Pet or Clown?

Writers: Rochelle, Vix
Date Posted: 18th July 2007

Characters: Tatitem, K'sper
Description: Tatitem rescues K'sper from the attentions of her feline.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 4

"I really do need to get back to my weyr. Bentith will worry."

Tatitem turned the corner, and nearly tripped over the rider crouched on the floor. She bit back an irritated exclamation, and blinked when she heard the purr. Her feline Zip had apparently claimed another convert.

"You don't need to stay there because he wants you to." She told him, amused.

"But when I try to get away, he grabs me." K'sper demonstrated by withdrawing his hand from the small beast, wincing as Zip's claws dug into the back of his hand.

"Then just remove the claws. He'll take the hint if you're gentle." She knelt beside him and Zip with a grunt. Her knees weren't quite as young as she kept imagining them to be. Carefully, she disentangled the rider from her feline's claws as a demonstration. Zip promptly retaliated by rolling onto his back in his best -aren't-I-cute manner, and batted playfully at her skirt, purring loudly.

"My sister always had felines around when I was young," mentioned the brownrider, "though my mother complained each time she brought one home.
I'd have a pet of my own, but Bentith sees any living being smaller than him as food - except for humans, of course."

"Many dragons do." Tati observed. Fortunately her son's green had not, since she usually had Zip or Thief, if not a grandchild or other weyrbrat, following her about. "A shame really. Most people can benefit from having a pet. Or clown." She added, eyeing Zip as he batted at her skirt, the rider's ankle, and his own tail indiscriminately.

K'sper nodded as he watched the kitten at play. "Perhaps I should consider finding a pet, but only after talking it over with Bentith. Maybe if he helps in the choice he'll understand."

"He might prefer one that he can boss around, and not see as a threat. A canine, or flit." Tatitem said thoughtfully, turning the idea over. She'd never really thought about it before. "Felines are very independent and have minds of their own, which might be part of the problem." She observed, watching as Zip rolled to his feet, looking offended that she wasn't playing with him and had stopped the rider from doing so.

"Probably not a canine," mused the young man. "Bentith sees them as rather silly. As to flits - they really aren't as easy to come by here as near the coast, and I'm sure others need them more."

"That's true." She admitted. "But you are a dragonrider. If you decided you wanted a flit, you could always start checking beaches on restdays or something. Or talk to the weyrwoman and request to be considered next time there are eggs available."

"Maybe. I'll give it some thought and talk it over with Bentith, and if he feels that he wants a pet, maybe I'll do that."

"It's your decision. But if Bentith decides he doesn't want a pet, there are certainly more than enough of them wandering around the weyrs who would be willing to let you play with them." She observed, watching as Zip sidled up to the rider's boots, batting playfully at the laces.

"That might be a better choice," he told her as he lifted one foot slightly and moving it to make the laces wave before the feline. "At least then Bentith wouldn't get jealous."

"If he wants to get jealous, I'm sure he will." Taitem commented, watching Zip pounce delightedly on the dangling laces. "But you're more than welcome to play with Zip whenever you feel like it. Or more likely, whenever _he_ feels like it."

"I'll watch for him and play again." K'sper tried to move one foot. "I need to get on with my duties - if he'll let me go."

"Of course." She said promptly, and scooped Zip up mid-swipe. The cat squirmed in her arms, but she was too experienced to let him go. "I suggest you do so." She said wryly. "While I've got him. In the future if you decide to play with him, tucking your laces inside your boots and walking away normally works. He'll follow you for a while, but if you ignore him he'll find someone else to play with."

The brownrider nodded his understanding of what she said. "I'll remember that in the future." He started off at a brisk walk, turning and continuing to walk backwards as he called out, "And thanks!" Turning

Last updated on the July 18th 2007

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Pet or Clown?