Pivot

(*written by Trix*)

Lirric dragged Arvin by the arm as she spotted several interesting stalls she just needed to investigate. Arvin would be the perfect helper to carry and wait in line. Arvin felt the compulsion worm it's way in his mind, bringing on the ever-present headache he got in Lirric's presence. But Arvin also needed to keep an eye on Liu Wen, the reclusive Vella Crean from the Dark Court. The serious exchange student would not get into much trouble, especially since Lantessama boasted no great tacticians, but it wouldn't do to get separated. Arvin cast a pleading look to Liu Wen but he just quietly gazed back and then made to slip away.

It was at that moment that one of the invited Ira'aheshty shifters stepped in. Intrigued by the curious exchange, Loewe Draca had decided to step in.

"Come on man, you can't leave your friend to take on the task of escorting the young lady on her own." Loewe grinned charmingly.

Lirric giggled and was instantly gearing up to see whether or not this new arrival was someone she could work with. She allowed him to take her arm and escort her to the nearest food stalls and was amazed to see that even Liu Wen was following. Loewe was fun but it was hard to tell whether or not Lirric was pulling the strings. Liu Wen started to get impatient and Arvin got another look of worry on his face trying to carry out his mission.

"Isn't it about time we go look at the dragons?"

"I don't see how I'd bond. they're not Dark Court." Liu Wen shrugged, but he did follow.

"I can't wait to see how we'll do! I've heard this clutch has ranks so it feels a lot like at home." Lirric confessed.

"Isn't just bonding a dragon already an honour?" Arvin asked.

"It is." Lirric nodded, her mother was a greenrider after all and the training had been just as hard, or so she'd been told.

When the four youngsters arrived at the hatching sands it was already quite late in the evening and plenty of the eggs had already hatched so walking in between the eggs had gotten a lot easier. Loewe stayed on the outside of the rind of eggs, calling out to the others:

"Oh, I'm not exactly ready to bond just yet. It feels like I've just gotten my freedom. I'll wait for a clutch in the future."

Lyric shrugged and hastily started touching and observing eggs. Liu Wen stalked away as far as he could go and then Arvin was left alone with the strange young man who suddenly turned to him and asked:

"So what's the deal?"

"Deal?"

"You three are clearly not friends. And yet you work hard to keep the three of you together."

"Nothing, we're just from the same place. Or well, we're all exchange students going back to Lanutha after this."

"Sweet. Maybe I'll join you." Loewe said, "Maybe I'll learn a few things along the way."

"I guess." Arvin shrugged and then hastily went on his own search.

Liu Wen was the first to get lucky. His hand lingered on one of the eggs and a large tremor from within made him pause. Not much later, a Greater Earth Dracanian was sitting in that very spot, still sporting some shards on his back and wings.

"Dolmen." he crooned to his bond, yawning with hunger.

Only seconds later, Lirric let out a high-pitched cry of triumph when a Greatest Electric hatched for her. She'd outdone all her mother's dreams for her and she'd done it all on her own. The yellow female hatchling seemed to be overflowing with energy and made Lirric follow her to the waiting tables laden with food where she proceeded to eat more than one would believe possible.

"I'm growing." the Electric said defensively.

"I know Joulan." Lirric apologized, "I was just surprised you can even hold so much in."

Arvin was relieved to see the other two bond. Everything was going well, maybe he could relax and return home with his head held high. And then he heard the little cracks. Looking down he saw a blue tail emerge from one of the eggs in his vicinity and not much later an arm, and then a leg and finally a head followed. The Greater Water was calm and focused as he said:

"You'll be going home with me. I'm Rylime."

"Congratulations!" Loewe called from the edge of the circle of eggs, "I think you'll all be happy to have an extra set of helping hands around."

(*written by Mystic*)

Happy was the last word to be attributed to two of the trio from Tris'Hath. Liu Wen stared down at Dolmen with a mixture of wonder and consternation. Bonding here meant he could not stand for a Court dragon. Yet there was something about Dolman... something steadfast and strong that told him this was the dragon for him.

Arvin, on the other hand, assumed that his life was now over. At least the life he had envisioned for himself. Though he loved Rylime the moment he felt the touch of the dragon's mind, he despaired at the thought of his little bunk back home, and how there was no way a dragon would fit in there with him. Shroud would never allow a dragon to go skulking about their ranks either. They were too large and too obvious. He was, for better or for worse, stuck in the limelight now.

Only Lirric maintained the meteoric level of glee that was appropriate for a hatching day. She laughed and spun Joulan in the air, shrieking with delight, even as the dragon offered protests.

All of this Loewe watched, and Loewe studied. He could not hear the thoughts of his new companions, but their sentiments were written across their faces as clearly as if penned in ink. Which was odd, he thought, for Arvin. The little boy was exceptionally skilled at evading the public eye. If not for his awareness of his own kin, Loewe might even think he was Draca, same as himself.

Even as he watched, Arvin cast furtive looks about the hatching sands, as if looking for a quick exit. He was denied any hope of fading away as Rylime waddled toward the feeding area, and Arvin had no choice but to follow.

Loewe smiled to himself. New riders were so cute and awkward. Thank all the powers that he had none of his own. He needed no barnacle riding on his back. He was his own free man. Though if he wanted to stay that way, it would serve him better to get off world quickly. This lot seemed distracted enough as to not question his reasoning.

"So do you all plan on sticking around for the after party?" He called out, knowing the answer already.

"Yes," Lirric trilled chipperly.

"No," Liu and Arvin said in unison.

"Aw, come on," Lirric whined. "It's a party! You can't pass that up."

"Easily," Liu drawled.

"We really ought to get back soon," Arvin added. "I have my studies."

"Oh phooey on your studies! The papers aren't going to crumble to dust overnight. We can have one party," Lirric said.

"If you wait too long after feeding, the hatchlings will get lethargic, and that could harm them on the journey between worlds, or so I've heard," Loewe said. "Best to wait a couple of days in that case."

"No, best to go now," Arvin said. "We'll have a drink or two when we get back. After we've settled and finished the paperwork."

Lirric rolled her eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Fiiiiiiiine."

"Good. I'm done here," Liu said, lifting Dolmen in his arms. "I'll feed you once we get home."

It was rare to see the two boys in agreement, but Loewe had suspected that a little nudge in the right direction would get them onboard. He smiled to himself as he followed the group through the crowd of candidates, new riders, and onlookers, toward the exit. Rylime managed to snag a piece of meat or two from the feeding area before they left, but no one seemed to take note of the hatchling grabbing a to-go meal in all the chaos and excitement of the other bondings.

That one would be good for Arvin, Loewe acknowledged. Once they learned to work together.

It wasn't too long afterward that the Tris'Hathian group found the escorts that had carried them here and begged for a quick ride home. They were overwhelmed, Arvin said. They needed to get set up with the flight master. This place was too crowded and too loud and they just wanted to go home.

It took some convincing, but they weren't the first new riders to get spooked by other worldly interactions, judging by the looks exchanged by the elder riders. Only when they were mounting up did someone turn and eye him up and down.

"And who are you?" The rider asked.

"Oh! He's with me," Lirric chirped.

There was that press of weight against his mind again. Like something was trying to push its way in. Whatever that was, it seemed to ease the suspicion of the rider. Loewe was permitted to join his new companions without any further questions.

Oh yes, he was going to like this group very much.