Vainith hovered over the feeding grounds, looking disgustedly at the terrified herdbeasts below. They had no reason to be afraid at the moment, however, because Vainith did not want to get blood on his hide. I'm going to get dirty! he wailed.

I had to chop up your food and get my hands dirty, Apollo reminded him sternly. I didn't like it, but if you were going to eat, I had to. Now you don't want to kill one yourself, but if you want to eat, you have to. I'll take you to the lake for a bath right after you finish.

Vainith snorted. Couldn't you just keep chopping up my food for me? the light bronze asked hopefully, though he knew the answer already.

Just do it Vainith, Apollo told him. The quicker you do it, the quicker you get it over with and we can get you to the lake. Plus, how do you expect to catch a queen if you can't even kill a herdbeast?

That stirred Vainith's ego into a higher gear and, with a determined bugle that sent the herdbeasts to screaming, dove and pounced on a herdbeast. The herdbeast, however, made a last minute break for its life and Vainith accidentaly landed on it, squishing the poor animal with his hind leg.

Apollo wasn't sure which screamed louder, Vainith or the herdbeast. The heardbeast screamed with pain; Vainith with disgust as blood spurted onto his hind leg and belly. I told you it'd be a mess! Vainith whimpered from a few feet away from his kill.

Just eat it, then we'll go straight to the lake, Apollo told him.

Vainith made short work of devouring the beast and then winked between, reappearing in the weyrlake.
A-hem? You're forgetting somebody. Apollo told Vainith angrily, standing with arms crossed at the edge of the feeding grounds. I am not walking all that way.

Vainith dutifully winked back between and appeared next to his rider. Apollo climbed on and situated himself. Now you can go to the lake.

Because Apollo was not in riding gear, Vainith had to fly back to the lake. He plunged in, forgetting that his rider was in his clothes.

Vainith! Apollo roared as he was dumped into the water. These clothes are tailor made! If they shrink, I won't be able to fit into them anymore! And look, now my hair's all messed up!

Can you save them? Vainith asked worridley as Apollo stalked out of the water and stripped down to his bathing cloth. He folded his drenched clothes and put them on a rock.

I can try, Apollo sighed. But let's get you cleaned off first.

The blood scrubbed away easily and within fifteen minutes Vainith, Apollo, and the clothes were out on the ledge of their weyr, drying in the sun.

One of the queens was basking on her ledge and Vainith gazed at her wistfully. I can't wait til I can catch queens, he sighed.

Apollo smiled as he looked at the queen's rider. Me either. < back // next >