Dragon Thieves

Part 7: Ryslen's Flurry 2003-4

by Neishai

Shortly after Rukareyth and Kyulith were old enough, the remainder of the Dragon Thieves at Cy "returned" to Arx Atra Mons. Lilian and Tiyorarel, Cheynoron and Jujuliyth had already departed to touch base with Daemion and Lucifer. Li had returned once or twice on her night hydrak because she had a more level-headed beast than her lover. She had reported that Shalazan, the assassin from the night of their raid, had been lost in the Nexus and had not been heard from since.

Not knowing her very well, nobody in evidence thought too much of this, and dismissed it from their minds. Wasn't she a hired assassin after all?

It was not until they had taken up temporary residence at Arx Atra Mons that they realized there was a problem.

"She was knocked off the dragon while we were in the Nexus," Daemion said.

"How likely is it she survived?" Vash asked.

To Daemion, he was perhaps the most surprising of those that had returned from Cy Dragonstake. His sanity had been questionable when they had first met, but the changeling had seen a profound change in the man, likely not the least of which was the addition of not one dragon but two. He had been dangerous before, now he was doubly so, for they were not loyal to Daemion Dragas and his new organization, they were loyal to their bond. This displeased him greatly.

He narrowed his large blue eyes perceptibly. "Not very. But there is a chance..."

Li spoke up from where she leaned against the doorway to Daemion's chamber. "Cheyno and I have been out looking for any sign of her. Our search lead us to Alskyr where a clutch of dragonlike creatures hatched. They're called xenos, and they look like a cross between a dragon and some kind of insect. Very evil, very dangerous."

"Very interesting."

She nodded. "We think she may have Impressed there, though they call it 'bonding'. We aren't sure if she did or not though."

"But you'll find out," the taller half-shifter, Lucifer, murmured almost offhandedly as he stepped out from the shadows soundlessly. "Her...contract...isn't up."

Lilian nodded, unfazed by his sudden appearance. "Of course." She didn't care one way or another, as long as she was being paid for it after all. Their dealings with Shalazan weren't her problem unless they made it her problem.

Vash's golden gaze flicked from Lucifer to his father. "And the rest of us?"

Daemion smiled slightly. "You have all done very well in recruiting new members for our little enterprise. I had not considered bondable unbonded creatures as an employment option." He referred to, of course, the two bipedal hydras that had accompanied them home: the black-winged Orange Rixth and Purple Gangstath. "Lucifer and I will need to consider a proper initiation for them." He paused and considered for a moment, then nodded to himself as if coming to a conclusion. "We have a new headquarters to decide upon. Arx Atra Mons has a wonderful atmosphere," he smirked, "but we need a place of our own. For now, take it easy for a while. We'll let you know..."

Vash and Li nodded and left without further comment, both with missions of their own.

* * *

It was difficult being the co-mate of a hydra. Granted, they each had a head of their very own, but there were some obvious disadvantages to sharing the same woman.

Yatenth was the ultimate multiple personality. She had two identical heads: both had duo-toned hide with green above and blue below, a pair of lovely violet eyes, and a light-blue crest running down the back of the neck. But their similarities ended there. Their voices, generally their opinions, their likes and dislikes, everything was unique. Likewise, each head had her own idea of the ideal mate. The dominant head, a potentially vicious and downright bitchy head named Yath, favored Vash's Brown-sized Starlight Rukareyth. The submissive head, Tenth, looked upon the much smaller Blue Kyulith with complete adoration.

Yatenth split up her time, allowing each of her two heads equal opportunity to control the body, thus making it possible to retain two lovers. In a highly competitive world such as thers, it also made life even more difficult for both males involved. It seemed a cue for even the comforts of their home to dissolve into a battle arena.

Rukareyth was sure to test Kyulith's resolve as often as possible. You're such a twit, Kyu. You may have hatched first, but you will never be a match for me. The celestial-marked Starlight shifted his position on the ledge just outside their dwelling. The Arx was bathed in thick, smoggy light, the sun's rays seeming to land on one's hide and stick. The poor quality of light darkened Rukareyth's rich, midnight-blue hide to a dull navy.

Kyulith's shimmery tiger's eye colorings hardly glinted at all as he turned his head to regard his clutch-brother. He narrowed his catlike eyes at the Starlight, reminding himself that this was the extent of their relatedness. That and the sharing of bond...and mate... was the only thing they had in common. They were also both blue. They were physically very similar as well. My, how depressing it was to really sit down and consider their similarities...

He sighed, rolling his eyes back into the head as he blinked. I may not be as big as you, but I am the way I am. I am content with that.

Perhaps, but consider that Yatenth requires two lovers to be content herself.

Careful, Rukareyth. That statement reflects on your performance as well as mine.

The Starlight snorted. Like I said, you were born first.

Kyulith, the smaller Blue, sighed almost imperceptibly, out of weariness and a little relief. For now, Rukareyth was finished belittling his co-bondmate. Sometimes Rukareyth's "beatings" became physical acts of agression. Pinning him to the ground, knocking him from the sky, these public and private humiliations were just a part of life, that neither he or Yatenth, nor even Vash could stop.

The one thing Kyulith could be thankful for was that Rukareyth's assertion of dominance rarely scarred the little Blue. Yatenth -- both heads -- would never have put up with that. And while he was hard on his brother, the larger Starlight would never allow any of the hydras of Arx Atra Mons to harm him. Yatenth would never have forgiven that, either. It was a double-edged sword on which Kyulith continually felt both safe and unsettled, bruised but never broken.

Tenth often found herself comforting the emotionally battered Blue, assuring him that even Yath approved of him, or she would never have allowed him to court her gentler half. She often tells me that you are good for us both, she would say, which did much to boost his tattered self-esteem.

But even the Blue-Green's assurances could help him only so much. He had to assert his own prowess in some way, but how?

In the end, the answer was surprisingly simple. Later on that day, he sat with his rider leaning comfortably against his brilliant banded hide. Vashenajas was not a small man, but leaning against his dragon made him seem larger somehow. Perhaps it was something in his lazily confident posture.

Vash noticed his bond's thoughts directed at himself and he turned dark eyes upon Kyulith, only to find him gazing intently upon the man. "What is it, Kyulith? You seem upset."

Was he so transparent that Vash should read him so easily, or did he simply know him all too well? Kyulith considered for a moment, with an expression of softly dismayed surprise.

In truth, the Blue was just so fragile that Vash looked out for him more than Rukareyth. He had become attuned to even the nuances of his body language that changed ever so subtly. Quxia was like that, only he tried to hide his weaknesses behind a mask of dark cynicism and bitterness. Vash smiled softly, conveying his thoughts to the young dragon with a look.

May I ask you a difficult question, 'Ashena? the Blue asked, using an abbreviated pet name that Aqu often used. It was an expression of deep affection. He did not want to hurt his rider with painful memories, but he needed to ask.

Vash nodded. "What is it?"

When you lost Hyshkath... How did you move on? How did you make yourself strong again? Kyulith's gaze was intent and maybe a little urgent.

It was a difficult question, requiring some time to think. Vash wondered what had made Kyulith ask, besides a desire to be close. Bonding. Vash snorted, strongly doubting it was a desire to bond. He took a deep breath, feeling grief well up within his breast. How indeed? He leaned against the great dragon's side -- not large for his breed, but huge to a human. Kyulith relaxed, leaning his chin on a forearm to wait patiently.

Vash closed his eyes, feeling dark, long-buried memories float to the surface of his mind, like a forlorn treebranch floating in a mucky sea of tar. Threadfall, a concept his pair of dragons had only a vague notion of, had had the region in thrall for sometime. The Wings were tiring, and the Weyrlings had only fought a handful of times. They were his responsibility at the time.

He remembered thinking that he needed to switch them out, but tried to push them a little farther. They needed to know what it was to fly bone-tired. It was a change of the weather, the winds picking up, tossing dragons about, maneuvering desperately to either capture or avoid the deadly silver strands. Two of his students nearly collided, and with his booming shout of, "Jump!" they disappeared briefly. One did not return, a result of panic. The other blinked out of Between, only to collide with Hyshkath -- having zeroed in on the Weyrlingmaster a little too closely.

The young bronze had been at least as large as his own Black, who was small to begin with. The impact had instantly broken the leading edge of wing, their momentum whipping the more experienced beast around for a second impact, dislocating the wing's shoulder joint.

The screaming...that had been the worst part of all. He had heard dragons in pain before, he had felt the grief of a Weyr's dragons amplified in his mind by Hyshkath. This was both and more. I think Hyshkath knew he was going to die as we fell from the sky, he thought.

How he had survived did not matter anymore. His dragon had not, and that was the most important part. It had sent him into a depression blacker than his dragon's hide. And it had been a slow, agonizing process, but somehow he had crawled out of the pit on his belly -- but carrying his own weight and feeling all the stronger for it.

Vash took a ragged breath, deep and cleansing. Without hesitation, without opening his eyes he said, "I think it was Aqu. I had never, in the years since we'd met in the classroom, known him to care about someone like that. At the time, I didn't know how or why, but he got me back on my feet."

He stopped and mused for a moment. Aquxianal had been his student several turns -- years -- before Hyshkath's death. Vash's training had originally been as a harper, and who better to train Weyr inhabitants but a harper-trained dragonrider? He could, in a certain light, say they had known one another well because of that and a more intimate, on-again off-again relationship that Vash had consistently declined to make public. "And until then," he continued finally, "I had not understood that look in his eyes, the haunted, angry, and dismayed yet utterly compassionate look in his eyes. I didn's know what he had been through, but somehow, he knew how I felt, without having lost a dragon himself. I don't wish that fate upon anybody."

Kyulith had been sitting up straight with Vash's response to his question. He reflected on it pensively. Could Tenth be Aquxianal's equivalent, his own tough-shelled yet privately compassionate counterpart? Did she understand his own situation with Rukareyth? Finally he decided that the answer was a firm "yes." It helped lift the burden he felt a little.

"You know, Aqu is not the only one who helped though. You cannot imagine how it felt to be left standing at the Bipedra hatching. When not only you but Rukareyth also chose me, it was almost too much to bear."

Kyulith would have snorted in derision if his own mate had not been a bipedra. Of course you were passed over. You were meant for us. Even I can not fault Rukareyth for choosing you. Gangstath as well, for is that not what he did, without physically bonding you?

Vash's eyebrows flicked briefly. That was an interesting way of putting it. Gangstath had chosen to disrobe Vash -- specifically, ripping the majority of his pants right off his legs -- and no one else. He was not certain whether he should be flattered by the purple hydra's gesture or not. Regardless... "It was all of you," special emphasis put on the word to indicate that it encompassed far more than just Kyulith, "that finally helped me leave my depression behind. Aqu was right all along; I needed to get away from Pern and move on with my life."

The shimmery Blue nodded. Rukareyth and I chose you because you were the one, the only one for us. It's just that sometimes he--

"Is that what this is all about? Rukareyth?" Vash interrupted, leaning forward and facing Kyulith straight-on.

Kyulith bowed his head slowly, closing his eyes. It was the only answer he gave, though the Blue's presence within his bonded's mind was sickly and throbbing with his anguish.

Vash finally sighed and leaned back against Kyulith's side once more. "I see."

They sat in silence for a long time, until Kyulith began to fidgit with unrest. He glanced up and saw a few of Arx Atra Mons' many hydras eyeing him with measuring stares. He was torn between cowering under their hungry glares and puffing up with false bravado. His final reaction was somewhere in between, appearing pathetic in their eyes. They snorted with laughter, one calling him a "pip-squeak."

Quietly, Vash said, "You know, I needed all of you to recover. I had to really listen to whatever encouragement you gave. It didn't work at first, because I was missing out on something."

The blue was caught up in his own self-loathing for a moment before he finally replied, genuinely curious. And what was that?

"I had to believe what you were telling me."

Kyulith stared at him for the longest time, only blinking. Vash did not once break eyecontact. Finally the man nodded as if to say, "It's the truth." Finally, Kyulith turned away with a thoughtful expression. Vash watched him for a few moments, deciding after a while that their discussion was at an end. He rose to his feet and dusted himself off. When he left, the dragon did not hear his departing words.

* * *

I'm going to Fly first, he told Vash finally, in a tone of authority and determination. The dark-complected man nodded. Ryslen's having a Flurry frenzy soon. They allow gemtoned dragons, and I'm going to fly in it. There was no room for arguement. Kyulith was going to the frenzy and that was that.

Vash arranged everything. Daemion assented, reminding Vash that they had some freetime coming, so a frenzy was perfectly reasonable.

Vash invited Aquxianal to join him, to get them both away from the fortress' dark atmosphere. Yatenth was becoming a little snippy of late, and would likely rise soon. She was about the right age... and for some reason, she did not want him around for the time being. Hurt by her sentiment, and feeling a little paranoid that his bond would not be participating in the same mating flight as his lover's, he agreed to go.

Rukareyth was not to go with them. He was incensed that his older little brother would be seeing some action before he did. How dare he? the Starlight fumed. He was not sure if he felt a need to do everything with his brother, or if he simply felt jealously over it.

Vash left him to stew about it, with a promise that they would sign him up for a Flight or three, once he got back -- if that would make him happy. Rukareyth assured him fiercely that it would. "When I get back, give me a list of possibilities then," his rider said, sitting atop the small Blue's back, looking almost at eyelevel with the larger Starlight.

Rukareyth glared coldly at his brother. Oh, I will. And it will be a long list, he added, knowing that no dragon could technically be signed up for two mating flights at once.

* * *

The holiday spirit winding its way about Nidus Ryslen caught quickly, like a persistent flu bug. Within a week, Aqu had found himself at the butt-end of some virus' cruel joke. He wondered bitterly if Jujuliyth's dam's genes had rubbed off on him somehow. It had never been confirmed, but the spawn of an Amoeba-dragon had to have something parasitic about him.

He spent the majority of their stay in their Nidulus -- the rooms designated to them for the duration of the festival. He was miserable, constantly worried that Vash would go off and have a little fun with total strangers. He had plenty of time to feel sorry for himself, which helped to bolster Kyulith's self-confidence a little more. Suddenly he had someone to look out for, which raised his position in the ranks somehow. He tried to reassure the young man that he had nothing to fear, tried to comfort him in other ways, such as keeping up a conversation with him, whenever he was around.

It was not until the day of the Flurry that Aqu was beginning to feel well. He was not strong yet, but he was determined to be by Vash's side in his second dragon's first mating flight. Vash could not dissuade him. "You are not well," he protested forcefully. "It is freezing outside; the air smells of snow!"

Kyulith broke in, his voice deep with excitement. He looked at them intently, perched as close to the edge of their ledge as possible. Their rising is emminent, he said before vaulting into the sky.

Vash saw the ominous color of the clouds. "Don't go down there, please."

"I'll put a coat on," Aquxianal insisted. "And besides," he grinned suggestively, leaning into his lover, "I doubt I'd be cold for very long."

Vash bit his lip and nodded finally, but his worry did not abate for a second. It was not just the cold ... he had never been a part of a dragon frenzy and had no idea how events would unfold. What if Kyulith caught more than one female? He had heard of some dragons taking multiple lovers, two and three, rarely more. He worried that Kyulith would be so desperate to prove himself that he would try to do just that. He was genuinely worried about Aqu, whose stubbornness could be legendary if he so chose.

Perhaps it should have come as no surprise to Aqu then, that as the Flight got underway and Kyulith made his choice in mate known, Vash moved to alienate his lover. It was subtle that with their fingers entwined, Vash's hands began to slacken their hold and he finally slipped free. It hurt them both, but Vash's scheme was only half acting. He eventually found himself enthralled in his dragon's persuit, standing beside the dragoness' rider.

Though ten pair and a dozen more had already left the softly snowing sky, several sets of white wings yet soared. A blue that shifted and shone like a polished stone slipped through the sky and startled a dark purple from her teasing flight. As Rhywith and Kyulith dropped, the eyes of Shire met those of the thief Vash.

~ Exerpt from Ryslen's Flurry Frenzy 2003, by Ty

* * *

Maybe it was not surprising what became of the Flurry, but it was no less traumatic for Aqu. If Rukareyth had been at Ryslen, he would have gleefully reminded him of Vash's less than monogomous beliefs about dragon mating flights. It was just as well; Quxia was in no mood to get an earfull of I-told-you-so's.

Still wearing his coat and wandering aimlessly the halls of Ryslen, Aqu was in no mood for much of anything. He shivered, realizing that he had picked up a chill outside despite his warm attire. He knew it was his susceptability to the cold. He should have never followed Vash outside, he should have known this would happen. Why did he want me to come to Ryslen, if he was going to do this anyway? he wondered bitterly. No one could have known it would turn out this way, but he still thought he should have. Okay, maybe he couldn't have known he would fall ill, but he should have never let Kyulith come. He should have made him wait until Yatenth's first mating flight, which for some reason had been delayed.

Suddenly he knew precisely what he was in the mood for: should-have's. He kicked a pebble that had somehow made its way into the deepest halls of the castle. He was so angry with himself, with Vash and Kyulith, with that stupid bitch that had taken them away from him, that he didn't even care that he was completely lost in the bowels of Ryslen.

"He'll be sorry if I starve to death back here," he growled, a harsh sob welling up from within. It solidified as a lump in his throat that he could not swallow.

He continued on down the halls, which wound their way through increasing darkness until he could hardly see his hand held in front of his face. He had an impression of the passage widening outward and upward, his movements' echos deepening as he moved into some sort of cavern, or large hall. He heard movement within, reminiscent of the tunnelsnakes children feared back home. His self-absorption melted away when he heard a voice in his mind.

Who's there, and what the hell do you want?

Quxia gasped as he saw movement in the ghostly shape of a dragon. As his eyes adjusted, he thought that perhaps he -- for the dragon had a distinctly masculine voice -- might be yellowish, or maybe light brown, with darker spots. It was impossible to tell. Nearby was a smaller dragon, laying curled up in a corner. It was darker, perhaps blue or some other ghostlike color.

He faltered, firstly unsure of what he should say, and secondly not knowing the truth himself. "I...I don't... Well, what's it to you anyway?"

The dragon made a distinct "Hmph!" and turned to glare at the insubordinate human. It was bad enough that they should take over the entire castle, shove them into the back Nidulii furthest from the sun, but then they had to horn their way into the privacy of this designated area. It just so happens that we live here. I would think it should be our business, you little bastard!

Aqu glared into the darkness half-blind, vaguely aware that one should address a large aggressive dragon with respect and tact. Also that if anything should happen to him, no one would ever know, except perhaps his Yatenth, whom he felt now but only dimly in his mind, as if someone had grabbed hold of a section of it and was stretching it thin over the distance that separated them. "Well, why would you want to live down here anyway?"

This first dragon whipped his tail back and forth angrily, still irritated with this little pest's mere presence. It would not have mattered what he said, the dragon would still be incensed with him. Whatever his intentions, he was stopped short as the other dragon unfolded herself from her place in the corner.

When she spoke, it was with a soft, velvety voice. Please, Adaleth. I'm sure he's just lost, or he would know about us. She stretched like a cat, flexing cramped muscles in her long, scrawny limbs.

The larger male grunted. Probably. He dismissed Aqu offhandedly then, laying back down with a puff of dust.

His companion moved closer to regard their visitor. We are abandoned dragons, live in the back halls of Ryslen because it matches our mood, she said with a melancholy sigh. She seemed wistful, hopeless yet oddly optimistic.

You're not thinking of him again, are you, Tebri? Adaleth seemed to be calling over his shoulder with a derisive snort. Gods, get over him already, will ya? He's just a selfish, petty little bastard like the rest of them.... like him! he added, referring to Aqu.

Aquxianal shook his head, unsure of whether they could see the gesture or not. He balled his fists. "I've abandoned no one. In fact," he added softly, "I was the one abandoned..."

Not....your dragon? she asked in disbelief.

Of course he wasn't, you stupid--

Shut up, Adaleth! she yelled, near tears.

"No," Aqu said softly. "She's not here with me though. She's not allowed...because she's a hydra."

Tebri recoiled in revulsion, and Adaleth perked up with repulsed fascination. A hydra huh? Hmm ... you sure you didn't abandon her?

"NO! I would never!"

The pair of abandonlings were taken aback. While hydras were regarded with fear and hate, often associated with ruthlessness and dishonor, here was a man who felt obvious affection and loyalty to one. It made them wonder.

It made them envious.

After a time, Tebri moved forward, closer to Aqu. Well, it seems that you are in good company after all. You are welcome here with us, of course.

Of course he's not! He's still human! Let him hang out with his own kind. Leave us alone, human.

Aquxianal sighed, turning to leave. "Yeah..."

* * *

Much later, Aqu sat cross-legged between the pair of dragons. There was another with them, a young shapeshifter who called herself Medarta. She had befriended Tebriniath and spent much time with them over the months despite Adaleth's misgivings.

"No one should ever be abandoned," she said. "That was one of the first things I learned when Shainon adopted me into his House: no one gets left behind. Ever."

Adaleth snorted. Yeah, in an ideal world, no one would ever be left behind. But in the real world, people always let you down.

"Things are always black and white with you, aren't they, Adaleth?" Aqu asked wryly.

Funny you should say that... he began with a smirk no one saw. He was white and red, stark contrasts. It might has well have been the same thing. In the end, he said finally, people always let you down. I inherited my bond's dislike for women...

"They're not to my taste either," Aqu muttered, eyes half-lidded.

Adaleth snorted. And I learned from his example to hate men as well!

Aqu grunted, growling softly, "I'm starting to think along those lines myself."

His voice had almost gone unheard, and Tebriniath began to wonder just whom he had been abandoned by. She spoke softly. Well I do not believe in stark black and white. There must be a reason for everything that happens.

Well of course you and I lost our bonds for a reason they were selfish in the end, and when it came down to the choice, they chose number one! Even your precious --

Stop! Please, Adaleth. We agreed, no names.

Adaleth let out a growling sigh. Fine!

No, I can't believe it. She was almost in tears once again, as she spoke. Medarta, in her half-human, half-ermine form, stroked her arm gently, offering silent but strong support. I know he had a reason for leaving me behind. It must have been important...he would never leave me for selfish reasons. I have to believe that. When we first met, I showed him the truth about himself. He was so kind and gentle, I just can't believe...

"Maybe he didn't want to see the truth, Tebri," Medarta said softly. Aqu nodded, a gesture barely visible to the others, some wondering if they had seen it at all.

Adaleth bowed his head. He knew his rider had left him for selfish reasons. He had never had the patience, nor the loyalty to have stayed. He longed to be able to believe the best about his bond...his former bond, but he simply hadn't the optimism his companion did. He was far too jaded...

He envied this Quxia's bond with the hydra. He envied Tebri's openness, her ability to not only see the best in people, but to actually hope for something. He had no hope. There was no point, no use for it in his bleak, future-less life.

"It doesn't matter," Aqu said, surprising them all. "Your former bonds are not the only people in the world, and not everyone's the same. Not everyone's selfish."

Adaleth snorted, but said nothing.

Aqu continued, "I'm not saying I'm not selfish, but there are people who are loyal to the people they love. Those are the people who count."

"Tebri, why don't you join us? House Nhonn I mean. You're not a shapeshifter, but you don't have to be. We could adopt you in ... like I was adopted. I would never leave you, you have to believe that. It's not as good as a dragon-rider bond, but everyone needs friends. And maybe ... if you wanted to, I mean ... they would let you try to bond a dragon from the Flurry."

I don't know...

"You can think about it before you decide. You've been down here for so long, Tebri, you need to feel the sun on your wings, the warmth of people who love you..."

How ... sappy, Adaleth gagged.

"You know, the same offer stands with me. You and I have things in common ... and the Guild is recruiting. Even if it didn't work out, you will still have a friend in me."

Adaleth bristled. Well, it's not as if I wouldn't do just fine down here! If I did it for a year, I could do it for twenty!

Aqu snorted. "It's not like we'd need you."

Fine!

"Fine, then."

I'll see you on the Sands then.

"And I'll sign up your sorry hide ... which will, by then, be clean."

No shi-it. You're going to scrub my sorry butt and you're going to like it!

"Squeaky," Aqu flipped back, arms by then folded snugly across his chest.

Not much more was said, and he had soon vacated the spacious, dragon-only Nidulus, left to navigate the labyrinthian halls of the Nidus. Tebriniath and Medarta stared at one another and rolled their eyes. They did not need to see the gesture to share in it. Men.

* * *

The shifter took charge over Adaleth's roommate, who turned out to be a beautiful siamese-marked Lavender. Her colorings matched her personality: elegantly beautiful. Aquxianal meanwhile, took responsibility for Adaleth's rehabilitation. Both dragons were abnormally thin, atrophied from lack of use and motivation. Adaleth's hide, which had been a dark blood-red spotting an ugly brownish-tan, became brilliant white and mottled in rust-orange, with a good scrubbing.

"Too bad your mouth doesn't match that pretty hide of yours," Aqu drawled, grunting infrequently with the effort to scrub the dragon's hide. He was much larger than his Yatenth, about the size of a Brown and closer to Rukareyth's and Gangstath's sizes, though he was used to helping scrub the other dragons.

At least I have the looks to back me up, the dragon retorted with a raspberry.

"Hey, Vash would argue otherwise," Aqu said, hands on his hips.

Adaleth let out a gusty sigh. Ah, you are so fickle, human.

Aqu grimaced slightly. "You'd be surprised just how fickle I am not. It's pathetic sometimes..."

The dalmation-spotted, snowflaked dragon turned to regard him. These discussions were so bad for relaxation. An odd thought, considering how relaxed and healthy, and even vigorous he felt anymore. I don't think so, Adaleth replied softly. Loyalty is so rare anymore, I know...

"I know," Aqu echoed ruefully. He screwed his lips and went to work on the dragon's hide with double fervor. "We'll just see if we can make you forget that, come the hatching..."

* * *

* * *

* * *