Ignoring the Homesickness

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 22nd January 2014

Characters: Talwynn, Ikara
Description: Talwynn catches up with an old friend and feels some homesickness.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 8 of Turn 7

Seeing Dolphin Cove from the air always made Talwynn catch her breath and
feel a little ache in her chest. It had been her childhood home. She was
grateful that she'd gone to Dragonsfall and Impressed her Riveth, but there
was still always a vague sense of not fitting in. She wondered if it would
have been different if she'd been able to remain with the fighting wings,
but it wasn't something she liked to dwell on.

}:The warmth here is very nice,:{ Riveth commented.

**That's why we're visiting,** Talwynn responded, before squashing the last
of the homesickness.

}:In the water or on the heights?:{ her green asked.

**Water,** Talwynn answered.

She'd had time enough to develop her own methods for mounting and
dismounting without help, but it was still easiest to get on and off in
water. She'd intentionally dressed in climate-appropriate bathing clothing,
which had been chilly at Dragonsfall, but she'd borne it.

Riveth spiraled down to land in the water close to the beach. She submerged
herself so the water lapped at her rider's legs. Talwynn unbuckled her
straps and used her good hand to brace as she slipped into the water. **Have
you spoken to Narith?**

}:I have. Hers is coming.:{

Talwynn swam leisurely towards the beach, enjoying the freedom of movement
the water provided. Swimming made her feel athletic and whole again. She
waded out of the water and waved as she saw Ikara draw near.

Ikara flashed a broad smile as she recognized her friend. "Tal! You look too
pale. Sharding Dragonsfall weather doesn't let you get a tan, huh?"

"That and being a Starsmith," the other greenrider pointed out.

"Right, that being awake all night thing. Been seeing anyone while you stay
up all night? Any trysts on the plateau under the stars?" Ikara was being
over-the-top-theatrical as usual.

"Not really my style. You?" she asked as she settled on the sand and
stretched out.

"I rather like the bluerider who won Narith's last flight, but he seems only
interested in relationships with men. Pity, as a Harper he sure knows what
to do with his hands." She turned her head up to the sky and sighed in a
long-suffering fashion.

Talwynn laughed. "How are the drills in Cyclone?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? We're in Hurricane now."

"Congratulations. How does it feel?"

"I wasn't sure I was ready, but they does some challenging drills. I think
they might be harder than a real Fall."

"Sounds like you love it."

"I do." Ikara was torn between wanting to tell one of her oldest friends all
about her wing life, but sensitive enough to realize that she didn't want to
rub in what Talwynn had lost.

"So in your last letter you said you rode sweeps and stood watch. What do
you like better?"

"I enjoy watch duty. In the day there's all the activity to keep track of,
and at night, I can Craft at the same time. Is that lazy?"

"It's an efficient use of your time," Ikara said in a tone that was a fairly
good mimic of Talwynn's, "and I know you're all about efficiency."

The other greenrider laughed. "You have me there."

"I _hate_ watch duty, and I don't know how you can stand it. Give me
sweeprides any day, the feeling of the wind in my face."

"Makes the temperature more bearable if you're up on dragons-back, right? I
had forgotten what it felt like here."

"I can't imagine how you've tolerated Dragonsfall's climate," Ikara said
with an exaggerated shudder.

"I've learned to love watching the snow fall. It's gorgeous in a way that
the rain can't be. And the winter weyrlake is warm spring-fed, thank the
egg. Otherwise it would be miserable."

"Don't you miss the sea?"

"Well, there's the Sea of Azov nearby," Talwynn reminded her. "But I know
what you mean. I always thought I'd have one of the seaside weyrs way up
there." She pointed behind her head to where she knew the ocean-overlook
ones were.

"You could always ask the Weyrleader," Ikara said after a moment.

It was eerie how much her friend's thoughts paralleled the ones Talwynn had
been having before she had decided to visit. She'd considered asking Ikara
to talk her into it, but she realized it wasn't the best idea for the Weyr
as a whole.

Dolphin Cove had been hard hit with changes over the past few Turns, and the
Weyr needed able-bodied riders and dragons. With her arm she certainly
didn't count as able-bodied - they'd be another pair of mouths to feed, but
they wouldn't be able to help fight Thread, the Weyrlingmasters probably
didn't need aid, and they couldn't even bring Search capabilities to the
table. No, she didn't want to burden her former home with her uselessness.
Even if she missed it.

"I don't want to be one of those retired riders who piles down South for
easy living in the warmth. Remember how we used to make fun of them? You
need fighting dragons more than you need retirees."

"If you're sure," Ikara said. Her tone was doubtful, but she didn't press
the point. There was a moment of awkward silence before the other woman
spoke in a cheery tone. "Hey, did I tell you that I'm on the waterball
team?"

"No! Tell me all about it…"

Last updated on the February 1st 2014

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Ignoring the Homesickness