Hunting Felines... (Dizzy Only)

[E]

Tschermak was crouched low behind the flowers that lined the building he was next to. Dressed in his usual coveralls and nothing else, the barefoot boy was eagerly watching the movements of an adult feline as he took his time to clean his paws. A small, slightly chubby hand held a wooden toy, a knife.

One might ask why this boy was here, knife in hand and watching someone’s bet so intensely. The truth was, the boy was merely playing. He had heard of the Helios’ feline hunt and thought he too could take down a feline, miss understanding that what they were hunting had been far larger.

[Dizzy]

The smell of the fellis blossoms from the trees towering overhead held little sweetness as the Weyrwoman walked along the paving stone pathway toward her weyr. Kyparla rubbed her temple, trying to massage away the beginnings of a massive headache. Speaking with the Headwoman and Fortin, the cook, usually had that effect on the redhead. The pair always fought it seemed, didn't matter about what really... Separate, they were amiable enough, but put them in the same room together and they found a reason, any reason to argue. It was worse than a dragon among wherries, twice as noisy. Today had not been different... if she could have, Kyparla would have talked to them separately about apprentices from Sodalis Weyr... but as it were she couldn't risk disrupting the Lower Caverns with that pair each crying favoritism. If she had spoken to Kezna first, Fortin would have been put out and the food for rider and weyrfolk alike would have been inedible for a sevenday... Fortin then Kezna... her displeasure would have been just as painful.

Letting out a sigh, the woman rounded the corner... another block... a few more weyrs and she would be in the cool of her own, able to enjoy the comfort of Savath's company and perhaps the purloined meatrolls she had grabbed from the kitchen before leaving.

Looking up, drawn from her thoughts the gold rider noticed a small boy hiding next to L'nuo's weyr. Arching a brow, a smile curving her lips, the small woman stopped and remained quiet... curiosity causing her eyes to flash a bright green. 'What is he up to now? In trouble again and trying to hide from punishment?' Kyparla had yet to notice the feline.

[E]

Tschermak did not notice the woman approaching he was so content on the feline. It was rare that the boy could remained so focused on one thing and quiet for so long, but he was managing it now as he slowly tensed. With a quick, deep breath he leapt out of the flowers at the cat.

The cat noticed too late as the boy landed on top of it, trying to grab it with one hand and still hold the knife in the other. It wasn’t going to happen, however, as the cat instantly wriggled trying to break free. In a mass of boy and fur the two wrestled for some time with much complain from the feline and the wooden knife quickly being discarded as the boy decided protecting himself from the claws was more important than getting a feline.

It was not long before the cat broke free and wasted no time in leaving the scene as the boy lay curled in a ball in the middle of the path not sure if he wanted to stay still or get up and run like the feline had. The encounter had been a lot scarier than he had thought it would be.

[Dizzy]

Kyparla watched the boy for several moments, trying to figure out just what he was up to. The smile never left her face, although her eyes took on a distant look. Thoughts of the unborn in her womb edged into the fringes of her mind. Boy or girl? Would he be as charming as the child in front of her? What would he look like? It had been only a sevenday give or take that she had felt the babe move within her… the quickening that her mother and the birthing women had spoken of so many times…

Startled by the boy’s sudden movement, Kyparla stepped forward… it was only then that she saw the large feline lounging on the warm paving stones. “Oh no…”

The boy’s plan became so clear in that split second…hiding, waiting, and the wooden knife. Quickly, the gold rider went to the little boy’s aide, a ball of ice gathered in the pit of her stomach as she watched the boy and feline turn into a ball of fur and flesh. Everything happened so fast; the feline was free before she made it to the child.

A cold blast of air hit around the redhead, Rico with eyes whirling red/violet with worry and anger creeled out. Perceiving the feline as the source of his mistress’ distress he took after the large male, diving toward him with talons extended as they rounded a corner and went out of site. Kyparla ducked, her eyes following the bronze firelizard only momentarily. “Shards and Shells.” The small woman muttered under her breath as she dropped to her knees and laid a hand on the child’s shoulder, in a sweet voice… trying to hide the mirth at the ridiculousness of the situation, “Tschermak, you aren‘t hurt are you?”

[E]

Just as the scratches on his cheek and hand were beginning to sting, Tschermak decided he didn’t want to be hunting felines any more. Before he could get up, however, he found a hand on his shoulder and a voice behind him. Jumping, he uncurled from his ball and looked over his shoulder to find the pretty red-head that L’nuo had him ask to dance. Quickly he stood and wiped a single tear away as he smiled up at her.

“Y-yes ma’am… I mean, No ma’am.” He said realizing her question after he had answered it. Not sure what else there was to say, he brought his hand up to his mouth, sticking the back of it where he had been scratched in his mouth as he looked around for his toy knife.

[Dizzy]

I like him, came a sleepy voice.

So do I... what woke you? A hint of apprehension entered Kyparla's thoughts, Savath was returning to a good color and humor after so long spent on the hatching sands... but still she needed her rest.

{b]Rico, he was... upset[/b] Mirth colored the gold's mind voice.... she had been able to interpret the little one's images... He is brave.... and will be alright... you worry too much.

The redhead ignored her gold’s comment about worry… I would say more than up set... Is he still chasing that poor creature... it really wasn't the feline's fault.

I think it got away... If the dragon could have laughed she would have…

Kyparla, chuckling under her breath, divined what the child was looking for and picked up the toy knife... It hadn't fallen that far from the lad... wasn't far from her knees She couldn't help musing to herself, 'So much like Zaza...' Holding the wooden toy out to the blond, she touched his cheek with her other hand, wiping the blood off. It wasn't that deep of a scratch but it had to hurt. Numbweed would help... "You're such a braw fine lad to take on that big of a feline... And not to cry from your injuries… so braw. Can you let me see your hand?"

During her inspection of Mak's cheek, Rico had reappeared and landed on her shoulder. His eyes still whirling reds and oranges, the small bronze peered over Kyparla inspecting the boy as well.

[E]

Taking the knife, Tschermak watched wide-eyed as a bronze flit appeared on the woman’s shoulder. A flit… The touch of her hand wiping the blood away, however, shook him from the half formed though as he pulled back in surprise at the sting. Hearing her soft words, however, he was reassured enough to offer his hand when asked.

Returning his eyes to the flit, he tried to remember what he had been thinking. Then it came to him. A flit… A tooth… A string… Excited, he quickly stuffed his knife in the front pocket of his overalls and pulled out a small piece of twine; a piece he had spent hours two days before searching for. He did not explain himself, having forgotten completely the woman and his hand as he looked at the bronze flit wondering how he was going to get the twine around it before it disappeared like so many others had.

[Dizzy]

Setting back on her legs, Kyparla watched the lad for a moment, grinning. 'What could he be thinking? What is he up to?'

Rico, curiosity getting the better or him, walked down the woman's arm. The small firelizard spread his wings for balance and wrapped his tail around her forearm. With a croon, he nosed closer to the small pet.

[E]

Never taking his eyes off the little bronze flit, the little boy fumbled with the string in his hands, attempting to tie a loop. You'd never imagine how difficult it was for a six turn old to tie such a difficult thing without looking down at it and trying hard as he could not to move his hands enough to be noticeable. It was a trick to be sure!

Finally managing what felt like a look in his hands, Tschermak stiffened as he realized just how much closer the flit had got. A slight smile curled at his lips as the boy forgot the woman who the flit was perched on and jumped out at the poor bronze creature, trying to get the loop around his neck...

[Dizzy]

Rico let out a startled chirp and went between. The sudden move caused the redhead to curse under her breath as rico left talon marks on her arm. She tried to catch the small boy as they both fell...

[E]

Tschermak let his brow furrow as the flit disappeared like so many others had. After watching the empty spot for a moment, he realized he had fallen upon the red-haired woman who had been looking at his scratches only a moment before. Quickly he shuffled off and took a few steps backwards, placing his hands behind his back to hide the string as his gaze fell to his feet that dug in the dirt as he stammered an apology.

?S-sorry Ma.? He muttered to her before looking back at her to see if she was angry or not. Not only had he knocked her over, but he had managed to scare her flit away too. Rubbing his cheek which was stinging slightly, he winced away at his own touch as he watched her and dropped his hand again.

(("ma" is his version of Ma-am... I felt like being an ass and throwing that in to see Kyparla's reaction.))