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Writers: Estelle, Steel
Date Posted: 29th April 2026

Characters: V'karel, H'kami
Description: V’karel joins H’kami on watch duty to see how he’s settling in
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 24 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: Z'renh, R’bharra, K'valdran, R'enh

“Whaddya think? Should we hop on over to Dolphin Cove next chance we get, eh, Teyrabth?” H'kami asked, lounging idly on his dragon's back. It was cold-- but he was getting used to it, at least. And the chill _did_ make for some clear nights and beautiful sunsets. He'd watch one later maybe. “Maybe we could invite Z'renh and Adamanth, or someone. Or R’bharra.”

}:If they like.:{ Teyrabth responded.

Overhead, a bronze dragon soared, his newly scrubbed hide gleaming as he returned with his rider from the summer lake. His glide down towards his weyr ledge passed over the Star Stones, and V'karel glanced down to see who was on duty. He'd taken to stopping by to chat with the watchrider when he could. They were often bored and willing to talk, and it was a good way to get a feeling for the mood of the Wings.

This time, he recognized the dragon. **That's Teyrabth, isn't it?** H'tain's son - they’d arrived back at Dragonsfall shortly after he had. **Ask if we can join them?**

Novath huffed at the thought of having to ask a brown anything, but he did as his rider asked.

}:Of course you may join us.:{ Teyrabth responded easily to Novath's inquiry, even shifted aside a quarter-length. }:Mine. Novath's approaches.:{

H'kami sighed, and sat up more fully, brushed at his flight jacket. **I see them. On-duty pose, Tey.** he thought, and the brown obeyed, settled into a more alert resting position and arched his neck with certainty.

V'karel smiled inwardly to see the younger dragon and his rider straightening themselves up as Novath landed beside them, and raised an arm in greeting. **Tell Teyrabth they can relax. It's not an inspection.**

"Fair skies, watch pair!" he called across. "Anything to report?"

“Fair skies!” H'kami greeted, tossing a jaunty salute in response. “Not much.” He added. “Saw a pretty green taking a swim, counted a few clouds, watched for trouble, that sort of thing. Freezing our tails off up here. I should have brought all three of my jackets.” He joked.

"You think this is chilly? Wait and see what it's like in a few months." V'karel grinned, glad that he'd be spared this particular duty when the weather turned. Even after fifteen Turns at Fort, which was hardly tropical, he hadn't forgotten the fierce Dragonsfall winters. Still, it was a little breezy on top of the cliffs, so he slid down from Novath's back to take advantage of the shelter of his dragon's size, and gestured for H'kami to do the same. "Sounds like a pretty typical watch to me, but at least you've got a great view."

H'kami slid down, dutifully, gave Teyrabth's foreleg an absent pat. “Oh it's gorgeous up here, if it weren’t so sharding cold.” He agreed. “Maybe I'll have to find a Gather around here, buy myself a nice new jacket.” He added. “And at least watch duty's not forever. Maybe I could convince you or someone to bring me some klah in a bit?” He suggested half jokingly.

"That's what weyrlings are for." V'karel had noticed eager young dragonpairs from the senior class out on duty recently, ferrying those who needed it up to the higher-level weyrs and down again. "It's good practice for them." His eyes unfocused briefly as he spoke to Novath. "There we go. Someone should be along with a couple of flasks in a moment. So, how are you settling in, H'kami? Ridge Wing, isn't it?"

“Yessir.” H'kami responded easily, and offered a return grin. “Ridge Wing. As for settling in, it hasn't been too bad. Great company so far, and Teyrabth's and my neighbor is a good one.” He gave his brown a pat. “Pretty sure we could get along with anyone, huh Tey?”

}:Yes.:{ The brown agreed equably.

"That's fortunate. Nothing worse than an annoying neighbor." V'karel suppressed a smile, thinking back to his own days as a young rider. "Anyone I might know?"

“His name's Z'renh.” H'kami offered, with a sort of shrug. “Said he was a transfer in too, or something. Rides bronze-- Adamanth.” He added. “Teyrabth's taken a liking to him, but then again, Tey likes everyone.”

"Dragons often do. Even Novath, when he's not in one of his bossy moods." V'karel often wished certain riders could be more like their lifemates, but at least H'kami and this other young man seemed to be getting on well. "Z'renh - he's R'enh's son, isn't he? It must be tough for him at the moment, with his father's injury, so I'm glad to know he's got good friends around him."

“He is.” H'kami confirmed. “A friend, I mean.” He added. “And you, sir? How fares?”

"Not bad. It's good to be back home, flying with my old wingmates again. It's different now, and yet there's a lot of familiar faces. Of course, K'valdran's working me like a draft runnerbeast, but I did know what I was letting myself in for." He shaded his eyes and looked down from the heights, seeing a young blue dragon rising from the bowl on unsteady wingbeats. "That looks like the klah, though if there's any left in the jug by the time they get here we'll be lucky."

“Heh.” H'kami noted. “At least I don't have night watch. And from the way they're flying, that poor blue is going to be covered in klah.”

"Well, at least the practice will do them good." V'karel watched, straight-faced, as the blue reached the heights, was blown back a little way by the stronger winds, and then with a few frantic wingbeats, managed a shaky landing next to Teyrabth.

"Your klah, sirs?" The young rider dismounted, his eyes going wide at V'karel's knots. "I mean, Weyrsecond. Here you are." He held out a jug and a pair of cups. Fortunately it seemed someone on the kitchen staff was familiar with the bumpy flying technique of junior weyrlings, because it was equipped with a lid.

"Thank you." V'karel took the jug, retreated to the shelter of Novath's wings so he wouldn't be buffeted about by gusts from the blue's wingbeats as he departed, and poured out the klah. "Here, this should warm you up."

“Thank Faranth.” H'kami breathed, and took a long sip. “Ah, that's better. Thank you, sir-- that completely slipped my mind.”

Teyrabth obligingly spread and angled one wing so that the worst of the wind was kept away from them.

"Best you get used to remembering before the winter sets in." V'karel poured himself a mug. Funny how klah seemed to taste extra good in a colder climate; one more reason he was glad to be back. "Watch duty's important, but no sense in not making yourself reasonably comfortable while you do it. As long as you don't fall asleep," he added.

“I'm no fresh weyrling.” H'kami said, with a touch of humour. “I start getting dozy, I'll just pop back into the cold. But it shouldn't be a problem.” He assured, took a long sip of klah. “Oh, yeah, that's better.”

"Glad to help." V'karel raised his mug, then took a sip, relishing the dark, strong flavor. "So, tell me more about your Wing. You're getting on all right with drills and formations?"

“Oh yes sir.” H'kami responded, and launched into a story.

Last updated on the May 1st 2026

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