Earlier in the turn the duo had managed to learn how to fly and go between without getting the Weyrling Master angry with them. They had played jokes but because of the number of weyrlings from clutches before their own and after their own it was hard for anyone to get blamed. Most weyrlings now knew not to try to anger her or even mention that it was not right for a girl to have impressed a blue. Even worse was when they even mildly hinted at her being homosexual.
Katzy wasn’t homophobic, in fact some of her good friends at the weyr were homosexual or bisexual. She had played many a prank on the people, both dragonriders and people who lived in the weyr, that made any comment that she thought was terrible towards or about a rider thought or known to be anything but heterosexual.
“That we do, Bally,” she smiled at her blue Balaroth, “Do you remember the plans we’ve made for this day?” The blue sat up on his hind legs and thought for a time then a mental grin that could almost be said to be a twin of Katzy appeared in the blue rider’s mind. I remember, Katzy, Balaroth rumbled pleasantly as he looked at the large bag that Katzy had started to gather as she asked the question. Katzy gathered a number of thinly cured hides; so thin were they that the hides were transparent. The blue riding Sr. Weyrling grinned as she deposited the hides into the bundle her lifemate was looking at.
For another few minutes the rider gathered a number of small items and placed them in the bag; jars of paint, a piece of charcoal, some writing hides… now what was she forgetting. The clay jar? Is that what you’re forgetting, my rider Thanks love, that’s just the thing! Katzy replied and quickly raced over to rub her dragon’s eyeridge lovingly. She was reluctant to leave her deepest love's, in all of Pern, embrace she gave the blue a huge hug before walked calmly over to the clay jar with a small smile.
As she was about to pick up the jar soft chittering stopped her and she laughed as her blue fire lizard winged about her head only to land on the jar, or at least his forelimbs did. The little blue nuzzled the cap on the jar and Katzy patted him on the head.
“Do you know what’s in that jar, Squan?” Katzy smiled. The little blue became his silent self again and only nodded his tiny head, “Do you know what it will become?” the blue fire lizard tipped his head at his mistress coyly yet kept his silence. He knows but he’s not telling. Squan seems to think it’s more fun having a body wait to find out as you had to. Balaroth chuckled to his rider and Katzy playfully stuck out her tongue.
Katzy picked up her fighting straps and carefully slipped them over her blue’s head as he crouched to make it easier for her. She tightened the synch strap carefully putting her foot on her blue’s strong neck for leverage in getting the straps tight enough so that she might not slide under her dragon. That’s never happened to you. Maybe so, Bally, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t happen to me. It’s happened plenty of times to other riders. The blue shrugged and lied down while he waited for his rider to gather the other things they were bringing.
Picking up the clay pot and her bag of tricks Katzy walked over to the brightly colored blue. She quickly secured the page on the left side of her dragon and then carefully placed the pot in her flight jacket. She gave a sharp yet soft whistle and Squan flew over, landing on her shoulder just as the blue riding female mounted her dragon and strapped herself in. The small blue wrapped his tail around his mistress’ neck and crooned as he nuzzled her ear.
“That’s right, Squan, we’re going for a visit,” Katzy smirked and then continued to her dragon, “Ready to take us there, Balaroth?” I am ready, but are they ready for us? the blue replied mischievously. The dragon walked to the ledge of their weyr and gave a bellow towards the watch dragon before launching himself into the air. Katzy whooped gleefully as the first wing stroke was preformed. Katzy carefully prepared the image of Raku Sea Hold, taking into account that it was a bit farther along in the day and where the sun should be. She mentally sent the image to her dragon and Balaroth bulged again. Here we go! With one last wing stroke the lifemates went between. Unlike some people, Katzy oddly found between exhilarating and a great coolant for a hot temper or a fatal attraction. She felt the freeze around her and in her.
Just as between was starting to feel uncomfortable to her, Katzy and Balaroth appeared once again this time over the sea and heading towards the sea hold. Feeling her anticipation for being back at the hold once more she urged Balaroth to fly lower. We’ll make a grand entrance, Katz! Balaroth told her happily and crowed as he dove to have his wings skim the water. No sooner had he done so, than dolphins appeared and followed ahead and behind the normal sized blue. The sleek silver bodies bounded out of the water some times doing flips and a few brave and agile dolphins leapt out of the water and over his down stroking wings.
They are quite the funny creatures aren’t they? the blue dragon asked his rider. Katzy nodded as she smiled down at the familiar pod.
“Kaaaatzzzyyyy!” squeed a young dolphin from the pod and the blue rider’s eyes turned wide with surprise, “You nooo der threeee suns later. You baaaaaack now ‘o!” Katzy was quick to rack her brain for what dolphin was saying this. For once she was quick to remember it.
“Sorry ‘bout that, Kippy,” Katzy called down, “I got searched that night. You have good eyes to see that it was me up here.”
“Kippy see good!” Kippy squeaked back up at her.
By now the dolphins were slowing because of how close to shore they were. Balaroth bulged announcing his presence to the hold and Katzy imagined she could just hear the pots and pans dropping. She could already see people rushing to window, some throwing open metal shutters. On the dock she caught sight of two figures.
Bally? Got it! Balaroth replied letting his rider take a small look through his better seeing eyes. Katzy smiled broadly and thumped her blue’s neck affectionately. Set us down on the shore, please Bally. Mentally the dragon nodded and started to pull himself up, back winging only to stir up the sand and spay some water. Aside from the spray the landing wasn’t that bad for a Sr. Weyrling.
Katzy quickly unstrapped her legs and dismounted with a grace most dragonriders had. She was greeted by the two figures whom smiled at her kindly.
“Welcome dragonrider, it’s an honor for you to visit this Hold, I am Master Dolphineer Jonie and this is…”
“Cravitomin, I know I know,” Katzy chuckled as she pulled off her riding goggles and helmet, “Do I really look that different from when I left here over a turn ago?”
“Katzy!” Cravitomin looked at the young blue rider astonished, and Katzy gave him a friendly hug, “We’d heard you’d impressed but nobody was able to give us a real answer as to what color.”
“Well, Crav, and Jonie,” she bowed in respect to her former mentor, “Let me introduce you to my blue dragon, Balaroth.” Balaroth brought back one of his wings and crouched slightly in a sort of dragon bow. Both looked at the blue in awe. Squan’s chirp caused all attention to return to the blue’s rider.
“He’s not as quiet as he was before,” Jonie smiled as she reached over and rubbed the fire lizard’s head. “We’re not blamed for much anymore so he could voice himself much better without giving us away,” Katzy smiled knowingly. Cravitomin chuckled understanding his good friend. Further conversation stalled for a moment as a number of people from the hold poured out the gates and down towards the waterfront. It was as Katzy was feeling very warm that she remembered the clay pot in her jacket.
“Here, Crav, I brought you a present from Star Reaches Weyr,” she smiled as she pulled the pot from her coat and carefully handed it to the young man of 18 turns. He looked at the pot raising an eyebrow, “You mean Dawn Sisters don’t you?”
“I got it yesterday when a group of us were visiting other weyrs, my group happened to choose Star Reaches. They’re still in the works you know.” The young man nodded as he opened the jar and found the speckled tanish shell, just barely distinguishably through the sand that covered it.
“Any idea what color will hatch from this one?” he asked hiding most of his excitement.
“Squan might know,” Katzy replied and turned to the tiny blue on her shoulder who seemed to find the direction from which they’d came more interesting, “but he refuses to give us even a hint.”
By now the crowd had neared the small group and Katzy could make out members of her Hold enemy’s clan. A number of them looked surprised as they finally made eye contact with her. Katzy’s eyes scanned the crowd for the young woman whom she’d loved to hate and play pranks on.
“KATZY!” and outraged cry came from the back of the crowd. Katzy watched as people were shoved roughly aside and soon a tall brown haired, sea-green eyed girl appeared from the crowd looking a bit angry yet a bit smug at the same time. Katzy looked back, her eyes narrowing in weariness of the slightly older teen.
“Well, if it isn’t Tana,” Katzy smiled, “Now why would you want to come out to greet me; You never liked me. Perhaps you thought I, with my blue was a searchrider and thought you could impress too because a, I believe your words were something like, ‘a lowly drudge,’ was able to impress.” Why would you say that, Katzy, even a hatchling could tell that she’s not candidate material not now and not ever. Katzy grinned at her blue’s remark.
“Well, I could impress a higher ranking dragon than you,” Tana sneered at the younger girl’s jibs, only to be met by Katzy’s snickering. Tana now seemed to think that just because Katzy was a dragonrider now she didn’t have time to play pranks and couldn’t harm her; that’s what helped fuel her next statement, “You know, I always wondered what you were attracted to. Now the blue tells me loud and clear, and I’ll give you a hint it’s not of the male gender.” The brown haired beauty smiled pleasantly at the deadly look Katzy gave her and walked off.
“You know very well that’s not true, you old stinkin’ wherry!” and angry voice called at Tana’s back. Tana slowly swivels around expecting to find Katzy still glaring at her but instead found the girl looked surprised at the young man standing in front of her.
“Crav…”
“Don’t even try calling me that, Tana,” Cravitomin’s voice boomed back at her causing all in the area to jump, “I’m not one of your lap canines. Never was, never will be.” He could see words starting to form on the lips but instead of letting her say them he himself stated the fact that had been kept secret for turns. “Traitor, yeah that’s what I am. I kept an eye on you, made sure that those you tormented got away. Shard it all, Tana, you make me sick.” Cravitomin was breathing hard holding in some of his anger, the only satisfaction he had was the flabbergasted look on Tana’s face.
There was a murmur from the assembly, yet out of that soft noise a number of teens came forward with stern looks. Katzy’s eyes narrowed even more as she silently gave Balaroth a message to be on guard but don’t look it. The blue complied with rapidly whirling eyes and walked up directly behind her, wings flared slightly. The young men and women whom were walking forward looked a bit wearily at the blue but still continued to come. When they were only a foot away from Cravitomin they nodded in respect to him before turning about and glaring at Tana, a number of them crossing their arms as well.
“Well, well,” Katzy’s voice seemed to chuckle as she called out mockingly, “Looks like there’s some who share Crav’s feelings here, Tana.” Tana snorted and glared back at them, she turned on her heals in a huff and stomped off to the hold. It was at that time that Lord Technado appeared. The Lord Holder raised an eyebrow having missed the whole conflict and in the end walked up to greet Katzy.
“Well, Katzy, it’s good to see you again,” Technado smiled and looked her up and down, “I see they’ve been treating you right and feeding you well at Dawn Sisters Weyr. You’ve even grown a bit. And I take it this is your dragon, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make it to the hatching”
“ That’s right, this is Balaroth. I understand that you couldn’t make it, you and holder’s work to do, and thank you , Lord Technado, but I haven’t grown that much,” she smiled, “The Weyrhealer even says that I’ve probably reached my full height now.” The middle-aged man nodded with a soft smiled.
“Well let’s see if we can prove that healer wrong,” the Lord replied, “You will be joining us for lunch will you not.” Katzy chuckled, nodded, and gave a bow all at once.
“Lead the way, sir, I’ve missed Raku’s fine sea food,” she smiled as she looked up at the sun which had as of yet to reach its zenith, “Yet if my memory serves me well, the next meal isn’t for an hour or so.”
“Surprising she can remember that but not many names,” Cravitomin mumbled under his breath only to be clotted hard on the shoulder.
“I heard that, Crav,” she hissed in his ear. The older teen short her a look over his shoulder. Katzy merely grinned.
“Ever ride a dragon, Crav?” she asked in a sly yet slightly shy voice. Cravitomin looked down at her and then looked at Balaroth behind her who cooed at him.
Cravitomin gave a howl of joy as Balaroth landed with a fair amount of ease.
“I take it you didn’t like the ride one bit, holderboy,” Katzy smirked jokingly. Katzy, you know as well as I do he loved that ride! Balaroth’s rumbling chuckle came into his rider’s head.
“You’re right, I didn’t like it,” Cravitomin replied to Katzy’s surprise, “I loved it!” Katzy laughed at her old friend’s response as she quickly released him and herself from the flight straps.
“You almost sound weyrbred, Crav,” she told him as she assisted him down. After he was safe on the ground she grinned wolfishly as she untied her bundle of tricks. Cravitomin looked at her oddly and looked at the bag then looked her in the eye. He could see the mischief brewing there and he shook his head.
“I suppose this was planned before Tana’s insult to you?” he asked. Katzy only smirked and trotted off towards the hold doors. Only a few words reached Cravitomin before he followed.
“Away you go, Squan, you know what to do,” Katzy’s voice giggled, “and quiet like if you would please, don’t need her getting onto us too quickly.” Squan chirped and disappeared between not even a fire lizard’s length from his mistress’s shoulder.
Tana grumbled as she slammed the door to her room. She’d made nothing of herself during her whole life, never taken up a craft, was always bossy and mean, yet was certain to be married of soon enough. None but the last ever occurred to the snobbish girl, even though Cravitomin had stated the facts before her. She’d always thought him one of her most loyal supporters before, she’d even fancied that perhaps she’d marry him, even if he wasn’t as good looking as herself. Now he was no better than Katzy; in her mind both of them were drudges and that blue wasn’t even her own but borrowed from some other rider.
The happy chatter of a fire lizard caused the girl to growl as she stomped over to the window and slammed the metal shutter closed, locking them just as angrily as she’d approached and shut them. Huffily she strutted over to her desk and pulled out a hide bound book that she’d been given on her last birthing day by her mother. She could tell it was quite expensive in the fact that the pages were made of paper instead of hide, she now used it as a journal though it was mostly filled with complaints; oddly enough, Katzy was mentioned many a time in it since she received the book yet the younger girl turned dragonrider had not appeared in the Hold since before the hatching over a turn ago.
Tana snorted and started to write. The blank page she wrote on soon was filled with handwriting that only she could really depict, yet at times she couldn’t read her writing either. The next page stared to fill and Cravitomin’s name appeared many a time as well as wherry-spawn referring to another person. Anyone who could depict her writing would know well by now that when Tana spoke of wherry-spawn it was usually an insulting way to speak of Katzy.
After nearly a half hour, the beauty finally lifted her head. The tempting smells of food the Hold’s midday meal drifted up to her and she smiled, for once actually being sincere about in the facial feature. She quickly lost that look as she remembered that Katzy would probably be joining them for this meal. Moodily the brown haired beauty got up exited her room.
She turned and replaced her hand on the outside knob of her door to close it and only a moment after making contact with it jerked her hand back with a screech. “KATZY!!!!” she screamed as she brought her hand up into the light to see that it was once again greased in cooking oil. Instinct suddenly told her to cover her head, but not soon enough. Tana soon found herself covered with paint; Every dragon color was present as well as every color you could find in a rainbow. Tana screeched once again before dashing back into her room, not to appear again until Katzy would head back to Dawn Sisters.
She found a note on her towels as she dashed into her bathing pool room. She scanned the note and cursed it with words that even a watch wher would cringe at. In her rage she threw it on the floor.
| Tana- Learn from your mistakes; never even imply that I have that sort of taste again. You got away easy this time. I’ll see you again some day. -Katzy |
Katzy chuckled as she mounted Balaroth later that day and smiled down at Cravitomin. “It was good to see you again.” There’s something very interesting about this one… almost curious… I think I’ll tell Fadeth and Sylth when we get back. You think he might…?
“It was good see you again too, Katz,” Cravitomin replied interrupting her thoughts to her blue, smiling softly back at her, “I hope you’re able to make more visits. I think Tana might need another paint bath.” He chuckled as he remembered the outraged look Tana had as she screamed before storming back into her room for the rest of the day; he and the others who had left Tana’s clan had a good laugh over that one. Because of the prank Katzy was the unofficial heroin of the midday meal and oddly the girl had taken it quite modestly.
“I hope I’ll find the time too, Crav…” she paused, “And perhaps you’ll have a chance to visit me at Dawn Sisters some time. Until then, my friend, clear skies to you.”
“And to you as well, Katzy,” Cravitomin bowed deeply and Katzy hid a blush with a wave of her hand. The young man knew better than to stand too close to the dragon on take off and immediately backed away watching Katzy all the while until she and Balroth went between quiet a few dragonlengths above the ground. Their paths would cross again, and perhaps sooner than either thought.
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