Bittersweet News
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 20th September 2019
Characters: Alina, Saidrene
Description: Alina goes to share news with Saidrene, and is surprised by Saidrene's news instead
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 13 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: J'ackt, Elana, K'ran
**takes place before Saidrene's move to BLW**
Alina couldn't contain her yawning through drills, but instead of going back to J'ackt's-- their-- weyr for a nap, she had Imarith reach out to Ashareth to see if Saidrene was free. As soon as she got the go-ahead, she and Imairth landed on Ashareth's ledge and the greenrider hurried to knock on the side of the weyr. "Saidrene?" Alina called.
Saidrene has been a little surprised when Ashareth had said that Imarith's rider wanted to stop by. She had not seen Alina very much at all since the other greenrider has become weyrmated to J'ackt.
"In here," Saidrene told her, calling to her from where she sat in the midst of several hides on dragon anatomy.
"Hi!" The other greenrider stepped inside and wrinkled her nose when she saw the hides. "What's all that about?"
"I am a dragonhealer, you know," Saidrene said with a dry laugh.
"Well, yes, but I thought that meant that you were done studying." Alina flopped onto a chair opposite to Saidrene. "It just seems a bit dry for an evening, you know?"
"Pardon me, I don't have a man to spend every evening with, like one of us." Saidrene said as she began tidying some of the hides into neater stacks on her bed.
"Not yet, anyway." A slow smile spread across Alina's face. "J'ackt actually organized the most wonderful surprise yesterday. He actually _met_my_parents_. All on his own! And then got them to organize a celebration back at Nadol Cothold. I didn't think that he had it in him."
Saidrene's eyes flew up to Alina's. "He did?" J'ackt had gone through all of that trouble? **A celebration....** "I see I wasn't invited." J'ackt had always said she was the closest person to him, his best friend. **I guess that changes when you get a weyrmate.**
Alina wrinkled her nose again. "He didn't invite Elana, either. I would have loved to have both of you there... but honestly, it's the first time I can think of that he organized a party or social event of any sort. I was rather impressed. _And_ impressed that he actually went and met my parents without me."
**Well of course he did not invite Elana,** Saidrene thought, **he doesn't like her but I... we... I'm supposed to be....** The fact that J'ackt was doing all of the "holder things" that he had always griped about put a knot in the pit of her stomach. "Well, I'm happy for you. That's what you always wanted." Saidrene said, although the words were terse.
"Thank you! It was unexpected, and..." Something in Saidrene's tone caused her to pause. "Well. I came in here blathering all about my news. How are you?"
The last thing Saidrene wanted was to talk about how she was because she did not think she could continue to hide her resentment from Alina. "It is weird with all of the people gone to Barrier Lake, isn't it?" she said instead.
Alina shrugged a shoulder and let Saidrene change the subject. "It got so busy here when everyone from River Bluff came over. It's a relief to see a few of them go, to be honest."
Saidrene, of course, was thinking of K'ran. He had been one of the River Bluff riders to come to Dolphin Cove and now that he was gone... The Wing just wasn't the same. Wingdrills were so boring now that she wasn't fantasizing about different ways to lure her Wingleader into bed after practice. "Yeah, I don't know. I kind of miss them...." The greenrider looked up. "I've been thinking of transferring to Barrier Lake myself."
Saidrene's words sent a jolt through Alina. The greenrider sat upright in her chair. "What? No. You'd hate it there."
The other greenrider tilted her head, an eyebrow arched quizzically. "You think so?"
"You don't?" Alina asked.
"No, I don't. I could go there and be busy, actively working toward an important goal every day." She wouldn't have J'ackt and Alina's relationship rubbed in her face all the time either. "They need dragonriders who also have crafts and I fit the bill. I probably won't have time to sit around and read dusty old hides there," she said with the hint of a bemused grin.
"Yes, but...maybe..." Alina trailed off weakly. Nevermind that she had considered transferring herself not that long ago, it didn't change the sharp, slightly panicky feeling that Saidrene's musing caused. She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "_I_ don't want you to go."
"You don't need me here," Saidrene said softly. "No one does."
Alina rolled her eyes. "Well, that's utter garbage. You're my best friend."
Saidrene chuckled. "But that doesn't mean you need me. You have J'ackt now and we are already in different Wings. You could come visit me at Barrier Lake, if I moved there."
"Yes, but it's not the _same_," Alina said fretfully. "Just promise me that you'll think about _not_ going too, all right?"
"I'll think about it," Saidrene said, although she was fairly sure she had already made up her mind. She treasured Alina's friendship, but her life felt empty, lacking in purpose, and she hoped that she could find that purpose at Barrier Lake.
Last updated on the September 23rd 2019