Restday Reunion
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Rochelle
Date Posted: 31st July 2009
Characters: Ariau, Jaurin
Description: Ariau picks up her youngest brother for the day at the Beastcraft Hall in Keroon.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 21 of Turn 5
**So what do you think, Ala?**
}:I think that herdbeasts should be food. Not pets.:{ The gold replied, eying the nervous looking pen of prize-winning stock. Ariau giggled.
**Behave. You ate yesterday, remember?**
}:That does not mean I could not eat again.:{ The gold replied primly.
Ariau rolled her eyes. **If you're hungry when we get back to River Bluff I'll feed you. But no eating annything here unless they offer. They're very proud of those herdbeasts.**
Alabieth snorted, eyes whirling slowly but without annoyance. Ariau patted her neck, and grinned at the circle of curious apprentices surrounding them.
"She's huge!" One exclaimed, eyes bulging as he tried to take in all of the gold's massive form at once.
"Do you think she likes me?" Another commented wistfully, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. One of the other apprentices smacked the back of his head.
"Gold dragons don't do Search, dummy."
"Leave off, Tyuil."
"'Ree!"
Her grin widened at the sound of the nickname, and she scanned the crowd looking for it's source. There were only a few people on Pern that she let use that nickname, and all of them were family. She spotted him on the edge of the crowd, trotting his way up the hill with his riding jacket slung over his shoulder.
"Jaurin!"
The younger boy's face split into a huge smile, and the small crowd reluctantly parted to let him through. She hugged her brother, then held him out at arm's length.
"Jaur, I thought I told you you weren't allowed to keep growing." She teased lightly, trying to hide her surprise. He'd grown since she'd last saw him, and it had only been a few sevendays since she last dropped by. She'd forgotten how fast boys grew at his age...
"Gotta do something to outdo you." He stuck his tongue out at her. Araiu snorted.
"Staying with a craft that doesn't involve instruments is more than enough, Jaurin. Our grandparents are tall enough."
"I'll catch up to them. You'll see." He promised her with a cheeky grin. "So where are we going today?"
Araiu and her brother E'laj had promised Jaurin that as long as he did well in his studies they would visit regularly and take him traveling on restdays. It had been more of an excuse than an actual bribe since Jaurin adored his chosen craft, but it made the two dragonriders feel better about the fact that their little brother wasn't where they could keep an eye on them anymore. Ariau felt particularly guilty about it. Her family was close, and she adored her grandparents, but the three siblings had nourished a special bond since their parents died.
"I thought we could visit your friend at Ista today, or maybe Crom or Igen."
Jaurin seemed to straighten under the envious eyes of his fellow apprentices as they watched the conversation, but gave the matter some thought. "Crom. I'd like to see Rifikil again. Ghenny might have gone to the hold with his dad again for the tithe, so there's not much point in going to Igen."
Ariau shrugged. "Okay, Crom it is. And after that I'll take you to visit Grandma Shaelis and Grandpa Aothart."
Jaurin frowned a little. "What about Fort? I haven't seen Uncle Shaeo in a while."
Ariau grimaced. "Fort has Thread today."
Jaurin seemed to deflate a little, and some of the closer apprentices looked unnerved. "Oh."
"Yeah." She agreed, feeling guilty. These visits were only once a month, and she and E'laj had worked out a schedule to allow for Threadfall days. Sometimes they all went together on the monthly excursion, but most of the time they dropped in on one another instead. Fort having Thread meant that not only was E'laj occupied, but the weyr and Northern Harper Hall where their uncle and cousins lived were off limits.
No point in worrying, she reminded herself with a carefully concealed swallow. E'laj had been riding longer than she had, and would not appreciate his big sister worrying about him when she was supposed to be having fun with Jaurin. Besides, they all loved to travel, and with both of his older siblings on dragons they'd figured it might be a good idea if Jaurin got comfortable with them early.
"Come on. I'll give you a boost."
Last updated on the August 15th 2009