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Absorbed. That is what K'rou and his dragon were in this quiet moment between events. In the privacy afforded them while K'rou changed into his best clothes for the feast, Cadereth lay at his feet, one forearm hooked around his leg and the rest of his length curled about the man's ankles in a possessive circle. Their minds were in constant rapport, their earlier clash of wills forgotten. Cadereth awakened such fervor in the man, unlike anything he had ever felt on his own. He wanted to move, yet also to settle and take root. To flourish. It was almost too much.

His steps were fast and full of purpose, his eyes bright as the pair strode toward the dining hall. In fact, so focused on his destination was K'rou that he nearly walked right by the confrontation that was taking place between two discomfited riders and a certain small, harmless woman. It was the bristling of his own dragon that brought the scene to the fore of his attention.

He instantly had a premonition of what was happening, and went directly to join the small gathering, Cadereth reluctantly following. “Gentlemen,” he said by way of greeting. “What seems to be the problem?” He turned to Yunara. “Are you hurt?”

He listened to what the rider said, his expression one of interest. He was a brand new weyrling, learning the ropes from his elders. He even nodded at the end, looking down at the girl as if appraising her worthiness in a new light.

“A burden, is she?” K’rou touched his thumb to his chin in a thoughtful gesture. “That’s kind of you to speak about my wife like that.”

Putting his arm around the girl, K’rou murmured a quiet agreement. "Yes, Ara, dearest... you should have spoken up. Now you’ve been upset.”

Beside him, Cadereth’s eyes were whirling full red, his wings mantled, for the dragonet sensed his lifemate’s ire long before he let it show outwardly. It was the other rider’s next question that brought it out full bore. K’rou’s gaze snapped to the outspoken one, his face going completely cold.

“You’ve twice now insulted an honest woman in front of her husband.” Softly, he placed a hand to the back of her head, cupping her protectively to his chest as if trying to shield her from the other’s words. “Never mind a harmless little lady who couldn't hurt a thing. You, on the other hand, might have done well to have left with the Westerners.”

The other’s outburst prompted a short exhale through K’rou’s nostrils—an acerbic little chuckle at something that was decidedly unamusing. “Didn’t you know? We holdborn are often married off quite young for the sake of a generous dowry or a convenient alliance.” Again his expression hardened. “But not in this case. Your ignorance has only injured my darling’s sensitivities about her delicate looks. That’s three times you’ve insulted her now, my friend. I’d advise you not to make it four.”

K’rou did not lower his gaze from the retreating men’s backs until they were out of sight. Even then, it was not Yunara whom he looked to, but Cadereth. The bronze was still posturing aggressively. He hissed after giving the girl’s leg an investigatory sniff.

I don’t understand why you are so upset over this. Why are you sticking your neck out for this girl?

K’rou had no answer. Or, rather, he gave none. Cadereth’s interrogation had made him abruptly aware that he was still embracing the small woman—a state he corrected with a simple step back and a poise-mustering brush of his fingers through the hair at his temple. Only then did he look at Yunara, giving her a cursory once-over to make sure she was indeed unharmed. His belated, unspoken answer made Cadereth bristle all the more.

Because it’s the right thing was not what the hatchling had wanted to hear.

“They’ll let you alone now,” he said to the girl. “You should hurry up and get ready if you were planning to go to the feast. It's starting any minute.”

Her hasty exit was… unexpected. K’rou watched her go, brows furrowed.

Cadereth looked at his rider, then at the closed door, fully aware of what was taking place on the other side of it. Wisps of light green flickered in his otherwise red eyes, and he let out a whuffling laugh. This was… delicious. K’rou was no fool, but in particular matters such as this, he was clearly as dimwitted as a bovine. His confusion at the girl’s response to the rescue was complete for a long moment before he swept it away, pushing it into a little compartment within his mind.

“Come, Cadereth, we’re about to be late.”

The dragonet needed no further invitation. With another hiss toward the room where the spare had gone, he pressed close to K’rou’s leg and moved on with him toward the dining hall.