Serrith squealed for joy and squirmed in A'und's arms as the boy spun her around happily. Allund, now A'und grinned broadly and laughed, suddenly pulling the night green close to him and hugging her tightly. They stood at the entrance to the empty candidate barracks. Everyone else had already headed off to the hatching feast.
"You're perfect Serrith. My life is perfect now."
Of course! That chittering woman won't bother you any more rider mine. You are MINE! She stated with a defiance that made A'und grin again. Free! He was finally free! Serrith purred and nuzzled A'und's ear gently, sensing his thoughts. Her small, fragile wings beat at the air happily.
"Allund!" The shrill shriek of his mother split their momentairy happiness. A'und sighed and turned to face his mother. Her first shock came just by seeing the boy. "What did you do to your hair?!"
A'und winced at the high pitched notes that must have reached the entire Weyr. He grinned to himself and chuckled under his breath.
Tell her! Tell her eeeeeverything! Serrith cooed in his mind with a malicious red tint to her eyes.
Had A'und a spare hand, he would have run his fingers across the short bristling of hair on the top of his head. He'd had it trimmed to a buzz cut to match the slight growth of beard on his chin. "It's a buzz cut mom. Very popular."
Something snapped in the prim duchess. Her eyes narrowed dangerously and her face grew so pale it seemed as if she'd died on the spot. Her carefullly bunned hair had become less then perfect after what she considered to be an uncivilized ride /between/ to the Weyr. The deep violet dress she wore had been spattered with mud and dust from the sands and a long tear ran down the fluffed backend from a close encounter with one of the clutch mothers. Now this. Her son, next in line to the family holdings, ex-bronze rider-to-be, had impressed a green. And a mutant green of all things!
"You will put that monstrosity down now and come with me. We are going to visit the Weyrwoman about the next gold's clutch to get you a proper dragon." She turned on her heels and began storming towards the Hall.
A'und shut his hanging jaw quickly and gulped back the anguish rising in his throat. He struggled to hold a thrashing Serrith who was sending him wonderful images of hanging the duchess up by her corset and leaving her for the watch whers. Freedom. All he ever wanted in life was to live it the way he decided. Flight. He'd long ago dreamed of running off to the Warren to fly with one of the graceful creatures rumoured to live there. Now he had Serrith. Release. Now his mother wanted to take Serrith from him. He was 18 years old. An adult. Living his own life exactly as he wanted it. And once again, she was trying to ruin that.
"No!" A'und shouted loud enough for his mother to hear. Both Serrith and the duchess froze. A'und swallowed against the lump rising in his throat and stepped forward. "I'm not giving her up."
"What did you say to me?" The malice dripping on every silible from his mother's mouth made him cringe.
"I said I'm not giving her up. Serrith's my bonded now." He stood firmly, finally gaining confidence over his mother's presence. "I never wanted to be a Duke mom. If you've done one good thing for me in my life it's wanting me to impress. I thought you'd finally changed all those years ago when you took me to the Warren, but you hadn't. Now I'm impressed, just like you wanted. I'm an adult and a dragon rider in training and I'm not giving that up either. This is my life!" A'und finished his speech. He could feel his heart racing and his breath coming in quick, short gasps. What a rush! Serrith stared at him in shock then grinned and rubbed her head against his cheek.
A double shock to the duchess. For a moment, she stared at her son in dumbfounded silence. A'und grinned. He was happy. Her son was happy with a green. Why? It's not possible! They must have brainwashed him. She assured herself. A'und held the small green close to him and turned to enter the barracks.
"Oh and mom," he paused and looked back at her, "I got a tattoo. Two in fact. And a cat." The youth grinned and entered the room filled with sleeping hatchlings. As he shut the door behind him, he heard the distinct sound of his mother fainting.
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Serrith is from: Rylsen Weyr