What is Lost Can be Regained

Writers: Avery, Jelena
Date Posted: 7th August 2016

Characters: K'ran, Genna
Description: K'ran and Genna try to retrieve lost trust.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 6 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn, Tsaera, F'lin, D'ale

K'ran

Genna

Genna smiled to herself as she checked her hair in the mirror one more time, before heading out. What a difference a month could make. In about one month she had fallen into absolute despair about her relationship with K'ran. She'd lost all trust on ever having a normal conversation with him again. Now, another month later, trust had been regained and the butterflies had returned. If it hadn't been for that one trip...

~* Flashback *~

}: He gave me the image I need to go. Do we have to?:{ The disdain Lissath poured into the word 'he' made it very clear she was in no way looking forward to spending the day with Rogueth.

Genna had argued with her repeatedly, but as she herself wasn't convinced herself, it was hard to persuade Lissath to forgive K'ran or his draconic counterpart.

**Yes, we said we'd come, so we will. Please do this for me, Lis, I need to figure out how I feel about him.**

While Lissath continued to grumble and complain, she did take Genna up into the cool air above Dragonsfall, checking the visuals once more with Rogueth. Deep down she knew Genna really needed this. And who was she to deny her Genna?

K'ran had gone all out for arrangements for the plan, getting the kitchen staff to provide two picnic baskets, borrowing some blankets to lie on, and generally packing a large amount of supplies onto Rogueth. He still felt nervous about the paired part of this - if Genna was going to show up, if she would have a good time, or if she'd walk away still angry. But since he couldn't control those parts, he focused on what he could shape himself. If Genna didn't show up, he and Rogueth would just spend the day alone, traveling Pern together, like they'd used to. So he packed down the nerves and smiled as he and Rogueth took off into the sky over River Bluff.

The bronze dragon grumbled slightly as his rider adjusted the straps on him and shifted yet another bundle for balance, but despite being burdened down with a surprising number of supplies, he was unable to be too disgruntled. Excitement was bubbling in his rider as he thought of this trip. The bronze dragon didn't always remember the traveling he and his rider used to do, but with K'ran's memories of it spurring his, he felt fine.

**You have the visual and have passed it on?** K'ran verified?

}:Yes,:{ Rogueth assured. }:We go there now.:{ The bronze took them /between/.

When they emerged, it was above a forested area. The leaves of the shedding trees were riotously colored because of the fall, yellows oranges and reds mixed in with the green. Directly below them was a ravine, looking like a scar from the air as it carved through the forest.

K'ran had chosen to direct them over the southern end of it, where the bottom was flat and broad and the water was spreading out into a small lake. Here was good space for the dragons and their riders to sit, sun, and swim.

Rogueth hovered in the air, waiting.

Mere seconds after Rogueth and K'ran arrived, Lissath and Genna emerged above the forested ravine. In spite of all the anxiety Genna gasped at the beauty of the landscape beneath. Wasn't that the point of this? See if they could get past the hurt feelings and enjoy a moment together again?

}: Could you ask them where to? :{ she asked Lissath, who complied with a fair amount of reluctance.

}:Down to the broad landing,:{ Rogueth said to the gold, slowly descending to indicate the right spot. He landed on the gravely 'beach' where the ravine's river started pouring into the lake and moved over to make room for the gold dragon.

K'ran slid off of Rogueth and began unstrapping the bundles, knowing the bronze would want his freedom.

Lissath followed him down, but waited only long enough for Genna to dismount and take of her straps, before taking off again. }: I'm going there for the sun. :{ she told her rider with a mental image of a small ledge towards to top of the ravine, seemingly intent on finding a spot where Rogueth wouldn't be able to join her.

As Lissath took off, Genna felt uncomfortable for a moment, just standing there watching K'ran unpacking all his stuff. **He really is trying.**

"Can I help?" she offered, moving closer.

K'ran had brought the carisaks off Rogueth first, then began unstrapping the bronze's riding straps and putting them into a pile.

When done, Rogueth continued to stay there, watching Lissath move away as he decided where he wanted to go.

He turned and smiled at her. The beauty of the spot had already begun to bring peace to him, wash away the nerves. He offered her a bag.

"This one has food and drinks, do you mind taking it over to the trees so it's in the shade?"

K'ran picked up the big sack and hefted it over his shoulder, looking around the ravine floor. There were two good sitting areas. The gravely beach had the best view of the sun sparkling over the lake and the mountains farther away, as well as letting them have some time in the sun. Slightly farther up, by the river, there was grass to sit on and shade from the trees that hung their branches out over the ravine walls. That was in shade, and had a good view of the dragonlengths-high cliff walls and the path of the water.

He pointed at the beach, then up the ravine. "Which looks prettier?"

Genna looked from the beach, to the ravine and back. "I couldn't say if you staked me out for Thread," Genna said, raising her hands in indecision. "This truly is an enchanting place, K'ran. Shall we settle down here at the beach? We're down here now."

He began to set out the blankets to make the sitting softer as he spoke. "We can always walk up later, if you'd like. There's a hiking path to the top of the ravine. The full path is about a quarter of a day's walk, but we also have dragons to cheat with if you want to see the view."

"That sounds good," Genna nodded. "I would love to hike at least a bit of that path." She smiled at him, before realizing it, and felt the tension slowly melting away. He seemed to have gone through quite some trouble to arrange a day for the two of them, judging from all the stuff he'd carried along with him. Maybe he really was sorry. Maybe he really hadn't fallen for Rhosyn, like she'd feared. "How is your new wing?"

Asking about his Weyrleadership was a little too awkward for her taste, but they had always talked plenty about the going-ons in his wing, so that seemed like a safe topic.

"It's got some good people in it. I rather like my Wingsecond - young and cocky, the grandson of Weyrwoman Tsaera," he said, giving the retired goldrider her title out of respect. "He's not at all like D'ale, who I miss."

"I can imagine, D'ale is a good and experienced rider. But Tsaera's grandson.. he brings some interesting qualities to the table himself, I'm sure." Genna looked at the spot K'ran had set out for them and decided to take a seat. "You sure brought quite a lot of baggage."

K'ran was briefly confused by Genna's statement, wondering if he should be insulted, till he realized she meant literal bags.

"I told you that before Thread, Rogueth and I did a lot of traveling and exploring, right? I have a lot of experience packing for day
trips. This feels like a nice way to get back to it."

"Do you think you'll be able to carve out the time, though?" Genna asked seriously, then she quickly decided that might be too serious, too soon. "And did you bring snacks and drinks?" she managed a casual wink and mock-innocent smile.

"I'll certainly be trying to. Some days I need a break from the office and the work. After all, there's territories of Pern I've not spent as much time in, and I want to see it all some day," K'ran said. One of the advantages of transferring Weyrs was getting to know new territory more closely.

"Of course there's food and drink. That hike necessitates it for strength."

"Do you really think it will ease up more? The work-load I mean?" Genna asked, before nodding at K'ran's bags. "Well, feed your woman, then!" she didn't even realize what she'd said as she looked at him some of the usual laughter visible in her eyes again.

"Yes, my lady," he said mock seriously as he reached into the bags. Inwardly he was rejoicing. Genna seemed to be more comfortable now. It seemed like taking off to a different location was what they'd needed.

"I have meat rolls, jerky, sliced fruit for food. For drinks klah and wine. And dessert for later." He said setting out the containers.

"That sounds great, a few slices of fruit would be wonderful. And some klah, let's save the wine and meat for after our hike," Genna decided.

He opened the basket and let her choose first. He took a meat roll for himself and savored the flaky crust and seasoned wherry inside, and set aside a redfruit to eat after. "There's more fresh fruit at River Bluff than at Dragonsfall. I find I like that," he said. "Did you ever get to visit the orchards of Amber Hills?"

"Yeah, a couple of times," Genna nodded. "It is magical out there, especially at the right time of year. I love the hustle and bustle of harvest-time in an orchard." As she leaned back over the basket to pick through it's contents, her right arm accidentally brushed against K'ran slightly. She felt a nervous tingle run down her spine. It had been so long since he'd touched her.

"There are fantastic ones at Sapphire Meadows. It's too bad it's near wintertime now. But we could still visit if you'd like," he offered. He held his breath, unintentionally, as Genna's skin brushed his.

Rogueth decided his rider was being silly. Lissath didn't seem to want to engage with him. So the bronze decided to start walking into the lake to catch fish. He slapped his tail against the water as he went, causing little waves to ripple outwards, going up the beach but dying out before it reached them.

K'ran watched his dragon leave. "In the summer, this is a good place to swim. It's probably cold for us now, but not for them."

"I would like that," Genna said softly. She heard his breath falter for a second and felt her own heartbeat react. Oh, she was falling for him all over again, she knew that much. Yes, it really had all been a misunderstanding. That and stupidity on his part, for which he had apologized. Perhaps she had been a bit stupid herself, in thinking he had left her for Rhosyn. But even taking all of that into account, there was still one major obstacle.

**He's tied to River Bluff now, I'm tied to Dragonsfall. We could never truly be together. Not like a real couple.**

}: Because he left you. They both left us. :{ Lissath replied grumpily. She would still have none of all this making up stuff and she was eager to let her rider know. Though she had never laid any claim to Rogueth, even choosing another bronze over him in her first flight, in her mind Rogueth had belonged to her. K'ran had belonged to Genna, so Rogueth had belonged to her. She watched the bronze head into the water and huffed angrily. Let him. She would not cave, not like Genna was.

Because yes, Genna was caving. Big time.

"K'ran," she said, her tone of voice clearly changed, softened, as she reached out to caress his cheek. "I need to know. If we do decide to.. pick up where we left off, how do you see our future?"

He'd wondered if they were going to talk about their tensions, or if they were going to just reconnect and not discuss it yet. The fact that she was asking - the fact that she was touching his face - it meant something good.

"I see a future which could be difficult for a bit. We are in different places and have to account for that. But we don't have to be, always. Rogueth could lose the next flight, and the next Weyrleader might want me gone," he said.

An idea hit him, when he thought of leadership wanting people gone. "Or you could transfer. Junior golds are sometimes exchanged to change up the bloodlines. Same as with bronzeriders."

Genna considered that for a moment. She wasn't sure if she wanted to uproot again. Dragonsfall had become her home and to just up and leave all her friends? And while River Bluff and Dragonsfall were in the same timezone and visiting should be easy, that was what K'ran had said before he vanished. On the other hand, she couldn't turn it down as an option right away, either. She wanted a future with K'ran. Having that future taken from her had caused her so much pain. If she got a chance to reclaim it, shouldn't she give it her all?

"We'd have to consider our options," she finally said. "Together. Talk about things together. Decide things together. And make sure we both give it our all. Because having you disappear from my life hurt me deep, K'ran, and I can't let that happen again. Can you promise me that? That you'll make me a priority this time?" She'd never ask to be his sole priority. He had Rogueth and a whole Weyr depending on him now. But she deserved more than she had gotten the past few sevendays.

"I understand that. Mating flights aren't something we have much of a say in - but anything outside of that, should be a choice of us both," he agreed.

"And you promise to make me a priority in your life?" Genna prompted once more. She needed to hear him say it, to officially put an end to her doubts and fears. Perhaps it was childish and insecure of her, but it was what she needed at that moment.

"I promise to make you a priority," K'ran said, lifting his right hand up to cover hers where it had touched him.

"Thank you," Genna said wholeheartedly. "That's all I need." It felt a little silly, forgiving him so easily after having made such a big deal of it. But it really had been a misunderstanding and all he'd prepared for today couldn't have been all that easy. And he'd promised a change. That had to be enough.

She leaned in closer for a kiss, her hands finding the hem of his shirt instinctively. It really had been too long.

K'ran covered her lips with his own, one hand reaching for Genna's back to pull her closer. He really had missed this – their comfortable, easy interaction, their friendship – her. All of her.

Up on her high perch, Lissath huffed and puffed her indignation at the ravine. She'd have a word with Genna later.

~* End of Flashback ~

Oh they'd had words, ride rand dragon. Lissath still wasn't happy about it all, but apparently she had settled on the fact that Genna was happy again and that that should take precedence. But that didn't mean /she/ had to like K'ran - or Rogueth - again.

Genna just hoped that would change, given time. For now she was just overjoyed to have regained what she'd lost. She'd be seeing him again in just a minute and the anticipation was enough to put a bounce in her steps as she made her way to Lissath's ledge.

**See you in a moment, K'ran **

Last updated on the August 13th 2016

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What is Lost Can be Regained