Fishy, Fishy {Open}

[Admin]

Why would I sabotage,
The best thing that I have,
Well, it makes it easier to know.

Darkness was all around him, pressing in against him. But he found its gentle, flowing caress a comfort. He slipped down deeper, swirling his arms out about him to turn himself around, staring out into the expanse that surrounding him. There was a dart of silver; some little fish raced off to escape the odd creature that had thought to come down to its depth now. He felt his feet gently brush against muddy, soft ground and he halted all of his movements, turning his head downward to peer towards his feet. He couldn't see them, not even across the sort divide between him and them. Slowly, he let out a breath, air bubbles floating past his head. He could taste the water on his lips. He could almost taste the salt that he felt should be there. Knowing that it wasn't, he let out another sigh-like burst of bubbles and kicked off from the mud . . .

It was dawn; Rukbat barely poked above the lip of the bowl, illuminating the quiet sight that lay there. The lake lay, placid and unmoving in the utter stillness before the start of the day. Suddenly though, there was a slight rippling in a spot towards the center of the lake; air bubbles had risen to the surface, produced by something in the depths. Not long after their appearance, a form begin to become visible underneath the water and then a head broke free. Even as he felt cool air pressing against his face, Kimber didn't take in a breath. His lungs screamed protest; he calmly settled them, then sucked in a deep, even breath. Water dripped from his shaggy brown hair and fell away from his pale, vaguely golden colored face. His strong legs kept him stationary in the water easily; he hardly even bobbed more than a centimeter.

For a moment, he stared off quietly towards the rising Rukbat, just breathing. And then he was ducking back into the water, disappearing silently for a moment. He moved more freely beneath the water, propelling himself effortlessly through it with powerful kicks and strokes. He surfaced a good dozen yards from where he had been, drawing air into his lungs, before simply disappearing once again. The only noticeable traces of his progress were when his head appeared, the ripples left behind by that, and the sparse bubbles he let go of beneath the water's surface. Small signs. Even when he probably could have started to touch on the shallow slope of the lake, he kept swimming, breast stroking his way along close to the surface. Having nothing under his feet, the feeling water against his skin, was what he was craving, needing.

But finally he was within feet of the shore, and he stood, rising up out of the water. It became apparent exactly why he could swim so easily then. Bare chested, all of his extremely well defined muscles on his abdomen were obvious and his arms certainly didn't look shabby, though they had more lean muscle. It didn't take much effort to see the steely, slender muscles in his legs either. He wore a set of pants that were made of a light, fine, stretchy material that shed water easily; they stuck to his body and stopped at the middle of his calf. Even though the shore had seemed to be his goal, he didn't actually step out onto it, but remained, standing in the water up to his ankles, with a thoughtful, considerate air about him. It was so different here, so different from home, and he was learning to accept it, in his own special way.

Hands open, and my eyes open,
I just keep hoping,
That your heart opens.

[kia]

Things are not right. Wake up! But it is the middle of the night. No, your not there anymore. Those boys won`t see you again. This is your home now. The ball of light in the sky has risen. Get up! Wake up!

Okeris` eyes quickly opened as he stared at the ceiling. The Rukbat`s rays of light were entering the Candidate barracks through the door and windows. Outside he could hear the morning calls of the smaller wherries that told him it was morning. He was still tired, still not use to the change of time here. It would be evening approaching at the old Weyr he had been at.

But he was not there anymore. And those bullies of his, those Weyrlings who continued to pick on him because of his quiet nature though he was strong. He just did not see a reason to fight them or talk to him. But he was in no way submissive. But those that he had left behind that had befriended him, they told him that he would be miss. That the cot that had been his bed for three Turns would not look the same without him.

But he was here now. Enough dealing in the past. Today was the future he had looked forward too. And he felt like going for a swim. It had been a two days since he last bathed and such. A swim in the lake would not kill the fish. And so he got up and grabbed an extra pair of clothes, old mining clothes that had belonged to his late father. May Faranth watch over his soul.

He walked passed sleeping Candidates and out of the barracks. The dawn`s colors in the sky were majestic and beautiful. That was something different here. The colors were rich in color, not like at the old Weyr. And he smiled faintly to himself. Dalibor was definitely his home now. And he breathed in the scent of his new home as he took each step that brought him closer to the lake.

(( How am I doing so far? ))

[jack]

"R'ish!! Don't you--!!"

A scream split the calm of the morning as the shadow of a large, Pink form glided low over the lake, a laugh following as a much smaller form tumbled down, landing in the water with a large splash.

A head bobbed up with gasping flailing as Durian, coughing, shook a fist after the circling dragon rider, spewing curses as Gyth landed before beginning to make her way to the shore, sputtering and coughing the whole way.

The Candidate, with panicking pink Reggae flying in circles around her head, paused half-way to shore, however, when she realized she wasn't alone. Eyes wide she stared steadily at Kimber, not recognizing him from the back.

"Sorry 'bout that, Duri!" R'ish cackled as he swaggered over, hands stuffed deep in his pockets and a blue streak through his hair from yet another failed attempt at matching Gyth, "I just couldn't resist, hm?" He paused by the edge of the water, grinning goofily as Gyth padded to his side, peering curiously at Kimber.

"Morning!" He barked cheerfully to the younger boy, "Sorry 'bout bombing you--my sister needed a bath, you see."

"You mean I need a bath now." Durian replied with a long sigh as she swam all the way, shuffling up the shore looking a lot like a drowned rat, her short hair all but hiding her eyes.

[Admin]

And I can barely look at you,
But every single time I do,
I know we'll make it anywhere.

Kimber heard the scream, felt the waves lap higher on his legs as something fell into the water behind him. However, he didn't turn towards the people behind him, having focused his attention on someone coming towards him, them, he supposed, since it seemed some people had joined him at the lake. Not quite sure of what to say, let allowed of anything he wanted to shout, he gave a little wave towards the other candidate, who he thought he vaguely recognized from a glimpse in the barrack and he felt he could acknowledge in some way. He went with what he felt. Then someone was barking at him. He turned, much more awkward about the entire affair with his body out of the water rather than in it. Face simple, with hair covering part of it, he stared at them.

Dark eyes assessed the situation quietly - there was a girl, who appeared to have been dropped into the lake, and a pink dragon and her rider. His silent morning exercise seemed like it was coming to an end. He supposed to he should go get ready for the day, but he wanted to stay in the water more. Also, he should probably speak to the rider, who had acknowledged him. Or perhaps tell the rider off. It didn't seem right to go about dumping his sisters into lakes. That was dangerous too; she could have drowned! It wasn't like he hadn't been tempted to go tell his own sisters to go for a blow a few times, but that didn't matter. His brow furrowed.

"Mornin';" he finally said to the rider. "You should be careful about dropping people in - there's rocks under the surface in some of the deeper parts." He said it respectfully, knowing that the rider deserved that and more than acknowledging that fact, but he felt that he should mention it. If there was anyone more well versed in the dangers of waters than an apprentice dolphineer, they'd all eat raw packtails. Very politely and quietly, he took a step away from them, deeper into the water, and another. Finally, he was well over his knees in the water and he fell gently back, falling into a sort of sitting-floating position in the water. He watched them, having no idea of anything else particularly to say.

Light up, light up,
As if you have a choice,
Even if you cannot hear my voice.

[kia]

Okeris looked up and noticed that there was someone waving at him. He looked vaguely familar, as if he had seen him somewhere. Maybe the dining halls or the barracks. It did not matter. Okeris gave a nod in reconition before turning his head to the sky. There was a Pink dragon floating on the winds in the sky.

Okeris kept walking toward the lake. He now noticed that there was a girl in the lake. Great! He was here for a bath. It was not like he could strip naked in front of everyone, revealing everything, and just go for a swim. He had more sense than that. Maybe he could go swimming in his current clothes and just find a bush to change into his new clothes.

A pop sound came from behind him along with a chirp. The young man looked over and saw Lira, his precious Fire Lizard that he had obtained some Turns back. The little Green noticed the Pink dragon and darted up, ignoring the mental shouts from her Mine. The little Green had a knack for getting distracted over something that was different. But she would get use to the change. After all, Okeris had.

He continued walking until he reached a rock. Laying his clean clothes on a high enough rock, he stood there and watched the Rider, girl, and other boy. As for Lira, she was already circling the Pink, chirping and very interested in the dragon. Especially since Pinks were like sisters with Greens.

[jack]

R'ish cracked a grin as Durian stumbled fully out of the water, snatching Reggae out of the air and stroking her neck to calm the frantic pink flit as she stared up at her brother, and then back at the odd boy. He was awful quiet. Was his tongue cut out? That wouldn't be very nice...but it wasn't like she hadn't seen it be--oh! He spoke.

"No worries," The dragon-rider chirped, inclining his head at Kimber, "Gyth loves to swim here, she knows every knook and cranny."
I told him when it was safe. Gyth agreed, tilting her head as the new flit appeared, her eyes whirling with intrigue as she moved her head to follow each of the Green's motion.

"And unfortunately, I know how to swim." Durian chirped, watching with a raised brow as the boy slunk back into the water. He truly was an odd one, wasn't he? Reggae agreed, her little head tilted to the side as she squirmed in her bonded's grip, squiggling and wriggling until Durian let her go and she sailed off, plopping down on Kimber's chest with a chirp.

She pecked at his collarbone thoughtfully, tilting her head to and fro as she prodded him with her claws, as though to make sure he wasn't just a figure someone was moving. Nope. Not a puppet. What an odd human..

Durian turned as her little Pink investigated the boy, staring at the other newcomer, who was also keeping his distance and his mouth shut. She huffed. Since when were guys so anti-social and quiet? The teen turned, looking at her sibling, and immediately dashed the thought.

Maybe she was basing average humans too much on R'ish...

[Admin]

I hold my tears till im underwater,
So y'all don't never see me crying,
Holdin' my breath till I can resurface,
But I can feel myself dyin'.

Kimber nodded in response to the rider's reassurance that he, with the help of his dragon at least, was capable of keeping his sister safe and wouldn't cause her harm. The was no surprise on his fact at having a dragon speak to him. It was a little odd, yes, but something that he accepted and just took as it was. Perhaps that bit of amazement that he felt was what others felt when they first had a dolphin speak to them. Few got the luck of such an experience, just like few got the luck of having a dragon ever think to speak to them. He gave Durian's comment a little smile, having nothing to say. Most would have just said something, but not him.

And then there was a pink firelizard on his chest. He started a bit, instincts telling him to flee into the water that he, far too much for a human, thought of as his home. He stared at her with his dark brown eyes as she pecked at his neck and prodded him with her claws. "Hello;" he said to her simply, holding his place in the water with her moving about on his chest with slow, broad strokes of his hand from side to side. The people, who seemed curious about him and interested in talking to him, made him nervous.

"Excuse me;" he said politely to the pink flitter, and then sank beneath the water, leaving her to float where she had been. 5 seconds . . . No sign of him. 20 second . . . No movement. 80 seconds . . . A few slips of bubbles. Then, finally, the candidate surfaced, blinking water out of his eyes and looking quietly back towards all the people on the shore. He wasn't that far out, just a bit past where he could stand, but he preferred being out somewhere in the water rather than over by the others. They had come to swim, had them? Either way, that was what he was doing.

Too long without oxygen in my lungs,
Maybe I'm tired,
Maybe it's time for me to breathe easy,
But I could never let you see me.

[kia]

The young man watched everyone, still having not spoken yet. He really did not mind whatsoever. He was not much of a talker. But it wasn't like he did not like people or disliked talking. It was that people were rarely interested in him. And when no seemed interested, he would sit there and watch the people in the room. He paid attention, could have told you about a story he heard someone tell last sevendays ago, but people would forget him. Except those tiny few people who actually made friend with him at the last Weyr.

Lira finished her circling around Gyth to follow the boy who had dove into the water. He was down there was a long time. And some sense in her told her something was wrong. But the boy surfaced and he looked fine. She chirped quietly to herself before diving into the water. She surfaced near him and chirped happily, playing in the water next to him. She was just curious and overly friendly. And she liked being around people. Stange little bugger she was.

Okeris watched the people a little bit before slipping his father`s old mining boots off. And then next came the sooty shirt. He took it off and threw it on a rock near his clean clothes. He would get them later when he was done with his morning swim. He need to be in the water before someone smelled him. Of course, he did not smell that bad. But just in case someone came within two inches of him, he did not want to repluse them in any way. Besides mannerism, appearances did matter in someway.

He slowly walked over to the water`s edge, the small six pack of muscles in his abs moving as he walked. He was not that much into working out, but he was not going to be lazy. One thing his father had taught him was never to be lazy. Laziness sometimes lead to dependency on others, and dependency could sometimes turn into control. So Okeris would do some morning exercises every other day.

The water felt cool to the touch. It had not had time to be heated by the sun yet. But that did not bother him too much. He then dove in for a second to get his hair wet and wash off the sweat. He turned and looked toward the girl and the other men. Suddenly getting a little conscious of his appearance, he hoped he was not offending any of them by doing this. Then again, that other male that Lira seemed to be trying to play with was in the same situation as he was. So he tried to shrug it off, but it was rather hard to.

[jack]

Down Reggae's toy went, her chattering filling the air as she swam around in a circle, bobbing her head as though trying to decide whether to dive after or not. But then...bubbles! Eyes whirling eagerly she paddled over to the spot, hovering right above them so that when the boy popped up, she was clinging to his head, chattering away gleefully.

Back on shore--as she'd finally gotten there--Durian laughed, grinning broadly at her flit's amazing "discovery." It would never cease to amaze her how little it took to send Reggae on a spree.

"Looks like everyone's swimming." R'ish chirped thoughtfully, tilting his head as he watched the second boy slide into the water as well, a grin spreading on to his lips. "Well! I suppose we should join in." Snickering he kicked his own boots off, stripping off his shirt with a glance at Gyth. She lifted a paw and he grabbed ahold of her leg, scrambling up to her neck.

Durian, catching on to his plan, laughed and rolled up her own trousers, ignoring the shirt that was falling off one shoulder before--with a boyish hoot--barreling out into the water.

Just as she splashed into the lake, down came R'ish with a whoop of his own, sending water everywhere as he hit the lake just a bit away from Kimber. Seconds later Gyth joined them, her cannonball creating a tsunami-esque wave that send Durian tumbling back towards the shore. "That's how you make a splash!"

[Admin]

Watching puddles gather rain,
Theres no better place to lay,
Shes as fine as dandelions blowing in the wind,
Shes not thinkin' about anything,
She floats,
Floats.

There was a firelizard on his head, chattering away at him. It had been there as soon as he had reached the surface. Another one was swimming right next to him, chirping as she played there. He mimicked the clicking whistles that a dolphin made softly to them, having nothing to say to them. Would they even understand him if he spoke normally? He certainly spoke to dolphins better than he did to them; he liked the simple joy of the way they communicated too. Either way, he had no idea what they idea what they wanted and what to say to them. His dark eyes carefully watched the pink who clung too him triumphantly and the playful green as he sat there, treading water. Why were they so intent on him? He wasn't particularly special, that he knew, an ex-dolphineer apprentice that had been searched as a candidate. Maybe that was special, but here,he was just another candidate, and he enjoying being that.

Then Durian splashed into the lake, followed by R'ish and Gyth, who informed his sister that he'd made a proper splash. Water had washed over him in the process, but no wanting to disturbed Reggae, he simply blinked it from his eyes. But then he smiled a slightly playful, little smile. "Excuse me again;" he told the flitters softly, then took a deep, purging breath and slipped beneath the water. He selected the proper distance between the surface and the floor of the lake, checking the bottom for any dangers, unheeding that a normal person would have gone up for oxygen at some point. He picked his mark and crouched there under the water, letting out most of his air to allow him to sink.

Then he lunged for the surface. His body rocketed entirely out of the water. Graceful suspend there, he performed an entire flip as he fell back, slipping back into the water with a small splash as he kept his body straight to enter. To keep from hurting himself, he took the weight in his knees, checking himself quickly before slowly allowing himself to rise to the surface. It wasn't the easiest move, but he made it look effortless, but that was what a good swimmer did, made it effortless. Well, at least he had something to show for ten years as an apprentice and longer than that living in the water. He smiled, simple pleased that he had done the move properly, and looked around, expectant of the two firelizards who seemed to have sought him out before. Were they going to come back? They were very interesting, so bright and cheerful, very sweet, too.

She's as fine as dandelions blowing in the wind,
Shes not thinkin she's listening,
She floats, she floats, floats,
Floats,
She floats, she floats, float,
Floats.

[kia]

Lira continued to play around him when he went under the water again. To her, it was almost like a game of tage between Fire Lizards. His betweening was when he disappeared under the water. Lira rose out of the water and felw over to him again, landing nearby and playing with the bubbles that he had brought to the surface. She was crazy, but Okeris was use to it. The little Green Fire Lizard had become his anchor at times, and she was at this moment since he had no friends here.

Okeris watched everyone as they splashed into the water. He first watched the girl and then the Rider. So there was no formality here between them. But there was uneasiness. Mostly just due to the fact that Okeris did not know any of them and also that Okeris`s own bare back and front was showing. He was garetful at the moment that he still had his old miner`s pants on. So he did not feel too uneasiness. There was still something else there.

When they finished splashing the water, Okeris laid back and floated on his back, staring at the sky as the water enveloped over his ears and tried to reach his eyes. He could still hear, but it was duller now. And he could see the lap lapping up against him, trying to reach his eyes and nose so he could not breath or see. But the way he floated kept himself up right. The lake would not have him ever. The only way to go was in work. Work is life. That was what his father taught him. Always work and never be lazy. It was a simple lifestyle, but it worked.

[jack]

A clicker! Reggae tilted her head further, tiny claws clinging to the boy's hair as she peered over at him, imitating the clicks curiously. The first couple tries sounded more like short chirps, but she figured it out pretty quickly, gleefully bobbing her head and ruffling her wings at her success.
A loud trill escaped her maw a second later as she gave a soft bounce, clearly pleased with her new playmate. But then down he went again and up in the air she went, pumping her wings to soar in the air, betweening a couple times in search of him. Ah! There he was.

As he flipped up out of the water she zoomed to him, energetically circling him once in mid-flip before--triumphantly--spiralling straight up into the air. He bobbed to the surface and she dove down, diving into the water with her wings partially spread, mimicking Gyth's well-known swimming technique to soar through the water, swinging her tail from left to right for momentum before returning to Kimber and climbing up his body, shaking water from her tiny form before plopping down on his head, stretching her wings out with a content click-chirp.

Well, at least Reggae was clearly enjoying herself. Durian mused as she tilted her head, looking from Okeris to Kimber with a subtle frown. They were much too....hm..what's the word...not boring....mature? No... She frowned, brows furrowing as she tried to work out the correct phrase, giving up with a shrug.

"Quiet fellows, aren't they?" R'ish interrupted her thoughts, diving beneath the other and coming up with her legs on his shoulders, her startled laughter making him grin as she adjusted to her new position, folding her arms on his head.
"Yeah..."
"They kind of remind me of old, lazy dragons."
Durian laughed, nodding her agreement as Gyth walked over to the pair, not deep enough to bother swimming. The Pink settled down so that most of her body was under water, her neck and wings the only thing visible aside from a strip of flesh on her haunches.
Let's invite them to a game then! She told the siblings, flat tail swishing slightly as her eyes whirled eagerly, I'll start.

Without waiting for a reply the pink swam out into deeper water, taking a good breath before diving under, quickly showing off her prowess in the water as she slunk beneath Okeris, sticking her nose out until she lifted up, picking Okeris up and gently flinging him to a safe part of the water with a playful bugle.

And then down she went again, circling Kimber with intent to fling...

[Admin]

For once I want to be the car crash,
Not always just the traffic jam,
Hit me hard enough to wake me,
And lead me wild to your dark roads.

There was a firelizard on his head again. He had tolerantly let the pink climb onto her perch again, where she sat triumphantly with her wings spread. She was mimicking the noises he'd been making, though hers didn't sound all that much like the ones a proper dolphin made. She was such a curious creature, a miniature version of the larger, pink dragon that also swam in the version. Why were they so similar? How were they the same sort of colors? They said dragons came from firelizard, but dragons had been the first mutate, followed quickly by the flitters. Perhaps they influenced each other; dragons could already do so many miraculous things. And both of these little firelizards were certainly interesting.

Kimber's quiet musings were interrupted when he heard the pinkrider comment that he and the other boy were quiet as he played with his sister. He didn't even think to defend himself, not minding and knowing that it was true. He, quietly as they had said he was, watched as Gyth disappeared beneath the water, clicking a couple of times up too Reggae. The noise he produced when he saw Okeris vaulted through the air didn't seem like it was any proper words, more of a strangled cry that sounded something like 'whaclafluf'. Games like those were dangerous, no matter what anyone thought or said. Surprising someone was not a good way to start anything. The stress of the sudden action and contact with the body could easily cause a complete loss of any direction or stimulate fainting. And who knew how well he could even swim?

Through the water, he saw the pink form circling him. He decided to make a point and didn't react to her presence, as if she hadn't notice her and was simply busy watching Reggae. However, his breathing changed. Each breath was concisely counted out as he worked to expel carbon dioxide from his lungs and pull in more oxygen each time, expanding his lung capacity slowly to the full amount that years of such exercises had given him. He was going to make a point, and he was going to do it how he did it best, with actions rather than words. Patiently, he waited, always ready for he knew what was going to happen - the sudden feeling of his body leaving the water - but seemingly just as quiet as ever.

Headlights . . . before me,
So beautiful, so clear,
Reach out . . . and take it,
Cause I'm so tired of all this fear.

[kia]

Okeris watched Lira continue to play with the bubbles that were still there from when Kimber had leaped out of the water. He was about to call her back over so she would not bother the boy any futher when he felt like something was about to happen. His instincts were usually right. The last time his instincts went off like this, some Weyrling had dragged him off and threw him into some dark room, locking him there for a few house. During that period, Lira had come to his rescue and found his friends. Shortly after that, he hunted down the guys and rescued his other friends they had locked up.

He felt something push against him. He looked down as he saw that Gyth had brought herself under him. Then she lifted him into the air with her muzzle. A loud "Woah!" emitted from his mouth as she launched him into the air and down into the water with a huge splash. He felt water engulf him. For a second he let himself float. He even opened his eyes under water, being one of the rare people who could do that, as saw the bottom of the lake floor several feet below him. He stared, a bubble coming out of his mouth before he relaized he had not had a chance to take a gulp of of air before he feel in the water. Arching upward, he raced to the surface to get air before his lungs could burst.

Lira was there to meet him as he surfaced. She chirped at him, having sensed his fear of lost of breath and worried abot him having dove in the water so quickly. Okeris coughed for a second before taking the fussing Green into his arms. He held her, sending her thoughts and emotions of safety and love. She was crazy, but she was his Fire Lizard. Placing her on his head, he swam back to the shallow side of the lake.

[jack]

The boy landed with a splash, Reggae tightening her hold on Kimber's hair as she watched, crouching down a bit as well. Below her she could feel Gyth sliding through the water and she was tempted to between to a safer perch, not wanting to be flung as the other had been.

But she wasn't the only one displeased. R'ish straightened from his position, Durian forced to cling to him as he stared off towards Gyth, That was dangerous, Gyth.. He thought softly, frowning subtly, You could have hurt him badly...
He's soothing the little one. Gyth replied, Surely he's fine?

R'ish merely shook his head, Durian meeping when she nearly tumbled off at the motion. Gyth frowned from beneath her watery hideaway and she rose slowly beneath Kimber, lifting him up out of the water on her nose, but not tossing him. She merely rose to her full size, wings spread to help her keep afloat as she lazily paddled to Okeris, carrying Kimber and Reggae. Are you alright, mute-one? She asked, tilting her head before straightening, realizing that she could tumble her hitch-hikers off if she wasn't careful.

I apologize...I merely wanted to play.

[Admin]

There you are standing right in front of me,
There you are standing right in front of me,
All this fear falls away to leave me naked,
Hold me close, cause I need you to guide me to safety.

The pink flitt on his head sounded disapproving of Gyth's actions. Her rider didn't look utterly pleased with it either, though he'd also had succeeded in causing his sister to fall into the water. Kimber was glad that there was some sensibilities about how to behave in the water between them regardless of that. Then he felt himself rising as Gyth came up under him, but was more surprised when he wasn't flung into the air like Okeris, who was trying to sooth his frantic green firelizard. He sat there, holding still so as to not upset Reggae or end up falling off or be too much of a bother to Gyth. The dragon wasn't that large, since she was only a pink, and he didn't think that it could be easy for her to carry a person on her muzzle.

When Gyth tilted her head, talking to Okeris, he was tempted too just tumble into the water, but that would upset Reggae and she straightened out quick enough. So, he just sat there, peering down at the other boy in the water; he tried to make sure that he was alright for himself. Jays, he felt so awkward, suspended above the water, with nothing to say that really needed saying in his mind. Wait, had he ever introduced himself? Perhaps he should do that; it would be nice to know their names too, since he only knew Gyth's,

"Er, I'm Kimber;" he said, seemingly generally speaking in the direction of Okeris but saying it loud enough so that the entire group at the lake could here him. Was there anything else that he could say? Something to show that he could speak a little at least? "I'm a candidate. Oh, and could I be let down?" They knew who he was now, and he really wanted to be back in the water again. It wasn't that he was scared of heights. From his point of view, they weren't anymore dangerous than the depths if you were on something you could hold onto to. He simply preferred to be in the water.

I felt every ounce of me screaming out,
But the sound was trapped deep in me.
All I wanted just sped right past me,
While I was rooted fast to the earth.

[kia]

Okeris finally made it to the shallow end of the lake and stood up, letting his feet touch the bottom. Of course it was still deep where he was at, the water only come up to his neck. Lira had finally calmed down and had wrapped her tail around the top part of Okeris' head since that was where he had place her. She was happy that he was okay. Very much so.

Okeris then heard the sounds of something or someone close by. He turned around and blinked, seeing that Gyth had come up to his with a passanger on her head. Surely she was not going to try that trick here in the shallow end. That was really dangerous. But instead throwing the boy in the air, the Pink spoke to him. It was a little odd. Like a voice in your head that was NOT your consciousness. It was different and interesting.

He listened to her as she apologized and then glanced up at the boy when he spoke next. Even though he was not the most talkative person on Pern, he still needed to be polite. "I am okay. There was no harm in playing," he said toward Gyth. And then, to both, he said, "My name is Okeris. I am here to try to Impress." The sound of his voice was the same as it always had been since puberty. A little deep with some commanding air behind it, but the way he spoke said he was not really that commanding unless needed to be. He did not like to boss people around while they had a choice.

[jack]

"Let the poor boy down, Gyth." R'ish laughed, swimming over to climb up to his dragon's back, itching her neck. Gyth gave a pleased hum and shifted, giving a sheepish apology to Kimber before delicately setting him down, to the disapproval of Reggae, who immediately darted up into the sky, chirping her distaste.

"Kimber?" Durian repeated, swimming over as Reggae perched on her head, "Nice to meet you! I'm Durian, and the wherry-brain is R'ish."
R'ish snorted and slid off of Gyth's back as she settled on the bottom, observing the group with a constant shift of her wings. "You're just as much a wherry-brain." R'ish chirped, sticking his tongue out as he paddled over to his sibling, "We got it from the same person."

Durian rolled her eyes and grinned at Kimber, "I'm a Candidate too." she chirped before turning to face Okeris, "Really? That's so strange. I've haven't seen either of you around before." The ex-gather rat tilted her head, frowning thoughtfully, "How long have you two been here?"

[Admin]

Give me this,
One last fighting chance,
To crash the wall,
I'll get to you.

Kimber slipped happily into the water when Gyth let him down, thought he felt sorry for Reggae, who was off now. At least he had his head back, which was nice and made it much easier for him to float about around Gyth and the three people who had know identified themselves as Durian, R'ish, and Okeris. Two of them were candidates, it seemed; he was glad that he had met them. Well, he remembered Okeris a bit, from seeing him around the barrack, and had thought he was a candidate already, but it was good thing that he was meeting and talking to someone either way.

"It's nice to meet you;" he replied politely to Durian, managing a small smile back at her. There was almost nothing to betray it in his voice, other than his general quietness, but he was shamefully nervous talking to her. He was nervous talking to all of them. Coming up with something to say at random wasn't something he could do at all; answering questions posed specifically to him was hard enough. So, when she asked how long he'd been at the Weyr, he carefully counted up the days. Everything had been a bit of a blur since he'd gotten here to him.

"A few days;" he said simply, after a pause that didn't really befit the answer he provided. It made him seem as if he were rather slow and not particularly intelligent, especially when combined with the fact that he had said almost nothing else except some comments about the dangers of water and clung to the lake like he couldn't live without it. It wasn't the truth - he wasn't really stupid - but that didn't mean he didn't come off as a bit like that. Either way, it didn't really bother him, if it really occurred to him; he stayed at the same level of shyness and nerves he usually had.

Quiet,
I will be,
So sure,
Calling your bluff.

[kia]

The other boy, Kimber, has answered before him. Which was fine with him. Besides, his answer would be about the same. He had arrived a few days ago with nothing to him but his clothes and Lira. Lira clung to Okeris` head and she chirped at the other Fire Lizard. After she chirped at the Pink Fire Lizard, he attention was back onto Pink Gyth. Dragons fascinated Lira. And because of this fascination was what got him Searched in the first place. Lira`s obsession could sometimes get tiring as she went from dragon to dragon, but her obsession was what helped Okeris know if there was a Rider in the area.

"Same for me," Okeris replied, looking at Durian and then to R`ish. Durian seemed pretty pleasant, especially for a girl who was dropped into the water by her brother`s dragon. Then again, R`ish seemed to be a pleasant person as well. As siblings, they may have similar personalities. But even as siblings, each one was different. Okeris looked in R`ish`s direction. He knew R`ish was different because he was a Pink Rider. But that did not bother Okeris. Okeris had never been in a relationship before for him to even know what he liked.

Lira chirped in questioning at Okeris as she picked up on his hints. She then sent a memory to Okeris of the last Hatching he stood at several months ago. That Hatching had ended as every other Hatching. Not only had he failed to Impress again, but it seemed Green dragons were scared of him. Yet Lira wasn`t. But it was not just Okeris they were afraid of. Lira disliked Green dragons. She believed that as a Green Fire Lizard, she should be Okeris` only Green. Crazy little bugger.