Pretty Green, Nice Bronze

Writers: Eimi, Francesca
Date Posted: 26th August 2009

Characters: U'kaiah, Kamalia
Description: Kamalia makes a new friend
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 4 of Turn 5

U'kaiah glanced over at the young woman leaning on the rail a few steps
away. He had been looking out over the field where Kalamath circling
overhead, carefully choosing his intended target. The bronzerider had
assumed that the girl was the rider of the green who also was making a
lazy spiral over head. As they waited, he could see her staring at him
out of his peripheral vision, but she'd quickly look away as soon as he
tried to catch her eye. It was almost becoming a game to see if he
could actually catch her in the act, and finally, at last, he had her!

"She's a pretty green," he said with a grin and a polite nod, glad to
finally see her full in the face rather than just in profile.

Kamalia flushed, both embarrassed and pleased at having been caught
gazing at him. Now that she was a senior weyrling every male
dragonrider was a potential bedmate and while waiting for Alaudath she
had been imagining what it would be like to wake up next to this man,
who was everything she expected of a bronzerider. His comment pulled
her out of her reverie.

"She's almost full-grown now," she said proudly, glancing at him for a
moment and then at Alaudath, who had caught a herdbeast and was
delicately eating it. Not knowing what else to say to a Wingleader, she
waited for him to lead the conversation.

"Well, then," he said as his chest puffed out a little proudly. "I
suppose that means my bronze was her sire." U'kaiah had heard that
their Hatchlings were now almost fully grown, and it pleased him
immensely to see them turning out so well! "I'm U'kaiah, Kalamath's
rider."

"I know," Kamalia said quickly. Even if he weren't a Wingleader, she
would have noticed him. She had, however, forgotten the relationship
between Alaudath and Kalamath. It made her feel like they had a special
connection. "I'm Kamalia, Alaudath's rider," she said after a few
seconds, realizing there was no reason for him to know her.

"I remember," he nodded, though the name had escaped him. "I believe we
met briefly at the party after the Hatching when I was making rounds to
congratulate the weyrlings." There was not much about that night he
liked to remember, but meeting the new riders of his lifemate's
Hatchings was certainly something he would never forget.

Kamalia nodded. He had looked especially handsome that night in his
white tunic and black pants. Of course, that wasn't a good conversation
topic. What was there to discuss with a Wingleader? The weather?
Another glance at Alaudath and she thought of something. "We can jump
/between/ now." She still had a rush of adrenaline before each jump.
It was hard to imagine that soon it would become second nature.

"Are you now?" he asked, trying to act surprised though he had been
watching their class' progress carefully. "That is an exciting time in
a weyrlings life. I remember well."

"Yes. I get to visit my parents and they'll finally be able to meet
Alaudath," she said, excited. "And, I'm a senior weyrling now."

U'kaiah thought it was sweet that she was so excited to see her family.
She seemed like a nice kid. He leaned his shoulder against the railing
and crossed his arms across his chest lazily. "How long has it been
since you saw them last?"

"Over a Turn. They weren't able to come to the Hatching." She couldn't
wait to show Alaudath off to everyone back home. If only she could
bring U'kaiah with her. She could imagine the envious looks of every
girl who saw them.

"That's too bad. I'm sure they'll be very proud, though." At least he
hoped that would be her reception. He knew not every rider was welcomed
home with much enthusiasm.

"They are," she replied confidently, remembering the recent letter from
them. "Do you have family here?" she asked hesitantly. Generally she
enjoyed it when a conversation focused on herself, but U'kaiah wasn't
just anyone.

"The fostermother who raised me and my son both live here. That's all
the family I have." He knew the names of the man and woman who had
sired him, but they had never tried to find each other.

"That must be nice." She couldn't imagine being raised by someone
who was not her mother, or having a son for that matter.

He shrugged a shoulder. "I've never known different. I've lived here
in this Weyr since before my earliest memories. I suppose I would
appreciate it more if I, like you, had left home."

"But, you're a bronzerider," Kamalia said, as if that would be reason
enough for him to love the Weyr and his life there.

His eyebrows twitched curiously, not quite sure what she meant by that.
It more amused than confused him. "And so therefore I should never
leave home?"

"No," she replied quickly, almost giggling. "You can go anywhere on
Pern in seconds. But..." she didn't know how to explain herself. "You
have Kalamath, a Wing, your family. Isn't everything you need here?"
She had Alaudath and that was enough for her.

A face flashed briefly across his mind. He couldn't help it. It
happened sometimes. A far off face that he missed so much sometimes it
still actually felt like a little ache in the pit of his stomach. But
he was getting used to the feeling, and believed that in time, if he
tried not to think about it, it would go away. "I guess I haven't given
it much thought."

"Oh." He seemed sad now, but she couldn't begin to guess why. She
almost wished their eyes had not met. Now that they were talking he
was more normal, a bit less perfect that her idealized image of him.
Although, still incredibly handsome.

"Well, it seems Kalamath has finished his meal," U'kaiah said, nodding
towards his bronze who was backwinging in the clearing nearby to wait
for his rider. "I hope I will run into you again soon, Kamalia."

A wide smile crossed her face and she nodded, unable to think of a
response. **He wants to see me again.**

}:Yes. And, Kalamath is a very nice bronze:{ Alaudath commented,
chewing her last bite.

Last updated on the August 29th 2009

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Pretty Green, Nice Bronze