Home and Family

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 22nd May 2017

Characters: Jessmyr, A'kua, Myrria, Jessria, Gunria
Description: A'kua takes Jessmyr to meet his family.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 13 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Yanley, Genna

**I should have matchin' leathers for this,** A'kua grumped as he slid down Zeiranth's side and landed close to the agreed-upon Bowl exit.

The bronze tilted his head slightly. His rider had brown boots, black pants, black jacket, brown helmet, a red scarf, and red gloves. }:Why is matching gear needed? You look fine,:{ he commented.

**I look like the quilt Ma made,** the redhead returned. **I need to look good so Jessmyr looks good for his folks; this's the first time he's gone home in a while, and holders're sticklers for this kind of thing.**

}:Well, to hear you tell it, looks might not matter much. The fact Jessmyr has you, a bronzerider-:{

**An unranked one.**

}:-even unranked, as his friend to give him rides, will look good to the holders. That's what you said, right? Anyway, it's too late now. He should be coming to meet us soon,:{ Zeiranth pointed out.

Jessmyr walked out and waved at A'kua. He was bundled up warmly, perhaps bit too warmly. He was also very nervous. He never ridden a dragon before. Also meeting his family after such a long time made him nervous. He had cleared with the Weyrhealer that it was safe as long as they stayed out of /between/,

"Hi, A'kua. My duty to you, Zeiranth and thank you for doing this for me. You have to fly straight and not to go too high up." His smile was bit wavery and he felt like had swallowed a big rock. He was carrying a bag with some gifts for his family, which had been Lady Yanley's suggestion.

"I'm glad to do it," A'kua said sincerely. "Zei, lie down, would you?"

The bronze did so, allowing the bag to be strapped into place, and then A'kua laced his hands together. "All right. Foot here, I'll boost you up."

"Thanks," Jess scrabled up to Zei's back with A'kua's help. "It's really not that far, just fly towards Sea of Azov, following the Trade road. It's a runnerstation."

"All right." A'kua hauled himself up as well, fixed the spare harness to his friend, then strapped in too. "I'll follow the precautions, of course, but should you need a break, shake my shoulder and Zei will land," he stated, and moved his scarf and goggles back into place. "Goin' up in three, two, one!"

Zeiranth launched as carefully as possible, flying until he was facing the appropriate direction as directed by his rider, then started soaring and maintaining a safe distance above the ground.

Jess's heart seemed to skip a beat when Zeiranth took to the air but after a moment he relaxed and started to enjoy the experience. The view was spectacular and envied the dragonriders even more. After a maybe half of a candlemark, he recognized the familiar landscape. Even seen from the air, he could not mistake it. He tapped A'kua's shoulder and pointed to a small Hold, tucked between mountains by the road. "Land there, that's it!" He yelled over the wind.

**Take us down, Zei. Make it look good,** A'kua stated.

}:You got it!:{ As gracefully as he could manage, Zeiranth began a slow, magestic spiral down toward the closest open area he saw. A'kua hoped someone was watching and was telling everyone they could think of that a bronze had come to call. The more people who saw Jess arriving in such a way, the better, in his mind.

People were pouring out of the Runner station and the Hold associated with it. They pointed the landing dragon and Jess could see the excitement their arrival was causing.

A'kua was so glad the scarf covered his mouth. He was smirking like mad. Zeiranth landed, stretched his wings to full width and folded them, then laid down again. A'kua twisted about and unfastened the harness, then offered his arm to help Jess down. "You first," he said quietly with a wink behind the goggles.

Jess nodded. His fingers trembled a bit when he unclasped the straps.

A girl, about twelve Turns old, was first to reach them. "Are you a searchrider?" she asked, sounding hopeful.

"By Faranth, is that you, Gunria?" Jess barely recongnized her, she had grown up so much.

A'kua shifted his accent to sound as though he'd been born at the Weyr. "I'm afraid I'm not a searchrider, small lady; just a good friend of Dragonsfall's future Headman here," he said, giving Jess his arm again and helping him slide down. "Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm here, Jessmyr?"

The girl looked disappointed and frown at Jess, apparently not recognizing him.

Jess was just about to reply to A'kua, when a he was pulled into a hug. "Great Eggs. It's you, Jessmyr!" the middle aged woman was tall and thin like all of Runner Blood. She alse bore a likeness to Jess.
"Mom!" Jess had tears in his eyes when he answered the hug.

Wow. Someone was glad to see the young man. A'kua felt a lump in his throat as he took in the scene. He found himself hoping Jess' mother would be proud of him and what he was accomplishing. After a moment, he coughed, both to clear his throat out and get Jess' attention. "Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. What time would you like me to come get you?" he inquired to make it seem as though he was at his friend's beck and call.

"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Jess' mother looked at him. "No need for you to go back and forth. Any friend of Jess is welcome to stay around. Too bad your father and Myress are currently in Opal Cove."

"How are they? How are you?" Jess asked.

"They fine. You can't believe how tall Myress is grown to. I'm fine too, every one is. Myrria has a baby now. Come inside, we need to sit down and catch up properly. Don't just gawk there, Gunria, go and get the klah brewing." She was obviously a woman who was used to get things done and be in charge. She was also a speedtalker.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of imposing," A'kua demurred, not wanting to steal the spotlight from Jess. That, and he didn't know how long he could maintain the mimicked accent.

"Nonsense, git in. Yer not impossing. This is a runner station, all are welcome to stay and rest. Especially dragonmen," she brushed his objections aside. "I wish we had more dragonriders visiting but we're probably too close to the Weyr, they go for big Holds for their ale."

"A'kua, this is my mother Jessria, Mom, this is my friend, A'kua, rider of bronze Zeiranth. She's a boss around here when dad's not home, and he's not home much," Jess grinned.

"She's a boss even when dad's home," the woman was few Turns older than Jess and carrying a baby.

"Myrria! Who's the lucky guy?"

"Remember Tollik, from the Standing Rock minehold?" she replied and then curtsied to A'kua. "Please, be welcome."

"Big fellow, black hair?"

"Yes, he's journeyman minecrafter now."

A'kua paused, and looked to Jessmyr for guidance. He would stay only if his friend said he could.

"Come on, you deserve a meal for your effort, mom's a great cook," Jess invited A'kua. The warm reception from his family had made a stone fall off from his heart. Things might have been more awkward if his father been home.

}:Your effort? I'm the one who flew us here,:{ Zeiranth stated.

A'kua stifled an amused snort. **You can hunt once we're back home,** he promised, and unbuckled himself, sliding to the ground. Once he landed, he stripped off the goggles, scarf, helmet, gloves and jacket, bundling the gear together neatly as he came closer to the reunited family.

"If your dragon is peckish, we have some ovines grazing at the western glade," she pointed across the road and then ushered them inside.

"But mom, everytime mountain felines got to them , dad ranted how much we need their fleece to trade," Jess said.

Jessria just waved his objections away, "We'll just count it off as a part of the tithe. No one is going leave this place hungry." She guided them to the Runner stations common room: a curious mix of family living room and tavern. "It's a matter of pride."

Now A'kua gave Jess a strange look. He subtly twitched his thumb toward Zeiranth, then flicked a pointer finger toward his own ear, silently asking *did she hear him?*

}:She says it's okay, but Jessmyr says it's not. Who do I listen to?:{ the bronze asked in confusion.

**Me,** A'kua thought firmly. **Let's compromise: If mountain felines make an appearance, bite their heads off, let me skin them, and eat them.:{

}:Why do you want the skins?:{

**I can get Marks for them.** "Thank you for your hospitality," A'kua said. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, "Jessria replied. "Perhaps you can spread the good word, Faranth knows we could use more visitors."

They got seated and Jess' little sister came from the kitchen with a pitcher of freshly made klah. She stopped next to A'kua.
"Are you sure you're not Searchrider?" Gunria asked, not willing to give up her hope.

"Gunria! Stop bothering him and serve the klah!" Her mother scolded. "It's your cousins fault. After he left the Weyr, he stopped here and filled her head with stories of dragons and eggs and Goldriders."

"What is Biri doing these days?" Jess asked curiously.

"He joined a trader caravan, can you believe it? I'spose it suits him, he always was a restless one."

A'kua was feeling pretty muddled by now. Not only was he convinced Jessria could hear dragons, he was trying to have some poise while feeling slightly lost among all the bustle and chatter, and unfortunately, he was sympathetic to Gunria's desires. But Jess would've said something if one of his relatives needed to be bailed out, and he knew well enough by now to haggle a favor from a Searchrider. So he nodded to Gunria as thanks for the klah, then turned his attention to Jessria. "Did said cousin mention how much hidework is involved in being a goldrider, by chance?" he inquired.

Jess whas making a mental note of talking to one of the Search riders he knew. Suggest they would stop by here too. Although Gunria was still pretty young to Impress. She was barely twelve!

"No, he didn't," Jessria replied.

"Well, there's a mountain of it more often than not, along with a multitude of other responsibilities Worse than any Harper lessons, really. It's extremely stressful. I don't think I ever saw Dragonsfall's junior weyrwoman have fun," A'kua commented, and then paused, realizing that was true. Unless their sparring sessions counted as fun for Genna. She always did seem to enjoy them. But what about outside those?

"He's right, the Weyrlife is lot of work and far from glorious," Jessmyr agreed.

Hopefully that gave Gunria to mull over. A'kua turned his attention to the incoming food, being a gracious guest, and looking for more opportunities to make Jess look good to his family.

Last updated on the June 1st 2017

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