(no subject)
Who: Noemie, Caitlyn, Kamia, Aion
What: Caitlyn gets the news, and gives the two greenriders a piece of her mind.
Where: Ista Weyr Docks and Beach
Ista Weyr: Docks and South Beach
The black sand stretches for kilometers to each side of these long docks,
curving from the south to the southeast as the plateau's gentle slope curves
towards the forests. These docks are obviously brand new and recently
expanded, stretching far into the harbour. Metal rings adorn the wood at
regular intervals, providing places for ships to berth, and several smaller
sets of docks jut out from the main. Beside the docks to the northwest the
beachside tavern rests, offering more places for sailors to dock and seek
refreshment. Sunset drenches red, glorious light over everything, and what
the black sand absorbs, the sea makes up for, in a million dazzling
reflections of fire from the blue, rolling surface. The sky shades to a
flaming red to the horizon, where it meets the sea in a bright line unbroken
except for the distant dark smudges that rise out of the sea far to the west
and southwest: these are the beautiful Ista Isles.
The wet summer season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering
temperatures. Tonight, there is a light, sprinkling rain and the air hardly
moves more than a whisper.
Caitlyn is not as heartless as she seems now, in no way, shape or form. But
she's also dedicated, and a harsh taskmistress when provoked - and now is
one of those times. Once she and the greenriders have gotten out of
ear-range of any others, the woman lets loose with both barrels again. "No,
you may NOT, greenrider! I don't want to hear excuses, I want to hear why
you didn't have the fortitude to tell me before the Journeyman did?! Did you
think it could lessen or alter my reactions to put it off?!" And suddenly
Cait speaks more evenly, piercing both greenriders' gazes with her own. "It
might have...if you'd have tried to sell me your viewpoints right at the
start." Steel again flashes in her tones. "But now you've done it. Gone
behind my back and skulked around. Her hands close into fists, one suddenly
showing the bruising and deep wounds upon its knuckles. "And now what am I
to do without two nearly indespensible pairs from our team - when Thread
falls again? What's Dawnsflame, V'lano, Ista's people to do?"
Kamia just keeps her head down, listening to her rant, still hugging herself
protectively, and really, she looks about ready to cry.
Noemie's mouth opens, words ready on her tongue, much to say in response to
all that Caitlyn's saying to her and Kamia. But she shuts it again, waiting
for the right moment, if there actually is such a thing in this one-sided
ranting. She's near tears as well, but hiding it as carefully as she can.
Caitlyn simply stands there before both women, looking into their eyes with
not only anger and steel, but some strange hurt looming behind those other
emotions - as well as some tired chagrin. turning her back on the pair
suddenly, she flicks the words out as her head shakes a few times. "Speak,
Noemie. But I warn you, don't insult me. I've no patience for it today."
Aion figures he's seen enough for the time being, and rather than interrupt
what the three are talking about - he just starts meandering down the beach
back towards the weyr. The dispersal of the others has led to his own, but..
there's only so much time that he finds the sandy shores interesting to look
at.
Kamia sniffles a bit before she gets it under control, and lets Noemie do the
talking, still hugging herself.
Actually speaking will make it harder to hold back the tears, but Noemie does so
anyway, boldly, with a twinge of surprise in her words that she's actually
speaking them. "I have no insults," she begins. "I respect you as a rider,
as my Wingleader. I think you skilled at what you do and understand why
you're speaking to us now." Her words are careful, not of flattery, merely
by way of explanation. "What I have to say is this-- with the all the
exertion of riding, of all the time spent *between*, I figured it next to
impossible for me to get pregnant right now. So yes, I wasn't as careful as
I should have been. And yes, I do have two littles already. And each time, I
was close to losing my girls *between* out of duty to Pern. And every time I
remember this, and see them, it nearly kills me." She's said all of this
without pausing for breath, her Harper-trained lungs proving their
endurance. Finally, she pauses to take a deep breath, and it's now that
tears fall from her eyes, though her voice remains steady. "And the reason
that I haven't told you yet is because, for all of that, I've been more torn
this time around about keeping my child than I ever have been. Because I was
waiting until I'd decided for sure. And I still haven't. There's every
chance that tomorrow, there'll be no--" Now her voice cracks, pitching
upward as she really begins to cry. "-- reason for me to be in the Queen's
wing."
Caitlyn doesn't flinch at Noemie's words, her back still stiff, manner still
unbending. And she's glad that no one can see her turned away face, the
sudden twitch of guilt that rolls over her mobile features - the dropping of
her eyes to black sands below foot. Gathering herself together again, the
bluerider nods a few times when the older greenrider is finished, then
speaking to Kamia. "Your turn, Kamia."
Noemie thinks I'm hawt!
Kamia reaches out for her wingmate, to hug the crying girl, looking at Caitlyn
as if to say "See why I was late telling you" She sniffles a bit more
though. "I don't have a weyrmate, I never expected to get pregnant, I have
no intent to take one... the father is happy with me keeping the baby and if
a flight gives me the chance to have one.. I don't know how to say no to
it... this could be the only chance I have and I don't want to loose it..
I'm sorry Aion had to tell you, but I knew you would be mad, and Noemie and
I were trying to help each other build up the courage to tell you."
Noemie wraps one arm around Kamia, a light hug, but she collapses upon herself
at that moment, legs folding underneath her and face falling into her cupped
hands as she begins to really sob. Not from Caitlyn's tirade, not really,
but from the weight of the situation, the amount that she's torn, from being
such a carefree girl suddenly so burdened. From somewhere down the beach, a
green dragon croons worriedly.
Caitlyn steadies herself when another rush of ire overcomes her at Kamia's
words, then woman then dropping her head between her shoulderblades, sighing
wearily - losing most of her anger to emotional exhaustion. When she finally
turns around, the other two women are greeted by only tired features, bleak
eyes. "Noemie...I'm not..." And when Noe collapses, Cait has to lock her
knees to not go down on her own and comfort her friend...perhaps friend no
longer after this. Kintryth croons back to both Naijath and Naurimeth,
getting up to waddle over between the two of them and touch noses. Caitlyn
looks out over at the dragons to keep her head together, unable to bear
looking at the two women right now. "I'm not cruel, you both know that. But
I want...stability for Dawnsflame. I have to depend on all of you to keep my
back - each others' - when we fly." A deep, shaking sigh escapes her lungs.
"I'm not ogre enough to try and order your babes away from either of
you...not that I could. But please...please consider the repercussions of
your actions before you allow this to happen again." Her uninjured hand
lifts to a temple, trying to rub away the headache that's begun there. "If
this...keeps happening, I might have to ask V'lano to have you reassigned to
the Queen's Wing. I... Dawnsflame just cannot take having its riders cycling
in and out so often." Feeling a little like a heel, Caitlyn turns back to
both women, her face bleak, but quiet. "Go back to your weyrs. Rest. Even I
know a pregnant woman needs her rest."
Kamia luckily she can go down, infact has to go down to her knees to stay with
Noemie and not drop her, stroking her hair soothingly, it's enough to cause
her to stop sniffling as she takes care of someone else. Nari herself seems
confused and upset, she doesn't get the humans at all, and she nuzzles Kint
for reassurance that she doesn't need to go protect her human, since her
human doesn't want her too.
Kintryth keeps up his tenor croon to the greens, rubbing a cheek on their
necks to express his concern and to assert that, yes, all is truly alright.
His reassurance is strong and steady, his tones full of confidence.
Noemie looks up at her
wingleader. "I'm still-- torn--" comes between a sob or two. "I'm not--
sure-- for all that I've been saying-- I am. When I /do/ know-- I'll tell
you, Caity." The back of one hand wipes away tears. "I understand, and I'm
not going to hold it against you. You're just doing what's right for the
wing." There's still a bit of pain in her words, but honesty, also. Down the
beach, Naijath nuzzles the blue back, for perhaps the first time in her
life, no flirty undertones to the motion, just seeking reassurance, seeking
the comfort of her fellow dragons.
Caitlyn nods to Noemie and Kamia, the woman slowly stepping over to the pair,
trying to lift both greenriders up in her strong arms to stand again. "I
know, Noemie. More than you might guess..." She too finally gives in a
little bit, stroking her clutchsib's hair once, giving a weak, crooked
half-smile to Kamia. "Now go home...go rest, or whatever makes you feel
better. I think all of our dragons will be having our presences in thier
couches tonight." She passes a hand over her suddenly pained features, and
drops arms from the others, hitching off towards Kintryth. "Fair skies..."
she mumbles very softly, soon climbing aboard her blue's back, to direct him
skyward.
What: Caitlyn gets the news, and gives the two greenriders a piece of her mind.
Where: Ista Weyr Docks and Beach
Ista Weyr: Docks and South Beach
The black sand stretches for kilometers to each side of these long docks,
curving from the south to the southeast as the plateau's gentle slope curves
towards the forests. These docks are obviously brand new and recently
expanded, stretching far into the harbour. Metal rings adorn the wood at
regular intervals, providing places for ships to berth, and several smaller
sets of docks jut out from the main. Beside the docks to the northwest the
beachside tavern rests, offering more places for sailors to dock and seek
refreshment. Sunset drenches red, glorious light over everything, and what
the black sand absorbs, the sea makes up for, in a million dazzling
reflections of fire from the blue, rolling surface. The sky shades to a
flaming red to the horizon, where it meets the sea in a bright line unbroken
except for the distant dark smudges that rise out of the sea far to the west
and southwest: these are the beautiful Ista Isles.
The wet summer season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering
temperatures. Tonight, there is a light, sprinkling rain and the air hardly
moves more than a whisper.
Caitlyn is not as heartless as she seems now, in no way, shape or form. But
she's also dedicated, and a harsh taskmistress when provoked - and now is
one of those times. Once she and the greenriders have gotten out of
ear-range of any others, the woman lets loose with both barrels again. "No,
you may NOT, greenrider! I don't want to hear excuses, I want to hear why
you didn't have the fortitude to tell me before the Journeyman did?! Did you
think it could lessen or alter my reactions to put it off?!" And suddenly
Cait speaks more evenly, piercing both greenriders' gazes with her own. "It
might have...if you'd have tried to sell me your viewpoints right at the
start." Steel again flashes in her tones. "But now you've done it. Gone
behind my back and skulked around. Her hands close into fists, one suddenly
showing the bruising and deep wounds upon its knuckles. "And now what am I
to do without two nearly indespensible pairs from our team - when Thread
falls again? What's Dawnsflame, V'lano, Ista's people to do?"
Kamia just keeps her head down, listening to her rant, still hugging herself
protectively, and really, she looks about ready to cry.
Noemie's mouth opens, words ready on her tongue, much to say in response to
all that Caitlyn's saying to her and Kamia. But she shuts it again, waiting
for the right moment, if there actually is such a thing in this one-sided
ranting. She's near tears as well, but hiding it as carefully as she can.
Caitlyn simply stands there before both women, looking into their eyes with
not only anger and steel, but some strange hurt looming behind those other
emotions - as well as some tired chagrin. turning her back on the pair
suddenly, she flicks the words out as her head shakes a few times. "Speak,
Noemie. But I warn you, don't insult me. I've no patience for it today."
Aion figures he's seen enough for the time being, and rather than interrupt
what the three are talking about - he just starts meandering down the beach
back towards the weyr. The dispersal of the others has led to his own, but..
there's only so much time that he finds the sandy shores interesting to look
at.
Kamia sniffles a bit before she gets it under control, and lets Noemie do the
talking, still hugging herself.
Actually speaking will make it harder to hold back the tears, but Noemie does so
anyway, boldly, with a twinge of surprise in her words that she's actually
speaking them. "I have no insults," she begins. "I respect you as a rider,
as my Wingleader. I think you skilled at what you do and understand why
you're speaking to us now." Her words are careful, not of flattery, merely
by way of explanation. "What I have to say is this-- with the all the
exertion of riding, of all the time spent *between*, I figured it next to
impossible for me to get pregnant right now. So yes, I wasn't as careful as
I should have been. And yes, I do have two littles already. And each time, I
was close to losing my girls *between* out of duty to Pern. And every time I
remember this, and see them, it nearly kills me." She's said all of this
without pausing for breath, her Harper-trained lungs proving their
endurance. Finally, she pauses to take a deep breath, and it's now that
tears fall from her eyes, though her voice remains steady. "And the reason
that I haven't told you yet is because, for all of that, I've been more torn
this time around about keeping my child than I ever have been. Because I was
waiting until I'd decided for sure. And I still haven't. There's every
chance that tomorrow, there'll be no--" Now her voice cracks, pitching
upward as she really begins to cry. "-- reason for me to be in the Queen's
wing."
Caitlyn doesn't flinch at Noemie's words, her back still stiff, manner still
unbending. And she's glad that no one can see her turned away face, the
sudden twitch of guilt that rolls over her mobile features - the dropping of
her eyes to black sands below foot. Gathering herself together again, the
bluerider nods a few times when the older greenrider is finished, then
speaking to Kamia. "Your turn, Kamia."
Noemie thinks I'm hawt!
Kamia reaches out for her wingmate, to hug the crying girl, looking at Caitlyn
as if to say "See why I was late telling you" She sniffles a bit more
though. "I don't have a weyrmate, I never expected to get pregnant, I have
no intent to take one... the father is happy with me keeping the baby and if
a flight gives me the chance to have one.. I don't know how to say no to
it... this could be the only chance I have and I don't want to loose it..
I'm sorry Aion had to tell you, but I knew you would be mad, and Noemie and
I were trying to help each other build up the courage to tell you."
Noemie wraps one arm around Kamia, a light hug, but she collapses upon herself
at that moment, legs folding underneath her and face falling into her cupped
hands as she begins to really sob. Not from Caitlyn's tirade, not really,
but from the weight of the situation, the amount that she's torn, from being
such a carefree girl suddenly so burdened. From somewhere down the beach, a
green dragon croons worriedly.
Caitlyn steadies herself when another rush of ire overcomes her at Kamia's
words, then woman then dropping her head between her shoulderblades, sighing
wearily - losing most of her anger to emotional exhaustion. When she finally
turns around, the other two women are greeted by only tired features, bleak
eyes. "Noemie...I'm not..." And when Noe collapses, Cait has to lock her
knees to not go down on her own and comfort her friend...perhaps friend no
longer after this. Kintryth croons back to both Naijath and Naurimeth,
getting up to waddle over between the two of them and touch noses. Caitlyn
looks out over at the dragons to keep her head together, unable to bear
looking at the two women right now. "I'm not cruel, you both know that. But
I want...stability for Dawnsflame. I have to depend on all of you to keep my
back - each others' - when we fly." A deep, shaking sigh escapes her lungs.
"I'm not ogre enough to try and order your babes away from either of
you...not that I could. But please...please consider the repercussions of
your actions before you allow this to happen again." Her uninjured hand
lifts to a temple, trying to rub away the headache that's begun there. "If
this...keeps happening, I might have to ask V'lano to have you reassigned to
the Queen's Wing. I... Dawnsflame just cannot take having its riders cycling
in and out so often." Feeling a little like a heel, Caitlyn turns back to
both women, her face bleak, but quiet. "Go back to your weyrs. Rest. Even I
know a pregnant woman needs her rest."
Kamia luckily she can go down, infact has to go down to her knees to stay with
Noemie and not drop her, stroking her hair soothingly, it's enough to cause
her to stop sniffling as she takes care of someone else. Nari herself seems
confused and upset, she doesn't get the humans at all, and she nuzzles Kint
for reassurance that she doesn't need to go protect her human, since her
human doesn't want her too.
Kintryth keeps up his tenor croon to the greens, rubbing a cheek on their
necks to express his concern and to assert that, yes, all is truly alright.
His reassurance is strong and steady, his tones full of confidence.
Noemie looks up at her
wingleader. "I'm still-- torn--" comes between a sob or two. "I'm not--
sure-- for all that I've been saying-- I am. When I /do/ know-- I'll tell
you, Caity." The back of one hand wipes away tears. "I understand, and I'm
not going to hold it against you. You're just doing what's right for the
wing." There's still a bit of pain in her words, but honesty, also. Down the
beach, Naijath nuzzles the blue back, for perhaps the first time in her
life, no flirty undertones to the motion, just seeking reassurance, seeking
the comfort of her fellow dragons.
Caitlyn nods to Noemie and Kamia, the woman slowly stepping over to the pair,
trying to lift both greenriders up in her strong arms to stand again. "I
know, Noemie. More than you might guess..." She too finally gives in a
little bit, stroking her clutchsib's hair once, giving a weak, crooked
half-smile to Kamia. "Now go home...go rest, or whatever makes you feel
better. I think all of our dragons will be having our presences in thier
couches tonight." She passes a hand over her suddenly pained features, and
drops arms from the others, hitching off towards Kintryth. "Fair skies..."
she mumbles very softly, soon climbing aboard her blue's back, to direct him
skyward.