Sulivith was just perfect.

Perfect colour, perfect size, perfect personality, even her toenails were perfect! Ainyah was, in other words, reasonably happy.

If the Searching had been a surprise, then actually Impressing had been a near impossibility. For a long moment after Sulivith had calld her name - from inside her head! - Ainyah had stood still, blinking and shaking her head in disbelief. That it could be happening to her! It was... surreal.

But on the other hand, entirely believable. This was her life now, and it felt right.

Have you got any more of that oil stuff? Sulivith asked, prodding Ainyah from her reverie.

"You're not itchy again already," the young rider exclaimed.

Sulivith made a face. I didn't mean to be, promise!

Ainyah laughed, giving the green a scratch. "S'ok, Liv. I'll go get some more from the Weyrlingmaster. You need it now?"

Please.

She rose from sitting cross-legged on her bed and turned. "Back in a beat." Before she could get far, however, she felt a tugging on her foot and turned in surprise. Sulivith was following her, pawing at her rider's foot insistently. When Ainyah turned, the little green looked up with liquid blue eyes.

Ani? she asked, having picked up her rider's nickname from the other weyrlings.

Ainyah knelt down, a huge grin on her face. "Yes, sweet?"

Could you get a snack, too?

With a laugh, the junior weyrling nodded. "Of course I can. Silly dragonet."