Fading Memories|OPEN

[elainsie]

The scent of firestone clung heavily to the air however it was clear from the number of dragons leaving the area, riders astride, that for the afternoon drills were over. J'ran's fellow riders were returning to their weyrs, for a quick clean up and perhaps a change of clothing before heading off for something to eat. However the bronze rider stood immobile, seemingly watching the dragons with disineterest. In fact his gaze was on the past, as he tried to search his head for memories that were fading much too fast.

Minimeth snaked his large triangular head around in concern, his fast whirling eyes taking on a yellow hue, as he met J'ran's distant gaze. Although J'ran had been like this for some months, some moments were worse than others. With the tight mind link the pair shared, it was obvious this was one of those particulary bad times. Absently, J'ran reached a hand up to stroke the great bronzes' muzzle, and then dropped his head, pivoting on his foot as he marched away from the Weyr following the course of the river. Despite the man's long, fast strides, Minimeth easily caught up to his rider. While his Mine might not want to talk about it, he was trying hard to keep Minimeth out, neither would the bronze let Jran run off and do something foolish.

They walked for some time, Jran's path running parallel to the gently flowing river, as Rukbhat lowered in the sky, painting it in wonderful shades of orange, yellows and pinks. In places it managed to penetrate to the ground beneath, the sun set the finely grounded minerals in a frnezy of dancing light. Unfortunately the entire beauty of his environment was lost to J'ran. As if having heard an unspoken command, J'ran abruptly ceased his striding, and the bronze had to take care not to collide into the man sending him sprawling into the chilly waters of the river nearby.

Folding his legs under him in a fluid movement, J'ran dropped to ground, somehow managing to seat himself upon a patch of grass that sparsely dotted the riverbank. Kneeling nearby, the great bronze lowered his hulking form, wondering at the reason behind J'ran's peculiar behaviour.

Until then, the clearing they sat in had been devoid of sound, barring that of J'ran's light breathing and the concerned crooning of Minimeth now and then. However the sound of heart-wrenching sobbing punctuated the stillnees, reverbrating around them.

His face held in his outstretched hands, the bronze rider's shoulders shook violently, the unseen tears streaming down his face. With the uncharaceristic release of emotions, and the tightnss in his chest, J'ran sucked in great gulps of air, feeling as if the lungs in his chest would burst. He could not get enough air in, he was choking, with alarm he dropped his hands from his face and looked towards Minimeth through bleary eyes. I can not breathe!

}:Yes, you can. Just take a deep breath, nothing will happen to you while I am here.:{ The dragon's tone was soothing, wrapping around J'ran's mind like a protective blanket.

The dragon's crooning was now incessant, his eyes whirring so fast they were a blur of color. J'ran had not noticed his dragons attemtpt to reassure him over the own noise he made, but with another few gulps of air, he stilled himself, feeling his pulse settle, and his airways once again fill with the fresh air. Utterly exhausted from his emotional outburst he lay back on the ground, eyes closed to all around him, clinging to the presence of Minimeth in his mind, as a drowning man would cling to a hand outstretched in help. His mind repeated the same word over and over again, a litany of the name Gilean .

During drills, his mind perhaps clouded with the scent of firestone, he had spied a dark haired Ruby rider crossing the Weyrbowl with her dragon, and instantly assumed it was his weyrmate, momentarily forgetting that the woman in question had died some three months ago. However he realised quickly he was mistaken, this rider was taller, carried herself in a different manner. She was certainly not Gilean.

It was then the tightness in his chest had gripped him. If he could confuse Gilean with another woman so easily, had he forgotten what she really looked like? He had wracked his memory, relying on Minimeth to guide them through the drill, and with a horrible, sinking realisation discovered that while he could rememeber hair color, height and overall build, her features were blurred in his mind. What color had her eyes been? The shape of her face? While these things all seemed inconsquential when she was alive, J'ran readily taking them for granted, it was in her death that he clung to the shreds of what he had left of her. For he if he forgot these trivial things, how would he ever retain the essence of Gilean in his head? To forget her would be the most terrible tragedy of all. With such thoughts plaguing him, he had performed the drills mechanicly, a mercy that he had not injured himself or anyone else.

From his position on the grass he finally opened up to Minimeth. Why did she have to go? Why did she leave me Minimeth? He wiped away the trace of tears from his face, giving voice (at least in the mind) to the same age-old rhetoric asked by many after the death of a loved one.

}:If there had been any choice in the matter, she would not have gone. It is not as if she did this to cause you pain. It just happened.:{

And that makes it better? That means it is fine for me to forget her, to move on? In his anger he lashed out at Minimeth, needing something to rail against, some to argue with. He could not make sense of it. They had been happy, excited even, waiting the birth of their child. The day before she died they had been bickering and laughing over what to call their son or daughter, Gelian assuring J'ran they would have a girl. How could so much change from one day to the next?

It was with draconic logic that Minimeth replied }:No, not forget. But move on, yes. The wound can not heal if you are constantly worrying at it. I do not think she would like to see you like this.:{

I don't like seeing myself like this, J'ran replied.
=-=-=-
Word Count:1105
Notes:Please someone join in, I need another rp going. ^^ [/color]

[Desert]

RiderMine, someone is sad,[/b][/color] Zhek remarked, his whirling eyes taking on a concerned indigo tinge, deviating from the contented blue they had been. Smudges of violet blossomed in the pools of wheeling blue and indigo as the big bronze's eyes picked up speed.

They had been making their way back to their weyr, pleasantly tired from the drills. K'tal wing had been doing very well, and he privately thought they'd be able to win the annual Spring Games. K'tal glanced down at the metallic hide over his dragon's shoulders, the light dancing over the ripples in Zhek's bronze hide as the muscles underneath undulated with each sweep of Zhek's long wings.

"Really?" K'tal said, bemused. He didn't go for sarcasm, since the big bronze seemed sincerely worried. He knew better than to ask which someone; like most dragons, Zhek was horrible with names.

A bronzerider. He is very sad, and His is sad for him. I don't know why he is sad.[/b][/color] Zhek's wingbeats faltered. We should go to them. No one should be sad,[/b][/color] he insisted.

A sigh slipped through K'tal's lips. "All right, fine. Since you're so worried, let's go see what's got this guy so down." There was no arguing with Zhek when he got like this. The coppery wings flared out and stopped flapping; they twisted slightly as the bronze's body listed to one side. Zhek banked smoothly to reverse directions, and glided in the direction of the sad one, urgency lending speed to the swirling purple of his eyes.

There, see? It is Minimeth and His. Minimeth, why is Yours sad?[/b][/color] Zhek crooned at the other bronze as he swooped in. Cupping his wings and tucking his haunches, the big bronze landed gently beside the river, careful not to displace too much debris from the sandy ground.

Zhek dipped his shoulder to help his rider to dismount. K'tal slid off the red-brown shoulder and gave it a fond pat, then focused on J'ran, for whom Zhek was so concerned. He took all his dragon's quirks in stride, having long ago given up trying to figure out the convoluted workings of the huge bronze's mind.

"Hey," he called to J'ran, walking slowly over. "What's the matter? Zhek noticed how down you were." K'tal stopped a few feet away -- a respectful distance -- and dropped into a crouch, propping his elbows on his thighs. "You seemed kinda out of it during practice," he added, just now processing what had seemed off with the other bronzerider.

Zhek looked from His to J'ran for a moment. Then the big bronze slid his paws out from under him, settling onto his belly, resting his coppery head on rusty forepaws, eyes still open and wheeling varied shades of violet and indigo. [/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

}:Mayhap we should go back now. It is going to be dark soon.:{ Minimeth suggested, to which J'ran shook his head sharply against the ground he still lay upon.

No. I don't want to go back yet. I don't want to be around anyone else. J'ran was sick of his friends just 'popping in', he knew they had the best intentions, that they were trying to ensure the bronzerider was pulled out of his slump, but what they did not seem to understand is that he wanted to be alone. And it did not matter how many times J'ran told them this, they shrugged it off. It was too hard for them to imagine the once bright and gregarious bronzerider had become a recluse.

The only person he wanted to see, he never would again. Everyone elses company paled in comparison, and the few times he had permitted himself to be dragged out her abscence was all too apparent, especially in group situations. Oh his friends tried to make up for it, talking more frequently and louder than they ever had before but it was blatant that they felt the dearth that Gelian's death had caused in their social gatherings.

So he opted out, and tried to hide himself away, anyplace that he could get away from the concerned, yet aggravating presence of those who cared for him. Which was what had brought him here.

It was Minimeth who heard the sounds of approach first. He knew this would not please J'ran, should he warn his Mine or wait until he realised they had company? Minimeth opted for the former. }:Mine, it seems we are not the only ones out here.:{

What? Has someone followed me? His eyes snapped open and he sat up quickly, looking around the clearing. And then the bronze and his dragon landed. J'ran groaned inwardly. He had thought he had come far enough that no one would seek him here. Pushing himself up off the ground, the man ignored the bronze and his dragon. He would not greet them, if the other man had something to say let him say it and be gone.

Walking to the edge of the dark river he picked up a smooth, flat stone, and skipped it across. The pale rock skimmed the surface five times before sinking to the river bed below with a distinct splash. With the sinking of Rukbhat leaching the colors of the clearing he bent to pick up another rock. And noticed the bronze rider had joined him. He looked at the man, he knew K'tal of course. The younger man attended the same meetings that J'ran himself was required to as a bronzerider of the Weyr, they had shared numerous, inconsquential conversations though he did not number the man among his close circle of friends.

"Nothing's wrong, I just thought I would come to the middle of nowhere to skip some rocks and ponder over the mysteries of life," he replied with rich sarcasm. Unfortunately what J'ran had not realised was that despite his best efforts to erase his earlier burst of emotion, his red tinged eyes belied him. J'ran was man enough that he did not want others knowing that he had cried, had been sure that by coming this far away from the Weyr he would not have been stumbled across."But that does not explain why you are here. What reason do you have?"

Minimeth turned his head slowly to the other bronze. }:Please excuse my Mine. He is hurting and says things he does not mean. He did not expect to be found here.:{ [/color]

[Desert]

Zhek crooned softly at the other bronze. We understand. I am sorry Yours is upset. I hate it when Mine is upset.[/b][/color] The big bronze seemed unaware of his rider's frosty reception by J'ran.

K'tal chuckled slightly. He leaned back, one hand stretched out behind him to catch his weight as it rocked back. Then he eased into a sitting position from his crouch, still leaned back, staring at the river as J'ran was doing. "Me? I'm just here because that big lump made me." He jerked a thumb in Zhek's direction. "He decided halfway to the Weyr that we should come investigate, and since he was the one transporting us I couldn't argue much." K'tal shrugged slightly, head tilted to one side.

The big bronze shuffled closer and poked K'tal's shoulder with his coppery muzzle. It earned him a playful slap on the nose. What? He's not gonna unload his troubles on a stranger. He's obviously not in the mood for company, K'tal told his dragon, quirking an eyebrow sternly at the bronze.

Zhek just blinked his indigo-swirled eyes once. That look, and the unarticulated thoughts in his mind, said all that needed to be said. This man is sad. He should not be sad, that is wrong. We should make it better. Somehow.

Since the two bronzeriders were unacquainted with one another, K'tal wasn't aware of the reason for J'ran's melancholy, or of a way to snap him out of it. And, since he'd never gone through any similar ordeal, He couldn't empathize. He could sympathize, but that emotion wasn't his strong suit when the other person was a stranger.

Still, Zhek wanted to help. And since K'tal didn't have the heart to deny his Zhek, since the big bronze seemed fairly fixated, he was wondering how he should go about it. He didn't see many options. K'tal got the feeling that the best he'd be able to do would be to leave J'ran in peace, but Zhek wasn't going to buy that.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

J'ran rose an eyebrow as he glared at the other bronezrider. "Well as you can see," and he made a wide expansive gesture, "there is nothing of interest here so if you would not mind leaving, that would be quite appreciated." J'ran turned the rock over and over as he spoke, the smooth surface a reassuring presence in his work-hardened hands.

It was his father who had taught him to skip rocks, J'ran reflected, on a trip to a Southern beach. They had delievered some casks of his parents latest wine to a Hold and then they had had a few days to themselves. J'ran, who had been eight Turns at the time, had had such a wonderful time, viewing all the sights that Southern had to offer, his father patiently shadowing him to make sure he did not get into any strife. Odd, that he could reflect on memories of his father and not feel that wide, gaping hole of grief within that engulfed him everytime he thought of Gelian. But then his father had lived a long and fufilling life. He had had chances and done things, and while his death had saddened J'ran greatly what he had felt over his father's loss was no way in comparable to this. Gelian had still been so young, should have still had years of life left before her. And what of their child? Who had not even survived outside the womb. He shook his head sadly, no it was not right. If only this was some horrid, too long nightmare that he would wake up from.

J'ran realised his mind had wondered again, it did that so frequently these days. He looked up to see K'tal had not moved despite what he had said. "Are you waiting for something? Or did you just not understand what I said before? You know, perhaps if you go a little further past the river, you might find a damsel in distress or someone to rescue. Maybe your bronze misjudged the direction of whatever seemed to call to him, and someone who actually needs and wants your help is waiting for you two." He gave a shrug of his shoulders, and threw the rock in his hand in the river, not bothering with skipping the rock this time. He remained facing the water, back straight, waiting for the sounds of the bronze rider retreating.

}:There's no need to be like that! They are trying to help.:{ Minimeth reprimanded J'ran. The bronze's eyes had calmed somewhat when the other bronze had entered the clearing but now they resumed their anxious pace, twin lights of yellow.

I don't want help. I don't need help. I am _fine_, or at least I will be if everyone just stops trying to _help_. But even as he said the words to Minimeth he wondered if they were true. Would he really live the rest of his life trying to fight anyway who extended a hand in friendship? Or pushing those away who only wanted to see him happier?

}:No, you don't need help at all. Because this is what you have always been like, is it not?:{ Minimeth replied in what was the most sarcastic tone the bronze had ever achieved in all the Turns they had been bonded. J'ran recognised it as a rhetoric, but the comment rankled.

Minimeth turned back to the bronze. }:He is not normally like this. His mate died, and with her their Hatchling. I am sorry if he has offended you or yours, if he was thinking properly he would not say these things. When yours is sad, what do you do?:{ J'ran upset was such a contrast from the usual J'ran that Minimeth had very little idea of what would make his Mine better again.

[Desert]

J'ran's bitter tone warned K'tal to bugger off. He glanced at Zhek, but the big bronze gave him a stubborn glare. No moving, we need to help, said that look. K'tal sighed heavily.

He reached down to pick up an oddly-colored pebble. He turned it over and over in his hands, staring at the swirls of color across the rough surface. K'tal listened to the rhythmic plit plit plit of the stones J'ran was skimming across the water, and reflected that this was truly a nice place to sit if you just needed time to think.

He was about to get up and tell Zhek to give it up, to take them back to their weyr so K'tal could get a bath and some dinner, when J'ran made his acerbic comment about damsels in distress.

Zhek bristled, his violet eyes taking on a few flecks of red. They were only trying to help, there was no need for him to insult! The big bronze was about to growl indignantly, stung by J'ran's words, but his rider shot Zhek a stern glance.

Cool it. You were the one who wanted to force our company on him, so your ego can take a blow. He has a right to snap since we're irritating him by hanging around, K'tal told his bronze sternly, quelling Zhek's ire before it could manifest fully.

The big bronze settled back down, resting his coppery head next to K'tal. He crooned softly when K'tal started stroking his muzzle absently, still lost in thought.

As Minimeth addressed him, Zhek glanced over at the smaller bronze and sighed deeply. I understand,[/b][/color] he told Minimeth. He would put the insult out of his mind, but Zhek's touchy pride wouldn't let him forgive even that small slight easily. When asked for advise, a gruff snort escaped his muzzle, followed by a thoughtful grumbling sound from deep in his chest.

When K'talMine is sad...[/b][/color] He was at a bit of a loss, for K'tal had never been very attached to anyone or anything besides Zhek, so he'd never really suffered distress over something like what J'ran was going through. Zhek hadn't had to comfort K'tal through much. I'm not sure. But if I were Minimeth and if Yours were Mine, I would share the sad with him. It is a sad thing when a hatchling dies. So maybe if I shared the sadness with Mine, he wouldn't feel it as much. And when there had been enough of the sadness, I would tell Mine to stop being sad. It is silly to keep being sad. If they died, then that's it. It can't be changed, so why be sad about it?[/b][/color] Zhek pointed out with irrefutable draconic logic, blinking thoughtfully.

K'tal's lips twitched. Dragons may not always be as high in IQ as their human bondeds, but they were certainly wiser in many cases. He reached out to scratch Zhek's eye-ridges fondly. Well said, Zhek, he told the bronze. The big dragon hummed happily at the praise.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Minimeth nodded at the other's bonzes wisdom, }:I have tried to, although perhaps I have not tried hard enough.:{ He thought on this, picking up on the myriad of thoughts that swirled through J'ran's troubled mind. Privately to his rider Minimeth bespoke, }:Please do not shut me out. I know you say you do not want help, but you yourself said you do not want to be like this. And the only way I can think of for you to change is to let other people in. You do not have to carry it all by yourself Mine.:{ The bronze stood up and moved to his rider's side. J'ran instinctively put out a hand to stroke the bronze's hide, the large figure casting him into shadow.

**I've neglected you havn't I? In my own self-absorption I did not think how this affected you. That you too lost someone you cared for,** the bronze had had a deep affection and respect for Gelian's ruby, who had betweened upon the death of her Mine. He sighed heavily, and turned to face the other bronze and his dragon, the river whoosing behind his shoulder. **I don't think it will be easy. It just seems better for everyone concerned that I don't burden them with my troubles...why should they have to be sad too?**

Minimeth cocked his head to the right, eyes intent on his rider's face. }:No, you never neglected me, Mine. Don't ever think that. And it is not meant to be easy. But you hurt those who care for you, or who are concerned, by shutting them out. You lash out unthinkingly, and if they do not know why you hurt how can they not be offended by this?:{

J'ran was astounded by the rationale coming from his dragon. Oh he knew the bronze was clever of course, but the things he was saying now, they were so blatantly true and yet J'ran had been so wrapped up in himself and his own hurt he had given no thought as to what those around might have been thinking or feeling. His lips twitched into the merest hint of a smile, or the closest thing to it that had crossed his face in the last few months, **Did you come up with yourself? Or did your bronze friend help? And I suppose that means I should have a deep and meaningful with his Mine?** But the sarcastic tone was gone, replaced by something that was most identifiable as humor, though not quite.

}:I had some help.:{ Minimeth admitted, }:But for the most of it, it was what I thought. You don't have to talk about /her/ if you don't feel like it. But talk about something, try to think about something else, just for a little bit at least.:{ For Minimeth knew J'ran had given little thought to anything but Gelian over the last few months, and that had not helped J'ran heal at all.

**If you say so Minimeth. I'm doing this for you though.** J'ran acquiecsed and looked over at K'tal. He knew he should probably apologise for his slight earlier, but could not dredge up the words for it, after all they had intruded upon his privacy. Nonetheless with Minimeth spurring him on he spoke to K'tal. "Well if you did come to help as you say, then perhaps you could start by talking about something, anything to occupy my mind. " J'ran settled back on his original patch of grass, legs folded underneath him.

}:Thank you for your help.:{ Minimeth spoke to the other bronze, }:He will still hurt for sometime I think, but this is the most repsonsive I have seen him yet.:{

[Desert]

Zhek watched the other pair as they had their silent conversation. He head his head tilted slightly to one side, gem-like eye awhirl with violet and indigo. As the silence stretched on, the blue tinge started to take over, and the wheeling slowed. He waited patiently for one of them to address him or His, hopeful, for if the sad rider was thoughtful at least he was not hurting.

You are welcome,[/b][/color] Zhek told the other bronze gravely, his eyes slowing still more until the dark blue was almost still; it eddied lazily, smudged with indigo yet but mostly blue. Hurts like that don't heal quickly, I think,[/b][/color] he added, thoughtful again.

Isn't there a saying 'time heals all?'[/b][/color] Zhek asked his rider suddenly. K'tal nodded. The big bronze grumbled in the back of his throat and flicked his tail-tip. I don't think that is right. You heal, time doesn't heal you. But after some time, you don't fell the pain as much. It doesn't go away, but you get used to it, you can handle it better. Time is like numbweed.[/b][/color]

K'tal stared at his dragon, wide-eyed. He hadn't expected such a profound statement, not in the least. Where had Zhek come up with that? Wisdom from the mouths of children; more like from the minds of dragons! K'tal hadn't knows Zhek could be that philisophical.

The bronze gazed back at his rider, bemused by the shock in K'tal's thoughts. He was distracted when the hand that had just frozen thawed and caressed his head-knobs. Zhek hummed contentedly and basked in the warmth of K'tal's unarticulated praise of his statement. He didn't know what was so special about it, but if K'tal liked it so much he'd try to spout off more of it!

When J'ran spoke to him, it woke K'tal out of his daze. He glanced at the other bronzerider and pulled a half-smik onto his lips. "Well, at least you're talking to me," he observed, not entirely sarcastic.

"Let's see. Is mine the only dragon who seems oddly philisophical tonight?" he asked, chuckling, casting a fond glance at Zhek's coppery head.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

[Minimeth was glad that J'ran had heeded his words, and settled somewhat more comfortable on the ground, head rested on his front legs, as his anxious eyes slowed in their frantic pace and took on the calm blue hue that Zek's had changed to.

}:See it's not so hard is it?:{ Minimeth asked J'ran, a rather smug tone to his mindvoice.

J'ran's lips twitched slightly again as his eyes unfocused and he bespoke Minimeth. **No, I suppose not. But it won't stop me thinking of her forever you do realise. And I don't want to forget her, I just want it to stop hurting. For now this is a distraction. A good one, but nothing more than that. **

}:It will get easier, and you have me Mine. You may have lost her, but you will never be alone while I am here to share your thoughts with.:{ The bronze crooned softly in reassurance.

**Thank you, Minimeth. **

"I suppose your presence wore me down; you and that great bronze of you are quite the wearing pair when you put your mind to it." J'ran trailed a finger in the dirt beside him creating circle upon circle. He looked up at K'tal when he mentioned the philosophical tendencies of his dragon. "Oh, so Minimeth is not the only one. He definitely has some sage advice for me today, although I thought perhaps that was the influence of your own dragon. " J'ran titled his to one side, considering the idea. "Perhaps it has something to do with this area, not that I am really one to believe in such things, or mayhap we have just underestimated their intelligence." He gave a small shrug of his shoulders.

Upon hearing this Minimeth gave a snort, his version of a laugh. This time the bronze spoke so the other bronze and both riders could hear him. }:What was that Mine? You believe I am intelligent? I could have told you that, but sometimes it is for the benefit to have riders as yourself believe you are more clever. After all you are so small and defenceless in comparison to us, you need to have something that makes you seem more superior.:{

[Desert]

A grin stretched over K'tal's face, and he chuckled softly. "So I've been told, actually," he remarked, remembering the many times when, as fostered weyrbrats, his big brother Kadran had complained that Kaital wore on his nerves. Restrospectively, K'tal realized that that was inevitable for siblings. The younger always irritated the older; it was a law of nature, as much as "what goes up must come down".

At Minimeth's acerbic remark, K'tal laughed again, and his voice was joined by the much deeper rumble that bubbled up from Zhek's throat. The big bronze laughed along, his eyes picking up speed and dappling with flecks of an amused greenish tinge. Well said![/b][/color] he chortled.

K'tal scratched the copper-colored nose, still grinning. "A very good point, Minimeth," he said, shaking his head slightly. That's what they got for talking as if the dragons weren't there. It was only fair that J'ran ended up shoving his foot into his mouth a bit for that.

The moment of levity faded, though K'tal kept a small smile on hips lips as he gazed at the play of red light from the dying sun over Zhek's mettalic, pinkish muzzle. "And I think we all have our moments of wisdom. Maybe..." a minor epiphany struck him. "Maybe it's because they aren't always as high on the IQ scale that they can come up with things like that. Humans tend to get all caught up in our human things, and we overthink things. We create troubles out of nothing. But dragons don't do that, and by far they seem much more content than a lot of their riders." A faint, slightly scathing snort escaped as that thought ran through his head.

I've told you that before, haven't I?[/b][/color] Zhek asked indignantly. I've said a thousand times before that you think too much. Haven't I?[/b][/color]

Now that Zhek reminded him, he was right. K'tal could remember several separate occasions when the big bronze had told him frankly to stop thinking so much when he was stressed. And, on the rare times when he'd taken the advice, it had worked. K'tal smirked slightly at those memories.

"Wisdom from the minds of dragons," he sighed, mostly to himself.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

["It seems it's not only the dragons spurting forth the philospohies today," J'ran remarked wryly in response to K'tal. But thinking upon his words, it did make sense. It was so easy to get wrapped in small, insignificant details, to worry and stress over such things. And yet draconic thinking seemed to cut through all that, their minds more receptive to the picture in its entirety rather than individual details. "And yet, you have a point. Makes me feel rather dull-witted in comparison. Unfortunately the best I have come up with so far is caustic comments."

Minimeth listened as the other bronze rider spoke to his and nodded his large head in agreeance, speaking privately to J'ran. }:This is also true. How often do you fret over things that I assure you are of no concern Mine? And how often am I right? :{

**I am sorry if I have ever doubted your superior intelligence Minimeth, I shall not make the same mistake again.** And while J'ran's face remained impassive as he spoke to the great bronze his eyes shined with amusement.

}:I don't believe it, but we shall see.:{ Minimeth responded, his tail flicking idly behind him.

With the wind picking up, J'ran shoved his hands under his arms, pulling his jacket closer against him. Rukbhat had finally sunk below the sky, Timor having taken it's place in the inky sky above. "While I would love to stay and attempt to match you with an equally witty comment, I think it's getting too cold to remain out. If you are not entirely sick of my company yet, we could grab an ale. And I could do with something to eat, it's probably still early enough that we can grab dinner. Although of course if you have somewhere to be, I am sure I can find a friend or two and reassure them I am not the complete lost cause they all believe I am. "

J'ran stood up, holding his arms over his head as he stretched the taunt muscles in his back. He then turned to Minimeth and gave the bronze an affectionate slap on the hide before boosting himself up onto the dragon's back by using his bent hindleg, and settled in between the neck ridges. "Are you coming?"

Minimeth was privately pleased with the small change wrought in J'ran as a result of the exchange between K'tal and himself. Perhaps it meant nothing, tomorrow J'ran might wake up and be in a worse place, but at least for now he seemed content and in the end that was the one thing that mattered most to the bronze.

[Desert]

This is why there are dragons,[/b][/color] Zhek observed wryly, flecks and streaks of a teasing green beginning to appear in his calmly swirling eyes. We char Thread, we take things to places instantly, and we provide the silly humans with sage advice. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it, eh Minimeth?[/b][/color] he remarked, his coppery jaw hanging in a grin.

K'tal playfully cuffed Zhek's big head. "All right, Wise One, let's get out of the cold. Or are you so clever you're immune to temperature changes?" He chuckled at the indignant tenor of the big bronze's thoughts as Zhek started to stand up. Despite his taunts, he was surprised. It had been a time for philosophical thoughts, apparently, and he found himself in a more thoughtful mood than he had been in a long time. He wasn't a deep thinker by nature, so moments like this were rare.

Zhek stood, looming over the other bronze, with the final rays of sunlight playing off his metallic red-brown hide. The last sliver of the sun peered over the western horizon like a disc of red-hot metal, sending its dying glow over the earth like a parting caress. It stained the bellies of the clouds bloody red, while the rest was various shades of mottled gray.

K'tal stepped on the rust-and-bronze foreleg Zhek lifted helpfully and vaulted onto the bronze's muscular neck. he didn't bother slipping his legs into the fighting straps, since it was only a short hop to the Weyr. He gave Zhek's shoulder a fond slap to show he was ready, and gripped the ridge in front of him in preparation for the neck-snapping takeoff.

K'tal grinned at the other bronzerider. "Oh, I've got nowhere better to be, and food sounds wonderful about now. And a nice tankard of beer." That was his usual after-drill drink anyway; a nice bit of alcohol to help him wind down after practice, while he was pleasantly tired and ready to doze.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

OOC:I think that about concludes it, thanks so much for joining in Desert and if you ever need me to fill a spot or anything I'd be happy to return the favour.