Spring Cleaning [S'kef]

L'varl had been staring at his prostrate bronze for the past ten minutes, trying his best to surreptitiously figure out why the great lump was just sitting there. Twenty six Turns and Korutath still managed to surprise him on a regular basis. He knew that it wasn't something the dragon did on purpose--Korry probably didn't even know he was doing it--but that didn't stop the bronzerider from brooding over it. L'varl was so used to the endless activity that typically extruded from his dragon that the stillness currently stagnating around his hut was disconcerting.

Kor... Ah! There, movement! The big bronze head turned far enough to fix one great faceted eye on him. ...what are you doing?

Hmm? Oh. Thinking. I think.

L'varl grunted, crossing his arms on the table and resting his forehead on them. You're always thinking. What else are you doing?

How long has it been? L'varl frowned and glanced up at the dragon, who had rested his head at an angle on the ground, eye trained on his lifemate.

How long has what been? He asked, completely baffled. Korutath didn't typically muse about the past, nor was he the most introspective individual around. L'varl tried his best not to dwell on the fact too much lest he distress the dragon's delicate sensibilities. He'd come to learn how to deal with it without driving himself absolutely insane himself, which wouldn't have done either of them any good. The fact that Korutath was bringing the past up of his own violition was a change, and it sent a spark of curiosity through L'varl's veins.

Since we came here. How long?

An eyebrow rose, and L'varl sucked his lower lip between his teeth for a moment. Now he was thoroughly baffled. Oh. Uh...Seventeen Turns, give or take? I don't know off the top of my head. Why?

Oh... He sounded so thoroughly disappointed that L'varl didn't know the exact date down to the hour that he frowned and rose. Moving to Korutath's head, he scratched at a flaky patch behind the dragon's headknob. No, no it's not your fault I was just curious. At L'varl's dubious noise, Korutath shifted worriedly. He settled him quickly and ducked back inside, returning shortly with a towel.

What say you to a bath? He asked with a light tap of his knuckles on the bronze's side. He had to backtrack away when Korutath quite literally scrambled to his feet, losing one or two out from under him in his haste before he managed the feat, snaking his head around to observe his rider skeptically.

Sand and all? You promise?

Would I lie to you?

It was in short order (and more than a few reminders that L'varl couldn't walk as fast as the bronze dragon, at which point a meek apology would be offered, along with a gentle nudge in the small of the back once L'varl had caught up and passed) that L'varl found himself astride the bronze and emerging from between with a grimace. Korutath landed, pausing long enough for L'varl to slide down the offered limb before bounding not unlike a canine towards the lake. The bronzerider stood and watched with arms crossed, a surprisingly affectionate expression passing over his face.