A Good Start

Writers: Cali, Emma
Date Posted: 26th September 2006

Characters: Arilanna, U'kaiah
Description: Arilanna and U'kaiah take a step towards being friends again
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 26 of Turn 3

"Hello U'kaiah." Arilanna said softly. She hadn't talked to the
bronzerider since J'klin had attacked him, and she had almost turned
the other way when she saw him, unsure of his reaction to her.

"Hi, Arilanna," he said, keeping his tone neutral. There was no reason
for U'kaiah to be angry at her. She had decided they couldn't be
friends, but that wasn't _all_ her choice. He knew she just couldn't
stand up to J'klin. He had been the problem after all. If she wanted
to talk to him, that was fine, but he wasn't about to act like best
buddies.

Good, he hadn't ignored her or made some snide comment, maybe he was
open to talking... "Are you heading to the dining cavern?" Start with
something casual...

"Yes, actually. I just needed to get myself a cup for klah." Perhaps
now that J'klin was gone she was willing to be friends again?

"Me too," she said slightly nervous, "Well... not for klah, it's not
really that good for the baby," she patted her obvious belly, "but for
a snack."

"Well, the dining cavern is the place to get a snack."

She gave a weak smile, "Shall we walk together then?"

**Are you sure you want to be seen with me now?** "Sure," he said
aloud as he fell into step with her.

They walked in silence. Arilanna knew the uncomfortableness between
them was her fault, but she wasn't quite sure how to repair that rift.
She took a deep breath, stopped walking, and faced the bronzerider,
"I... I miss you." she said uncertainly, leaning against the wall as
she searched for some sort of forgiveness or understanding in his eyes.

U'kaiah crossed his arms across his chest, not in rejection, but in
thoughtfulness. "Are you going to follow J'klin to River Bluff?"

"No." she shook her head, then explained. "I think he still thinks
you're the father of the baby. He didn't come and talk to me before he
left for River Bluff."

"Ah, is that why he attacked me in the hall then?" That would explain
it. "What gave him _that_ idea?"

Arilanna shook her head. "_He_ gave himself that idea. I told him
that I was pregnant, but that it wasn't his. He went ballistic, accused
me of sleeping with you _again_, and stormed off before I could
explain." Not that she should have _had_ to explain, neither one of
them had been monogamous during their relationship, nor had they
expected each other to be.

"J'klin was never one for explanations," U'kaiah said softly. Part of
him felt vindicated, but he still felt for Arilanna. But what did she
expect from a man who would try to control her life to the point of
dictating her friendships.

"At least not where you were concerned." Arilanna looked down at the
floor. She instinctively wanted to defend J'klin, she had loved him,
and sort of still did, but his actions and behavior were undefendable
and she knew it.

"I'm sorry it came to this, Arilanna."

Arilanna was surprised, "You're sorry? What do you have to be sorry
about? I'm the one whose sorry. Can you ever forgive me for
abandoning our friendship?"

U'kaiah was silent a moment. He didn't like the strain between him and
his friend, but was she really sorry? Or just lonely now that J'klin
was gone. "Will you be my friend no matter who doesn't like it?"

She had thought at the time that breaking off her friendship with
U'kaiah would make things better for everyone, but now she realized she
had taken the cowards route and she had hurt him deeply. She looked at
him for a few moments, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "If you give
me another chance, I won't let you down again."

The bronzerider had always believed that everyone deserved a second
chance. He nodded slowly. "All right. Let's start over then, shall
we?"

She almost didn't believe her ears; he hadn't dismissed her. Starting
over... it wasn't everything she'd hoped for, but it was probably more
than she deserved. Arilanna smiled and nodded. "How about that klah?"

"That sounds like a good start," U'kaiah nodded, giving her a small
smile in return.

Last updated on the September 27th 2006

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A Good Start