Daynoren was, in a word, disappointed. However, he was also not surprised. He hadn't met any dragonets the three nights who he thought might want to spend their lives sharing thoughts with him, and when he thought about it, he hadn't met any who he thought he might want to spend his life sharing thoughts with. Even so, he'd harbored the rather childish hope that some dragon would magically appear who would be perfectly suited for him, to step forward bravely and choose him. No such thing had happened, of course, and the sight of Catame's face when he saw Tantra coming towards him had filled him with a jealousy that apalled him, and even now, watching his brother lean against the Light kit for support after his faint, he felt it stab at him, despite his best efforts to ignore it.

He'd never been jealous of anyone before, much less his brother who he loved more than anything or anyone else. It was not a pleasant feeling, not at all, and that he even felt it told him things he simply did not want to know about himself. Daynoren never wanted to be the sort of person who could be envious; he'd always pictured himself secure in what he had and didn't have, content and cool, not coveting something of someone else's. That he was jealous now did not please him in the slightest, and being envious of Catame of all people when he should be being happy for him was simply not acceptable. He'd just have to squash it, the way he quelled anger or self-doubt whenever either reared their own ugly heads. It was just something new he would have to control, that's all.

But he still positively ached, seeing Catame smile at Tantra in thanks when she caught him as he stumbled.

"You can't even be trusted to walk straight," Frux said, exasperated, and the much taller Light nudged his companion out of the way, ducking down and somehow sliding under Catame. The boy yelped in surprise, then laughed as he found himself settled on Frux's shoulders, over the green, folded wings.

"You're almost as tall as Kaur," he said, "but you're not nearly so furry."

"Frux!" Tantra wailed, albeit softly. "He's my bond, I should be carrying him!"

"You're too little," Frux answered calmly, starting to walk again. "Give yourself a few years of growing, then I'll let you carry him."

Daynoren felt another stab and he looked away, gladly facing Deep Kaur and Dana as they came up to meet them. The daemoness gave his cheek a delicate lick while Dana smiled tightly and before both turned to Catame with worry and praise, more worry coming from Kaur and more praise coming from Dana. The sounds of the rest of the people who'd attended the bonding grew distant as some left, now that the excitement was over, and as the Danuis and their companions moved into the hallway leading to the small room the brothers shared.

"Of course, you will have to stay so your dragons can complete their schooling," Dana was saying to Catame. The dragons were, wisely, being silent, though Frux's ears kept twitching with what Daynoren could easily guess was distaste as she referred to him as one of "the dragons". Dana continued, oblivious, "They have adequate teachers here, though I've half a mind to bring one of your tutors from home, just to make sure you're learning all you'll need to know."

"They are all too old to survive the journey," Kaur commented gruffly, walking beside Daynoren, one arm around his shoulders, as if he needed comfort. Maybe he did.

"Well, and there is that," Dana acceded. "But I think you'll do just fine here. We'll get you some apartments in the city, perhaps, Asuka knows there's no room for these two at my manor."

"Can Daynoren stay with us, too?" Catame asked hopefully.

"Daynoren will be going back to your father," Dana said frostily. "Since he failed so spectacularly this evening. Even you managed to procure two dragons, despite fainting like that."

Catame, Tantra, and Frux all immediately tried to say something.

"Excuse me, but no one procured anyone--"

"It wasn't his fault he fainted, and he's my bond, not Frux's--"

"Aunt Dana, what do you mean failed--"

"Ahem."

Daynoren blinked, focusing on a golden-- very golden-- form leaning against the door to his and Catame's dorm room. Everyone went very suddenly silent, staring at the intruder whose skin gleamed and smile seemed out of place beneath eyes that blazed even more brightly gold. She seemed familiar, even though Daynoren knew he had never seen someone of that shade, or with those vibrantly golden wings folded over her shoulders like a cape.

"L-lady Aloia?" Catame stammered, and Daynoren blinked. Aloia was golden, yes, but not that golden-- but the fire left her eyes a moment as she turned her smile on his brother, and he recognized her beneath the strange color and body.

"Congratulations, Catame, Tantra," she said, her voice kind. "You two are a wonderful pair, I'm sure you'll do well." Catame blushed, beaming at the praise, and Tantra ducked her head shyly, smiling, too.

"Thank you, Lady," Catame murmured, reaching over from Frux's back to touch his bond's neck. Daynoren resolutely quenched another stirring of jealousy.

Aloia's eyes flicked to him briefly, then focused on Dana, who had recovered now from her momentary shock, though she paled slightly in the face of the returned blaze beneath the bonding mistress' cool smile. "What was it you were saying, Lady Danui?" she asked sweetly-- too sweetly. Daynoren was impressed.

"Nothing, Lady Aloia," Dana said, her voice calm despite the pallor that said she, too, knew what was behind that smile this time.

"You were talking about your nephew, were you not?" Aloia continued, as if Dana had not even spoken. "Young Daynoren. About his, ah, performance at the bonding. About his future."

"It is nothing of import, my lady, for you to concern yourself with," Dana assured her, trying to draw up the remains of her pride again. Despite the indignity of being called "young Daynoren", Day himself was rather enjoying seeing her discomfited. "I merely said that since he did not find himself a bond, his father will be expecting him home."

"It isn't the human's choice," Frux muttered haughtily, but Dana choose to ignore him.

"Oh, but surely you knew, Lady Danui," Aloia said, her eyes wide and smile somehow both innocent and scathing all at once. Daynoren promised himself he'd practice until he had that expression down perfectly, himself.

"Knew what, my lady?" Dana asked stiffly.

"If a candidate does not bond at his first ceremony," Aloia said, her eyes finding Daynoren's, and he could have sworn she winked at him, though Dana did not seem to notice, "he must remain for the next two, just in case the dragon he is meant to bond to simply has not come to Sanctuary yet. Daynoren cannot leave for another year, I'm afraid."

Dana sputtered, but Daynoren felt the twisting of envy for Catame and Tantra easing, just a little, but it was enough. There was still a chance that he could find such a thing, himself.

Aloia pushed herself up from door, wings rustling. "Feel free to attend classes with you brother, Daynoren," she said. "And be welcome in the complex as long as you stay with us." With that, she put a hand on his shoulder briefly, full of satisfaction, and continued on past them, humming to herself. Daynoren's respect for her had at least doubled; that woman was more formidable than he'd thought, and more than that, she'd given him the chance he'd thought he'd lost. It was with a much lighter heart that he smiled calmly at Dana's sour face and opened the door to the dorm room for his brother and the dragons.

"After you?"