A Gift For You

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 9th January 2015

Characters: J'nus, Kapera
Description: Kapera gives the present she sought out to J'nus.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 7

Kapera

Kapera ran her fingers along Riyanth's muzzle. "I'll be back when I've
given the package. You can call me if you need me. I'm sure Kopth will
stay with you when he's done being washed. And I need to eat."

Her tone was soft and coaxing. The eggs were still soft, so she knew
she'd have slightly more latitude now.

Riyanth stared her down. She grumbled. Finally she closed her eyes and
let Kapera caress her ridges. }:But you'll spend the night down
here.:{

"Of course I will," she reassured.

}:Kopth, my rider is coming to see yours,:{ Riyanth relayed, huff in her tone.

Kapera fled the Caverns and up the stairs, cradling the precious
package to her chest as she headed for J'nus' door.

For his part, J'nus had spent the morning on Kopth's ledge with a cup
of klah and a good book to keep him company as the light crept across
the Weyr. Usually he had Kopth for company but his dragon now spent
every spare moment dancing attendance on Riyanth, which was how it
should be. He'd go down himself in a bit to keep Kapera company, and
then maybe take a hike down the beach until he found somewhere shady,
secluded, and perfect for fishing. Depending on the weather, of
course. It had dawned bright and clear, but he wasn't too sure about
the white clouds gathering on the horizon. It might be a rainy
afternoon.

}:Riyanth's is coming to see you. Tell her to return quickly,:{ Kopth said
suddenly.

J'nus smiled, set his book aside, and went to answer his door. He
opened it to find Kapera looking bright and breathless. "Good morning
to you! This is a surprise." He stepped back and gestured for her to
come in. "I was planning on coming to see you in a little bit."

"Were you?" She gave him a warm and sunny grin. "Well, I win," she
added with a wink.

"You're in a good mood this morning," he said as he shut the door.
"Want some klah to keep it going? I think my jug is still warm. Can't
promise hot, but it's better than no klah at all."

"I'm in a good mood because I know what day it is. I'm not
interrupting plans, am I? And I agree that it's better when it's warm
and present."

He blinked. "A rest day?"

"Your birthingday," she reminded him. "I was hoping you'd have time
for me in it."

"It--" It was the 28th day of the tenth month, and it was his
birthingday after all! The bronzerider laughed and swept Kapera into a
hug. "I can't believe you knew! I'd completely forgotten. It's been a
long time since I celebrated a birthingday."

She kissed the side of his neck and debated whether she should own up
to how she learned. Only if he asked, she decided. "Well maybe we can
make today special then. I brought you something."

"Really?!" That surprised another laugh out of him. Gifts made him
feel like he was a kid again. "You shouldn't have. Thank you."

"There was some bargaining involved. You would have been much better
at it." She handed the softly-wrapped package to him.

"I'm not sure of that." He was touched that she'd gone out of her way
at all. It had been a long time since he'd bothered to celebrate a
birthingday, let alone have someone celebrate it. He carefully
unwrapped the scrap of yellow cloth from a small reddish wooden box
with a seashell pattern carved into the lid.

Smiling, he popped the clasp and opened it to reveal a bronze compass.
"Kapera, you shouldn't have. Thank you!"

She kissed his cheek instead of replying in words, pleased that he seemed to be
really happy. "You deserve something lovely. I think you would have
liked the man,
he had a large collection of items with interesting histories. Told me
about some meanings, too."

"Yes?" J'nus lifted the compass out of its box. It had a finely made
face with a small yellow gem, perhaps a bit of quartz, set into the
needle. The compass itself was set on a chain so that he could wear
it-- and he would.

"He said sailor's wives use them to hope their husbands come home to
them," she said.

"I figure - I hope you're always safe from Fall, and you like the water, and--"

He kissed her. The compass, everything-- it was unexpected but not
unwelcome. He slipped his arm around her waist and held her tight to
him until they were both a little breathless. "I will _always_ come
back from a Fall."

Even when the kiss ended, she stayed pressed against him, enjoying his
warmth and solidarity. "Good, because I think we'd never forgive you
if you didn't," she said with a mock sternness that covered the twinge
in her heart at the idea. If something happened to J'nus...

He'd only been in her life again for a few months and already she was
concerned about him leaving. When the compass said come back - it
meant come back alive, but also come back romantically. But she wasn't
consciously thinking about any of those meanings as she pressed
herself back into him.

J'nus wasn't either, too caught up in the warmth he felt that stemmed
from Kapera's gift and the feel of her in his arms again. So he kissed
her again, just because he could. It was his birthingday, after all.

Last updated on the February 11th 2015

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A Gift For You