The results of a botched game of Frisbee lead to a stiff end for Kaiya and Mabonth's rivals.
Mabonth watched curiously as Kaiya slathered a layer of numbweed salve over the angry red welts covering her arms and legs. Mabonth let out a gentle creel as Kaiya winced for a moment, then sighed in relief as the salve did its work.
It itches, doesn’t it? Mabonth asked, trying to ignore the twitching of her own hide in reaction.
“It’ll be just fine,” Kaiya answered with a strained smile. “A few days of this and the itches will be gone.”
I’m sorry you have to go through this, Mabonth said sadly, It’s no fun at all!
“It wasn’t your fault the frisbee landed in those poison plants,” Kaiya replied, applying more numbweed salve. “And at least now the Headwoman knows to get someone to remove them before someone else gets hurt!”
A derisive snort made Kaiya look up abruptly as Thippia walked by.
“You look so sharding ridiculous!” she said, cackling with glee as she sauntered over to her side of the weyrling barracks.
Kaiya glared back at her and Mabonth growled. Rayth shot back with an indignant bugle.
“Wherry-hen,” Jopha muttered as she came in behind Thippia and plopped herself on the cot next to Kaiya’s. She looked over at Kaiya sympathetically. “Hanging in there?”
“Could be better,” Kaiya answered, “if Thippia and Rayth weren’t broadcasting it all over the Weyr.”
Jopha paused for a moment, communing with Deimoth, who was lounging on her couch and chewing on the remains of Jopha’s candidate robe. Jopha’s eyes quickly darted to the numbweed salve next to Kaiya’s bed, then her face immediately lit up.
“I think we have an idea!”
Kaiya stared back at her. “Huh?”
Mabonth brightened. Is it fun?
Just wait, Deimoth answered sneakily, You’ll love it!
The next morning, Kaiya woke to her entire body itching. She reached out for the bowl of numbweed salve, but her hands came up empty. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up.
“Jopha?” she asked wearily.
“Mmm…” Jopha mumbled and turned over.
“Where’s my numbweed?”
Jopha smirked in her sleep.
Suddenly, there was a shout and a low growl. Kaiya whipped her head toward the other end of the weyrling barracks and saw Thippia throwing a fit, with Rayth equally as angry.
“Aww ligh, oo but mumweeb en my tuutbrsh?” Thippia shouted, her tongue as numb as a block of ice.
One of the other girls burst out laughing, followed by another. The other dragons looked on curiously as Rayth’s usual bugling was replaced by low, blunted growls.
Jopha snickered as Kaiya looked on in horror. “You didn’t…”
“’Operation Shut Up’ is a success!” Jopha exclaimed, pumping a fist.
Mabonth hummed in delight. Rayth sounds funny!
Told you you’d like it! Deimoth said smugly.