A Sevenday Later

Animath's large; many faceted eye was the first thing Karrema saw the next morning. "Well good morning, love." Karrema yawned.

'I'm hungry,' Animath mewed.

"Okay my beauty," Karrema tossed back her sleeping furs and got out of bed. "Do you mind if I get dressed first?"

'Fine,' Animath grumbled. 'But please hurry,' Karrema giggled at her companion's annoyance and quickly dressed in old clothes suited for feeding, bathing and oiling a growing dragonet. "Okay Animath let's go,"

The small queen waddled down the stone ramp into the Weyr Bowl alongside her rider. Many of the younger weyrchildren ran about, playing in the spring sunshine. Three of them, two boys and a girl, stopped and stared at Karrema with wide awe-filled eyes. "Is that her Poldop?" the girl whispered to the taller of the two boys.

"It sure is, Disna." Poldop whispered back. The second, smaller boy had olive skin, oak brown hair and dark blue eyes that shone with a quiet intelligence. The way he watched Karrema made her feel uncomfortable. "Good morning," she said cheerfully as she passed them. Poldop and Disna froze with a look of fear on their faces. As they slowly backed away, Karrema expected the smaller boy to follow his friends, but he did not move, he just stood there watching Karrema.

"Karrema, I've got some food for Animath," S'lib called from the Weyrling Barracks where he sat with Keloth. The young brown was gulping down his own breakfast.

"Thanks S'lib," Karrema yawned, sitting next to the younger boy and began feeding her ravenous queen.

'Who is that little boy?' Animath trilled between gulps.

Karrema looked around in confusion. "What little boy, Animath?"

'The one over there,' Animath pointed with her tail to a spot about a dragon length away. Karrema was surprised to see the same small, olive skinned boy from earlier.

"S'lib, who is that?" Karrema gestured to the child watching them curiously.

S'lib glanced where she pointed. "Oh, that's Romas."

"Why haven't I seen him before?" Karrema knew all the Weyrchildren and this was the first time she had seen Romas.

"Farli found him sweep last night near the border with Bitra,"

Karrema felt a twinge of sympathy for the child. 'Invite him over' Animath chirped. Karrema nodded and got to her feet, then walked over to Romas. "Hi," she said with a smile. "You're name is Romas, right?" The boy looked up at her with round blue eyes and nodded slowly. "How old are you?" He held up four fingers, Karrema noticed his gaze return to Animath and Keloth. "Have you ever touched a dragon?" Romas shook his head. "Would you like to?" Romas' eyes danced with eagerness as he nodded vigorously. "Okay then, come with me." Karrema held out her hand. Romas studied it for a moment before clasping it in his own. "My name is Karrema."

They stopped beside Animath. The young queen regarded Romas with a calm gaze. "Scratch her eye ridge, Romas. All dragons love it." Romas held out a small hand, but couldn't quite reach the queen's head. 'Lower your head so he can scratch your eye ridge.' The dragonet obliged and purred with delight as the toddler gave her a good scratch.

"She likes it," Romas smiled, speaking for the first time. "Can I help feed her?"

"Sure," Karrema laughed. She handed him a chunk of meat, which Romas held out to Animath with both hands. 'Be careful not to bite him' Karrema cautioned her queen.

'I would never bite a child!' Animath replied indignantly. Blaze suddenly appeared above them, landed on Karrema's shoulder and mewled hungrily. "You are old enough to find your own breakfast, Blaze." Karrema scolded the gold fire-lizard for begging.

"Is the fire-lizard yours too?" Romas asked, awed.

"Yes, this greedy queen is mine," Karrema stroked Blaze fondly.

"You are so lucky," Romas sighed. "I wish I had a fire-lizard."

Karrema felt sympathy for the child. He was now in a place without a friend in the world. "I'll tell you what, when Blaze needs oiling I'll let you do the honors and I'll even let you help me with Animath," she patted her dragonet's neck.

Romas's eyes shone with happiness. "You mean it?"

"I swear on Animath's egg," Karrema smiled.

Farli appeared, strolling briskly toward them. "Romas there you are!" Romas looked up at the green rider. "He hasn't been bothering you has he, weyrwoman?"

Karrema felt herself blush, unaccustomed to being addressed in such a way. "Of course not, green rider. He looked lonely so I invited him to meet Animath,"

Farli smiled warmly at the small boy who was stroking Animath and smiling happily. "You know weyrwoman, I haven't seen Romas that happy since he arrived. If he isn't bothering you do you mind him tagging along?"

Romas looked up at Karrema with pleading, hopeful eyes. "Of course I don't mind," she chuckled lightly.

"Thank you weyrwoman Karrema," Romas bowed respectfully.