Old Friends

Writers: Devin, Dana
Date Posted: 6th November 2006

Characters: Traelyn, K'kar
Description: Traelyn runs into an old friend
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

The music, the chatter, the bubbling laughter that seemed to come from everywhere . . . it was a good distraction. At the moment, it felt like he'd made the right choice to come here. The weather was nice, the people were pleasant, and the Harper Hall was there to provide the best entertainment.
His eyes drifted over the crowd, enjoying the sight of women in their gather finest.

When his eyes fell on the woman on the far side of the dance square though, he felt his stomach flutter with doubt. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, pale hair standing out in the dim light, and those eyes . . . He started moving before he could change his mind, taking the long way around and circling until he came up behind her.

Bending his head down to her ear, he whispered, "Trae, it's been too long."

Startled, she turned around--and a wide grin lit her face. "K'kar!" she laughed, coming in close to hug him tightly. "It _has_ been too long! What are you doing here?"

"I live here!" He laughed at her surprised expresion. "I just transferred to Dolphin Cove."

"Shards, you don't know how glad I am to hear you say that," she smiled.

"Oh, so then you _did_ miss me," K'kar teased. The flutter came again, and he told himself he was being silly. It had never been anything more than a crush, and they weren't weyrbrats anymore, or even weyrlings. She was a _Weyrwoman_ now.

"Of course! You make it very easy to miss you, you know." Grabbing his hands, she pulled him out and further away from the mob of people crushing in against them. "So tell me, when did you get here? Tonight?"

"Yesterday, actually. Late yesterday." He squeezed her hands. "Look at you--a Weyrwoman! I always knew you were something special, Trae."

"You and Nyith both." Her grin eased back into a smile, and she admitted quietly, "I never thought it'd be me, Kar. You know that."

"I think you doubt yourself too much," he said gently.

"But not all goldriders become Weyrwomen. It seemed so daunting at first, but now... It's better now." Then she grinned again, hoping to steer him away from a topic that was starting to get a little uncomfortable.

The harpers changed to a slower tune, and K'kar glanced up before returning his gaze to Traelyn. "Care to dance, Weyrwoman?"

It was...strange to hear him call her that. Different. "Sure." Shards, seeing Kar again... It was like going back ten Turns. Seeing B'ram that first time in the hallway so many months ago had given her the same kind of jolt, but this one was far more pleasant than _that_ one had been.

Smiling, the bronzerider led her out on the dancing square. "So how have things been, Trae? Shards, it's good to see you!" He felt his heart speed a bit as he slipped an arm around her waist.

"Things have been going well," she smiled, looking up into his eyes. They've certainly been much better since she and U'kaiah had made up. "And you?" She wound her hand around his, sliding her body up against him as they swayed to the song's soft rhythm.

He considered telling her things were fine, but she was his friend and it was better to tell her now than to have her find out later. "Em and I broke up," he said quietly.

"Shards... I'm sorry, Kar," she murmured, squeezing his hand gently. He and Emolli had been together for so long... Traelyn remembered meeting her many times back at Far Island--usually at dinners and parties. And she could remember the look K'kar would get in his eyes quite well when he looked at her... "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. We just . . . grew apart, I guess." It was more like _she_ had grown apart from him. The relationship had been slowly falling apart for months, and when Em had finally told him it was over, he'd honestly felt a little relieved.

"Is that why you're here?" she asked gently, knowing him well enough to ask that rather personal question.

K'kar nodded. "Yes."

She couldn't help but think briefly of B'ram. He'd come to Dolphin Cove to get away from Atreyn...to start over. Like K'kar. And she too knew what it was like to want to get away from something. To try and start again. Swallowing, she leaned forward and brushed her cheek against his shoulder in understanding. "I'm glad you chose Dolphin Cove, Kar."

He held her to him, almost in a hug, as the soft music continued. "Me too."

Last updated on the November 7th 2006

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