Part 6: poof You Are a Shrape!

Another day, and Krisr and Raina Lynn were seated together in a corner near the fireplace at Hillman's Bloody Notch. Krisr's term of employment there had ended when a pair of traveling minstrels had come to town, but it was familiar to the two bondmates, so they spent their evenings there. Krisr was working on repairing a few dresses for the Notch's head cook, Enid, a hefty woman who, according to Krisr, '...had about as much patience as she had beauty... and that isn't saying much!' Mending the dresses was work, however, and it was work that Krisr needed, now that the two of them had to pay room and board. Even Raina Lynn had gotten a job, washing linens for the Notch and a few of the more fortunate townsfolk. Raina hated the job more than anything, but she knew that the only reason that she and Krisr were staying in the city and paying for their lodgings was because she hadn't become a shrape. She did the dirty work, spending so much time rubbing clothes along the washboard in a tub of soapy water that her tail was continually damp. She now was curled on top of the chair across from Krisr, trying to rub her tail dry on a rag and absorbing heat from the fire.

Raina barely fit on the chair anymore. She had grown continually since hatching. It had now been a good two weeks since she had grown too large to ride on Krisr's shoulders. She weighed quite a bit, and she had nearly quadrupled in length. Krisr was examining her carefully from across the table as he tightened a seam on Enid's dress.

"You know, my queen, I fear that you have spent too much time in the wash tub. You are so long now that I am starting to think you shall be a Marine shrape." He returned his gaze to his work, exaggerating the motions of the needle and thread in and out of the coarse fabric. Raina made a comical expression, scrunching down one of her eye ridges and glaring at Krisr with her other eye.

*You know quite well that I am not going to be a Marine shrape, Krisr,* she scolded, flicking her tail back and forth.

"Well, I see no legs and I see no wings... m'lady best get a move on it, or we shall tally here too late and be stranded with no pass across the mountains." Krisr pretended to be casual, but Raina could sense his impatience. She didn't want to be here anymore than he did... in fact, she had suggested that they leave regardless of her status. Krisr, however, would hear none of it, refusing to leave Plativa until Raina had matured. After that, neither bondmate said no more. Krisr finished mending the dresses and returned them to Enid the Cook. Then, he and Raina retired to the room.

Long after Krisr had fallen into a light sleep, Raina lay at the foot of the bed, curled around herself. She could not sleep. She was restless. Her muscles felt tight, and no matter which way she turned, she couldn't get comfortable.

Blast that washing... She thought and sighed aloud. There was no need to disturb Krisr. She slid off the bed as quietly as she could manage and made her way over to the pot of warm coals they kept in the room. Since fall had begun, the nights had grown a bit chilly. Fearing for Raina's health, Krisr paid a bit extra to have the warm coals in their room. Now, Raina curled up, her body touching the warm metal, trying to ease her aches. It was of no avail, however. A few sharp pangs ran down her sides, and she grimaced and twisted about. She needed to move!

Gingerly, she pulled open the door to their room, trying to muffle the slight creak of the hinges. Then, she crept down the stairs and into the main room of the tavern. The ashes in the fireplace were nearly out, and not a soul was around. Hillman usually cleared everyone out by midnight at the latest and then locked and bolted all the doors. His old hound, Beor, lay near the door. The dog was kept around merely because Hillman was attached to him... long ago, his hearing had failed, and in old age, Beor's sleep was so deep that Raina imagined an entire guild of thieves could tromp past him and not risk so much as a growl.

Raina slithered up and down the well worn wooden floor, rubbing and twisting herself around, trying to ease the muscle cramps that seemed to be plaguing her. She could take it no longer! She stretched herself out to full length... and suddenly, she felt something give. She felt like she was walking through a hot ray of sun, and the air around her seemed to glow. She stretched out even further... stretched out legs!

So surprised was she by their appearance that she let out a short "Treee!" of surprise. Quickly, she regained her composure and crouched close to the floor, listening for any sounds. She didn't seem to have roused anyone. Carefully, she stretched out her front legs, examining them. Then, twisting around, she saw that she also had back legs! She was a Terran, just like her father! Cautiously, she sat up, pushing her weight against her front legs. From this new sitting position, she examined the room from a higher vantage point.

Raina Lynn

This is going to take some getting used to... she thought, and she wondered how she would ever get back up the stairs.

Part 6: *poof* You Are a Shrape!

Part 6: poof You Are a Shrape!