The Importance of Draconic Memory [Chek]

[RavenSong]

{desc=Os'um / Whoever Chek Wants}The feeding pens had a visitor, a particularly well-dressed rider. He had a fond smirk on his face as he watched his mighty Rhodth eat his dinner. The dragon didn't mind so much when Os'um watched him eat, because Os'um fed him when he was a weyrling. By hand, after all. Still, the Brown checked occasionally as he chomped through his four-bite meal of two herdbeasts to make sure he wasn't grossing anyone out. Once done, the might brown carefully climbed over the fence and nosed Os'um, then took a few steps away from the pens. It wouldn't do for the poor herdbeasts to be upset and afraid.

"Hey now, Rhodth, you'll get my clothes nasty," Os'um protested, pushing the Brown's nose away as they meandered away from the pen. Rhodth's eyes whirled swiftly with blues and greens as he gave a draconic smile.

You're dressed nicer than usual, he said. I figured you wanted to be at your usual level of ostentation.

"Nonsense," Os'um proclaimed, straightening the sleeves of his newly-crafted blue shirt. "I'm awesome, and you know it."

I named you Os'um, of course I knew it.

"C'mere, you. Wait. I can't say it that way anymore, there's somebody here named C'mere. Shard it. Come here, you big lug. Let me love on that big head of yours." Obligingly, Rhodth laid down and tilted his head, letting Os'um scratch his eyeridge. A low, almost purring sound came from the Brown's barrel chest as he appreciated the affection.

Aaaah that's the spot. I didn't realize I had an itch there until you scratched it.

"Guess you're going to beg some firelizards to help wash you tomorrow, hm?" Os'um asked, chuckling.

Of course, Rhodth responded. Speaking of firelizards... I see some I think I know.

"Since when is your memory that good?" Os'um asked.

I remember important things, Rhodth responded, sounding mildly annoyed.

"Firelizards aren't important, usually."

But the person they're bonded to is, so I remember them. They're heralds, after all.

"Eh, I suppose that's true. So whose are these that you think you see?" Rhodth lifted his head, then gave a draconic shrug.

I don't know. But I know they're important somehow. Os'um just rolled his eyes.

"Well, if their bonded wants us, they can find us."

[Chek]

When the Fort dragon burst out of Between with a bugle for the Watchdragon, twin brother flits Hugin and Munin lifted out of Their human’s lap and spiraled down, ahead of the descending dragon, twisting off to go in alternate directions in search of a person and dragon they’d only briefly met once. The boys were clever, though, and soon Hugin found what they sought and called his twittering brother over, where the tiny pair found a rock to watch from.

Niorun, meanwhile, was unceremoniously dumped off her ride’s back, barely managing to catch her bag when it was tossed down afterwards. She frowned at the rider escorting her; they had the decency to at least look a little embarrassed in the face of her hurt expression, but that didn’t stop the rider from sending his black skyward with all speed, making the transferring Candidate cover her face to protect her eyes from dust.

The kickback wind from the black’s ascent did shower her in said dust, though, painting her dark skin and curly hair a uniform grayish brown. She sneezed hard, twice, and then called her boys.

Hugin and Munin popped away from their perch, reappearing to land on Their’s shoulders; one to one side, one to the other, and relayed the image of the eating brown. “You’re my sweet boys, so clever,” each got pets and affection, the young flitters nibbling Niorun’s fingers in open affection. The pair were still tiny, each barely a handspan long and only a fortnight or so out of the egg, but they were already taking to training with a will and devotion that was flat out adorable.

So, two choices; go report to the Candidatemasters and get her room assignment, or ambush her dad.

Silly question!

She took off at a quick jog, her flits having to hunker, and eventually take off from her shoulders completely to avoid falling, but she got within about ten yards of her unsuspecting father, his back to her, when she made pointed eye contact with Rhodth, and then dropped her bag to accelerate. Os’um had, maybe, a second warning from Hugin darting and swirling in the air in between he and Rhodth, but not much more than that.

She jumped at that last second, getting her arms around her father’s shoulders and hanging onto his back, “Hiiii daaad!”

[RavenSong]

"What in- AGH!" Os'um cried out, pitching forward. He landed straight on Rhodth's nose, the brown keeping him from landing on his own face. With Rhodth's help, Os'um stayed upright, planting his feet as Niorun wrapped her limbs around him. He reached back to wrap his arms around her at waist level and -spun-.

"Niorun!" he said cheerfully, a bright smile on his face. "Babygirl, I wasn't expecting you. When did you get in? Was that bugle I heard your ride here? Hop down, I want to get a good look at you." He stopped his top impression as he spoke.

Nice warning, he said privately to Rhodth as he knelt to let Niorun get off his back without issue. She was tall enough to just slide off, but old habits died hard.

I knew her plans, Rhodth responded. She locked eyes with me just before she took flight. That's why you landed on my face, not your own.

Thanks. Really. I mean it, Os'um responded with heavy sarcasm. Rhodth snorted softly, looking amused.

Hello, Niorun, the Brown said, moving to nuzzle her gently. Have you come to visit or stay? Mother Waroth and Mother Nimara are Candidatemasters here. If you intend to stay, you are under adequate protection. My siblings, the mighty seven of us, assist her in the protection of kidpets.

"That's what Waroth calls Candidates," Os'um clarified. "As you see, Rhodth still has a deep and abiding love and respect for his dam. Babyth was ecstatic when we got here. Roha didn't give you any runnerdung about my departure, right?"