Shard it Akyth! Drop your head a bit, I cant hit the target with this flamethrower if your head is in the way! Grumbling, the light gold ducked her head while Shazi, perched high on the rapidly growing dragons neck, struggled with her flamethrower. I dont see how my head being any lower would help, you still cant get that contraption going the right way. The gold chided gently, her eyes whirling a little in irritation. Shazi heaved a sigh of relief as the flamethrower finally did what it was supposed to, throw flame, choosing to ignore her gold for the moment. Akyth sigh and rustled her wings, careful not to get in the way of the short bursts of flame that would shoot out in every direction except towards the target, thinking it was a good thing the Weyrlingmaster had decided to place herself and her rider far away from the others until Shazi mastered the flamethrower.

Unfortunately, Shazi caught the tail end of the golds thoughts. What no faith in me Akyth? Ill get this thing straight sooner or later. Sooner rather then later would be good ridermine most of the others have mastered flaming, and the other queens have also gone on to learn other things. Shazi harumphed unhappily and Akyth sighed mentally. Im sorry Shazi, but this gets frustrating, even for me. The goldrider sighed and put her thrower down, bending down to wrap her arms as far as they would go about her golds neck. "Its ok Akyth, I know Im no good at this and Im sorry Im holding you back." Beneath her Akyth stiffened in surprise, I never said you hold me back, only that practicing using the flamethrower gets boring and frustrating when we do it day after day. You can never hold me back ridermine, we will always learn together. Shazi smiled and hugged her dragon tighter, then abruptly sat up. "Fine, in that case, lets ask the Weyrlingmaster if we can fly around the islands for a bit, to strengthen your wings and get us out of here for a change." Akyth snorted in approval and sprang into the air, winging across the weyrbowel to land outside the Wyerlingmasters office.

After getting a written note of permission to do limited lower level flying around the Falas chain and the southern coastline nearest the islands, Shazi and Akyth, after a quick stop to grab a bite to eat and pick up some supplies for a short picnic, took off.

They arrived after a short jump between at midmorning in a small cove far from any human habitation, it was a place Shazi had come to before arriving at Falas, and it held many pleasant memories including one spectacular night with Gaelen. Worried that Akyth would pick up on that particular memory and ask questions, Shazi turned her thoughts to setting up a small area for her to lay down and hopefully get a bit of a tan. While she did that, Akyth, with Vyr diving in circles about her, practically flew into the warm waters, sending sprays of crystal clear water everywhere. Shazi laughed and after a few minutes, joined her dragon in the water, stripping off all her clothes. After a few games of tag and a thorough drenching, both dragon, rider, and firelizard, collapsed on the warm sands, with Shazi managing to at least pull some clothes on before falling into a light sleep.

At least a mark later, Shazi awoke to see Akyth busily creating a sand wallow. By then, it was midday, so Shazi made her way to the bag she had brought with her and rummaged through it searching for some food while Akyth finally settled down, the full length of her stretched out to catch the most sun possible. Shazi chuckled when she saw that Vyr had done a similar thing, all the way down to creating a miniature wallow, right next to the gold dragon and was stretched out in the exact same way as Akyth. It was then, as she munched halfheartedly on her lunch, that Shazi felt a sense of peace she hadnt felt before settle over her, and after finishing her meal and changing into a more revealing outfit to allow for more sun, she too stretched out on her blanket and drifted off, though she didnt fall asleep.

My rider, we have a visitor. Startled at Akyths sudden intrusion into her thoughts, and the message, Shazi sprang to her feet, eyes scanning the horizon. Finally she made out the shape of a dragon winging its way towards their cove steadily, and as the beast became more visible, her breath caught in her throat. No, it cant be... Who ridermine? Do you know that dragon? Akyth asked, her multi colored eyes whirling rapidly. Black wings spread wide, the large male black dragon backwinged to land not far down the beach, Akyth, who had by now risen to her haunches to get a better look, hissed when the beast took a few steps towards them, then stopped. A rider was dismounting, and when he removed his helmet, Shazi cried out in shock and happiness, and took off like a shot down the beach.

She slowed when she came near the rider, her eyes brilliant, as a slow smile spread across the angular face of the dragonrider. "Gaelen" she breathed, as tears threatened, but before they fell, he had closed the remaining distance between them and encompassed her in a hug and a kiss that left her breathless. "Glen now Shazi, Im Glen."