Dubious Example

Writers: Duskdog, Steel
Date Posted: 2nd April 2026

Characters: R'zen, N'dhavi
Description: R’zen meets N’dhavi. He could probably use a better role model.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 21 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: O'rock, Nazoth

N'dhavi

“No, Ibranth, I'm not going out in the Weyr today. I said _no_.” R'zen said, pushing the insistent blue head away-- gently. “I'm _studying_.” They were outside, just past the entrance of the Weyrling barracks.

“I have to get ahead.” He added.

}:I'm bored!:{ Ibranth declared with a squeal, to any dragon near enough.

N’dhavi, by and large, hadn’t paid much attention to the new weyrlings. They weren’t his problem, and they weren’t any sort of competition. And now that he had his own weyr, he didn’t need to share space with them, either, except when coming and going to classes.

So when he and Malzyveth landed outside the barracks, he didn’t intend on saying anything at first. But Malzyveth took an idle interest, eyeing the exuberant young blue.

}:You can occupy yourself,:{ he told Ibranth. }:You’ve your own legs and your own mind. Put them to use. Make up a game.:{

Game? _Game_? Ibranth’s head shot up, and he stared at the newcomer, eyes whirling rapidly. }:I will pounce you!!!:{ he declared, on his paws in the next instant.

R'zen, who'd been leaning against Ibranth, caught himself with one arm just in time. “Ibranth!!” He hissed, and the blue froze mid-step into his rush. “Just because Nazoth let…” He started, then trailed off when Ibranth stamped a foot. “_Ask_.”

}:You will _try_,:{ Malzyveth rumbled, faintly amused. He wasn’t full-grown, by any means, but Ibranth just seemed so _small_ to him.

N’dhavi crossed his arms and leaned against the stone to watch. Malzyveth was not really one for “play,” so he was curious to see how this would go. “Looks like yours is a handful,” he commented to R’zen.

Ibranth needed no further urging to charge headlong at Malzyveth. }:Mine says there is no trying, only _doing_!:{ He declared, letting out what might be a trumpet when he was older, but was at the moment simply a squeal.

“... He's _fine_.” R'zen huffed. “He gives _me_ no trouble.” He paused, then added, “Everyone always says that. I can handle him.”

N’dhavi watched as Malzyveth calmly pushed back at Ibranth with one forepaw, as if it required no effort (even if it did). “Uh huh. Has he knocked you down yet?”

}:Your rider is wise, then,:{ the bronze replied to Ibranth, even as he was pushing him. }:”Trying” is merely an attempt to “do” that has failed. And failure accomplishes nothing.:{

}:I will never fail!!!:{ Ibranth declared, and lunged once more. }:And of _course_ Mine is wise!:{

“Of course not!!” R'zen bristled. “Hatching Day doesn't count.”

One beat. Two. And then he made a face. “... Maybe… _once_.” Or a few times.

N’dhavi snickered. “Well… at least it doesn’t look like it’s because he’s clumsy or anything. Just enthusiastic.” He tried to remember if he’d seen R’zen’s face before, if he had been a candidate when Malzyveth’s clutch had been hatched. “What’s the name, kid?”

“R'zen.” R'zen responded, instantly, and shifted his stance to stand taller. “And you are?” he said, after a moment. So what if this guy and his dragon were bigger and older? R'zen wasn't going to act all shy. He'd Impressed fair and square, and Ibranth was bigger than any of the other blues and greens his age.

… Plus, Ibranth was having fun.

“N’dhavi,” he replied, holding out his hand. He didn’t see any harm in being nice at the moment -- besides, he rather liked the young man’s moxy. “And that’s Malzyveth. How’s being a dragonrider so far?”

Malzyveth, too, saw no reason not to indulge the blue for now, and pounced back. }:This will be good training for you to hunt later,:{ he reasoned -- as if he were some sort of authority on hunting, himself, despite only being a few months old.

Ibranth squealed again and spread his small wings, stamped both (much smaller) feet before hurling himself at Malzyveth head on. }:I shall become the MIGHTIEST of hunters!!:{

R'zen winced at the volume achieved, but stuck his own hand out to shake the older Weyrling's hand. His bandages were gone, at least, and the scratches on his right arm had healed over, leaving only faint scars.

“N'dhavi.” He echoed. “And bronze Malzyveth.” He could remember that. A pause, then he huffed. “Mostly it's keeping Ibranth cleaned and oiled so far. And shoveling food down his throat. But… I like it here.” He added.

“Yeah? Me too. All the food you can eat! Where are you from?”

Malzyveth lowered his head and bowled into Ibranth. }:Yes good, become stronger!:{

“.... Amber Hills Hold.” R'zen responded, with a face. “And, yeah the food's good. I've been trying to explore the Weyr, too, but the only time I can really get very far is when Ibranth’s asleep. We're not even allowed to really _do_ anything but lessons and strength training yet.”

Ibranth went rolling, sprang back to his paws, and rushed to headbutt Malzyveth’s muzzle if he could.

“It’s like that. But they’ll keep you busy enough that you almost don’t miss it. Blink and he’ll be twice the size he is now, and blink again and he’ll be flying.” N’dhavi grimaced ruefully. “But still not big enough. I can’t wait to get out of here. Not forever -- just to be able to go anywhere on Pern that I want to go.”

Ibranth was faster than Malzyveth anticipated. The bronze was caught unprepared as the blue smacked right into his muzzle. He made a surprised bleat -- entirely undignified -- and blinked. }:Well. Your head is very hard. That is…. good?:{

“Getting out and seeing more of Pern sounds _amazing_. Especially after I was stuck in that stupid Hold for so long.” R'zen muttered, then glanced away, crossed his arms. “At least _you_ can fly already. Bet you've been all over this place from the sky.”

N’dhavi gave a bark of laughter. “I wish! Well… I’ve seen Dragonsfall from above. Not too high above yet. We haven’t been flying long. And we can’t go /between/ yet. But soon!” He grinned. “When we graduate, my brother and I are going to hit up every gather we can find. He just Impressed a bronze over at Barrier Lake not long ago. The women go crazy for dragonriders, you know.”

Ibranth puffed his chest out and strutted. }:Mine! Malzyveth has admitted I am excellent!:{

“Of course you are.” R'zen told his dragon, then refocused on N'dhavi. “I've only gotten to fly once. And that was when the Searchrider brought me here.”

He shook his head, moved on. “You have a brother? I just have two _sisters_. You should have heard them squealing when the dragonrider came to the Hold.” He added, then exhaled. “... At least it got me out of there.”

“You didn’t like the Hold…?” N’dhavi asked quietly, cocking his head a little. He couldn’t imagine what holdkids might have to complain about.

}:I did not say excellent. I said it was good that your head was hard. Those are very different things,:{ Malzyveth corrected. }:But perhaps you show promise.:{

“... Not really.” R'zen muttered, glanced away. “It was _boring_. And I kept getting in trouble.” He added, and shrugged. “I haven't gotten in trouble here yet, not really. And I've got Ibranth.”

Ibranth snorted, stamped his feet again. }:I AM a promise!!:{ he declared, and rushed in again. }:I will be the best of blues!:{

“Boring?” N’dhavi snorted derisively. “If that was your biggest problem, you’ve got nothing to complain about. What’d you keep getting in trouble for?”

}:That is a good goal,:{ Malzyveth allowed.

“... Fighting.” R'zen muttered, after a long moment. “And I wouldn't pick Healercraft to apprentice to, like my Da kept insisting.” He made a face. “So when they said I could maybe be a dragonrider, I came here.”

“Sounds like your Da is stupid, if he thinks a guy who keeps getting in fights would make a good healer.” He looked over R’zen, assessing, and grinned -- whatever he saw, he found amusing. “I’ve been in a fair few fights, myself. Too bad the dragons make us play nice here. If the Weyrlingmasters are telling the truth, that is. To hear them tell it, our dragons’ll disappear if we have any thoughts less bland than porridge. It’s insulting. Malzyveth’s not stupid!”

}:You have nothing to fight about,:{ the bronze pointed out, though -- panic or no, he had no desire to see N’dhavi punching or being punched, even for fun.

}:I would not let you get hurt.:{ Ibranth told R'zen staunchly, halting just short of his next attempt at pouncing Malzyveth to turn and glance back at his rider.

“Tch.” R'zen responded, though he crossed his arms over his chest, didn't look back yet. “Me being a Healer _would_ have been stupid. But… yeah. The Weyrlingmasters keep telling us all kinds of rules.”

He exhaled slowly. “... Anyways. Where are _you_ from?”

N’dhavi weighed whether it was worth telling the truth. Or actually, whether it was worth lying. He’d certainly done enough of it in his time. He’d learned to claim a lot of different backgrounds, and he’d traveled enough to be able to put in just enough details to make it believable, most of the time.

But what was the point? Everyone here at the Weyr knew the truth (or enough to know he had no Hold at least) anyway, and why bother lying anymore now that he was a bronzerider?

“Little bit of everywhere,” he said. He’d see what R’zen thought about it. “Holdless. Not that it matters anymore. Once you’ve got a dragon, you’re in the club for life.”

“... Huh.” R'zen said, after a long moment. “That’s true.” He eyed N’dhavi again, then huffed. “We're dragonriders. That's all _I_ care about. Besides, I'd punch anyone who insulted me. Or my friends.”

Ibranth pounced on Malzyveth's tail, or tried to.

“Yeah?” N’dhavi wasn’t sure if R’zen was serious or not, but if he was, someone like that could be useful to keep around. “That’s good that you’ll stand up for yourself. It’s no good going through life being somebody’s doormat. Lucky most people are too polite, or too smart, to say anything bad to my face, even though I know they’re thinking it. There’s only been a couple who got nasty.”

R'zen snorted. “I'm no doormat. If anything, _O'rock_ is.” He huffed. “Ibranth bullied Shaegerith right off his bucket, _and_ I got O'rock to agree to cut Ibranth’s meat for me until my arm got better.” He bragged, then made a face. “All the Weyrlingmasters say we can't _actually_ fight, though.”

A longer pause, then he added, “... Polite's good, I guess, but I'd rather know what someone is actually thinking.” So he could punch them.

“Oh, they don’t have to say it out loud for you to be able to tell. Most people are way more obvious than they think they are. And there’s always ways of getting at people without having to fight them, if you’re smart about it. What’d this O’rock do to make you mad? Or is he just somebody who’s dumb enough to let you push him around?”

Malzyveth turned around. }:Do _not_,:{ he told Ibranth sternly. }:I do not like my tail being touched. Wrestle me head-on, if you must.:{ Nevermind that head-on just so happened to greatly benefit the larger dragon.

Ibranth froze, one paw midair. Slowly lowered it again.

R'zen sensed the blue's immediate plan, and narrowed his own eyes. **Ibranth. _No._**

}:But… :{

**_No_.**

Ibranth backed away, slowly, reluctant. But he obeyed.

Only then did R'zen refocus on N'dhavi. “I think he's just dumb.” The blue weyrling said with a shrug.

“Good enough reason,” N’dhavi said, shrugging. As far as he was concerned, it was. Among the holdless, if someone made themselves an easy target, well, someone stronger or smarter would always oblige them. “Get what you can from him while you can. He’ll either learn, or he won’t. And in the meantime, at least he’s being useful.”

“... Yeah.” R'zen responded, and offered N'dhavi a grin. “There _is_ that.”

He paused, then added, “... Ibranth won't go for Malzyveth’s tail. I won't let him.”

“Good. Looks like you’re gonna need that control to handle a ball of energy like that. But hey, if he ever needs to burn any of it off, Malzyveth might be game to wrestle again some other time.”

}:Perhaps:{ Malzyveth allowed reluctantly.

Last updated on the May 1st 2026

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Dubious Example