Kaiya sat in the waiting room of the Dragon Infirmary, absently making shapes with a long piece of string while waiting for Mabonth’s medical exam to be over.
“You’re Mabonth’s rider, yes?”
Kaiya looked up to see an apprentice Dragon Healer walk up to her, carrying a stack of hides.
“I am,” she answered.
“Great,” the apprentice replied, “If you’ll just follow me…” He gestured down the hallway. They soon entered the room Mabonth was assigned to and approached her. Kaiya stared at her fondly, then turned to the apprentice.
“So… how is Mabonth?” Kaiya asked.
“He’s rather energetic, for a blue,” the apprentice said. “He wanted to play with every instrument we used on him, and would barely sit still! But he’s healthy, and that’s the important part!”
Kaiya looked confused as she listened to the apprentice. “Uh…”
The apprentice saw the funny look on her face. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
“Well, I’m glad she’s in good health,” Kaiya said, “But, I don’t think-”
“Wait…” the apprentice said slowly, “she?” He looked up at Mabonth, who was sitting innocently in front of him, her eyes whirling a calm blue-green. “I thought…”
Kaiya gave an insufferable sigh. Here we go again. She could hear Mabonth’s giggling in her head as she said, “Mabonth isn’t blue. She’s green.” She looked at the apprentice pointedly. “Doesn’t it say that on your chart?”
“Shards, I thought that was a mistake!” the apprentice blurted out, slamming a palm to his forehead. “And we were so busy taking vitals, I didn’t think to check…” He looked over at Mabonth apologetically. “I am so sorry!”
Mabonth answered with a hum and a toothy grin.
Kaiya smirked. “She doesn’t mind. She actually gets a kick out of making people think she’s blue!”
The apprentice frowned. “Hmm.”
“At least this time she stayed put,” Kaiya continued, “During her last exam, in the weyrling barracks, she kept on swapping places with her couchmate when the Dragon Healers weren’t looking. She and Laishanth look so much alike, with both of them being blue-green in color. But somehow it’s only Mabonth who gets mistaken for a blue all the time!”
“I… see.” The apprentice stared at Mabonth up and down. “I suppose we’ll have to redo Mabonth’s exam, knowing what we know now.”
Kaiya nodded. “All right.”
She turned to Mabonth. Can you hold out for just a little while longer?
Mabonth answered with a hum and a mental laugh. I can do this all day!
Kaiya sighed. I’m glad you’re enjoying this, she said. Just don’t give the Healers too much grief, okay?
Mabonth’s eyes whirled playfully. I won’t!
As Kaiya walked back to the waiting room, she passed a group of Dragon Healers walking the opposite way. One of them grumbled about a certain problem patient with an identity crisis, while another laughed. Kaiya saw them enter Mabonth’s room from the corner of her eye.
She silently wished them luck.