Mine, mine, mine! (Zeppy!)

[Maggie]

Gennesk had seen the new little wherlings arrive. He had not cared much. They were annoying little things and most definitely not for friend. Not yet. Maybe when they were older and a little less aggravating and screamy. He had dismissed them out of hand, but they hadn't arrived alone and that was what was bothering Gennesk. He had seen the little girl getting off the dragon. Or maybe Genner had seen here. Sometimes Gennesk wasn't sure which senses were his. It didn't matter, though, there was a little girl and Gennesk was very sure that those stpid little wherlings couldn't take care of her. He wouldn't let her be theirs. They didn't deserve a theirs yet.

He stealthily made his way down the corridor. He ould be stealthy when he wanted, pretending to be a rock whenever someone came by. He was going to go to the creche and he was going to find that little thing. And he was going to find out where her parents were and if she hada wher to watch her. Or a dragon. Dragons were nice too.

Genner followed him not too far behind. Gennesk hadn't exactly said where he was going and that's what worried Genner. He was fairly sure that the creche was another wher's lair and that his own stupid brown lizard shouldn't be bothering another wher's human eggs so quickly after having disturbed Yusk. And as stealthy as Gennesk obviously thought he was and as he could be outside, he was pathetically obvious inside the Weyr.

They stopped as Gennesk arrived at his desired destination. Apparently the person he had been tracking was not in the creche after all, which gave Genner some measure of relief. He had never doubted that Gennesk would find her wherever she was, though. His wher was oddly sensitive like that and fiendishly good at finding things, when he wanted to.

Gennesk stopped, crawling a little lower to the ground to make himself smaller as he crawled towards the little girl he had been stalking. He sent her wordless happiness and love. Gennesk is for little-thing friend! Where is be little-thing's big-things? He sent her an image of G'lin as a little baby, with Genner and Talin, both Gennesk and Task crouching protectively in the background. Little thing is be lost? Gennesk is be protect!

[Zephyr]

She should be in the creche.

Mouse has been told that she should be in the creche. She's even had people drag her back there when she wanders out, and the little girl has made a habit of leaving the creche. She loves everything and everyone, but other children are the one thing that can get on her nerves. Not that little Mouse would actually ever be disagreeable...she simple chooses to leave and find something she likes a little more.

When Gennesk finds her, she's just sneaked out of the creche yet again, Charlie at her heels. If only she could train him to bite anyone who tries to take her back...but that isn't nice, is it. She stands there, staring at the puppy...who is just staring back, tongue lolling out and panting stupidly. She's considering if it's possible for her to train him when he suddenly perks up. Ears go up and tail starts to wag at a mile a minute as he looks at something over her shoulder.

Mouse glares at the puppy, getting to her knees, grabbing his head gently and turning his face to look at her. I'm going to train you, Charlie, so you need to pay attention, okay? She's staring very intently at the canine, like she could impart her training to him by way of mind waves or something. The look on her face would be comical if anyone were there to see the complete and utter seriousness and intensity etched out on her face.

The scene is broken up when Charlie whines and drags his tongue over her face, causing Mouse to giggle and fall back onto her rear end. The puppy doesn't stay put for long. He gets up and walks past Mouse and the girl is left to twist her neck around at an awkward angle to see where her puppy is going. That's when the mindvoice enters her mind and she's left staring up in awe at a very big monster thing...much like the babies from the cave, but bigger!

Big things, what? Mouse frowns at the wher, scooting around until she's facing Gennesk, but still sitting on the ground, legs crossed. The picture becomes a little clearer when he actually shows her a baby and parents. Mouse doesn't have any big things, she tilts her head at the wher. Where sadness might be prevalent in some children's minds, Mouse is just amused and delighted. Mouse isn't lost, she's just looking for friends for her and Charlie.

The notion of anyone protecting her, makes the little girl giggle, and she reaches up fearlessly to grab Gennesk's head like she had Charlie's and drag it towards he's. Mouse doesn't need protecting, but she does need friends. Will you be her friend? As if to seal the deal, she gives the wher a big kiss on his snout, the grin on her face is massive.

[Maggie]

Genner watched the little girl fearlessly grab at the big wher. He wondered for a momment if she was wher-raised as he was, then remembered that no, she was Holdless, which should mean she was terrified of the big scary beasts. She was planting a big kiss on the wher's nose. He frowned a bit. That kind of behaviour could be dangerous if she ran into Ausk. Or Faranth forbid, Slosk. It was a good thing that she'd been brought to the Weyr where she could be protected.

Yes! Gennesk is be for friend! Gennesk is be for good friend. Gennesk is be like friend. He licked her hair with a rough tongue, then looked at Charlie. He postured a tiny bit, letting the canine see exactly how much bigger than him Gennesk was. It usually worked with canines. They liked being bossed around. Even W'lin's Aurora who was so much fun to play fetch with and very much unlike disobedient Snack. Mini-fluff-thing is be sit! He provided Charlie with a mental image of the puppy sitting obediently.

"Shouldn't you be in the creche?" Gennesk asked her gently. Gennesk gave him a disapproving look.

Is not be have big-things! Gennesk told his handler, distressed.

"No." He could see where this was going.

Is be mine, Gennesk hissed. He curled around Mouse and licked her hair. Mini is want be Gennesk's? Is be have name? Gennesk is be have Mini-mine, is not can be call Mini-mine.

Genner stared at Gennesk. The wher stared back and stamped a large paw. Genner sighed. It was easier to give in and he did like children much more than he liked adults. It felt... wrong somehow having her in the creche with no one to check in on her how and then. "You can't go kissing every strange wher you meet, little flitt," he told her gently. "Gennesk is very nice, but some are a little bitey. You have to ask the handler first."

[Zephyr]

Gennesk licking Mouse's hair got another delighted giggle out of the girl. Fear isn't something that Mouse has ever possessed, and she wraps her arms around the wher's neck, as far as she could and kissed his cheek lightly. Yay! We can go on adventures and be best friends and Charlie can come too.

Speaking of, Charlie had paused in his frantic attempt to go and greet Gennesk. Panting, the canine stared up at the wher, head canted to the side. He could tell the brown wher was trying to get him to do something, the body language was there...but he didn't know what it was until the wher send him a picture...and why should he listen to the wher? There's so much more fun to be had. So instead of sitting like Gennesk wanted him too, Charlie yipped playfully, wagging not only his tail, but his whole butt. Whining, he half jumped up onto Gennesk, forepaws on the wher's hide, tail wagging wildly.

Switching her gaze from Gennesk to Genner, she stared up at the man solemnly. Why would she be in the creche? No one in the creche is as fun as others...and other children are annoying. She shook her head at Genner, pouting and pressing herself tighter to Gennesk, burying her head in his side. I don't like that place. It's no fun.

Her grin grew when Gennesk curled around her and she giggled, nuzzling Gennesk. Mouse. My name is Mouse. I think. Everyone calls me Mouse, so that must be my name. I'm yours? She asked quietly, holding onto Gennesk even as Genner spoke to her. She blinked out at the man. She didn't understand why any wher would bite her. They're all so friendly and all she wants to do it hug them. She shook her head at the man, retreating back into the circle of Gennesk's body. Will Charlie be your friend too? I love him. He's the best puppy.

[Maggie]

Genner looked up at his wher. Gennesk was watching Mouse with happy green whirling eyes. At least Gennesk would probably make sure that no wher bit her. He was looming over her like a protective queen with her eggs. Genner-mine agree. Mini-mouse and Mini-fluff-thing is be stay. We is be bring Mini-fluff-thing meet Fetch-friend! He showed an image of Aurora,W'lin's canine who was so fun to play fetch the log with. Maybe she and Charlie would have fun.

He glared at Charlie, trying to make him obey. He gave Genner a reproachful look. Genner-mine is be make Mini-fluff-thing listen! He nosed the excited puppy, trying to knock him over. Snack the kitten like that. He would pounce back up to play. Maybe the canine liked it too.

Genner sighed. "We'll go talk to the creche workers. Looks like you're going to be living with us." He glared at Gennesk. "Or the sharding lizard will make a nuisence of himself." Gennesk made a cooing noise.

[Zephyr]

For the moment, Mouse was content with the massive brown wher wrapped around her. While probably not that big when compared to dragons, the creature was massive in comparison to the tiny child currently trying to press herself tightly against his hide. She understood what the wher was telling her. Perhaps she didn’t quite understand the finality of the decision, that Gennesk meant for good, or maybe at least just not for the night, but whatever the length of time, Mouse was endlessly pleased. She’d been intrigued with the reptile like creatures that weren’t as big and intimidating – even though she’d never admit to the dragons being intimidating in the least – they were more on Mouse’s level.

So going home with one was more than pleasing to the child.

Better yet, the wher agreed that Charlie could stay too! Mouse wasn’t sure what she’d do if she wasn’t allowed to keep Charlie. The canine really was her best friend, but at least she wouldn’t have to worry about thinking about that right yet. She squealed in happiness at the picture of the canine the brown put into her mind. Canines are the best, aren’t they? Maybe not as good as whers, but don’t tell Charlie that.

The canine in question was thrilled at the attention he was getting. He plaintively ignored the glare he was getting, jumping around with his rear end in the air. Gennesk successfully knocked Charlie over, but the pup was back on his feet in an instant, waggling his rear and tail. He showed no inclination of actually obeying the wher. He was having far too much fun. Indeed, Mouse made this clear as she leaned her head against the wher’s shoulder, watching the puppy trying to get him to play. Charlie doesn’t listen to anyone. Maybe her, if she asks nicely, but Mouse was just fine with him the way he was.

Her attention was again drawn to the man when he spoke, the tilt of her head as she listened to him curious for a moment. Her smile widened to epic proportions, and she would have run up to hug his legs if she wasn’t warm and comfy within the confines of Gennesk’s body. She giggled a little. Like she would have stayed in the crèche anyway, now with so much to explore!

[Maggie]

Genner chuckled. "He's your mini fluffy problem now, lizard, don't look at me." He leaned down to scratch Charlie's ears. "But you're right, we should bring him to meet Aurora. Canines like being with other canines, he would probably be very happy to have a friend like him to play with." He grabbed the puppy, lifting him up playfully and tossing him a few feet. The canine was big enough and strong enough to take it and like the flight.

"He's still a pup anyway. Pups don't listen much. But if you want, Mousey, we could start training him to be a guard dog so that you can follow the whers on patrol when you're a little older." He had seen non-handler guards do that, before. Those canines had been big, grizzled things, for the most part, but he remembered a few tiny, sneaky little things. Charlie might enjoy the work. Canines did like work, especially when it was fun work and Genner thought that guarding and patrolling was most definitely fun.

He paused. "Gennesk guard her now, I'm going to talk to the creche workers. If you want to head back home, you may."

Gennesk is for guard! Gennesk said happily Gennesk is be for Mini-Mouse guard. Mini-Mouse is for safe. Mini-fluff-thing is also be for guard! He sent Charlie an image of the canine nobly patrolling, sniffing out danger and being victorious in keeping everyone safe.