Spiderclaws

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 26th January 2018

Characters: Kapera, F'lin
Description: Kapera takes F'lin spiderclaw hunting
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 9

Kapera

The sky was clear and edging toward sunset when a pair of dragons flashed from /between/ over a remote stretch of coastline, their metallic-hued wings flashing in the clear light. Seneth followed as Riyanth led him down the coast, the sight of gold wings before him stirring something instinctive in his breast. The bronze added an extra flourish to his flight path and made sure to land neatly next to the queen dragon when she finally angled toward a rocky beach.

His rider slipped from his dragon's back and quickly undid Seneth's straps, slinging them over his shoulder as he approached Kapera and Riyanth. "It is pretty here. I can see why you come this way."

"I discovered it fairly early after I arrived here, when we did scouting flights to familiarize ourselves with the area," Kapera said to him. "The rocks and tidepools remind me of Windswept Islands, but it's got the Dolphin Cove tropical foliage and paler sand. It feels like a nice blend."

"It is nice." F'lin paused a moment to examine the little bay. It was shaped like a horseshoe with a pale sliver of sand right at the bend, and dark rocks where it met the sea. They had timed their visit to low tide and so the sand was out, exposing rocks festooned with green seaweed and shimmering pools that looked like mirrors. Spiderclaws were often caught in those tide pools, and he'd promised the goldrider a fisherman's feast. He slung his riding straps over the nearest branch, then held one of the two baskets he'd brought out to Kapera. "Feel like spiderclaw hunting?"

"Absolutely," she said, taking the basket. She slipped off her shoes and began to walk across the sand towards the pools, looking to see if she could find anything interesting along the way. Sometimes there were gorgeous shells.

The bronzerider followed in her wake, more interested in the woman than the seashore. He stopped to peer into tide pools but it wasn't until they were a bit further out that they were deep enough for spiderclaws. F'lin offered his hand to help Kapera over a slippery bit of rock. "Have you caught spiderclaws before?" he asked.

"I've gone fishing, and I have incidentally caught spiderclaws in the process if they get in the nets," she said.

"Then you're in for a treat." F'lin smiled. "They're a bit of a challenge, and from what little I know of you, you're a woman who is up for a challenge."

"You guessed correctly," she said, flashing him her best wicked grin in response. "So what do I need to know?"

"Avoid the claws," he deadpanned, then smiled. "There's a bit of a trick to catching them. It's probably easier if I show you." He led her over to a large pool and spent a moment squinting at the crevasses hidden beneath the rocks. He spotted a spiderclaw hiding in one, then knelt, and with a flick of his wrist pulled it from its hole and tossed it into his basket. "See?"

"I see," she said, though in honesty she'd been watching the curve of his rear and the deftness of his hand rather than exactly what he was doing.

The bronzerider sat back on his heels, studying the pool until he spotted another spiderclaw lurking under a rock. His hand shot out and he added a second to his basket. "I haven't done this since I was a kid."

"I'm impressed," she said as she watched. "So you don't take all the girls out to do this?"

"No, just the special ones," he said lightly. The truth was that since he'd Impressed, he hadn't taken much time for himself. He'd been too busy working toward his goal.

"I feel flattered, then," she said. A spiderclaw scuttled across the bottom of the tidepool. She darted her hand in for it and – nothing. "Aw," she said, as she pulled out her hand and shook it.

"Wait until they feel safe in a hole. They're nearly impossible to catch when they're scuttling around like that. Here..." F'lin demonstrated again, then helped Kapera catch a few herself.

Once their baskets were full, they retreated to the beach and gathered enough wood for a small fire. F'lin produced an iron pot and a bladder of water from Seneth's saddlebags and set about cooking. The pot went on the fire along with a handful of seasonings that made both of them sneeze. He threw in a few chopped up tubers and fingerroots he'd purloined from the kitchens, then he sat down to deal with the spiderclaws. "I wish we had more of these from the kitchens at the Weyr," he said as he set about rinsing their catch. "I can see why. They're a lot of work to feed a crowd, but I still miss them."

It had been easier to catch them once she saw what F'lin was doing. They were shy little things and he was right, if they were exposed they were much faster to escape. She found herself feeling triumphant when she succeeded at catching one. Even when she failed, sometimes she splashed herself and it was funny.

One of the things Windswept Islands did a lot of was seafood, and she'd spent some time in the kitchens before she Impressed to Riyanth. So she knew how to start cracking them and work on it.

"So much work, but the flesh is so delightful," she said. "So, what were those spices? The traditional Topaz ones you mentioned?"

He nodded. "Although you can find them most places. Spicy peppers, mustard seed, tasty leaves and a few warm spices and seeds." He winked at her. "I can't give away _all_ my Hold's secrets."

She laughed. "I understand."

"So what do you think? Do you like them?" he asked eagerly.

She tasted the first one that was done. The spices were warm and real and she could feel of burning on her tongue. "This is fantastic!" she said with real pleasure in her tone.

He grinned, relieved that she wasn't put off by the heat. "My Da used to make these sometimes when he'd come off the ships," F'lin said, plucking another one from the pot and cracking its shell. "We didn't eat spiderclaws much, though. My mother thought they were too much work for not enough of a meal. But I like them."

"I can see them being too much work for every day, but for a treat, it's worth it."

"What about you?" F'lin paused to throw the empty shell back into the waves. "Any favourite, finicky foods from home?"

She tried not to think about the Hold she'd been born at as home at all. And did Windswept Islands, or Dragonsfall, really have any special, finicky foods? None came to mind immediately.

"I can't really think of anything finicky. I just like sweet desserts in general. Or a good heat like this. Something to make the mouth feel good."

**I like the sound of that.** F'lin looked over at her, suddenly very aware of how close she sat and how alone they were. "Me too."

"Want to go raid the Baker Hall sometime? You'd be surprised how willing to discount their products they are when they see metallic rider knots, and of course there's oodles of fantastic things to buy."

"I'm always up for a good raid." His gaze lingered on the curve of her bare shoulder, thinking about how her skin might taste. "Especially when there's sweets involved."

She looked over at him, noticing how the setting sun was casting a golden glow over everything, and leaned closer. "I have some ideas for dessert after we finish these spiderclaws."

"I'm open to whatever you might suggest." F'lin plucked another spiderclaw from the pot and hurriedly cracked it. He was suddenly very motivated to finish them quickly.

She cracked open another spiderclaw and sucked the meat out of it, licking her lips to catch the juices and putting on a show. Yes, she had plans for how to show her gratitude for F'lin's fine cooking.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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Spiderclaws