Stupid heat [M'din]

As the dragons spiritedly dove into the lake, M'din nodded at his fellow brownrider's statement. K'ton had said he didn't remember his romantic partners, a notion M'din never preferred sexually or emotionally. Even Pinerrel, who he'd only been with once after a failed chase, was a woman he respected for her sharpness and sense of humor. He propped the hat on the back of his head and inquired, "So you don't do the long-term relationships thing?" He said, "I like to have just one lady, even if she doesn't want to be Weyrmates or be together forever."

M'din lounged back, resting his head on the trunk of the tree as his body slid into the grass and sand. One hand reached up to his face, gingerly pressing the tender flesh. It was certain to bruise. "It makes me happy to make a lady feel special and spoiled, so we always try to treat each other with as much love as possible. And if it doesn't work out after a few turns, or even a few sevendays, at least we can both be all right afterwards. I've never had a break-up end badly, thank Faranth." His longest relationship was with beautiful onyx-haired Charendie, a patient, joyful woman with whom M'din had two sons: introverted Michin and spitfire Chardin. He knew Charendie had become something of a Weyrmate to a bluerider these days, as the boys reported it, and he was pleased that she found someone to love. She and M'din had mutually decided to end their live-in relationship after four turns, having gently drifted apart without feeling the need to force themselves together again. It was all handled maturely and pleasantly, and he still wished the willowy woman well.

He cracked his knuckles lazily before gesturing to the playing dragons. "Armath doesn't like admitting it, but he really likes my kids. If you find out you have some, or plan or having some in the future, I bet Ironth would really like them too." M'din leaned back conspiratorially, "Let me tell you though, he did not enjoy my long-term girlfriends taking me away from him. It wasn't specifically them that he hated, but he's a huge fan of dragon-and-rider alone time." He shiftily glanced to the lake before lowering his voice further, "He's like a jealous girlfriend when he misses me."

What are you talking about? Armath's accusing voice abruptly popped into his mind.

M'din flinched and answered in a guilty jumble, Girlfriends and stuff. Kids. Human babies.

Oh, grunted Armath. Babies are disgusting. The brown receded from his rider's mind, simultaneously appeased and disturbed. M'din heaved a sigh of relief under the redfruit tree.

Beneath the waves, Armath turned his attention to the strange plants and fish on the floor of the lake. Ironth, how to plants grow underwater? He blinked between and reappeared a dragonlength over the surface, inhaling deeply before diving back into the lake; he found he could reach the bottom without swimming if he dove from high enough. I thought plants needed sunlight and air and bugs and things. Can humans eat these?