Mabonth was bored.

It seemed like every fun thing she did either made Vanzanth angry or got Kaiya in trouble.

She tried challenging the other dragonets to staring contests, which was fun until Sespanath chased her off – what a sore loser! She tried playing rock, paper, scissors with Meedith and sent him sulking off to the weyrling barracks – so sensitive! She had even tried playing hide-and-seek with Dhanth, but the moment he started calling her stupid names – what a jerk! – she almost mauled him before Vanzanth intervened. Dhanth was now the proud owner of a very sore rump.

But the last straw was when she hid a hotfruit in Cyrnath’s wallow and almost got her head bitten off – it was only a joke, and it was Deimoth’s idea! But it had set Cyrnath’s rider off against Kaiya, and nothing was worth that! Kaiya already didn’t get along with Rayth’s rider, and she didn’t need another enemy.

Needless to say, Vanzanth was now keeping a very close watch on Mabonth to make sure she didn’t cause any more distress.

Now she was loafing around near the weyrling barracks, bored out of her mind. She kicked a few rocks around, wondering if she could make a game out of it, but nothing came to mind. She looked up at the sky, thinking she might do some cloud-watching, but ironically there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. Maybe...

Aaargh!

Mabonth let out a huff and slapped her tail against the ground in frustration. I’m so bored!

“Mabonth!”

Mabonth looked up to see Kaiya running toward her, smiling and carrying something shiny and metallic under her arm.

“I have a surprise for you!” She held her hand out, revealing a flat, metal round disc with a curved rim.

Mabonth perked up. What is it?

“It’s called a ‘frisbee’. I found a picture of it in some old Record, and I thought I’d have one made. It cost a few marks from the Smithcrafters, but hopefully it’s worth it!” She grasped it in one hand, and threw it.

The frisbee flipped around and landed on the ground with a metallic ‘thunk’, spinning until it lay flat.

Mabonth blinked and tilted her head. Was it supposed to do that?

Kaiya frowned. “No.” She picked up the disc and dusted it off. “Let’s try that again.” She threw it again, more gently this time, and in a curved arc.

Mabonth gaped as the disc glided smoothly through the air, hovering lower and lower until it landed softly on the ground.

Smiling, Kaiya jogged over to the frisbee, picked it up, and threw it toward Mabonth. “Catch it!” she called out.

Mabonth bugled joyfully and chased after the gliding frisbee. With a burst of energy, she leaped up, catching it in her mouth. She landed on the ground with a shake, then trotted back to Kaiya with the frisbee in her mouth. Again, again! she said, her jeweled eyes whirling.

Kaiya took the frisbee and tossed it again, with Mabonth giving chase. “So how is it?” she asked as Mabonth caught the frisbee again. “Is it better than fetch?”

Mabonth sat down, letting the frisbee fall out of her mouth. She thought very hard. Was it better than fetch? She thought of a stick flying through the air, falling to the ground, and getting lost among the other sticks. Then she thought of the gleaming, silver disc gliding through the air, and decided it was better than any old stick!

The frisbee came again, and Mabonth did a funny little flip before catching it in midair. She landed with a thump, brought the frisbee back, and nuzzled into Kaiya’s arms.

Thank you.

Kaiya smiled and stroked Mabonth’s head. “Anytime.”

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