Back in the Water

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 16th September 2006

Characters: D'cal, Eleada
Description: D'cal and Eleada meet during a waterball practice, and decide to meet for klah afterwards.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 15 of Turn 3

D'cal emerged from the water, slightly out of breath from the laps they had been doing to build up endurance. It wasn't too bad, but it did remind him that he hadn't been in the water nearly as much as he used to be when he lived at Topaz Sea Hold. He really should swim more...

The bluerider smiled at a greenrider who stood on the beach in front of him. "Quite a workout, eh?"

Eleada smiled back. "It certainly is. I haven't been in the water this long since before I left." She shoved a wet curl away from her eyes, and stuck out her hand. "Eleada, Gliorith's rider, You're... D'cal, right?"

"That's right," he nodded. "I didn't realize I was that well known.
Have we met before?"

She shook her head. "Not exactly." She admitted sheepishly. "My Gliorith is talking to your Aosorath."

"Ah, I see. So you asked then?" The bluerider was rather flattered.

She shrugged. "Yeah. She's busy being friendly with every dragon here, so she's a safe authority to ask. You swim really well." She added, as she scanned the area for her green.

"I was a Seacrafter," he said by way of explanation.

"Ah." She said simply, grinning. "That must really help with this game. I just like to play."

"It's nice being back in the water," D'cal admitted. "I usually only get in to bathe Aosorath. Or with my friends, but they were injured in the Fall. The big one."

She nodded in understanding. "I wasn't here for that, but I know what you mean. I just transferred in from High Reaches, but I Impressed here. It's hard to go back to the way things were after something like that."

"Well, I'm not sure it ever will be the same as the way they were before." The bluerider knew far too many people had been killed or maimed for life. That moment, and that story, would probably outlive the Pass in the memory of the people of Dolphin Cove. Hopefully, there would be no other disaster to overshadow it... "Why did you decide to leave High Reaches?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

Linrary's face flashed across her mind, but Eleada roughly shoved the memory away and chose another part of the truth. She smiled sadly. "My health. Gliorith was scored badly near the beginning of the turn, and I was injured. The healers recommended we move south, so I came back. I have family here."

"Well, I bet that makes coming back a little easier. I'm sorry it took a Threadscore to bring you back though."

"Don't be." She said simply, feeling her heart twist. "I loved the mountains. They were so beautiful..." She sighed. "Have you ever seen mountains before?"

"You mean really tall ones? Only off in the distance," D'cal admitted.
"I see them the sky sometimes. But I was raised all my life by the sea."

"I was born at Thayan Peak, the old weyrhold." She admitted. "But that was nothing compared to the Northern Mountains, at least that's what I think. My old weyr had the most beautiful view of the peaks of High Reaches weyr and the mountains behind..." She shook her head, dispelling images of Linrary trying to capture that vista in a tapestry by running back and forth from the cave mouth to her loom. "I loved them. There's something... grand and timeless about the mountains there, especially in the winter."

"I suppose there's beauty everywhere if you look for it," D'cal nodded.
"Will you go back there someday, you think?" It sounded like the greenrider was homesick.

"Probably one day, for a visit." She admitted. "I still have a lot of friends there. But I'm trying to resist the temptation and stay here instead, at least until I've settled in some more." **And I no longer see Linrary's face waiting around every corner there.** She added silently.

"I think you'll grow to like it here. I know I have," the bluerider smiled. It had been a bit of an adjustment, but things seemed to be turning out all right. He was sure it would be the same for her.

"It's not really an issue of growing to like it." She said, rubbing her face with a towel. "I did Impress here, and always enjoyed it. It's more of getting used to being here, and not there. Knowing which direction to turn to find a weyr or the bathing chambers instead of the laundry. That sort of thing. It takes a while to get them sorted out."

"Well, one thing I seem to always be able to find is the kitchen," D'cal said with an inviting grin. "Do you want to grab a cup of klah after practice?"

She grinned back at him. "Klah after practice sounds perfect. Sure."

"Great," he beamed. "After practice then. Looks like we're supposed to be getting back into the water now."

"Yeah," Eleada sighed, then grinned mischievously at him, dropping her towel. "Race ya!" She took off, the sand flying beneath her heels.

Last updated on the September 17th 2006

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Back in the Water