Unexpectedly Pleasant Company [Kahleena]

N'kal lifted a brow once more as the girls face flamed in embarrassment when he complimented her name. For the love of Faranth why did women have to blush so much? He couldn't fathom why a man couldn't talk to a woman these days without her either tryin to bed him, or blushing like some maiden hold girl still clinging to her mother's skirts. That thought gave him pause. He gave the past turns some thought and guessed, on her behavior, that she was most likely one of the stolen crafters or holders. That didn't make it any less irritating, even if it was occasionally amusing. For her to do it every sharding time he said something to her, was a bit much. He let it go however, there was no point in calling her out on it, he did not want to further stress the girl out or cause her to leave. She would of course take her dragon if she left and Torath would be quite sore with her over that. He felt said beast touch his mind lightly then was back to paying Okalinath attention. He did turn his great swirling eyes back to where their riders were seated. N'kal can be a bit intimidating without any effort. Will your rider be alright? N'kal will never forgive himself if he upsets her., he replied to her gently. He did not want to alarm the young gold, but it was true. N'kal was far more imposing then he realized, being a bronze rider did not help especially with the grouchy and brooding mood he was usually found in.

N'kal cracked a grin at the girl when she timidly answered his question. "Well, yes I suppose they are. Though I have not seen him play like that in many a long Turn.", there was such fondness in his voice that the smile on his face actually reached his dark eyes. The silly beast had that effect on him always. There were only rare occasions when he gave any true smile that was not directly in response to Torath. He didn't like to smile, it made people think he was friendly and open, he really wasn't. He didn't know why he was being so open lately and it bothered him. His thoughts were picked up by Torath who paused and swung his great head around to look directly at his bonded. You're lonely. You deny it, but I can feel it in you. You can not remain alone forever., he said to N'kal. 'I am never alone, I always have you', he said dismissively and Torath gave a grunt in his direction then went back to Okalinath while their crazy, emotionally mental riders talked about their Impressions. Normally Torath loved being a part of that telling, but he was far too entertained by the young dragon in his company to be bothered.

Both Torath and N'kal, being seasoned rider and dragon noticed the change in both Kahleena and likewise Okalinath, Torath because Okalinath stopped and looked back at her rider, N'kal because he noticed she seemed to zone out on him. He was concerned a bit but then she seemed to pull back from wherever she went and was with him again, flashing what he felt must have been a smile as rare as his own. The smile changed her features enough that he took note of it, not in any way that would bother her, but he kept the thought to himself and followed her gaze to their dragons. Once Torath felt things were better he went back to playing like a weyrling, chirping happily as he was splashed again by the gold. He reared back and dropped back to all fours, slapping his front paws in the water to splash her back then pouncing at her when she danced away.

N'kal gave Kahleena a crooked smile when she inquired about his asking for her story. "Well..I don't see any other gold riders sitting beside me at the moment.", his voice again carrying the tone of amusement, trying not to stress the girl again, though he wasn't sure how he was doing it. No matter what he said or how he said it, she seemed to fret about it and that bothered the bronzerider far more then he was willing to admit. When she started to speak of her Impression finally, he smiled gentle at her as he listened. He had heard of the surprise golden egg that threw an entire hatching off. He hadn't bothered to attend but Torath had filled him in, the more she spoke the more he remembered what he had relayed to him. He chuckled softly when she mentioned not going through candidacy either. "Well, imagine that. We've somethin' in common, two unexpected Impressions.", he offered as a way to try and keep the conversation light, he wasn't really good at that though. True enough the girl ducked her head and flushed again, her face hot with color. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, desperately trying to keep from getting annoyed, if only for Torath's sake. He was loathe to upset the bronze and if sitting here enduring this sheepish girl was what would make him happy so he could play with Okalinath....so be it. When she looked over at her dragon then back to him he wasn't sure if she was going to speak. When she didn't he sighed almost sadly as said, "Have I done something to offend you?"

This was why he didn't bother going near others unless he had to. He didn't talk to people well, he didn't know how to judge when something was wrong, he didn't know how to be gentle with people, no matter how he tried he always came across as gruff and rugged. That was just who he was. No. That is who you have let yourself become., Torath said, having paused to look at his trouble rider. Why his rider had so much trouble with his fellow humans he did not know, but he had been this way for Turns, no matter how much the bronze tried to help. N'kal didn't answer Torath, just raised dark eyes to look at him there, standing in the water, Okalinath near him still.

Added! Sorry about that!