Lost something Precious ((OPEN!!))

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn sat alone in the weyrhall, watching the riders as they talked and laughed amongst each other. The girl sighed wistfully to herself as she regarded them, feeling somewhat depressed that she was not a part of the camaraderie. Panna and Toya were still busy with her chores, ((Panna had a ridiculous amount more than the other candidates, though Rael did not know why)) so she was left to muse alone. The Fort-born knew that although Impression was due soon, she still might not bond to a dragon, and that thought, too, disheartened her slightly. Of course, even if she managed to Impress a dragon of her own, it would still be two turns until these men and women considered her a part of them, she knew. The blonde looked down at her bowl, the half-eaten stew growing cold while she wasted time staring off. Grimacing, she pushed it aside, pulling her redfruit juice closer to her and running her finger around the rim of the glass.

Staring off once more, her eyes wandered to the weyrling tables this time, her heart quickening when she thought about joining them there. Yet, there was only one golden egg, and Rael knew that she was far from the only candidate the small queen had to choose from. Shaking aside those dismal thoughts, knowing they did her no good anyway, the girl rose and returned her bowl and glass, then turned to leave the weyrhall. As she came into the bowl, Raelwyn looked skyward, already familiar enough with her new home to know there would be a wing practicing above. Beta, she thought, but the girl was not sure. Watching the magnificent aerial display, the candidate leaned against the weyrhall and watched the dragons twist and turn in midair until their drill was over and the riders landed. Sighing, nearly sad that it was over, she started toward the barracks, hoping that Toya or Panna was there. Suddenly, her hand went to her throat, and she cried in dismay when she realized her green gem necklace was missing.

Turning about, Rael began to frantically search the ground for her missing necklace, her emerald eyes trained resolutely on the earth as she hunted. Unable to find it, the girl reasoned that she would backtrack her steps until she spotted it, hoping against everything that she had not dropped it while doing her chores. Her eyes still firmly on the ground, the Fort-born backtracked into the weyrhall, searching about the table she had just been sitting at. The table, the bench, the stone floor beneath her, nothing went unturned. Still at a loss, Raelwyn stood there like a lost canine, unsure whether or not she should ask a nearby drudge or even, Faranth help her, a rider if they had seen it. She kept her composure, however, no matter how badly she wanted to cry. She could not make herself look the fool in front of this new Weyr. Unbidden, one tear managed to slip out and drip down the girl’s cheek, but that was all. G’mir, her brother, had given that to her....

[LyricalBlue]

Up on a high shelf, a little form sat twittering to itself merrily. What a prize she had found! It was so shiny, and it tasted funny. The little form became clear as more glow globes were lit in the Hall. Brightly gold, and of very sleek reptile shape, those who looked up would instantly recognize her for what she was. Though perhaps they would not know her name or to who she was attached. Feya chirped happily to herself as she passed the shiny, dangly thing between her claws. The little firelizard had a keen eye for finding the things the big people left behind. Many a time I'slen had to find the owners of lost items and return them sheepishly. Feya never saw a problem with it though, she found the things; they should be hers after all.

As if on cue, the Weyrling Master strode into the Hall. He glanced about wearily, looking for any of the youngsters under his charge that he could avoid. I'slen was dead tired, all he wanted was some dinner, klah and his bed. Preferably with certain company. The rider sighed as he retrieved the food he wanted. Of course that wasn't likely to happen, not until after the flight in any case.

As he was straightening back up from pouring out some klah, a woosh of wind ruffled his hair and Feya landed on his shoulder. The little Queen rubbed her cheek against his and was all happy chirps and twitters. I'slen smiled and reached up to scratch the firelizard. When he drew his hand back Feya deposited something into it. I'slen blinked abashedly, then studied the object. A necklace, with a broken chain?
"Feya where did you get this?"
All he got from the little gold was a quick flash of a busy room and the necklace on the floor. Along with a smug sense of satisfaction.

Stopping to look around the room, I'slen tried to spot anyone who seemed to be looking for something. Feya twittered and began to preen herself... and his hair. When he didn't see anyone, the Weyrling Master sighed once more and found an empty bench to sit at. Rank said he should have sat at the Alpha Wing's table, but at this point in time, I'slen couldn't bother to care. He wanted food, a bath and bed; preferably in quick succession and order.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn’s heart dropped into her stomach as she stood there alone, but she did not cry. She refused to cry. Her brother had given that necklace to her, something he had commissioned the Weyrsmith to make when he heard that his sister was being transferred. It had been precious to her, but she did not want the riders to think that she was a silly little girl crying over something so small. The candidate turned, looking about the hall one last time almost as an afterthought. She dared not trust hope, but as her emerald eyes slid over a solitary man, a jolt struck through her like lightening. Beside him on the table sat her necklace, the chain broken but her green gem intact. For a moment she was too relieved and astonished to act, but then she noticed the rank bars he wore. He was the Weyrling Master, she realized, and a lovely golden firelizard rested upon his shoulder.

Rael froze, her mind flitting from relief to alarm in an instant. The Weyrling Master was a bronzer, she had been told, and how could a mere candidate like herself dare approach him? She was unsure of what to do. Aside from the fact the man was a ranker, he looked extremely tired and not at all friendly. He might be just as likely to erupt on her for interrupting his meal as he was to return her necklace. The girl stood there, watching him, a battle raging inside her. On one hand, she thought it would be for the best to just leave him undisturbed, but on the other, that necklace was the parting gift G’mir had entrusted to her, and how could she sacrifice it so easily? Although, it suddenly struck her how very odd it was for the man to be sitting alone when, as a bronzer and ranker, he certainly had a table reserved for him. The girl tilted her head to the side, regarding him. Finally, she came to a decision and straightened her shoulders, gathering her courage. The worst he could do was have her punished, but for her dear brother, she could suffer a little discomfort.

Raelwyn hesitantly approached the lone dragonrider, her hands clasped before her. Her heart began to flutter as she neared him, but the girl took a shallow breath to still it, unwilling to show her nervousness. She smoothed her skirt quickly, then came before the table and stopped, bowing to the bronzer respectfully as she did. Her stomach knotted, but she retained her composure, her clasped hands tightening to keep them from shaking. “Good evening, Weyrling Master, I am candidate Raelwyn. Please forgive me for interrupting you, but that is my necklace you have. I lost it earlier.” The candidate’s voice remained steady, but it was soft and courteous, her whole demeanor showing nothing but the upmost honor for him. She straightened before him, and the blonde was unable to keep her gaze from sliding to the little queen resting on the rider’s shoulder. She knew it was rude, but by Faranth, firelizards were such charming little creatures.

Rael did not own a firelizard of her own, but she had always wanted one. Yet, the small creatures were hardly abundant in the North, and for a candidate at Fort it was next to impossible to attain one. They were expensive, that was certain, yet the girl had never stopped wishing that one day she would chance upon an egg. It was unlikely, though, actually next to impossible for that to occur in the North. Firelizard clutches were found on Southern beaches. Raelwyn had always wished for a bronze. She loved dragons of all colors, and she knew if she ever Impressed a lovely queen she could never wish for more, but the idea of having a miniature bronze at her side was so alluring, for some odd reason. She smiled softly.

Realizing that she had been staring at the man’s firelizard, Raelwyn immediately focused her attention on the rider’s face, her eyes searching his. She did not want to bother the Weyrling Master, she truly did not, so she would simply take her necklace and leave, and immediately be out of his hair. She knew he had enough on his plate without being forced to deal with her as well. Although...what was it about a bronzerider’s magnetism? She almost wished she could stay and get to know him. How foolish.

[LyricalBlue]

Looking up over his mug of klah, I'slen frowned at the young woman who had appeared before him. What in the world did a Candidate want with him... Oh right, the necklace. He set down the klah with a small thunk on the table and studied Raelwyn for a long moment. Pretty little thing, but then glancing at her shoulder knots he had to discount that. A candidate for the Gold egg, well it seemed they always brought in the pretty ones for that. He chuckled inwardly; remembering the last time there had been a need to Search out a candidate for Gold.

Seeing the tightly drawn lines of worry and the blurry eyes, I'slen quickly decided that she was indeed telling the true story. He handed the necklace over to her, with a mournful cheep coming from Feya. The little gold fluttered her wings a moment, then leaped from the Weyrling Master's shoulder to Raelwyn. Feya butted her head against Rael's, demanding scratches and clearly the return of what she considered to be her toy. I'slen watched, his grey eyes cool, but interested. The only other person Feya would pay that much attention to was Tujal. In fact, he was fairly sure that the other half of his daring firelizard duo was with her right now. But then, little green Bey had the attention span of fish during threadfall.

I'slen crossed his arms over the table and watched as Feya chattered and demanded the return of the necklace. After a moment he reached out to disengage the little Gold and placed her in his lap, scratching and soothing until she calmed down.
"Feya found it you see, not I. And you might want to see about getting a better chain as well as not wearing jewelry on a regular basis." He never allowed his Weyrlings any sort of fripperies other than on gather days. There was work to be done, playing like little lords and ladies could wait until later.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn flushed as the Weyrling Master glanced up at her, the frown on his face clearly announcing that he was not happy with her for disturbing him. Well, who could blame him, after all? He was a bronzer and a ranker, and she might as well have been a spot of dirt on the bottom of his boot. Like a wherry to a dragon. Although the situation was far from light, the candidate found a bit of humor in her comparison, but was very careful not to let it show on her face. Next thing you knew, he would be wondering why the sharding little fool was grinning like a two-mooned idiot. The girl managed to keep from shuddering when he sat down his mug rather smartly, forcing herself not to fidget as he stared at her for what seemed like candlemarks. His grey eyes seemed to be measuring her up, and a blush quickly blossomed on her face for being under such scrutiny. Perhaps he thought her too weak or unfit to Impress gold. She was suddenly very aware of the knots on her shoulder, watching his gaze travel to the braided cloth.

The girl was relieved beyond measure when the bronzerider extended his hand towards her, the broken necklace in his palm. Rael took the trinket gratefully, dipping her head in gratitude to the rider before her. “My deepest thanks, Weyrling Master.” She said, about to turn and go when something rather unexpected, but not at all unwelcome, occurred. The golden firelizard upon his shoulder took flight, and an instant later she was perched delicately on the candidate’s shoulder instead, her weight a slight one. Raelwyn sucked in a breath, forgetting herself completely. The Weyrling Master was forgotten, the riders surrounding her were forgotten, and all decorum, too, fled her mind. Her attention completely centered upon the small queen that was butting her head against the girl’s cheek and chittering demandingly. Slowly, as if afraid to hurt the small creature, Rael raised her hand scratched the gold’s small head, her eyes wide with wonder. Oh, how lovely she was! “My, but you are beautiful, aren’t you?” She crooned softly.

When the bronzerider retrieved the firelizard from her, Raelwyn had to clasp her hands again to keep herself from reaching out to stop him. The small queen was so charming, she really did not want to moment to end. However, good sense told one that a candidate most certainly did not try to keep a bronzer from doing anything. When he told her the circumstances surrounding his coming into possession of her necklace, the candidate’s gaze immediately went to the gold. “Feya? That is a pretty name.” She said, then felt yet another blush spread across her cheeks at his advice. The man sounded like he disapproved of wearing jewelry about the weyr, and she suddenly wished it had been nearly anyone but him that had found the necklace. Yet, the girl supposed that it was rather foolish to engage in such frivolous things when in a place like the dragonweyr, but it was something that reminded her of home. Yet that, too, was also foolish, clutching onto the green gem like some sort of talisman that would bring her luck, and also childish. The girl made a vow to herself that she would pack her two necklaces away as soon as she returned to the barracks.

Though good sense should have intruded here and told the candidate to go back to her sharding room while she could, something kept Raelwyn glued to the spot. Perhaps it was the grey eyes, or maybe the measuring gaze, but she did not leave. “Yes, sir. I will leave it in the barracks from now on.” The girl said, her voice steady and clearly stating that she did not intend for something like this to occur again. Now...oh, yes, wasn’t there a little thing she had told her herself? Something along the lines of ‘take the necklace and get out of his hair?’ Well, yes, of course she had told herself that, and she would. Soon. Very soon. “Excuse me, Weyrling Master, but if you do not mind me asking, where did you get Feya? She’s very lovely.” She asked, his voice slightly dreamy as she watched the small queen making herself comfortable in her master’s lap. The candidate hoped he would not mind her company for a few more moments at least.

[LyricalBlue]

The little gold would have no calming down today, at least not for long. She chittered condescending at I'lsen then leaped into the air and winked between. The Weyrling Master leaned back, startled at the sudden change in mood then shook his head slightly at the firelizard's exit. Were all females so contrary? Or was he just the lucky man who got involved with the worst of them. Sharding females... He wondered grumpily if the young woman in front of him would turn out to have mood swings as rapid as the others. It was probably a given that she would, the older he got, the less he understood females. Or maybe it was just that he was figuring out he really didn't know anything about females of any species after all.

He nodded curtly at her response. Really such frivolities were for gathers and Lords, they held no place in a working Weyr. They could get dirtied, damaged or in this young woman's case, lost. At her question he raised an eyebrow in response.
"I found a clutch on the beaches several turns ago. I kept Feya and gave the rest away. My little Green, Bey, was a gift from my father. Though, she seems to have adopted Tujal over myself." He chuckled quietly as it was rather true for both lizards. Since the attack on her, one was with the goldrider at all times. I'slen would not suffer a repeat of that incident, and with Amenth so near to mating it served to keep a double watch.

Clearly by her reaction she fancied the little creatures greatly. But then, most children did; especially those raised on the northern continent where the creatures were much more scarce. The Weyrling Master smiled, not wholly melting the ice, but far from being unkind.
"If you remind me when Feya clutches next, we might be able to find one that needs a good home. Provided you can watch a little flit better than you did that necklace." He quirked an eyebrow and the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. Weyrlings were not allowed to keep pets, unless of course they had a firelizard previously. And I'slen was of the opinion that a Candidate having experience with a much smaller version of a dragon was quite a useful learning tool. If they couldn't care for a filt well then shards if they could a dragon.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn started slightly at the sudden exit of the firelizard, blinking in surprise as the gold went between. The candidate must have angered her when she took back her necklace. Her green eyes hovered on the spot the little queen had disappeared from for a moment, wishing she had not gone. In her face was reflected a slight touch of wistfulness. Such a lovely little creature... Of course, even the bronzerider before her seemed surprised at her antics, which nearly made the girl laugh. Well, at least she was not the only one taken aback by Feya’s behavior.

The girl was not heartened, however, by the brusque response she received, rather thinking the Weyrling Master still considered her to be a foolish little girl in her pretty jewelry. And Raelwyn agreed. How ridiculous to be a member of a dragonweyr and still engage in such fripperies as jewelry, even if the necklace was a gift from G’mir. It could be worn to Gathers....but not when a candidate like herself had chores and lessons to occupy her time. In a way, she was grateful to the somewhat cold man before her. He had made her realize that she had not been wearing the necklace simply because she liked it, but because she had been feeling rather nostalgic and the green gem reminded her of Fort. Well, this was her home now, and the girl needed to suck it up and act like it. Rael’s chin lifted slightly, and she felt a new determination coursing through her blood. Yes, it was time for her to be strong.

When he raised a brow at her inquiry, the candidate thought it made him look a little more....mischievous, even if he had not meant it for such. It made him seem a little more human in her eyes, at least, instead of just a symbol of power and authority. His chuckle, too, served the same purpose, quiet though it was. “Goldrider Tujal stole your firelizard?” She asked, smiling slightly and intending it as a jest. Then she tilted her head to the side a measure and considered him, for something suddenly clicked in her mind. “I heard that she could hear all dragons. Are you two close?” Raelwyn asked, fascinated by the prospect of being able to hear every dragon in the weyr. She wondered if they all spoke to her, even the great bronzes and the other queens. To her, it sounded rather quixotic. The dragons were awe-inspiring, wondrous beasts, and to Impress a queen was her deepest dream, but to be able to know them all as Tujal did.... It seemed unreal.

She was brought back from her reflections when the bronzerider before her smiled, warming some of the chill he seemed to embody. Raelwyn blinked at his offer. He would give her an egg of Feya’s? She was certainly not expecting such generosity, or kindness, from him. He had also poked a bit of fun at her, but the sting was taken away by his smirk and raised brow. He was....teasing her. The girl chuckled softly, a blush dusting her cheeks lightly. The bronzer seemed to have unwound a bit, becoming a little friendlier than he was upon her arrival. For that, she was glad. “Thank you so much, Weyrling Master. I assure you I will take far better care of Feya’s little one.” The candidate promised, her eyes bright. She was clearly excited.

[LyricalBlue]

The grey eyed man nodded slowly as if all along he had expected nothing less. Well of course he didn't or he never would have made the offer to begin with. I'slen swirled the klah around in his cup and took another sip, considering how to best answer such a question neutrally. He and Tujal really didn't have a reason to hide their relationship now, but it was best not to reinforce the rumors. At least not until after Amenth's flight and the pair graduated to the Queen's Wing.

"Well, " he chuckled softly. "I'd like to think so, being her Master and all. "Tujal is of Ruathan blood you know. She has a remarkable habit of getting her way despite the situation. And yes, she can hear all dragons when she feels like it in any case." Actually, Tujal would be just the person for this young woman to talk to. They rarely had gold candidates in the Weyr for very long and there had been none really since Tujal had Impressed Amenth. Of course they had a handful now that Sharieth had laid another gold. I'slen bit back the urge to sigh, goldriders were the worst... Hormonal, stubborn and overwhelmingly narcissistic; at least most of them mellowed out with age.

She has every right to be.
To be what?
Hormonal, stubborn and narssis... narss
Narcissistic.
Yes that. She has the right to be.
Well clearly they do. But that doesn't make them any easier to teach.
If you flatter them enough they listen to anything you suggest... Well almost.
I'slen chuckled again and shook his head. The bronze was right, as usual even if he wasn't quite as amusing as he thought he was. But regardless this girl would do well to talk to someone who had been in her shoes. The other Weyrwomen could probably do but Tujal was closer to this one's age. And had most recently gone through the experience. What was her name again, shaffit... he was so bad with names.
Raelwyn.
The bronzerider did a double take. It wasn't often that Weseaneth remembered a rider's name, much less repeated it. First Feya acted strangely then Wes, the Weyrling Master mused. This was most interesting.
Wes, can you ask Tujal to come down here.
She is a step ahead of you... again
Thanks Wes...

Turning his attention back to Raelwyn, the corner of his mouth twitching upward with amusement.
"My apologies young lady, Weseaneth can be rather distracting at times."
Not as distracting as Amenth in the sun.
Or Tujal.
The shared joke made I'slen smile even more.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn could not stop herself from smiling as the man nodded, delighted that she would be receiving one of Feya’s eggs. It was such a kind gesture, especially considering she had interrupted his meal and he did not know her from a hole in the ground. She watched him, studying his face as he swirled his klah, wondering what he was thinking about so deeply. Perhaps he did not wish to talk about Tujal’s ability to speak to all dragons, or maybe he was weighing her question. Did they not have a good relationship as Weyrling master to pupil? She, of course, had not heard the rumors of their involvement, considering she had arrived a mere few sevendays ago. The girl had been far too busy with chores to engage in idle gossip. Well, except that one time she and Panna had been teasing Toya about Jennah. Other than that….

His chuckle abruptly snapped the candidate from her musings, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Ruathan women did seem to have the ability to sway people to their whims, she had been told, especially goldriders. They had a reputation. Well, if Tujal was a Ruathan and could hear all dragons, then she had to be an extraordinary woman. “To hear all dragons sounds rather fascinating, I have to say. Though I wonder if it is ever a burden?” Raelwyn asked pensively, also considering that dragons might invade her mind when she did not wish them to. Such as in her dreams.

The girl watched as the Weyrling Master’s eyes became distant, and she dropped her gaze to the table, grinning lightly. Raelwyn had been born and raised around dragonriders, and she knew that expression well. He was speaking with his bronze. Her parents and brother, not to mention all the weyrlings she had known through the turns, all had the same distant, far-seeing air in their eyes when they were speaking with Theirs. It was something she had grown rather accustomed to in her life, and perhaps one day she would know what it was like. When she Impressed, (not ‘if’, but ‘when’), she too would know how it felt to be a rider with an unbreakable bond to her own magnificent dragon. The candidate laughed lightly when he finally focused his attention back on her.

“I was born and raised in a weyr, Weyrling Master. I am quite used to the bond between man and dragon. No apology necessary.” Raelwyn smiled, then briefly dropped her gaze to the necklace she held in her hands before meeting those grey eyes once more. G’mir had Impressed….so would she. “I have never had the pleasure of seeing your Weseaneth, sir, at least not that I am aware of. My duty to him.” The girl always thought it was rude to leave a dragon out of the conversation. The bronze might not be seated alongside them, but he was just as much a part of the man before her as his own soul.

[Memorie]

Tujal smiled as the tiny green firelizard popped into existance above her head. "Hey Bey-face, what's happening?" she asked, reaching up to scratch green eyeridges. She was rewarded with an image of the firelizard's owner in the Weyrhall. "I'slen's looking for me?"

Tujal, I'slen humbly requests your presence in the Weyrhall, Weseaneth told her.

"On my way, Weseaneth," Tujal replied to the bronze, chuckling. It was rare when a firelizard, especially a green, could get a message to the gold weyrling faster than a dragon. She sent the handsome bronze mental caresses. He was a good dragon, and Amenth was right to be interested in him.

I'slen isn't so bad himself...for a bag of tiny bones, Amenth replied to her thoughts. Tujal smirked.

"I am afraid we can't all be as luxuriously long as you, darling." Tujal hopped up from her bed and threw on an overshirt. It was a little chilly, and she didn't want to catch cold. "Amenth, I'm headed to the Weyrhall. Call me if you need me."

Okay. The gold curled up for a nap.

~~~

Five minutes later, Tujal walked briskly into the Weyrhall. Bey sat firmly on her shoulder, tail wrapped around Tujal's neck. The firelizard and the rider had had to come to terms about the tail around the neck; while Bey felt the need to hold on tight, Tujal felt the need to breathe. She glanced around the large eating area and spotted I'slen's copper-colored hair. Such a unique color--so reminiscent of Weseaneth's hide. Tujal smiled.

When she got closer, she noticed the man was sitting with a girl. The girl was Raelwyn, one of the many gold candidates filling the Weyr. She was pretty, as gold candidates tend to go. Tujal approached, smiling. She wasn't sure the candidate had ever met her before. The weyrling rider took a chair adjacent to I'slen, since she didn't want to fuel rumors of their involvement. After all, one of his firelizards was continually with her, for various reasons, and not even the two moons over Pern could have separated Amenth from Weseaneth's side.

"Greetings, Weyrlingmaster I'slen. Candidate Raelwyn, good afternoon." Tujal extracted Bey from her neck and cradled the green in her arms. "Weseaneth and Bey called for me, so I bet it must be important." The impending mating flight of Amenth had done wonders for Tujal's attitude. No doubt she would be grumpy again before too long.

[LyricalBlue]

Weseaneth was just about as pleased as his rider was at Raelwyn's comment. After all anyone who knew a dragonrider knew that the quickest way to their hearts was to mention or compliment their other half. The bronze, being his usual forward self decided that it would be rude for him to do anything less than respond.
Tell her she may see me anytime.
I'slen smiled and repeated the message.
"He says you are welcome to see him anytime. He's vain as they come, my Wes. Scratch his eyeridges and compliment him and he'll do just about anything."
Not true, if Amenth is around it would be wrong for me to pay duty to anything else.

When Tujal approached, the Weyrling Master was still chuckling to himself. He glanced up as she seated herself and nodded, his grey eyes softening with the quiet smile they only held for her. Though it would have taken a very close study to see the change in his face if they were not accustomed to it as Tujal was.
"Good day Tujal, thank you for joining us. I see my messengers are as speedy as ever."
He smiled fully then, his eyes crinkling. Faranth, but she had looks that could stop a heart. He was quite sure he would never get used to it, nor did he want to. Weseaneth rumbled a happy agreement at that thought, though he was much more concerned with a certain gold rather than her rider.

"I was wonder Tujal, if you had the time to speak with Raelwyn here. You seemed like the best qualified to talk to her about standing as Candidate for Gold and of the foibles of wearing precious items around the Weyr on a regular basis." He quirked an eyebrow at Raelwyn in jest and then reached for his roll and grabbed a bite, happy to let the conversation stray from him for the moment.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn smiled in delight when the Weyrling Master replied for his bronze, planning on visiting the dragon at her very first opportunity. She had always loved the attentions of dragons, for unlike humans they were simple and straightforward, and not to mention very easy to please. If one had a practiced hand, which through many turns of application the candidate had acquired, a good scratch on their eyeridges was enough to send many of them to sighing in complete content. Through plenty of sevendays visiting her brother’s blue Ulrith, the girl was quite skillful with the dragons, and knew all the right places to scratch. Hopefully the man’s bronze would find her work as pleasurable as the blue did. “Please tell him that I would love to visit him whenever he would like. I’ve had plenty of practice at scratching eyeridges.” Rael’s green eyes were bright at the prospect of meeting the great bronze, a slight blush on her cheeks. How magnificent he would surely be! “At Fort, I had several dragons I knew and visited when I had free time. Here I...know very few.” At that, she lost some of her elation, but only a slight, thinking of the dragons of her birthweyr and suddenly missing their company. In a weyr full of dragons, she was lonely for want of the beasts. How ironic.

When the goldrider approached, the candidate blinked in shock, wondering why she had arrived. Raelwyn had seen Tujal about the weyr a bit, mostly just from a distance, but Panna had taken her around and pointed out many of the riders to her. The weyrling gold was one such person she had seen fit to make the new arrival aware of. The girl watched as Amenth’s seated herself, finding that she was nervous once more. She was actually rather surprised the woman knew her name, considering she was a mere candidate and this one a goldrider. It wasn’t that she considered her to be too arrogant or full of herself to remember, it was that she would have thought a Werywoman would be far too busy to remember all the candidate’s names. Then again, she was a gold candidate, and that changed a few things. Not many, but a few. “Greetings, goldrider Tujal. I hope you and Yours are doing well.” The girl said respectfully, bowing to her. She rather thought it would be a good time to be going now... ‘See, you should have listened to me before.’ Her mind hissed, and she had to agree. Yes, taking the necklace and getting the Fall back to her barracks would have been a brilliant idea. Had she done it.

However, at the woman’s next words, and the bronzerider’s greeting, the girl was certainly taken aback, her nervousness buried beneath her surprise. This time, she could not keep it off her face either. He had sent a message for her? Tujal reasoned something was ‘important’, she had said, and Raelwyn wondered what the shells could have possibly been significant enough to call the goldrider down to their table for. The candidate, of course, was unaware of the interest she had lightly stirred in the Weyrling Master, considering she did not know how unusual it was for Feya to pay attention to a stranger, and she certainly could not hear Weseaneth when he called her by name. The candidate watched the bronzer closely as he smiled, realizing that the few smiles he had sent her way was nothing compared to the expression he wore now. This was a real smile, one that held true happiness instead of just amusement. Rael was a bit stunned. Although, that shock was nothing compared to his next words.

“Oh!” The candidate gasped, unable to stop herself from exclaiming. She was stunned the bronzerider had called Tujal down to the weyrhall just to speak with her, though a deep blush crept over her cheeks at his jest. Raelwyn grinned slightly at I’slen, a sheepish expression upon her face before turning her attention to the queenrider. “You did not have to come all the way down here just to speak with me, lady goldrider, but I would deeply appreciate your guidance.” She said respectfully, wondering what the woman would teach her. She was actually anxious to know what she could impart.