Dark Skies

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 13th August 2017

Characters: F'lin
Description: F'lin has a nightmare, only he's not sure if its a dream or real life.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, R'ehn, N'vanik, Lanniya, K'ale

F'lin woke up with a start, his heart pounding and the roar of an earthquake in his ears. He tumbled out of bed and stumbled toward the ledge where Seneth slept-- only nothing was moving. The air was still and quiet. There was no earthquake. **I'm dreaming.** The bronzerider sunk to the floor and covered his face with his hands, trying to chase away the memory. That sound. Falling rocks. Screaming, keening dragons.

He took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled. **Centred. Grounded.** Slowly he stood, turned, and fumbled his way back to his bed in the strange room. His heart was still pounding and there was no way he'd sleep now. His treacherous mind went back to the Weyrleader's meeting from earlier that day. The sickening, sinking feeling he'd felt as he'd walked out of the Weyrleaders' room returned.

K'ran had made a fool of him. The Dolphin Cove leadership had undoubtedly been uncomfortable with another Weyrleader's Wing arriving in their skies. Rogueth's injury meant that K'ran couldn't lead Rapids, and so of course N'vanik wanted one of his own taking over the Wing. It avoided strange power dynamics with two Weyrleaders in the air, and sent a strong message aimed at putting K'ran and F'lin in their place. And he was an easy target-- F'lin knew that he wasn't as experienced as the others. But that didn't mean that he'd say nothing if a strange bronzerider made a play for what was _his_. He might be young, but he wasn't going to get walked over. His knots were equal to R'ehn's. Or had been.

But K'ran had undermined him in the eyes of the Dolphin Cove leadership and had made all of Rapids look weak because of it. What did it say when a Weyrleader wouldn't trust his own Wingsecond to lead in his absence?! Of course he didn't know how the Weyr's Wings worked together, or the lay of the land. Of course he needed someone local for that. But usurping him in favour of a stranger who didn't know how Rapids flew put them all in danger. R'ehn didn't have time to learn their ways before the next Threadfall and F'lin's first impression was that he was too patronizing to learn at all-- especially if that information came from F'lin.

**I'm a liability.** F'lin rolled onto his side and squeezed his eyes shut. A lump formed in his throat. River Bluff Weyr was gone and Rapids Wing was the only thing that he had left, but if he wasn't allowed to protect them, lead them... then he was in the way. Too young. Too stupid. In his mind he saw R'ehn's expression as the older bronzerider had slapped him on the back, dismissing him.

His thoughts shifted, turning to Lanniya. Dolphin Cove Weyr had changed her, and she seemed much more grown up than the last time he'd seen her. The way she'd kissed him... but she had K'ale. But did she know what she wanted? Then-- **Does it matter?** He wanted to pursue her anyway. Those moments with her in his arms had made him feel alive. Hopeful. He hadn't felt that way since the earthquake. It wasn't right to go after a woman when she said she was taken, but he didn't want to let that feeling slip through his fingers. Especially when everything else was slipping away.

He wanted someone to talk to, but his friends had been scattered across Pern like seeds in the wind.

Seneth stirred on his ledge outside and sent a sleepy thought to his rider. The tangled, dark mess of emotion he felt in return caused him to keen softly. Grief. Loss. Loneliness.

}:F'lin?:{

**Sorry I woke you.** F'lin took a breath. Held it. Exhaled. Forced the ache inside of him to subside. **I dreamed about River Bluff.**

}:I miss it too. This is not our Weyr.:{ Seneth paused. }:Come join me on the ledge. The night is warm, and I will watch over your dreams.:{

**All right. But I don't think I'll sleep.** F'lin rose, wrapped the light blanket from the bed around his shoulders, and snagged a pillow before stumbling through the unfamiliar weyr to Seneth's couch. He stubbed his toe on the way and ended up limping into the night air. It was a bit cooler here than River Bluff had been, and grudgingly F'lin let himself enjoy it. He settled into the crook of his dragon's elbow where he had a good view of the stars. The constellations were different from this angle too.

Homesickness washed over him and stole his breath, but the warm bulk of his dragon kept it from drowning in it. Together F'lin and Seneth watched the Red Star crawl across the sky toward morning.

Last updated on the September 2nd 2017

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Dark Skies