Be or Not to Be? Pt 2

Writers: Len, Paula
Date Posted: 4th December 2014

Characters: Uetia, Jaylene
Description: Jaylene gets wind that Uetia's out of sorts
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel, Rhosyn, J'zen, Jayonne, Sabonus, Tamah; Pt 2 of 2

Jaylene

Both dragons landed at the Weyr's port. Right now the port was empty, been since Sabonus' ship had left. Uetia knew the next one was due to arrive tomorrow or maybe day after tomorrow. It depended on winds and weather. Tamah peered out of his office when the two women dismounted. Recognizing Uetia, he just gave her a wave and withdrew back inside.

"No audience, good," Uetia remarked. They didn't even need the Weyr's resident dolphineer, since Uetia was also dolphineer and qualified to handle dolphin diagnostics. She was surprised how nervous she felt.

"It's okay." Jaylene reached out and rubbed her friend's upper arm, giving reassurance. "Let's just get it over with and then we can talk about it, okay?" Uetia's nerves were beginning to wash over her as well.

"´Kay," Uetia said and took a deep breath. The walked to the end of the dock jutting out to the sea. Uetia knelt to ring the dolphin bell.

Jaylene held her breath and knelt beside her friend. "It's okay," she said more to herself than to Uetia.

Uetia squeezed her hand for encouragement. She wasn't sure for whose encouragement, hers or Jaylene's.

It didn't take long for the pod to arrive. The dolphins leaped around the dock, whistling greetings.

"Uetii! Long no see!" the was reprimand in their warbles.

"I know, I've just been too busy to swim with you," she found herself grinning. It was hard to stay down around the ever cheerful dolphins. She started to remove her clothes. She hadn't brought a swim suit, so she just took off everything. She wasn't bothered if someone happened to see her. There weren't any outsiders around and most of the weyrfolk had seen plenty of naked greenriders. "Wanna join me in the water?" she asked Jaylene before diving among the dolphins. She was soon surrounded, the sea mammals poking, clicking and begging for scratches. One curious young male stick his bottle nose where it wasn't acceptable and Uetia gave him absentminded swat.

Jaylene had never swam with the dolphins, preferring to deal with any unwanted pregnancies the old fashioned way--never really know if they were in fact pregnancies and just stay a long time /between/. She looked at the playful creatures. "Oh, why not?" Stripping off her leathers, she dove into the sea beside Uetia.

"This is Jaylene, she's my friend," Uetia introduced her to the pod. "And this is River Bluff's local pod," she patted head bulges.

"Jayyy!" the dolphins whistled.

"Hey!" Jay waved back, not sure quite what to do. One dolphin slipped under her fingers. "Oh! They're so soft!" Their skin was certainly a texture she was not expecting.

"Screetch!" the dolphin begged.

"And affectionate and sneaky," Uetia said and showed Jaylene how the dolphins liked to be scratched and petted.

"Oh! okay." Jaylene scratched the dolphin's hide, delighting in the way it felt. "They really are charming creatures, aren't they?"

"They're annoying little buggers," Uetia said with apparent fondness for the creatures. Then she came serious again. They were here for the reason. She spotted the pod matron and gave her a signal. The matron swam closer and pushed the younger ones out of her way.

"Yess?"

"I want you to sound me, to look if I'm having a baby," Uetia asked her. Her hand touched the belly below navel.

The matron whistled an agreement and let her body sink below the surface. Uetia didn't hear or feel anything, except the nervous fluttering in her stomach.

The matron's head appeared again. "Babee," she squeelled happily. "Uetiii's babee," her confirmation caused a commotion among the dolphins. The words "Ueti's babee," got repeated from dolphin to dolphin and they showed their happiness at the news with acrobatic leaps and tail walking.

Jaylene found her stomach sinking with those words. There was a stab of fear that the baby might be her baby brother's and a greater worry for Uetia. She said nothing but turned her large, dark eyes to the taller girl.

Uetia didn't know what to think, so she didn't think it at all...just now. She thanked the dolphins and promised to swim with them again later. "Let's get back up," she suggested to Jaylene.

What little fun there had been to the day was now over. Jaylene nodded her agreement and scrambled up after Uetia. She toweled off in silence, letting Uetia compose her thoughts before speaking.

"Weeelll, that left little room for doubt," Uetia finally said, using her shirt to towel her hair.

"No, it didn't, did it?" Jaylene sat down against her delicate little green, who crooned at her and touched her shoulder with her nose. "Do you know who the father is?"

"Sabonus," she didn't hesitate. "Most likely, about 90 percent sure it's him," she added after moment of thought. There was Sirjath's recent Mating flight and it's timing did fit into her cycle.

Jaylene let out her breath. So it wasn't Jayonne. Not that it wasn't any less bad for poor Uetia, but at least her baby brother was not the father.

Uetia noticed the breath. "Don't worry, you won't be called auntie, not by this one," she patted her belly.

Jaylene caught her eye and grinned. "Could you imagine? Though I think J'zen would fit the role of 'auntie' better."

"Yes, he would," Uetia chuckled.

"So what're you going to do?"

"Keep it. I think the first step is to make appointment with healers. They can then tell it to K'sedel...unless you tell him?" Uetia replied. "I'll be moved to queen's wing," she sighed. She enjoyed flying with her current wing.

Jaylene wrapped an arm around her friend. "Don't worry, I'll let him know. If you want, I'll even go talk to Rhosyn and let her know you're going her wing. You can just go and relax. We're going to miss you, you know." She blinked her large eyes, trying not to tear up.

"Stop, don't make me cry," Uetia said. "Thanks for the help. I'll deal with Rhosyn myself. I wonder if Tamah will borrow his flit so I can send the news to Sabonus."

"I'm sure he will. Do you know where Sabonus is right now?" Jaylene looked out to sea, as if she could spot the errant sailor for Uetia.

"Somewhere over there. I have the ship's name and estimated schedule," she gestured towards the wide open ocean. She knew the ship's schedule though, so maybe she should send the message to the next port of call?

Jaylene sighed and squeezed Uetia's shoulders. "Come on, mama, let's get your home at least."

Last updated on the December 26th 2014

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Be or Not to Be? Pt 2