Let's Go Running

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 17th November 2017

Characters: R'kehr, Saidrene
Description: R'kehr semi-invites himself to one of Saidrene's morning runs.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 5 of Turn 9

Saidrene

R'kehr was scanning the Dining Hall for someone to sit with. He really
wanted to get to know more of the people here. He was starting to feel
comfortable with his Cyclone wingmates, and of course with the people
he knew from River Bluff. Today he noticed a girl he recognized as a
greenrider not from his wing, and she was sitting alone. So the
bronzerider swung over in that direction.

"Saidrene, may I sit here?" he asked in his most charming tone.

Saidrene looked up from her salad, her eyes doing a quick appraisal of
the bronzerider.

**Age? Not a grandpa. Check! Looks? Very good. Check! Related to me?
Nope. Double check!**

"R'kehr," she knew his name only because it was common to know the
names of bronze and gold riders and their dragons, "have a seat."

"Thanks," he said, settling down with his tray. "The only Cyclone
wingmates I could see were a trio of older riders who go on and on
about the days before Thread. And why should I listen to that when I
could keep you company instead?"

Saidrene nodded, spearing a piece of lettuce, "I could see how I might
be the better option versus a trio of old farts."

"Oh, there's absolutely no contest," he promised.

"So I noticed you're on a different drills cycle. You move wings?"
There'd been a reshuffling as the graduating weyrlings were added.

"Yeah, they wanted to fill in and bring some diversity to Rapids,
since it was mostly still River Bluff riders. I volunteered, I mean, I
loved flying in the Weyrleader's Wing," who didn't want to be near
N'vanik? "But I don't mind going somewhere where I am needed."

"I flew in his wing at River Bluff. You'll have a good Wingleader who
really pays attention to his riders and how they're doing. You'll get
noticed and called out if you're doing well," he advised.

All things that Saidrene had already heard about K'ran from various
people. "My mother worked with him at Dragonsfall, she highly
recommended him. Being in Rapids has helped me get to know a lot of
the River Bluff riders, except you." She smiled at him.

"I have to admit, Cyclone isn't the wing I would have chosen. I'd
rather be high-altitude, but not everyone from the highs could stay up
there. But it's giving me a chance to meet people. So many seem dour
like our Wingleader though," he said. "All the fun people like you
must be elsewhere."

"You _do_ have a dour Wingleader," Saidrene agreed, there was no
debating that. "There's some of us younger riders that get together
occasionally down on the beach. You should come sometime."

"That sounds nice," he said. "A chance to spend some time appreciating
how young and cheerful we are and hoping we never get old and grumpy?"

Saidrene lifted her cup in mock toast, "To the young and the
restless." She didn't know if she could describe herself as cheerful,
she had a lot going on in her private life, but she tried to keep a
tight lid on those emotions because they were exhausting.

He cheerfully clinked his glass against hers. "So besides attending
fun beach parties, what do you do when not flying? Anything exciting
like jog around the weyrbowl naked before dawn?"

"I do jog," she confessed, but then held up a finger, "but not naked.
You'd have to come by my weyr to catch me naked, I do all of my
pre-jogging stretches there." She winked.

"Would Ashareth threaten to eat me if I dropped by?" he asked.

"Not if I tell her I am expecting company," she replied.

"I'd be happy to accompany you on your jogs. Or on your stretches if
you want," he said teasingly.

Saidrene grinned and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear,
"Anytime, bronzerider, if you think you can keep up."

"I would be happy to undertake this challenge. If I keep up with you,
we've both won a new partner. If I lose, I suppose I'll just have to
eat wherry feathers and be humiliated in front of you," R'kehr said
dramatically.

"That sounds like a deal," Saidrene wondered why all bronzeriders
couldn't be as easy going as this one?

"So what candlemark shall I show up at?"

"I usually run around seven so I can bathe afterwards and grab
breakfast," she answered.

"Well then, where in the Weyrbowl should I meet you tomorrow?" R'kehr asked.

He knew he was being rather bold with her, but talking with her was
fun, and competing with her in a run would be as well. As much as he'd
joked about how terrible losing to her would be, he wouldn't actually
mind it, especially since it seemed like this was all in good fun.

"Meet me out by the Candidate Barracks, we'll start our first lap
there." Saidrene typically ran the same loop every day, similar to
many other dragonriders in the Weyr. She'd also recently found that
exercise was a good way to sort out some of the tension that gathered
when she thought about her family.

Somehow he'd managed to clean most of the food off his plate, despite
their conversation. R'kehr had been so wrapped up in talking to
Saidrene he hadn't even noticed.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said.

"Can't wait," she shot back with a smile.

Last updated on the December 10th 2017

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