A Friendly Sort

Writers: Ames, Eimi
Date Posted: 21st March 2011

Characters: N'tor, Maemira
Description: N'tor comes in search of a kitten
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 21 of Turn 6

Maemira couldn't help but cuddle the little bundle in her arms. She
laughed as the kittens soft far rubbed against her face. Ever since the
litter had been born, she'd been taking care of them for one of the
harpers who had next to no idea how to care for a slew of kittens. It
had taken some time for their mama to trust her, but Maemira knew
patience would pay off. The mama feline and the kittens had grown
accustomed to her. Now, she just had to find them each a home. She'd
asked the harpers and all those who had come to the Hall to spread the
word that there was a litter of kittens looking for homes in the Harper
Hall.

"Yes, we'll find you all homes soon," she murmured to the little gray
kitten in her arms as she leaned in and kissed it softly on the head
before placing him back on the floor. Hurrying towards the door she
slipped out and managed to shut it before any of the little curious
critters could get out and about. Maemira had promised they would stay
in one place and not get underfoot. It wasn't always easy, but she'd
managed it well so
far.

Heading back out to her office near the front of the Hall entrance she
hummed a little tune to herself and righted a display that had gotten
bumped in the passageway. The sound of approaching foorsteps was the
first sign that someone was approaching the main hall entrance. She
picked up her pace with a smile on her face, ready to greet whomever the
visitor or friend might be.

The brownrider was relieved to see someone who looked like they knew
where they were going. And with such a pretty smile on their face!
"Excuse me," he said, approaching the woman with a friendly expression
of his own. "I'm looking for the Headwoman. Could you point me towards
her office?"

"Well now, that's an easy one!" She replied happily. "You've already
found her. I'm Maemira, the Headwoman here. How can I be of help? A
song? A visit with one of our many harpers?"

His eyebrows raised slightly, surprised at both her exuberance and her
offer. And he had heard the Harper women were wary of strangers! "I
was actually looking for a kitten, but if you have a song I'd love to
hear it!"

She stopped for a moment and looked at him. Then Maemira burst out
laughing. "Oh, no, not _me_." She told him, her eyes dancing. "But I do
know where the Harpers keep their stores of songs for purchase." She had
to take a moment and try and make herself stop laughing. "You say you
came for a kitten?" Her eyes lit up. "I've got the litter of kittens in
a room just around the back. I've been hoping to find them all a good
home. Would
you like to see them?"

"I would," he nodded, deciding that he laughter was as pleasant as a
good tune. Sometimes it was nice to be a man and able to appreciate
such things. "I'm looking for one for my son."

"Oh, I see," Maemira led the way to the little chamber she was using as
the kittens' home for the time being. "How old is your son, then?" She
stood in front of the door and listened for a moment, trying to tell if
the kittens were right by the door ready to dart out when she opened it.
"If you'll just give me a moment, I've promised to keep the kittens in
this one chamber, so I'll have to be a bit careful with opening the
door." Maemira picked up a wooden board and held it up against the door.
"I use
this to make sure none of them have gotten out of the little blockade I
created inside." Maemira tried to hold the board up and open the door at
the same time, which wasn't exactly easy.

"He's twenty.... two now." N'tor said, filling in the information but a
little embarrassed that it took him a moment to remember that. "The
numbers just all seem to blend together once they're out of their
teens."

"So true! My oldest is over 30 now, and some days I find myself having
to stop and think about how old he and the others actually are. Once we
all reach a certain age, the numbers seem to matter less anyway." She
finally managed to get the door open and capture the little gray kitten
who always seemed to find a way out of her makeshift barracade. "All
clear. Come on in and meet the little ones."

"How many do you have?" he asked, scanning the room in search of them
all.

"Four," she easily replied, thinking of her children. Then, she noticed
his eyes. "Oh! You meant the kittens!" She chuckled. "Silly me. The
litter had nine kittens, but one didn't make it through the first night
I'm afraid. So there are eight to choose from."

"Four I take it is the number of your children?" he asked with a
knowing smile. Once you started talking about your kids, it seemed
everything else fades into the background.

"Oh, yes," Maemira replied, "I have four children. How about you? You
mentioned a son, do you have other children?"

"I have twin girls as well. They're still teenagers, though." Which
was a rather difficult age, perhaps even more so for the parent than the
teens.

"Ah, my youngest is still in that stage as well. Tis why I'm here
actually. I took this job to be able to spend some time with him. He's
apprenticed to the Harper Hall, you see." Maemira leaned down and picked
up a white and black kitten. "Would you like to hold one of them?" She
asked him, turning to look up into his kind, blue eyes. "I just realized
I never
asked you name or where you were from? Are you from the Weyr or did you
travel far to get here?"

"I've been at Dolphin Cove since we moved from Thayan Peak, and my
family had been there since it's founding as far as we know," he said
taking the kitten from her and cradling it gently against his chest.
"I'm N'tor, rider of brown Zaith."

"It's a pleasure to officially meet you N'tor. I'm surprised I haven't
bumped into you before. I mean, I spend most of my time here in the
Hall, but when I have time I often enjoy a nice walk through the Weyr as
well." She reached a finger and stroked the tiny kitten's head. Her arm
gently brushing against his in the process. "I think little Spotty, as I
call her,likes you." She grinned up at him.

"She is very cute," he grinned, stroking the little kitten's head but
looking at the Headwoman instead. "I'm pretty sure if I had seen you
before I would have remembered you."

**As would I,** she thought to herself. She found him rather charming
and good looking to her tastes. She wondered if he had a weyrmate and
then quickly pushed that thought aside. She'd _just_ met the man and she
was already wondering about such things. **It's been too long Mae.**

Maemira moved over closer to the makeshift pen she'd created and
accidentally knocked over one of her sides. The kittens immediately
sprang forth, jumping, mewling and crawling every which way, "Oh dear.
I'm going to have to round them all back up before they make their way
out into the tunnels and the Harpers have a fit!" She shook her head and
laughed as one of them tried to climb up her skirts.

"I'll help you round them up," he said, turning to reach for another
little black and white one. The kitten ran away from the unfamiliar
human, finding a chair to hind under. "Come here, you," N'tor chuckled,
trying to reach for it only to have it move to the next chair and beyond
his reach. "Hey now, I'm not going to hurt you."

Maemira had to cover her mouth to suppress her mirth even as her eyes
twinkled. "My hero," she stated with a laugh, as she herself started
after one of the wayward kittens. "Come on love, we can't have you
causing trouble," she said to a small almost all black kitten that was
mewling as it tried to climb the drapes. Maemira plucked it down where
it promptly clung to the bodice of her dress.

"_I'm_ not causing trouble," he protested with a laugh, though N'tor
sure felt like a bit of a child crawling along the floor chasing the
little kitten from chair to chair.

She laughed so hard she nearly dropped the kitten that was clinging to
her. "Not...you," she said between gasps, "I was talking to the
kittens. But if you're a troublemaker, I'd better keep my eye on you."
Maemira hadn't enjoyed someone's company this way in quite a long time.
It felt good to
laugh just for laughs again. She missed having people around her who
could bring such joy to her heart, her eyes and her spirit. Moving
quickly, she scooped up a few more kittens and placed them back in their
makeshift barricade.

"Well, that's not an unpleasant prospect," he laughed, reaching an arm
under once more to try to get the little critter. In fear, it lashed
out at his hand with it's tiny claws. "Ow!" he yelped, sitting up in
surprise only to crack his head on the edge of the table. "Faranth's
Egg!" he half laughed, half cried as his other hand rubbed the spot
vigorously.

Maemira had gathered up a handful of the fluffy little furballs and
deposited them back in her make-shift blockade. She turned quickly when
she heard N'tor call out and moved to his side. In a matter of moments,
she was down on her knees beside him, her hand reaching up to touch the
spot he was rubbing. "Are you okay?" She asked as the kitten darted out
from
under it's hiding place and ran straight back to its friends across the
room.

"Traitor," he muttered with an amused smile as the little kitten darted
out at least. "Maybe I should have hit my head at the start and sped up
this whole process." N'tor winced slightly as she gently pressed on the
spot. "It's not bad. Just a bump and a bruised ego."

"Hmph!" She replied as she reached for his arm next. "Your in my turf,
so you'll let me be the judge of how bad it is. Come," she tugged his
arm. "Let me see your arm. Did he scratch it badly?" She asked, leaning
in closer in her attempts to see what damage was done.

N'tor knew better than to argue with a woman when she once her nurturing
instincts had kicked in. He stood and let her lead him where she will.
"Just some little ones. They hurt worse than they are."

She tsked at him a bit as she bustled to get some water and some cloths.
Sitting him down on the sofa, she sat beside him and quickly cleaned the
little scrapes. With the towel sitting in her lap she looked at him.
"I'm afraid my little pretties here have not done a very good job
impressing you, have they?" One of the little kittens brushed up against
her leg.
Maemira quickly leaned down and snatched it up. "Gotcha! I think we've
gotten them all back where they belong, except this little guy." She
scratched
his head with affection.

"He is very sweet," N'tor grinned, leaning half over her as he started
scratching him behind his ears. "He seems a friendly sort."

"Does that mean he meets your expectations for your son then?" She
smiled up at him, noticing his sharp blue eyes and finding herself drawn
to them.

"He does," the brownrider nodded, looking back into her gentle eyes,
knowing that if he took the kitten right away, he'd have no reason to
visit the Headwoman again, and he very much would like a reason to bump
into her again. "Could you hold him for me a few days so I can think
about it?"

"Of course," she replied, petting the little kitten once more before
turning to place him with his siblings. "I'll make sure that one stays
right here until you decide if you think he's the right one." Maemira
glanced at the scratches on his arm once more, "You're sure you're
okay?"

"Oh, sure," he said with a wave. "It's nothing compared to Threadscore.
I'll survive."

Last updated on the April 3rd 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Friendly Sort