All Together Now... (2/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 13th October 2025
Characters: L'keri, R'gal
Description: L'keri finds a creative way to handle R'gal
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Galgaith
R'gal rolled his eyes. He hadn't truly wanted a fight. It wasn't worth being called in to his Wingleader -- or the Weyrleader -- over this good-for-nothing.
Ornagreth stretched his wings. }:Galgaith is young and chose poorly,:{ he told his rider. }:Next time I will catch her and we will have many eggs.:{
**You'll certainly do better than any lowly brown.** And, R'gal thought, he'd be a much better representative of the Weyr than L'keri ever could be. With one more glare at the brownrider, R'gal picked up his cleaning supplies and followed his bronze into the lake.
"Alpine Wing! Oh, Al - pine - Wing!" L'keri caroled, his voice carrying infuriatingly clear across the water as he scrubbed Rhalith's side vigorously. "We soar and dive, we catch and fling! When gold wings glow," he went on, substituting for the usual 'green', "...we heed the call, and if you reach our heights, we won't let - you - fall..."
R'gal snorted. Except Rhalith had. Too small and weak to hold the huge queen, he'd dumped them both in the sea. And that dimglow of a brownrider was singing as if this wasn't an embarrassment to the entire Weyr.
"Alpine Wing! You've heard our name," Completely unabashed, L'keri sang on. "We put the other Wings to shame! Gold riders sigh at our renown, for when they reach our heights..." He turned and flung his arms wide with a spray of soapy bubbles and a suggestive lift of his eyebrows in R'gal's direction. "Then we - go - down!"
"Right into the Sea of Azov," R'gal muttered as he scrubbed Ornagreth's foreleg.
L'keri sensed that heads were turning across the lake, and his performance only grew more flamboyant. He began to dance around his baffled dragon, splashing and gyrating his way through the knee-deep water. "Alpine Wing! You've heard our song! Our _browns_ fly fast, and far, and looong!" He tossed the scrubbing brush in the air, spun around and caught it, then struck a dramatic pose, one hand on his chest and the other pointing at R'gal. "Though bronze may chase, we bring the luck, and when you reach our heights, it's time - to - "
Whatever the rest of the verse might have been was drowned out by Rhalith, who joined in with a surprisingly tuneful bugle.
It was followed by a roar from Ornagreth. }:I want a bath, not noise!:{ He glared at Rhalith.
}:My rider did warn yours.:{ Rhalith would not usually have been so dismissive of a bronze, but becoming Galgaith's chosen mate had given him a new self-confidence.
L'keri waved cheerfully at R'gal. "Had enough yet? There's lots more where that came from."
"I'm here to _wash my dragon_!" R'gal shouted, as if he hadn't just accosted L'keri doing the same thing.
"No one's stopping you," the brownrider called back. "The lake is large. If you really don't like my musical turns, I'm sure you can find a spot that's out of earshot."
R'gal was caught between wanting to wash his dragon without hearing all the caterwauling and not wanting to back down. "I'm sure everyone else would appreciate some peace and quiet."
Ornagreth tried to put pressure on Rhalith, projecting his displeasure. }:Make yours be quiet!:{
}:But I like my rider's singing,:{ Rhalith protested.
"I don't know, I reckon they're enjoying the show." L'keri began scrubbing again, and started on a new tune, even sillier than the last. "Oh! Once there was a greedy bronze, he weighed about a hundred tons! He ate up all the pies and buns, his rider made him go for runs..."
Ornagreth half-spread his wings, his eyes whirling with a hint of red. }:You are only a brown. You should do as I say!:{
}:I will try,:{ Rhalith replied, sounding more put-upon than obedient. }:But my rider does not always do what _I_ say. He has a mind of his own.:{
"...his belly was so plump and round, he barely made it off the ground..." L'keri fell silent and cocked his head, listening. But before the bronzerider could relax, he grinned in triumph. "R'gal! Surely you aren't trying to misuse your bronze's authority, to keep a fellow wingrider from enjoying the simple pleasure of a song? Whatever would your Wingleader say?"
"He wants to enjoy his bath without all this noise," the bronzerider said with a glare. "Your lack of respect is disgraceful."
"So I've been told. Many times. But I've never tried to impose my will on a blue or greenrider when they're just trying to have some harmless fun." L'keri shook his head and tutted. "Hardly conduct becoming of a bronze pair, is it? Of course, I'm not going to rat on you, but there are a lot of witnesses here. Word gets around."
Then, with a wink, the impudent brownrider took a deep breath and resumed. "But when his queen's time came to rise, despite the lack of exercise..." Though no harper, he was a veteran of many late night song-fests with his wingmates, and his voice rang out boldly as he reached the climax. "Our bronze found favor in her eyes, for as they say, what counts is size!"
R'gal frowned as he spoke with his dragon, arguing about what to do. The bronzerider was concerned that Rhalith might complain to his mate if Ornagreth kept pressing him, but neither of the pair wanted to back down, either. Finally, the bronze looked across the lake. }:Shyveth is looking very beautiful today. I think she will rise soon.:{
**Then I think you should go flirt with her while I finish your bath, hmm?** R'gal was already gathering his supplies.
Ornagreth started to wade over to the far side, but shot a look at Rhalith. }:You can stay here with your noisy rider. Shyveth needs to admire me.:{
"He won't get very far with that attitude," L'keri commented as they watched the bronze paddling across the water, rider in tow, and his dragon reported what Ornagreth had said. "Greens are to be admired, not to expect admiration from. You know that, don't you, old friend?"
}:Perhaps that is why Galgaith did not choose him,:{ Rhalith agreed.
"Very likely." L'keri gave the bronzerider a cheeky wave. "How about one more song while I finish making you clean and shining for your mate?" He thought for a moment, then cleared his throat, poured fresh sweetsand on his scrubbing brush and began again.
"Ten little eggs in a firelizard's nest, ten little firelizards waiting to Impress! Snap, crack, pop and out jumped a blue, he looked into my eyes and said 'I - choose - you!' All together now! Then there were nine little eggs in a firelizard's nest..."
Last updated on the October 19th 2025