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Have you found some new project?

Shanaloth had been in and out fairly frequently as of late, and it was very clear to Vetica why that was. The green cheeped innocently at her lifemate as the older woman stepped out onto the ledge, drawing the dragon's head into her chest, running a hand over it idly.

Not a project, she replied, though no innocence laced her tone. No, Vetica was certain that for once, though not entirely unusual in truth, the dragon had found something beyond a poor soul who needed to cry on her shoulder to entertain herself with. A little prying was really all it took to fish through the green's thoughts. "Mmmmm, I see," she murmured knowingly. "And where did you find this?"

Shanaloth's eyes whirled pleasantly between greens and blues. Not far. I see it here and there. Do you want me to show you? she offered. Vetica, sighing deeply, climbed onto the green's shoulders. They wouldn't be going far, at least, so going without riding straps wouldn't be an issue. Certainly, she'd be frowned at by some but what business of theirs was it? Shanaloth easily pushed off of the ledge to glide down to the Weyrbowl, where her rider dismounted with just as little issue.

Oh, I usually see it around here! Somewhere! Oh, hmmmm...

Why did you not tell me sooner?

Because you didn't ask.

Vetica ran a hand down her face, pausing once to pick at one of the vicious gouges in it, before sighing. Fine. But you tell me when you find one so close. There's no need to wait for a Call Out.

Shanaloth offered apologetic waves of love to her dearest before her hunt began. Oh! She'd seen it here just before lunch! It had to still be around....right?

Vetica waited patiently as Shanaloth poked her head in here or there - she was certainly a nosy little thing, taking her sweet time to trill at candidates in the middle of chores and even accepting the wayward treat here or there from ones she was more familiar with. I know you don't have to look with your eyes, dear a statement only really true in times like this. Eyes were important for thread, not for picking out a sensitive mind. The green gave a small trill of disappointment as her meet-and-greet was interrupted. Well it was here! the green insisted, leaving the candidates to their tasks as she strode out towards a farther end of the bowl.

At mid day, it was simply the farthest away from where most would be assembling for their meal. Why would someone have gone so far away from where everybody else was? Vetica looked at her lifemate, clearly unimpressed (at least, not in the not-literal sense...). So far away? she asked and Shanaloth picked up her step - though she was a dragon, and being speedy on the ground wasn't really her thing.

Though there were several people that could be seen bustling about, Shanaloth made it obvious which of the figures she was going for. At least, she seemed to think it was, pausing mid step to allow Valendyr and his flits some space for...whatever it was they were doing. See? That one! she looked down at her lifemate, almost surprised to find a look of doubt on her face. And he's not going to be your project? No secret woes or sadness you're feeling that make you want to take care of him?

Shanaloth thrummed, almost as if pouting. That doesn't mean anything! Another would sniff him out just the same! she insisted, nudging her rider over almost hard enough to throw her into the sands before drawing closer to the dark haired boy and his two tiny-friends with a sweet kreel of greeting. Oh, she was right and she knew it!

Vetica thumped Shanaloth on the shoulder with a frown as everything seemed to happen at once - the boy’s previous enthusiasm fading almost as instantly as his firelizards returned to him. Though Dagger’s return peep earned itself another cheep from the dragon. Her rider had shown no interest in owning the little things herself, but to Shanaloth they’d seemed harmless enough. Still, when Valendyr greeted her, the green focused attentively on him with a trill. Then, she quickly drew in closer, though only close enough that in order to make any contact she’d have to stretch her neck out as far as she could.

“You’re a candidate, then?” Vetica asked, her voice sounding like something that had been drug through the most rock-filled dirt one could have found and almost painful to use, though it was no such thing. If the boy was already a candidate, Shanaloth’s excitement was well wasted. Shanaloth, however, seemed insistent on what it was she’d dragged her rider out to do. The mere thought of it sent a sharp ping of alarm across their connection.

She thumped her lifemate’s shoulder again. Stop worrying. If he’s a candidate then it’s fine.

It didn't seem as though the green mind being the draw of attention, offering sweet kreels to the boy. See! I told you! Shanaloth informed her rider, clearly delighted, her eyes entirely whirls of greens and blues. Vetica idly picked her fingers against her lifemate's hide, a small frown creasing her scarred lips. "That explains it then," Vetica murmured, more to herself than to the boy who was quickly digging himself into a pile of self-doubt.

Shanaloth finally leaned in to nudge her snout against the boy's face, seeming to sense how his own words had hurt him, before offering another soft cheep laced entirely with affection and understanding. Your favorite kind, Vetica needled adoringly. It was so much like her to have a taste for someone with an ounce of personal pain.

After a silent moment between rider and dragon, Vetica thumped the green's shoulder and stepped towards Valendyr instead. If it looked like she was appraising him, it was likely because that was exactly what she was doing - though it didn't seem like she had harsh standards. She'd been made of a lot less than this boy seemed to be, after all. "Dragons have stronger opinions that are worth more than the words of people," she finally said, "and this one happens to be a search dragon with particularly strong opinions." Which, of course, meant she had the type of opinion that mattered in this sort of instance.

"What is your name?"