Nightmares of Harpies [Z'ia, Invite]

Z’ia’s dark green eyes flickered open, staring up at the ceiling with a frown as three firelizards swirled around, squeaking and chittering, their wings brushing past one another and over Z’ia so the warm Katilan air was cooled, whispering over his face and ruffling his damp hair. The nights were still uncomfortably warm, but Z’ia hadn’t been in bed that long at any rate; his hair still damp from the bath he’d taken before meandering back to his hut. His right hand rose to rub at his temples, and Z’ia was struggling to make his brain work enough to scold the girls into settling down and going to sleep when he heard Aveleth stir outside his bedroom window. Then the tiny dragonrider was just about scraping himself off the ceiling when a green screeched not some few huts away, the bluerider’s eyes massive in his face.

“Fucking greens!” Didn’t the stupid bitches have an ounce of sense? There were enough of the bastard things throughout the weyr that Z’ia was almost sure there should have been at least two braincells to rub together – somewhere. Then again, it wasn’t like green was actually a smart colour – Z’ia ignored Plague’s indignant squeak – as he sat up slowly and rubbed his face once over. Aveleth wasn’t the type to chase at any rate, and Z’ia was hardly in the mood, but he was awake now – rather unhappily – and he grumbled under his breath as he stumbled across the bedroom and out the door. A jaw cracking yawn was given as Z’ia leaned lazily against the kitchen bench, drinking a glass of lukewarm water from the jug.

Who is it? As he slowly woke, Z’ia could feel his blue’s uncertain interest, and he leaned over slightly to peer out the small kitchen window with an interested expression;  he knew it wasn’t Rilaleeyth since the green had flown two months prior, and wasn’t due for another two. Z’ia shifted again, putting the jug back on the bench and meandering his way to the front door so he could open it, leaning out to peer at Aveleth as the dragon hesitated for more than a little while. Kiddo?

Astoreth, he finally answered, and Z’ia refrained with great difficulty from rolling his eyes at the lingering vein of guilt Aveleth felt when Z’ia had thought of Rilaleeyth. He couldn’t understand Aveleth’s hang-up over the elder dragon, especially when he was allowed to win so few of her flights, and not from a lack of encouragement from Z’ia; he could think of several people he would prefer to bed before falling in with J’ver, but Aveleth and Rilaleeyth made an endearing pair, and Z’ia found he tended to come out of those flights feeling far more relaxed than the flights with people such as A’liran – not that he was ever against those flights.

Aveleth hesitated again. Are you going to chase her? Z’ia prodded, hearing the green shriek again and he turned his gaze to stare in the direction of A’liran’s hut, rolling his eyes at the dramatics of green dragons. They seriously had no class at all, and he could only imagine what someone like A’liran was up to at the moment; he’d probably encouraged her late night flight by dreaming things he didn’t have the courage to seek out. Aveleth snorted softly under his breath, and Z’ia shrugged innocently with a lopsided smile. Well?

Swirling eyes were turned on him, and Z’ia waited patiently to see what Aveleth would say before moving. The dragon knew Z’ia enjoyed the flights he took part in with Astoreth’s rider, but Z’ia was also aware that Aveleth was sometimes (most always) made uncomfortable by the human-end results of their flights, and having the sharp-tongued whore of a green attack his sweet blue did nothing to calm Z’ia. The little bluerider arched his eyebrows at his dragon, who finally gave a physical nod. Yes. Crouching slightly, he offered Z’ia an eased ability to mount up, before taking off on a short glide to A’liran’s hut.

Aveleth didn’t speak as he allowed Z’ia to slide off him, and land lightly on the ground before trotting (almost skipping) gleefully to A’liran’s door. A low croon was given to Astoreth, eyes swirling a gentle mixture of lust and affection as he settled himself placidly nearby, prepared to take to the skies the moment she did, but unwilling to wind himself up too much before such energies were needed; she was still having fun screeching and he’d let her get that out of her system so hopefully she’d aim less of it at him post-flight. His wings rustled together as he settled himself, and his head titled to one side as he watched her, before turning to glance at the other green, with a look of mild confusion and a hint of amusement. He was barely a flickering glance, and his attention was back on her.

Z’ia didn’t bother to knock as he skipped up to the door, dark curls bouncing around his excited face. Instead, he let himself in quietly and danced across the main room, pausing at the door to peer in with a brilliant grin, green eyes sparkling with anticipation of all the delightful upcoming opportunities. “Hello, precious! What timing your sweet greenie has,” Z’ia’s voice was low and singsongy, filled with quiet, malicious delight as he came around the edge of the door, and stood in the opening like a predator about to pounce his cornered prey. “Shall we get this show on the road?” white teeth flashed in the darkness as he smirked.