Greetings and goodbyes...
~
The crowded room quieted as the Weira pushed back her chair from the table and stood, gesturing for silence. "You all know why I've gathered you here, I believe."
There was a general murmur of assent from the nearest of the long tables, where a group of ten riders with Dasmalenra weirlings' badges sat.
"Your dragons are grown, and P'pel tells me that you have performed well in both drill and flight. Normally, this is the point at which weirlings would recieve wingrider rank, but I realize that not all of you plan to stay on here." Not any, from what I can see. "It is your decision, and if this is the last night you and your dragons choose to spend here, there will not be any hard words spoken--most of us know what it is like to be far from home, in a strange place--and if you choose to return later, you will be welcomed. There are more than enough empty weirs. Now, before we commence with dinner, the Weirlingmaster has a few words for us." Nodding to each of the younger riders in turn, Maleka sat again.
P'pel stood now, grizzled features stiffened in what looked to be a scowl. "I... You've been a real good bunch of weirlings, most of you. Even if there's one or two as could use a bit more discipline." He paused to fiddle with something in his pocket, then continued. "You all know I'm going down south in a month or so... Weir doesn't need me right now, and Carruth wants to go somewhere that don't make between feel warm by comparison. Probably won't be coming back. So you're my last batch of weirlings I get to see through. Best, too, excepting maybe my first, and they were wilder. I wanted to... give you all something, like. The Weira found it, an' I think you'll like it." He stepped to one side to let a pair of workers, carrying a large crate, to move to the front of the room. "Now, this's something you don't see every day, an' even I'm not sure quite what it is. The Weira's a bit better at explaining..."
"They're felines. We think." Maleka stood again, carefully slipping the lid off of the crate and placing it on the floor next to the table. A mewling noise became audible as the lid was removed. "They come from the south, of course, near the edge of the Protected Zone." She reached in, scooping something up and lifting it so everyone can see. "These are just kits, they'll get to be about the same size as small canines." The creature flailed about wildly, making squeaking noises and batting at Maleka's face. One paw connected, claws spread, and the Weira, quite without meaning to, dropped the kit. With a snick, wings unfolded from its sides, catching the air and sweeping it up again. It hovered, startled for a minute, then apparently decided to go exploring, swooping and diving towards the seated riders and mewling uncertainly. Several of the girls squealed and ducked as it fluttered past.
"And that is why we don't think they're quite feline." The Weira appeared only slightly shaken by the kit's startling escape. "Someone catch it, please? And we have one for each of you, if you'll come up here and get them. They've just been fed, so I believe they shouldn't interrupt your dinners too much."
The first kit had found a perch for itself in Auly's hair, kneading the girl's scalp and purring happily. The green rider grinned, stroking her new, furry hat, while the other nine trooped up to the front to recieve theirs. "What do you call them? They're adorable."
"Well, P'pel refers to them as 'sharding nuisances', and the handlers prefer 'flying hats', but I believe the correct term is 'cloud cat'." Maleka reached into the box again, pulling out another kit and handing it to T'ren. This one was bright reddish and orange, and licked its new master's face quite thoroughly before he managed to tuck it under one arm and make his way back to the table. More followed, in tan, silver, blue and yellow. The last one, given to M'run, was a mix of bright rainbow colors.
~