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Do hurry, Mine, we don't want to be late! Hesperith 'encouraged,' fidgeting out on the weyrledge as she waited for Hers to gather up the necessary supplies and get out here already!

We're not going to be late, Sylfie countered, We're going to be half a candlemark early if we leave now. It's not like it's far to go. She could feel her dragon sigh, and knew she was already halfway into a sulk over it. What the gold wanted, she knew, was to be there early enough to ensure that she was properly arranged and looking just so - and to have a little extra time to scope out who else was having their bath today.

Not wanting to deal with a sulky dragon, Sylfie heaved a sigh of her own and abandoned braiding her hair. She could do it while Hesperith posed and dragon-watched until it was her preferred bathtime (which varied depending on the time of year and, thus, the position of the sun, as well as which time of day she observed to be busiest). Once she was ready, more or less, they glided down to the lake, where Hes proceeded with her scheduled posing and gazing - and warm, polite greetings to anyone she thought might be receptive. Sylfie shook her head and worked at fixing her braid.

The presence of one of the young dragons of the Weyr, even if not one of her own, was a delight; though she was only truly maternal with her own children - she would not dare to set a claw over the line with another Queen's offspring - she enjoyed their company as much as she did that of adult dragons. And this one was delightfully courteous, which was something she always appreciated.

I hope it finds you and Yours very well, Khazariath, she returned, her eyes a deep blue as she looked over the young bronze. He and his clutchmates were all coming along nicely, and as ever, she expected that next she turned around, they would be properly Blooded and then graduated. The Turn it took a dragon to grow seemed terribly short. It is an excellent day for a bath..though I suppose you must have yours most days regardless. Keeping up with the hide of a growing dragon was quite a lot of work!

Sylfie, for her part, offered a nod and a shy half-smile by way of acknowledgement. She'd grown better-accustomed to wrangling her way through conversations in spite of her anxiety, but some days it was easier than others, so she still tended towards avoidance at times.

Now that summer is finally here, it would be a shame not to enjoy it while it lasts. Though the winter snows were enchanting, a novel beauty compared to what she had known in her life prior to coming to High Reaches, at hearts the gold loved sunshine and warmth, and relished every last drop for the relatively short time it lasted. While she did not regret their choice of Weyrs, she might never grow to be used to the mountain climate.

Why, I would never, Hesperith replied coyly, an almost tittering quality to the words as she arched her neck, most pleased. No more than is absolutely necessary, I swear! After all, what good a glimmering hide if there is an itch under the gleam? The response was all in good humor, though, rather than an actual attempt to deny whatever vanity she might have.

Bless. Sylfie was delighted that the other rider was willing to leave the socializing to their dragons. Hesperith did more than enough talking for the both of them, anyway.

Of course. A dutiful rider would never overindulge Theirs in such a way, no matter what a delight it is to be scrubbed and oiled. There can be too much of a good thing. Ah, what bliss it would be to be so tended more often, but only in the short term - it simply wasn't good for one's hide. And it took quite a lot of time, besides.

A good bath is lovely, always, and time well spent with our most beloved. Hesperith turned her head to gently nuzzle Hers, who rubbed her nose affectionately before returning to work.

Hesperith thrummed agreement with the little bronze; Hers was most diligent, as was only proper, and always had been. She never had the slightest about the care she received, from her hide to her claws and teeth. For all Sylfie's concerns about whether she was 'enough,' Hesperith knew well that she was.

It is nothing short of a perfect summer day, the gold answered, pleased as always by warm and sunny weather. Today is our rest day, as it happens, and Mine wishes to go and visit with her parents awhile. Your days are quite full, I imagine - what studies have they had you at of late?

We did not study much geography when I was small, the gold admitted, But things were very different than, at Ista at least. It was not so terribly important that we know much more than the basics of what a dragon and rider must. They did prepare us well enough for flying, though.

You are fortunate to have them all so close. Mine often finds herself homesick for her family, and for our friends from weyrlinghood. Not that High Reaches is not a most excellent home, of course. Hesperith was quite pleased with their decision, at least, though in an ideal world she'd have liked to have her clutchmates closer as well.

Oh, it is lovely! Hesperith said with a happy sigh, not hesitating to offer up images of her time there. The climate is delightful, and it is right on the sea! As dragonets, before we could fly, we would bathe under a charming little waterfall. I did not stay long, though - most of the dragons and riders there then were older, enjoying their retirements.
It was hardly an exciting place for young dragons, so most all of us went our own ways once we could. I'm sure it's very different now.

Do you think some of them will wish to leave? she asked, curious. She was all too aware, of course, of the dangers of weyrlinghood - even without taking Thread into consideration - and carefully avoided the sadder implications of Khazariath's desire to spend time with his siblings while they were still here. You are fortunate to have all your loved ones so near. I suppose, if home is where the heart is, then I have many homes. With clutchmates and children scattered here, there, and everywhere, and Hers' family in Nerat.

I did consider it, Hesperith answered, taking no offense to being asked such a question, But High Reaches was the most prepared, and better able to provide us with the necessary training. And, truth be told, we had few attachments at Ista to begin with - when I was hatched, most of the pairs there were retired. We young ones tended to scatter once we were old enough. She missed her life before Thread far more than she missed Ista, and would have been quite content to live out most of her life in Nerat with Hers and their friends and family.

I assume they will likely stay, then, if this was their home to begin with. So that, at least, Khazariath wouldn't need to worry about, though as unpleasant as it was to think about, there were other reasons he might not be able to enjoy their company indefinitely. I imagine it is more or less the same. I know them all to be capable, so I do not fret overmuch. Of course, she knew well that they weren't invincible, as they had had their losses, but Hesperith was not a worrier by nature.