How About This?
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Estelle, Steel
Date Posted: 6th September 2026
Characters: I'lek, I'zari
Description: I'lek welcomes I'zari to Lightning Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 21 of Turn 13
I'lek had heard the gossip through his Lirioth: a new wingrider for Lightning Wing. Naturally, it was hard to celebrate when the cause was an injury to the rider or their dragon, and even those riders who’d aged out of the Wings often had mixed feelings about their new assignment. He remembered being there himself, hardly out of weyrling training, unaccustomed to his lost hand and facing an unknown future, the purpose he'd trained for taken from him and Lirioth in an instant. And he also remembered the warmth of the riders who'd become his wingmates. Terella enfolding him in a hug, D'stan drawing him out of a despondent mood with his terrible jokes - and most of all, Tr'vel taking him under his wing.
He wanted to do the same for every rider who joined them, make them feel welcomed and wanted - and if they were a cute bluerider, all the better.
Asking around, he discovered that Miokuth's rider was in the dining cavern, and found him sitting at a table on his own, new Lightning knots on his shoulder.
"Hello!" He slid onto the bench opposite. "Do you mind if I join you? I'm I'lek, Lirioth's rider. We're going to be wingmates!"
To be honest, I'zari hadn’t been paying much, if any, attention to his surroundings. Some of his focus was on Miokuth and assuring his blue that he was all right, the rest of it on rotely eating.
He hadn’t _felt_ like balancing a plate in one hand and cane in the other to return to Miokuth, though the dining cavern was just loud enough he’d been starting to rethink that decision.
He startled at I’lek's apparently sudden greeting, drawn abruptly from his thoughts. His head turned reflexively toward Lirioth’s rider's voice, though it would logically do no good. “Ah… hello. No, no, I don't mind at all.” He blurted. “I'm I'zari. … Hello.” he repeated after a moment.
**Miokuth?** he prompted.
The blue hunkered lower on the ground, tucking his paws neatly under him. }:No.:{ He could say hi to Lirioth once I’zari was back with him.
"So, I know I'm not supposed to say how pleased I am that you're joining us, because obviously I'm not happy you got injured and Terella says I need to work on my tact, but...I am glad that in the circumstances, you're joining our Wing!" I'lek chattered cheerfully as he reached for the jug to pour himself some klah. "You probably think it's all old aunties and uncles, but it's not in the least like that. For example, if you're trying to picture me, imagine a stunningly hot young greenrider with a fabulous body, shining hair and dazzlingly blue eyes, who wouldn't look out of place on the cover of a harper romance." He leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. "And some of our wingmates aren't bad, either, even the old ones."
“I'm… glad to have a Wing.” I'zari offered, after a moment of processing I'lek's words, and obligingly inclined his head toward the greenrider. “And… if you want me to know what you look like, you… you're welcome to meet Miokuth later. He can show me.” the blind bluerider offered quietly. He reached for his own empty mug, feeling around a moment before locating it. “If… well. If you don’t mind… could you pass me the klah?”
"Of course! Let me pour you some." I'lek did so, and the spicy scent of fresh klah soon rose from the mug. "I'd love to meet Miokuth, and so would my Lirioth, I'm sure. I could help you bathe him some time, if you like. We all help each other in Lightning Wing. I'm here because I lost part of my arm," he explained, "but I can still scrub a dragon pretty well. And some of us aren't injured at all, but their dragons are, like C'nal, or Tr'vel, our Wingleader. Have you met him yet?"
“Lirioth is welcome to greet Miokuth at any time.” I'zari answered. “And… I would of course thank you for any help washing him. The Healers and Weyrlingmaster had Candidates helping me with him, before I was released from the Infirmary.” He added in explanation. “And, yes. I met Tr'vel.” One hand crept up to touch his still-new Lightning Wing knots. “He gave me these.”
He lifted the mug of klah carefully, and took a sip.
"He's lovely, isn't he? Such a thoughtful man. I remember when I was injured and first assigned to Lightning, and I wasn't in a good way, he looked out for me, helping me to adjust and always being there to listen. This was before he was Wingleader."
Suddenly, the most perfect idea came to him. "In fact, he's asked me to do the same. For you, I mean! To be there for you, help you get used to your new duties, be someone to talk to. Anything at all that you need, I'm here." This was not really a lie, I'lek decided. He was sure that if Tr'vel had thought of it, he would want someone like I'lek to welcome their new wingmate and help him get settled. It had likely just slipped his mind.
“He was kind to me.” I'zari agreed. “And patient with Miokuth, too.” He tried a faint smile. “I… Thank you.” The bluerider offered in addition, after a moment longer. “I'm sure I'm" well. I hope I won't be taking you from your own tasks?”
}:Mine says that I must greet you.:{ Miokuth told Lirioth, though the blue's attention did not otherwise leave the dining cavern's main path in and out.
}:You need not, if you have more important matters to attend to,:{ Lirioth replied, with a prim little huff. }:I am not short of admirers.:{ Even so, she did sound intrigued.
**Be nice. He has to take care of his rider,** I'lek warned her, before turning his attention back to I'zari. "Not at all! I love helping my wingmates. Though I do have one very important job; I'm Tr'vel's special liaison to the Weyrleader's Wing. If a message needs to be taken to the Weyrleader, then he calls for me. But apart from that, and training, I'm at your service."
Miokuth's tail gave a few anxious lashes. }:I must stay _right_ where I am and watch for Mine.:{ the blue answered Lirioth. }:I must not budge.:{
“... Of course. I wouldn't want to take you from your duties.” I'zari nodded, and took another long drink of klah. “Wingleader Tr'vel said I'd be expected to train with Lightning Wing as I can, but… I'm afraid right now it's all I can do to find my way back and forth from the dining cavern to Miokuth, or… well. I'm certain I'll learn quickly?” He tried.
"Of course you will! It took me a while even to figure out how to get Lirioth's straps on." I'lek lifted his arm, then let it fall, remembering that I’zari wouldn't see the gesture. "But now I've got used to the prosthetic, I can fly messages and sweeprides and all sorts. You'll find your place. I'll help you, and so will Tr'vel and the others."
Lirioth tilted her head to one side, considering, then leapt from her ledge and glided down to land beside Miokuth. She folded her wings with a delicate flutter. }:Why do you need to watch? Your rider is with mine. And my rider never gets distracted and wanders off...well, hardly ever.:{
“... Straps.” I’zari agreed, with a bit of a rueful smile of his own. “I… should probably look into finding a simpler set for myself and Miokuth too.” He added. “I’ve felt bad about having him stay in harness more often than not.”
A pause, taking a long sip of his klah, and then he continued. “Tr’vel suggested finding a hobby, too.”
}:If I stay right here,:{ Miokuth said, without blinking, }:Mine will be able to walk straight back. Also, I can show him what I am looking at.:{
Lirioth puzzled over this peculiar behavior. }:You can look at me!:{ she suggested, taking up an enticing pose. }:I am sure your rider will like to see me.:{
“That's a good idea. A lot of us have hobbies, just like any other Wing. Terella likes knitting, and D’stan has a plot in the gardens where he grows vegetables that he's very proud of. And I…” I’lek counted over his own hobbies for one that would be suitable to share with a new wingmate; gossip, flirting, daydreaming about bronzeriders... “Ochyra and I both like reading the latest tales from the Printer Hall and talking about them. Was there anything you liked doing before you were injured, or always planned to do but never found the time? Whatever it is, I'm sure we can figure something out.”
Miokuth turned his head to look at Lirioth, and the blue was briefly baffled.}:You are very lovely, Lirioth.:{ he told her readily. }:I am sure your rider is nice, too.:{
I'zari thought, for a moment. “... Maybe I'll ask Terella to try and teach me how to knit?” He suggested. “Something hands on is… probably the best choice.” He tried a smile in I'lek's direction. “I like reading. Socializing. Going for a swim now and then. I'm not complicated. And… perhaps knitting can replace the reading thing.” He added, dryly. “I'm open to picking up a new skill.”
A pause, and then he added, “Miokuth's just showed me Lirioth. She's a pretty green.”
“Oh, she is!” I’lek sounded delighted with the compliment to his beloved lifemate, and he could sense the green’s pleasure too as she preened and flirted. “I just know they're going to get along. Like us!” He thought for a moment. “We could read to you, if you like. Ochyra can be the girls’ voices and I'll be the boys, and then we can all talk about the story. What do you think?”
“I would like that.” I'zari responded, after a moment. “Miokuth can do many things, but I'm afraid reading isn't one of them.”
}:I must wait for Mine.:{ Miokuth repeated. }:But you are welcome to wait with me, lovely Lirioth.:{
Lirioth pretended to consider the offer. }:All right,:{ she replied graciously, and settled down beside the blue. }:We will wait for our riders together, and you can pay me more of those charming compliments if you like.:{ She listened for I’lek, who was now enthusiastically describing the plot of the latest tale he'd been reading to I'zari. }:It sounds as though they will be a while…:{
Last updated on the September 13th 2026