A Serious Talk

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 22nd July 2017

Characters: A'kades, V'rel
Description: Vatirel is pleased to see his dad, but disappointed by his news.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 28 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, N'vanik, Jadirah, A'dryn

Vatirel had stayed late working on a loom project, so it was dusk by the time he left the crafters' workshops. As he was crossing the weyrbowl to head to the barracks, he saw a familiar figure walking in the same direction. He sped up his steps until he got closer, hoping it was his father - and it was.

"Dad!" he called, breaking into a jog to catch up to the older man.

A'kades turned and smiled at his son, holding his arms out for a hug. "Vatirel!" he said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Vatirel said, wrapping his arms around his dad.

"It's really good to see you," he added.

He'd known about the River Bluff crisis the day it happened - it would have been hard to miss how the dragons had reacted to it. He hadn't had any skills worth contributing to the rescue efforts, so he'd stayed at the Weyr and worried about his dad. He'd talked to some of the relief workers when they came back and found out from them that his dad was alive and well, which had eased the fear in his heart. But being told it didn't compare to the thrill of seeing his father looking healthy.

"It's good to see you, too. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come by earlier," A'kades said.

"It must have been very busy there, I understand," Vatirel said. "Were you holding everything together?"

"Our Weyrleader was injured, so all of the senior bronzeriders had to step up," A'kades said, not wanting his son to think he was the only person of import who'd been working hard at River Bluff.

"It's been very busy here as well, with sending aid and then preparing for all of the River Bluff people to arrive. All us Candidates have gotten lectures from the Weyrlingstaff about cleaning up the barracks, making space for the new people, being nice to them because they're fragile," Vatirel said.

"It's good advice for them to be giving. Some of the Candidates who are coming in lost all of their family, and now they're going to be in a strange place with people they've never met. It's going to be quite the adjustment."

It was a sobering thing to think about, but Vatirel didn't care about that right then. A'kades' words provided was the perfect opportunity to ask his dad what he'd been wondering since N'vanik came back with the news that they were closing River Bluff and transferring some of the refugees here.

He knew his dad had never wanted to leave River Bluff and follow his mom as she went from Weyr to Weyr seeking to grow higher in the caverns staff. They hadn't been weyrmated so there was no deep connection there. But now he _had_ to move, since River Bluff was gone.

There were several Weyrs for his dad to go to, and Vatirel couldn't see any reason why his father wouldn't choose the best one (Dolphin Cove, obviously). He could bring the other woman he'd had kids with and Vatirel's half siblings. It would be nice to see him all of the time.

"Are you coming too? There's an open spot in the Weyrlingmasters' ranks, and you'd be perfect," Vatirel asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

A'kades had expected this question and prepared an answer for it. He slowed his pace and turned to face his son. In the kindest tone he could manage, he said, "No, I'm not."

"Oh. Why not?" Vatirel stopped in his tracks and scuffed at the dirt of the weyrbowl with the toe of his boot, looking down at that so he didn't show his hurt on his face.

Then, not wanting to sound overly disappointed, he added, "Where are you going?"

"Dragonsfall Weyr. Two reasons. One is that they're taking a large swath of River Bluff's old territory. The other's that I come from Opal Cove Hold, originally. Since that's in the Dragonsfall territory, it feels both like going and staying home," A'kades said.

When his dad put it like that, Vatirel could understand. He didn't have too many memories of leaving River Bluff for Rising Moons because he'd been young. But he knew he hadn't liked leaving Rising Moons to come to Dolphin Cove. It had taken him time to warm up to the new place and be comfortable. If his dad was the same way, going to a Weyr where he could overfly his old and new homes made sense. And yet it still felt like a betrayal. His dad could go anywhere and didn't come to be with him?

"Doesn't it snow there?" he asked.

"It does," A'kades said. "Kadera and Jadirel are looking forward to it."

Vatirel could just picture their excitement. Going to the beach and swimming whenever he wanted, and picking through the tide pools hunting flit clutches, were pretty nice perks of being at Dolphin Cove. But snow had been one of the best parts of Rising Moons and he still really missed it.

"So they're going with you?"

"They're going with Jadirah, and she wanted to go to Dragonsfall as well," A'kades clarified. "You know...if you wanted, you could come too," he added.

He remembered how miserable his son had been the last time he'd moved. He'd offered it to Vatirel then too, but a dragonrider didn't have time for his children in the same way a caverns worker did, no matter how much involvement he tried to make. But a 12-Turn-old needed care and attention more than a 17-Turn-old did, so maybe the boy would want it more now.

"And move again?" Vatirel wrinkled his nose. He was very disappointed that his dad wasn't transferring with him. But he also wasn't sure how he felt about uprooting himself again. "I don't know."

"You wouldn't have to decide today. Any time you want to come visit and can get a ride, you're welcome to see me. You know I'll stop by. And if you decide you'd want to leave Dolphin Cove, you could come and Stand wherever I am," A'kades told his son.

The confidence his dad displayed in him made Vatirel smile. "Thanks."

"If you're going to remain at Dolphin Cove awhile, I've got a favor to ask," A'kades said.

"Name it," Vatirel said immediately.

"Rapids Wing - that's the Weyrleader's wing - is coming over to Dolphin Cove. There are some very nice riders in that wing and I'm sure you'll like getting to know them. There's a young man who's your age I have a particular interest in. He was one of my favorite weyrlings. His name's A'dryn and he's going to be coming here without family and remembering some bad losses. Can you take care of him for me?"

"Take care of him how?" Vatirel asked.

"Make sure he's settling in okay. I hear you're really generous and good with other people, and he needs some friends his own age. Just be yourself and be nice," A'kades said.

"I can do that. And I'll let you know all about how he's doing," Vatirel promised.

A'kades clapped his son on the shoulder. "I appreciate you doing this for me."

"No problem, dad. Anyone else I should know about?"

"Well, there is..." A'kades started.

Last updated on the September 1st 2017

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A Serious Talk