"The dragon," Daine says, "but she's only a baby." And it's been months since Daine saw her outside a dream (which, considering she's come back the same day she left, means it was never really Kitten in the first place). Odd's bobs, she's going to have to work to just keep from crying. No one would understand, and she doesn't want to have to explain the whole thing with every single reunion.
The stables are quiet when they arrive, which at least makes it easier to unsaddle Cloud. Daine's out of practice, fumbling at buckles with shaking fingers, forcing herself not to rush it even though she wants to dash to her quarters and find Kitten, Numair, Onua, everyone. But Cloud wouldn't settle for shoddy treatment, and she certainly doesn't deserve it - and besides, Daine's pleased to be with her again, too (for all that Cloud keeps grumbling about how Daine isn't making much sense).
"Sorry," she says to Peeta as she gives Cloud one last pat. "I expect Kitten'll be in my quarters, and then we can figure out where Numair's hiding." Judging by the position of the sun and her own returning memories of how things work here, Daine guesses the trainees are having lessons with Sarge or Onua or Buri - or all three. But Numair wouldn't be involved with that. As she leads Peeta to her quarters, she sends a thread of magic into the palace and asks one of the friendlier cats if they wouldn't mind checking Numair's rooms for the mage. Once the cat agrees, she shifts her focus back to the task at hand.
As expected, the barracks are all but deserted. Trainees look after themselves, so there's no need for additional staff to clean up after them or anything like that. Daine's room is on the ground floor, and she leads Peeta to her door - Goddess, who knew you could get emotional just from looking at a dratted door - and pushes it open.
Her room is, of course, exactly as she left it. And there's Kitten, curled up atop Daine's quilt along with a pair of two bolder cats, all in a warmth-conserving lump. The dragon lifts her head with a drowsy cheep of inquiry, and Daine lets out a soft, dry sob. "Kit!" The dragon has just enough time to look mildly alarmed before Daine scoops her up in a tight hug.
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The stables are quiet when they arrive, which at least makes it easier to unsaddle Cloud. Daine's out of practice, fumbling at buckles with shaking fingers, forcing herself not to rush it even though she wants to dash to her quarters and find Kitten, Numair, Onua, everyone. But Cloud wouldn't settle for shoddy treatment, and she certainly doesn't deserve it - and besides, Daine's pleased to be with her again, too (for all that Cloud keeps grumbling about how Daine isn't making much sense).
"Sorry," she says to Peeta as she gives Cloud one last pat. "I expect Kitten'll be in my quarters, and then we can figure out where Numair's hiding." Judging by the position of the sun and her own returning memories of how things work here, Daine guesses the trainees are having lessons with Sarge or Onua or Buri - or all three. But Numair wouldn't be involved with that. As she leads Peeta to her quarters, she sends a thread of magic into the palace and asks one of the friendlier cats if they wouldn't mind checking Numair's rooms for the mage. Once the cat agrees, she shifts her focus back to the task at hand.
As expected, the barracks are all but deserted. Trainees look after themselves, so there's no need for additional staff to clean up after them or anything like that. Daine's room is on the ground floor, and she leads Peeta to her door - Goddess, who knew you could get emotional just from looking at a dratted door - and pushes it open.
Her room is, of course, exactly as she left it. And there's Kitten, curled up atop Daine's quilt along with a pair of two bolder cats, all in a warmth-conserving lump. The dragon lifts her head with a drowsy cheep of inquiry, and Daine lets out a soft, dry sob. "Kit!" The dragon has just enough time to look mildly alarmed before Daine scoops her up in a tight hug.