And They Arrive (1)

Writers: Ainsley1, AJ Kraier, Jane, Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 19th May 2007

Characters: Lineal, Rahona, R'harne
Description: Lineal rejoins his family aboard the Sungazer with Rahona and the children
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 10 of Turn 4

"This is where they landed when they came the other day," the cotholder said he led Jesten along the path away from the wharf. "So you can move along here," he said, waving a hand at the river on one side of the path as it suddenly widened into a clearing, "so they can get right aboard, or make them walk back to the wharf."

Demarand knew which he would prefer. The whole cotholding - nearly all related in someway to the folk on the Sungazer - were as curious as felines to see how Lineal had turned out during his 'time away'.
Added to that the interest in the woman and children he was bringing home from the Weyr. Demarand had put his foot down over the dragons, though, and told everybody they needed to stay away from the clearing.
It wasn't very wide, though the brownrider who had delivered the letters the previous month had said it was _just_ big enough, the cotholder didn't think it would be with all the gawpers milling around in the space.

"I think we could, you know." Jesten went over and studied the bank. It looked fine to him, better than a lot of places they tied up along the Nettleweed river but the final decision would be the pilot's.
Jesten wasn't fool enough to overrule the pert. "We've got all we need loaded." It had been a mammoth effort but nobody had wanted to be stuck doing the ordinary work of the day when the dragons arrived. "I'll see what Tyno says. No matter what, we won't be leaving until dawn tomorrow, so there's plenty of time for Lineal and the family to look around," the captain added with an air of amusement. Many of the retirees from the Sungazer lived out their lives at this cothold and they were the nosiest people he knew.

"You've better move sooner than later, because the brownrider said they'd be here about midday." Demarand glanced at the sky. Still a little while to go but moving a riverboat the size of the Sungazer wasn't that quick a process.

Jesten glanced upward too, not as much noting the time but imagining his son coming home on a dragon. It seemed so out of character for riverboat folk; so heroic. It would be, he hoped, an auspicious start for the new captain of the Sungazer.

~ ~ ~

Denna opened the door to her own room and threw in the soft polishing rag she had been rubbing over the balcony rail. There was enough noise to herald a full Weyr of dragons and she wasn't going to miss getting a good look at the creatures - and the dragonrider. She hitched one side of her skirt and ran along the balcony and across the width of the riverboat to join all the others on the port balcony overlooking the bank.

"Where are they?" She peered around, craning her neck to see past the upper balcony. She wouldn't be able to see them in the air, she realised, but others obviously could.

"They are where they are," replied her mother, "and when they get here, they'll be here." Vaheri sighed as she noted how many of the riverboat folk were standing around idly. "Thank Faranth we don't do this more often. We'd never get anything accomplished."

"It's a special day," Denna countered with a laugh for her mother's attitude. "Lineal's coming back _and_ dragons are going to land right _there_."

"True," noted Vaheri, "and half of those on the Sungazer will make fools of themselves trying to see it all."

"Yes, I'll be one of those," Denna said, smoothing her skirt down.
"Look! Here they come!"

"I wanna see!" Linli pushed between the legs of the older members of the crew, elbowing her way through, did didn't want to miss the sight of a dragon, the dragon was more interesting than the cargo as far as she was concerned.

"Linli!" Tahna grabbed her younger sibling and tried to heft her onto her own hip, but wasn't able to managed. The wriggling five turn old was determined.

"Tahna, you move forward, and Linli, come here!" Neke took the child from her sisters arms and placed her up high on her shoulders. Tahna was beginning to take too much responsibility for her younger sister, and it wasn't right. "Can you see better up there, sweetling?"

"I can see _everywhere_." Linli's voice piped up, and Neke noted the happier look from Tahna. Turning her head, she looked for the girls father, but he wasn't in evidence. It wasn't like Fog to miss such an occasion.

Leaning out of one of the pilothouse's windows, Tyno looked around at the commotion and yawned. "Thar goes the peace 'nd quiet," he mumbled to himself. **Much rather live me life a couple o' decks above water, than risk me neck thousands o' 'em up in the air.**
His quickening pulse betrayed his true feelings.

Barli stood uncharacteristically quiet as she watched and waited, automatically lifting Jezz to her arms when the young girl arrived just behind the other children. It had been so very long since she'd since her older brother and she now found herself close to tears.

"Mama ain't ya happy? Their finally coming! And there's even gonna be a dragon!" Jezz exclaimed, but a kiss on the top of her curly head was the only reply she got from her mother.

Last updated on the May 25th 2007

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And They Arrive (1)