The one that got away

Writers: Emma
Date Posted: 11th October 2026

Characters: Demalia, Zalia
Description: Demalia returns to Dragonsfall
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentions: An'zer, a brownrider, Raleda, a healer Mentor Approved by Sia Notes - Thanks to Sia for approving, I'm back, so if anyone wants to post with Demalia, hit me up

~~~ Elsewhere on Pern ~~~

Reaching up, Demalia tugged on the cord that bound the last bundle to her beloved green dragon, Tapeth.

"You don't have to go," a voice said behind her.

"Zalia, you know I do," the greenrider said as she turned to face her friend. "I can't stay here any more, it would be too hard, and not just for me." A look of sorrow crossed her face. "An'zer..."

"That...." Zalia's voice was muffled by the noise of Dainty, Demalia's green firelizard chittering away as she popped out of /between/. What ever curse words she'd used were drowned out. "He was so out of order, I mean winning a flight or two is to be expected, but to deliberately avoid yours and then head off with that healer."

"It wasn't the first time," admitted Demalia, face down. "Or even the second."

She'd thought he was hot, and the fact that a brownrider like him, who could have any woman he wanted had even looked at her a second time turned her head. Flight sex, well that usually didn't count, but when he came back again, and a third time. That was a part of it, that and wanting to get out of Dragonsfall and prove herself.

When An'zer had persuaded her to move north, and work on their relationship, hinting that a weyrmating might be on the cards, she leapt at the chance. Transfer requests were formally made and accepted, and before she knew it, she was settling into a new Weyr, setting up a place for her and Tapeth in a new wing.

She'd made friends, Zalia for one. The slightly older greenrider had taken Demalia under her wing on day one, introducing her to a few other riders and showing her some of the places locally outside of the Weyr, a tavern or two, and a fantastic market.

Throughout it all, An'zer had been there. He'd smiled, bought her drinks, kissed her under the stars, bought her fancy pastries, shared her bed... And then it all came crashing down.

Raleda, a journeyman healer had arrived. The striking raven haired healer who specialised in wound care had been assigned to his case after a bad fall when he wasn't quite quick enough to dive into the lake. Thread had eaten through his flight jacket and left a nasty tear on the back of his arm. Demalia had thought it was merely professional courtesy as she watched them talk whenever they met outside the infirmary.

What she didn't know, couldn't know at the time was that it had gone beyond a healers normal relationship with a patient. The massage that helped the wound and muscle damage had become caresses, which led to kisses, and then more.

The final straw was finding out that An'zer had worked out exactly when Tapeth was due to rise and found excuses to leave the Weyr, several times in a row, returning at a point where he could claim it was too late to seriously participate and using that as a reason to go to Raleda.

So, knowing that she'd never get his attention again, not sure she would ever want it, another transfer request was put in,

"I'm going home," Demalia said to Zalia, reaching for her flight gear. "It's time Tapeth and I got out of this situation and left them to it - they won't even know we've gone."

"I wish you'd stay," Zalia looked hopeful for a moment. "Show him what he's missing."

"I can do that back at Dragonsfall," Demalia grinned as she fastened her jacket. "I'll be the one that got away. She reached out to hug Zalia, "Take care my friend."

Moments later, she was in the air, bidding a final farewell to the Weyr, before requesting clearance to depart from the senior weyrling on watch .

Those three heartbeats of sheer nothingness passed as Tapeth took them /between/.

**We're home,** she said to Tapeth, looking down at the familiar place she'd spent so many turns, **Can you request clearance to land?**

Tapheth gave her assent as Dainty appeared next to them. The mental picture se sent was clear for once, It felt like home.

And that's where they were, at last.

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

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The one that got away