Totally Screwed Up

[Fia]

It was the middle of the night, and the dragon had decided that he was hungry. Which was odd, but he was an odd dragon. He'd been even odder than usual recently. The fact was, Beneath wasn't his usual, bubbly self. His butterfly-obsessed friend, Breath, was gone, and he was MISERABLE. His Rider too, was thoroughly upset. True, Ar'lyr hadn't been her best buddy in the whole sharding world, but still...

So she didn't have the heart to scold her dragon for waking her up in the middle of the night. She just sighed, changed into warmer clothes, and accompanied the Stream to the Feeding Grounds. Beneath dropped her off and quite literally launched himself at the nearest herdbeast, flattening it and probably crushing its bones to dust. Snorting, he proceeded to tear it to pieces, eating as viciously as he possibly could.

Easy, love... don't choke...

I won't, don't worry about me, the Stream snapped, and the girl nearly flinched at her dragon's tone.

...I'm sorry, Fiamine...

It's okay, Beneath...


Dammit, everything was so totally screwed up these days...


Mine? Please don't get sick. I don't want you to die. The dragon's voice trembled.

I won't, the Streamrider insisted vehemently, and raced towards her dragon as he returned to her. The Stream mumbled about evil green butterflies poisoning people, which was evidently what was killing people; but his ramblings subsided as his Rider all but attacked his neck, making him nuzzle her shoulder and ask tearfully if the nighttime butterflies had gotten her. He got a muffled sob in response, but assumed that His hadn't been harmed by the little devils.

[blacklight]

The tan had faded from his skin long ago, as there had been no reason or way to go outside recently. E'ren had been keeping to where the Candidates were holed up, watching them carefully, trying to answer their questions. They always asked why this was happening, why people were dying. Why the Weyr? Of course there was no answer to this, but E'ren did his best to comfort them.

On this particular night, a Candidate had slipped away. Probably was going crazy from being forced to stay in the same place all the time. E'ren was going a bit loopy himself. As much as he hated the idea of one of his charges roaming around the sick-infested Weyr, he was glad for the chance to get out. He had checked about half the Weyr already, and was about to pass over the Feeding Grounds when he heard a noise.

The Candidate Master moved towards it, but stopped when he saw what was going on. Moments like those were not ones to be interrupted, but he had to find that Candidate. If he got sick because E'ren failed to find him, the Bluerider would never forgive himself.

They will understand, Mine. Just do your job,[/color] Oranth crooned from his couch in their weyr. Currently there were three other children living with E'ren, and all of them were huddled on the rider's bed. It was safe with E'ren, and he didn't have the heart to refuse anyone refuge.

"Fia?" his voice wavered slightly. "Has anyone else been out here?"He really didn't want to interrupt, but seeing a former student of his (oh yes, he was the Candidate Master back then...just a little lazy and confused) so upset made his heart ache. The Bluerider moved forward, but not within touching range. He wasn't sure how or if she would answer.

[Fia]

Footsteps? Heh, no way, only she or Beneath would be crazy enough to be out at this time of night-


Is that not Oranth's Rider? A tiny spark of liveliness entered the Stream's tone in the form of curiosity.


Then again, maybe not. Swiftly wiping her eyes, just in case-

In case he has night vision?

-there were any tears remaining, Fia turned around, peering through the darkness at the Bluerider.

"Nope," she mumbled, before an unused but unbroken habit prompted her to shake her head and say more loudly "No sir."

.....Sir....?

Oops. Eh... he was... my... Candidate Master? she tried feebly.

WAS. Mine, wake up. I do not want the nighttime butterflies to get you, and they do find you better when you are half asleep.

Well, you warn me if you see any, okay?

I will, Beneath promised, and immediately began peering intently through the dark.


All this was said and done within about five seconds.


Beneath taken care of, Fia shook her head to clear it, blinking at E'ren. "Who exactly are you looking for, Sir- E'ren?" she corrected, giving herself a mental whack over the head. Shards, being up past midnight did straaaange things to your mind...

Something enormous and sharding powerful suddenly knocked the girl off her feet, and as she stood up again, her face was covered with dust.

"Beneath," she muttered. "What was that for?"

EVIL NIGHTTIME BUTTERFLY, the Stream screeched, loudly enough to wake half the Weyr. I WILL DESTROY THEM ALL AND SAVE THE WORLD FROM PERIL! The dragon promptly began swatting the air with his tail, hissing at absolutely nothing.

"You do that, then..." Fia sighed. "Sorry 'bout him," she muttered, jerking her thumb at the hissing Stream. "Kinda immature, but its past his bedtime..."

[blacklight]

He nodded absently, scanning the Grounds for any other sign of human movement. It was way too late to be staggering about the Weyr, looking for a stray Candidate. Why did they always insist on running out at the worst hours? Did they think he wouldn't come looking for them?

If you get yourself worked up, you will never sleep, Oranth reminded him gently.

Well, yes. But if I don't keep myself awake now, I'll fall asleep before I find her.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the title assigned to him by his former Candidate. E'ren couldn't help but giggle when she called him 'sir.' Not even the children he had under his care now called him that all the time.

"I'm looking for-" but he was cut off as the Stream decided to alert everyone in the area of the danger lurking. The Bluerider clapped a hand over his mouth to keep from giggling again. It was an awefully feminine way to laugh, and he was trying to get over it. It was hard to, when it was so much simpler to respond to most everything with a nervous sound and slink off to check on his charges.

Oh dear, Oranth sighed to Beneath, Will you keep Mine safe from the butterflies? I am afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep himself safe.[/color]

Oranth!

The Blue rumbled softly, turning his attention promptly to the kitty that was purring between his eyes. E'ren sighed and shoves cold hands into pockets for warmth. "Completely understandable," he smiled at her warmly. He had a special place in his heart for all his students - current and former.

"I'm looking for May," he started up again, light brown eyes peering behind her for a moment - one last check - before letting them rest on her dusty face. A piece of cloth was promptly offered to her. "I don't suppose you have any idea where she would be?"

[Jeni]

((*starts laughing hysterically*))

[Fia]

Certainly I will, Beneath replied, sounding comically serious, even as he spread his wings and began beating them wildly, blowing up an very large whirlwind of dust and whatever else was on the ground. I shall protect everyone! I love most butterflies -especially purple ones!- but Evil Green Nighttime Butterflies are EEEEVIIIIL!

Fia gave Beneath a glare, mainly for talking about purple butterflies.


Yes! Thank you! Purple pie with butterfly wings! baby Beneath's voice exclaimed happily, and two butterfly- and dirt-loving dragonets rolled playfully around in the stuff.


Fia shook her head sharply. "Shut up, 'Neath," she muttered, extremely thankful for the darkness, and hoping that the moonlight wasn't striking her face. She swallowed hard, blinking fiercely.

But they ARE! the Stream insisted, not stopping the wild beating of his wings.

His Rider ignored him and gratefully accepted the cloth, wiping the dust off her face. "Thanks," she said, gratitude evident in her tone, even as she used the opportunity to wipe away fresh tears.


Yay! We both look like dirt! Dirt IS good! Hooray! The hatchlings bolted towards a lake to get muddy.


"No," the girl replied, partially to distract herself. "Sorry, I don't. Have you checked everywhere? Inside?"

DIIIIEEEE, EVIL-NIGHTTIME-BUTTERFLIIIEEES!

[blacklight]

Well, thank you kindly, little Stream,[/color] the Blue rumbled quietly. The Blue was an old soul and tended to call everyone little...even if they were, in fact, older and bigger than him. The kitten that had been balanced precariously on his muzzle rolled off just then, causing panic in Oranth. MINE. YOUR KITTY FELL![/color]

E'ren rolled his eyes skyward at the Blue's worry. What did she fall onto?

There was a pause.

Well?

The bed.[/color]

Then I doubt she's hurt.

But she is making a weird sound! She might be in pain![/color]

She's just purring, Oranth...

Oh.[/color]

Even if the moonlight had been on her face, the Candidate Master had been too preoccupied with calming down his dragon. Oranth had taken a liking to his kittens and decided to take them under his wing and 'adopt' them.

"You're welcome," he mumbled absently, and then snapped back to attention. Oranth was such a distraction sometimes. "I've looked everywhere inside that Candidates would be allowed to be, so I figured she must have come outside. I don't think she'd willingly visit the infirmiry...even I wouldn't do that," he sighed. He wished he could. There were people in there he wanted to see.