It's pretty around here, Faith commented as they went around the islands again.

Not like home, Lapis replied. I miss home.

So do I, Faith said. A couple more weeks, and we'll be heading home. You'll have your own eyrie again and you can decorate it however you like.

And you'll get those stones cut? Lapis added hopefully.

I'll try my best, Faith replied.

Vyren caught a bird that he startled out of a tree, snapping it right out of the air. Corey just snickered, shaking his head.

Hungry or just curious? he asked.

Both, Vyren replied with great dignity. They have too many feathers. I prefer the things I normally get.

I thought you might. Corey patted his neck. Well, you'll be able to find goats and things once we're home again.

I'd like that. Why can't we go now? Vyren whined, just a little.

Not quite yet. Just a little longer, and then we'll be able to go home again.

Faith enjoyed the flight for a while longer with Lapis, until her dragon started to get bored again. She dipped down into the trees briefly, and came back up with a bird in her claws.

Faith, are these tasty? she asked curiously.

Some birds are, Faith replied. Lapis didn't need any more explanation than that, she quickly chowed down on the bird. Then she shook her head, and a few feathers flew past Faith.

Too many feathers, Lapis complained. Makes it less delicious.

Faith just snickered.

Vyren swooped down low to look at a few wild pigs that were on one of the islands, and they all ran away from him. Not that he minded. He had fun chasing them and driving them around.

Who needs horses and dogs when you have dragons? The thought amused Corey greatly.

Eventually, Vyren decided he'd seen everything. Plus, it was almost time for dinner. So he flew back to the weyr and landed, letting Corey off so they could eat.

Lapis got the same idea, and followed Vyren back to the weyr. Faith slid down off of her back when the dragon landed, and brushed one last stray feather off of her jacket before making sure Lapis got to the eyrie. After that, she went to the mess hall for dinner.

Corey sat down next to Ryan, stretching his legs out. He was fine with riding for so long, but he wasn't quite used to it. He needed to go riding more often.

As soon as the platters of food hit the table, he started piling on the food. He was hungry, darn it. He'd skipped lunch.

Xander rolled her eyes at him, just taking a little bit of food for now.

Faith rolled her eyes as well. She didn't see how Corey could put away so much food, it was just weird.

"Have a nice flight?" Ryan asked as the two sat down.

"It was interesting. Vyren discovered he doesn't like birds that haven't been de-feathered." Corey grinned. "And we found some monkey-things."

Xander looked rather interested at that. So she made a mental note to go around to all the islands later on with Calypso and take a look around.

"Lapis doesn't like feathers on her birds either," Faith said. "Apparently, it makes them 'less delicious.'"

"Yue said something similar about penguins once," Ryan replied. "Although I'd imagine penguins have much shorter feathers than flying birds."

"They have shorter feathers, but they're denser, and much more oily. It's how they get water off them," Xander offered without looking up from her dinner.

"What are you, a freaking zookeeper?" Corey looked at her, a little incredulous.

Xander colored a little and hunched her shoulders defensively. "I like the zoo," she said, not quite looking at any of them. "Besides, animals are better than people."

There wasn't much that Faith could say to that.

"Even better than us?" she asked after a moment.

"You three are okay. So far. But people in general are horrible." Xander shrugged. "From everything I've seen, at least."

Corey had to admit he couldn't argue. You didn't exactly see the best of people working in a bar. But even he wasn't that cynical. Geeze, had she worked in a factory or something?

"It could be worse," Ryan pointed out. "It could always be worse."

Faith just didn't comment. She'd been something of a sheltered girl before becoming a rider, so she really had nothing to say on the subject.

"Oh, I know. Trust me. I know."

Xander paused, tilting her head to the side a little, and then got up. "Calypso said she found something interesting. I'll be back in a few."

Corey watched her go and then looked at Faith, who had been kind of quiet. "You alright?" he asked quietly.

"Just realizing how incredibly sheltered I was as a child," Faith replied. "Minor epiphany, nothing to worry about." And she had been sheltered. Her parents had made sure she never needed anything, and the only job she had was for spending money of her own.

Corey nodded his understanding. "Well at least eat something. Because I'm not eating it for you." He grinned at her, hoping to make her feel better. He'd never dealt well with weepy or emotional women.

"Not that you wouldn't have room for it," Faith quipped. Regardless, she snagged a roll and started to munch on it.

Ryan just chuckled at them both and went back to his dinner. It didn't take him long to finish, and then he got up to go and spend time with Yue.

Corey grinned but didn't retort, instead finishing up his own dinner. He kind of felt like going swimming, as did Vyren. And he'd heard that night swimming was fun because you could see different creatures in the water.

"Feel up to a swim before bed?"

What say you to a night swim? Faith asked Lapis.

Will it make you feel better? Lapis asked. You seem upset.

I'm fine, really, Faith replied. Do you want to go for that swim?

Alright, Lapis replied, both to the question and the almost-lie. Faith nodded to Corey.

"Sure, sounds like fun," she said.

Corey nodded. "Alright, cool. I'll meet you outside, then."

He left once he was done eating, heading back to change into something better to go swimming in. So he ended up waiting on the shore wearing light weight shorts, looking around for Faith and Lapis. Vyren was already in the water, just floating at the moment.

Faith had packed an actual bathing suit for the trip out to the ocean weyr, so that was what she changed into. She threw a lightweight shirt on overtop of it and went with Lapis out to meet up with Corey and Vyren.

"Ready to go?" Corey asked when he spotted her, grinning briefly. Vyren looked over at them before swimming out farther, splashing a little as he did. He was bored with waiting for them.

Faith nodded as Lapis just went straight into the water to splash around with Vyren.

"Yeah," she said, taking off the lightweight shirt. Leaving it and her shoes at the shore, she went over to where Corey was waiting.

Corey grinned and pulled her into the water with him, swimming out to the dragons. The water was still fairly warm, and there was a light breeze.

Corey dunked under the water, swimming around and grabbing onto Vyren's legs briefly to orient himself, and then he swam back over to Faith, tugging on her ankle.

Faith squeaked slightly when Corey pulled her into the water, but she waded out just far enough that the bottom disappeared from under her feet. She tread water for a few moments, just enjoying the feeling, and then yelped in surprise when Corey grabbed one of her feet.

Faith, are you alright? Lapis asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, sweetie," Faith replied. "Go back to playing." She looked back at Corey and splashed him.