Double Trouble

Writers: Sia, Steel
Date Posted: 18th July 2025

Characters: V'tian, E'tariax
Description: V'tian shows off his new firelizards to E'tariax.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 12

V’tian looked down, adjusting the sling-bag he wore, stroking the tiny blue head that popped up before he knocked on the door to E’tariax’s office. “I just fed you, Sky. You’re all right for a bit longer.”

"Come on in, V'tian." E'tariax called from inside his office. Drills had wrapped up for the day and he'd perhaps overdone it with Aphirith again, giving her her head in an attempt to show off for Nidre. He had a heating pad on his hip for his trouble. "What do you have there?"

V'tian not _quite_ swaggered in. “Not what. Who.” He told E'tariax, stroking the head of a tiny blue flit hatchling. “... Meet Sky.”

"Sky." E'tariax repeated with an easy smile of someone who knew how to act around beloved new pets and children. "Nice to meet you, little one. Wherever did you find this guy, V'tian?"

V’tian looked somehow even more smug, coaxing Sky to crawl up onto his wrist, to lift the little creature up and just… hold him.

“I found a nest.” He boasted, proudly. “His egg was there.”

The lump still in the sling shifted, warbled protest at the attention Sky was receiving and she was not, and a delicate golden head emerged, scaling her person as well.

V’tian looked even more smug. “And _that's_ Radiance.”

"Well, aren't you lucky." E'tariax said. "I have one of those myself. We purchased an egg as a family pet when the kids were small, now the kids are older and I still have the blasted thing." As if the mere thought of him could materialize him, Socks appeared from /between/ and landed nearly in E'tariax's lap, message tube tied to his side.

"Ah. Well. They are a lot of work to train, young man, but it seems you're already on that. How is Indith doing with having siblings?"

V'tian gave a sort of one shouldered shrug, careful not to dislodge Sky. “I wanted a flit, so Indith and I went looking until we found them.” He responded. “Sky's a cute little thing. And Radiance likes sitting on Indith’s head when she's sunning.”

A faint smile, but no less real, as he stroked Radiance's golden hide. “_And_ she'll be top flit someday. She already bosses Sky.”

Radiance, for her part, warbled happily, then chirped an expectant greeting at the new arrival. Notice her.

Socks' rumble was closer to a feline purr as E'tariax removed the message tube and set it aside. The brown slinked from his lap to investigate the baby flits.

"As she should, as the top of the pecking order. It's good that she and Indith are getting along. Not all dragons are so generous with their space. You'd be careful to watch them together as they get used to each other."

“I'm being careful.” V’tian responded immediately. “I'd never risk something that's mine. And Indith took me to find them in the first place. Me and this one Candidate.” A shrug.

Radiance crooned another greeting. Then chirped a request for food. Sky echoed her.

"Dragons have a stunning lack of forethought." E'tariax reminded him. "Of course she'd take you firelizard hunting. She wouldn't understand that that meant your attention might be pulled away from her, or that she might have a small animal underfoot. She's a smart girl, but she is still a dragon and your responsibility, just as much as these little creatures are. However, you didn't come here for me to lecture you. Would they like a treat?"

“They would.” V'tian responded. “Little things are always hungry. Begging. But you have to make them sit first. Or they'll dive at you.” He adds. “Radiance climbs with every single claw. Sky will just fall on you.”

"Oh, sure." E'tariax said mildly. "How about I tell you that the jar is in that cupboard over there, and you retrieve it and get them their treat? Show me how you're handling them."

V'tian huffed, but nodded. “Can I put them down on your desk?” He asked. “They're behaved. Mostly.”

E'tariax scooped his files off his desk just in case and gestured for him to continue.

V'tian nodded once more, and coaxed Radiance out of the sling fully, setting her down on the desk, before reaching up for Sky. “Radiance likes going first.” He told E'tariax.

He set the little blue down next to the gold. “Stay.” he told both flits, firmly, and went to the treat jar.

The moment he turned to come back, Sky began to creel pitifully, as if hunger were all he knew.

V’tian winced. “I _just_ fed him.” He told E'tariax. “He thinks he gets fed more if he makes a fuss. Stay.” He repeated, when Radiance spread her golden wings.

They both did. And both received a treat, Radiance first.

"He is just a baby." E'tariax said mildly. "Remember how much Indith ate when she first hatched? Poor thing. I say that Socks has never known anything but trauma when he starts to act like that." He did look towards the firelizard, who waited until the message tube was removed before also going to beg pitfully.

“Pesky things.” V'tian agreed, but let E'tariax hear the underlying fondness. “You should hear them squawk and squeal in the mornings.”

He stroked the little blue’s head, then the little gold’s. “... Is it okay to feed Socks a treat too?”

"Go right ahead. He's just back from work, he deserves a little treat." E'tariax gestured for V'tian to do so. "And while I have you, how are you handling the fighting wings these days?"

V'tian put a treat down for Socks, willingly enough, then shrugged. “It's… about what I expected, after all the training.” He admitted. “We only fly part of the Fall anyway, and then I'm a Dragonhealer apprentice for the rest of it...”

Last updated on the July 29th 2025

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Double Trouble