The rider shrugged. "That's what we thought here, too," he said. "Don't assume anything, missy."

"We'll have to see," Faith said. She didn't think anything had changed back home, but she could always be wrong. She kind of wished she still had her cell phone so she could call and ask, but it was useless all the way out in the weyr, so she'd left it with her parents.

Corey shrugged. "Well last I heard the governments were starting to get annoyed with riders. Dunno why, but they were. At least, that's what I heard in the bar."

"You know, I think I remember hearing something like that, too," Faith replied. "It might have been mentioned in a magazine or something, I think I only noticed it in passing."

"Yeah. There was a couple weeks where rumors were flying around the bar about it," Corey said. "I heard a lot of things, like that they were going to shun dragonriders and close the borders of the cities, or that they were going to drive all dragons out of the weyrs. Lots of ridiculous things like that. But it all centered around the government deciding they didn't like dragonriders anymore."

"Now that is very interesting," the other rider said. "Very interesting indeed..."

"But it makes no sense," Faith said. "I mean, haven't the two coexisted for practically forever? Why suddenly decide to split now?" She never claimed to understand the government, but this was a little weird even for them.

"It's the government. It doesn't have to make sense." Corey snorted. "In fact, most of the time it doesn't."

"Well someone's jaded," the rider said.

"It happens." Corey shrugged and got up. "I'm heading outside. Vyren needs to be washed off again."

The rider watched him go and shrugged. "And the world didn't always work this way," he said to Faith. "The governments have been in effect for a couple hundred years. Before that the weyrs ruled, one area per weyr. I like to think things worked better back then, but there's no way for us to know." He shrugged.

"Either way, I doubt the government is willing to give up any power. So things won't change, at least not now. Not easily." The rider sighed and got up as more people started to leave. "Such is the world we live in."

Faith almost wished she could have seen how life was when weyrs ruled, if only because that life probably made more sense. After all, why would the government suddenly be annoyed with dragonriders? shaking her head, she got up and headed back to her room for the evening.

You are upset.Why? Vyren asked as Corey rubbed oil into a rough patch on his neck.

Because people annoy me.

Like who?

The people in charge of the government, for one. The people in the city because they don't understand and they make all these generalizations and assumptions. Sometimes even dragonriders annoy me. Corey was very careful with the rough spot, though, making sure it was well-oiled.

So I can eat them?

That made Corey laugh. No, fella, you can't eat them. I think that would do more harm then good. He patted Vyren's neck. Now come on and go to bed. We're supposed to get up early tomorrow and go flying out over the ocean to pick up a couple things from the island, remember?

I remember. I am pleased we will get to see this island. Vyren followed Corey back to his eyrie. Perhaps I can get another clam...

Faith was just settling in for the night when Lapis decided she was bored.

Faith? she asked. What do you think the island is like?

I don't know, Faith replied. We'll have to wait and see.

Do you think I will find more pearls? Lapis asked. Faith couldn't help but giggle a bit.

Is that all you think about? she teased.

I think about other things too! Lapis protested. I think about food and flying and you and putting all sorts of things in my eyrie to make it pretty and sleeping, when I'm tired, and--

I get it, my lovely, really, Faith said, cutting off Lapis's rambling. Slipping on her shoes, Faith grabbed a jacket just in case and made her way out to the temporary eyrie in just a tank top and lounge pants. If nothing else, she could spend the night out with Lapis.

Corey spent the night in the eyrie with Vyren, because they ended up staying up talking. So he got up reluctantly, going to bolt down a quick breakfast before putting a harness on Vyren.

Why must I wear this? vyren grumbled for the fourth time.

Because you are going to be helping carry things back from the island, Corey said. This makes sure you can carry them. Besides, it doesn't bother you that much.

No, Vyren admitted. But I am not used to it. It will chafe.

I'll make sure it doesn't. And if it does, for any reason, I'll oil the area very well. Corey tightened the last strap a little and pushed himself up on Vyren's back. Whenever you're ready to go.

Lapis also seemed uncomfortable in her harness.

I don't like it, she said to Faith, squirming a little. I don't like it at all. Do I really have to wear it?

"Yes," Faith replied as she adjusted some of the straps to lay more comfortably. "We have to help carry things, remember? This is the only way to do it."

I want it off as soon as we get back, Lapis demanded. It's going to rub and itch and chafe and ruin my scales.

"It shouldn't," Faith pointed out as she climbed up onto the dragon's back. "But if it does, I'll take care of it as soon as we get back, I promise. It won't ruin your scales." She made herself comfortable, making sure not to agitate any of the harness straps. "Ready when you are."

Corey and Vyren headed out towards the island, which was fairly small but had valuable things like some fruits found nowhere else, as well as a place where some things sometimes washed up on shore, like clams and things. The mountain dragons had been enlisted to help since they could fly, which would make things much faster.

Vyren circled around the island a few times to get his bearings and to look at the island before he landed, letting a few people clip on a bag to his harness, making sure it wasn't too heavy. Snorting, he took off again.

I am going swimming after this, he grumbled to Corey. And then I am going to laze in the sun.

Faith relaxed a little when her dragon's immense dislike of the harness was overtaken with her fascination with the ocean. The sunlight sparkled on the water, which distracted Lapis somewhat from her irate grumblings. The view from the air was enough to placate Lapis for the moment, enough so that she didn't grumble too much about having the bags of supplies and fruit clipped to the harness.

Can we go back now? she asked once she was given her cargo. I want to go back. Faith checked the bags and the straps of the harness to make sure everything was secure, and nodded.

"We can go back, lovely," she said. Lapis immediately took to the air again.

Vyren landed near the entrance to the kitchens, and they immediately unloaded him and told him that was enough for now. Corey removed the harness and held on to it, as he was told to, in case he needed it again. Vyren, as soon as the harness was off, went off to go swimming for a while, going to play with the new hatchlings in the water.

Shaking his head, Corey helped put things away and get everything organized. He could see the newly bonded by the water getting their lessons. Apparently they all had mandatory swimming lessons too. He found that rather amusing, although it made sense.

Lapis also landed near the kitchens, though only part of what she had was supposed to go there. After the fruit was taken, Faith was told to have her go to the workshops next. Lapis readily agreed. The faster they dropped everything off, the faster she could get Faith to take the harness off again. Once they had dropped everything off at the workshop, Lapis took off back towards the beach.

Take the harness away, she demanded. We're done, right?

"We are for now," Faith replied, already working on unbuckling the harness. She looked over the dragon's scales carefully, making sure there were no rough spots from the harness. Lapis stretched happily once the harness was off.

Much better, she said. She shook out her wings a bit, and nuzzled Faith. Faith smiled and rubbed her head.

"Why don't you go play with the others?" she suggested. "Maybe you'll find some pretty shells or something in the water." Lapis considered this for a moment, and the nodded and went to go play with the others in the water.

Corey stretched after he was done putting things away, glancing over at the water again. He could see the newly bonded all getting in the water and swimming out to the instructor's dragon and back. All except one.

"No," Xander growled stubbornly. "You cannot make me get in that water."

"It's just water, Alexander," the older dragonrider said reasonably. "You float, and Typhis will make sure you don't sink or drown. I'll be right beside you, okay?"

"No." Xander crossed her arms over her chest, planting her feet stubbornly.

The water's nice and warm, Caypso coaxed. I'll swim with you, if you want. You know I can swim, and you know I won't let anything happen to you.

Thanks but no thanks. I'm good out here. Xander kept track of her dragonet, taking a step back when the older rider tried to approach her. "I'm not going in there, so just back off and watch everyone else."

Faith heard the exchange as well from where she was sitting by the shore watching Lapis. Really, she didn't blame the other girl, there was no telling what was in the deeper waters. Faith didn't like the idea of swimming in the ocean much, either.

Lapis, on the other hand, was having a wonderful time splashing around with the hatchlings. Mountain dragon or not, she still enjoyed frolicking in the water.

The older rider sighed and tried to herd her into the water, not quite resorting to physically throwing her in. He did just about everything but. Finally Calypso got annoyed enough with the older rider for upsetting Xander that she shrieked, getting out of the water in two easy bounds and getting between the two. Even though she was barely a week old, she was already taller than the humans standing on her hind legs, a testament to how big she'd be fully grown.

It's okay, love, Xander said, putting one hand on Calypso's back. The older rider backed off, holding his hands up placatingly.

Corey blinked at that. That was... kind of unexpected. He'd never seen a dragon threaten a rider like that before. Vyren resettled his wings on his back, all the dragons getting briefly upset before settling down again quickly.

He glanced over at Faith to see if she was as astonished as he was.

Faith was definitely surprised. She'd never seen anything like that, either. She glanced over at Corey, and then at Lapis. The dragon seemed a little uneasy for a few moments, but went back to playing with the hatchlings in the water.

"That was kind of bizarre," Faith said to Corey, going over to where he was sitting.

Xander moved off with Calypso, settling her down and speaking to her soothingly. The older rider left them alone.

Corey shook his head and went to settle down on the sand for a while. They'd been told before that they'd be leaving in another couple weeks to go to the Forest weyr, if they'd like. He, personally, had decided to go.

Faith and Lapis had decided to go, as well. Lapis seemed to like travel, and Faith enjoyed it as well, so they figured going to the Forest weyr would be a good experience for them both.

A month or so later, everyone was getting ready to go. Most of the Mountain dragons had decided to go, and some of the Ocean dragons had decided to go as well.

Corey resettled himself on Vyren's back. The dragon had grown since they'd arrived at the Ocean weyr. He still wasn't full-grown yet, maybe only half the size he would get, but he was noticeably bigger.

Are we ready yet? Vyren grumbled.

Not yet, Corey said with a brief, indulgent grin. Besides, we need someone to show us where to go.

Humph. Vyren snorted and shook himself carefully so as not to dislodge Corey. He wanted to get going already. How long could it take to grab some clothes and go?

Xander had seated herself on Calypso's back to make the trip there. The dragonet had already doubled in size, and was going to be growing for almost a full year still. And since she couldn't fly, going by ocean to the Forest weyr was the only way for them to get there. Xander didn't much like it, but Calypso had promised to stay on the surface so Xander wouldn't have to get too wet.

Faith was checking her bag one more time to make sure she had everything. Once she was sure, she went out to where Lapis was waiting for her.

There you are, the dragon said. Lapis had clearly grown while they were in the ocean weyr. She wasn't full-grown yet, but she was definitely getting there. Already she was getting bigger than Vyren, which she liked to boast about every so often. Are we ready to go?

"All set," Faith confirmed, scrambling up onto Lapis's back.

I'm so glad I don't have to wear that harness with you, Lapis commented as she shook her wings a bit to make sure it didn't bother Faith.

"I don't need it," Faith pointed out. "We've flown together before, you haven't dropped me yet."

And I won't, Lapis added firmly. After another moment, she asked, when can we leave?

"As soon as one of the others can show us the way," Faith replied.

As soon as one of the dragonriders took off to show them the way, the other Mountain dragons took off to follow. Vyren was happy to be in the air again, settling in to an easy rhythm for the long flight ahead of them. The Ocean dragons all headed around the longer way, going by sea.

It took them a while to get to the Forest weyr, but when they did they were all given temporary lodgings and invited to come in for dinner. Fortunately they were fairly close to the coast, and a few of the ocean dragons emerged part-way to bask.