Being Grounded Isn't Fun

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 22nd January 2018

Characters: K'mai, Riveenata
Description: K'mai drops in on a friend
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 9

K'mai

K'mai was delivering messages to Dolphin Cove. These days he often
volunteered to bring messages and passengers to other Weyrs so he
could keep in touch with the far-flung people of River Bluff.

This time there was a particular person at the top of his list. K'mai
had Sebeth check with Savith to make sure Riveneenata was home before
he dropped in. "Hey Riven," he said as he stepped into her weyr.

Riveenata hadn't been expecting to see anyone, since they all had
duties and she was on punishment night watch. and so she was lounging
around in her sleepwear because she was sleeping through half of the
day. She started when K'mai came in, and waved at him from the couch.
"Hello! How are you and Sebeth?"

"We're doing well." He dropped his riding jacket into a chair and then
leaned down for a hug. "How are you and Savith?"

She hugged him before she answered, and mumbled, "We're grounded,"
into his shoulder.

"Oh, sweetheart. Are you hurt? Did something happen?" K'mai took a
seat next to her on the couch.

"I'm not hurt at all," she said quickly. "But a weyrling got scored
because I missed a firestone catch and she didn't go /between/. And
then Kapera grounded me because she blamed me for it happening. I'm on
night watch duty. For at least two whole sevendays. And I have to see
a mindhealer."

The greenrider sniffled into her sleeve. "It's been awful having all
this time to sit and stew about it. I hate it."

K'mai put an arm around her. "All that from missing a catch? That
seems harsh. Is the Weyrling okay?"

"No. She's badly wounded as is her dragon. They may not fly again,"
she said, grimacing.

"Oh, that's terrible. I'm sorry. Do you really think it was your
fault, or was Kapera just looking for someone to blame?"

"I don't know. I want it to not be my fault," she said, figuring that
was a given. "But the weyrling did linger trying to throw to me, so
maybe if I'd caught it the first time..."

"Maybe you both made a mistake. None of us can be be perfect all the
time, and sometimes things just happen." K'mai felt a twinge in his
scar, remembering his own mistakes.

"I just wanted to make a good impression here on my new Wingleaders
and it didn't go as planned," she muttered. "How's flying at
Dragonsfall going for you?

K'mai shrugged. "It's fine." Drills and 'Fall in Cyan weren't so
different from the times he'd moved Wings before. Except this time
everything else in his life had changed too.

"I want to come visit you when it's snowing," she mused, just because
she was curious about what Dragonsfall would be like all covered in
snow. Dolphin Cove wouldn't get it, like River Bluff hadn't.

"I'm _not_ looking forward to that." He laughed. "I'll have Sebeth let
Savith know when we have some."

"She'll probably want to spend a whole day playing in it. She loves
the dolphins here - there are a lot more than there were at home," she
mentioned.

"I've brought Sebeth to this area a few times on restdays so he can
play with them. Are you two doing well here otherwise?"

"I think so? Maybe," the greenrider said. "I like that a bunch of my
friends are here, and I like that I'm still living at the beach. But I
hate that it's similar. Does that make sense?"

"Too much like home without actually being River Bluff?"

"Exactly. The sand is the wrong color and feels different, the water
seems wrong. I keep expecting basic electricity. At least the
weather's the same."

"Dragonsfall is cool and they say this is _summer_." K'mai shook his
head. "But I don't regret following Uetia and Sabia."

"That's good. And who knows - maybe if I don't like it here, I'll try
there," she mused.

"I'd be happy to have you, and Sebeth would love more chances to flirt
with Savith. But even if you stay, I'll still come visit."

"That's the nice thing about being a dragonrider, going anywhere," she
agreed. Then, because she didn't want things to linger on a sad note,
she asked, "So, anything you're loving about Dragonsfall? Hot
greenriders?"

"That is a benefit of moving, being able to meet so many new people."
Although K'mai hadn't been as outgoing lately. "Not just hot
greenriders, but hot crafters and workers too."

"I hope you're having a good time getting to know them."

K'mai took a breath to tell her that he was, but then he decided to be
open with her. "To be honest, I've been struggling. The weight of what
happened. . ." He shook his head.

She touched a hand to his. "It feels like too much, doesn't it?"

K'mai nodded. "It was _home_." Riven would understand, she'd lived her
whole life at River Bluff too.

"Yeah. I guess we have to get used to new homes," she said. "Bt I
don't want to at all, and that's why I'm probably so resistant and
doing so badly." It was clear she was parroting what she'd been
working on with the mindhealers.

"Do you think it's hurting your performance in Fall?" K'mai had a
little trouble adjusting to different formations and new leadership,
but nothing to merit serious discipline. He struggled more with life
outside his duties.

"If you'd asked me a month ago I would have said no. But now that that
weyrling got hurt...maybe it was and the Weyrwoman's Second was
right." But it hurt to admit it. It made her feel like a failure.

"Things like this affect everyone differently. We can't just forget
like dragons." Sometimes he envied Sebeth's ability to live in the
present.

"I wish we could and they remembered for us. Wouldn't that be a
world?" She shrugged again, and then cast desperately about for a more
pleasant topic.

"We have a Hatching coming up, will you come dance?"

"Of course! It's sure to be a big event with a gold egg on the Sands."

"We should dance then. I'll make sure to go. They can't keep me on
punishment duty forever..."

"They wouldn't keep you from the Feast because you're grounded, would
they?" That seemed unnecessarily cruel.

"I don't know. Cyradis seems leniant so maybe not," But her impression
of the 'second had been soured now.

"Well if they are that terrible I'll sneak up to your weyr with some
wine, how about that?"

"Sounds perfect. Thanks for the offer," she said, and her smile this
time was genuine.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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Being Grounded Isn't Fun