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N'mar barely even heard the rest of what Aleerna was saying, all of his sensory input ceased at the words "haven't eaten in a few days." His mouth dropped open as far as it would go, his shoulders slumped, his hands relaxed and fell open, his head listed slightly to one side. If it had been summer a bug could have flown directly down his throat and he wouldn't have reacted, so great was his shock. N'mar, who ate nearly his own body weight every day, simply couldn't fathom the concept. After Alreth warned him not to start drooling, N'mar snapped out of it and shook his head rapidly - the action vaguely resembled a dog clearing water from its ears.

"I'm sorry, did you say... WHAT?" He was still staring at Aleerna as if he had never seen anything like her. Alreth swooped into the air and brought down another herdbeast, gurgling happily. "Did you say DAYS?! You haven't eaten in DAYS?! By Faranth's great golden egg shell, whyever not?"

"But - but-" N'mar blinked and rubbed his neck, still confused.

She is like us - she doesn't feel the need to consume food as often as you.

Humans need to eat every day, we aren't built like dragons!

"But Aleerna," he said, his tone as whiney as any child, "You need to eat, it's not healthy to go so long without food! Especially when you're a weyrling! They'll have you on your feet all day, running around here and there... how can you do that on an empty stomach?" He finished in a disbelieving, slightly indignant tone. "Right! Tonight I will personally find you and escort you through dinner and you will have a proper meal with a balance of food groups. Dragonriders," he said, shaking his finger at her, "Do not go hungry in their own weyrs. And as a fully qualified rider I am responsible for you as a weyrling." N'mar grinned, perfectly normal now that he knew the situation was going to be remidied, determined not to accept no for an answer.

What did I just finish telling you about manners? A 'please' would not have gone amiss. Alreth said, cleaning off his face with Zavir's help. Do you wish for any more? He asked, turning to Sidheth.

N'mar tilted his head slightly to one side, a little puzzled. It was clear that Aleerna was suddenly troubled by something; her dragon's behavior not withstanding, she also looked decidedly nervous. What had he done to upset her?

A gust of wind and the sound of leathery wings heralded Alreth's approach, and the dragon landed with a thump in the snow behind N'mar.

Yes, she is very frightened all of a sudden. Sidheth is comforting her.

Did I do something wrong? Alreth had no answer for him. Zavir landed on Sidheth's back and sat down, looking up at Aleerna and chirruping questioningly. Maybe she's just sensitive about her eating habits.

"Umm, hey now," N'mar said, grinning sheepishly and extending a hand to take Aleerna's shoulder. "You don't have to go to dinner with me; I was just worried, that's all."

"I don't think it's silly. If you're upset this much it's at least serious to you, and that makes it serious in general. Because no matter what anyone else says it's your own perspective on things that makes feelings real or not." N'mar said, trying to both comfort and distract Aleerna. Alreth approved, settling down and burrowing a trench for himself in the snow. "Take me, for example. People say that any reprimands thrown my way simply bounce off my hide," N'mar grinned, "But that's not true - I listen if it comes from the weyrleaders." His grin was impudence in itself.

Zavir hopped forward, curling his tail gently around Sidheth's neck so that he could lean forward and press the side of his face against Aleerna's cheek. Zavir was quite a sweetheart, always ready to lend a hand.

"Look, if you're really worried that much you can just stick by me. I'll protect you," N'mar finished, drawing himself up to his full height and speaking with earnest honesty. "No one on Pern'll hurt you while I'm on duty." He finished, raising a fist proudly.

"Sure thing! You could take Bitran odds on that bet!" N'mar held out his hand in a silent offer to help Aleerna to her feet. "And of course the offer's open. I wouldn't have made it at all, otherwise." He tilted his head a little to one side. "So no more crying?" Everything seemed to be on either one end of the extremes or the other with this girl, N'mar thought to himself. She was either very upset or very pleased over something inconsiquential. Still... he kind of liked that in her. It was nice to meet someone who felt things so keenly and put so much feeling into everything. It was...

Refreshing?

Perfect. Thanks.

Alreth obligingly shifted his snout forward slightly and allowed Aleerna to touch him, blinking a little as he regarded her.

You are quite welcome. The pleasure is mine.

N'mar grinned at Aleerna's dismay. "Well, oiling is a very important part of caring for a dragon. Cracked hide can kill between. Besides," He pulled both his arms up above his head and stretched, cracking his neck in the process, "It's a good opportunity to spend time with your dragon, even if your arms feel like they're about to fall off. It's a pity it's winter, now. There's nothing better than swimming with your dragon on a hot day. They love it, and they're easier to oil down afterward." N'mar walked over to Alreth and settled down leaning against the brown's neck. He gestured beside him vaguely, tweaking an eyebrow at both Sidheth and Aleerna in silent invitation. Zavir made a brief flight onto the top of Alreth's head and curled up between his eyeridge and head nob.

N'mar burst out laughing at Sidheth's antics, watching the pair of them on their way off. "I'll meet you outside the barracks later tonight. Zavir will find you when I'm there!" He shouted the last few words as Aleerna was shrinking quickly thanks to Sidheth's insistant prodding.

"Now that's an interesting pair," he said to Alreth, leaning back again.

Mmmm-hmm. Was Alreth's only comment as he swiveled his head around to lay it near N'mar. Zavir was much more vocal about his approval, chittering his usual nonsense syllables and looking after the weyrlings.

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As the night sky darkened Alreth leapt from his weyr ledge high up along the cliff of the weyr. N'mar, up on his back, was dressed lightly but releished the cold. As a runner he had often delayed switching to heavy clothes until blizzard season, so the winds that pressed against him were exhilarating and not chilling. Alreth did not bother flapping. The pair were high enough that they could simply glide down to the barrack's enterance. N'mar had sent Zavir on ahead with instructions to find Aleerna and tell her that he was on his way. Alreth landed and galloped a few paces forward to ease off the leftover momentum before stopping completly and looking back at N'mar, his eyes glowing blue jewels in the gathering dark.

She comes. Zavir has found her.

N'mar swung one leg casually over Alreth's neck and slid down the dragon's leg on his butt, bending his knees a little on the landing to soften it.

I will go to the heights. The night is clear. Alreth said and took off to find a perch. N'mar relaxed backward onto one foot and waited for Aleerna to appear, his stomach vocalizing in anticipation of dinner.