The Weyr

Pookie's Betrayal

      Lady made her way confidently back to Grandma Rock. It was a very good day to be Lady. Her belly was full, she had almost escaped from Kross, Silver, and Cena, and she had been vigorously shaken but Glay before her sister dunked her into one of the ponds.

      Yes, it was a very good day for Lady. The sun was beating down on her as she trotted back to the weyr's valley. Her scales were already completely dry and she was chewing happily on a rock. The warmth from the sun made her feel relaxed and sleepy, so as she neared the weyr she simply plopped down lazily and called for an adult to come carry her.

      A shadow blocked the sun and Lady grumbled at Pookie, who had popped out of the sand nearby. Pookie focused all of its attention on her. A normal dragon would have become nervous. Lady just yawned and using only her front legs, pulled herself back into the sun. Her back legs dragged limply behind her, creating two shallow rut in the sand.

     Zureta sluggishly meandered up to Lady. It was the peak of the day and no one in the weyr wanted to do anything except lay in the sun. Zureta peered down at Lady, arching her neck, and purr-chirped at the kit. Lady groaned in annoyance when she was not immediately picked up. Zureta just snorted hot air at her and plopped down.

      Pookie continued to focus on Lady for awhile. None in the weyr knew what it was thinking, but they trusted the sand worm. It had proven itself friendly time and time again. The sand worm ducked back into the sand. Lady rolled over onto her back to watch, stretching out her tiny limbs. She yawned once more and rolled back onto her feet.

Just as she did, Pookie shot up from the sand directly below, taking Lady with it and throwing Zureta off to the side. Back to the sands it went. All of the dragon-kin of the weyr raised their heads in sun-drunk surprise. Before they could dispel their sluggishness, Pookie appeared again, this time beside Bubba. Another victim was taken by the worm.

     The weyr was forced into alertness and took to the air. Only Grandpa May remained in place on Grandma Rock. He laughed maniacally, the gurgle-coughs echoing through the valley.

   The sand worm lunged at Cena who was still flying low, but missed. The adults aggressively shot plasma blasts or fire at the worm before it sunk back into the sands. The kits and pups scattered in a panic, although one-Hermit-smartly joined May on Grandma Rock. Pookie snapped up the easy prey running about, keeping low so the adults would have a difficult time hitting it.

     Pookie was smart; it had been with the weyr long enough to gain their trust and learn their habits. It knew going after Lady first would only cause mild alarm, thus giving it a chance to get another member of the weyr.

     Zureta and Bean swooped down low to bait Pookie out. The weyr had no fire dragons with them currently, so they could not tell where it would strike next. Pookie took the bait...but was quick enough to snap up Bean. Zureta cried out in alarm and dove at Pookie in anger...Zureta was then also eaten.

     This gave the weyr enough of a chance. Bacon and Silent dove down and ignited. Pookie roared in anger and pain and disappeared into the sands once again.

       It was an okay day to be Lady. She had just hatched, the sun was warm, and she had baby Bubba to torment and hatchlings Zureta and Bean to snuggle. She was starting to get hungry though...so she stared to make her way toward the weyr to watch the battle and wait for food. Unfortunately, the kit did not get very far before she was sucked down into the sands and eaten again.

     It was a not so good day to be Lady. The sun was warm but she did not feel like getting out of her egg. She shifted uncomfortable and the egg tumbled out of the stone nest and shattered. She froze, ready to flee, but nothing happened. Lady rightened herself and stood up. Pookie burst from the sands behind her and snatched her.

     Lady was having a bad day. She did not want to be Lady any more, but Lady she would always be. Her egg sat unmoving in its stone nest, the kit inside not moving a single muscle. Time passed and she heard footsteps approach her egg. She could make out the shadow of a dragon-kin and not a sand worm. She broke her shell open just enough to peek outside.

      The eye of a plasma filled her view. Before she could protest, the plasma took the entire egg into its mouth, causing the fragile shell to shatter. Lady complained loudly until the plasma, Kross, connected their minds and assured her she was safe from harm. Lady quieted down and allowed herself to be carried around for the rest of the day.