Give Me a Break {Derek}

[Zara]

Iirla sighed and settled herself to looking at the parchment in front of her again. This was so boring. But she really didn't have a whole lot of choice, now did she? It was something she had to get used to doing. Not that she wanted to.

Izanycorth was curled around her. Trivol was curled up sunning himself nearby and Ama was sitting on Iirla's shoulder, though she had already been silences for the time being. As had her young blue.

Mine... You should take a break. Just rest for a bit. The sun does feel nice, does it not. Why don't we go explore. I'm sure they won't object...

"Oh darling... you know they won't allow us to go. Not unsupervised to say the least." Izanycorth gave a small huff. She hadn't been the same since she had gotten herself into trouble. Well... more like when she had first Impressed, in all honesty. But.... that was alright. She loved her all the same, tough. sHe alwasy would. She loved her gold very deeply. Very deeply. Honestly, she knew when she was in the wrong. She had apologized. But right now... it almost felt like each mistake was a black mark. And she knew that that was precisely how the young queen felt...

She patted Izanycorth's side lovingly. "It'll be alright, darling... It just takes time..."

Izanycorth snorted irritably, resisting the urge to flick her tail.

Let's just go any ways. Who cares if we get in trouble.

Iirla sighed. Maybe she should just give in this time...

[derek]

S'bel chuckled lightly, hoping he wouldn't scare the young Queen rider when he did. He was standing in Iirlia's doorway, leaning up against the side, his arms crossed, blue eyes hazy. He had been there for awhile now, alerted to the exchange between the Gold dragon and her rider by his own Bonded, bronze Maerath.

"You're right, you know. These things just take time. But if you wanted to go... Maerath and I would be more than happy to, ah, 'supervise' you, as you so kindly phrased it."

He wasn't even sure if he had ever met the young Junior Weyrwoman before, since he had been spending so much time outside of the Weyr recently, but it didn't matter. Maerath had certainly been aware of the Gold, though the pair had been absent for her hatching, much to the bronze dragon's despair. Due to his attention to the Queen, he had alerted his rider at the first possible opportunity for them to fly together.

"With a Wingleader to escort you, even Loraketh and Inali won't be able to complain. Or Alyara, for that matter. You are still a Weyrling, are you not?"

Don't tease, Mine. You should know better.[/color]

S'bel only chuckled again. His dragon would naturally be protective over the young Gold, but that would only make it harder for the rider to keep the dragon from getting to amorous. Though Weyrlings were allowed relationships, they were supposed to be kept clean and... well, clean. With Maerath's not-so-clean feelings towards the Gold, S'bel would have to have a clear head to keep the pair of them in check.

You worry too much, Mine.[/color]

[Zara]

Iirla started at the sound of his chuckle and looked up with a slight frown. Who was this man...

LaMine... I know you have not forgotten Wingleader S'bel and his Bronze Maerath. We have not met, but you always remember the riders... Usually...

Iirla gave a slight smile and stood, dusting herself off with one hand while the parchment was still held in the other. "Well... Izanycorth really does want to go and I can't say that I wouldn't mind..." She smiled and looked back at her young gold who got to her feet. My she was growing fast. She was five months old and already she was... huge. But not at all near her full growth yet... or at least Iirla didn't think so. The Gold regarded the man with eyes which spun in excitement.

Yes IirlaMineLove! Let's go! We won't get in trouble if they go with us!~

Iirla smiled. "Yes I am. It looks like Izanycorth and I are in agreement. You will go with us then, Bronzerider, S'bel?" she smiled, showing him all the respect taht someone who outranked her as of yet deserved. As well as someone who awas being kind enoug has to volunteer to go with them to explore outside of the Weyr itself.

She really hoped that Inali and Loraketh would not complain. Nor that the Southern Riders would make some fuss about it. She had already ahd her fill of trouble with the Southern Riders.

[derek]

She seemed confused by his appearance at first, which pleased S'bel to no end, but slightly dampened Maerath's spirits. S'bel grinned inwardly at the bronze and mentally bade him to be patient.

When the girl stood and smiled, Maerath bugled from outside, and S'bel rolled his eyes. "Put down your parchment and let's go, then. Maerath grows impatient." The bronze roared again from outside in the Weyrbowl, where he suddenly took flight, landing smartly on the edge of Iirla and Izanycorth's Weyr.

While the young Gold was growing fast, the Bronze was still far larger than she, and he balanced neatly on the edge of the Weyr, wings half-extended for balance. "Ignore him. He acts like no more than an over-grown flitter," S'bel said with a grin.

He was rewarded when Iirla smiled again, and regarded him with all the courtesy he deserved, though one day she would outrank him greatly. "Yes, we will accompany you, Goldrider Iirla," he said with a slight bow, returning her courtesies.

"Now! Find your wherhide and prepare to fly! While I know Izanycorth is too young to fly with you on her back, I'm sure Maerath would not object to flying both of us." Though Maerath wore no saddle, S'bel was outfitted in his own wherehide jacket and breeches. Vaulting easily onto the huge bronze, he grinned down at the Junior Weyrwoman.

"Just think of it this way, you'll be ahead of your Weyrling class if you go flying with us. Izanycorth gets the practice, and so do you!"

[Zara]

Iirla walked to the small desk and placed the piece of parchment there. It was a very organized weyr. And she would like it to remain that way. Trivol shot up and started chittering irritably at being ignored. "Now Trivol... I'm sure Wingleader S'bel wouldn't mind if you came along... but take great care not to let yourself get eaten you silly wherry.

Wherry?! He was no wherry! He was even more upset than before, but the young gold knew how to deal with him, and with the slightest command, he fell silent. That was still useful.

"Just a minute." She dashed to where the wherhide riding gear was still folded, not truly used as of yet. Izanycorth was so excited and impatient, however, that she was making Iirla a bit nervous. She was having a hard time fastening her riding gear eve now.

Izanycorth new she couldn't fly with Iirla yet... but she was going to be able to fly beside the bronze and he would bring her rider. "Thank you so much for this, Wingleader S'bel and Bronze Maerath." She finally had it finished and walked up to where S'bel was sitting on Maerath. Oh my. She suddenly realized just how large he was. Izanycorth gave a soft croon.

I'm ready when you are. she crooned appreciatively, almost flirtatiously to the large, handsome brown. She truly did appreciate this. She could not wait to explore and this really was going to help her!

She looked at the little sub-queen flitter who was now sitting on the edge of Hers' desk. She knew from the feelings comign fro mteh flitter, she was decided that she was going.

[derek]

She seemed nervous. Good. S'bel would teach her to be nervous. Shaking his head at that inappropriate thought, he frowned a bit, and missed Iirla scolding the little blue fire lizard.

He did, however, notice that the girl fumbled with her wherhide. Sliding down from Maerath's bronze shoulder, he moved to the young Gold rider and helped her fasten the yet unused hides. By his reckoning, however, they would be used soon enough, maybe in a month or less. Izanycorth was growing fast, and at six months the Weyrlings would be learning how to fly with their riders on their backs.

S'bel could remember his own first flight with Maerath, and smiled goofily, but quickly stopped. He had to appear dignified while with the Junior Weyrwoman! In attempt to do so, he vaulted back onto Maerath's back, shaking his head. It was going to be harder than he thought to keep his thoughts clean!

Speaking of the Junior Weyrwoman, however, Iirla thanked him and Maerath, and walked to the dragon. S'bel extended his hand and helped her climb on, where he placed her sturdily in front of him. "Hold on to me if you get scared, but don't worry. Maerath won't let you fall."

Maerath's swirling eyes turned to the smaller Gold and he rumbled deep in his throat in acknowledgement to her flirtatious croon. She certainly was excited to explore, and was also eager to get the practice. So, she was ready, huh?

With a roar of sheer pleasure, Maerath turned and vaulted from the Weyr, plummeting a good ten to fifteen feet before snapping his wings open and soaring back upwards, where he hovered just outside of Iirla and Izanycorth's Weyr, waiting for the smaller Gold to follow.

[Zara]

"Oh... thank you for the help," she said, trying not to blush even though it was something that was rarely a concern for her... though she had to admit... she didn't really... Oh well.

She took his hand, grateful for his assistance in climbing onto the Bronze's back. She swallowed slightly. Looking to what was below them. This would be fun, but she always had hated, in her few rides, how her stomach dropped at take off. "I'll trust you with that," she said rather softly, looking down at the ground.

And then Maerath was falling downwards she gasped slightly and wrapped her arms around S'bel. But then they were hovering and she let out her breath. "Gosh... I'm sorry... I just..." she was embarrassed and it showed. She was blushing a deep red. She was supposed to be dignified. This was certainly not dignified. Not at all!

Izanycorth approached the ledge and jumped from it, spreading her wings and, a bit awkwardly, felt the air catch her wingsails and, with some focus and a good amount of self-doubt managed to gain in the air, coming up just beside Maerath with another croon.

Iirla immediately went from fretting about herself and her nerves to sending soothing, loving thoughts full of confidence to her gold. You're doing wonderfully, darling... Come now. You can do it.

Izanycorth knew she coudl do it. She woudl be able to do it. She would get great practice and she would definitely be ahead of her class. Ahead of her little topaz sister.

[derek]

She was blushing, and so was he. He ignored it, knowing that they should both try to be more dignified, but... well, sometimes it just didn't work that way.

As they climbed up, he smiled. So she trusted him, did she? She looked to the ground, and he watched her carefully before they toook off. Her arms wrapped around him made his heart beat in a way that he knew it shouldn't. He had to keep himself under control. Izanycorth was far too young for any sort of romance on her bonded's part.

She was blushing again, clearly embarassed, but S'bel ignored it. "Watch your dragon, encourage her," he told the young Queen rider, his blue eyes focused on Izanycorth as she approached the ledge and jumped.

The little Queen appeared to have some trouble, but then she caught the wind and was beside Maerath, crooning to him again. Maerath rumbled in reply before giving a powerful down-stroke of his wings to gain altitude. Without a saddle, he couldn't perform very many aerial acrobatics, but he didn't mind. He needed to be slower for the little one, anyway.

Come now, Golden Queen. Where would you like to explore?[/color] Lazily flying circles around Izanycorth, he waited for her to either tell him where she wanted to do, or lead him. He didn't mind following one so beautiful, whose hide glowed so brilliantly!

"She's doing fine, but we won't go too far out. It wouldn't be good to tire her too much... but if you want, Maerath and I can come back again to practice with you." And to flirt with you... he silently added to himself.

[Zara]

Iirla was a bit surprised that the bronze rider blushed as well... She had not spent much time with any of the older bronzeriders. The only bronzerider she had really spent much time around was D'rian... and only recently was she learning to trust him. But... was she... was it right for her to trust S'bel so suddenly. She rather hoped she would not be wrong in that.

Iirla turned her eyes back towards her young gold as she took off, her unsure feelings quite obvious to her rider. But she did do it. She seemed to be gaining some confidence. She was going to be a strong gold. She just knew it.

Maybe... just out to the forests or grasslands....? the gold's voice was soft and a bit distracted as she watched the way the bronze flew, attempting to learn from it.

Iirla watched her dragoness as she attempted to learn from what the Bronze did, but also not let herself get distracted. she wanted to learn.

She smiled at S'bel's offer. "I think we would both like that very much, Wingleader..." she said, her voice somewhat soft, though her eyes were still on her young gold as they flew in circles around her.

The young queen was not a confident dragoness by nature, but she felt emboldened by the fact that this bronze was willing to go with her to explore and to help teach her. But it was really the exploring that won her over, in all honesty.

[derek]

He felt her surprise, and looked away, trying to stop blushing. He wondered just what in Faranth's name he thought he was doing... but pushed that thought away. It didn't matter, really. He was teaching, and getting to know a Queen rider. He was doing what he was supposed to do. ...or so he told himself.

As Iirla turned her eyes back to her dragon, S'bel exhaled. The Gold was doing well, and S'bel nodded with approval. She was flying strong, and seemed to be losing some of her initial nervousness.

To the grasslands it is, then.[/color]

Maerath and S'bel were both pleased to notice that the Gold was watching the Bronze carefully, trying to learn from how he flew. Another down-stroke of his wings to propel himself forward, and Maerath set off for the grasslands, slower than he normally flew, so that Izanycorth could keep up.

S'bel laughed as she called him Wingleader. "Please, just call me S'bel. You calling me 'Wingleader' makes me feel old." He grinned. Iirla wasn't really paying any attention to him, but he didn't mind.

Maerath crooned encouragement to the Gold, who was quickly gaining confidence. He was enjoying flying with her, although it did mean flying rather slowly. Oh well.

[Zara]

Iirla looked back at him with a smile. "Alright, S'bel... I suppose I can do that." She smiled again and brushed her hair away from her face. She should have rebraided it before they had left. It was turning into a mess already. Oh bother.

As she gained more and more confidence, she started to fly better and stronger. She kept watching Maerath, focused and intent on each wingbeat. She would learn. She would watch and learn and she would be better than all those who had dared to laugh at her at her hatching. She would be better than that stupid Lorendyth especially. Oh she would have to learn. And she would learn soon.

It will be a great and exciting, Iirla, she said with a soft croon to her rider. She was so excited to go and explore and to ahve someone willing to take her and hers out there. Suddenly, this bronze was very special to her as well.

She wasn't fast. Not yet, but she would be soon. She would have to learn to be. She would learn and she would be strong. She hoped that he would chase her too one day. It seemed distant now, though...

The grasslands were approaching and she did her best not to look down at what was below her. It was more important she pay attention to making sure she felw well, strong, and learned....

Iirla looked down beneath them, taking in a breath. She looked back at Izanycorth, doing as well as her dragon was at staying focused on flying... though for her she had a harder time focusing on encouraging her young gold as she flew.

[derek]

S'bel smiled. There. Now they were on a first name basis, for he outranked her as of yet and could call her by her first name... though maybe just for fun he wouldn't. That would certainly be considered flirting by anyone's definition, though... maybe he shouldn't.

He shook his head and tried to focus on the Gold, who was gaining confidence with every wing-beat, but his attention kept wavering back to the Junior Weyrwoman. She was rather pretty... He shook his head again, and returned his eyes back to Izanycorth... only to have them flick back to Iirla. Shards!

Maerath could feel the joy radiating from Izanycorth, and crooned to the Gold. She was excited, and somewhat nervous, too, from what he could tell. And also very eager to prove herself.

The bronze bugled as the grasslands came into sight. Izanycorth was trying her best not to look down, but to focus on him, Maerath, and learn from him. His eyes swirled in amusement as he descended into a lazy spiral, finally landing with a soft thwump on the grass.

Maerath glanced up, coaching the Gold on how to land, ready to leap to her assistance if necessary. S'bel, however, slid from the bronze dragon's shoulders with years of practice. Extending his hand to Iirla, he smiled. "Well, here we are!"