Goodbye is the Hardest Thing To Say

Writers: Suzee, Avery
Date Posted: 14th June 2014

Characters: Kapera, R'iss
Description: Kapera says goodbye to her oldest friend.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 7, day 9 of Turn 7

Kapera

Kapera crossed her arms and looked around the weyr. She'd packed up
everything personal she'd wanted to keep - her clothes and a few
mementos, mostly - and now all that remained was the furniture, which
she was giving back to the weyr's stores. "Thanks for helping me
finish this," she said.

"Sure," R'iss said as he loaded up the package containing her furs. "I
wish Tairyth and I could go with you," the greenrider pouted in his
pretty way. Tall and blond his scant clothing barely covered him as he
swayed toward the giant gold side.

"You'd just love the weather, wouldn't you? And the pretty men," she
added after a moment. "I'll have to tell you all about it."

"You know I would," he grinned at her. "One of the best things about
your parties sweetie, is that if they aren't interested in you,
they're interested in me." he giggled at his joke as he came back.
"It's a beautiful friendship and I will miss you."

"Advantage of being allowed to /between/ now is that I can come back,"
she reminded him. "Or invite you to my new parties. Can you just
picture all of the men on the beach at a bonfire, or a waterball game?
It'll be excellent."

"Yes,' R'iss nodded. "You're recovered enough," he patted her arms.
His eyes looked into hers seriously. "But you be careful out there.
Are you sure this is the place for you?"

"I think so," she told him. "You know what happens when there are too
many golds - a fight's going to break out here if we all stay. And
Dolphin Cove is lovely and warm." Which would spare her the health
problems from before.

"Yes, and rumors say it has huge hatching sands. Did you see them
while you were there?" He bent over to get another bundle and carry it
out to strap into the nets.

"I looked at them briefly, but I was more interested in looking at
weyrs. Three clutches at once would be impressive. Did you know they
even have some facing out over the sea, accessible only by dragon?"
She'd been so tempted.

"Well sweetie, all I can say is I'd better get an invitation to one of
your parties so I can scope out the very _fine_ riders at Dolphin
Cove."

"I'll have Riyanth give Tairyth ones as soon as I organize one."

She absently smoothed down the side of her riding pants. This was the
right decision, but...she was nervous. "It'll be good to meet entirely new
people and be somewhere completely different, right?"

"Yes," R'iss said entirely serious for the first time in ages. "You're
meant for greater things than what you have here. You've taken the
time you both need to heal and it is past time for you to step back
out into the responsibilities we both know you can handle."

"And if they have a brain they'll see it." he added with his usual
flighty flick of hair.

She nodded solemnly, and let his words sink in. She did have some good
memories of Windswept from the first time, after all. "I don't regret
coming back here to recover. But I think you're right. We need to spread
our wings again."

R'iss had known this particular woman for a very long time and knew she
was more than capable. But here she was judged and out ranked. It
wasn't fair to either her or Riyanth the way they'd been treated while
they recuperated. He smiled and nodded his approval. "Just remember,
our eggs were sisters so if you call me I'll come. Now, off you go,"
he said putting an arm around her and pulling her toward the ledge.

Kapera hugged him back before letting him chivvy her along. "You're
the best," she told him. Having someone who hadn't been competing to
Impress the gold, and who had been supportive, had made weyrlinghood
much easier for her. "I won't forget everything you did for us."

"Good," he said and sniffed. "Now go before I start crying." He made
shooing motions with both hands. It was probably already too late for
that but R'iss was brave in his own way and he smiled as she climbed
up on her big and breathtaking lifemate. "Goodbye my sweet Riyanth," he
crooned and stretched up to scratch an eyeridge when she brought her
head within reach. "I'm going to miss you too beautiful."

Riyanth happily accepted the scratch, and let out a pleased noise.
Through her rider, she had faint memories of playing with the green
and enjoying it. }:Tell your rider that we will miss his, and I will
miss you.:{

Her own composure felt suspiciously threatened as well. "We'll be
back," she promised, then when the goodbyes were finished, mounted
Riyanth and prepared to leave.

All he could do was nod and wave. **I hope so** a green yodel of loss
and goodbye rang through the Weyrbowl followed by the sounds of the
other dragons saluting the queen as she rose on gleaming magnificent
wings and finally disappeared from sight.

Last updated on the June 15th 2014

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Goodbye is the Hardest Thing To Say