The Patter of Little Feet (calling C'lyn)

[B'kay]

The child played with his own little green and Memory, who already had learned her share of tricks, and was showing off merrily. She really seemed to like the tot. Not that she was an unfriendly flitter, but she normally hadn't taken that brightly to small children. That was a good sign.

Gaylen hoped....

She'd had Alabanth ask Greylith to have C'lyn meet her here. Bringing Ranny along to the infirmary office, she thought it might be best to leave Auria behind for now ... and talk to C'lyn alone.

She knew C'lyn was busy -- there was always so much for the MasterHealer to do in the Weyr. Alabanth's quiet, slightly disapproving, He'll be along shortly, had not reassured her.

But as she watched the little boy play, no matter how she tried, she simply could not detach her heart from him.

[C'lyn]

When Greylith informed him that Gaylen wished to speak to him in the office he smiled. He enjoyed any moment he got to spend with the blue rider.

He finished his rounds through the infirmary, checking on the patients there and answer the apprentice and journeyman's questions as he went. His green firelizard chirped and hummed from his shoulder as he walked, checking his lists in his hands.

He opened the door to the office and stopped just inside the door, his head tilted to the side as he saw Gaylen and a toddler. He smiled as he saw Memory playing with the little boy and wondered in the back of his mind what was wrong with the boy, looking him over to see any physical evidence that might give him a hint. He walked into the room and smiled to Gaylen, leaning close to kiss her lovingly on the cheek.

"Hello love," he said as he set the sheets of hide in his hand on the desk. Rhapsody chirped a greeting of her own as she hopped down from her person's shoulder to look at Ranny curiously.

"What does the little one need? A tummy ache or a runny nose the needs looking after?" he asked, kneeling down to smile to Rannell.

[B'kay]

When C'lyn and Rhapsody came in, obviously content in their day, Gaylen sincerely hoped she wasn't about to ruin that mood. She smiled as C'lyn kissed her, and reached up to stroke the little green before the flitter turned her attention on the newcomer in the room.

The way the child's eyes lit up when he saw yet another firelizard brought a smile to the bluerider's face.

"What does the little one need?" she repeated C'lyn's question, avoiding his eyes with a mischievous twinkle in her own. "Well, actually ..." She looked up at C'lyn with her most appealing, she hoped, expression and said, with a sly chuckle,

"Um. It followed me home. Can I keep it?"

Memory chirped and trilled, waving her little golden wings happily, as Rhapsody joined the game of trick and treat that she was obviously already enjoying.

[**Auria (etc)**]

Rannell was elated! Yet ANOTHER "geen pretty" had arrived to play with him!

"You very pretty, do you like to sake han's?"

He turned to wave at C'lyn, his large eyes full of light and smiles. "Your pretty very pretty, too! Mines is name Wizzerd! She smart, she sake han's!"

At the sound of her favorite game, Wizzerd held her little forepaw out for her boy to shake, and opened her maw for the tiny bit of dried berry she knew Ranny would have in his pouch.

After delivering the little green's treat, he turned again toward the two adults, beaming with pride.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn smiled as the little boy showed off his little green's trick. He thought it unusual that one so young had impressed and wondered where his parents were. "My pretty's name is Rhapsody," he supplied for the young boy as the green chirped a greeting as she nuzzled against Memory gently in greeting and respect.

C'lyn stood and turned to look at Gaylen as she repeated his question a brow arched slightly at the look on her face.

When she spoke again all he could do was blink at her a long moment, her mouth hanging slightly a jar. He licked his lips and looked between his love and the little boy, a look of confusion on his face.

"Followed you home?" he echoed softly, turning to face the blue rider fully. "What about his parents dear heart? Have you told them where he is? Or the foster parents?" he asked, still unable to shake the confused look as he tried to figure out what sort of joke Gaylen was playing, or if she was serious about wanting to keep the boy.

Not that he would mind being a foster parent, and he thought it might give Gaylen something to help her focus, but he also had his worries too. He leaned his hip against the edge of his desk and reached out to gently take the blue rider's hand as he waited patiently for an explanation.

[B'kay]

Gaylen laced her fingers through C'lyn, the familiar contact so comforting. She had thought, not all that long ago, that she might never hold his hand again. And now, the thought of helping to raise a child together--?

A silly thought. Was it?

She laughed softly and turned her gaze on the little boy, so happily playing with the firelizards. Memory of course had always loved Rhapsody, the pair were oddly close for a Queen and a green. The image of both of them accepting little Wizzerd into their friendship was encouraging.

"This is Rannell," she said, turning back to C'lyn with a smile. "He's the little child who has turned the girls' candidate barracks upside down ... " she lowered her voice ... "His family, but for his Aunt, who will stand for this Hatching, were killed in the first threadfall."

She paused for a moment, knowing that C'lyn had heard the stories.

"Q'tris has been searching for a foster family for him, but with the Hatching so close, and so many of the Weyrfolk being so young and so very busy...." She shrugged, knowing that the rest really spoke for itself.

"He thought I was his Grammy," she whispered, eying the child with wonder. "I'm not sure what came over me, but I found myself making the most unusual suggestion. It will probably only be temporary ... I think ... till after the Hatching and things settle...." she scowled slightly, not sure if she could trust that prediction or not.

Once you have him, you will not want to let him go. Her blue's mental voice was still grumbly, but not quite as judgmental as before.

"Oh, and Alabanth is being a bit of a grouch about it," she added, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling.

She laughed as Memory, about to take a bit of berry delicately from Ranny's fingers, was upstaged by Wizzerd. The Queen cheeped in surprise as she watched her treat vanish into the little green mouth.

[**Auria (etc)**]

Ranny tilted his head, listening carefully as C'lyn introduced the little green. His face grew thoughtful, and one could almost see the effort to wrap his tongue around Rhapsody's name in his eyes.

"Hullo, Raspy," he finally said, leaning toward her and holding out a bit of berry. "You like goodies, too? You very cute!"

[C'lyn]

Rhapsody chirped softly as she stretched her neck out to sniff at the bit of sweet fruit in the little boy's hand. She took the tidbit carefully from his finger, nuzzling against his chubby fingers as she did. She crooned up to the boy and shook her wings cheerfully.

C'lyn watched Rannell with the firelizards as Gaylen explained the situation. He had heard about a little boy stowing away in the girl's barracks and he had heard about the losses during the first fall.

He turned to look at Gaylen, squeezing her hand tenderly as she sighed softly, a smile hovering about his lips. "Are you sure that you feel up to this love?" he asked gently. "I will help you the best I can, but with the injuries from the Fall and my other duties I don't know how much that will be. And the hours that I keep could disrupt the boys rest," he said, his eyes showing his concern.

"But, if he thinks you look like his Grammy, then that might be best for him," he said, thoughtfully, tilting his head to look at the young boy. He sighed softly and smiled, laughing gently. "You know I can't say no to you love," he said with a lopsided grin. "Just promise me you'll let me know if it gets to be too much for you."

[B'kay]

Gaylen felt a warm wash of affection go through her as C'lyn okayed the idea.

"I think we'll be fine," she replied. "I'd be sure to enroll him with the harpers for lessons, and in the nursery groups as well. He'd mostly be with us only when those things are not running during the day, at mealtimes, and at night, I think."

She reached for Alabanth, who felt less grumbly but still suspicious. The elder blue had gotten most comfortable with his current family routine, and Gaylen could tell he was reluctant to see it change so drastically. She sent him hugs, and memories of how much he had loved to be with her own children when they were small.

It is temporary, the dragon replied, though Gaylen felt that he was consenting to the idea somewhat. I will think of it as temporary.

She chuckled and sent him thoughts of love. "Alabanth concedes," she told C'lyn, "And is thinking of the situation as a temporary one. I don't want to make this decision final until Greylith has a chance to weigh in, of course."

She looked at the greenrider, her brows raised, as Ranny rose from his circle of little flittery friends and, yawning, crossed the room and climbed into her lap.

"I think someone's getting sleepy," she said to C'lyn, and gave him a smile.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn smiled and reached out to gently brush his fingers over the boy's hair. "He does look sleepy," he agreed even as he searched for Greylith's mind

The green was settled comfortably on the fire heights, sunning herself. She listened quietly as her rider explained everything to her and when he was finished she gave a soft laugh.

This could be an interesting experience mine. I have no objections,[/color] she said as she sent C'lyn love thoughts and then crooning affections to Alabanth.

C'lyn smiled down to Gaylen and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Greylith has no objections and even things it will be an adventure of sort," he said with a soft laugh.