A Second Chance

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 4th February 2008

Characters: K'hetah, Xara
Description: Xara hopes for a better impression second time around with the new Wingleader
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 4

"We didn't have time to introduce ourselves last time we met," the bronzerider said to the beautiful redhead who tonight wasn't working as one of the kitchen staff but was seated at a table listening to the music like the others who were up late in the dining cavern.

Xara felt the flush rise up her face as she recognised the tall man before her as the Wingleader she had showered with wherry pies. "Oh,"
she was lost for words, "er, hi. I'm...I'm Xara, the clumsy." She gave him a small, nervous smile.

"And I'm K'hetah, Loeth's rider," he said, holding out his hand in formal greeting. "I'm sure clumsiness isn't your normal state."

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" she replied, somewhat abashed at having so handsome and important a figure willing to take the time to talk to her. "How are your burns?" she asked, not really wanting to revisit the embarrassment of what had happened, but concerned that there was no lasting damage. She didn't miss the knowing looks she was receiving from the other women at the table, and felt a flush creeping up her cheeks again.

"Fine. They weren't really burns." Since the marks had been there the next day they technically _had_ been but most people would have dismissed them as nothing. "Just ... hot spots."

"You're very kind to make so little of it." She was beginning to feel a little unnerved at his height, she reached forward an moved out the empty chair beside her. "Would you care to sit down Wingleader?" The curious glances from other tables had increased at his continuing to stand, maybe they considered her to be in some kind of trouble.

"If you're not waiting for anybody -?" He settled into the seat. "Were they good pies?" he asked, laughing and wishing he had got to try them instead of wearing them. By the time he had got bathed and changed there hadn't been time to get anything to eat and his stomach had made a fuss about it for most of the afternoon.

"No," she said, shaking her head, "I'm not waiting for anyone. Please, sit. And in answer to your question, yes, apparently they were very good pies. I'm just sorry you didn't get a proper meal - I did keep a plate for you, but didn't see you come back."

She flicked at her hair nervously, running it back behind her ear, and wishing not for the first time that day, that she had made time to go and have her fringe trimmed. Instead of hiding her face, it now impeded her view of the man sitting next to her.

"I ran out of time," he admitted. "I decided to get my own clothes since we were drilling that afternoon and getting back to my weyr took some doing. All the weyrlings were busy with their meals and my own Loeth was disinclined to support my preference for my clothes over communal ones."

"Your what?" Xara shook her head in disbelief, "Your dragon refused to take you?" She turned to face him full on, to judge whether he was having her on, or not. Her cerulean blue eyes met the blue of his, just for an instant before she felt the familiar stirring of earlier, and she shied away again.

"Refused is a big word," the bronzerider said cautiously. "And it has shades. I asked; he refused. Could I have imposed my will on my lifemate over some trivial preference for my own clothing and a desire to get back in time to eat before drills? Yes. Would I have? No.
Just like in any relationship there's a lot of unspoken give and take."
His expression lightened as he smiled. "Does my dragon do a lot more taking than giving? Yes, I'm afraid he does."

Her hand came up and covered her mouth as she almost choked trying to hold her laughter in check. "You're soft on him." she said, wagging her finger at him. "So why did it take you so long getting to your weyr?
The wingleaders, from what I have seen, all have quite easily accessible quarters."

K'hetah eyed the young woman with some wariness. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" she asked, her brows furrowing in perplexity.

The bronzerider was fairly certain that the bewilderment he saw was genuine. "I don't live anywhere accessible. I have one of those weyrs on the outside of the seaward arm - overlooking the sea. No access except by dragon."

"Oh! What did you do to tick off the Headwoman?" she asked, sitting back and taking another, more in-depth, look at the Wingleader.

"Ylisahn?" He shook his head. "No, she's lovely. I wanted somewhere ........" he waved a hand in an inarticulate explanation, "... solitary."

"Oh?" he held her interest now, for more than just his appeal. "Can I ask, why?" she leaned forward again, "I've never heard of anyone taking less than they're due."

K'hetah found himself leaning back to avoid developing an intimate feel to the conversation. "I suppose if you look at it that way a Wingleader's 'due' is larger variety of weyrs to choose from. I chose the one I liked best."

"The one with the least access?" she asked, sensing his distance as much as witnessing it. "And in this case it wasn't very convenient." She had a hard time keeping the smile from her face.

"I traded convenience for something I value more. At least, most of the time I value it more. Some days ... I get over it."

"You value solitude." She nodded in understanding, "But surely everyone values it to some degree? And though I'll admit, its not easy to come by here at times..." she hesitated, maybe she was prying too much, "is your need so important that you forgo convenience and companionship for it?"
she realised as soon as the words were out of her mouth, that she had overstepped the mark.

"Both convenience and companionship are over-rated, in my opinion," the bronzerider said, getting to his feet. "Enjoy your evening, Xara."

"Oh... And you yours Wingleader." She felt deflated by his abruptness.
She knew she had been prying, but hadn't realised how perilously close she had come to offending him. "I didn't mean to upset you." she said quietly, to the thin air surrounding her.

Last updated on the February 9th 2008

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A Second Chance