Quiet Nights

[Sparrow]

Nayarath had finally decided to settle down on the hatching sands and stay there, and over the course of the day had dropped twenty-one eggs. All betting was done for the day now, and all curious and not-too-busy weyrfolk had cleared out. It was nothing new for people to come watch a queen lay, and Nayarath took particular joy in it, despite all her defensiveness when it came to her eggs later. Kora didn't mind them either; this was the one day people would leave Nayarath thinking she was a friendly. It was a truth very few had caught on to over the Turns.

The nondescript, leathery-skinned eggs didn't need more eyes on them than Nayarath, and Nayarath was definitely fine at her own, but it came at no bother to rider or dragon for Kora to come check on her. Kora had finished her work and her food, and had no particular desire to head back to her weyr, now empty even of its dragon.

Nayarath lay her head by the stands and Kora rubbed the Gold's eyeridges. "Feel good to have those out?"

It is the best feeling, Nayarath replied with a rumble. You should camp out here tonight. We can tell the eggs scary stories and the sands are very warm.

"Just the thing for growing babies." Kora looked over the clutch- what wasn't blocked by Nayarath, anyway. Freshly laid, the eggs were little more than ugly, and if there was an unlikely queen among them, it was far from obvious. There was still that special air of new life drifting around though, a collection of nearly two dozen miracles just waiting to happen. They'd brighten up. "Maybe."

The only one who couldn't handle it would be you, Nayarath prodded, eyes whirling teasingly.

"Always a dear, aren't you."

There's a reason people love me so much. Nayarath raised her head to look over the clutch, obviously not referring to her every-so-polite mannerisms, as much as Kora would have liked her to be able to.

Kora sighed. Work. Their duty. It was all either of them was good for.

Nayarath bumped her with her nose. And they call me the grumpy one.

[Jenth]

Wuith had been in and out over the course of the day, crooning encouragement to his queen from the ledges before being called away. With Nayarath now on the hatching sands, the least he could do was watch the Weyr in her place. It was his eggs that were now resting on the sands, and while it was his second clutch he was even more proud of his queen. The twenty-one eggs were more impressive then Kelth's fourteen, Nayarath had been a hard earned prize and he had flown harder then ever before. There was doubts that any of the strange colors of his last clutch would reappear, though it was the first gold-tan clutch on record.

With the Weyr settling to sleep, Wuith had returned back to his patience vigilance. Not once had he dared to touch a single grain of sand, Nayarath knew what was best for their young and he was but a clumsy male with no idea what to do when caring for eggs. L'han was no where to be seen, his face had been one of many in the excited crowds earlier but he had come no closer then to his dragon.

I don't think telling them scary stories would hurt them. I don't think they would hear Beyond the glow of fresh life, there was still no presence or identity to be felt within the now soft shells. It normally couldn't be felt till just before hatching, when every dragon felt the determination of the young ones to break shell and find they're lifemate. And with lifemate's came food.

[Sparrow]

Wuith says scary stories are fine, Nayarath added, passing on the Tan's words to her rider.

Kora laughed. "Alright, I suppose you dragons know what's best." She looked up at Wuith, and couldn't help but wonder where his rider was. She thought she had seen L'han earlier, among the people watching, but wasn't sure. In her hopeless, moody state, he was probably better staying away, but some non-dragon company would probably be nice.

He had every reason to be staying away though, if D'mas had gotten to him, and of course, she did have Squeak. The kagen was currently curled up on a bench with Lilac, looking down at the sands nervously. When Lilac had clutched, he had been a bit unnerved by her eggs, but these eggs were enormous. Definitely not safe. Kora sat back and scratched his ears, an action which earned her an attention-grubbing bump from Lilac.

"I hope you know some stories," she said to Nayarath. Kora wasn't particularly familiar with any scary ones.

[Jenth]

Maybe stories about Thread and the red star are too scary for them With the mention of the menace that dragons rose to sear from the skies, swirls of yellow and hints of orange tainted his eyes. Despite Wuith being a full grown dragon with a searing flame the mention of their ancient foe and its origin still sent a cold shiver down his spine and triggered a subconscious burning hatred.

The scariest thing I can think of is Nayarath's rage, I am very careful to ensure my queen is happy The tan joked to Nayarath, though it was the truth. She was the most important thing to him, except of course for his rider who he couldn't live without. With Nayrath's happiness came peace and order.

[Sparrow]

Not stories of Thread, Nayarath agreed. No dragon enjoyed discussing that. It would be hard to find a rider that did as well; speaking of Thread had not even occurred to Kora. Tales of the Red Star and battling its spores were not bedtime stories, not even when there was a want for scary ones.

Nayarath rumbled and passed Wuith's joke on to Kora, who grinned. Just previous to her clutching, Nayarath eyes would have gone red at that, but all that broody grumpiness was at least temporarily gone now. "I do have plenty of stories about that."

Just which ones Nayarath would be willing to share, if any, was questionable though. Most of the stories would come from when she was broody, which also came with a good excuse of her having very little control over her mood.

I wasn't thinking personal stories, Nayarath said quickly. I thought you knew all the old ones, she said with an accusing glance at Kora. She shrugged; Pern didn't have a lot of scary historical stories.

[Jenth]

Little ones who wander off and get gobbled up by big furries, tunnel snakes or feral whers. Wuith said, hunching over to look menacing as if he trying to scare the eggs. Of course they couldn't see him, or even hear him, but he might have been able to scare little weyrlings. Being as big as he was he could have snapped his jaws a bit as if to eat them up himself, but the thought never crossed his mind. The tan didn't want to eat baby dragons, there was plenty of food to even consider the thought.

Little ones must always listen to what they are told, they will be safe

L'han smiled as he listened to the dragons talk, laying in his empty weyr alone. The dragons so far seemed terrible of thinking of scary stories that wouldn't upset them too much to talk about. They did need a push, but really the only things people found terrifying was Thread. There was little else to be afraid of, except the pain of loss but they were risks some took every day. Mines colapsed, sailors never returned, partners ran off with another love, children wondered off and were never seen again.

[Sparrow]

I'm quivering, Nayarath rumbled and then lay her head down by Kora again, who then put her second hand to use scratching the queen. You could just make something up, you know.

"I'm no good at making up stories." Kora gave Nayarath a wilting look. The Gold tilted her head a little to look sideways a Wuith.

Mine is not feeling very courageous lately, she complained.

"Or maybe it's merely past your bedtime."

Said the ignorant to the mother. Nayarath rumbled and then lifted her head, now turning her gaze entirely on Wuith. Maybe it's just that she is not thrilled at an all-nighter. What do you think?

[Jenth]

Must be past her bedtime. L'han is in bed, even though he's still awake. He listens.

Actually at least half the Weyr were falling asleep as they spoke, only those with an excuse to stay awake were. There was not much to do when the sun went down but sleep. Dragons didn't see well, so left the world in the hands of their nocturnal cousins; the whers. A rare sight with only a handful bonded to handlers in a cave system far away.

Maybe he should come down too

I'm nt sure thats a good idea

Thats for her to decide

[Sparrow]

I think Wuith figured it out, Nayarath said, again passing on the Tan's words to her rider. Kora rolled her eyes.

"I think I'm far better at staying up than you." Dragons were not night creatures, and Nayarath had been working all day laying eggs. She was tired, far more so than Kora, who had mostly just watched her dragon.

She knew Nayarath was doing this for her this time around. Kora was lonely, and once Nayarath went to sleep, that was it for the night. Soot, Lilac, and Squeak were already snoring, not that they provided the most talkative company in the first place.

I don't think Kora would mind. This was a case that, in Nayarath's opinion, depended far more on L'han's mood than Kora's. She knew that Kora would not want her forcing L'han in if he didn't want to come though, and of course didn't know his mind.

[Jenth]

It's decided, come down. Kora could use the company

L'han thought his tan sounded way too smug. Maybe it was that he had another clutch on the sands, or maybe he just liked to think he knew best but there was some truth to his words. When was the last time he spent much time with his Weyrwoman? Someone would notice eventually, and who knew what they would say about it.

Wuith looked up when L'han finally reached them, being the only one who knew he would come.

((AH! ran out of time! it'll have to do >.<))

[Sparrow]

Squeak woke up enough to squirm out from under Lilac and onto Kora's lap, and she was focused on the kagen when L'han came in. Nayarath didn't miss his entrance though, and swung her head around to look at him.
Well, look who's here.

Who- Following Nayarath's gaze, it didn't take long for Kora to figure out who the queen was talking about. Anxiety built up in her. You didn't make him come, did you?

Dragons listen to me, not humans, Nayarath replied, put off by her rider's accusatory tone. Kora should be pleased, not angry. I didn't even suggest it.

Right. Kora hesitated, and then carefully moved Squeak off her lap so she could stand to greet L'han. "Evening, L'han," she said, forcing a smile. She was pleased, but she was also nervous. She didn't know if D'mas had spoken to him, or if Nayarath had told Wuith everything, who then of course would have talked to him- and gossip between the dragons was far more likely, which didn't help. If he wasn't already unhappy with her, she was particularly frightened that he would be before long.

If you could calm down? I'd like to sleep. Nayarath lay her head on the sands, but kept a half-lidded eye on her rider. Kora could be such a bother to take care of sometimes.

[Jenth]

Despite what Kora may have think L'han had a small sleepy smile on his face. This late at night he wore only plain, old clothing, someting he had only thrown on to come down. Besides, it suited his old carefree attitude better. In the past couple of turns he had been given no choice but to get serious about his leading roles, it was something he had never asked for but managed it better then even he expected.

"It seems no weyrwoman can resist moving into the hatching caverns when her queen has a clutch." L'han gave a small laugh as he sat down next to her. They had all done it, Inolyn hadn't been ashamed to say every now and again she had returned to her weyr to get a better nights sleep. What she didn't comment on was wether or not her relationship with B'can was involved with it either. Regardless, there wasn't a lot of room around the hatching sands to set up a desent bed.

Wuith rummbled his happy feelings, glad to see Nayarath finally getting some rest. The tan would be up for a few candlemarks longer, watching over the clutch and his mate protectively.

[Sparrow]

L'han looked far more relaxed than Kora did... that was, as best she could figure, good news. She sat down again and Squeak, awake again from the brief disappearance of her warmth, squirmed back to her lap. Kora scratched his ears and smiled weakly at L'han. "Every once in a while."

Nayarath's first clutch, she had hardly been able to leave even to eat or change. That nervousness had very quickly gone away. But it was true that the second time through, even though Nayarath hadn't been making her stay, Kora had chosen to. It had been lonely in the weyr, like it would be now.

"It's definitely warmer in here." A big empty cave held onto cold, whereas at the sands, heat radiated up from the ground and up to the lower stands. It was a matter of choosing cozy over comfort; Kora was not good with sleeping on the ground, and massing up hides never seemed to be enough to hide that fact. "What brings you out here?"

[Jenth]

"Its not even winter yet. The cold is still settling in." L'han's eyes never left the eggs, and Nayarath who curled around them. It was a common state, one that no one seemed to shake no matter how many clutches they had seen. It proved an adaquite excuse, he could feel the arkwardness between them they always shared when they were alone together. It was for always some excuse or other, normally completely oblivious to the other.

"I was listening to Wuith, and thought things were more interesting down here. Looks like I missed the party though." Indicating the sleeping gold. Wuith had gone silent too, orbs of blue glowing softly against the stone wall over the eggs.

Sighing and leaning back a little, L'han finally spoke what had been itching at him. It was getting easy to read Kora, and that there was something she wanted to say. "So whats on your mind Kora? You've been rather stiff and almost jittery since i walked in."

[Sparrow]

"I think that's why Nayarath waited so long to Rise," Kora joked. "She gets to sit on the hot sands all winter." Well, maybe not the whole winter, but a few weeks of it. The hatchlings wouldn't be so happy when they had to leave the sands and head into the cold, but they would be tough for it. All the bodies in the barracks would likely warm them up again anyway.

Kora shook her head. "We couldn't come up with any ideas and the party was canceled. You didn't miss much." Nayarath had happily fallen asleep the moment L'han came in, which just showed how much interest she had in the whole idea. Not much; she simply hadn't minded joking around with it for a bit.

There was that anxiety, creeping back up again. If L'han didn't already know, then it seemed like a much better idea to keep things that way, but not answering him wouldn't help anything either. "I was just... worried you would be angry with me." Words, at least, she would try to keep to a minimum. She had talked far too much last time, which may have been one of the reasons for D'mas' confusion.

[Jenth]

L'han shoke his head, he should have known it would be something like this. It always was. D'mas had something that hadn't made a lot of sense in passing shortly after his meeting with Kora, but the tanrider hadn't dwelled on it. It wa between them, not him. "I dont have any reason to be angry with you, Kora. You don't have to worry, just relax. Nayrath has had a big day, she needs her rest."

Relax, if only they could find such a luxury...

[Sparrow]

"And I'm worried you might have other things going on- other people- which D'mas apparently did. He was mad at me about it, like I was holding him back, but it was his choice," Kora was rambling again, and cut herself off quickly. L'han had just said to relax, and here she was getting all frantic.

Kora looked down at her lap, and Squeak happily asleep on it. He was plenty calm, like just about everyone else here. Nayarath had been trying to keep slightly alert for Kora, but had shut down, asleep, not long ago. She would be fine. Nayarath was tired, and it wasn't likely Kora would inadvertently wake her.

"I'm sorry L'han. I keep messing things up, and the more I do the more I do it." It was a frustrating hole she had fallen into.

[Jenth]

Oh, so D'mas had gotten upset over Beka? "I knew about Beka. He had mentioned her a few times, how she had a past that clouded her heart. When Kayth caught Nayarath, it seperated them too far and with you too close to him he knew he would never win her."

The bronzerider had gotten confused, coming close to giving Beka up for good because he thought himself in love with Kora. When it was reveiled to be only a dream, he was free to listen to his heart again. "D'mas is only male, don't be too hard on him. I need him too much."

L'han chuckled, thinking over what she had said. "Other people, that's a good one! I'm just a 'fly boy', even if I am Weyrleader none of the girls take me serious."

[Sparrow]

"I wish he would have told me." D'mas was so sure he had done the right thing "not hurting" her, but it hadn't done a thing for either of them. "I trusted him, and now I feel so... hurt." Betrayed wasn't quite the word. He hadn't turned on her. She had sent him away, and he had gone back to the person he had wanted to be with. "He didn't have to get 'close' to me."

The Weyrleader was generally somewhat expected to be with the Weyrwoman, but that obviously hadn't worked out too well for Kora so far, and as far as she was concerned, it hadn't gone too great for the men either.

Kora cocked an eyebrow and gave L'han a sideways look. A girl didn't have to take the Weyrleader seriously to want to be around him... but, for all his joking nature, it did seem unlike L'han to want to be with someone who didn't. "I do."

But that was given. Kora took everyone but Lilac and Nayarath seriously.

[Jenth]

"He didn't tell you from the start because he didn't want to hurt you, but when you pushed him to the side he was hurt. Even if he hadn't told you, you would have found out sooner or later and rather sooner if you were going to have regrets and run back to him." The worst thing about the mess was D'mas didn't want Beka to be dragged into any of this mess. It was baggage he was willing to put behind him. So far he was succeding, but if Kora was to hold onto feelings for the bronzerider it could be trouble.

"Not in that way, my dear." L'han and Kora had never shared a bed, and if he remembered what she had said on the topic they never will short of a mating flight. Which meant he was free to persue other women, but that wasnt as easy as it might sound. Being a secret romantic at heart while being 'carefree' Weyrleader it was hard for him to find a woman that would put up with him let alone accept the fact he had to be shared with Weyrwoman and Weyr.