Welcome to Gaia! ::

Age: 19 20
Appearance:
Despite being 5'11", Natai still can be called a 'thin wisp of a girl' and have it be believable. She is all arms and legs, long and slim, with long (think up a new word) delicate artists fingers. In terms of 'feminine curves', Natai posseses the dip of a waist, the slightest swell of the hips, and -- well, if people are looking for a busty goldrider, they ought to look elsewhere. Let's call her statuesque. The only thing round about her is her face; Natais cheeks are apple-round and high, her face shape round with full lips that lights up her face when she smiles, her nose flat that rounds to a button tip. After her wedding was called off, Natai shaved her head save for the barest of stubble - she prefers it this way but Manan liked it long. Her skin is very dark, bordering on black, and her eyes match.

She prefers skirts to pants and loose shirts to tunics. They are often blues and pinks, with the occasional dabble of orange and red. Natai enjoys colors and tries to wear patterns as well. She is not a loud girl so her clothing ought to be. Shoes range from sandals to sensible boots, depending on the chore, but she gravitates towards the loose sandals for comforts sake.

Personality: First thing first: Natai is content. She grew up in the same hold town as her grandparents and while it’s boring with absolutely no adventure, it’s a place full of nice people and bright smiles. So what if the highlight of her turn is doing the inventory and accounting for her families marks for the turn. It isn’t a bad life by any stretch of the imagination and had she a romantic inclination towards any of the men in her Hold, chances are high she’d have married a year or so back and stayed there forever. While fate did not push her in that direction, Natai has no desire to go tromping around exploring things in huge boots and cutting her way through vines. That goes hand in hand with her desire for happiness. Natai doesn’t need to get out, she doesn’t need to go off and have adventures. She wants to marry a man she cares about and have a few kids, a good life, a stable and fulfilling life, and she never regretted agreeing to marry Manan. He being a trader and a pre-made kid came as a complete bonus. Sure, she isn’t in love with the man but they’re great friends and he’s a wonderful person and Matai loves her – which leaves the guilt of leaving him and his father. She takes some comfort in knowing he’s still small and will still have a good life.

Being curious and content is a bit of a problem, though. Natai wanted to – wants to – know absolutely everything about the world. It can come from books or songs or firsthand experience, but the not knowing is what keeps her up late at night poring through scrolls the traders bring in and part of the reason she proposed to Manan to begin with. It makes her a bit of an odd duck in her Hold town but no one thinks her shameful or silly so she is generally left to her own academic devices.

The town as a whole tolerates her and she has her friends but that isn’t the same as acceptance, not by a long shot. One must learn to be sneaky, to be smarter than the others and subtle to boot. Natai is a clever little thing, especially with small puzzles and riddles, things to please a toddler and a seven year old, twisting words and changing direction with adults and children alike to placate and keep her out of hot water. Although she has no training as a Harper (nor does she really want any) Natai can come up with simple little songs without any real structure (and slightly off key). It entertains the kiddies, okay? She wouldn’t define herself as manipulative, really, but she always has a mask on for the public at large, keeping her true feelings and reactions behind a smile. It’s easier than to let things get to her and bottling up her emotions helps her get through her day of contentment. Being sweet and gentle and kind comes naturally for some girls but Natai is not one of them. She has to put forth considerable effort to keep her own selfish motives and catty snark to herself.

She wants to be kind and tender and soft hearted and gets rather disgruntled when she has to bite back a sharp remark. When it comes to her family, she is honestly loving and generous. Her mask falls and she is able to relax and quip without feeling as if she needs to be on guard when around siblings, parents, nieces and nephews. Her adopted son and littlest sister get the brunt of this affection more than any other, Natai going out of her way to keep them entertained and happy. She honestly loves Matai as her own child.

But for her the ends usually justify the means. ‘Usually’ is the key word there. Natai manipulates – she’ll change the world to be what she needs it to be, but she won’t go around murdering for it. It’s not difficult to see the bigger picture as she is a ‘long term’ girl herself. Being able to plan for a life beyond the immediate is a sign of higher intelligence. All of it makes sense – planning for the future and executing it to the best of one’s ability. It’s awesome, it’s foresight. Really, though, blood and guts? She has her own plans and none of them involve murder. Some people can’t do anything without their fists but Natai vastly prefers her own cleverness to anything else.

Compartmentalizing can be an issue; it allows Natai to put aside her personal feelings and handle business as an adult and ultimately a dragon rider but it also means she needs to bury away her feelings for a longtime friend and his son in favor of Iachixth. She likes to think she regrets nothing but… even for the moves a person makes in their life for the better can still leave a bittersweet ‘what if’ thought in the back of their mind. Her decisions stem from her own sort of logic in an attempt to be like a Vulcan. She falls short of her goal as mortals are wont to do but in the end strides to keep with logic and what is for the best rather than throw herself face first into emotions.

Flaws: Manipulative (though she means well), self-absorbed, meddlesome, compartmentalizes

Virtues: Sees the big picture, nonjudgmental, opportunistic, practical, steady

Other: Natai is a non-combatant. She does not physically fight and does not advocating fighting outside of protecting yourself and those you love. Even then, if blood can be avoided, she would do so. As such, screaming and violence gets nothing but a smile or her withdrawing from the situation. She doesn't know how to fight and will easily be overpowered if someone gets their hands on her.




Pictures:
Steampunk! by Pulp
Baby Natai and Matai, art by moi
No wedding? Natai and Rodine, Art by moi

HISTORY

Natai was born the middle child of seven children. The older ones were Naat, Tai, and Ronni, the younger three being Dinna, Rodine, and Nana. Each were born two years apart save for little Nana; she came around when Natai was twelve (but that is further down in the story).

Her mother came from a long line of butchers and her father farm crafters, both families well established in the moderately sized Hold town. Her father left his family’s farm to live in town with her when they wed, taking over the household and various animals they owned. Her family, like the rest of their hold, felt content with their lot in life and expected their children to feel the same. For the most part, they were correct; Naat, Tai, and Rondi loved working on the far even by the time Natai came around, apprenticing to smiths and farmers. Tai developed quite the talent for weaving. Not so much with Natai.

By the time their mother became pregnant with Dinna, Natai's favorite past time came in the form of the question 'why?' She constantly asked questions about the world around her, from the books to the grass with the bugs. When she was nine, it got to the point where she had to start learning something outside of basic reading and math. Her attention wandered from the surrounding natural world to the people around her; they had certain tics, little tells that showed what they were thinking or how they were going to ask about. She did her best to copy them when a temper tantrum turned to parental disapproval, preferring praise to punishment. It soon became clear to her parents that Natai excelled more in the mind than the body. Despite her mother the butcher and her father the farmer, she grew up slim and physically… not buff. Luckily for her, they were the awesome sort of parents who encouraged their children and so they threw her at the Harper in the hold town and the gardens.

She learned books and number, how to do the inventory and balance profit vs. loss. She knew how much meat a herd beast gave and thus its value. Her father taught her weeds and how to grow things. Natai liked being useful. She learned and practiced what she knew. By thirteen, Mother put her in full control of the family’s personal garden and the book-keeping (no one else liked doing it anyway).

Twice a year, she took stock of the animals by the house and the amount they’d put through the shop, accounted the money, and with her parents she helped allot the leftover money for the upcoming half turn. She helped watch Nana when the girl was young and stayed far out of the kitchen; for all her talents, Natai failed at cooking, sewing, and washing windows. Things burned, turned out spoiled, were sewn in crooked lines, and streaks were left. Her parents (and the rest of her family) were content to leave the bookkeeping to her. When Natai was twelve, Mother had her seventh and final child, Nana. Natai took over helping with the young girl despite one or two misgivings, most notably how one managed to tame a child without holding it up by its foot or some such.

Natai took to the babysitting like a duck to water. She found Nana to be quick and without judgment about the world, happy to be around and smiling. She adored Nana. With Nana in tow, the two scampered about the Hold doing odd jobs for their mother, taking in the rest of the town and meeting people. Through Nana Natai learned how to barter and put her entire life into motion.

One day the little girl scampered off while they were supposed to be taking care of the family garden. A bright hot day filled with flittering bugs and wide-brimmed hats with no shoes. Newly-fifteen Natai took it upon herself to clear the entire plot of root vegetables of weeds and asked dirt-streaked three year old Nana to go and get her some water. No answer from the usually chatty toddler. Natai looked up from the weeds and saw no messy, sticky handed sister. She panicked and headed off to find her without changing or putting on proper shoes, though she did her best to keep the fear hidden away inside.

It didn't take too long to find the little girl. The world is a very large place and she tired easily once away from her busy job in the plot of dirt. Natai found Nana eyeing up a merchants wares on the edge of the traders row, her pigtails lopsided from thoughtful pulling and eyes wide. The trader had toys and candies, along with a seventeen year old son talking to the little girl in a kind voice. Natai snatched her up and started to scold the girl. It somehow ended up in her bartering for a rather nice doll.

Manan laughed and called it a courting present. Natai turned him down cold. He brought her some food that late afternoon anyway and, through a mish mash jumble of odd jokes and talks about their lives, Manan and Natai became friends over the course of that first seven day. A friendship bloomed with the slightest hint of one day becoming romantic though both of them concentrated more on the friend aspect of it. He acted differently than most of the town, laughed a bit more freely and spoke with an inflection she'd not heard before outside of the traders they had drifting in and out.

At the end of his little trip, he gave her a wooden puzzle box, said he would be back in half a turn - two seasons - and she should have it finished by the time he got back to the Hold. She kissed him on the cheek.

Life continued. Natai started to court, some more serious than others, and she eventually realized they were incredibly boring. Not to say they weren't lovely men with good heads on their shoulders or that they didn't have muscles the size of her head. They were, they did. They were simply the same old thing, the boys she grew up with and didn't really see as husband material. All of them felt more like brothers and old friends. She couldn't really like any of them.

Half a turn later, she finished the puzzle box and Manan returned. He brought new treats to barter with and tales of where he and his father had gone off to. Natai fell in love with the stories instead of the man, though he was very nice too. The young trader was more than happy to tell her what he knew of the outside world, trading books for food and gossip on what her neighbors were really looking for, how much they were probably willing to spend.

He left again after two seven days, telling her a riddle this time. She kissed his cheek again.

Two more visits over the next turn, a visit each four to six months. They spent most of the visits together when they weren't working in the respective family businesses. He made her laugh and restless all at the same time, twitchy and wanting to see the things he told her about. Then he gave her a riddle or a puzzle and she kissed him on the cheek. After the fifth visit, he failed to return. The puzzle sat on her dresser, gathering dust, and finally his father reappeared with new things to barter and tales of the places and-- Natai interrupted him while being as politely as she knew how to. Where was Manan?

His father laughed and said in a voice much too amused, "He got a woman pregnant at another Hold and her father was most displeased with an attempt to leave."

Natai could only blink at him and walk away. She'd never been so rude in his life but he'd just punched her in the chest with his words. They'd only been friends, never discussed anything more, and she didn't feel all gooey-lovely towards him like she saw her other friends doing to other boys. But... they'd been friends. Manan lived as a way to experience new things and his visits were something she always looked forward to. It hurt.

She stayed to her home and the butcher shop for a week straight and then bucked up, put her chin in the air, and went back to her life as before. She started seeing a local boy rather seriously and thought him to propose when Manan returned, a young child in his arms and bags under his eyes. His wife became sick and passed away shortly after the child’s birth and... and could she suggest someone to help?

They struck a deal: she would take care of the child for a turn while Manan returned to trading to rebuild his accounts and at the end of the turn, there would be a wedding. He agreed to bring her with him on his travels (rather enthusiastically, the road could be boring) although she wanted to return home should she ever become pregnant herself. He left her with the baby and she kissed his cheek.

She'd not counted on adoring that silly baby. He screamed and wailed for the first few months without his father, already about six months old himself, little fists in the air and face red and purple each night. Natai did not really adore him at that point in time. Mother taught her things and, eventually, life turned to something along the lines of normal.

Wake up before dawn, feed baby, bathe baby, dress baby. Strap baby to back, work outside under a little umbrella. Feed, bathe, change. Play with baby. Feed, bathe, put to sleep. Wake up in the middle of the night for another feeding. She liked it. She liked him. And eventually he started to call her his mother.

That brings us to the wedding. Manan returned and received a kiss on the lips. He traded in town, she stayed in her mother’s home, and on their wedding morning, a cart rolled into town.

Lost In The Echo Natai/Kindra/Bereck and dragons! First Impressions... they didn't go well.
Some Nights N'mol and Natai. Uh. This also did not go well.
Black Friday Rule S'dekai and Natai! In progress.
Mobile Lessons Weyrlingmaster Mercy and Natai! This, luckily, goes well.
A First Meeting! Narisa and Natai talk wine, Iachixth and Cephieth talk flying!
girl Power Kleos and Natai
Play Among The stars: Anali and Natai meet. Things go... surprisingly well.
Gold Diggers: Both sides hit up Natai's Hold. Fighting starts and they flee.
Lionheart: S'dekai comes to join Natai in the Weyrhold
For a brand new world RP with Z'fer discussing Things Of Importance
Preview RP with Becka, Bereck, Natai, and dragons - Becka coming to see Weyrhold
In The Dark Of The Night RP with Musk/Mustela where Iachixth is loud



X: See, once Natai was engaged... and then dragon.
X: Natai apparently talks to herself in her journal and this is her frustrated 'well, why can't I?!' and badly written list full of curiousness.
X: Natai and Iachixth scamper off for a long weekend exploring with a map and find a few possible locations
X: Iachixth and Natai between practice and discuss the spots - narrowed to two, and talking about the pros and cons. They fall asleep eventually.
X: Natai and Iachixth unconciously making their final choice of a spot for the Weyrhold. They flee the fighting at Natai's Hold, Iachixth betweens to the place they think of as their 'new home'.
X: Letters back and forth between Mother and Natai where Natai discusses the ideas for her Weyrhold and X: Natai's first draft of the manifest. In my head it's covered with scritches and scrabbles but she lays out the motto, stance on atyps, confirms that Weyrleader will be the three of popular vote, and Euclids stance on violence and the Revolution.

Early to bed, early to rise made a family happily thrive.

The butcher shop in the center of the little hold town lived by that motto. Some years ago, Tai took needle and thread to the phrase into a bit of fancy cloth for Mother to hang on the door. Tai since married and pieced together other things such as socks and shirts but Mother always had soft eyes for their family saying. She touched one faded corner when times became rough for the family, money thin, children growing up and moving out.

Mother smiled at it the morning of her middle child’s wedding as they cooked and little did she know that life would change more than anyone ever imagined. Rounded from seven children and gray for the same reason, Mother bustled around the kitchen completely unhindered. Dinna, seventeen, newly wed and heavy with her first child lumbered like a bear - a grumpy one. Mother put her to work dicing vegetables for the wedding feast. Tai washed the pans, Rodine iced the cake, and Natai decorated the smaller pastries. The icing came out crooked and the lines inconsistent but a bride could only help so much in a white shift and her hair up in large curlers. Mother supervised and cooked the meat - great slabs of it slathered with spices, low smoked slices gleaming with fat, caprine ribs marinated in a sweet sauce. The profits for the year would be slim but at least today everyone would feast.

Mother did not like to do things halfway and she'd be bidding farewell to a daughter at the next sunrise.

She brought a cleaver down with a thud. Nearly two year old Matai squirmed in his high chair, fist in his mouth and fat cheeks covered in meat fat. He mumbled "Mimi?" around his hand, green eyes wide. Natai looked up as well, her eyebrows arched.

"Mother?" She took the opportunity to shove a bite-sized pastry into her mouth. Her wedding day and she fit into her dress, so she decided to shaffit it and eat what she wanted. ... As long as Mother didn't know. To her left, Dinna snickered. "Are you going to cry again?"

"Yes," said Mother, sounding fierce. She scowled at the meat, face red. "Of course I will. You're my baby and leaving ."

"To be fair, she's been crying for a turn," said Tai, up to her elbows in bubbles. Her season old baby gurgled from its pack on her back, bright white hair poking up in all directions. "Ever since you made that silly deal."

"I discussed it first. Manan is very nice, thank you, and trader men don't know how to watch babies."

"Especially grieving ones," Added Dinna. "I can't blame him or you. You've always complained over not seeing things. It's not as if you aren't friends with him." Fond exasperation didn't voice the unspoken 'though I don't know why ', though they all knew it to be there. Natai didn't have it in her to correct Dinna; she didn't speak anything but the truth. "And he is a lovely child."

"He is, isn't he?" Natai pinched off a bit of pastry and walked to Matai. Though he came to her already a year old, he called her Mama and she kept him as son. Bouncing auburn curls framed his chubby face, bright hazel eyes adoring. He flailed at her in glee. "Aren't you a good boy?"

"Yes!" He squirmed and smiled all the more. "Goo' boy."

"Good," she said, and popped a bit of cake into his waiting mouth. "You'll still see me, Mother. Manan says when I get pregnant, I'll come back here and he comes back through at least once a turn."

"You are horrible at comforting." Mother snapped. "Are you feeding him cake?"

"My son, my rules. Go get your own." At least she sing-songed the words to prevent mother to think she was being snippy.

A choked noise behind her said Tai attempted to snark back and failed to think of something appropriate. Natai and the toddler shared a giggle. The serene moment broke with Nana's shriek from outside.

Mother grabbed her large knife, Natai hissing and following in suit. "You two, stay in here with the babies." Dinna and Tai drew back as angry Mother and apprehensive daughter ran outside to save the youngest. Behind them, Rodine jogged with.

Short, round Mother and a tall wisp of a girl with rollers in her hair would not have looked frightening any other day but this particular morning, they had fierce matching scowls and meat blades. The entire Hold stirred early that morning, preparing for a wedding of one of their own. It didn't happen all the time and it meant more than a few were awake to hear Nana's scream.

"Nana!" Natai saw her little sister trembling by the barn-wherrie coop, clutching her canine pup to her chest. He whimpered but did not struggle away. The woman sprinted over and knelt in the mud, unheeding of the slick coldness staining her wedding shift. "Nana, what's wrong?"

"Strange people, strange cart, and--" The seven year old burst into messy tears. "I-I saw them and-and-- J-John is there but..."

"FATHER." Mother's bellow stopped the tears immediately. They waited precious few seconds before Father ran from the small smokehouse, sharp metal prongs in hand. Ronni and Naat followed, their breaths labored and hands smeared with animal blood and sooth. They had a pitchfork and shovel respectively. "Where were you?!"

"Running from being elbow deep in herdbeast, woman!" Father growled, voice lacking acid. They liked to bicker. Father said it kept things fun. Mother never disagreed. "What's wrong?"

"Odd people in the hold, Nana saw someone." Natai scowled and stormed off in the direction Nana pointed - towards town the center of town and traders row. The angry expression faded as soon as her little sister could no longer see her face, quieted to a weary acceptance. Natai assumed them to be traders, friends of Manan, but Nana grew frightened at every turn since news of the Revolution filtered in. Mother thought equality fine and dandy, but the methods barbaric. Best to find the traders and explain, calm her sister.

Behind her, Mother accused her of being just like her father before they all followed.

The family was not the only ones in the town hold to be suspicious of Nana's scream and the following sight. The revolution led to fear and fear soured to paranoia. Natai and her family slowed as they approached, Father having caught up to her in order to tower as he so often did. Many of the younger girls were already dressed for the wedding, though their hairs were mussed and face-paint half done.

"What's this?" Mother called, her voice wary. The cart looked old and well worn, the two having ridden on it already standing on the ground. One of the women hovered near to the covered back, her eyes narrowed and lips pressed tight. The others spoke with John the baker, a smile on her face.

"You see, we merely need lodging and food," She said, pleasant. Sweat stood out on her brow and upper lip, though it was too early in the day for too much heat. The two strangers thrummed with tension, nerves, and from the grumbles of the crowd, Natai was not the only one to notice with a rumble. "We've driven through the night and our beasts are very tired, as are we."

"What are your names?" John polished the heavy pestle on his flour stained apron. The smiling woman licked her lips.

"Nadia and Morna," she lied. Natai saw how her partner looked at her in sharp surprise. "We--"

The cart rocked in quite the violent manner. The crowd stilled.

"Well," said Natai in what she assumed to be a reasonable tone. "Care to explain?"

"No," snapped the one by the cart. She swallowed hard, eyes glancing back towards her companion. The cart shook again. "It is no business of yours. We should leave."

Another rock and the woman stumbled forward. A few bits of what appeared to be gold fell from the back of the cart but then a muffled noise came from the covered cart. Natai took an instinctive step back, a frown lining her dark face. Both John and Mother stepped forward with their weapons raised and John, whose daughter had been killed at Trine, bared his teeth.

“Did you kidnap someone?” blurted out Natai without thinking. The two strangers shot her hard looks and Mother sighed. Natai waved her hand to the shaking wagon in her silent defense, her eyes wide. Stealing was serious around these parts – around all the parts, really, but especially with everything going on with Revolutions. John shuffled closer, his hand and pestle in the air, his voice low.

“You let me pass or I make you wish you never moved past that Hold line.” The large baker loomed and, snarling, the woman stepped when he got close to the gold pieces. Natai couldn’t see his face when he picked it up and turned it over in his hand; she caught a glimpse of the other side of the bit, but it didn’t sparkle like gold ought to. John said nothing for long moment but eventually glanced to Mother. The cart rocked harder. “Take the girls inside.”

“We don’t need to be inside,” Natai frowned, shaking her head, but the bride to be was cut off by the swift shake of her mother’s head. Mother turned to Natai and her sisters, shooing them towards the house.

“All of you, including you two girls.” Mother nodded to two of the village girls meant to be part of the wedding party, both of them dressed in their nicest gather clothing. Natai hesitated, the younger girls looking to her for askance, and in the distance she heard Matai’s cry sear through the air. That’s all it took for her to hustle the lot of the young women to their house, her sisters and the guests for her wedding.

Tai held a whining Matai, the toddler flailing and his face snot covered. He squirmed in her arms, hiccupping. His small fat fists continued to wave in the air until Natai scooped the infant up to her breast, crooning words of comfort. The other girls filed in, closing the doors behind them. The air sat thick around them, the room quite save for the blathering of both children for a few moments.

“They stole gold,” one of the girls said in hushed tones. She had her hands to her made up cheeks, eyes very white on dark skin. “What if they’re Holdless thieves?”

“Then they aren’t very good thieves. They just let John go forward.” Natai glanced at her from over the young boys head. “Ignore them. We’re wasting time with too much to do. Come floods or between, I am getting married today and…” She tapered off and shook her head. “Please? They’ll handle the thieves—“ Cries rose from outside, the women’s and Mothers. Natai raised her chin. “—Justly. We need to get ready. Matai is a mess and so am I for that matter.”

“I’ll help,” Rodine piped. Her younger sister looked to the door with apprehension. She shook her head, black-red micro braids tinkling in their beads. “When Mother comes in…”

“The blood?” Asked Tai sympathetically. Rodine nodded. “Go along then.”

“You can help tidy Matai,” Natai said softly. They padded to the back of the house, Matai now babbling happily. Mother converted the rear room to the ‘wedding area’ when Tai married. Her dress stood on the mannequin, proud and slim, ivory in color with red threading. Natai intended to be hand fasted only once.

Matai fused for second when she passed him to Rodine; he quieted when he saw Natai making no move to leave. Rodine cooed at him, wiping down his face while Natai shimmied from her dress.

“Ugh. Babies cover me with mud each day. Why should this be any different?” Natai surveyed herself in the mirror, nose wrinkled. At least her small clothed stayed clean; soft silk given as gift from Manan with some leftover lace from her dress. Modest. Covering. She liked that. It helped her relax, muscles tight from tension. Even in the back room, they heard the arguing from outside, the sound of a cart being broken open in the middle of the town and Manan's baritone demanding something of them. “Mother made a second shift for me, right?”

“Fourth hanger from the right.” Rodine made a face at Matai. He giggled. Natai grabbed the emergency shift. Her mouth opened to thank her sister when a surprised yelp came from the kitchen. She clutched the cloth to her chest before sprinting down the hall. Why were so many people screaming on today of all days? Weddings were special and it didn't matter that it was hers, it just mattered that they had so many things to do and see to. She opened her mouth to yell 'I'm coming' before the sight of the kitchen hit her like a bag of bricks. Natai actually stumbled back, eyes wide, and put her arm out to keep her sister and son from following.

The door looked as if it’d been attacked by a beast; wide open, it bore claw marks on the front and showed signs of teeth on the handle. Large muddy prints came from outside, the spacing uneven. Whatever came in entered on wobbly feet and full of mud. No, the cause of the yelp came into view at Tai’s not-so-muffled curse. The met Mother cut up somehow ended up on the floor in bloodied globs not yet cleaned on other counters and in the pastries.

“Sweet great dolphins,” Natai muttered, wide eyes on the destruction. Then she looked to the right, previously too afraid to look at the large and elaborate cake. She didn't want to see anything. Everything felt wrong and sad.

A dragon sprawled in the middle of the table, a beautiful glittering golden hide spreading apart the icing from the pastry itself. It brought meat. In fact, the patterned gold set off the purple icing quite nicely and the smear of clotted red on its mouth and cake turned the dessert a delicious indigo.

“A dragon.” Said Rodine faintly behind her.

Natai said, “Oh dear.” Because that was the moment the gold looked up and Mother should not have to lose two daughters in one day. Rodine was only seventeen, didn’t even enjoy telling animals what to do. How could she possibly handle cake covered dragon?

Except Rodine did not experience those rainbow eyes. The gold looked to Natai and she felt that prying curiosity and love, so much love…

“Oh dear,” she whispered. She felt tears burning in her eyes even as her smile sharding well near split her face. That’s all she could feel: joy, and beauty, and amazing miraculous belonging.

Natai! cried the dragon with as much happiness as the human. She sounded girlish and bubbly. Yes, thought Natai distantly, that’s right, the Gold’s are female. Look what they brought your Iachixth – a whole table of food!

She gnawed at a choice piece of meat and squirmed in her bed of cake. She sneezed once, twice, with the icing that had poked itself up her nose. No one in the kitchen spoke, all eyes on the wriggling gold with cake on her face and mud on her feet, blood everywhere.

I was worried you were lost. What are you wearing? Is this cake for us too? It tastes odd, wouldn’t suggest it. Why are they staring?

Natai moved forward, making an absent point to pull her shift on as she got closer. The white fabric swished about her knees. Bright, curious Iachixth crooned and thrust her head into Natai’s outstretched hand. She felt smooth and cool, the ridges over her impossibly blue, large eyes soft.

“They’re staring because you’re a very smart girl,” Natai said softly. Iachixth chirped and tilted her head, nibbled at the swell of meat of Natai’s palm. “They stole you?”

Dunno! But I found you~ those big people were yelling, so I crawled out and felt you. Came here. There’s something awesome happening~ Iachixth sing-songed.

“You’re supposed to be hand fasted,” Rodine hissed from behind her. Natai shook her head, mind too full of rainbow eyes and bright curiosity. Iachixth shifted back to look around Natai’s thin frame. Natai turned at the squeak f the door frame, her cheeks and eyes burning. Mother and Father stood in the doorway with the guests flanking them.

"I don't think that's happening now," she heard Tai mutter.

“We threatened to kill them, looked in the cart, and found an empty egg.” Father said at the same time as Mother went, “That is going to throw a wrench into the wedding night.”

Natai spared enough attention to shoot both parents a less than pleased look, though both she and Iachixth knew it to be an attempt to hide the terror and worry threatening to overwhelm the initial jolt of joy. Iachixth felt like a beam of sunshine straight from the sky, a bright beacon of hope and love, adoration, curiosity, and Natai loved her with a fierce aching intensity she never knew possible. For all the impossibility of the moment, it rang as so very real, so much more substantial than the cake or the life around her.

It came without warning and she hadn’t the faintest clue on how to go about things.

“We can have a Hatching Feast instead,” Natai said after a lengthy pause, still stroking against Iachixth’s head knobs as if she were a canine pup and was a good girl.

Iachixth consciousness bumped against her own, clear and crisp in her glee for life, for Natai. I am a good girl! She pranced in place her little feet rising and falling to their own dance. Natai felt a pull at her shift and the satisfaction from a nibble well done. they’re still staring… and I’m sleepy.

“Does this make her a lady holder?” Nana asked, her voice doubtful and from behind one of the guests skirts.

Natai wrinkled her nose. Her hands started to tremble, her own uncertainty blooming in her chest. Her sisters innocent question made her realize just how many of her plans for the future no longer existed. She couldn’t regret Iachixth, not even after just a few moments of knowing her, but her plans, her life.

We will have new plans. We will have adventures and – and you can adopt babies. The gold brightened and tugged her shift again. She brought Natai back to reality, her voice piping and pleased. I think I like babies.

“She’s not a lady holder,” Father rumbled. He turned to look out the door, past the guests and the friends with their own weapons and incredulous expressions. His face shifted one to grim acceptance and he looked back to Nana. “She’s a girl with a dragon and we’re all standing in the doorway like a bunch of nits with a dragon covered in cake and – something. Something gross.”

“Thank you for that, Father.” Natai took a deep breath in order to keep that tremble from growing. She could do this. She had Iachixth and apparently a very supportive family, friends crowded around her door, watching, murmuring things among themselves that didn’t sound ominous or frightening. Yes. This would all be alright. She looked to Iachixth for support and then back to her mother, taking another slow, evening breath.

“Are they still here?” she said, her tone level. Mother’s mouth kicked up at the corners.

“John got angry. They tried to come after you so one is bleeding and the others out cold.”

“Good girl, don’t let him kill them. The last thing we need is Trine raining down—What?” Natai frowned at them. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t hear of Trine with a gold.”

"First of all, they probably don't think that now. Second of all, mind your tongue. Goldrider or not, you're my daughter." Mother shook her finger, all at once a disapproving teacher to a disobedient five turn old. "Having something shiny doesn't make you better'n anyone else; it just makes you decorative."

Natai squirmed and nodded. Fighting panic was not a good excuse for snapping. "Sorry." She mumbled. Natai rubbed at her face, smearing egg goo and cake over her cheeks and nose. It took too much effort to care. "Can we send them away? Just - can we make them leave? We can have a hatching feast instead of a wedding. That's what," She swallowed, hard. "That's what Weyrs do, right"

Some of her fear must have laced her voice. Mother's expression softened and she stepped closer, put one large, calloused hand on her daughters shoulder. Natai took comfort in her strength, putting her shoulders back and squeezing her eyes closed for a slow moment.

"They have feasts." Mother said kindly.

"I need to talk to Manan," Natai whispered. She smiled to Iachixth, unwavering in her determination to keep this little thing in her life. "And then a feast."

I like feasts!



Later, Manan gave her a bottle of oil as his last gift. She kissed him on the cheek.

[Journal]

Journal,

Do you know I've had you for nearly two turns? I've not written in you yet - everything I put to paper was sent to Manan, which is why you have so many torn pages. I felt bad doing it but paper is not exactly something we have in surplus here I'm afraid.

My name is Natai. I am almost twenty turns. Half a turn ago, I was to be handfasted to a trader named Manan. I Impressed my beautiful Iachixth instead. I lost my son that day.

She is wonderful, Iachixth. She started out small enough to sleep in the back room and is now unable to fit in the barn. From what I've seen, she'll be doubling that soon enough. She is gold and according to sources, that is the largest sort of dragon. Bereck lent me information on them and that has helped quite a bit.

But! My Iachixth. She is very slim and used to be nothing but a fat tube with a head and legs attached. She reminds me of my siblings when they were thirteen, fourteen. All of them grew up with long legs and arms with no way to control the limbs that suddenly became alien to them. When she runs, sometimes she trips. Iachixth wants to fly, though, she says she can't wait.

I'm nervous for that day. As soon as we can fly (for Iachixth and I are 'we', I will not have us seperated), it means we will be able to visit Weyrs without worry of them forcing us to stay. ...I think. Right? If we can fly away should they attempt to, we'd be safe, wouldn't we?

I don't want us in a place where we are under the control of someone like Kindra or N'mol. They are my age, I think, and very angry. He tried to guilt me and threatened Iachixth's safety. She... She was unpleasant. I don't want to be where they think letting dragons die in the egg is humane and for the best of the Weyr. Were I pregnant and knew for a fact my child would be sickly or unhealthy in some way, I wouldn't let it die! I wouldn't abort it by force or will or what have you. That is just me, other women may do what they like and I wouldnt judge them for it, but infants in the womb are not sentient. They cannot emote or think or feel yet and from what I've heard of dragons, I just - It just--

Let us change the subject, Journal. Iachixth is asleep and I fear my distress over the issue would wake her and just lead to upset.

She wants to be with other dragons, I know that much. She's only ever met a few, and not always with the best of results, but humans are not her kind. I hope she learns to fly soon. I will ask Bereck or write to Mercy or Narisa on the subject. Maybe people will see I am not the selfish, crude bumpkin that refuses to return one of their children out of spite that N'mol insinuated and I am sure many of them echo.

I'm tired, journal. I miss Matai waking up in the middle of the night and Iachixth being tiny enough to cuddle me up close. I think I will go outside and bring my blanket to sleep with her.

I will write in you soon, I promise.

-Natai

P.S. I have enclosed a painting of Iachixth when she was newly hatched and as of now - perhaps they will make good wall hangings one day!

[Solo]

"Iachixth, I don't think this is the best idea," Natai stood at the edge of a small hill near to her home, her voice pitched level and concerned. Slim hands twisted together; ink and papercuts spotted them from previous nights works over candles and too little sleep. They planned a nice day of Iachixth sunning, newly fed, with a picnic for Natai. Her families account books sat in a small, neat pile, ink and notebook beside them.

A quiet day.

Then Iachixth saw the hill and wanted to fly. It'd been in the back of her mind for a while now, while they practiced the strength of her wings and how they ran about pretending to do so, but with the space right in front of her, she wanted. The young dragon ate only the night before and still felt full, content and... probably not ideal for a young dragons first serious solo attempt.

Iachixth paid no mind to Natai's worry. She stood next to her rider, feet pressed together to make her look the part of a semi circle. Wings and tail spread out for balance, Iachixth stared down at the not-deadly height of the hill. She'll injure a wing at worst, maybe a few bumps, but nothing broken. Not unless she plummeted from a great distance and even that could be avoided by not aiming for Rukbat on the first serious try.

If we always did what you think is best, we'd have no fun, the dragn said cheerfully. Natai had to admit that she was not wrong. It's not far! I won't die, that's boring.

"Faranth forbid boring."

Iachixth ignored the mutter (as she often did when she felt Natai over worried). She wriggled her rump and started to step back. Natai rubbed her face with a low groan and obligingly shifted to the side to give the gold more room. Once she reached an acceptable distance down the hill, along the lesser side of the curved hill, Iachixth stretched deep to feel the first lovely burn of muscles about to be exercised. Natai squeezed her eyes shut, hands clutched tight together, and hoping against hope she didn't lose her very untrained dragon to excitement. Iachixth didn't bother with further assurances; she ran, a sleek tube of glittering hide with her claws dragging out chunks of loose earth, her mind full of confidence and happiness at the movement.

Natai peeked an eye open to see Iachixth soar for a few seconds, wings outstretched for all of the clouds to see. The dragon squealed in triumph. I told you! She bugled, her voice high. See?

Then she flapped her wings as a gust of wind hit from behind. The squeal turned to angry squeaks loud enough for the grounded Natai to hear. Iachixth lost control and tumbled from her perch in the brilliantly blue sky; for one small second, Natai could have sworn her to be a shooting star.

Unfortunately for all involved, Iachixth failed her lessons as a part of space matter. She hit the ground with another squeak and a heart wrenching meaty thud. Too upset to scream, it was hard with a knot in her throat, Natai ran to her bondmate. her nails scraped ground as she slid down the slope, as reckless as her dragon. She had to grab fistfuls of her skirt once upright to hike over her knees in order to keep the long fabric from tripping, smearing dirt as she did.

"Iachixth!" The word ripped itself from her throat, fear bleeding into each syllable. Natai threw herself at her girl, at once too afraid to be calm, her Iachixth, and held tight against her neck. Iachixth crooned, trembled against her. They reached through their bonds to the other, Natai worried for the pain she might feel radiating through it.

...

Delight.

Excitement.

Success.

"Excuse me?" The goldrider pulled back, her dark eyes wide. Even with the words, her panic dimmed, almost vanished like a flame in the wind. Iachixth blinked at her, uncomprehending. "You think getting hurt is good?"

Yes! I flew! I didn't stay up but I did! Iachixth beamed mentally. She craned her neck to nuzzle at Natai, her excitement holding some apprehension though her bond. All of it aimed itself to her rider, though, and none for any of her own hurt. I might've, might've bruised my tail a bit but - I did good, didn't I? Right? You saw - I flew! All by myself!

Natai flustered, her lack of faith stinging as much as a cheek slap would, as much as Iachixth's tail that did, indeed, would have a bruise. She hugged her Iachixth's muzzle then, face pressed to her hide. "You were wonderful," she murmured. "We'll fly. You were lovely. A star. My bug."

As a child learning to walk may, Iachixth puffed with renewed pride. Half grown, Natai had to picture her as less of a child and more as an apprentice learning the trade to walk the tables: a step towards being a full adult in her world, accepted, respected.

"Let's fix you up. We'll try again tomorrow."

[Letter]

[To Manaan - 1/2 of her figuring out what kind of thing she'll be doing]