The Northern Mountain Book Club [L'varl]

I don't mind them as long as they don't step on my wings. Then L'varl usually chases them away before I get the chance. It was a generally accepted fact that the bronzerider was convinced that his dragon had truly never grown out of weyrlinghood despite his quite respectable size. Overprotectiveness was a given, and unless it actually got in his way Korutath let him keep dreaming. He thought it was funny, really, and he certainly wasn't the type to pass up an opportunity to be entertained where he didn't have to instigate the situation himself.

In L'varl's defense, though, Korutath had a habit of whining incessantly when things didn't go his way--as had already been demonstrated today, even in a very watered down form--until the bronzerider finally decided enough was enough and gave him a stern talking to about how he had duties to perform, so would he be kind enough to go find some nice roof to bask on or something, thank you very much (rare) or just gave up (much more common). The bronze could be sulky for days if it was something particularly important, in his eyes, or--Faranth forbid--if someone else was present for L'varl's blessedly rare outbursts. The bronzerider really tried his best to keep his temper in check--which really wasn't that hard, seeing that it was about the size of a fire-lizard. But he was only human, and Korutath could forgive him for that. Eventually.

There's one child who, I think, has made it something of a game to chase my tail across the ground when she happens upon me. It's quite funny, he said brightly. Oh, yes, very funny until she steps on it and you get all snarly. Then, remember who gets to assure the irate parent that you're really not bloodthirsty at all, really, you're just a giant teddy bear? It was an awkwardly long moment in which L'varl's raised eyebrow returned before Korutath responded. Oh, was that not rhetorical? Then the answer would be you, I suppose, but you know you don't have to chase them off. I could just as easily and maybe you wouldn't be so irritated after. L'varl sighed. I would be very irritated. Bad enough I have to chase them off at all, I don't need to be catching some poor brat's mother after she faints from your terrifying face.

Turning pointedly back to M'din, and therefore putting an end to the debate that never truly ended (because that was just rude with company, Korutath, don't you have any manners?) "I think Korutath would enjoy some of them if he'd pay attention long enough to get a good idea of what they're about." That was a very definite jibe, and Korutath was graceful enough to accept it without comment--the birds were much more entertaining, after all, and now that Armath was involved in the practice of bird-watching as well, he didn't even need an excuse not to pay attention to the riders and their conversations! Not as high as us! Crowing loudly and leaping into the air after the brown, he managed not to damage any foliage as he took chase.

"You know, I don't think I've counted my collection in a couple Turns. But thirty-two is an impressive number!" Nodding, L'varl grinned despite himself at the thought of a book from a fire lizard's point of view. "I've read many things, but an account of a fire lizard's adventures is not one of them. Is it very interesting?" He was surprised to find himself genuinely curious, and not just asking for the sake of being polite. "Political intrigue and espionage would be a good way to describe it, I guess. Not nearly as interesting as fire lizards, I'd wager," he said, lip twitching slightly.

Korutath hadn't needed to think twice about chasing something--usually he was reduced to chasing sparrows over the lake, and they tended to make a beeline for their hideaways as soon as he came barreling in (which was simply unsportsmanlike, in his opinion). These, however, seemed up to the challenge, and quite a bit better at the flying thing as well. They glided much like a dragon did, he observed, but with a great deal more agility than he himself posessed. He'd always considered himself a relatively agile individual, for a bronze, but these things could have literally flown circles around him if they'd wanted to. It was a good thing, then, that they didn't.

I sense a developing obsession with birds of prey. :|