Picnic to the Beach

Writers: Emma, Paula
Date Posted: 1st December 2008

Characters: Aileyan, Demalia, Ednan, Ravyan
Description: Aileyan goes to see Ednan again, but this time she takes chaperones with her.
Location: Dolphin Hall, Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 4

"Thanks for coming along, Demalia. You're a great friend," Aileyan said. They were on the weyr plateau, loading their dragons. Aileyan was going to the Dolphin Hall again, to see Ednan. But this time she had others with her, her son and Demalia. She didn't feel like facing Ednan alone again. To Ravyan, this was just a fun picnic to see dolphins.

"You'd do the same for me," replied the other greenrider. Demalia checked the straps where she had tied a bundle of blankets. "Besides, I need to get out of here and see the sea for a bit."

"It's a beautiful place, and we have a dolphineer to show us around," Aileyan said and lifted bundled up Ravyan up to Kjarliheth's back. "You are getting heavy to lift, young man," she commented and ticked his cheek. Much more wasn't visible under the winter parka and hood.

"At least he won't need that when we get there." The winter clothing had to be for the trip /between/, you could never underestimate just how cold it would be.

"No, he won't," Aileyan agreed with laughter in her voice and vaulted to the green's back. She secured the passenger straps around her and her son.

"I'm ready when you are," Demalia said as she took her own seat on Tapheth.

Aileyan created the visualization in her mind and sent over to Kjarliheth. **Relay it to Tapheth too,** She told her green.

Tapheth picked it up quite quickly. "She's got it," Demalia said.

"Let's go then!" Aileyan called. Kjarliheth launched to the air. She soon reached the height to /between/.

And Tapheth followed, her rider mentally bracing herself for the cold.

The blast of tropical air was a shock after the intense cold of /between/. Kjarliheth trumpeted her greeting to the Dolphin Cove's watch dragon and circled to land. Aileyan guided her to land to the beach outside the Dolphin Hall. The weather wasn't as sunny as she had hoped for. It actually looked like it might rain.

"Much warmer here," called out Demalia as Tapheth landed beside Kjarliheth. "And the sea as well!"

"Yes," Aileyan agreed. When the dragons had landed and the sand settled around them, she removed the straps and the thick clothes from Ravyan. The boy was totally undisturbed by the trip /between/, like a true weyrbrat. "There's Ednan," Aileyan pointed out when she spotted the coppar red hair approaching from her high vantage point. Her guts seemed to turn into a knot.

"He's cute," commented Demalia as she slid down from Tapeht and removed her heavy riding gear. "I can understand why you wanted to see him."

Aileyan and Ravyan slid down from Kjarliheth.

"Hi there, " Ednan greeted when he came to the talking distance.

"You must be Ednan," said Demalia. "I've heard a lot about you from Aileyan here."

"Yes, I am, and you are?" Ednan replied.

"This is my friend, Demalia, and my son, Ravyan," Aileyan introduced.

"My duty to you and yours," Ednan said politely but his attention was in Ravyan. Aileyan's son. He find it hard to believe, even if she had told of him before. But he did look like his mother, with the same large, brown eyes and brown hair.

"Hey Ravyan," said Demalia. "How about we go and see if we can find some sea shells for your mother. I bet she'd like that."

"Shells!" The boy agreed with enthusiasm. "Don't go to the water alone, Rav," Aileyan warned him before releasing him to run around.

"I won't let him," Demalia told her friend. As she walked past with the little boy she said softly to her friend. "Have Kjarliheth call tapeth when you're ready."

"Thank's Demalia," Aileyan said. She turned to look Ednan, feeling nervous. "So, how have you been?" She asked awkwardly.

"Just fine. I've impressed a firelizard," Ednan said, and whistled. Brun appeared and landed on his shoulder. "This is Brun."

"He's cute," Aileyan said and smiled. Her smile made his heart skip a beat.

"Ails, what's happened to us? Why are we acting like total strangers?" Ednan suddenly blurted out.

"Six turns is long time," Aileyan said and shrugged a bit. If there was a man in Pern for who she could love and lower her guards for, it was Ednan. But he had hurt her in their last meeting and now her guards were up again.

On the beach, Demalia looked back to see Aileyan talking to Ednan. She steered the little boy out of the water, and pointed out a big shell to him.

"Look, last time when we parted. You took me by surprise and I acted like a dolt. A hide-bound wherry arse. Can you forgive me?" Ednan asked.

"Forgive, yes." **Forgot, no.**

"That one's pretty," Demalia pointed to another shell, and Ravyan scooped it up, then pointed back towards his mother. "You want to go back? Okay, just let me ask."

**Tapheth, can you ask Kjarliheth if we can come back now?**

** Sure they can,** Aileyan replied via her dragon. She was glad of the interruption, things were getting awkward.

"Okay Ravyan, we can go back up to your Mom now," Demalia took the little boy's hand and led him back up to his Mother and the dolphineer.

Ednan was not glad of their interuption, but he kept a smile on his face. He really wanted to talk with Aileyan in private. "So, does the little one want to meet dolphins?" he asked.

"I would, even if Ravyan doesn't." Demalia grinned.

"Dolpin!" the boy chimed eagerly.

"Let's go to the water then," Ednan grinned.

Last updated on the December 1st 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Picnic to the Beach