| All Unaware |
| Korim woke with a start, her heart pounding. “Califath?” <<Sorry,>> the brown’s voice drifted over her consciousness, diffuse as smoke. There was still an undertone of smugness: he, the brown who seldom flew, had caught both Tinoth and Lanayth in the Frenzy. His offspring were slowly growing within the shells on the Sands, and Califath had elected to stay with his mates, absurdly proud of his sons-and-daughters-to-be. “Who’s on the Sands?” The crunch of shoes on sand was very loud to Korim as she propped herself up on her elbows. <<Baeris and a new one. A student.>> Califath paused. <<Korim, she would be perfect for my children! Or maybe someone else’s,>> he corrected with a sigh. <<She is a very good candidate prospect--she may be a candidate already--but there’s something strange about her. I will ask Baeris to talk with us privately when she is done showing this girl around.>> A hint of ginger and cloves as he diverted his attention. Korim sighed, and rested her head on her arms again, enjoying the heat of the Sands. The Healer Journeywoman would be back soon enough, but until then, the ex-drummer preferred to sleep. |
| “She won’t go for it,” Baeris said flatly. “She’s already lost a dragon.” Califath’s horned visage loomed high above her. <<She’s Impressed before? To whom?>> As disquieting as it was to have the brown speaking directly to her, Baeris answered steadily enough. “Brown Iphaeth. He died a week and four days after the Hatching. Saro’s…not taking it well.” <<Nevertheless, I must insist that she Stand,>> Califath rumbled, while Korim’s smile took a caustic edge. She knew just how pushy her lifemate could be. <<Is there a way to get her to be on the Sands without officially Standing?>> “Yes,” the Healer said, reluctantly. “I could make it part of her classes to observe the Hatching.” <<Then that is what you must do, for the good of the children,>> Califath dictated. <<My children,>> he muttered possessively, and dipped his head in an obvious dismissal. Korim gave her a sardonic look, eerie out of unseeing eyes, and stalked out in search of portable oil for her large lifemate’s cream-marked hide. |