’s nice to meet you as well.” Of course it was natural for the names of the higher ranking dragons and riders to be known amongst the weyrfolk and even nearby hold folk. Then there was the fact that Davquil constantly pestered her older brother for stories about the other dragonriders and their dragons and had done so since before her arrival at the Weyr and consequent Impression.

When Sk’ar lifted his gaze, Dav followed it and watched with no small amount of appreciation as the RR Flame uncoiled himself and stretched, his wings unfurling in a blaze of fire as they were backlit by the sun. Glorious and majestic were the two most accurate words that came to mind as Davquil observed the picturesque scene. There was something about Flames and their larger counterparts that enthralled the young woman. Perhaps it was the way their hides seemed to dance in the proper lighting, or just their dynamic personalities but she did rather enjoy the Flames of the Weyr.

As Verith dropped from the ledge, Dav shielded her eyes against the sun and squinted her eyes as he landed, kicking up a swirling wind with his wings that pulled and tugged at the girl’s unruly mane of hair. When the sound of the dragons voice—so strong and confident compared to Niekolgoth’s—entered her mind, she blinked then opened her mouth to answer only to snap it shut again.

A niggling sensation of sadness tickled the girl’s mind and though she would have loved to go for a ride on the beautiful king, she shook her head slightly. “I’d better not, Niekolgoth can be a bit sensitive.” For a moment she seemed a little disappointed that she had to abstain, but then a playful glint entered her eyes once more and scooping up the oil bucket, she turned a brilliant grin on Sk’ar, bouncing lightly on her toes. “I will, however, challenge you to a race, Verith’s rider!’

Then with a bark of laughter, she took off, the bucket of oil only slowing her a bit. Thankfully it had a secure lid so that it didn’t splash over the sides as she ran. Not bothering to look back over her shoulder to see if he was following, Dav turned her sparkling gaze to the far side of the bowl where she could just barely make out a purple blob that was Niekolgoth. “Here I come my little dragon!”

Davquil wasn’t at all surprised when the older man quickly caught up to her. His legs were longer and he was also a great deal stronger than she was which factored into speed as well. Silk joined them as well and as Sk’ar leveled with her, she turned to grin at him—cheeky and bright—then turned her focus back on trying to pull ahead. This was serious business after all; races were serious business.

From the lake, Niekolgoth sent a curious thought in Dav’s direction and she quickly informed him of the situation; that she was in a close race with a dragonrider when a massive shadow fell over her and Sk’ar. With a squeal, she looked over her shoulder to find that the RR Flame had joined in, bouncing along beside them for a time before pulling ahead. Laughing, Dav made a few leaps herself. In a matter of minutes the lake area came into view and there was Niekolgoth, pacing anxiously though through their connection, Dav felt a hesitant eagerness to meet the approaching Verith.

With a grin, Davquil made a spectacle of shouldering the older rider before putting a bit more spring in her step. However, it was Verith that won the race and Dav wasn’t surprised. She was concerned though when it looked as though he would barrel right into her dear, awkward dragon.

Niekolgoth must have suddenly become uncertain as well because as the Flame came skidding to a halt, the Purple-Grey flopped onto his belly, legs sprawled much in the same manner that they had at his Hatching.

“Oh dear.” Dav muttered as she slowed to a jog then finally to a walk. Niekolgoth was likely to play ragdoll for at least an hour before she could even get him to consider playing with them. He’d been eager moments ago but now he was entirely uncertain and a bit intimidated by the much, much larger dragon. His eyes swirled with yellow and white and his talons dug furrows into the ground.

“Niekolgoth, this is Sk’ar and Verith…and the little one is Silk.” Dav introduced though the only sign that the young dragon had heard her was to look at each of the people as she introduced them. Turning to Sk’ar she shrugged and set down her bucket, still slightly short of breath from the run. “Just give him time and you’ll adore him almost as much as I do.”

The whirling of Niekolgoth’s eyes slowed just slightly as Verith lowered himself to the ground, his posture very nearly identical to the Purple-Grey’s. Davquil paused as she watched the two, still amazed at her lifemate’s ability to turn into a ragdoll on a moment’s notice. She rather suspected that if she lifted his tail it would flop back down as though he were dead.

“Niekolgoth’s only met a few adult dragons and none of them so large as Verith. Hopefully he’ll get over it soon enough, just have your big guy be patient.” She shrugged and then moved towards the pair of dragons, undaunted by Verith’s size as she set the pail of oil beside her own dragon and crouched down to pry the lid free; when she couldn’t manage it, she craned her neck to peer at Sk’ar and smiled. “Care to put those muscles to use, dragonrider?”

Had it been any other girl it might have been a conscious attempt to flirt, though with Dav it was perfectly innocent no matter what the man might think. She was a tease by nature, and more than a little outrageous, but that was part of her charm she liked to think. Tiv seemed to enjoy her company well enough and she’d made several friends amongst the weyrlings in her class.