Date Posted:06:51:08 03/23/02 Sat Author: Willmina & W'menel Subject: Re: Early morning In reply to:
Willmina
's message, "Early morning" on 06:22:24 03/23/02 Sat
W'menel had already poured himself some klah and gone out into the dining hall when Willmina came in with the empty bowl. He gave a smile and looked at her intently.
"So, how went the laying?"
"All there. 23 and the queen egg. There will be a rather large green in there as well this time."
Willmina saw the amazed look on the Weyrleader's face.
"Quite a Clutch. How is Shetanth?"
"Fine and as protective of them as ever."
Willmina disappeared only long enough to get a cup of klah, then returned to sit with W'menel.
"I just dearly hope none of the Candidates are foolish enough to try and sneak out there."
"You made yourself very plain last night, Mina."
She caught the shortened, affectionate variant of her name.
It felt good, rather than offensive. She would let him use it in private talk. If it had been the other way, she would have instantly been on it and killed it.
"I don't know. There was a Clutch at Telgar where some of the Candidates snuck out to see the Clutch. To make the tale short, one of the boys was severely mauled by her front foreleg's claws when he tried to touch one of the eggs. I have never forgotten it."
"Yes, but neither did he." W'menel said lightly.
"He died. With the infection from it." She said softly. "They wanted to dismiss Shetanth and I after the Hatching but there was no Weyr to go to. We had to wait three turns until Minerva opened up."
Willmina took a long sip of klah and heard the sounds of the young folks in the hallway approaching.
