Cilla and Mirth
Adanuk. The fully grown black dragoness prowled around the room while her rider packed.
"Yes." Cilla didn't look up from her work. She knew the dragon was nervous about switching Weyr's, but she'd follow Cilla to the ends of the world.
Lead by Weyrwoman Magika? Mirth flicked her tail. It was a habit she'd picked up somewhere in weyrling training and never quite managed to grow out of.
"Yes." Cilla began to sort through her clothes, figuring out what to take with her, and what to leave.
No Weyrleader?
"Nope."
Mirth bellowed and swung around as Jevyan caught a hold of her tail. It was a habit he'd picked up somewhere during their weyrling training and never quite managed to grow out of. The black dragoness had learned to be gentle with the kitten as she got larger, the kitten had never learned to be gentle with the dragon. Mirth dangled him from her tail, before depositing him in Cilla's bag. And we're going back because?
Cilla removed the kitten from her pile of clothes and set him on the ground. "It's my home."
Mirth sighed and flopped onto her dragoncouch. I thought you grew up in some Beasthold somewhere.
"There's a difference between where you live and where your home is." Cilla smirked and dangled a loose thread in front of Jevyan.
Uh-huh. Mirth was not impressed with this turn of events. She knew Cilla missed her friends, but she didn't see why they couldn't just visit.
"Trust me." Cilla stood up and walked to her lifemate. "You'll understand when you get there."
Mirth had complete faith in Cilla, but not necessarily in all of her ideas. Uh-huh.
* * * If you don't get that cat out of my hide! Mirth didn't bother thinking of a threat. Nothing was strong enough to voice her opinion of the kitten at that moment.
Cilla snatched at Jevyan while still in the saddle, letting the reins fly loose. She discovered that her turns of horseback riding did have some benefit in the world of dragonriding. The ‛grip with your knees' lesson worked well in situations like this. I thought your hide was thicker than that Mirth!!
He's got a tender spot! Mirth didn't characteristically whine, but the cat's claws were starting to really hurt.
He's just scared for Faranth's sake! He's only flown once before and then he was safely in my backpack. Cilla made another swipe for the kitten, but Jevyan would not be calmly scooped up. He was several kilometres higher than he usually like to be and this was not sitting well with him.
Well why, by the First Egg, isn't he there now?!? The dragon was at sufficient altitude to between, but she didn't want to go with the kitten hanging off her neck like he was. The second Mirth had pushed herself off the ground, the kitten had gone crazy. In one of the stupidest moves in the history of stupid moves, the cat had leapt from Cilla arms once they were high enough that the fall would have easily killed him. Luckily for the cat, unluckily for Mirth, he had grabbed the dragons neck. I'm going to drop him!
He doesn't like being in my backpack.
I think he doesn't like flying!!
I'll get him! Calm down! Cilla finally abandoned her sitting position, and laid herself along her lifemate's back, attempting to catch the kitten with one hand by the scruff of his neck.
You're both going to kill yourselves!! The black dragon was not amused.
I thought Mirth was supposed to mean joy. Cilla snagged the kitten and returned to her saddle. Jevyan, puffed out like a pufferfish, hissed and spat and clawed at his master.
I'm joyful you got him off. Mirth began another slow loop above the Weyr she was leaving as Cilla sorted herself out, and stuffed Jevyan in her backpack.
Alright, Cilla reached for the flapping reins, but knew there was no way she could catch them now. She wrapped her fingers around the edge of the saddle in front of her. Let's go.
Are you sure? Mirth began to pick up speed. Maybe we should just go down. I mean this is like one really bad omen.
Cilla rolled her eyes. I don't believe in omens, and neither do you.
Mirth snorted and bugled. I've grown rather fond of it here Cilla. All the major events in my life have happened here.
That's because you've never left here. Cilla smiled and rubbed her dragon's back. Trust me Mirth. You'll like Adanuk. It's your home too, you just don't know it yet.
Fine. With that the black dragon popped out of existence only to reappear an instant later over Adanuk Weyr.
* * * Over there! Cilla drew her dragon's attention to a grassy patch out beyond Adanuk's walls. Land over there!
Shouldn't I be announcing myself to the Watchdragon? Mirth wanted to follow procedure, but knew she'd end up following Cilla.
Announce all you want. We're going to see Meodoc and Iltar. And if that's Second Wind, I'm really going to regret giving my share away. Cilla would have leapt off Mirth's back and ran the distance if she felt it might get her there faster.
Cilla and Mirth! The dragon bugled with as much dignity as she could muster while she avoided the Weyrbowl. Heading out to meet the runners in the field.
Magika figured that's where Cilla'd head. The voice of the queen that answered her was slightly bored and mildly amused. It was also the voice of the Sr. Queen. The Weyrwoman says take your time. No hurry.
Mirth felt slightly insulted, although she wasn't entirely sure why. Are you being sarcastic? Mirth's eyes whirled red and she turned back towards the Weyrbowl.
The Sr. Queen was amused. Slightly. Not exactly following the rules are we. The Sr. Queen was cut off, presumably by her rider. When her voice returned it was significantly more subdued and slightly more respectful. I'm Hyth, Sr. Queen, my rider, Magika, is Weyrwoman. We welcome you to Adanuk Weyr. Magika invites Cilla to feel free to check out the runners, she knows how much Cilla loves them. After her reunion with her old friends, if you'd be so kind as to present yourself in the Weyrbowl... Hyth trailed off again, interrupted once more by Magika. For Faranth's sake Magika! If you think I can't handle this do it yourself!
That was the last Mirth heard from any dragon in the Weyr for a while. Apparently it was bad form for her to attempt communicating with the rest of them before she met the Sr. Queen. It took Magika a good half hour of arguing to get Hyth to even talk to her again.
I think the Weyrwoman and her dragon are crazy. Mirth flew low over the Weyrbowl and began her descent near the place Cilla had marked from above.
I'm sure they're crazy. Cilla was happy, and amused and another emotion that Mirth didn't exactly understand. You get used to them.
"Shardin' dragon!" A man with a stick and a nasty temper was approaching the now grounded Mirth at a speed that looked rather unhealthy for his age. "Move your black bulky behind off my track or so help me I'll...."
Mirth, startled and feeling a little lost and afraid, roared before leaping into the air and settling herself a good thirty metres from where she'd been before. He was going to hit me with a stick!
That's Master Undil! Cilla was definitely not recognizing the gravity of the situation. Don't worry, he's never hit anyone before....well, not hard at least.
Cilla. I want to go home. Mirth felt her request was perfectly reasonable.
Cilla patted her dragon's neck as she dismounted and perched Jevyan on her shoulder. You are home.
"What in Faranth's name do you think you're doing Rider?" Despite the honoured title, Undil's tone was anything but respectful. "Scaring my horses half to death?" He didn't wait for her to attempt an answer. "You're new here? Thought you'd make a startling entrance?" He swung his stick in her direction. "Get lost!!"
He doesn't want us! Let's go!! Mirth's tail twitched as she pawed the ground. Her eyes whirled red and she flapped her wings. The two other men that were running up behind this Master Undil thought twice about that course of action and stopped a good ways behind him.
He says that to everyone. Cilla smiled as she stepped forwards. "I did get lost. That's why you got mad at me in the first place!"
Master Undil was momentarily fazed. Cilla knew that was no small accomplishment. "Cilla." He shook his head. "Gone and thrown your life away to one of those beasts." He waved his cane at her. "You've got some nerve coming back here."
One of those beasts? Mirth roared. That's it! I'm...
"She's beautiful." Undil's expression softened and he almost smiled, but quickly changed his mind. "Meodoc! Iltar! Get your worthless hides up here now! You're not scared of this overgrown flit are you." He stormed back to the runners, muttering to himself.
Beautiful? Mirth was rather confused.
Toothless watchwher. All bark. Cilla smiled as her old friends ran up.
"Cilla!" Meodoc, recognizing her at about forty paces, picked up his speed and swept her off her feet. "You came back."
"I said I would." Cilla attempted to right herself to greet Iltar, but Meodoc wasn't letting her go. He picked her up quickly.
He winked and grinned at her. "I always knew we were meant to be together."
Cilla worked her way out of his arms and back onto her own feet. "Sorry, I'm already bonded."
Iltar whistled. "She's gorgeous." He put his arm around her and gave her a quick squeeze.
"A little on the tiny side, but I'm guessing that's because she's so rare." Meodoc was quick to turn his attention to the dragon. "She's exquisitely built though."
Mirth found herself fanning her wings and shaking her head. A girl could get used to this.
Cilla grinned. I thought you wanted to leave.
Maybe I'll stay. Just to find out how things go. Mirth stretched out her body.
Cilla laughed. "Mirth appreciates the praise." She threw an arm around each of her friends. "Tell me that's not Wind over there."
Meodoc grinned. "None other."
"C'mon." Iltar began to lead her off. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you too."
"She doesn't fight the reins anymore?" Cilla could still appreciate a good horse, even if she'd never ride them professionally again.
Iltar smiled that annoying secretive smile that Cilla had missed so much. "She's found where she belongs."
* * * "So you like Akarath?" Cilla was just finishing unpacking in her new weyr. Jevyan was, thank heaven, already asleep on her bed.
Mirth was spread out on her dragon couch, eyes whirling in a sleepy yet content manner. Yeah. Her rider's from another world. They're both hilarious. And she's a rare too. She's a whole mess of colours.
"What about Athenath and Sakui?" Cilla had rather liked the actress that was the third in their group. Sakui was so over-dramatic that she was unbelievable, until you realised she was over-acting on purpose and was well aware of how other people looked at her.
Athenath's fine. Bigger than me though. Mirth stretched her wings, brushing the ceiling.
"Akarath's bigger than you too."
Yeah, but Akarath's mostly gold. I figured I'd be bigger than a green.
"Size doesn't matter." Cilla peeled off her clothes and fell into bed.
I know. Mirth was silent for a bit. I still think Hyth is haughty.
"She's senior queen, love. She can be haughty if she wants." Cilla moved Jevyan out of the way and spread out on her bed.
Mirth was silent all of about thirty seconds. Rider-mine?
"What?" Cilla was getting really tired.
I have a funny feeling. Sort of like when I first learned to fly correctly.
Cilla smiled. "You're home Mirth."
Oh. The dragon raised her head and looked around. Home.
"Yeah." Cilla sighed peacefully. "No more running."
What?
Cilla smiled. "It's a long story. Iltar'll tell you in the morning."
* * *
Read Cilla's candidate story!
Read Cilla's hatchling story!
Read Cilla's weyrling story!
Cilla impressed Mirth at Draco’s Inferno Weyr.
Jevyan’s picture from Sapphire Weyr.
Background from Myrror Images.
Cilla’s picture from The Woman Says.