On Changing Circumstances

Writers: Avery, Miriah
Date Posted: 5th April 2016

Characters: K'ran, Lanniya
Description: K'ran gets a chance to find out a bit more about Lanniya.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn, Pierka

K'ran

Lanniya

"No, don't you dare!" Lanniya glared at the little flit on her desk in
her makeshift office in the records room. "I just cleaned that and if
you so much as put one of your dusty little feet on it..." Her voice
trailed off and then there was a clatter as the very young flit jumped
from record to record, then a crash as an inkwell dropped to the floor
and shattered. "You're supposed to listen to me! You're making a
mess!"

K'ran was heading into the records room to drop off files that
belonged there when he heard raised volume and then a crash. He
wandered the unfamiliar space until he saw the person there. "What's
going on?" he asked when he saw the spilled ink and the junior
goldrider who looked frustrated.

Lanniya spun in surprise at K'ran's appearance and blew a strand of
her hair from her nose. Her face was dusty and ink smeared her cheek
and chin. She pointed at the blue flit, obviously very young and very
mischievous. "I know he understands every thing I'm saying. I know it.
And he's set on...messing things up!" She turned to scowl at the
little blue.

The little blue turned large eyes to K'ran and peeped, giving the
appearance of complete and utter innocence. Lanniya's hands went to
her hips. "You fibber."

The bronzerider chuckled at the cute peep. "You understand the
firelizards? How intelligent are they really? This one seems very
small."

Lanniya snorted. "Not anymore than you do, really. They're smarter
than we all think though." She eyed the little flit. "And he's really
young. " She turned back to K'ran and colored a bit before tilting her
head and rubbing her nose, smearing more ink on her face.
She glanced at his hands and at the records within them and sighed.
"More? Please don't tell me that there's more."

"Would it make you feel better if I said these weren't for you to have
to read?" he asked. "I can even try to put them away myself if you
want to point me to where. I'm doing a lot of late night reading about
the Weyr."

The grin Lanniya flashed was wide. "Yes. Yes it does." Her dimples
showed. "It would make me feel even better if I didn't have to do this
anymore." There was mischief in her eyes even as she glanced at what
was in his hand. She pointed to a cabinet. "Over there."

He headed over towards the cabinet to set it away. "What kind of
records are you working on?"

Keeping an eye on the blue flit, Lanniya leaned against the table.
"Stuff for the relief for the Holds. We've extra things for the ones
hard hit by the hurricane."

"I haven't had a chance to see too much of the damage myself, I've
been too busy learning about the Weyr," K'ran admitted. "It must be a
lot of work to handle right now."

Lanniya looked down at her stained hands. "It was horrible." She spoke
softly. She wished she hadn't been sent to view the destruction, but
she also knew first hand how terrible the results of a bad storm could
be. "I don't want to see anything like it again."

"Was it your first?" the bronzerider asked, looking over his shoulder
to see the young goldrider standing there, pained.

Her brow furrowed and she slowly shook her head. "No." She looked up
at him. "I guess Rhosyn and Lenala didn't tell you." She wore a sad
smile. "My parents will both killed in a hurricane. They were on a
boat and never came back. I thought my sister was dead too, but..."
Her smile became easier. "She's alive and a rider at Dolphin's Cove.
But she doesn't remember anything before she was rescued."

"I'd thought to discover people's backgrounds naturally, without
reading their records or prying," he said. He exhaled when he heard
how bad it was.

"I've seen some terrible hurricanes hit at the Ista coast, but never
lost anyone myself," K'ran said.

"I can see why you would want to do that." She nodded. "It must be
really hard and everything, not knowing many people and then expecting
to lead them and stuff."

"It's a side effect of transferring. I never much minded it before -
when I planned to transfer," he said. "When it happens unexpectedly,
that's another thing."

"Do you mind it this time? I mean, you're a Weyrleader now and I hope
it's been okay for you."

"It's been a mix," he said honestly. "Many people have been pretty
welcoming since I got here. But there's been a few grumblings from
people think I'm an outsider and determined to dislike me. It happens
pretty much any time someone transfers in and rakes a rank. Gold and
bronzeriders get to know this feeling."

"Well, I don't think I'll be transferring or anything. Maybe I'll just
stay here." She didn't have to want to feel like an outsider. She
honestly couldn't imagine it. "I don't dislike you. You seem okay to
me."

He gave her a grin when she said he seemed all right. "Maybe you just
think that because I'm not your boss," he joked.

"I did hear you came from a trader background, is that right? I
traveled with traders before Impressing, so a mobile lifestyle has
always appealed to me," he mentioned.

"Maybe." She flashed him a grin of her own. "That and Anaeryth will
rise some time and I never know who might be chasing her. I'd rather I
like whoever is the winner." She shrugged. "Yeah, I am. My
grandparents raised me and they retired here when I was Searched. You
should meet with them. They like know the entire continent and stuff."

"Ah, and at least you like people here. That makes sense. But young
goldriders get transferred for bloodline purposes, and it can be a
great way to see more of Pern if you want to." Not that it was
something she had to consider right now.

"I'd love to get to know them. Perhaps they know some of my relatives as
well."

"I'd rather not." She admitted. "My grandparents need me almost as
much as Anaeryth does and they're not getting any younger. " Maybe
after she brought her parents back, it might be possible, but not now.
"They live in the Lower Caverns. My grandmother helps in the kitchens
and my grandfather helps when tithe caravans come in. He's good at the
logist..log.." She shrugged. "Finding where things go."

"It's an important skill. Sounds like they've settled in very well," he said.

"They do like it here." She agreed. "You should take the time to meet
them, I think."

"I'd be happy to have dinner with you and them at some point in one of
the smaller dining rooms," he offered.

Lanniya shot him a wide smile. "That would be wonderful. We'd all love
that." Her dimples deepened. "I'll set it all up. Maybe the next rest
day?"

"That sounds fine to me," he said automatically.

"Alright then! I'll let them know and we'll have a great supper."

Last updated on the April 29th 2016

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On Changing Circumstances