An Interesting Challenge

Writers: Ames, Devin
Date Posted: 19th April 2013

Characters: T'nom, Z'ku
Description: The two bronzeriders chat and issue each other a rather interesting challenge
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 19 of Turn 6

T'nom

Z'ku

T'nom was hungry. He'd been working hard all day and now headed to the
dining halls eager to grab himself a bite to eat.

"Hey T'nom," Z'ku called as he spotted his fellow bronzerider. He
walked a bit faster to catch up.

He turned at his name. "Hey, Z'ku," T'nom replied, slowing to wait for
his friend to catch up. Friend, he wasn't sure how or when it
happened, but they had just become friends over time. Working together
all the time and sharing similar experiences had helped in that
matter. T'nom no longer even thought about the way they both had an
affection for Meledei. He knew that she might spend time with either
or both of them, and he'd accepted that as the way things were.

"How're you doing?" He asked when Z'ku caught up to him.

"Good. What do you think of the new Wingleader?"

"He's alright I guess. I haven't crossed his path yet or anything, and
I've been trying to do my job so I don't get on his bad side," T'nom
replied. To be honest, he hadn't really interacted with D'hol much at
all. He followed the commands he was given, but so far he hadn't drawn
the attention of the new Wingleader in any way. "What do you think of
him?"

"A bit strict," Z'ku said. "Xemroth and I are doing our best to be
perfect so he has no reason to reprimand us." And being perfect in
drills helped them avoid mistakes during Threadfall.

"That's basically our plan as well," T'nom replied. "Come on, I'm
starving. Let's grab some food and we can talk more then." T'nom
picked up the pace, his stomach growling even as they walked. "I swear
I haven't eaten in far too many candlemarks!"

They got their food and found a place to sit. "Did you hear about the
clutch at Dragonsfall?"

T'nom nodded as he took a bite of the food, "Yeah. Not good, really. I
mean I had expected the Clutch to be small, but it seems even smaller
than I thought it would be." He actually felt badly for the riders
involved, as he knew how he would feel if something like that happened
to him. Thankfully, though, Taldeth was a bronze, so any clutch he
would sire would be larger.

"A brownrider hardly out of weyrlinghood. What a shame for them." Z'ku
shook his head and took a bite. Half the size of a typical clutch,
when they needed all the dragonpairs they could get.

"Yeah. I mean even Taldeth would have a hard time siring a full Clutch
yet. He's still growing into his full strength, but then again, he
_is_ strong and young, so you never know."

Deciding to change the subject, T'nom said, "That last Threadfall was
a tough one. I know Taldeth and I nearly got scored twice. I swear it
was one of the hardest we've flown since we finished our
weyrlinghood."

Z'ku nodded. "With crosswinds that strong, I'm surprised there weren't
more injuries."

"Isn't that the truth," T'nom muttered, shaking slightly at the
thought. He was glad that he and Taldeth had escaped unscathed.

"So have you and Meledei spent much time together lately?" T'nom knew
this was shaky ground sometimes for their friendship, but he and Z'ku
hadn't talked about their friendships and thoughts for Meledei much at
all in the past. He hated the fact that he was so nosy about it all,
but he still had a rather large soft spot for the girl. Now that he
and Z'ku were friends, if _he_ couldn't have her himself, he'd rather
it be someone like Z'ku whom he trusted.

"We danced at the hatching and went for a ride last sevenday. We took
some runners out on the trails outside the Weyr. We had a good time."
And once again he'd been too much of a coward to try to take their
relationship farther. Z'ku had already told her he wanted more, but he
hadn't mentioned it since. He was afraid he would drive her away.

T'nom nodded, deciding it was time to clear the air between them a bit
so their own friendship wouldn't be hampered by future events.

"That's good, really." He shifted a bit, rather uncomfortable with
what he planned to discuss. "You know we should probably talk about
her." He gave his friend a bit of a pleading look to help him through
this. "I'm glad we've become friends and I wouldn't want that to be
ruined by our..." he paused, and looked away. Then T'nom leaned in and
whispered to Z'ku, "interest in her." He'd said enough and felt rather
foolish for having brought up the whole thing in the first place.

Z'ku's eyebrows shot up. "What? _You_ like her? Romantically?" He knew
they were friends but it never occurred to him that there might be
more.

T'nom heaved a bit of a sigh, feeling rather foolish. "I don't even
know, completely, but, yeah. I do. I haven't told her or anything, and
I'm not sure I ever should." He wanted to fall into a sink hole at the
moment he felt so embarrassed. "She sees me as just a friend, and I
don't want to ruin that, but I've had feelings for her, but I've tried
really hard to hide them." **Well, that was a mess,** her told
himself. "I probably shouldn't have even said anything."

Z'ku looked down at his plate for a moment, sorting out how he felt
about the news. "It seems she has that effect on people."

"Yeah," T'nom grumbled, "Isn't that the truth?" Then taking a bit of
his food he let the silence settle for a minute before saying, "Look,
I figure it this way. I like you. We've become friends. If I can't
have her, than I'd rather it be you than someone else. I haven't made
friends with all that many people here, and well, I don't want our
friendship ruined because of this."

Z'ku gave him a wry smile. "I'd rather it was me, too." That sounded
mean, and he frowned at his own words. "It doesn't look like she's
interested in anyone, so I think we're both safe from either of us
ruining our friendship."

**Maybe I should just back off and let Z'ku try and win Meledei's
heart. I don't think her heart is set on me,** T'nom thought to
himself, but aloud he just agreed with Z'ku. "Yeah, that _does_ seem
right. I don't think she's looking for any kind of relationships. So,
you're right, that's good for our friendship." Now he wasn't sure what
else to say, so he shoved some more food in his mouth to try and get
past this part of their conversation.

They ate in silence for a while before Z'ku said. "Maybe we should
look somewhere else. I mean, we're bronzeriders. We should have a
woman on each arm, right?" He knew he _could_, but he measured them
against Meledei and found them all lacking.

It was _exactly_ what he'd been thinking. "You know, Z'ku, I think you
might be on to something. We _are_ bronzeriders. Perhaps it's time I
started _acting_ more like one rather than the lonely candidate who
didn't Impress." T'nom gave a firm nod of his head. "Now, I just have
to figure out exactly _how_ to go about making myself believe all
that!" He chuckled a bit, "maybe we could work on it together,
somehow."

A little smile curled Z'ku's lips as a thought occurred to him. "Well,
how about the Dragonsfall Hatching? We could go to the feast and have
a friendly little contest. Whoever dances with the most women wins."
He wasn't considering more than dancing, but it would be good for his
ego to know there were women out there who _did_ desire him.

T'nom thought on that and nodded. "Deal, but what shall the winnings
be?" He found he was excited by the prospect of this little challenge.
He didn't like to lose at anything he did.

"Bragging rights certainly," Z'ku said. "And how about a few marks as well?"

"Deal," T'nom grinned, "And may the best man win!"

Z'ku offered his hand for a shake. "Indeed."

T'nom shook on the deal, already eager to try and best his fellow
bronzerider and friend.

Last updated on the May 30th 2013

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An Interesting Challenge