They never even try! (open)

[summerrain]

10.02, dusk

Tera had her hands stuck in the pockets of her riding jacket as she walked along the sand. This was already her second set since Impression, but it was rather new. She was still the youngest of the Riders, after all. And some of the others in her Wing were quick to point it out whenever they could. There were a few who were supportive, but she was a WingRider at only fourteen Turns. Many people thought she was too young. But no one bothered to stop and think about what would've happened to Picosith had Tera not been there that day.

Tera sighed and kicked up a bit of sand. No one ever bothered to understand the young Woodrider.

Tera, they just do not try to understand, came Picosith's voice. Tera scoffed quietly.

It's because they don't want someone so young showing them up. They don't want me to be better than them, she replied silently. They think that I'm too young to be trustworthy... They think I'm not worth the effort yet. And... "Maybe they're right..." she finished aloud. She sighed and picked up a small rock, tossing it in her hand a few times before she threw it into the water. "I mean, okay, I haven't been a Wingrider all that long, but I'm having so many issues understanding the maneuvers... But none of them try to help! They just sit on the backs of their self-centered dragons and watch!" She kicked up more sand.

TeraMine...

"Picosith, stop..." she said quietly. "It's not gonna work. Even if they came and apologized it wouldn't make me feel any better. None of them want me as a Wingrider. I hear them say it when they don't know I'm listening. They all say that I'm too young to be a Rider. How many of the Candidates are younger than me? None! I'll always be the youngest of the Riders. Until I hit, like, eighteen... And that's not for another four Turns!" She sat on a log fallen from the cliff above, her Wood dragoness sitting on said cliff.

[Itoshii]

A month. Had it really already been a month since Koroth had found him and dragged him up from the self pity he'd lived in for so many years? A'radil sat in the sand, picking up handfuls and letting it run through his fingers as he watched the hazed Citrine flop happily about in the water. She had insisted that she go for a swim, even if it was getting dark outside. The black stretching over her hide made it only slightly difficult to keep track of her as the light faded, the clear citrine patches of her hide gleaming in the light. "You know this means I'll have to re-oil you." It was more of a statement than a question. He knew that the little dragon knew. She'd taken to guilting him into things that would lead to her getting her way without actually saying what she wanted.

There was only an entertained warble as Koroth swished her tail about, enjoying the feel of the hundreds of tiny bubbled flowing up and over her hide as they strove for the surface of the lake. Oh, I don't think I've met her yet. just as easily as she had been entertained by the water, something else caught her interest. That's Picosith there, I think.

"Then her rider would be... Tera. Yes, that sounds about right. Tera and Wood Picosith." While she wasn't famous in the way that the new Azure queen had become, Picosith and young Tera were well known among most riders. She was young, though just how young he couldn't remember, but she had Impressed from the Stands and was now a wingrider. He turned as the splashing picked up again, and was only mildly surprised to see the tiny citrine floundering off through the water towards the other dragonpair.

Good evening Picosith! she called out as she fought the water, clearly not thinking of the fact that moving onto the sand, only a few feet away, would be much easier.

[summerrain]

Picosith's attention shifted to the young dragonet, splashing about in the water. Little one, would it not be easier to walk on the sand? Picosith replied. You are Koroth, yes?

Koroth? That means... Tera looked down the beach from her spot on the log, spying the young man watching the haze-Citrine. She remained where she sat, just watching. She was still practically a child, so she did her best to watch what she could. Besides, she didn't need anyone else calling her a child, despite her being one. She was a Wingrider, first and foremost, no matter her age. But there had to be another way for her to make them realize that she was a Wingrider, as much as the others were.

[Itoshii]

Koroth paused a moment as the older dragon spoke, taking a second to contemplate the idea. A'radil had told her that many of the older dragon were wise, after all. After what couldn't nearly have been enough time for such a young dragon to weigh the pros and cons of going to the sand she decided she would walk in the shallow water rather than go all the way to the sand. After all, the splashing was such great fun! That's me! the citrine replied, as if proud that the Wood dragon knew her name, It's such a wonderful night, I just had to go for a swim! And then I'll have to be oiled- the proud voice did not fade, though she peered back at the man sitting in the sand and lowered her voice, as if he couldn't hear her, I've been oiled tonight already, so I get oiled twice!

A'radil chuckled at the hatchling as she plodded down the beach, not missing her oiling comment. He could scarcely be upset with her when she was so cute could he? He stood with a groan, he'd forgotten how hard being a Weyrling could be, and wandered his way down the beach, unsure if the Wood's rider was out to be alone or not. He gave a small wave as he approached, stopping not too far from the other side of the dragons and messed awkwardly with his sleeves.

[summerrain]

Picosith rumbled a soft laugh at the little one. She didn't quite remember being so high-strung.

Because you weren't, Tera told the Wood dragoness silently. You were more worried about me than any other dragon would be about their Mine. But I was only twelve when you Chose me.

But of course, Tera. You are mine. None of the others was the right fit. They all found their Chosen eventually. Picosith remained above on the cliff, not wanting to sink into the sand. Tera looked at the Weyrling, A'radil, she believed. She sighed softly and looked out at the water.

"If you want to sit down, go ahead," she told him softly, her voice still harboring a bit of an edge to it. "I just came out here to cool my head... The other Wingriders need a lesson in peer respect... Even if I am younger than them. I mean, I only turned fourteen just before Archith's most recent Hatching... Just the sevenday before... But everyone was so busy with the Clutch that no one remembered my Turnday... No one but the girl who's Turnday was the same week. She's one of the only Riders not from my Weyrling class who actually treats me like a Rider, not a kid..." She sighed softly. "But I don't even know you, not really... I shouldn't be dumping my problems on you."