Planned Ahead

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th July 2025

Characters: Ketlyn, Kemmin
Description: Kemmin visits again, and Ketlyn is tricked by her brother.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 8, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Thiseta, Kapera, R'bain, N'kayden

Ketlyn

"You're sure you don't want to stay here for the day?" Ketlyn's mother's question sounded brittle. The entire visit had felt like walking on eggshells, the air in the small cothold simmering with undercurrents that Ketlyn couldn't decipher.

Tris froze, and Mylin frowned. Kemmin, however, seemed unbothered. "Yes, Ma. I'll be back soon enough, and I promise that I'll speak with the Farmcrafters for Father about new types of seeds for the spring." He drew her into a one-armed hug and kissed her cheek before slinging a small leather bag over one shoulder. "Let's go."

Ketlyn followed him from the cot. Kemmin was already standing by Varinth's side. She helped him up, then turned to hug her mother and siblings. "Please pass along my love to Father," she told her mother.

"I will." Nevalyn's smile seemed strained. "You know him. When something isn't right, he'll be out in the fields working until it's fixed. Even on a rest day!"

It was just strange that it was _only_ Ketarmain out fixing fence posts today. Ketlyn had been sure that her father would drag both her eldest brothers out to help him after the last time she stolen Kemmin for a day at the Weyr. Her Father was terrified to lose them. But both Kemmin and Mylin were here at the cothold and her father was not. Still thinking it over, Ketlyn turned to hug her sister Tris goodbye.

Tris held her tightly. "Take care," she whispered.

Ketlyn frowned as she pulled away, but the subtle shake of Tris' head made her bite her lip instead of asking why she'd said that. **Something is off,** she said to Varinth.

The green dragon turned to look at her with bright, curious eyes. }:What is off?:{

**I don't know, and that's the problem.** She helped Kemmin settle himself on Varinth's neckridge and strapped them both in. Then she waved, and with nothing else to hold them there, Varinth took to the skies. They rose far above the treetops before Varinth took them /between/.

They appeared in bright sunshine and clear, humid air. The lake sparkled beneath Varinth's wings as she bugled a greeting to the watch dragon, then flew to Ketlyn's weyr. Kemmin helped Ketlyn with Varinth's straps and they watched from the lip of the cliff as the green flew off to join her clutchmates sunning themselves on the rocky shoreline.

"Well," Ketlyn turned to her brother. "What do you want to do today?"

Kemmin grinned at her. "Everything. I'm staying."

She blinked. "What?"

"I'm not going home. I'm staying here with you!" He grabbed her hands and twirled her around. "I'm moving to the Weyr!"

"But-- you can't!" Ketlyn gaped at him as the pieces fell into place. The brittle smiles, the tense mood at the cot, Tris' words. "You haven't been Searched and the Weyrwoman hasn't approved a transfer request, and is that why Father wasn't there today? He's angry. Oh no." She covered her eyes. Her father would undoubtedly blame _her_ for stealing his eldest son away, never mind that Kemmin had tricked her into taking him to the Weyr. If she'd known that sneaking off was his plan, she'd never have let Varinth leave the ground. "You don't have his blessing, do you?"

"Ah... I brought up moving and he wouldn't even talk about it, so it's not really like he said no...? C'mon, Ketlyn. It'll be great!" He swept her into a hug. "I can stay in your weyr, with you!"

Ketlyn kept her arms firmly at her sides and debated smacking that smug grin right of his stupid face. "You promised me that you'd speak to our parents!"

"And I did! It's not my fault that they didn't want to have the conversation." He finally let her go and headed into her weyr. "I bet the Lower Caverns will give us a mattress for me to put by the fire. Last time I was here, you said that they give you everything you need. I can sleep there."

Ketlyn glared daggers at the back of her brother's head as he measured out the tiny space in front of the fire with his hands. "No, you can't! You're not allowed to stay! The Weyrwoman has to approve any transfers--"

"She's your Wingleader, right? You know her already, and I'm sure that you can persuade her to let me stay," Kemmin said. He dropped the back by the fireplace and came to stand in front of her. "Relax, Ketlyn. You moved out. It'll be fine."

"I was _Searched_," Ketlyn ground out. "It was different!"

"And so what if I wasn't? I'm here now and I'm not going home." He crossed his arms, his grin disappearing. "I'm serious, Ketlyn."

She wondered if she could throw him over Varinth's back on her own, or how much it would cost her to bribe someone to help her. R'bain and N'kayden were both the same size as her brother. "I'm serious too. There's _rules_. You can't just-- just show up one day like this!"

Kemmin shrugged and reached for his backpack. "If you won't let me sleep here then I'll sleep on the beach."

"It's freezing outside at night! You can't sleep on the beach!"

"So you'll let me stay?" His hand hovered above the bag.

"Aargh!" Ketlyn rubbed her face with her hands. Somehow his move had become her problem to solve. Punishment for sneaking someone into the Weyr without authorization would be harsh after what happened to the previous Weyrwoman, and now she would be in trouble with her parents, too. "You're making it so much harder for Mylin and Tris to come," she said plaintively.

Kemmin sensed her wavering resolve and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "You'll make it happen. I know you will. But it's a rest day, so let's go have some fun for a while instead of worrying. Nothing you can do now is going to change anything."

"I hate you," she snarled half-heartedly.

Her growl made him laugh. "Come on, let's go find me some blankets!" He headed toward the door and held it open for her until reluctantly, the greenrider followed. The taste of defeat lay bitter on her tongue.

Last updated on the August 1st 2025

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