• • Caké and L'Talia • •

• A Flurry Hatching •

by Neishai

Ryslen | Ryslen Flurry | Flight | Hatching

The days and weeks passed. Little Blue Snowflake, and the Blackened-Red flitter, whom L'Talia had named L'Olo'Nyo, a name which seemed to have special meaning for her, were growing quickly. They were still somewhat clumsy, and it would be quite a while yet before they lost their babyish appearance, but they had also nearly doubled in size.

Gero did not come to regret his decision not only to give an egg to Caké, but also to L'Talia. Both the girl and her caretaker genuinely enjoyed their new pets, and doted on them constantly. Even though the latter remained distant, at least she seemed to enjoy her gift, and had come to understand that the little Red really was just that -- a gift.

As the eggs on the sands hardened and the hatching drew near, Xerbith became a stereotypical "nervous dad." He visited Riishinith daily, just to be sure everything was in order. And every day their pair of eggs gleamed dimly in the light, shells harder each time and richly creamy in color.

Gero could not witness his dragon's uncharacteristic anxiety without comment. "What's wrong, Xerbith, afraid they'll walk away?" He chuckled, arms with their rolled-up sleeves crossed against his chest.

No... it's just that... The Yellow slashed his tail. I don't know. I couldn't possibly explain. You have no idea...

"True." Gero's smile faded briefly. Xerbith's eyes flashed, worry shifting to focus on his rider. He began to appologize when Gero waved it off. "Please. Don't worry about it." He smirked again. "You are just amusing to watch. You are never this nervous."

I do get nervous ... The ah, Fiery Fall Festival clutches. They were maddening! They seemed to take forever to hatch!

"They certainly did," Gero nodded, "but I think that had a lot to do with other stresses." He watched his lemony dragon pace the floor restlessly for a short time, and began to wonder if Xerbith might actually begin to wear a path in the stone. "Xerbith, I really think you should relax. Why don't we go down to the lake? We can invite L'Talia and Caké to come with us; I'm sure their flits could use a bath." He paused, smiling slightly. "I know you could."

The dragon grunted and ceased his endless figiting. Hmph. Fine. I'll wait...but not for long.

Gero grinned and went looking for their charges.

• • •

"Are you crazy?" L'Talia looked up from her scrub brush, leaning heavily on her fists. She would have rested them on her hips if she had been standing. "It is too cold out. I'm not risking Kay-kay's health just so you can wash your dragon."

Gero lifted his eyebrows in surprise at her angry reply. L'Talia remembered herself and dipped her head to face the floor. "I was just asking. No one has to go in the water," he said gently, "but the critters need a bath. I just thought we could take you along if you wanted to go."

"Well I want to go!" A high voice projected itself into the room from behind Gero. They turned to see the young child Caké balancing on one foot, her arms and the other leg held out from her body at an angle. Offbalanced by the small blue flitter on her shoulder, she switched feet and found little better luck. She laughed and finally gave up, Snowflake joining in with a chortling chirrup.

Gero grinned fondly at the girl. "Hello, Caké. So you want to go down to the lake?"

"Yes!"

"Well you'll need some warm clothes and boots. Get some towels for your hands and for Snowflake to dry off with."

"Okay!" Caké scampered off, Snowflake squeaking at her abruptness but held on efficiently, even flattening his wings to his sides. Clever little beast he was.

Gero continued to smile at the girl with affection as she left. L'Talia watched him for as long as she dared before he would turn to look at her again. The emotions that welled up inside were so rich and violent to be almost painful. She had difficulty swallowing and finally looked down at her hands, still grasping the brush, of her own volition. She took a deep, nearly silent breath to release the tension, but it refused to go away.

Still smiling, Gero turned back to L'Talia. His expression quickly became a frown of concern seeing her hunched, still kneeling, with her elbows locked and her ribs heaving slowly and evenly.

He had thus far never convinced her that she was free, that she needed do nothing more than pull her own weight -- clean up after herself, take care of her laundry, that sort of thing. Instead she remained convinced that she must be his servant because he had bought her slave contract from her former master. Her best friend Cyna was in the same position, as was the woman's daughter Caké. So with this in mind, she put herself to work almost every waking moment, sweeping and mopping the floors, doing laundry -- by hand -- retrieving food from the dining hall, whatever she could think of to serve Gero. She would do anything for him, but because it was her job as his slave, not because she liked to do it.

He did not know that one little detail had changed this fact only subtly, but very importantly. She had found herself doing chores, and minding it less and less. Sometimes she found herself wanting to do it, and liking it. She wanted to please Gero, and it confused and maddened her to no end. But she did not know how to tell him that, or whether she even wanted him to know!

"Tali..." Gero said gently, breaking into her thoughts. Hearing his voice just then, using that nickname, made a lump well up in her throat. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to collapse on the floor and cry. "Tali, why don't you stop for the day, please? You need a break." L'Talia only nodded, so he crouched down in front of her, putting a hand on each shoulder. "Let me help you up."

With his assistance, she rose to her feet. Her arms felt heavy and swayed slightly, she wanted to let her head loll to the side. Maybe rest it on Gero's shoulder, to lean into his strength. She resisted the urge and actualy pushed him away, leading the way out of the room, and leaving Gero feeling baffled.

• • •

Caké laughed heartily as she "washed her flit." It had come into question just who was more wet, the girl or Snowflake. L'Talia sighed in exasperation, wishing she had thought to bring a second set of clothing for her.

"Don't worry, Tali. I had her bring towels for a reason," Gero said with a grin, sitting atop his dragon totally unmindful of his own wet attire. He was used to it. "As soon as she starts feeling cold, we'll take her home."

There was that name again. Why did it bother her so? Was it because only he called her Tali? No, she thought that maybe it was the way he said it. But that seemed silly... it was not as if he addressed her in such a way that her name sounded like an insult. Tali... I wish... I wish you wouldn't call me that. She was tempted to say it aloud, but she couldn't bring herself to. Because it would have been a lie, it would have hurt his feelings, and it was becoming more difficult for her to do that.

She slapped the water angrily, causing L'Olo'Nyo to jump. Why couldn't he be cruel, or at least a shauvenistic pig? She couldn't be angry with him this way, and anger fueled her from day to day. Whenever she was around him, she felt weak and helpless... but safe. Ugh, he makes my life so difficult! And yet, so very easy.

Above their heads, Xerbith's eyes crinkled and he laughed silently. Gero looked at him quizzically for a moment, but receiving no explanation went back to work as the dragon kept his focus trained on something (someone) else altogether. It was also so very easy to listen to her angry thoughts as she projected them so loudly to anyone in the vicinity who could listen. She was making her own life difficult, and for once, no one else was.

• • •

The day of the hatching came quickly. Xerbith was, along with several other anxious fathers, sitting with baited breath, leaning precariously over the ledge overlooking the sands, before more than a handful of humans had had a chance to arrive. His eyes whirled excitedly, eyes trained keenly on Riishinith and the eggs. At least one was rocking.

Gero and the others finally arrived, sitting in their seats watching as the eggs began to hatch. The first was very fortuitous indeed, a bronze-variant. While Gero explained the significance, several others broke shell, setting the pace for the rest of the event.

Throughout the hatching, Caké watched with great intensity. She tried to mimic the humming of the dragons, and most especially Snowflake's. The little blue often left her shoulder to spin around their heads gleefully. The excitement of the day, despite the bad weather, was too much for him to contain. When Gero pointed out Xerbith's pair of eggs, Caké found herself very interested in their fates. She missed several bondings just staring at those eggs, but always someone was pointing out this hatchling or that, distracting her from her vigil.

The next egg to break did so under the watchful eyes of Riishinith. She was bright. Very bright. She was, in fact, orange. The tiny hatchling was smaller than a standard green, but her finny crest made her seem larger than she really was. The cream swirls on her underbelly and sails made some Earth riders and travelers giggle about dreamcicles. The hatchling looked around the sands, toddling around on her proportionately short legs.

Between L'talia and G'taeo a small person squirmed. L'talia considered an admonishment, but the red-black flit on her shoulder cheeped, distracting her momentarily. With the speed that only intent children seemed to possess, Caké was away and halfway to the stairs. "Caké! Where do you think you're going?! There's a hydra down there!"

The girl looked back and with absolute clarity said "She needs me."
"I don't think so... come back here and sit down."
"Sezjaiiz needs me!" Caké protested.
Gero blinked. "Let her go Tali. Xerbith's daughter won't let any harm come to her bond." L'talia blinked twice, and sat down, stunned as the six year old flung herself down the stairs and onto the sands to embrace her orange-cream dragon.

In the wake of the bonding of the youngest rider ever at Ryslen, a vibrantly colored dragon burst from her shell and instantly drew attention to herself.

~Exerpt from Ryslen's 2003 Flurry, group 1

Gero was proud of Caké, immensely proud. Xerbith felt similarly; not only had the sweet little girl bonded, but she and his own daughter had found one another! Dragon and rider remained buoyed for the remainder of the hatching.

L'Talia, with an effort, remained in her seat until the very end, glad when finally the "last" hatchling announced that there would be no others today; she wanted to find Caké as soon as she could.

But that announcement also meant that there would be more Flurry hatchlings, many more. And as she had watched even her little Kay-kay make that connection with the little orange dragon, she had felt profoundly wistful. She was not exactly jealous, though. She had seen the looks of adoration pass between Caké and Sezjaiiz, and other pairs. She had felt similar emotions pass between herself and L'Olo'Nyo and recognized it. But this was different, somehow it went deeper, and she craved that ... completion. Gero had described it on occasion, and only since the hatching of her Red-Black flitter had she begun to understand.

She looked down at the winged youngster cradled in her lap, red-and-black strips of satin folded over and over itself, deflated with exhaustion, and smiled.

"Ready to go?"

L'Talia looked up. Gero was standing over her, amidst a sea of spectators. His little Brown sat watching them intently, almost with amusement. The hatching was over and everyone was leaving. She nodded and scooped L'Olo'Nyo into her arms as she rose to her feet. She glared at Vanhi, then walked down the stairs as Gero gestured for her to lead the way. She knew the way.

• • •

When they sighted them, Caké was laughing at her dragon, then hugged her, still wearing that sunny smile. She had seen that expression on Gero's face numerous times. Could she feel that good someday? If a dragon chose her, would she feel so happy that her grin would spread from ear to ear? She craved those feelings desperately. Without meaning to, she leaned against Gero for a brief instant, then approached the girl and her dragon. Somehow she had caught herself and made it seem totally natural, as if she were merely brushing past. She dared not release an abrupt, shocked intake of breath, but very slowly.

What was wrong with her? Lately she continually, viciously, fought for control and things were only getting worse. She was constantly at odds with herself. She was always disgusted with herself.

She did not want to let go, but she found that increasingly ... she really wanted to. She glanced up at Gero, who was looking at Caké with a smile almost as large as the girl's.

If I bond a dragon, will he smile at me like that?

She bit her tongue savagely and suppressed a grimace. With coppery saliva, she smiled at the newest dragon-draconar pair from Ryslen. "Hello, Kay-kay. Would you introduce us to this lovely girl you've found?"

Caké beamed, immensely pleased. L'Talia approved of Sezjaiiz. She hadn't before...she'd seemed almost angry. But that was typical for Nata, she supposed. It didn't matter because she was happy now. Nata seemed strange to her, but she dismissed it out of hand almost before it registered.

Still beaming, she introduced the Orange-Cream. "This. Is Sezjaiiz. She's a Orange-Cream," she said, tracing the creamy snowflake markings on her hide as she concentrated on what the Decurio had told her to say. It was already an unconscious gesture that the dragon liked, because it tickled. "And Sezjaiiz," she continued as the hatchling giggled, hiccuping and twitching, "this is Nata -- L'Talia. She's my auntie. And her flitter is L-Olo-Noyo." She had tried, but still couldn't say his name.

L'Talia grinned and said, "L'Olo'Nyo."

"L'Olo'Nyo."

L'Talia nodded and the girl grinned, pleased. "Nice to meet you, Sezjaiiz," she said, bending down to greet her. She set her three-digit hand on the hatchling's head, separating her thumb and fingers with the head-crest. So tiny, and yet...just right, she thought to herself. "Beautiful," she murmured, and the hatchling's eyes spun with pleasure.

"And this is Gero, with Vanhi on his shoulder. We live with Gero," Caké added.

Gero grimaced. "I'm afraid you'll be staying in the barracks, didn't D'lrik tell you?"

"What?!" L'Talia jumped to her feet, orange eyes wide and fearful, though the girl was obviously not surprised. She and Sezjaiiz knew. "You can't be serious. Can't Sezjaiiz stay with us?"

Gero shook his head and shrugged. "I'm afraid not, not until she's older."

"No...we can't just leave her. She's too young to be by herself." L'Talia shook her head and knelt on the floor, not quite collapsing, but close.

"Tali, they know that she's very young. She'll be very well-cared for, you have to trust that. They'll be fine!" L'Talia continued to shake her head, seeing nothing in particular. Caké and Sezjaiiz alternated between staring at one another worriedly, and passing their gazes between their elders. Gero sighed. "Look, I'll go ask if it's possible for you to stay in the barracks with them. I'm sure they can spare an extra cot." L'Talia nodded absently, tears in her eyes.

When the Yellow Draconar had left, Caké found herself comforting L'Talia, stroking her head like the woman may have done to her in a different situation. "It's okay, Nata," she repeated over and over, "it'll be okay."

L'Talia herself was silently making some important decisions. If she became a novo -- a candidate -- she would be staying in the barracks very near to Caké's. In many situations, she would have duties that overlapped with the girl's. Theoretically, she could remain a novo for as long as she wanted, or until she bonded a dragon. If she didn't, she could "give up" after Caké graduated to her own nidulus. Then they both could return home, and she wouldn't have to worry about the girl's safety any longer.

A determined smile spread across L'Talia's face as Caké watched, and she finally looked up at the girl. "Thank you, Kay-kay," she said, taking the girl into her arms. Caké returned the hug, rubbing her back with a child's worried deliberation. L'Talia seemed better, but who could know?

Presently Gero returned, walking alongside the Decurio. "G'taeo tells me you would like to stay in the Barracks with Caké. I've already talked with her about it, and she seemed all right."

Caké nodded. "Mmhm! I can do it, Nata! With Snowflake and Sezjaiiz, I won't ever be scared."

Sezjaiiz bobbed her head as well. I won't let anything happen to her, Nata. She's safe with me!

On Caké's shoulder, Snowflake cheeped, equally determined, flaring his diminutive wings in a display of aggression.

L'Talia smiled at the girl and her dragon indulgently. Somehow, Sezjaiiz' use of the name "Nata," though Caké's word, seemed to fit. She turned to D'lrik, her expression becoming more tentative. "Actually," she said softly, "I want to become a novo."

Gero's jaw dropped, nearly hitting the floor. "You...what?"

L'Talia nodded, gaining a little strength from his shock.

Beside her, Caké burst with excitement. She and Sezjaiiz danced about gleefully. "Then we could take care of our dragons together, and train together, and, and..." her voice faded into incoherence as her words slurred into energetic giggles.

That would be very fun, Nata! You should Stand at the next Flurry! You won't have to wait long.

"Would that be okay?"

Gero blinked, looking down at the floor for a brief time before nodding. It was an effort to wipe the surprise from his features, but it was certainly "okay." More than okay.

"All right," D'lrik said, "we'll need to get you Searched. G'taeo can arrange that." Gero nodded. "Do you still want to stay with her?"

L'Talia opened her mouth to answer, when she saw Caké and was captured her with pleading eyes. The girl shook her head, thinking in terms of sleepovers and adventure. She bit her lip with indecision. If anything happened to Caké, Cyna would have her head on a platter...

"Tali." L'Talia turned to Gero with a shiver, partly out of fear, partly in response to his voice. "Sezjaiiz can get a hold of us if there's anything wrong. Remember, she can tell Xerbith instantly if Caké needs us." He smiled encouragingly and nodded. She returned the nod only faintly.

"Why don't you take tonight to get your clothing and personal items together. Tomorrow we can get you searched officially," the Decurio said.

"Okay," L'Talia said, eyes still locked with Gero's. With an effort she broke away (D'lrik shaking his head, fighting an urge to roll his eyes), and looked at Caké. "You'll be all right?" The girl nodded, that same excited, smile plastered stubbornly to her face. She could have sworn Sezjaiiz was doing the same, in her own draconic way. L'Talia nodded and took a deep breath. "You'll have Sezjaiiz tell us the moment you need us?" Caké nodded, and her caretaker was at a loss. Was she suddenly no longer just that -- Caké's caretaker? That the girl no longer really needed L'Talia to feel safe? "Okay," she said, suddenly eager to leave.

Cyna's return