Apology

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 2nd August 2008

Characters: K'hetah, Zelle
Description: K'hetah apologises to Zelle for his behaviour.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 3 of Turn 4

There wasn't any doubt about it - he owed Zelle an apology. At breakfast the Cyclone Wingleader sought out the greenrider and found he had to wait for some time for theothers at the table to leave before he could say what he had to.

Zelle ignored him. She had been carrying on conversations and continued to do so, not even looking at the bronzerider as she ate her meal. Unfortunately, the other riders had to leave and eventually, Zelle was left alone at the table with K'hetah.

"Sorry," he mumbled into his klah, eyeing her over the rim of the large mug.

The greenrider had turned her gaze downward, not even looking at K'hetah when he sat down. She didn't responded at first, a long moment stretching out between them before she finally asked, "For what?"

"Last night." He felt embarrassed and just hoped he wasn't blushing.
Zelle was a good friend but she wouldn't hesitate to laugh a him if he had a face like a redfruit. "Not being ... very welcoming."

Zelle played at the bit of food left upon her plate with her fork. "I didn't know where your weyr was, K'hetah." The greenrider insisted softly. "And even if I had, I didn't think you'd be so opposed to me being so close. I had no idea I was that repugnant."

"Not repugnant," he protested. "Just - I just want to have some space from all that -" he waved a hand in an irritable gesture - "stuff that happened back home."

"I wasn't even involved in any of that!" Zelle looked up, brow furrowed, eyes echoing a hint of sadness. "I never would have done that to you. Never. I thought you knew me better than that."
Shaffit, she had been one of the ones to back him during the entire fiasco!

"It's not that. I know you wouldn't - didn't - haven't ever - I just don't like to be _crowded_ any more. By anyone." He set the mug down reluctantly but the klah was all gone and he couldn't hide behind an empty mug forever. "That's a lot of the reason I'm here. Where nobody knows me and I don't have to have a lot of friends."

"I wasn't trying to crowd you. I honestly didn't know that was where your weyr is." Zelle dropped the fork on her plate and stood. "And if you don't want to be crowded," Zelle lowered her gaze, stepping away from the table. "Then I'll just leave you alone. You won't have to worry about me anymore. No more friends, since that's what you want."
The greenrider turned and began to walk away.

"No, no!" He got up and caught her arm. "Come back and sit down and talk."

"Why, K'hetah?" Zelle stopped, looked down where he held her arm, then looked up at him. "You said you came here to be where you weren't known and didn't have so many friends. I came here because this is where I had my closest friends. I guess neither of us got what we wanted."

"Ahh, Zelle. I want it both ways - not to have reminders and to have you around. I'm sorry that that's illogical but that's how it is."

"I would hope," Zelle managed a tiny hint of a smile, "That you would remember how I fought for you, not what she did to you."

"I would hope so, too," he said, a little sadly because the reality was that his memories were almost all taken up by the negatives. "I'm glad you're here, Zelle, and that you're my neighbour. I'll be able to make sure you get up on time in the mornings. Just stick my head out of the weyr and yell up the cliff. You might be on time for the first time in your life."

Zelle's smile grew and warmed up a bit. "Me? On time? Oh shards, maybe I should move somewhere else. I could regret having you as a neighbor!"

"Too late for that now," he pointed out. "You're just going to have to live with it."

The greenrider laughed. "I guess so. Though, you're more than welcome to visit my weyr whenever you like."

"No need for that," K'hetah said diplomatically, "I'll just sit on my ledge and talk to you from there."

"Yeah, well, the offer will stand." His reaction didn't surprise Zelle, though she wished K'hetah would open up. He hadn't always been so unreceptive. "But I guess conversations on the ledge will have to do."

"Good." He nodded toward the table. "Come back and finish your breakfast then."

"I'm not really very hungry." Zelle shrugged, "But I wouldn't mind keeping you company."

"Sounds good to me," he said, guiding her back to the table. "I am hungry. You just sit and watch me scoff enough breakfast for both of us."

Last updated on the August 3rd 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Apology