More Than A Few Steps Back (1/3)

Writers: Avery, Jelena
Date Posted: 3rd August 2016

Characters: K'ran
Description: K'ran talks to Genna about the fractures in their relationship.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Genna, Chioneth
Notes: part 1 of 3
Notes: The flashback part of this is m5d20.

K'ran

K'ran ran his fingers over the carving in his hands. It was a beautiful
little statue, which he'd acquired from Rising Moon territory. He
intended to give it as a gift to Genna, hoping that it would repair their
relationship. It had been strained over the past few months, but recent
events had made it look like there was still hope. He had some plans to
repair it, if all went well.

He just hoped she was still interested in trying to patch things up.

His mind drifted back to their talk at Dragonsfall...

~*~

Gossip was a universal feature of life on Pern. Riders gossiped as heavily
as anyone else - perhaps more so, because between their ability to travel
anywhere via their dragons and the fact that the dragons gossiped, they
had access to a broad variety of rumors from all over Pern. The traders
were a close second, since they also spread across the land from place to
place, carrying news with them.

K'ran loved listening to gossip. He preferred not to spend time thinking
about who was physically involved with who or other prurient gossips. But
he justified his interest in other kinds of stories - what was going on in
a certain Hold, unrest at a Hall - by telling himself that it was keeping
an ear out for future trouble. It was something he'd started traveling
with the traders. It became a way to keep up with what was going on at
various places he'd lived. Now he could tell himself it was part of his
job as Weyrleader, and not feel guilt about the amount of time he spent
listening to things.

Eventually, the word of what happened at Emerald Falls reached River
Bluff, far away from the territory as this Weyr was. It was inevitable
that it would. Weyrfolk took care of their own, and the unrest in Emerald
Falls had been particularly juicy gossip even for Weyrs not by the
territory. Finding out that hold men had been aggressive at a dragonrider
was guaranteed to put the backs of many weyrbred folk up, and when it
turned out to be a _goldrider_... Then tongues wagged even harder.

K'ran's exposure to the information happened over the course of a day. It
started with a few riders of his wing asking if anyone had been to the
Gather a few days back, someone saying he'd heard there was an incident
there. At lunch, he overheard a brownrider saying it was a ranking rider
who had started a brawl. A greenrider corrected him to say 'goldrider' and
'attacked', and that caught K'ran's attention.

At dinner, hearing a bluerider say 'and from a foreign Weyr, too!', he
felt a sinking sensation. He'd heard that anti-Weyr sentiment was rising
over there. But something like this? Everyone knew who the goldriders
were. Who would attack one of the more precious dragonriders?

He half-closed his eyes and sent a quick inquiry to Rogueth, to see if his
bronze knew anything...

}:Lissath's rider was involved,:{ the bronze said after a few minutes.
He'd been querying the other dragons, interested in what had set some
abuzz and knowing his rider might not ask directly. Though Orlaith was his
mate and he was doting on the gold, he still remembered Lissath, and he
knew his rider's affection for hers.

K'ran dropped his spoon and it clattered against the bowl of stew. Genna,
attacked by a holder? The thought was awful. **Why didn't she tell us?**
he thought.

Rogueth had no answer to his rider's query, so he simply sent warmth and
affection to his rider. The bronze didn't like the deeply concerned
feelings.

K'ran had intended to do some hidework before retiring for the evening,
but now he had a change of plans. River Bluff and Dragonsfall were close
in time, and so he made a snap decision that he wanted to see Genna right
away. He needed to know that she was safe - that she hadn't been badly
harmed.

If the worst had happened to her, then everyone would have known much
sooner. The fact no dragons had keened meant it hadn't been a fatal
accident. But there were plenty of ways someone could be badly wounded and
not dead. Dragonsfall might have made a big deal about it to force Emerald
Falls to clean up its political situation. or they could be keeping it
quiet until they understood how bad it truly was. Since he wasn't living
there now, he didn't know.

He had to see Genna for himself. **If she'll see me,** he thought,
remembering how badly Chioneth's Hatching had gone.

He finished the meal mechanically, taking the plate off to be cleaned
before going back to his weyr and throwing on a riding jacket. He clipped
a set of light straps to Rogueth, tugging them only once to be sure before
scrambling up the bronze's ledge. Then, without a word to others, they
departed /between/ to Dragonsfall.

Rogueth emerged from /between/ over Dragonsfall Weyr, quietly greeting
the watchdragon and settling deliberately onto a far part of the Weyr
Rim so it wouldn't seem as though he was a challenger. The fact it was
late in the evening after dark helped.

}:Lissath?:{ he queried softly. He dimly recalled she hadn't answered
him at Chioneth's Hatching, days ago. He hoped she would now, though
of course he could not push a gold. His rider's concern was deep, and
he tried to infuse it into his mindvoice. }:My rider wishes to speak
with yours. Please.:{

Last updated on the August 3rd 2016

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More Than A Few Steps Back (1/3)