Laka and the others had split up and moved through time and space, she was happy to cling to Utori on the back of brown-lightning Lioten as they swept into the sky. Laka's first real flight! She was slightly disappointed it wasn't with Felinruad, but then again, any dragon ride was well worth it to her! After only a few moments on the dragon's back, she looked down and her heart pounded hard.

"Can we go to the beach?" She asked, and Utori tried to give her a bit of a glance over his shoulder.

"What? Why?" He said.

"Oh - um, well never mind," Laka said, "don't worry. It's nothing."

So Laka and Utori went through the Nexus, where Laka's mind was able to finally relax a bit. There were minds there, emotions drifting around, but they were distant and she relished the calm it brought her.

They arrived to Xidaver isle on Alskyr shortly, bursting out into the sundrenched land and sweeping down over the Caer.

"This is Caer Hueek, where you'll be standing." Utori said, "so ... behave yourself, they're mostly humans here."

Laka stiffened and her ears went back. "You didn't say anything about that, I don't want to be around humans. Humans are bad."

"Not all of them are," Utori said, trying to keep her calm. "Especially the dragon riders, they're all actually really good people - with or without fur."

Because he was being completely honest, and trying his hardest to send 'nice' thoughts her way, she had to believe him. "Okay. But ... if they do anything I can defend myself, right?"

"It's not like before Planet Twenty," Utori said, "no - you can defend yourself if you feel threatened, but you need to know a threat before it's out of hand, not before it really IS a threat. Do you see the difference?"

It was kind of confusing to her, but she nodded. "I won't stun someone unless they really deserve it," she said.

Utori laughed, and said, "hang on, we're going to be landing now..." Just about then was when Laka started to feel the press of the minds around her again. But this time? They were mostly shielded, combined with their dragon bonds who kept many minds apart, though joined.

"How strange," she whispered. "This is wonderful! I can feel them but not get lost in them."

"That's what others have said, too, that bonding to a dragon helps your mind sort things out."

"That's a relief," Laka said. "I won't have to leave the tribe the way I did before..."

"Why would you leave?"

"Because I had to have some privacy somehow," Laka told him. "Oooh," she said, with such a pleading in her voice that Utori wondered what she saw. "Can we please go to that beach? I love the beach, it makes me feel safe and warm..."

"Okay - since we're here, that's all right I guess, do you want to be alone?"

"I would, actually, if you'll come and pick me up to take me to this Hueek place."

"I'll do that," Utori said. "So you have fun. Don't go too far, I want to be able to find you. And I'm not as good at your empathic tricks as you are, so just be ready to go again." Utori dropped her to the soft fine warm sand on the beach near the Cove, and flew off to announce her arrival (what there would be of it) to the caerlord and lady.

However his words actually affected her, Laka couldn't just stand there at the place she'd dropped from the dragon. She did have to wander, and that is what took her to a stall near a small village. The sounds of small animals came to her sensitive ears, as well as their scent. But they were strangely smelling, not even like the creatures that she'd had to get used to on Planet Twenty.

"... What are those?" She said, coming right up to the stall without thinking.

"What are YOU?" Asked the shop keeper, an older human male whose eyes grew large.

"I... Oh!" Laka said, "I'm sorry. I'm ... Laka. I am here to bond at Hueek," she told him. He wasn't afraid, just surprised - she could tell that much just from his body language, she didn't need to pry into his emotions for that.

"Well, Laka at Hueek, these here are called Chizatsa, they're pets." He gave her a sidelong glance, "you wouldn't by chance be wanting one to eat, would you?"

"... Um, well, that had crossed my mind," she said, "but if they're supposed to be pets I would love to see what they look like."

He showed off a number of them, and Laka's eyes brightened. "They are so cute! I don't know about having a pet... If I've learned one thing it's that my tribe would rather not starve..."

"Then get two," the shopkeep muttered, "all they do is breed."

"Really." Laka said. "Well that might come in handy... It's easier than hunting..."

She could tell that he was faintly offended but he himself had never really thought they were much more than cute bits of walking fluff. If they were nutritous, he didn't know.

"I would love to have them then, two would be good..." Laka said.

"Then that will be two copper and a bit," he said, fiddling with the cages she'd indicated.

"I... um, what's that?"

"You don't have money, do you," he said. Laka shook her head. "But you're to bond up at Hueek," she nodded when he asked. "Well then, bring me a piece of your dragons' shell - a good piece, something that can maybe take some scratching and carving. I'll take that in trade for two Chizatsa."

"You would?" Laka said, bouncing. "Then it's a deal. I promise."

He took out two of the small animals, who didn't seem as fearful of the predatory looking Laka as the shopkeep thought they might. Perhaps it was that they on Alskyr didn't really have much in the way of this kind of predator... And maybe that she was just a kid, and really wanted a pet.

As they skittered up her furry arms, causing her to giggle madly, the shopkeeper asked, "what will you name them?"

"I think, Copper and Bit!" Laka laughed.

They parted, as Laka saw Lioten in the sky near the beach. She went down to greet him, and he took her up to the Caer.

"Those are... cute."

"They're not food," Laka said, and Utori laughed.

Eventually, Laka got settled into a smallish dorm with a human girl as a companion. This was the first time she'd really been in contact with a Human on a longer term basis than a few minutes or a guard, in many years.

Because they were both candidates - though the girl would be leaving for another Caer sometime after the Hueek clutch, as she wasn't standing here- because they were both girls, and because they were both around the same age? They got along well enough. Plus, Laka had two Chizatsa, and that helped to keep their attention off their differences.

They learned how to bathe dragons, how to get their food ready for the hatchlings, and basics about mounting and dismounting. They studied a bit about anatomy and dragon disorders. Tactics would only come after they'd bonded, so that would have to wait now.

One evening, the hatching was called. It was after dinner, people were waddling around with full bellies and warm smiles. It was an ideal nightcap to this evening. Someone had been playing music, and even Laka wanted to join the dancing.

But she rushed in to the warm hatching dunes, with a scant trio of others. The girl she roomed with stood up in the stands watching with a big grin.

That grin faded, from both the human girl and Laka's face, as egg by egg the dragon hatchlings passed Laka by. It looked as though there were no further eggs. And so overwhelmed by the emotions of those who had bonded - as well as the new hatchlings - Laka failed to notice a slight background hope.

When the dam of the clutch, gold-green Teranaa dug up three more eggs! They were all beautiful but one of them particularly caught Laka's eye.

The brown, one whose skin showed a barklike pattern, like a tree, approached Laka carefully, almost hesitantly. I thought you would leave me! You didn't wait!

"I didn't know, Gataraa," Laka apologized. Her mind suddenly focused on the hatchling - everything was clear, but filtered through the eyes and mind of the dragonet.

It was true: she would be able to stay with the Tribe longer than ever. She knew there would be times when she'd just have to isolate herself, but the dragon's mind was strong, a barrier she appreciated. Gataraa was her safety net. She hugged the dragonet, and grinned up at her roomie - who was now going to be on her way, and the dragonet would be filling her space!

***

Gataraa bellowed fiercely, Get that lazy blue out of my way!

"Gataraa!" Laka shouted, "that's not polite! Sorry!" She got a good look at the face of the blue rider, who was not only a bit scared, but quite annoyed. Gataraa, you've got to stop being so ... so pissy!

I am not pissy, I am bigger than he and he needed to get out of my way!

When they landed, their sweeping ride looking over Hueek for any signs of Ants finished without incident, Laka took the riding gear off her dragoness and sent her to their caerlet. Then, she stomped out to the flight trainer's office.

"She's getting worse," Laka said. "I don't know what it is."

"I do," he said, quietly.

"Well?" Laka asked, relieved that he did, and slightly annoyed that he didn't just come out and say it.

"There will be a time, probably fairly soon, Laka, when your dragon is going to rise to mate. She, like most large queens, will want a good selection of males - and no females - around her for that."

Laka's eyes grew wide. "Oh." She said. "Oh."

"Yes. Oh. So for the moment, let's worry about your ability to teleport properly, and then once you're ready, you should probably head back home." He folded his fingers over each other, "because I doubt very much you'll be wanting to pick and choose among the riders here."

"I - well, no offence," she stammered, "but you're right... I didn't even realize..."

I did! You never asked!

Shut UP Gataraa! We'll go home, once you're good enough at portals.

There was a wave of relief from the dragoness, and a bit of a respite from the others in the Caer after that.

***

The training to learn how to control the teleport openings in space and time was dangerous, and Laka knew it. However, she and Gataraa were quick to learn, since Laka had been through one on her way to Alskyr.

Now we can find a mate! Cried Gataraa when they'd reached the Plateau. Laka was cold - but she was happy. She had taken her little breeding pair of Chisatza (long long after having traded in her dragon's egg - it was a good sized piece, and the shop keeper seemed happy to have something to work with) along with the few other posessions that she'd gotten over the eighteen months training time. Though they were still just a bit younger than many, Laka knew that now would be a good time to get home.

Copper and Bit seemed to like their new environment, on Planet Twenty. It was warm, with lots of grass to eat.

They bred twice before Laka and Gataraa had even left Alskyr, of course - but those had mostly escaped. Or been eaten.

Now, they were going to be helping out the tribe. Weren't they?

I don't know why you fuss so much over those little things. They're hardly a bite even for you.

I like them, they're still cute. And they're going to love being in their new home - at least now they can kind of run wherever they like.

And be eaten by whatever chases them, Gataraa pointed out.

Laka put them in a large cage, and kept her eye out for when Copper would bloat up pregnant...

Then they waited for the Furry Festival.