Gather-day Hero

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 6th September 2019

Characters: M'ked, Ciendra
Description: M'ked is Ciendra's hero...
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 7 of Turn 9
Notes: Backdated due LOA's and LIA's

M'ked ran his fingers through his hair to get rid of the worst of the
cap hair before slipping his arm around Ciendra. "It's cooler here
than at Dolphin Cove," he said, almost wishing he hadn't been so quick to discard his wherhide jacket.

"It is," Ciendra agreed and shook down her dark brown hair, she had
tied it up for the Flight. "Refreshing," she smiled. She quickly
finger combed it, her hair was straight variety and didn't get much of
tangles.

"I guess you could call it that," he said, trying to ignore the hairs
rising up on his arms. At least it gave him a reason to cuddle up
close. "So where are we again?"

"Beryl Plains Hold. I was doing transport duty and got tipped that
there's Gather here. To honour The Lady Holder's birthday if I got it
right," Ciendra replied.

"Well, at least we aren't alone," M'ked said as two more dragons
popped into the sky from /between/. He had learned that dragonriders
were not always welcome in every Hold on Gatherday.

"Come on," Ciendra tugged him along, eager to see the sights. It
didn't occur to her that they might be unwelcome. "Stalls first?" she
suggested. She wanted to look at the fabrics. She had enough marks
saved to commission her a new gather-dress. "I need to find a cloth
for a new dress. You can be the judge and tell me if the colour is
right."

"Sure," he said, allowing himself to be pulled along. The cloth
stalls weren't his favorite part of a Gather, but if it made her
happy, he was willing. "Let's hurry, though, because I smell meat
sticks!"

"Hungry already?"

"It's Gather food! How often do we get that?" He had made sure to
eat light for breakfast in anticipation of all the good food that
would be tempting him. "And don't forget the dancing. Hey, look! A
play!"

"And a juggler!" Ciendra just had to stop to see then man spin club in
the air. While they were watching, Ciendra felt someone touch her bag, where she kept her marks as well as collection of little things women couldn't go out without. "Hey! Thief!"

M'ked reacted instantly and was just able to catch the back of the
shirt of a young man quickly turning away to make a break for it.
"Come here, you," he growled in his most menacing voice as he pulled him back and whirled him around. Grabbing the pickpocket's tunic with both hands, he pulled him up onto his tip toes to look the dragonrider straight in the eye. "I've got a brown dragon who can eat whole bovine when he's hungry. I think a lad your size, you'd do for a
quick Gather Day snack. Unless you want me to introduce you to him,
you better return everything you took from this lady here, and then I
better not see your face for the rest of the day, you follow?"

"Y-yes, sir," the boy had paled and trembled. He promptly returned
Ciendra's marks.

M'ked's eyes narrowed as he held his captive fast for a moment longer, staring at him as if memorizing his face. "Pity. Shefrith would have liked you. Alright boy..." the brownrider released him, "run before I change my mind!" As the thief stumbled backwards, M'ked turned to Ciendra with a wink. "Obviously he needs more practice at his chosen trade!"

After being released, the boy disappeared into the crowd.

"That was so brave and thank you saving my marks," Ciendra said,
giving him an admiring look.

M'ked almost protested that it hardly took bravery to grab a boy half
his size, especially with a brown to back him up, but the look in her
eye made him rethink that idea. "Like I would let anyone take
anything from you," he said, standing a little straighter and wrapping
an arm around her middle.

Ciendra sighed happily and snuggled closer to him. She felt so safe there.

The brownrider smiled contentedly until he felt a rumble in his
stomach loud enough to be heard over the crowd. "I'm starving. Why
don't we follow that wonderful smell?"

"Sounds good, I'm getting hungry too," Ciendra agreed.

Last updated on the September 9th 2019

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