Cortheus sat sullenly in the weyr prepared for him upon his arrival to Vella Crean. His head swung back and forth over the ground disheartedly, as if attached to his shoulders by a limp string. The armor that had shone so brightly in the sunlight days ago now seemed dull and lay unused in a corner of the room.
He began to puff small wafts of smoke against the ground, watching as it spread out by his feet then disappeared. The grey fog whirled around his nose and clung to his nostrils. He could feel the small, acid smelling fingers tickle him slightly. Holding it back as long as he could, Cortheus reared his head and let out a mighty sneeze. Sniffling quietly, he began to whimper and went back to swining his head back and forth slowly.
Ever since arriving at Vella Crean, he noticed the drastic difference between this place and Tris'Hath. The humans here avoided him because he was a dragon. The dragons avoided him because he acted too human. To compromise, they stuck him away in an empty weyr and told him to wait until the hatching. To say the least, Cortheus was miserable.
*Meow?* A small, feline voice sounded from somewhere in the dark room. Cortheus nearly missed it because it was so small. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of moonlit eyes gleaming brightly. The black feline leapt out of the shadows and trotted over to him without a care. She sat down in front of him and tilted her head slightly. *Mew?*
"Huh?" Cortheus scrunched his face up in confusion. With a happy murrp, the cat crawled into his lap and curled up by his front foreclaw. Cortheus, somewhat intrigued, murrped back at the creature.
*Meow.* The black cat returned.
Cortheus grinned and began to purr softly, his tail swishing back and forth across the ground. "What's your name?" He asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.
*Merrowl.* The cat stretched out across his wrist and yawned loudly, showing of rows of sharp, white teeth.
"Well I can't exactly call you Merrowl." Cortheus chuckled. "I'll call you Toshi."
*Meow!* Toshi replied happily, gazing up at her large companion with wide, slitted eyes.
"I'm glad you like it." Cortheus smiled down at his new companion. Toshi yawned again and curled up in his wide claw. He could feel the rumble in her chest like a feather-light touch. For a while, he simply watched the cat sleeping in his hand, so small compared to him. Slowly, quietly, he lay his head down beside her and closed his eyes.
* * * Cortheus took small, slow steps in order to keep up with the small paws of his new bond. Vestiso insisted on walking on her hindlegs, as he did and had wrapped her small forepaw in his large one to keep herself balanced. Thus, as the new pair left the sands, they recieved many adoring glances and motherly coos from the women. Cortheus felt he should be tip toeing rather then walking as strong as he was (which he wasn't) yet Vestiso refused to let him carry her over to the food.
Finally, the pair made it to the bowl of meat set aside for them and Vestiso dropped to all fours. It would take a while for her to learn how to walk as steadily as her bond did but that was enough for today. Eagerly, she plunged her gold dappled muzzle into the meat scraps and began to devour them.
Cortheus sat back on his haunches and watched his new bond eat. She was a beautiful mix of gold and red, almost as if her coat had been decidedly gold at first then a sudden storm of crimson had over cast it. Her wing sails were a pure, untouched gold, still glistening from the damp interior of her egg. Her long, stubby tail swung back and forth in a cat-like manner as she contentedly ate her fill. Cortheus grinned to himself, thinking that she resembled Toshi in a way.
Who is the other in your mind? Vestiso's stong, velvety voice touched his mind. For once, he didn't wonder where the musical noise had come from.
"Hmm..? Oh! That's Toshi, my cat." Cortheus replied after a moment's hesitation. His thoughts had been far away. The large red smiled down at his curious bond. "You'll meet her soon."
I would like that. Vestiso purred. She turned her face away from the bowl and pounced playfully towards Cortheus. Will we be together always, Cortheus? You and I? And Toshi of course.
"Yes, Vestiso. Always." Cortheus rumbled in his broad chest, lowering his head to the hatchling's level. He thought his scales would be harsh against Vestiso's soft hide yet the red-gold happily rubbed her cheek against his.
Then I will always be happy! She cried triumphantly in his mind. They would pass through many adventures together, yet that promise would always be present in their minds.
Toshi is from: River Rapids Cyber Adoption Center
Cortheus impressed Vestiso at: Vella Crean