Past Lives

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th October 2006

Characters: Firsa, K'far
Description: Firsa asks K'far for a favour
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 3

The summer air was infectious, slow, lazy and soft. Dragonsfall was on the cusp of summer, but here, wherever here was, had skipped spring all together. Tropical and ignorant of winter's bite, the sea and sky luxuriated in long, white days. It was a treat to be able to expose pale flesh to the elements and not be injured by it.

Firsa lay on her back, watching the leaves twitch in the breeze above her. The evening was slowly slipping away, trailing brilliantly pink clouds across the darkening sky as it left. Belior hung like a swollen pearl in the sky, half hidden by black branches. The day's heat lingered and caressed her bare skin. "K'far?"

The brownrider's head was propped on one hand as he traced his thick fingers in lazy lines long her arm. "Hmmm?" he hummed, looking up to her face.

"Where's home for you?"

Firsa? Actually starting a _conversation_? Its not that he hadn't wanted to talk to her, that he hadn't tried, but it seemed that she was far more interested in a physical relationship than actually getting to know him. On one level that bothered him, but at the same time he was grateful that she was at least still willing to ease his loneliness when it was made obvious by so many other people that he was not out from under suspicion in regards to Nineba's disappearance. K'far was rather surprised by the question. "I was born in the Dolphin Cove lower caverns. I knew nowhere but there until I came to Dragonsfall."

"So is home Dolphin Cove Weyr, or Dragonsfall Weyr?" she asked.

He thought about it a moment. K'far had intended for Dragonsfall to be his home, the place where he could raise a family and build a life. But a home was a place you were welcomed to, and lately, he hadn't felt all that accepted. "Dolphin Cove. No one really wants me at Dragonsfall right now. But maybe it will pass."

Maybe. Nineba's name hung unspoken in the air between them, and Firsa wondered what he'd say if he knew that she lived in Nineba's old rooms. Or that she had her diary... Instead she turned her attention back to the unfamiliar summer sky above their heads. "It's a funny thing, what you call home. I have a... friend. He swore he'd never live anywhere but the Weyr again, but he went back to the Hall to study for his Mastery, and I don't think he'll ever leave Opal Cove territory again."

**Daremek...** K'far thought silently. She had told him of him their first night together, of how he no longer could remember life at the weyr. He wondered if she remembered that moment in the darkness of his room. Confessions always seemed much easier in the dark. "I never thought I would leave Dolphin Cove, but here I am. Plans change sometimes."

"Indeed. He was supposed to get married at the end of last month, but he's changed it to this coming up rest day." She turned tomlook at the man beside her. "I don't suppose you'd want to come with me?"

"You really want to go?" the brownrider asked, studying her face carefully. He knew that she had at one time held deep feelings for the man. In fact, he had no doubt that she _still_ had deep feelings for the beastcrafter. K'far had to admit though, he was curious about the man. And if she really wanted to...

Firsa sighed, then looked back up at the canopy of leaves and evening sky. "I don't know. But I can't just... erase Daremek from my life, either. And I owe him."

"Owe him?" K'far asked gently. They were on the border of having a real, serious, sober discussion, and he hoped he wasn't scaring her away from it.

"Friendship carries obligations. So does your past." "Yes," he nodded, leaning down to kiss her shoulder softly. "But you weren't _only_ friends..."

She captured his hand in her own and drew his arm across her belly.
"So?"

"I would be happy to go with you, but are you _sure_ you want to go?"

"Yeah." Maybe. Not really. But she couldn't _not_ go, either. Maybe this way she'd have a little closure, and be able to say goodbye once and for all.

"Then Torth and I will take you," he said, gently pulling her closer, encouraging her to take any comfort she needed. No matter what she said, he knew there was something about that man that mattered much more than she cared admit.

Firsa snuggled against him, but more because she craved the contact than because she felt comforted by it. She watched as the dusk slowly slipped into night, and wondered why she still felt alone, even in the arms of a man who cared for her.

Last updated on the October 30th 2006

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Past Lives