"Katzy get back 'ere! You an' your little wherry you call a fire lizard are dead when we find you!" a voice growled out in the main hall of Raku Sea Hold. A gorgeous girl, with a number of well looking teens of both genders, stormed through the halls. The tall girl had sea green eyes that under other circumstances looked innocent in any other person's eyes, this all to well hid the cruel person she was. Her "clan" was much kinder to most and only followed her because of her popularity around the Hold. Today was a different story though. The girl named Katzy had preformed what they believed was an unforgivably act, not just against their leader but also against them.
"She doesn't seem to be in here, Tana," one of the few non-glamorous men in the following told her. The girl glared at him yet he didn't waver. That was the only reason she'd let him stay in the group, he didn't take guff from anyone, least of all her. Instead the girl whirled about in irritation. She stomped over to the kitchens and paused before going in.
"We saw her go this way, right, Cravitomin?" she hissed and he nodded, some of his auburn hair spilling onto his face. Seductively, Tana smiled and brushed aside the stands of red hair, which had fallen out of place. Her hand softly brushed his cheek in a manner he'd seen her do to many other men she wished to manipulate or understand her way of thinking. "Then we'll continue to look for her, the ugly wher couldn't have gone far."
With that she lead her group into the kitchen and question the drudge nearest the door. "You, did you see a girl with greasy blond-brown hair come by here just a few minutes ago?"
The drudge whipped at his forehead and readjusted his beat up hat. "H'I saw a gi'l pass dis way jus' a mom'nt 'go, ma'am. H'I t'ink she 'eaded up those sta'rs. Not too sure dough. H'I only saw da miss out da co'ner o' me eye." Tana nodded and head for the stairs.
"She must be heading for the only safe room she knows of here," the brunet whispered to her clan, "We'll cut her off before she gets to the Aunties rooms." With that Tana flipped her brown hair over her shoulder and hurried up the stairs giving directions for the others to split into a number of groups. Cravitomin hung back in the kitchens with a sigh, rolling his eyes as he reached for a meat roll only to have it slapped by a wooden spoon.
He held in a sharp yelp and glared at the 5' 3" tall drudge whom Tana had questioned. The drudge smirked back, his eyes mock glaring at the auburn haired young man of 17 turns. Cavitomin smirked back at the shorter boy.
"For that I should turn you in to Tana, Katzy," he smiled. The girl, for that is what she actually was, smirked. "I didn't want somebody to get spacious ya' know. What if one of Tana's cronies came back? We'd both be caught then."
"Correction, you'd be caught," Cravitomin grinned, "I could just tell the crony I suspected it was you and stayed behind. Then you'd lose your last safe haven, save the Aunties room. You're lucky you're much nicer to the kitchen staff and Aunties than you are to Tana and her clan. They'll lie for you to Tana and her clan without a second thought…" the young man stopped for a moment and looked at the short 15 turn old girl, "Where in the world did you get those clothes, you almost had me fooled had you not winked at me when Tana and the gang started moving again."
"I talked one of the drudges into loaning me his and slipped them on before she even growled that horrid thing about killing me and Squan." Upon his name a tiny blue adult flit appeared silently and landed on his mistress' shoulder, having been hidden for the whole time, "I mean it was only a little cooking oil on their doorknobs. It's not as if I threatened her life!"
"That may be true, but if you remember as I do," Cravitomin told her in a stern way, though it was obvious that he was trying his best to not laugh, "Squan had just finished her door and was trying to get enough height to go between without being seen just as Tana came to her door. She screamed startling Squan, hence he dropped the last of the cooking oil right on her head and she saw your blue before he went between as he was supposed to. It took her two hours to get that out of her hair and when the clan told her of the joke on their doors she told them who was the culprit. Oh, and thank you for not putting that stuff on my doorknob; had you done so then I would have never harbored you."
"It was priceless to see her face," Katzy chuckled, at the startled look on her friend's face she explained further, "Squan stayed longer because I asked him to when he made the mistake. So I got a look at how she reacted and told him to get out of there just as her head was starting to turn up… unfortunately it was a little too late." Squan nuzzled her cheek apologetically, never even giving off a sound knowing better than to do so considering people were threatening them.
"Well, we better get you out of her before Tana gets it through her thick skull to come back this way and check again, Katz," the 6' 4"boy chuckled. Katzy nodded, "Master Jonie is probably already waiting for me." "I can't believe you at times Katz," the young man chuckled as they walked out of the kitchen and quickly out the doors to head for the docks, "one minute you're helping out even the crankiest of Aunties and Uncles, next your speaking your mind of Tana to her face not one bit afraid of her only to just barely dodge being mauled by her and the clan. Then you duck into the kitchen and help out he drudges even after Tana gives up or forgets about you, then you're back at it again causing her trouble because of how snotty she is to every holdbrat even her clan. After being chased once more, and escaping with minor scratches and burses, if even that, you go to meet the Master Dolphineer of Raku Sea Hold to work with and heal the dolphins… When do you find time to feed yourself and feed that glutton of a stomach you call your blue flit Squan?"
"When I have to," she replied jokingly and Squan gave a soft chirp in agreement with the joke, "You know very well I eat just as often as you do." "Sometimes I wonder if it's twice as much as me," he chuckled going back into their usual friendly bickering.
"Eh, that was bellow the belt," she said and patted her stomach, stopping in her tracks, "You know very well that I'm overly muscular and that this so called 'fat,' as Tana thinks it is, is actually muscle from turns of living in a miner's family. I came here looking like this and even if it wasn't muscle I don't look fat… maybe I'd look like I had a few pounds around the middle but I'm working on slimming that out."
Cravitomin chuckled and in a quick moment removed the hat from the girl's head. Her hair, which was only just barely brushing her shoulders, was far from greasy a Tana had called it. It seemed a bit fluffy and was full of static electricity this day. The 17 turn old boy chuckled fitfully. Katzy glared at him and snatched the hat from him replacing it back onto her head.
"Ya' wanna blow my cover?" the girl hissed, her very light green eyes seemed a bit cold towards him. Not waiting for a reply the 15 turn old girl stalked off towards the docks. Cravitomin knew Katzy's ever present temper, the girl was kind of heart but also short of fuse. Sighing, the young man jogged to keep up with the surprisingly long strides of the young girl.
"Katzy, wait up," he called and jogged next to her, "You seem a bit more irritable than usual today, what'z up?" The blond-brown haired girl sighed and shortened her strides though they were still quick. She neither turned her head nor averted her eyes as she saw the silhouette of a person on the docks by a large beautiful brass bell, accented with green highlights from slight aging even if it was less than a century old.
"I got a letter today," she told him in an even voice, "My Ma committed suicide just after killing my baby brother."
"What?" Cravitomin exclaimed loudly.
"My Pa sent it," Katzy continued, "He tried to tell me in a gentle way. He also told me I'd be staying here for a while… He's not ashamed of me, but I remind him too much of how my Ma looked. My Pa loved her deeply and it's not known why she would do such a thing… she never seemed crazed…" In the end, Katzy had reduced her walking speed greatly. Cravitomin looked genuinely concerned.
"Got'cha!" Katzy laughed and dashed towards the beach. For a moment Cravitomin looked after her baffled; he was after her in a flash, his long strides eating up her shorter ones.
"Katzy of Kutou Hold, that was a cruel joke!" he growled, "Guess I'll have ta dunk ya' in the sea!"
Master Jonie shook her head as she watched Cravitomin dunk Katzy for the fifth time. She'd known Cravitomin for the longest time and knew him to be quite serious about most things but when it came to Katzy his whole demeanor changed drastically. Katzy brought out the fun that he'd lost upon hanging around Tana's clan. Speaking of Tana, she'd have to talk with her daughter again about making threats; if she were caught doing such Lord Tecnado might be tempted to deem her holdless. Ever since an incident with his first wife blaming a young girl steeling jewels that she had bought long before the Lady holder had even seen them he'd been uptight about liars and didn't stand for them. If he heard that Tana was doing more than that he'd probably through her out without a second thought. In truth, Jonie might applaud the action. She blamed herself for spoiling her daughter so and was at times only too glad that Katzy was around to teach her daughter and her clan a lesson.
"Are you done dunking her, Cravitomin?" Jonie asked walking farther out onto the dock. The 17 turn old boy only just seemed to realize the Master Dolphineer standing there and turned sheepish. An abundance of bubbles suddenly boiled to the surface where his arm disappeared. The next moment Cravitomin was dunked under water and Katzy was above pushing his head hard down under the water.
"How do ya' like it, Crav, huh?" she growled playfully. Jonie cleared her throat and Katzy grinned sheepishly. Using Cravitomin's back as a diving board she bounce off his back farther out near a few members of the local pod. Cravitomin came up gasping for breath. A couple of dolphins swam around him wondering if he was all right. The 17 turn old boy glared at his friend but couldn't help but laugh.
"Now that you two have had your warm up," Jonie said her tongue clicking upon the roof of her mouth and the duo looked anywhere but at the Master Dolphineer, "We'll get on with our healing lesson, yes?" Katzy nodded in agreement and walked closer to shore so she could keep her footing. She then looked to Cravitomin who was walking out of the water totally and she tilted her head.
"Hey, Crav?" she called. The boy turned and Katzy seemed to grow shy, "ya' want to stay for the lesson? After all, they might not come looking here if they see you're down here." Cravitomin shook his head and smiled.
"Remember, Katz, I've lived here all my life," he smiled, "I might know a bit more than you about healing dolphins and I'm not even a dolphineer apprentice."
"Good," Jonie smiled, "Then you can assist me in showing the correct procedure." Cravitomin looked startled but knew better than to argue with the Master Dolphineer of Raku Sea Hold, even if she was speaking to him in a joking matter. Jonie winked at Katzy and the girl seemed to look a bit embarrassed.
"Shells Kippy, what'd ya' run inta ta get a gash like this?" Katzy was asking three hours later as she worked on cutting off yet another blood fish. The young, silver, bottle-nose dolphin lay on her side in a sling so she was hanging just above the water. The little dolphin squeaked before she answered.
"Storm, heat re-E-ough," Kippy replied in her high pitched voice, still a bit too young to actually give a non-jumpy answer, "Blud fish goat Kippy then." With a quick flick of her knife, Katzy was able to cut the blood fish off in one piece before killing it with little sympathy and threw it in a bucket; the cooks in Raku knew how to make a fairly good dish with the bloodsuckers. Kippy sighed in relief and managed to stay still as more numbweed was applied to the wound and Katzy started to sew her up.
At that time Master Jonie walked over to see how she was doing. The Master Dolphineer nodded and sharply. "You're doing fairly well Katzy, just don't sew her up too tight; she might burst that seem right open in a short time if you do." Katzy nodded concentrating on making the stitches not too tight yet not so loose as to let something get into the wound and infect it.
"Ow!" The young apprentice dolphin healer winced as she felt the needle she was using prick her hand. The pain was gone quickly as some numbweed touched it from another hand. She looked up to find Cravitomin looking down and making sure the numbweed was well rubbed in.
"You keep that up we'll have to get ya' a thimble," he chuckled. Katzy sniffed and took back her hand and finished up her stitching. She may like to play jokes at times but Katzy didn't like being out done by many or chided by boys. She soften as she finished and released her patient.
"Alright, Kippy, come back in three sun rises and we'll see how your healing's coming along," Katzy smiled.
"T'ree suns! T'ree suns!" Kippy replied happily planting a dolphin kiss on the girl's nose, "By-E!" Katzy looked startled from the kiss but was chuckled as the little silver dolphin skidded off with her pod.
"You did very well today, Katzy," Jonie smiled, "That's it for today, take the blood fish up to the cooks, will you. I'll see you at dinner." Picking up one of the pails, Katzy’s muscles stood out on end even though she didn’t really feel the strain of the enormous amount of the vampire fish. She looked at Cravitomin and chuckled as she watched him wring out the parts of his clothing that he’d gotten wet.
“You better go on ahead so you can get a dry pair of clothes on, Crav, or Tana might get some idea that you weren’t doing as you were told,” Katzy smiled slyly. The young man blushed as he realized she was right.
“See you at dinner,” he smiled and then winked at her, “Of course I’ll be made to sit by you because there’s not enough room.”
“Of course,” the 15 turn old girl grinned, “And I’ll just ignore you.” The duo parted ways on this last remark, acting as if they were not friends at all by sticking their noses up in the air at each other. Yet out of the corner of their eyes each one smirked and gave the other a wink. Katzy waited for a time until Cravitomin was out of sight for about five minutes then started up the hill towards the Hold.
Squan winged about her as she walked doing aerial displays yet still stayed mostly silent. As they neared the door to the kitchen, the little blue’s eyes suddenly started to spin rapidly as he zipped to just above his mistress’ head and looked up at the sky intently. Katzy turned to look as well, it was turning to shades of spring in the fishing hold on the Northern continent but from where she was it was more like late to very early spring. The sky was cloudless, not a thing hindering the view of Rukbat slowly heading towards the West.
A grunt like whimper from the watch-wher’s den near by told Katzy that they were coming. Suddenly two blue appeared in the sky and trumpeted their arrival. The young girl nearly dropped the two pails she was carrying at the sight of them, only one sound coming from her mouth in amazement at the beauty of the two.
“Whoaaaa!”
As the dragons circled to land in the court yard a number of people had come to their windows only to stand slack jawed and in awe of the large beasts. A drudge from the kitchen entrance was what got Katzy’s interest away from the dragons long enough to remember what she was doing.
“Com’on, Katz’,” he told her while looking at the blues as their riders dismounted, “Better get those in here now before they spoil.” Katzy nodded taking one more look back at the dragons before walking into the kitchens. Wonder what they’re doing here. Nobody said anything about dragons visiting, and there’ve been no drum messages today, she thought absently placing the fish down.
“Katz,” and urgent whisper caught her attention but not soon enough. Squan gave a shrill squeal and shot out the door they’d just come through. There in front of Katzy was Tana and her clan, their eyes still holding vengeance.
“Shells don’t you ugly wherries ever give up?” she asked before tripping up Tana with a broom stick that had been lying on the floor and dashed for the door only mildly noticing Cravitomin’s worried look. She knew he’d not be able to stop the clan from getting close to her now without revealing that he was more of a turncoat than part of the clan.
W'ryn dismounted from his blue Sylth and D’lom followed suit patting his blue Fadeth’s neck heartily. The duo surveyed the area, D’lom smiling from ear to ear and W’ryn taking on a fairly serious look.
“You know, W’ryn,” D’lom smiled taking in a deep breath of air, “I think I’ve always liked surprise searches, then we really get to test the food of the Holds. No real fancy feast, just food that would have been prepared for a normal day.”
W’ryn chuckled as he watched a girl whom was totally soaked walk into the kitchen after staring at them the whole time. He’d notice that when they arrived she was the only one visible outside of the Hold and was obviously the first to spot them appear from between. I sense a few bodies good to be candidates already. Sylth commented as his head swung back and forth as if he could find the person outside.
“Is that so, Sylth?” D’lom asked his friend’s blue. W’ryn smiled, his blue loved to talk to anyone and everybody and it was obvious that he’d just let his thoughts be heard by the other bluerider. I feel them as well… they are very close.
“Get her!!!” a roar erupted from beyond the kitchen door, catching the attention of both searchriders. A girl of fair muscular girth and blond hair streaked with brown highlights dashed out of the kitchen with a hoard of teens of both genders running after her. Taking a dash towards the watch-wher’s den the girl slowed some then sprinted in another direction as the wher got close enough to the other teens to snap at them to get away from its dwelling. It seemed that not one of them noticed the two blues sitting in the courtyard until they were practically upon the dragons. A whoop from the chased was let out only moments before she almost ran into Fadeth and the blue encircled her with his arms putting a barrier between her and her assailants.
“What the?…” the obvious leader of the group gawked. Seeing the dragon she separated her distance from it greatly. The others were too surprised to even do as the older teen. Inside Fadeth’s arms the light green eyes of the girl shimmered in admiration for the blue.
Katzy smiled up at the dragon; she’d never been so close to one before. She watched as his head slowly descended to her level and boldly put forth her hand and stroked his muzzle. It was like the Harpers said, dragon’s skin was soft and warm, not scaly and cold like tunnel snakes were. She watched the dragon's eyes whirl at her in a curious way and she smiled looking over her shoulder to see he’d blocked off the clan.
“My, aren’t you the handsome lad,” she smiled talking to the blue softly, “thank you for keeping them from getting to me.” You’re very welcome, little one. Surprise spread over her features as she heard the calm voice of the blue. “May I have your name, so I might know who saved me?”
“His name’s Fadeth,” a male voice called from Katzy’s left, “And I’m D’lom, his rider. We’re on search.”
“Really?” Katzy asked not bothering to hide her excitement, “I thought Searchdragon only searched and didn’t do much rescues when they’re on them.” Katzy smirked at her joke and was only mildly surprised when the arm of the other blue raised his rider above to be on better level to talk as well.
“Usually we don’t have to do that, miss,” the other young man smiled.
“Name’s, Katzy,” she paused as she squinted at the knots on his shoulder, “Head Searchrider.”
“Well, you’ve learned your knots well,” he chuckled, “You may call me W’ryn, and this blue here is my Sylth.”
“It’s an honor to meet you all,” Katzy smiled and giggled as Fadeth sniffed her tickling her face. It was at that moment that a strong yet kind voice interrupted the introductions that were being made. A well-built man just entering his third decade walked forward with a number of the Hold wardens following him.
“Good day riders, I am Tecnado, Lord Holder of Raku Sea Hold,” he smiled and Sylth put down his rider to greet the man, “What an unexpected surprise. We were warned of no search.” Both searchriders bowed humbly.
“Please, except Dawn Sisters Weyr’s apologies,” W’ryn replied diplomatically, “Weyrwoman Alora bid us to do so, on account we’re still looking for candidates. We have not looked here yet for this clutch.”
“Please join us in our dinner,” Lord Tecnado nodded then looked a bit perplexed, “Is there someone beyond those dragon’s arms?” The blueriders turned to look at what the Lord Holder was speaking of and chuckled as the 5’3” girl crawled up on top of Fadeth’s arm and with a soft nudge from the blue ended up sitting up there and smiled down at her Lord.
“’Lo, Lord Tecnado,” Katzy smiled and waved at him. The Lord Holder chuckled and waved at the girl then looked at the riders in question.
“A group of kids were chasing her sir and she almost ran right into Fadeth while trying to keep away from them,” D’lom replied, “he just put up a barrier that they didn’t dare go over.” Fadeth once again puffed at Katzy his eyes whirling happily. I believe she’s one the dragon cooed happily and Sylth looked down his nose at her like he would do towards a dragon egg. After a moment his eyes whirled almost exactly like the other blue. I agree; she would be perfect for the hatching.
“What?” Tecnado, Katzy and Tana shouted in disbelief unison, Katzy nearly falling off the dragon’s arm and Tecnado beaming. Tana, on the other hand, stormed up to the riders.
“She’s no dragonrider, ” Tana snarled, “I mean look at her, she’s fat, ugly, and has no need for a dragon being a drudge.” W’ryn just listened to the complaint and looked to the Lord holder for silent permission to prove the girl wrong. With a nod from Tecnado he smiled.
“You are quite,” W’ryn paused as if to take a breath and Tana smirked up at the 15 turn old girl, “wrong.” Tana’s smirk fell from her features to be replaced by a white ghastly look, “That fat, as you call it, there, I can tell you right now that’s really extreme muscles. From the looks of it I wouldn’t be surprised if you were originally raised by minners.”
“Yep that’s my parents,” Katzy replied proudly, “Minners in the caverns near Kutou Hold. I was fairly good at the mining stuff but I’m a much better healer. Speaking of which, you know very well I’m an apprentice dolphin healer to your mother, and a Jr. Journeywoman Healer to boot!” Katzy pointed at her knots on her shoulder.
“There you have it,” D’lom smiled, “She’s libel to impress some dragon. And if not she can learn to heal them at the weyr better than most.” Katzy gave the rider a mock glare for the back handed comment though fire lizards flew through her stomach. As if on cue, Squan appeared once again, silent as ever and circled around his mistress’ head happily, before landing on her shoulder.
“So, have we your permission?” W’ryn asked pleasantly.
“I may house her but you’ll have to ask her, Master,” Tecnado replied.
“She has my blessing,” Jonie smiled coming up behind the group, she hid a broader smile at her daughter’s look, “It she wishes to go, then I’ll let her.” All eyes turned to Katzy and a huge smile was now on her face.
“Wouldn’t pass it up for all of Pern!” she smiled and slide down the great blue’s arm to the ground, “When do we leave?”
“If I’m not mistaken, Lord Tecnado invited us to dinner and it would give Sylth and Fadeth enough time to sense any other prospective candidates.” There was a nod from all around and they filed into the dinning hall. Katzy could only suppress a chuckle as she saw Jonie’s features turn stern and motioned her daughter to come with her. The dejected look of one of her worst enemies was something she wished an artist could capture for her to ever remember.
Dinner went quickly and sooner than Katzy thought she was saying good-bye to her friends. As W’ryn helped her up onto his blue she remembered the priceless reaction of Tana and titled her head at the dragon. I wonder why he spoke to all of us at once like that I said it to those I knew you wanted to have know and just threw in the one that you wanted to rub in her face. I thought it was quite amusing myself, Sylth’s voice suddenly came into her head.
“Thank you,” Katzy smiled and finished her waving to the hold.
“Here we go,” W’ryn told her. The blue rocked back on his hide legs and swiftly yet gently lifted into the air, Fadeth right behind him. A mental signal was given at they all went between, back to Dawn Sisters Weyr and, perhaps, a whole knew life for Katzy.
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