Nelve blinked back tears as the dragon left. She didn't think she would fit in at Himmel Hold, she wasn't exactly normal. Looking down at her legs, she knew that fitting in would be impossible. The fur that covered them was tawny in color, but she knew it wouldn't take the Lord Holder much time to see her, and decide that she was too odd. Everyone else had. This was the third Hold that she'd been to, and the third time that a different dragonrider from another Weyr had collected her, and taken her some place else. It wasn't fair, she didn't mean to be different, but it wasn't her fault. Glancing around the courtyard to the main hall, she took a shaky breath, and hoped that her knees didn't knock together when she asked the Lord Holder where to stay.

The young woman walked up to the door, and knocked lightly. A drudge answered the door, and she asked to be taken to see the Lord Holder. Following the drudge, she looked around, unsure of the place, but trying to get a feel for it. Taking another shaky breath in an attempt to steady herself, she watched the drudge go through a door, and, straightening her back, strode slowly into the room. It was late afternoon, and a bit cool in this area, which accounted for the fire that Nelve smelled. It was a comforting scent that reminded her of home, before the village had been burned in an endeavor to removed the half-breeds from among the humans of the vicinity. Gulping back tears at the thought of it, she moved to speak, but the Lord Holder turned around from his seat in front of the fire, and smiled at her.

"You must be Nelve," he said, and she nodded. "Yes, Scaran told me he was sending you here... said your differences..." he really looked at the fifteen turn girl then, noting the panther legs, that ended in large paws instead of feet. "Your differences were causing problems at his Hold." His voice softened as he took in the big brown eyes, the freckles upon the bridge of her aristocratically shaped nose, the short, tawny hair that fell to her shoulders, the legs and tail, the same tawny as her hair, and he had compassion on her, for her thought, she doesn't have control over what she is. That's no reason to throw her out of a Hold. What could possibly be the trouble with having a half-breed around?? Nelve nodded, lowering her eyes, knowing that this was impossible, she wouldn't be able to stay here either. Waiting to her his gentle dismissal, she was instead surprised to her his next words. "What've you brought with you??" Caught off guard, she answered,

"Just my one bag, sir. I left it at the door when they left me in." He smiled briefly at her, and called on of his drudges. "Take Lady Nelve's bag to the last room on the right please." Nelve's jaw involuntarily dropped open, causing the Holder to laugh. "My dear, do you think your differences are a fault of your own??" She shook her head, too stunned for more of a response. "Neither do I, and I see no reason why you should be judged for them. Come now, surely this isn't the first time that someone has seen potential in you, is it?? There must have been one, or you wouldn't be here today." Looking at him warily, wondering if she were being set up for something, she murmured, "my mother did, and look what it got her. She and the rest of my village burned." The Holder's eyes widened, and he stared at Nelve until her eyes met his. What he saw in them was nearly unreal. There was so much pain, hardness, a cry for help, and that was never a good thing, especially for a girl of only fifteen, no matter what the situation. He forced himself to straighten, not to gape, and commanded the drudge to escort her to her room.

Nelve wondered why she was being put in the last room, but didn't have time to think about that for long as she ascended the stairs. For now, until something else happened, this was to be her home, the place where she could come when she had problems, when she needed to be alone. As she walked down the hall, she heard doors opening, and, though she kept her head up, eyes straight ahead, she knew already that people were talking about her, about the tail and legs especially. If it wasn't for those, I'd look normal, she thought sadly, until a burst of pride sailed through her. I'd be normal, but no one would ever remember my family. The drudge opened a door, and the light scent of roses filled her nostrils. She gazed at the room, drank every detail in, while still at the door. There was a bed, not a cot like she, being a half-breed, usually received, but a real bed!! The roses that had produced the aroma sat in a vase by the window, where a gentle breeze pushed the long curtains to and fro, making them dance. The room wasn't large, but it had ample space for her to stretch, and simply be herself. The only thing that astounded her was that there was only one bed, not two.

Is this Holder so rich that everyone gets their own room?? she wondered, and then she heard the laughter. "He put her in isolation," someone snickered. "Yeah, he couldn't put her with us, he was afraid we might all get fleas!!" another jeered. Nelve felt her resolve to be aloft fade as tears formed in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, and trying to compose herself, she clenched her fists so tightly that her long, catlike nails drew blood. Nearly crying out at the pain, the creature who was Nelve almost considered leaving. Had the Lord Holder simply taken her in to confine her?? She hoped that it wasn't possible, though it looked that way. Was this some kind of cruel joke that was being played on her??