"Ahhhhh!!!!" A scream resonated through the halls of Adanuk Weyr. Everyone started at the sound and then immediately relaxed. They recognized the voice. A murmur echoed through the weyr: 'It's just Kalaya. I wonder what she's done now.'
Meladith quickly recognized her rider's voice and called out. Kalaya? Rider-mine? Are you alright? The small green left her dragon ledge and walked towards her weyr. She sighed. The sun was setting anyways, no point in staying out.
Upon entering, the dragon saw Kalaya on the floor, arm bleeding from a scratch, and Mia, Kalaya's feline, hissing on top of the dragon couch.
Kalaya glared at Mia and cradled her arm. "Stupid feline."
Meladith smiled. I don't blame the cat for scratching you. I bet you stepped on her. Mia's fur stood on end and she flattened her ears.
The small brown-haired girl picked herself up. "She came out of nowhere and started rubbing against my feet. I didn't mean to."
Meladith lay down on the dragon couch. So Mia was just being friendly and showing her affection when you stepped on her.
Kalaya glared at her lifemate. "I thought you were supposed to be on my side." The girl approached Mia, hands spred showing she meant no harm. The feline stopped hissing, but was obviously still mad. Kalaya picked her cat up and stroked her long fur, until Mia was purring. The feline licked Kalaya's arm, everything forgiven.
I'm surprised that cat puts up with you.
Kalaya sighed. "I'm surprised anyone puts up with me. I'm confined to our weyr."
Meladith raised her head quickly. What?!?
Kalaya didn't look at her dragon. She watched her own hand, softly stroking Mia's fur. "I was trying to talk to Headwoman Media, but she was kind of busy so I waited. She was preparing a big feast for the Searchrider's, so I guess she didn't notice me. Anyways, I guess I got in her way and there was a......collision."
The green sighed and laid her head back down. Collision?
The green-rider gave a half-smile. "Yeah. Media was carrying a tray which contained the main course. Was being the key word there. She confined me to my weyr. I believe her exact word were: 'If I so much as see one hair on your head, you'll be the next main course.'"
Oh Kalaya! You've got to learn to be more careful!
Kalaya sighed. "I know but...." She was cut off by a high-pitched scream. A couple boys, about 7 or 8, were picking on a girl of the same age. The were pushing her, in her new dress, closer and closer to a mud puddle.
"Hey!" Kalaya promptly forgot Media's warning and ran outside. In one quick motion she lifted the little girl and spun. Both boys, off-balance from being halted mid-push, fell into the mud puddle themselves. Kalaya, looking as stern as Media herself, grabbed both their ears and pulled them out.
"What do you think you two were doing?" Both boys turned red and stared at their shoes. "Back to your mothers." Kalaya ordered. "March!" When neither of the two children moved, Kalaya ushered them to Mala and turned to the little girl. She wiped the child's tears away and smiled. The girl quickly ran back to her mother. Kalaya stormed back to her weyr.
"Jeez. Kids just running wild, everywhere..." She continued to mutter to herself as she cleaned up her weyr. Eventually she ended up sitting beside Meladith on the dragon couch.
Meladith was astounded. Her accident-prone rider had managed to stop the fight, send both boys off to be punished and cheer the little girl without hurting herself.....or falling in the mud. Why don't you watch the kids, rider-mine. You're good with children.
Kalaya stared at her rider incrediously. "Are you kiding? Me around children? I have enough problems making sure I don't kill myself, how could I watch kids. They'd be fighting among each other and I'd be the one who got hurt. 'Shards Mel. Sometimes I don't know what you're thinking."
Meladith sighed and rolled her eyes heavenwards. And sometimes Kalaya, I don't know how you do it. The dragoness promptly shut her eyes and tried to sleep.
Kalaya stared at Meladith. "What? How I do what? Mel?"
Meladith smiled at left Kalaya to figure it out.
* * * Read Kalaya's candidate story!
Kalaya got Mia from Blue Star Weyr.
Kalaya impressed Meladith at Talis Weyr.
Background from Myrror Images.
