When the Sun Calls {Matsi}

[theknightwhosaysni]

Veejarth was sleeping, and, considering how early it was in the morning, that wasn't all that amazing. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, and a cold, bitter wind blew about outside.

The problem was that Amara couldn't sleep. No matter how hard she tried, the promise of a bright, clear winter's day had pulled her out of bed, and with Veejarth well-oiled, and sleeping, nothing held her back from getting a breakfast and watching the rest of the sunrise from the lakeshore while imagining what it would be like to ride Vee into the sunrise.

Sure, her daydreams might be a bit romanticized, or perhaps significantly more than a bit (probably the latter), but Amara didn't mind. They were nothing but daydreams for a reason, and sooner or later, she would ride Veejarth through the air, his wings pumping beneath her.

A small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, Amara slipped out from under the blankets, and out of the bed, managing to do so without disturbing Veejarth all that much, a mean feat to itself, and she wriggled into some more presentable clothes than what she'd slept in, heading off for the kitchens as soon as she was done getting ready.

I'm off to get breakfast, I'll be back. Fleetingly, her mind touched Veejarth's before she set off, walking briskly forward until she reached the Dining Hall.

Pausing a moment on the threshold, Amara stepped in, and grabbed some food, and a cup of klah before she headed quickly towards a secluded table in the back of the room, taking a quick glance around to make sure she was alone before settling in to eat.

The sunrise was calling her, after all.

[matsi]

P'rth walked into the dining hall, thoughts racing, but nothing out of the ordinary for the young man.

What is wrong, P'rthMine? Aith asked softly from the edge of P'rth's mind.
The sudden warmth from Aith filled P'rth, making him grin slightly, but before he could reply to his Pink, his eyes landed on a familiar figure. His grin grew slightly.

Nothing, my Rosey Darling, his mind brushed Aith's with a cold, but soft touch, like that of a cold snake on the mind. Heat seemed to run down P'rth's mind as the Pink sent a loving feeling back to him.

With their trade of emotions finished, P'rth began to head in the direction of the familiar figure.
''Well, if it isnt the little Night Lily,'' He said with a snicker as he got close enough to see Amara's face clearly. Her face only added to the warmth that Aith had already given him.
''How are you this fine morning?'' He asked without waiting to hear if she welcomed him or not. Truthfully, he didnt care if she welcomed him or not. He was just happy this morning, which was a rare occasion.

So rare is your mood like this, it should be celebrated! Aith commented softly in the back of the mind of Hers. Oh how she loved to see him so happy. Amara made him happy, so she loved Amara, yes, how she loved Her Riders 'Night Lily' as he called her.

You cannot hate, Aith, so all you can do is love, p'rth had to hold in a laugh, which made a full out smile appear on his face. Many would think that the end of the world was apon them, for his smile was never seen.

[theknightwhosaysni]

Her fingers curled carefully around the still warm mug, though Amara didn't take more than a sip or two, preferring to instead just let the warmth from the mug seep into her body. Sheesh, it was cold out.

What had possessed her to get up this early, anyways?

When P'rth began to speak to her, Amara jolted violently, nearly spilling the klah, but, luckily for her, she didn't.

Smiling shyly, Amara greeted him, "Hey!" she gestured vaguely towards the seat beside her, "Wanna sit?" without waiting to see if he did or not, she took a scalding gulp of klah in an effort to disguise how embarrassed she was. Being person who invited someone else to sit down wasn't her style, but, on that bright morning, she felt like being outgoing for once, and inviting her friend to sit down.

"I'm doing quite well, thanks." she grinned, subsiding into silence rapidly, "The sunrise looks like it'll be pretty today, too." she nodded her head cheerfully, "That's why I got up early today." Stifling a yawn, she added mentally, Too early...

Still, she couldn't hang onto a bad mood, not at this hour, not when her friend was talking with her. Mornings were a hard time to be unhappy.

[matsi]

P'rth watched Amara with amusement. How she had grown. That was one thing he could not get over.

P'rthMine, everyone grows up. You have grown. I have grown. So, it only makes sence that she grows too![/i] Aith was laughing in his thoughts.

Must you make me feel foolish? he asked silently, his eyes going out of focus and his attention wavering off of Amara, but it snapped back as soon as she asked if he wanted to sit, making him miss Aith's remark completly.

''You never used to get up early...for anything!'' He remarked as he turned in his chair to look at her. He played with the edge of the table, his silver eyes looking at it with odd intrest.

''But yes, It is a magnificent morning... So magnificent that Aith just had to wake me early,'' He chuckled softly as he felt another warm brush of Aith's rosy mind. He wasnt looking at Amara now, all his attention was still on the edge of the table, which he was pulling small splinters off of.

''Do you ever think about your past? DO you ever miss those moments or reget them?'' He asked after a few silent moments. He leaned back in his chair, his hands leaving the table edge, but his eyes still on it, not looking at Amara, almost as if he was afraid of her gaze.

In truth, he was afraid. He only feared two things. Living without Aith, of course, was his biggest fear. But the other was making the same mistakes that he had made in the past, and Amara, well, she was the root of those mistakes.

We all learn from out mistakes. We all learn from out success too. Aith said in the back of his mind. He tried to push her remark away, but it hovered, like an annoying insect.

[theknightwhosaysni]

Amara didn't bother hiding her yawn this time before she spoke. "I still don't... I was having nightmares, though." That and the sunrise had seemed so promising. It had been a long time since she'd watched the sun come up in the mornings, and now she intended to do so. That was the entire point of waking up this early. At least the Dining Hall was nearly uninhabited this early...

She smiled again as he turned in his chair to face her. "How's it going?"

Amara yawned again, "I'm quite glad that Veejarth doesn't feel the urge to wake me up this early unless we have something important to do in the mornings..." she arched her back, stretching lazily, tossing her arms into the air before continuing, "I bet the sunrise will be nice, though."

Amara frowned for a moment, mulling his words over. Did she think about her past? Yes, she did, but not often. She preferred to look into the future. "Yeah, sometimes..." she shrugged, "But not all that often... Why?" she glanced at P'rth curiously.

She paused, thinking over his next words for even longer. A bit of time had passed before she spoke, "Which moments?" she questioned curiously.

Amara couldn't think of any 'moments' that she regretted off the top of her head, but that didn't mean anything. They could be lurking beneath the surface of her mind, waiting for more clarification.

Still, she wasn't sure where he was going with this, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. All Amara wanted to do was go out and watch the sun's rising and leave all the thinking for later in the day.

[matsi]

She didn't regret anything like he did? This surprised P'rth slightly. He didn't linger on the thoughts though. He was probably just having one of those days that Aith tended to call ''Flashback'' days. Yes, that was probably what it was.
''I dunno'. I was just thinking again,'' He snickered slightly. The one thing that he didn't like to do that often, and he was doing it.

But yes, The sunrise will probably be magnificent, as it always is,'' He leaned back in his seat, groaning as he stretched.

Its more beautiful when you are in the sky, below it, Aith added in P'rth's mind happily. There was an eagerness in her 'voice'. She longed for the warmth on her freshly oiled skin, and to feel it pour energy into her chest.

''Aith said that flying under the sunset is something you can look forward to,'' P'rth spoke softly, his eyes adverted from Amara again. Sure he reworded what the pink dragon had said, but she had silently approved of what he said.

''But personally, flying at night is better,'' He had been quiet for a moment before saying is own opinion. As he did speak though, he stood and looked at the young female rider.

''Shall we go outside where the sun is seen better?'' He asked with a small, cold yet sweet smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. He held out a warm hand to her, offering to pull her out of her chair, as he often did when they were younger.

[theknightwhosaysni]

A smile tugged at the edge of her lips as she glanced up at him. "Ah, of course. Thinking is something we do a lot, huh?" her palms rested on the bench, and she'd forgotten eating already. The klah was starting to get cold, but Amara hardly noticed, and besides, P'rth was distracting.

Amara couldn't help it; she grinned a little wider. "I never wake up in time to watch the sun rising in the mornings, though." she stifled a yawn to emphasize her words. "I'm still not a morning person." she wrinkled her nose at the thought of waking up before the sun rose, and yet, here she was, eating breakfast (or rather, not eating. Same difference.) at the crack of dawn... Faranth, what had possessed her to wake up?

"Flying in the sunset?" she mused it over quietly, "It sounds . . . pretty..." she could picture Veejarth's black hide against a crimson sky, the glowing sun dipping below the horizon... That would be fun, wouldn't it?

Amara was jerked back into the present when P'rth spoke again, "Flying at night sounds just as fun if you ask me..." the stars glittering in the background, and the cold, crisp air surrounding them sounded just as fun as flying with the sun sinking below them. She wouldn't be picking any sides any time soon, at least not until she'd flown at both times of day...

"Sounds like fun!" dishes forgotten, she accepted his extended hand before she could talk herself out of it and pulled herself up cheerfully. A moment too late (or so it seemed), she tugged her hand back, crimson blush spreading across her face.

What had she been thinking, accepting his hand in the first place? Things were different now. They weren't innocent little children anymore.

[matsi]

A frown formed on P'rth's cold face as her hand recoiled.
''What? Everything alright?'' He asked softly. He looked at his own hand as he spoke, wondering if there was something in his palm, such as the oil he used on Aith or something along those lines. Finding nothing, he looked back at her.

Seeing her face go red only heightened his worry and curiosity. What had he done? The moment the shock of her warmth had hit his hand, it recoiled. Why? He was welcoming that heat, the heat he used to know so well.

It has been a while since you have last seen each other. Remember, Mine, bonds break or strengthen in time.[/i]

And you're saying that ours has dissolved away?

I am saying that a few links in that chain have rusted over and are cracking. You meeting again has began to oil those links in the chain,[/i]

Aith's words made P'rth finally realize what had happened.

''I'm...Sorry,'' He said softly as he lowered his silver eyes to the ground.

[theknightwhosaysni]

Absently, Amara nodded her head. "Fine, fine." she muttered distractedly, focusing on Veejarth's mind as fiercely as she could in an attempt to lighten the fierce blush spreading across her cheeks.

Stirring at her mind's pressure against his, Veejarth spoke quietly. You okay, AmaraMine?[/i] his mindvoice was still bleary with sleep, but he did sound quite concerned.

Hastily withdrawing, Amara smiled to herself. Yeah, I'm fine.

Okay, then.[/i] Vee sounded vaguely disbelieving, but also quite tired. In another moment, he was asleep again, leaving Amara alone in the awkward silence.

When P'rth spoke, she jolted back into the present. "'Sokay, P'rth." she nodded her head cheerfully, the awkwardness already fading from her mind, Amara glanced happily up at P'rth.

"So, are we still going to go see the sunrise?" she glanced in the direction of the doors with a small smile. She would enjoy seeing the sun rising with P'rth, but, if he didn't want to see, she'd see it alone quite happily.
[/size]

[matsi]

P'rth chuckled nervously.
''Well I was planning on it,'' He said softly as he looked towards the doors also. He could 'feel' Aith getting closer, ready to meet Hers at the doors. He longed to get with his dragon, wanting the awkwardness to fade away again. He severly disliked the feeling of being wrong, of being vunerable.

Slowly, P'rth began to step towards the doors, often hesitating and looking at Amara, wondering if she was going to follow still, or if he had blown it all away.

You worry to much, P'rthMine Aith replied to his thoughts with a laughing sound. She sounded lazy again, ejoying the slowly approching heat that began to lick at her skin.

Speak for yourself, P'rth groaned, but Aith only let her mind laugh at Hers.

''If you dont want to come out, you dont have to,'' P'rth spoke with no emotion again. His typical, cold and icy voice. His shell began to cover him quickly. All emotion faded from his silver eyes and his face was cold and hard like marble.

Yet, he still waited, his mind racing and hoping.

[theknightwhosaysni]

He was planning on it? Well, that was good. Beaming, Amara started to walk as soon as he did, stretching her legs to keep up with him at first before slowing down and just walking along at her own pace, several feet behind him. She had no hurry. Sure, Rukbat might come up without her, but it was just as pretty in the middle of the sky as it was creeping over the horizon.

Hurrying to catch up once he'd stopped, Amara grinned cheerfully. "It'll be fun! Of course I want to come out!" The smile faded from her face for a moment - why wouldn't she want to come out? The rise of Rukbat was far too gorgeous to miss. Still, the smile made its way back to her face in a few seconds.

Not at all noticing the sudden change of his demeanor, Amara had to resist the urge to skip forward. Rukbat was rising, the day was calling, and despite not liking the cold all that much, Amara had to admit that it was promising to be a lovely winter day.

Sure, winter days weren't half as good as spring days, but that was just because of the temperature, and had nothing to do with the day itself.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts (embarrassing herself by missing something he'd said was not high on her to-do list today) Amara started to amble forward, grinning happily to herself.

[matsi]

P'rth nodded and the corners of his mouth turned upwards, ever so slightly. He couldnt hide All of his emotions. He turned around once again and kept forward, opening the doors that stood between them and the morning.

The light was still dull as the door opened, but the sky was slowly beginning to lighten. Right outside the door, Aith waited, patiently, sitting like a excited puppy.

MINE! She warbled happily and stood. Happy colors swirled in her eyes as P'rth approched her and placed a cool hand on her nose.

Amara! She greeted the other rider, even though she couldnt hear the pink dragon. She nodded towards Amara, the happy colors still swirling.

''She says hello. She is happy to see you,'' P'rth said in his normal cool voice. He failed at relaying Aith's messages because of her wild and happy emotions. Dispite this failure, Aith seemed content with his relay. His lack of emotion was nothing new to her and she had come to love his chilled personality.

''Where do you wish to watch?'' P'rth finally asked after a few silent moments. He had waited to see if Aith wanted to have him Relay anything else, but when the Pink just stood there, waiting for her rider to lead her somewhere, he realized that she was waiting on him.

[theknightwhosaysni]

Amara grinned, "Well hello there, dearest Aith." she responded to P'rth's relay of the greeting, "It's good to see you as well." she added delightedly. She'd missed the pink ball of sunshine quite a bit, and even Veejarth seemed to enjoy the pink's company. That was enough for Amara, for sure.

She mulled over her response to his question. Where did she want to watch from. "Uh..." she spoke blankly, before blinking and turning towards him, "You have any idea where you want to watch from?" She paused, grinning to herself, "Because I sure don't. I mean, if we get no ideas at all, we could always go for watching from the Weyr Bowl or something, if you'd like?" Amara shrugged to herself.

"Although, if you don't want to watch, I'm sure we could find something else to do?" Almost desperately clinging to the idea of companionship, Amara extended the offer, fearful that it might be turned down. "Like . . . uh . . ." she paused, trying to come up with something suitably interesting. Not tag. That would get her laughed at, though the game was universal. Maybe something like . . . "Well, something." She finished lamely, all out of possible ideas. Her poor brain was fried this early in the morning, she thought to herself.

Hmph. Well, if she managed to get Vee to wake up, maybe he could give her some pointers. His adventurous soul meant that he had more ideas in these kinds of situations than she did. But no, she should probably let him sleep. That meant she was on her own.

Amara exhaled, focusing on P'rth. "Anyways," she grinned, "Isn't it nice to be up so early in the morning?" The question was out of character on her part - who liked being up this early? Not her, that's for sure. Still, Amara looked interested in hearing his answer, focusing singularly on the male rider in front of her, tuning the rest of her surroundings out. It wasn't that hard - there wasn't much going on that early.

[matsi]

Aith's eyes danced with brilliant colors as she let out a happy croon to Amara. She was happy to be aknowlaged by Amara, though, truthfully, she was happy anytime someone spoke to her. Her crooning continued for a few moments, before she finally silenced. Dispite her now quiet being, her eyes still danced with a fury of color, all swirling around her orbs like reflections on water. The tip of her glittering pink tail twitched like that of a cat, just ever so slightly.

P'rth watched the small pink for a moment, just curious on what she was thinking, but she would not let him know.

What are you hiding, Darling Aith? He asked her silently as his eyed focused on her swirling eyes more. He did not like it when Aith hid things from him, she was usually plotting something when she did so.
Nothing P'rthMine, nothing at all! She purred to him as she raised her head slightly in a very innocent manner.
Letting out a sigh, P'rth dropped the subject. Now was not the time to argue with his dear dragon, no matter how bad he wanted to know what she was thinking.

''For the last time, I do want to.'' He said with a slight growl. A smile was on his face, and his eyes rolled in their sockets.

''And once again, I don't CARE where we go! You are making this more difficult than it needs to be, Amara,'' His grin spread ever so slightly as he changed his focus from Aith, back to her.

Her question slightly caught him by surprise. Hadn't she just said, not too long ago, how she hated the mornings? Yes, he was almost positive that she did!

''Not really, but its habit. Anyways, I thought you hated mornings?'' He asked with a small sneer on his face. He crossed his arms onto his chest and looked at her with daring eyes, wanting her to straighten her story up, and maybe speak what she really was thinging....he was in a nosey mood today.