Chapter 4
The next morning, Cassie was in an even more jovial mood than usual. And it didn't take long for those who knew her . . . and some who didn't, to start asking questions. However, she wasn't ready to divulge all of what happened the night before as she continued to walk with her head held high and tail swishing back and forth rapidly like a hatchling. It was only when she got to the library and met with her best friend, a Styracosaurus and fellow scholar named Lihkela, that she started to talk.
". . . and then when he was mating with me, I felt the most incredible sensation that could ever be felt!" she boasted. "Almost like having many humans massaging every possible part of your body perfectly." Lihkela pulled her aside and led her down a corridor where they were sure no one could hear them.
"So who was the lucky stud Castra?" she asked quietly. Lihkela knew that gossip, especially about mating, could ruin the reputation of a saurian. Since they were both pretty well-known, they had to keep it among themselves.
"The younger son of Pilan and Daanor," replied Cassie. Lihkela couldn't believe it . . . she knew all of them very well.
"Kal-rix?!?" was all the styracosaur could mutter. Cassie nodded and proceeded to tell her every last detail of the evening, right down to when they were mating. Just as she finished, a voice said, "Castra, I am very displeased that you would do something like this without telling me about him first." They both turned to see Bix walking towards them at a brisk pace. She excused Lihkela and beckoned Cassie to come with her back to their place in the Ceratopsian Quarters.
Neither one said a word on the walk back so they could think of what to say to each other when the time came. When they got back to the apartment and the door was closed, Bix stamped her foot hard on the wooden speaking platform in the middle of the room. She was obviously upset by the revelation in the library.
"I don't understand why you would want to mate with somebody you barely know," she said sternly, "but the fact that you actually went ahead and did it makes absolutely no sense at all. How could you be so selfish Castra?" Cassie hung her head briefly but then raised up to address her mother.
"I'm sure you were thinking the same thing when you met my father . . . so how could you make an accusation like that? Can't you see how empty my life is right now? Sure I'm going along well with my studies and . . ."
". . . And you should continue to focus entirely on them and not worry about Kalrix." There was something about that last statement that infuriated the younger Protoceratops as she took great exception. Bix was surprised that she would lash out like that, but she was prepared.
"I really don't want to do this, but you are forbidden from seeing Kalrix for now. I know Daanor very well and I know that she doesn't want this to disgrace her name and family as much as I do with our family." Cassie couldn't believe this.
"But Mother, I love him!!!" she bellowed, "If I can't see him, then I might as well live alone in the Rainy Basin for the rest of my life! You don't get it, do you?" This exchange continued on several minutes with Cassie desperately pleading with Bix to let her see Kalrix, but she wouldn't change her mind. Finally, the daughter stormed out of the building, crying as she would if she found out that he had been killed.
The next morning, Cassie was in an even more jovial mood than usual. And it didn't take long for those who knew her . . . and some who didn't, to start asking questions. However, she wasn't ready to divulge all of what happened the night before as she continued to walk with her head held high and tail swishing back and forth rapidly like a hatchling. It was only when she got to the library and met with her best friend, a Styracosaurus and fellow scholar named Lihkela, that she started to talk.
". . . and then when he was mating with me, I felt the most incredible sensation that could ever be felt!" she boasted. "Almost like having many humans massaging every possible part of your body perfectly." Lihkela pulled her aside and led her down a corridor where they were sure no one could hear them.
"So who was the lucky stud Castra?" she asked quietly. Lihkela knew that gossip, especially about mating, could ruin the reputation of a saurian. Since they were both pretty well-known, they had to keep it among themselves.
"The younger son of Pilan and Daanor," replied Cassie. Lihkela couldn't believe it . . . she knew all of them very well.
"Kal-rix?!?" was all the styracosaur could mutter. Cassie nodded and proceeded to tell her every last detail of the evening, right down to when they were mating. Just as she finished, a voice said, "Castra, I am very displeased that you would do something like this without telling me about him first." They both turned to see Bix walking towards them at a brisk pace. She excused Lihkela and beckoned Cassie to come with her back to their place in the Ceratopsian Quarters.
Neither one said a word on the walk back so they could think of what to say to each other when the time came. When they got back to the apartment and the door was closed, Bix stamped her foot hard on the wooden speaking platform in the middle of the room. She was obviously upset by the revelation in the library.
"I don't understand why you would want to mate with somebody you barely know," she said sternly, "but the fact that you actually went ahead and did it makes absolutely no sense at all. How could you be so selfish Castra?" Cassie hung her head briefly but then raised up to address her mother.
"I'm sure you were thinking the same thing when you met my father . . . so how could you make an accusation like that? Can't you see how empty my life is right now? Sure I'm going along well with my studies and . . ."
". . . And you should continue to focus entirely on them and not worry about Kalrix." There was something about that last statement that infuriated the younger Protoceratops as she took great exception. Bix was surprised that she would lash out like that, but she was prepared.
"I really don't want to do this, but you are forbidden from seeing Kalrix for now. I know Daanor very well and I know that she doesn't want this to disgrace her name and family as much as I do with our family." Cassie couldn't believe this.
"But Mother, I love him!!!" she bellowed, "If I can't see him, then I might as well live alone in the Rainy Basin for the rest of my life! You don't get it, do you?" This exchange continued on several minutes with Cassie desperately pleading with Bix to let her see Kalrix, but she wouldn't change her mind. Finally, the daughter stormed out of the building, crying as she would if she found out that he had been killed.