Given an inch [Open]

[Lyrikitty]

In the time she'd been in Skrull, Riki hadn't really had tmie to look around much. Almost every moment of her day had been filled with lessons, training, preparations, all to try and test her, to see if she was worthy of the egg which she'd been brought here to stand in front of. It was tiresome, her body often ached from the hours of tasks, and as much as she wanted to explore, by the time she was free to do s she pleased all she wanted was a bath, dinner, and sleep. Not that she would ever complain. She was doing something with herself finally, she wasn't forced to hide from her father's wrath, she didn't have to sneak around disguised as a boy is she wanted to get a little dirty playing with the animals, she didn't need to avert her gaze whenever someone walked past her. It was... Refreshing.

It was also starting to show. Her manner when she had first arrived was docile and meek, her eyes kept down and her tones always soft and appeasing. Now, with her first free day since she had arrived, as she dressed in simple clothing and strolled out into the halls, her head was held high and her eyes met those of the weyrfolk. She greeted a few people she recognized as she passed them, smiling and bidding them good day, and in return they smiled at her and did the same. She felt more at home here, in the Weyr, witht he spicey scent of dragons filling the air, than she had ever felt in the Hold she came from.

A few hours into her exploration of the Weyr found her thoroughly lost, though pleased to be so. She'd never realized how very large this Weyr was! With a smile, she veered off a passage and onto one less worn, until she came to a dead-end. Apparently this was a path that hadn't been finished. It didn't seem to have a lot of wear either, judging by the dusty ground. She settled against the back wall, sitting on the floor without care for getting dirty. Her eyes closed and she leaned her head back against the stone, relaxing for a few moments to let her mind wander. One of the main thoughts which drifted into her head was B'ach, her saviour. He had swept into her Hold and whisked her away as if it were all a dream, his imposing figure startling the holdfolk into obedience and even intimidating her father. She felt bad for B'ach though. He seemed so lonely and harsh. She knew better, she'd seen the way he acted with the runnerbeast before they left, so why did he put on the fierce front?

She knew the answer to that as soon as she thought the question. He'd likely spent his life trying to protect himself and his Wraith from the females of the Weyr who were power hungry, who wanted to force him into accepting them in hopes of Impressing the Wraithking. A frown pulled the corners of her lips and she sighed, opening her eyes. Yes, she decided, she did feel bad for B'ach. Hopefully whoever the Wraith egg hatched for would be kind to him, and teach him to trust.

Riki was under no delusion of Impression for herself, despite Daisyth's insistence and having been Searched. Nor did she consider herself a likely candidate for the Wraith egg. She simply enjoyed everything she was doing in the Weyr, and while she hoped to perhaps Impress eventually to a lesser rank, she had no real expectations. It would be nice to be able to return home one day and mock her father from the back of a Wraith though... Perhaps then he would accept her as she was and not try to force her to change, nor tame her into a broken spirit and married off to the first willing fool.

[Bacchante]

"I still don't get it. Explain again?"

The voice echoed in the abandoned side passages, collecting where the paths terminated and reflecting back. It was a disconcerting effect, and made stealth quite impossible. "Shut up, idiot. Because we stopped before, so I could tell you the second time I might add, we lost her trail." This second voice sounded understandably peevish at the first one, which was obviously a weak and reedy one. Both sounded male, and their whispers mightn't have carried so far if it weren't for the layout of this area.

"Oh, scorch you Fen. She can't get out of this area, and there's no way she's in earshot. We both know they won't excavate any further until the next Haunt graduates." A phrase related to the peculiarity of the Skrull mutants. Since the usual term for a group of dragons would be somewhat stupid if used to describe a group of flightless Ghosts they were called a Haunt. "So just tell me." A dull thud indicated someone being struck across the head. The subsequent girlish squeal of pain meant it probably wasn't the one called 'Fen'.

"Fine, but this is the last, bonehead, so listen up. Shara and Kali, everyone knows those two are the top candidates. Except for Belach's precious little outsiders. The quiet one with the face of a watchwher, she's no threat. But that other one, from the trials? If we get rid of her, it'll just be our girls. Not a big issue, really. Accidents happen. Just crack her about the head and dump her down the Shaft." The footsteps had stopped, indicating the pair had paused. If their volume was any indication, they were at the turn-off to Riki's hiding place.

"Yeah, but how does that help us? If one of them ends up Weyrwoman then they'll be mated to the Weyrleader. That's what I don't get."[/color] Another dull thud. "Now I know you're a fool. You have to take the long view. Belach's no green. After a couple of years the Wraithking will be mature enough to mate that brute of his, she'll hatch the next pair of eggs, our 'glorious leader' has his own accident and one of us ends up on the throne. Power is restored to the sons of the council and we can keep up our relationships on the side. Now come on, let's find the stupid drudge-girl."

The footsteps resumed for a moment when the stupid one spoke again. "Hey, wait a sec. This passage is a dead end. Why are we bothering?"[/color] Once more a dull thud. "And? So? She could still be down there."[/color] It seemed the 'stupid' one had the upper hand for once, since he snorted and apparently smacked his friend. "Who's the bonehead now? It's a shallow tunnel. She was way ahead of us, so if she came down here then she's gone back already. Hell, she might've slipped past us for all the time we've wasted back here. Come on, if we find her quickly then maybe we can have some fun before we toss her."[/color]

It would seem that, for once, the pair agreed. Both sets of footsteps moved away. At the same moment, a rolling mental presence swept over the area, zeroing in on the girl. <Riki? I know it's your day off, but do you think you could come up to the fifth level for a moment? I need your help.>[/color] As quickly as it had come, the thought withdrew. It was obviously a command, despite the nature. But if only Zenith had stayed in contact a little longer.

[Lyrikitty]

The sound of footsteps reached Riki's ears before their voics did, and as the two voices reached her, Riki felt a chill creep over her. Hadn't she aldready escaped from all this? :The plotting and the violence? And... Why were they planning to hurt her? She'd done nothing wrong, she'd been brought by their very leader after all. She huddled herself against the wall, making herself as small as possible as the voices drew closer and she heard more of what they said, until they came to the start of the passage she was in. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest she would have sworn it would gie her away as the argued about checking the passage. Please don't... Please just go away..." Her eyes were squeezed shut, her breathing so shallow in an attempt to maintain utter silence tha she was starting to turn red. Finally, she heard them agree she was most likely not down here. They started away, and she exhaled heavily in relief, promtly sucking in another deep breath in shock as a powerful voice resonated in her mind, almost staggering her and asking (commanding really but the tone and words both implied a more friendly and less authoritive nature) for her to go to the fifth level, B'ach's level.

She was about to ask the Wraith for directions, or better for help, but as quickly as Zenith had entered her mind she was gone, and Riki swallowed back the urge to cry out in frustration. That would be a bad idea. Instead...

She rose silently and made her way to the main tunnel again, listening carefully for the footsteps and voices of her would-be assailants. She wanted to run as quickly as she could and find the fifth level, but her gut told her she needed to do something else instead. She needed to deal with these two before they could hurt B'ach, or the Weyr. Odd... She didn't really think about herself getting hurt. It was almost as if that were merely a side effect. She'd been hurt so many times in the past she didn't really see it as a danger, just part of life when there was a purpose behind it.

Biting her lip she ignored Zenith's command for a moment, turning the wrong way and trailing after the pair. She had a temporary advantage at least. If nothing else she wanted to get a good look at them. If they were hunting for her now, what would stop them from using night, while she slept, to their advantage and disposng of her then? No, that wasn't going to happen if she could help it. She'd survived her father and herself, she wasn't letting a couple of little brats off her without giving her a chance to fight back. Her soft shoes made her footsteps near silent, and the commotion the pair made covered any sound they did make. She was used to sneaking around and not being heard, she'd spent most of her life using stealth to creep through the Hold and stay out of her father's way.

She caught up with them quickly, keeping back and in shadows as she watched them carefully, trying to figure out a plan. On impulse she bent and scooped up a fist-sized rock, testing the weight for only a second before taking aim and chucking it hard at the back of one of the boy's head, the larger and more threatening of the two. She had a good aim, she'd done of a lot of things behind her father's bac that had given her skills which, in a Hold were improper, but in a Weyr might porve more than a little useful. Unless the lad realized he had a large rock hurtling at his head with enough force to at the very least daze, and more likely do worse, he was going to end up hit dead on and she'd have less to worry about from him.

In order to lessen the odd she waited until just the right timing to whistle sharply, calling attention to herself. Should they turn when she did that, the rock would connect not with the back of his head, but square in the middle of his eyes too fast for him to react. That was what she was banking on. Her hands planted on her hips and her exression turned into a scowl of displeasure which likely would have made B'ach proud, could he see it on her normally sweet and attractive face. "You where-faced dorks think you can get the best of me? Do you have any idea who I even am? I'm not afraid of a couple of little oys who are plotting against their own Weyr. I've dealt with worse things than you could deal out for MY. ENTIRE. LIFE." Unknown was that with her hands planted on her hips as they were, one was resting comfortably on the handle of a beltknife she had grabbed this morning in case of an emergency. She knew she really shouldn't have one, but she also knew from all her time in nthe barns back home that you never knew when a knife would come in handy.

[Bacchante]

Unfortunately for Riki, although her plan was brilliant it was not quite foolproof. As evidenced when it was incidentally foiled by the fool. Slower to react than his compatriot, the rock struck him only on the side of his skull. Most of the force was deflected by his ear, bright crimson fluid now spilling down the side of his face, but there was enough to knock him down.

He was stunned. His friend was not. The other one, Fen he had been called, hoisted his club. It was tapered at the top and had an odd peg at the bottom, most likely it was meant to be the handle of a pick. The one on the ground had dropped his and he lay on his side with one hand on his ear. "Get up, idiot. It's just a rock."[/color] Fen seemed quite unperturbed at Riki's assault.

"Guess this means you heard us. See, Ryles? That injury is your own fault, bonehead."[/color] Obviously he couldn't see her hidden weapon, or else he might not be so calm. Or perhaps he simply thought that as a girl she was no real threat. More angry than hurt, his friend stumbled to his feet and hoisted his club, but gingerly. Fen simply held his own somewhat loosely, a smirk on his face. "Shouldn't have done that, drudge-daughter. Now it'll just hurt even worse."[/color]

They laughed and it would have been unsettling. However, even though neither seemed to take her bristling bravado seriously something was prickling at the back of Ryles' admittedly thick head. She had heard them. But instead of running and finding a guard, this girl had followed and attacked them. Now that they were confronting her, holding weapons, she didn't seem afraid. Everything about this felt wrong. And that look on her face...

Fen took a step forward, still grinning. "Tell ya what. If you just press yourself up against that wall nice and easy like, and don't struggle none, I'll do my best to be gentle."[/color] Slowly and deliberately the larger boy stuck out his tongue and began to lick his lips. This rather lurid expression vanished instantly, blood pouring from his mouth as he bit his tongue. Like a cut tree he fell. No bending at the knees, no twisting to the side. In one forward motion he went from vertical to horizontal and lay there, blood pooling around his mouth.

Behind him, the stupid boy stood with his club raised and a horrified expression on his face. "Oh shards. Oh shards. I didn't want... It wasn't my... He was mad... I mean..."[/color] Staring in abject terror at the weapon in his hand he dropped it, leapt backwards and prostrated himself before Riki.

Stupid though he may have been, Ryles had a survival instinct. The expression she had worn, the aura of command and control around her as well as the total lack of fear had all spoken to a distant memory in his brain. A crime so terrible that none dared speak of it. The wrath of a Wraith as it delivered punishment. And the expression of her rider afterwards, so terrible that he would have gladly faced the dragon not to see it. He remembered old treachery and his body had decided for him.

"Please, please forgive me. He was always the biggest, and then Kali was kind to me, and I stole the picks from the masons and it all went so fast and every time I disagreed he got this look but then you were and he was and, and, and, and, and..."[/color] The incoherent babbling trailed off into hyperventilation and sobs. The pathetic boy was on his knees, hands pressed to the floor. It was rather pathetic, and immediately obvious why he had been chosen.

Ryles had already been established himself to be thick. But his face was something else. One eye was a little lazy, and his nose was a bit too big, and his teeth didn't quite fit, and although not one feature could be pointed at as the cause the overall impression he gave was not quite right. It didn't help that the gruesome visage was now stained with tears and snot as he bowed his head and begged between sobs.

[Lyrikitty]

Her primary attack didn't go so well. Yet she didn't flinch. No trace of fear fluttered over her features as the pair turned on her, looking at her and she assumed not realizing the danger they were in. Then again, neither did she. As the one called Fen stepped forward, mocking her and calling her a drudge daughter, she blinked slowly. The anger which was already on her face deepened, the wrath which hung like an axe above their heads drawn higher. She wasn't some low-born child who worked for her living. She'd been a Holder's daughter, even if that Holder was a fool and a monster in his own rights. He came closer, her eyes narrowing as he spoke luridly, telling her to back against the wall and be nice and docile. As if. He expected her to idly turn her head and let him do as he pleased with her? Not on her life. She'd rather be skinned alive and fed to a wher than that.

Her muscles tensed, one lip lifting over her teeth in an almost feral expression, just as the boy bit down on his tongue and collapsed. Collapsed wasn't really the right word for it though. It looked as if someone had made a stone staue of him and tipped it over, the manner in which he fell. As he lay on the floor, his companion threw himself down to sprawl prostrate at her feet. As he started babbling she was left dumb-founded, unknowing what was going on. On guard, she watched the groveling boy as he made a jumbled mess of whatever he was trying to say.

She wasn't going to stand for this. She was already irritated with the situation, and fed up with life trying to bully her around. Time to get something straight out of someone and not just leave things be.

With speed she moved forward, shoving a foot under the whimpering mass and kicking him over to look down at him, one foot planting itself on his chest as she leaned foward, her beltknife drawn and lightly kissing the base of his neck. "Look, I'm getting really sick of this sort of stuff. I've put up with a lot in my life. I'm not taking it anymore if I can help it. I want you to take a nice, deep breath and listen closely. You tell all your little friends that the next person who tries something against the Weyrleader is going to be lucky if they get caught by Zenith. I will turn them inside out and hang them from their tongues as I lower them by hand down the shaft. IF I'm feeling generous. Now get up you fool, get up and run back to your friends and cower like the mongrel you are." She glared down at him, her disgust cear in her eyes and the promise of following through on her threat crystal clear, a willingness to start with him evident in the way she rose and kicked away from him. She didn't start away though. No, she would wait until he was out of sight and she felt a little safer. Turning her back on this coward could prove fatal and she wasn't feeling like dying.

If anything she felt alive. Her body thrummed with her own power as she stood her ground and made her claim. It was a change, she had never in her life done something so bold. Then again, she had never been so incited as she was at the audacity and treachory of these two. It made her blood run cold to think people would be so eager to turn on their leader, when he'd done so much for them.

She also wanted a moment to freak out as soon as she could. What had happened to Fen was terrifying, and she didn't even know what happened. It was one of those things that were deserving of a genuine freak-out.

[Bacchante]

<B'ach?>

The weyrleader looked up as his dragon's thought intruded into his record keeping. He had to sort through slab after slap of badly inked reports before he could decide who in this batch of entrants had passed the Test of Knowledge. Irritated as he, understandably, was he still knew better than to ignore Zenith when she sounded confused. "Yes, Zen?"

<I need some privacy. Perhaps half an hour. Go downstairs and check on the eggs, especially my mate. And prepare.> Colour drained from B'ach's face as he understood the implications behind her words. "Zenith, dear one... I know it is your right but... So soon?" <Yes. I have begun administering the Trial of Will. In three days, you will have the group sit the Test. And then they will walk on my sands seven days hence.>

Confused, but knowing better than to question, he stood and strode from the room. That problem dealt to, the mammoth queen directed her thought downwards. She was in control of Skrull's dragons and through them she relayed orders and instructions. Something momentous had just happened. It was nearing a danger point, and the king had to be hatched before then.

<Little one, do not worry. I'm sending an unmanned Ghost to pick you up. Come up here, and I'll explain everything.> Sure enough, the thought directed Riki was quickly confirmed as a grey-armoured beast with flecks of white on the ends of its points slid into view. It moved with a calm, quiet grace and lay down before her so that she could reach the saddle, complete with attached rope harness for vertical motion.

Above, Zenith worried. Things were not going to plan.

[Lyrikitty]

She didn't get her chance to freak. As the lad raced away as fast as he could, Zenith's voice interrupted her thoughts, telling her a Ghost would be arriving soon to bring her up. Zenith... Maybe the large Queen was responsible for what had hapened? It seemed unlikely though. What motivation would the Wraith have to step in, when Riki could have handled it herself? She would ask Zenith when she arrived in the weyr.

Unlike many she wasn't frightened by queens. She had a relationship, of sorts, with Daisyth to think back on. Yes, they were great and powerful, they were terrifying in their own rights, but they were logical creaturtes who generally only wanted the best for the Weyr.

And who occasiocally intervened in the life of young girls who were on the verge of stupid mistakes.

Riki crawled onto the Ghost's back and secured herself, patting the dragon's shoulder when she was ready. The trip to Zenith was short, the Ghost knowing it's way through the Weyr far better than Riki, and moments later she was sliding off the back of the dragon. "Thank you."

She made her way into the weyr, eyes intently looking for Zenith. "Zenith? I know it's a little improper for me to adress you directly but I need to talk to you. I don't think anyone else could answer my question properly." She continued searching until she found the massive dragon, stopping and looking at the gloroious creature. Wraith really were somthing to look at. She'd grown up seeing the scaled dragons of Crystal Caverns at Gathers and meetings, and they were impressive creatures. The way their scales glittered in the light... Magmas were also rather impressive creatures, almost entirely wing and spike, yet so graceful in the air and so quick to launch themselves into the skies. She'd seen Honuth land herself between two tents at the Gather, and then take off from the same spot without destroying anything, just kicking up some dust with her great wings. None of that prepared you for a dragon like Zenith though.

Riki didn't think anything could prepare a person for that.

The girl dipped her head to the Wraith in respect. "Zenith, I'm sorry I didn't come directly to you, but there was an issue. Two boys were looking for me, they wanted to kill me so they could assure one of Skrull's own candidates Impressed to the Wraithking. The planned to try and kill B'ach after the Wraithking had mated you once. I was going to confront them, I did, and then one of them just... Fell. The other threw himself to the ground and started blubbering about being sorry and about how he didn't want to do any of it. Zenith, what happened? It was as if they were afraid of me, before I'd done anything more than throw a rock." She hoped the Wraith wouldn't get mad at her for being so bold as to speak directly to her, but Riki was confused and trying her hardest to remain calm about everything. She really did want to freak out but that wouldn't be very helpful to the situation. She wondered where B'ach was, realizing that he wasn't in the room with them, nor had she seen him on her way here. Had Zenith called to her for her own purposes?

Originally Riki had simply assume B'ach had requested her presence, but now... Well now things were seeming a little too strange for it to be so simple.

[Bacchante]

Zenith rumbled happily as Riki spoke to her in an apologetic tone. It was quite amusing to her, even if the sound was an ominous one to those not used to being around dragons. Rather than answering immediately the giant queen pushed herself off the ground, towering over the girl, and turned to move through a wide archway in the side of the room. She had been lounging in the throne room, one of only two she could actually reach within the Weyr. The Shaft and Sands didn't count.

A flick of Zen's head as she stood indicated for the girl to follow her. This next room was hers. It was large, very large, cutting downwards into the space between levels. Three or perhaps even four Wraiths could be accommodated by the curving space, following as it did the shape of the mountain, giving the whole thing roughly the shape of a C. It consisted of five meter plateau which gave rise immediately to a steep slope dropping down into the main chamber, perhaps a Wraith-height down. Zenith slid into this depression and immediately began to scratch in a most unladylike manner.

On the platform was a pair of stone chairs, so someone could sit and speak with the dragon. Zen's head was in line with them. <I am shedding, Riki, and it is most vexing. It is the nature of Wraiths that our armour cracks as our heat nears. Judging by the state of mine...>[/color] As she spoke there was a loud crack. An entire plate had snapped loose with her frenzied movements and crashed to the ground. <Two weeks until I rise. No more. During the developmental stages, the Wraithqueen is small enough that, should there be no king, a Shade may mate her. I am far too large for that.>

Ceasing her scratching, the Wraith hoisted herself up a bit to place her paws on either side of the chairs, staring at the young girl. The dragon's eyes were swirling a mixture of lavender and red as her emotions fluctuated. But even as she stared they began to calm, forcing herself to stay focused through sheer force of will. The irritated tone remained, but the swirling became naught but a slow-moving eddy.

<The Trial of Courage, you passed. In three days, the Trial of Knowledge will be administered. A week from now, the Sands will open. I am told by B'ach that other weyrs have an event known as a 'Touching'. We cannot. After it has matured, an egg of Skrull may hatch as soon as it senses an appropriate rider. All the eggs buried in the sand below are mature.>

Pausing, Zen checked on a few things. Ryles had dragged the body of Fen out of the side passages and flagged a Ghost. The injured boy was being taken to the healer, the stupid one pouring his heart out for B'rac. Her rider was ordering the construction of barricades below and sending for more livestock from the Holds. Excellent.

<The Trial of Will, I have been administering the past few weeks. It is a secret trial, for I only deliver the first part. One is not told if they pass or fail until afterward. It fills the gap of the 'Touching'. I link my thought with the eggs below, then briefly touch the mind of a candidate. If there is a reaction from one of the eggs, he passes. So far, the Wraithking has reacted to all the female candidates in your class, meaning he feels some link. But until they are in close proximity, it is unknown if they are truly the right one.>

She remembered the brief flare of emotion that she'd felt, the intensity of it and the effects below. Perhaps the girl had even guessed. <Originally I asked you up here, because I had just tested you. And, I am sad to say, you failed. Originally. I am unsure as to the reason, but you stayed connected without my knowledge. Perhaps the child was curious, perhaps it is because your mind has been dragon-touched so often before. But when the child felt your resolve in facing those below, at which I will add that they are being dealt to, the reaction was... Extreme. It lashed out at your foe, projecting your emotions on to him. Which caused the effect you witnessed>

Reaching her massive claw around, Zenith pulled at Riki's chair until it was right up against the edge, turning her head to the side so that one massive eye was barely a foot away from the girl's face. <Upon which I called you again, for a different reason. I was going to tell you about your failure in person. But now I speak of your success. No matter what, even if you fail to impress my mate, I am sure a powerful Shade will snap you up. So, to ensure you stand on the sands, I am going to help you pass the Test of Knowledge.>

[Lyrikitty]

She didn't tremble at the amused rumble which Zenith uttered. Riki had heard the sound before and recognized it as a non-threatening sound. Granted, almost any sound Zenith made could seem threatening to some degree, for the sheer size of the dragon. Obediently she followed after the Wraith as she was bid to do so, walking with the large dragon into another room and watching te Wraith sink into the deep indent which the girl assumed to be a couch. Riki sat in one of the chairs, watching as Zenith proceeded to scratch until a plate of armour fell off. Riki looked in awe as it fell, and Zenith explained the itching.

It made sense.

The topic didn't stay trivial for long, Riki hadn't expected it to stay on light matters, or matters which were so easy. The real reason for her having been called was adressed swiftly, the nearness of the Wraith enough to make it a little hard to breath when she was told she'd failed.

At first it didn't fully register that she hadn't really failed, only the thought that somehow she had let down a lot of people, she was going to end up alone in the world and thrown right back to what she once was. However... Zen was still talking, explaining the process and how in some oddity of it all she'd remained unknowingly connected, and when she'd turned her rage on the two boys the egg had felt it and taken action, enforcing her unspoken want. That did explain why it ad happened, and even the particular circumstances of it all. It made sense. Did that mean she really was the one for the second Wraith though? Or was she more likely, as Zen had mentioned, to Impress to a Shade? A part of her yearned for the Wraith, though she didn't understand why. Perhaps it was anunknowing want to return the favor B'ach had done for her, by ensuring the rider who rode his dragon's mate was not going to use him as so many seemed to intend to do.

What really shocked the girl was Zenith pulling the chair closer and peering at her from such proximity, telling Riki she would be given help to pass the Test of Knowledge and ensure the girl standing on the Sands. Riki blinked rapidly, trying to fully process this. Why would Zenith want to help her so much? Why would the Wraith go out of her way to help one Hold-bred candidate, in a Weyr so soaked in it's traditions that only recently did Pern as a whole know of it's existence?

She spoke cautiously, not wanting to offend the dragon but wanting, at the ame time, to understand what motivation Zenith had. She had heard that some dragons were strange, Daisyth had been a good example, speaking to a girl who meant nothing to the Gold at the time. Daisyth had actively sought Riki out to speak with if she was in the area, and for the queen to converse openly with anyone but her rider was odd, much less a child who didn't even belong to the Weyr. Perhaps whatever had caused the Gold to take interest had also caused Zenith to do so. It was the only thing which made much sense. "I do not want to sound ungrateful, Zenith. I assure you I am most honored by what you are telling me, but why? Why go so far out of your way to help me?" What made her worth the Wraithqueen's time? And where was B'ach? Shouldn't he be here for this sort of thing?

[Bacchante]

Zenith pondered Riki's question for a few moments before she answered. It wasn't that she didn't know the answer, but more that she didn't want to tell it. Or at least all of it. Slowly, casually, Zenith laid down as if she was trying to relax and closed her eyes, hiding the swirling emotions beneath them. Her 'voice' was cool and collected, thinking in an offhand manner.<A variety of reasons, little morsel. Perhaps chief of which is that, of all the girls in all of her territory the Gold Queen Daisyth brought up you specifically.>

The Wraith flexed, causing innumerable small cracking sounds as she did so. A few bits of bone pinged around the chamber, thankfully nowhere near the girl in the chair. <Then there are the other girls. Skrull Island Weyr has long had a proud and powerful heritage. But... There are few native weyrfolk now. Almost all of the candidates you have met are themselves holdfolk, despite coming from the isle. And they do not share in what we are. The Three and One of our culture: Courage, Will, Knowledge and Honour are replaced with their own bastardized form: Cowardice, Promiscuity, Gossip and Betrayal>[/i][/color]

Her eyes were open again as she stared balefully at the opposite wall. In this room the light was relatively weak, from braziers around the walls. This meant the shining red glow of the behemoth queen's eyes lit up the chamber, raging as it did. But quickly as it had come it softened into a cool blue. <And then there is you. The exact opposite. You stand up to my rider when he could end you with a word, you held your true self together despite your father's best efforts, you have thrust yourself into our world with a fervor I have not seen from any other native candidate.>

Propping her bulk up, quite awkwardly given the splintering bone surrounding her, Zenith laid her head on the stone floor beside the girl's chair. <You have proven yourself. These tests, they are mere formalities in your case. In my mind, at the very least. But I am afraid that if I do not help you will fail the Test of Knowledge. There's no way around it, Riki. Study as hard as you like... It won't be enough.>

[Lyrikitty]

Riki listened as Zenith explained her reasons, and somehow the girl understood almost fully what the Wraith meant. She was reminded of earlier today, what had happened, the ferocity with which she felt the need to protect not herself, not her chances of Impression or her comfortable place in her new home, but the man who had saved her, the Weyr she now saw as her home, and everything that it was meant to be. Her own safety and position had played no part in the rage that had filled her. How many of the girls hwo had grown from infants with Skrull in their lives would say the same? How many would have bravely stood before danger to protect the Weyr's interests, instead of slinking away to safety?

She expected very few. She had seen firsthand the betrayal and cowardice Zenith spoke of, the rest was not hard to imagine. Her heart went out to the Wraith who had been forced to see these girls and worry that one of them could soon become her B'ach's mate. That had to be a torture of unsusual depth, and Riki shuddered at the thought.

Zenith said nothing Riki could do would prepare her for the final test, and the girl's brow furrowed slightly. She trusted what Zenith told her fully, no hint of doubt ever crossing her mind, but if this test was so hard why had B'ach ever agreed to bring in candidates from outside? How was anyone to ever pass it and stand on the Sands? Her heart sank, though the knowledge that Zenith was promising to make sure Riki passed lifted the girl's spirits easily. Her lips set into a firm expression of determination, and she nodded slightly. "I won't let you down. I an grateful for what you are offering me and to prove it I shall do whatever you ask of me. I want not only to give you a reason for happiness, but to ensure Daisyth does not look like a fool for recommending me so highly." Even now, the girl wasn't looking at her own potential advancements in the world, instead the various things she could do to help Zenith and B'ach if she Impressed to a dragon of influence.

[Bacchante]

The white queen rumbled even louder than before, twisting her head from the girl so that she could reach up and tear off the upper half of her helmet. The effect was quite strange, the Wraith seeming vaguely smaller because of it. Zenith's actual horns were quite small beneath it and her surface, rather than being smooth hide like most dragons seemed to sparkle. The fact that the lower half of her head was still encased in the bone armour didn't help the effect, especially since her lower jaw now seemed to be large and jutting.

<Silly girl. You have already justified Daisyth's faith in you. Now you just have to worry about B'ach's. Since you came here, have you thought about what he did for you? Your father was, unfortunately, fully within his rights to tell him to shard off until he received confirmation from the leader of his Weyr. By which time he would undoubtedly have hidden you away somewhere with some sob-story of how you fled from your home.>

Although, obviously, Lord Holders were subservient to Weyrleaders Zenith was technically correct. B'ach might have been a Weyrleader, but he had not been Rileson's Weyrleader. <So, like the silly little boy he is, my rider took action. Punished your father, and took you. I just can't wait until we get to deal with the fallout from that particular stroke of genius. The point is, dear child, although I'm doing this for Daisyth and for you I am mostly doing it for him. Because in asking for candidates from outside the Weyr he made a serious mistake. They can't pass our tests. And if any of you fail, it will shame him. You in particular, because if you fail he may very well have to return you to your father.>

At the mention of that man Zen's eyes had increasingly narrowed, spinning faster and faster as she grew increasingly agitated. <But rest assured, my pet, I won't let that happen. We'll just invite him here to collect you in person and I'll sit on him. Accidentally, of course. I doubt anyone will really mind. Now then:> The queen scratched at her lower jaw until she could loosen the bone there enough to tear off. <Ah, much better. The next few days will not be fun for me. It occurs to me that I will be in no small amount of discomfort and deserve some recompense for what I'm doing.>

With a rather ominous look in her eyes, the Wraithqueen laid her head down beside the girl, tilting it toward her slightly to give better access to the top of it. <For now, you may scratch behind my horns. You have no idea how itchy it gets inside that thing. As for helping you, well it's simple really. I'll just tell you the answers to the first two questions. The third... I can explain it well enough, but you'll have to answer it yourself or B'ach will know what I've done and he'll be terribly angry with me. I swear, his mood swings when I go into heat are even worse than mine.>

The great heart of the dragon actually skipped a beat as a certain though occurred to her. <Uh... Riki, darling, could you tell me something? Have you ever been in a Weyr during a Queen flight?>

[Lyrikitty]

Zenith's hide, beneath the armour, was something spectacular. Shimmering and brilliant, Riki's breath momentarily refused to enter her lungs, remaining stubbornly caught in her throat. As Zenith tilted her head closer and bid the girl scratch where the armour had previously been, Riki did so cautiously at first, reaching out as if afraid she might hurt Zenith. This was ridiculous, and as soon as she realized it she scolded herself. She was so very small and Zeith was so very large, the odds of the girl hurting the dragon were nil. Almost laughing at herself she applied her hands to scratching behind Zenith's horns, hoping she was applying enough pressure and hitting the spots the Wraith was itching worst in.

She faultered when Znith asked if she'd ever been in a Weyr for a Queen flight, and Riki paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. "No, I've never really been in a Weyr until I was brought here. I saw the dragons at Gathers, and I usually spent time with Daisyth if she was present, but I didn't go to the Weyr myself. Father wouldn'ty allow it. I'm sure if he knew of half the things I did he'd skin me." A sorrowful truth, the Holder wouldn't have taken well to his daughter cavorting with dragons or training runners in her spare time.

The thought of B'ach, the intimidating man who had swooped into her life and whisked her away with no warning, being moody was somewhat comical. "I have thought, and often, on my rescue. I don't know the rules of the Weyrs, but I am grateful for B'ach's actions. it's... It's part of why I was so angry earlier, with the boys. B'ach is a good man, granted he seems a bit rash and hard at times, but I owe him much. The thought of those two trying to remove outside competition, so they could plot to remove B'ach later on..." Just thinking of it made her blood boil, and she shook her head, trying to calm again. Needed to get her mind off of that she applied herself with gusto to scratching Zenith's head. "If I don't Impress here, and I am to be sent back... I don't want anyone hurt. I'll just... dissappear on the way home." She knew the trouble which would be caused if Rileson were to be accidentally killed. There was no heir, and undoubtably Crystal Caverns would be forced to get involved more than it already was. It would be much easier if while she was being transported back to the Hold she slipped away and found herself a new home, perhaps in beastmaster hall or somewhere working with runners. It would pale in comparison to her life here in the Weyr, but it was better than Solse.

[Bacchante]

<Oh, child. You are one of us now. I feel it in you. The Ghost Guards tell me everything, and I know how much you've changed.> Zenith crooned appreciatively as the girl scratched at bits which couldn't normally be reached. <Ah. Normally we forego our armour, unless we anticipate conflict. With the Black Sands situation, the whole Weyr is on high alert. It's been some time since I've been bare.> As shown by the twitching of one of her back legs as Riki scratched with increasing vigor.

Forcing herself to focus, the queen continued. <My point, Riki, is that B'ach doesn't even see it as a debt now. He and I have accepted you and that means all the native Weyrfolk have as well. And if anyone tries to take you from us, child...> The extremely smug set of Zen's eyes said all that needed to be said about the intelligence and likelihood of success behind that particular idea. <All you need worry about now is you duty to this Weyr and you're doing fine so far.>

The behemoth queen pulled away from the girl, scrabbling out of her cubby hole and taking Riki with her. Quite delicately, though, sliding one giant claw underneath the chair and hoisting it not unlike a lord might hold his goblet. The piece of furniture was deposited facing a large wooden door at one end of the chamber. <We are currently in the Wraith sleeping chamber. This door leads to the Weyrleader's chambers. And the Weyrwoman's too, of course. It is a perfect example of what I am about to explain to you.>

Zen was half-curled around the girl in the chair, using one massive claw to make her point. The door was set a few inches into the frame, and from the hinges it opened outward. In the top of the frame were two holes, evenly spaced. <Dragon's communicate with their riders, and others, mentally. Not just with words, but also with feelings. During a Flight, the dragons involved tend to broadcast quite overwhelming sensations to their riders. This is one of the reasons the riders of the mating pair are often a couple, though of course their are exceptions.>

Zenith pulled away, demonstration over, and slid back into her depression. She left Riki and the chair where it was. If one was so inclined, they might interpret her actions as somewhat embarrassed. <You mentioned, when you were collected... That you had trained some of the runners at your old Hold. I shall assume, then, that you understand the... Mechanics. But, essentially, when a Wraith rises her connection to the other dragons of Skrull and the sheer force of her mind are enough to cause spontaneous flights among all the other females. Which means that with every single dragon rising, the aura of lust is quite overpowering. Thus, the doors. Sealed from inside and out. When the Horn above is blown to signify a Wraithflight, everyone retires to their own rooms with a partner. They seal them from the inside, the guards seal them from the outside and then lock themselves away. This way there are no problems with... Indecency.>

There it was. Hesitation. Nervousness even. Zenith was now far too large for any Shade to fly her, and had spurned their advances even when they were still roughly compatible. Thus she felt quite awkward talking to Riki about all this. <I felt the need to warn all those not of this Hold. You especially, child. It would really not do if you got caught up in an unfortunate moment. But now, we get to the other reason I called you here. Because I trust you as a person, and I can't talk to B'ach about this... There's a book I'd like you to get from the library. And read to me, if you could. It's about... It's called...>.

Zenith glanced around suspiciously, then moved to block the entrance and pushed her head close to the girl, whispering mentally her shameful request.

[Lyrikitty]

Riki's cheek stained red as Zenith complimented her, calling her one of them. It touched her deeply, and she wished she could show Zenith her appreciation for that comment, however any opportunity was lost as Zenith rose and moved the chair. Riki had utter faith in the Wraith, and she didn't startle when her chair was lifted and moved. In fact, she merely watched curiously as she was carried and placed before a door. Said door was then explained, Zenith by her side, and Riki could feel her cheeks turning all the more rexd when Zenith moved away and continued explaining why there were doors here, and why the doors had bolts.

So... Did that mean Riki was going to be thrown into one such room when Zenith rose, with a man, and expected to... Do things with him? The idea both terrified and excited her. Never had she been with a man, she hadn't even kissed a boy before. She was an untouched flower, stolen from it's meadow and thrust into a primal valley. Her breath caught in her thoat, and she shook slightly in fright. She had heard things, about how the Weyr worked in that manner. She had heard that Dragonlust made even a gentle lover rough.

The idea of a man roughly taking her was unpleasent, making her feel vaguely ill. Alright, it was more than a little vague. She was tempted to dash for a bowl and hang her head over it just to be sure. She didn't have a chance to do so, for Zenith started talking again, now with an odd tone to her voice. If the girl didn't know any better, she would have thought Zenith sounded... What? Nervous? Embarassed? Yes... Riki thought the last was about right, though until Zenith whispered the title of what she wanted Riki didn't understand.

As soon as the name was given, Riki flushed all over again. The only logical reason Zenith would be asking for this would be that... Well would be that the Wraith had never been caught. The idea that B'ach had lead the Weyr alone for so many turns, and that Zenith had gone unmated, was hard to accept. A Weyr needed two to survive well. Weyrleader and Weyrwoman, the backbone and heart of the Weyr.

The level of trust Zenith was showing was endearing, as was the extent of their conversation thus far. She had expected a few words to be said by the Wraith, and then a dismissal back to whatever she'd been doing. But now they were speaking as if friends. Not even Daisyth had ever said so much to Riki at any time. A few words, short questions, but that was it. The relationship with the Gold had been mostly in a comfortable silence. It was odd to have a dragon treating her as a friend.

Smiling, she nodded slowly. "Yeah, I can do that for you Zenith. If you'd like I could go and grab the book now. How long will B'ach be gone for?" She suspected that if Zenith was talking to her in private about this, the behemoth dragon didn't really want to talk to B'ach about it. Or have him know, for that matter.