Ryu

Ryu hopped on the rocks and dived off in the warm summer waters, just outside the small Seabay hold. He and his 2 younger brothers had been out swimming on this nice day when there was little wind to sail and fish. His father had given them the day of and told them to go and wash, because tonight the dragonriders would come on search. There had been a clutch in Cincanta Weyr, the first after the spring storms and everybody hoped it would be a good hatching with strong little dragons.
Ryu got out of the water and laid on the warm rocks, to dry his skin. He looked at his brothers and sighed...he was small for his age, he was almost 18 turns but he looked like a boy of 14, and his brothers where big and strong. He envied them to look so good, the girls all swarmed around them and forgot about him. He was shy as well, making it even harder to get noticed.
His father had caught a lot of fish the past week, so they could feed the dragonmen on search...and to feast!! Well, maybe he would find a nice girl on the diner that noticed him.
The sun was rising to it's highest point. The brothers went back home to help prepare for the diner, setting tables in place and even making a small podium for the resident Harper. Ryu thought they were going out of their way...the dragonriders wouldn't stay that long, they were a small hold, not somewhere they had to stay long. But he never argued with his father.
Late in the afternoon one rider arrived, only one...his father wouldn't like that. The green dragon landed and her rider jumped off. He talked to her for a minute and then walked to the people that had gathered around. Suddenly the green lifted her head and started looking left and right...then stopping and staring straight at Ryu. the dragonrider approached him and said: "Aeloith likes you, you should come to the hatching". Everyone stood baffled and looked at him...he started to blush (oh no!). But he could only stand silent and looking at the green, not knowing what to say or do.
His father came forward and said: "he'll be there". Ryu nodded and was glad he didn't have to speak. The truth still not quite registering in his brain. He looked around and saw the people noticing him again...like it was the first time they saw him, probably it was. The first time they saw him as a possible dragonrider.
The draonrider left early, as Ryu had expected, but he had caused some commotion. He couldn't wait to get to the hatching.

~***~

HATCHING
Ryu and the other candidates stood on the hatching sands, the green fussing over the little egg. It was almost sure to be a white. Maybe he would impress it? Who knew. The cracking of the eggs reached his ears and he turned to the eggs. A blue appeared out of nothing it seamed and made his way to the 2 girls. One of them straetched out her arms, but the blue hissed and turned the other way, started the run and colided with the first obstacle on it's course, namely Ryu.
"Are you allright my rider? My name is Zyanth."
"I'm all right, Zyanth." Ryu hastily replied..."my you really are hungry..." and they headed to the food


ZYANTH

~***~

WEYRLING
"Zyanth! Come out, you can't bathe forever!!" Ryu yelled and sighed, this dragon was way too clean for him. Sure, he liked the occasional swim and definately liked the hot springs in the lower caverns bathing room....but Zyanth just seemed to want to soak of his hide so it would remain clean.
"Wait just a minute, I have found this dry spot under my left wing."
"I'll oil it, I should do your tail as well, I see some patches, you have been growing well"
"Of course I'm growing well, I'm the best dragon around!"
Hmmm, he was vain too, maybe he'd better work on the dragon's attitude.
"My attitude is quite good you know, yours is bad. I like you, you are my rider, but why can't we go and fly with the others? I now I can fly as good as any white."
"Ah, but see, my dear Zyanth, there is work for us to do, we shouldn't sneak away."
The dragon did see sense in that, but "Can't we go and have fun once?"
"Deal, the next time I am of duty I'll take you to a quiet place and we'll practice our flying."
"k, but there better be a lake, so I can clean up afterwards" the dragon answered happily
Ryu sighed and thought: "Will he never stop?" 
A sound like laughter echoed in his head and Zyanth's eyes whirled with pleasure when he said: "A river would also be ok."
Ryu pretended to faint and smiled as they went in to oil the mischievous dragon.

Three days later, Ryu couldn't stall the trip anymore. If people would ever say to him that dragons didn't have memories, he would prove them wrong with that story. So he asked for permission for a field trip and strapped on his riding gear.
He had to say Zyanth was a pretty quick dragon, he wouldn't say he could outfly a white on agility, but he came pretty close. Of course, he was still smaller then the average blues.

~***~

ADULT
"Zyanth, don't be so bad tempered about not winning her for you."
"But I wanted her."
"Maybe she wasn't a poetic soul like you are."
"I don't care." the dragon put his head down again.
"What do you say we go home?" Ryu tried.
"Wouldn't make a difference." Zyanth answered.
"I know there are more females rising, you could chase them. I'm sure you learned all kind of tricks that last flight." Sucking up sometimes worked...
"I will look at them. But they better like my poetic side!" the dragon said, eyes glowing a bit red.
Ryu and Zyanth lay waiting on the sunning heights. Waiting for better times to come. Several females past by.
"How do you like that one?" Ryu asked.
"Nah, too shy, too normal, she doesn't inspire me."
"k". Ryu sure hoped the mood wouldn't stick.
About five minutes later Zyanth suddenly jumped up.
"
That's the one I want!"
"You're sure?"
"Yes, she's fresh as summer rain. Confident as a shadow in the night. She is all I want."
"k, but please remind yourself that there are other dragons chasing her. Chances are you won't win."
"Bah, you have no faith." Zyanth turned his head away and started to compose more love poems.

~***~

Ryu impressed at Cincanta Weyr.

Lantessama Isle