[G] [C] 733.01.09 | Sweet Surprises [Talian]

The relaxed pace of lessons was good for Talian and Khaduceth. Tal had never been encouraged to relax or enjoy himself in an educational setting. They'd all been high-pressure and, for the most part, unpleasant and even unwanted. Talian still wasn't thrilled with the idea of becoming a dragonrider, but he found the process oddly soothing thus far. He missed healing, of course, but the strange almost-leisure of lessons made him feel like he was on a vacation rather than ripped away forever. Maybe it wasn't that, though; perhaps it had more to do with Khaduceth's unshaking faith that things would ultimately be okay. Every time Talian got anxious over it, Khaduceth seemed to know just what to say to fix it.

Khaduceth himself was getting big, and fast. Talian didn't like it. That was an ugly reminder that their current contentment was due for a harsh end one day. He was a sweet dragonet, though, and stayed close to Talian even during their leisure time. On the lazy-lesson days, rather than romping and playing, Khaduceth preferred to sit neatly in the grass and bat his paw at Fellis, who'd taken to the dragon like a big brother. Talian would watch them, transfixed by how very gentle Khaduceth was for something so cumbersomly large. He would also daydream, sometimes for hours on end, and Khaduceth never interrupted him.

Talian hadn't seen much of B'jin, though. The Impression had certainly interrupted their old routine, which was a shame. Talian was finally getting used to B'jin's children and had even managed to teach Andi how to mix redwort and put bandages on a cut. It was nice to feel like he had a real family, even if it was hard to relate to the kids sometimes. They'd felt like baggage at first, but as he gradually relaxed, Tal felt like they really could be his little brother and sister.

Too bad he hadn't seen them much.

Today, Talian was sitting in his new and much-hated room in the weyrling barracks, writing in his journal while Fellis watched intently. The little fire lizard's head bobbed about as he watched the quill move. Khaduceth was curled in the floor close by, watching quietly through Talian's eyes and occasionally asking mellow questions about the diagrams the young man drew in the margins.

It's about plants he said, trying to project his thoughts at the dragon. He'd only managed it for the first time yesterday. It was still far from easy, but he'd been practicing ever since. When Khaduceth didn't respond, Talian sighed and tried again. It's about plants. Things we don't have a home

Khaduceth lifted his head and rumbled softly. The plants are different? So you are drawing them to show to other humans?

That's the idea, one day...

Khaduceth cocked his head to one side, confused. Talian sighed and half-laughed. "I hope to one day," he repeated aloud. Khaduceth snorted.  Don't doubt it. I'll take you myself, once I am large enough he aid simply, as if it were nothing. Who was Nirinath to stop him?

That's how he felt in that moment at least! He fanned his wings a bit and let out a self-satisfied croon, but it came with a warm feeling of reassurance as well. He didn't know where this mythical other-place called 'North' was, but Talian wanted to go. Khaduceth knew that much. He wanted to go and felt like Khaduceth was the reason he never could. Khaduceth would prove him wrong, though! He wouldn't be the reason they didn't go. He would be the one to make it happen.

Talian picked up on the attitude a little and smiled. "Scheming thing," he said, prodding the dragon's foreleg with his foot.

Don't doubt me replied the brown. It was almost a command, and it caused Talian to snort.

"Yes, sir," he said as he looked back to his journal. He wasn't a particularly good artist, but damn it, leaves were easy to draw! Khaduceth peered through his eyes again

Talian didn't get far, though. There was a knock at the door, causing him to pause and stare at it in disbelief for a moment. Who would come to talk to him now?

Ah, that explained it. In came Andi, flinging herself at him as always. He quickly stood up and took a step towards her, catching her awkwardly but dutifully in his arms and hugging her close. It had taken months to get to where he was even comfortable hugging her, but he'd softened up, and now the kiss to his cheek made him smile rather than cringe.

Wait, what?

"What was that you said?" he asked, looking down at her with surprise. "Happy birthday?" Well, he was sure surprised. He blinked, looking between her and her newly-arrived father. "You got me something for my birthday?" he asked, as if it were incomprehensible.

Khaduceth uncurled and crept over. He sniffed Andi intrusively, making sure this 'birthday' thing she'd so surprised his bonded with wasn't dangerous. Once satisfied, he sat down and delicately curled his tail around his paws, watching with calm amusement as the scene unfolded. They love you he reminded Talian, who was having a hard time accepting that his birthday was being acknowledged.

He set Andi down and looked to B'jin. "I never should have told you," he said, frowning a little. "Twenty-six, B'jin. Twenty-six and this is my third one here." Shards, it sounded bad when he said it like that, but since when did Talian understand when and when not to say things, especially blunt observations?