Bauden
:Story::Search::Hatching::Weyrling::Adult:
:Moon Shadow Weyr::Tripaldi Weyr

Bauden grinned as the newborn runner struggled to his feet. He looked up at Master Deriam, who stood beside him, an equal grin on his young face.

“Just as you predicted, Master Deriam,” said Bauden.

“Almost,” replied Deriam with a wink and a grin. “Go check his rear fetlock.”

Bauden complied instantly, ducking through the entry to the stall and gently picking up the tiny runner’s back leg.

“Other one,” said Deriam and Bauden obligingly picked up the other back leg. He frowned as he saw the tiny white speck there on a runner that was black everywhere else. “What do you think caused it?”

“I don’t know, Master Deriam,” said Bauden, still frowning at the tiny dot. “Perhaps an imperfection in the parents line? We checked the genetics many times before we bred the mare and the stallion though. Did something escape our notice?”

“I wouldn’t call it an imperfection in the genetics, Bauden,” said Deriam with a thoughtful grin. “But we definitely overlooked something.”

“I take it you already know what we overlooked, right Master?”

“That I do,” said Deriam, slapping Bauden on the back as he ducked back out of the stall.

“But I have to figure it out on my own, right?”

“Righto!” Deriam winked and turned to leave. “Let me know when you think you’ve figured it out!”

Bauden frowned at the retreating back of Master Deriam. He was only nineteen years old and had become a Master at the age of eighteen. Bauden was eighteen and on the verge of making Journeyman. If the foal had come out as expected Deriam would likely be on his way to make the recommendation at that very moment. But the runner had that white spec on his rear fetlock. What could have caused it?

“Master Deriam!” Bauden cried, running after the young Master. “I assume I may still have access to your genetic records, Sir?”

“Of course, Bauden,” grinned Deriam, approval in his eyes. “You know my office is always open.”

“Thank you, Sir. I’ll go there now if it’s alright with you.”

“Sure thing.”

Bauden smiled and ran ahead of the Master so he could start his research. He was determined to find the overlooked genetic that would cause the newborn runner to have that tiny white speck where the rest of him was a beautiful jet black!

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