Watchstander

[Terayne]

It was the silence that awakened him, the utter lack of presence, and he blinked as he came awake, his pale gaze scanning around the room. It took a moment for him to truly focus, but once he had, he smiled faintly and rose, stretching and muttering under his breath as he heard so many snaps and pops. Sighing, he shook his head. He was getting old, he thought, and heard and amused tone in his mind as his Bonded one awakened. Mine, you are a silly one. The voice was much loved, and its owner craned her neck around to watch him as he padded into her section of the lair, clad only in his pants and boots for the moment. He was used to the cold after so many decades, and barely felt it anymore.

"I know I can be, my love. But even you must admit that time has taken her toll on us," he replied, and Xerecalth cocked her head consideringly, then gave a draconic shrug of indifference.

We are still agile and strong, she replied mildly. He inclined his head, having to agree with that at least, and moved to finish dressing. Then he mounted his Silverlight and he and the Queen headed for the Lower Caverns for some food. The tension had been getting ever higher concerning those of Xerecalth's hue and their chosen "Unnatural" pairings, so he tried to keep her out of sight when possible. She was at the age where she had possibly one or two Flights left in her before she had to give up breeding due to that very thing, but that didn't stop people from commenting. As the first Silverlight, she had set the trend, as it were, or so some liked to think.

S'lieze didn't agree, but he chose not to mention it, having given up that a long time before. She was the first, yes, but that meant nothing. She had chosen him, just as all of those other Silverlights had chosen Their's. That their choices just HAPPENED to be mainly male was a quirk to the hue, not a result of Xerecalth's initial choice....

[Kaya]

Eira sat against the wall in a single chair, forgoing a table. Having just finished a long shift with the healers she sat quietly by herself and was working on finishing the last of the food she'd selected. The plate was on the floor. Long shifts took a lot out of her, no matter the times they covered. So she was about to scoop up her dishes and return them when she saw S'lieze enter the very empty room. A puzzled expression caught her face and she considered leaving quickly, but...there was already enough animosity in the world without her contributing to it. She could have a civil, if short (she hoped), word with the man and then be off.

She picked up the plate and walked at a measured paced to put it in its place. Like so many things should be, she thought to herself before regretting it. She needed to be pleasant, quiet, and not say more than she needed to. It bothered her to know the long shift was trying to get the better of her tongue. "Greetings, S'lieze. May I help you with any of that?" Please, Faranth, let him say no so I can leave. she pleaded with the sky. She was past done helping people for the day. She wanted to hole up in her room and wait the mood out, but politeness came before wants, and so she offered help even though it was the last thing, the very last thing, she wanted to do.

[Terayne]

The Queenrider was about to pad to the kitchens to grab some food for himself when he heard the voice, and his head turned, white hair shimmering faintly in the dim Caverns. He identified its source and smiled gently, sensing that she was exhausted, though beyond that he couldn't have said. He honestly couldn't place the girl, not being familiar with her, but that seemed to be more and more common nowadays.

"I'm quite alright, actually," he said mildly, looking her over. She couldn't be that old, he thought. A Candidate maybe? "I must admit, I don't recall ever having met you before, my lady. Although you seem to know me."

[Kaya]

Relief washed over the LifeWing Rider when her offer of help was declined. Chatting she could manage, but much beyond that, Eira considered herself too tired. The smallest bit of sleep was shaken off her when S'lieze didn't know of her. Maybe it was because it was late, or perhaps he really didn't know, but...how could he not? She felt too infamous to remain unnoticed by many. Perhaps some of it was imagined... How to introduce herself then? The default introduction began to spill out of her mouth. She was too tired for politics.

"Eira Kalarn of Icy Caverns, LifeWing Rider of Wivish, at your service," she managed to snip out her parentage. She was well trained enough to give information when it was needed, and less if it wasn't. Still, what she had said still might be too much. Family name, place of origin...that was the kind of thing she said at the Hold, rather than the Weyr. "All know of you, Silverlight Rider," she dipped her head slightly. "I apologize for my state. Healing takes quite a lot out of us."

Linked, why are you not returned? Wivish inquired. She felt Eira's tiredness as her own, as it was her own. They were equally strained and ready for rest. If he is not injured and requires no help, then be off. You need some sleep.

[Terayne]

He cocked his head slightly as she gave her name, touching his Queen, who confirmed her identity after a moment, as well as that of her Linked one. Her HOLD origin had him inwardly stiffening, although outwardly he didn't allow it to show, No need for hostilities with the girl. He did not wish to upset either her Linked or his own Bonded one.

"Ah, one of our exquisite Healers," he said lightly, his tone playfully teasing and still gentle. "I have always admired the Lifewings. I well remember when they returned to their natural state." He shuddered slightly as he recalled the days of the Darkwings, and he felt a mental growl from Xerecalth.

[Kaya]

Eira stood quietly as she was examined. She was tired, but politeness came before her own needs. Still, Wivish was right, she needed to get some sleep. It struck her as strange that the Rider would bring up the origins of her Linked's kind. One did not chose how they were born into the world, only what to do with their life onward. His comment didn't seem ill, so she let a smile appear at his compliment: exquisite healer. That was her role, her desired identity now. She would always be a Holdbrat, she still spent a fair amount of time working there, and as her father made her station at the Hold known, she would never shake the title of Lord Holder's daughter. Eldest, no less. But perhaps, one day, the title Healer would outshine all the others.

"Thank you, Rider," she said, though then wondered if he'd said it as a compliment - no, he had - but was that the right reply? "I...I really must excuse myself. Wivish and I have a large load of work just behind us, and I am - no secret I fear - very tired. I ask your leave, Rider," she nodded her head slightly again, a timid sort of respecting gesture.

I know you have your customs, but if you are not back soon I fear you should fall asleep on your feet. And then fall. No good of that, Linked. Come.

[Terayne]

"Oh of course. Please excuse my rudeness in keeping you when you're so obviously tired," he replied quickly, stepping out of her way. Lifewings and their Linkeds had healed his Queen numerous times before, and he respected them highly. It was horribly impolite to him to have kept her from her rest.

Mine. You are so very sweet, Xerecalth said lightly, causing him to smile faintly in reply to her. He inclined his head and motioned the girl to pass him.

[Kaya]

"Thank you," Eira replied with a relieved shortness. She felt rude to be leaving so quickly after saying hello, but then that feeling struck her as odd. She had no business with the Silverlight Rider, and he likely had many other things to be doing as Riders often did. Additionally, he did not know her, also odd - Perhaps I spend too much time in the Hold? - since many people she worked with did know her. Well, then it was just fine to be off. Not rude at all. They might meet again. Healers never really knew who was going to walk in needing their services.

As she was speaking and thinking, it all started to become one time to her, she was that tired, Eira continued on past S'lieze. And then on to one hall and then the next until finally she was greeted by Wivish's tired chirp. Eira felt the LifeWing's calming touch on her mind and she fell into the sleeping furs, utterly finished with the day. It had been a fine day, but she was done. In fact, she was already fast on her way to a deep sleep.

[Terayne]

The Queenrider inclined his head to her with a gentle smile, then continued into the kitchens, swiping some food from a cook, who he teased into giggles before leaving and seating himself at a table, his mind going over the odd meeting. She hadn't seemed hostile, even with her Hold Upbringing, but then, she was a LifeWingrider, and lived in the Weyr as well, seeing what the Silverlights really were. Those of the Holds didn't always see the lovely black and silver Queens, as they tended to stick close to home(Or at least, HIS did, he thought with amusement, and got an annoyed snort and reminder of their age).

A frown then touched his lips as he recalled the Holderboy who'd Impressed to one of the lovely Queens some time before, and then vanished. He'd heard rumors of potential goings on in that department, but his services had never been asked for, so he'd remained silent on the subject, on the fringes of it. It worried him that someone would go so far as to kidnap one of the Silverlightriders, and he worried for both the rider and his young Queen, wondering what had happened to them....