Spotted Hand - Cuhsoyi at Calyeni Caverns

Cuhsoyi was a bit nervous, as could be expected of one who had rarely enjoyed the presence of humanity in such close proximity. Indeed, Cuhsoyi was almost desperate for a way to remain apart from them. After the things that the others had been through, and the way that they would each sometimes share with her their intimate fears? She knew that humans were things of almost infinite pain and hatred.

But...

This place was distinctly different. Not one of the humans around tried to hurt her, and even when one young child had rushed by her and almost spilled something on her fur, he apologized on his way hurrying along. Imagine that, a human apologizing to a Kin?

That was almost unheard of. To Cuh, it was completely unknown. Humans wanted something, always. But then again, the Lions did too. They were so alike in that manner. She cleared her thoughts of such things, though, when the time came to bond.

The rain had not abated for days - it was just horribly wet. It was worse than the monsoon season at Planet Twenty, because at least in the monsoons? It was warm. So it was pretty miserable outside the place, and inside, it was getting damper and sloshier in places. Then came the dragon's hum - a mental one if only an abrupt sound from the sands came out.

"What is that?" Cuhsoyi asked of one of the other bonders. She shrugged her shoulders, and they went down to the sands. Apparently the other girl didn't hear the noise going on in the mental air. Cuh was attuned to it, it was obviously quite loud if she was just accidentally hearing it.

When she got to the sands, she realized it was not only the unhatched dragonets in their eggs, but the fully grown ones on the ledges and in the upper caverns making their mental racket. She didn't wish them to stop, though. In fact, it sounded so strangely comforting - triumphant even - that she wanted them to sing like the one low note she'd heard minutes before. How could she know that the mother of the nest didn't want that old world tradition continued?

When all was ready, and the eggs showed fine lines of cracks on their exteriors, the first egg broke open to show off a lovely gold colored female. She was almost assaulted by a "wher", one of the almost-dragons - guard beasts - that Cuh had seen around the place occasionally. They were ugly - but the gold? She was lovely. A vision.

A cream followed in her footsteps, with a green and a purple both being chosen to reside at other locales as resident ambassadors or something. That was an interesting idea, thought Cuhsoyi. It could make for good trade and relations.

The bronze that had come out with its siblings seemed to be quite the angry one. She - which was apparently odd, for bronzes were usually male - kicked at one egg, bonded, and then swiped at another egg sharply before leaving the sands.

It was from that egg - a sharp crack and it opened - that Cuhsoyi got her first look at what was to become her lifelong partner. The red-gold skin of this beautiful female was like flames, metal dancing over coals.

*** She shook her head regally, and looked up at her mother. Xiylandith nuzzled the little dragonet for a moment, and then nudged her towards the few bonders that were left. She carefully plodded along down the dune to the two females left, and warbled, looking them both in the eye. She closed her eyes, and sat down on her haunches, apparently waiting for something.

"Maaret, you needn't wait on me anymore." Cuhsoyi purred, smiling down at her bond. Nodding the little golden red hatchling turned to the crowd.

"Red and gold mix their paths, letting the colors fade into one. So this should be with everyone." She said, and turned back to her bond, who smiled down at her, not knowing what the little one meant.***

Cuhsoyi presumed that the dragonet knew something she didn't, about whatever the weyr needed most - cooperation.

And she took those words to heart, too. Perhaps ... humans might not all be bad?

Of course, Cuhsoyi hadn't yet met the Zekirans, either...

***

"You're getting much too big for me to wash by hand, Maaret," Cuhsoyi admitted when they had gotten back from their second week of flight training. The weyrling was big, she'd be considered a queen in many locations, but she was still more wise than she was big and strong. Or, for that matter, more wise than graceful. There was dirt and grass on the dragon's nose and forewings, from where she'd slipped in the rainslick landing area.

I did not think that this would be so difficult for you, my one, Maaret said. I will be cleaner next time, because I will not land that way again.

"I hope not... It was funny once, but you might hurt yourself if it happens too much. And what will people think if you come in for a landing at the Hand's dome or the Plateau and you nose into the wall?"

Maaret slung her head low, and purred, they will still know that I am a queen and that you are my rider.

Cuhsoyi laughed and continued to scrub her bond clean.

***from hatching***