The sound of birds chirping in chorus woke Lerari from a deep sleep. She grumbled and rolled over, grabbing for the sleeping furs before she realized her hands were wrapped around a bronze dragon's foreleg. Right. This was not her bed.

Sleep well, rider mine?

Lerari patted her dragon's flank and curled up next to him. It was odd how comfortable a stone sunning ledge could be. Perhaps that was why the dragons spent so much time on them.

"Did we sleep the entire night here, Apolth?"

Her bronze blinked in response, yawning when the morning mist tickled his nose. Looks like it. I don't think Thread falls today, why don't we enjoy the sunrise?

Nothing more needed to be said. Time passed quietly as the sun inched over the horizon, casting light on lingering dark clouds. Lerari hummed a song she had written during her Harper days, and Apolth happily crooned along.

There was a rumble in the distance, and rain began falling directly overhead. Lerari sniffed as cool water trickled down her face, and she swept her plastered bangs away from her eyes. So much for a pleasant morning.

It's just a little rain, Lerari. If it bothers you, we can move back inside.

"No, it's fine," she replied, turning her back to the sun and the heaviest of the shower. Her eyes caught a dazzling rainbow arcing across the gray sky.

Been a while since we've seen one of those. Reminds me of the Braethas Raug actually.

"Same here." Lerari stared off into the hazy distance, thinking back to the frenzy flight. More specifically, she tried to remember Decheyron and the moment Apolth caught Serenath, but the memories were a blur beyond emotional yearning. "It's been years, Apolth. Weren't we still flying for Astrel back then?"

We were.

"Don't tell me you remember back that far."

Don't confuse me for a simple-minded little green. Apolth gave a disdainful sniff to emphasize his point. I do remember flying a lovely gold, and I remember how happy you were to be with a man. Neither of us had to compromise to be happy.

Lerari sighed. "You know I've tried..."

Apolth crooned in reassurance. And I've tried chasing greens. We'll find a gold and rider just like us again. We're not unique in the world.

"I hope not, Apolth." Lerari smiled up at her bond, then she returned to watching the sun clear the gray horizon. Once again, nothing more needed to be said.

The hours following sunrise remained just as much a blur as the distant memories Lerari had mulled over, but from what she could gather, her twin brother had overheard talk at breakfast of a senior queen's flight, and L'vril had managed to talk her into tagging along.

Or maybe she let her own desires talk her into it. It had been a long while since Apolth had flown. But a queen's flight...?

The morning clouds had passed, and the high noon sun was bearing down overhead as Lerari and L'vril walked the Weyrbowl at Dark Moon. Their dragons had been accepted by the Watchdragon with no complaint, and the entire atmosphere at the Weyr was lazily happy.

"Okay, remind me again why I came here, L'vril?"

Her twin took a breath, appearing to be making a grand point, then shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I know you and Apolth probably won't want to chase Jalaneth when she rises. But come on, it's tradition that Apolth and Zeuth chase at the same Weyr."

"Yes, but you remember the last..."

"I know, I know. It didn't work out." L'vril chuckled and gestured at the Weyrlake, where several dragons and their riders were relaxing the day. "Look, I heard this place is kind of like Falas. Or the FGPC. Give it some time, I'm sure something more your style will turn up."

Lerari sighed in exasperation as her twin wandered off, no doubt to introduce himself to this Weyrwoman Azayla. Not that she wasn't happy for her brother, and there was still time for her to return home...

I'll be with Zeuth, Lerari. The sun's warm and the lake's nice.

So much for that idea. Feeling resigned, she made her way toward the Weyrlake, glancing around the riders and dragons for someone... anyone to introduce herself to. Her eyes caught on a lovely young man lounging by the shore, the sunlight glistening on his fiery red hair like sunlight playing off silk. She lingered a few more moments, taking in his toned build and his adorable boyish face. She couldn't quite figure out why, but she couldn't bring herself to talk to him. Faranth's sake, she was a Harper! She was a bronzerider. She did not turn shy!

"Excuse me," she called to a nearby rider. He murmured something to his green, then shuffled his way through the shallows toward Lerari. "Do you know who that young man is?"

"Oh, that's J'sken," the greenrider replied, stealing a soulful glance at the attractive young man. "He's visiting from Talis with his pretty little dragon. A gold, can you believe it? Here I was hoping he'd be doing the chasing, not the being chased."

Lerari drew a sharp breath. His... gold? Faranth's shell, she couldn't believe her luck.

"Ooh, I know that look." The greenrider grinned knowingly. "I take it you got yourself a chasing dragon." Lerari sheepishly nodded, and he shot her a conspiratorial wink. "If you ask me though, looks like the two of you might make some pretty babies of your own."

Lerari's breath caught in her throat, and with it, any words she could have formed in her defense. She felt her face flush bright red as the greenrider laughed and clapped her affectionately on the shoulder. Good Faranth, she wasn't planning on thinking that far ahead!

"No hard feelings, little lady, I'm only messing with you. Couldn't hurt to chase him though, I know I would given the chance." Lerari nodded absently, and she received an approving nod in response. "Atta, girl. I should be getting back to my dragon, but it was good talking with you. And good luck with your dragon's chase!"

As the rider waded back toward his green, Lerari nearly collapsed into the lake mud, caught up in a dizzy array of emotion. Did what just happened... actually happen? Did she actually stumble upon a gold and her male rider?

Apolth?

Yes, rider mine?

Is there a gold...

Apolth's mind-voice was touched with combined amusement and excitement. Yes, I heard, and you really can't miss her. Her name's Jaerialoth. She's beautiful, like a brilliant topaz in the sunlight.

Lerari chuckled at the sound of longing in her dragon's voice. I take it we're going to chase when she rises?

When she didn't receive a response, Lerari glanced around the lake for a sign of her dragon. Sure enough, her bronze was chattering away at a rather radiant little gold, completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Well, if Apolth could introduce himself, why couldn't she?

She waded through the lake grasses toward J'sken, then sat down beside him before she could think of any excuse to be embarrassed. "J'sken, I assume?"

The young man looked up at her and nodded. Lerari smiled. Good Faranth, those gorgeous green eyes.

"It's good to meet you. My name's Lerari. I'm the rider of bronze Apolth..."