Visit From a Clutchmate

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 9th January 2024

Characters: A'vel, R'nar
Description: A'vel gets to spend time with R'nar and his son.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 10

It had been a couple of months since he'd uprooted himself and Eranar
from Dolphin Cove and moved to Barrier Lake. Although he missed the
company of his mother and siblings, his mind felt clearer at Barrier
Lake, without the frequent reminders of Ranni.

There was one part of Dolphin Cove, however, that could not be
replaced, and that was his clutchmate and friend, A'vel.

}:They're here.:{ Iorath informed him.

While he still found it hard to visit the cove, he was grateful that
A'vel was willing to come to Barrier Lake instead. Reaching down into
Eranar's playpen, he scooped up the ten-month old and swiped at a bit
of drool on the boy's chin.

"Look Eranar, your favorite uncle is here," R'nar said with a grin as
the greenrider entered.

A'vel carefully hung his jacket and straps on a hook and came in,
grinning at the sight of R'nar with his son. He was dressed in a plain
brown-colored tunic and riding pants. "Assuming Eranar remembers me!"

Eranar, who was always happy to see anyone, happily waved his arms
towards the approaching greenrider. "Be careful, a tooth is on the way
so the drool is flowing," he said.

"That's why I wore a darker tunic, in case he drooled or spit up,"
A'vel said. "How's he getting along with the fostermother?"

“It’s going well, she adores him, I mean, why wouldn’t she? Look at
that winning smile.” Eranar’s mouth gaped open into a smile full of
slobbery gums.

“Come on, have a seat.” R’nar said.

A'vel headed over to take a seat. "Can I hold him for a bit?" he asked
hopefully.

"I was hoping you'd ask," the bronzerider said, passing Eranar over.

"I'm so excited to hold him." A'vel tucked the baby up against him in
a way that looked well-practised. "I mean...you know, my parents
wanted me to become a journeyman and then marry and have many more
children than my mother did so she could spoil them. I always felt a
dread about it. Not about the children, of course - you know what I
mean. I liked being with the kids at the Hall who were too young to be
apprentices yet. I thought, if my father hadn't _made_ me
apprentice... maybe I'd help with the creche."

"I have plenty of siblings and then hung out with a pack of weyrbrats
growing up, so I'm comfortable with children, but I'll be honest, I'd
not given them any thought until Ranni told me she was pregnant.
Now..." he trailed off, his dark eyes watching A'vel and Eranar. "Now
the idea is more appealing. I didn't realize how great it could be,
making a tiny version of yourself."

"I'm happy for you. I'm glad you get to spend time with him, as much
as you can. The ways of weyrfolk and children and having to foster...I
understand the necessity, but it still seems sad."

“Yeah, I pick him up the evening before each rest day so we get a
night and full day together, then I try to go by each evening and take
him to the Dining Cavern with me for dinner and a walk around the
Weyr.” Filling all of his leisure time with Eranar left R’nar with no
room to dwell on Ranni.

"Oh, that's why I can't figure out how to see you, huh. It's not just
timezones," A'vel teased.

The bronzerider grinned. “I _do_ keep busy, probably too much, but
it’s what’s working for now.” R’nar snagged a cloth and swiped some
drool off Eranar just before it could drip onto A’vel. “So what’s new
at Dolphin Cove?”

"Well, the Weyr's been entirely on edge after the unfortunate events
at the hatching. The Weyrleader's so clearly on edge, and if I'm
honest, I'm a little afraid to go on any kind of duty that encounters
holders in the areas where the Weyr's been having trouble. It maybe
sounds stupid, but..." But being a male greenrider felt risky in areas
where dragonriders were already being maligned.

R'nar's jaw tightened. He couldn't help the flare of protectiveness
that he felt because he knew exactly where A'vel's trailed sentence
was heading. The thought of someone hurting a dragonrider, hurting
A'vel specifically, because of the color of his dragon... Made R'nar
want to flame someone.

"It doesn't sound stupid. After what happened, you, and all Dolphin
Cove dragonriders, should be taking precautions."

"I just wish it wasn't like this," A'vel burst out, the only thing
keeping his voice soft was the baby he was holding. "I know lots of
holders are uncomfortable with the weyr. My family among them. But
they've never wanted to - to _hurt_ people, and their dragons. I don't
know why they hate like this. I wish there was something I could do to
help fix it, but i know I'm more likely to be a target."

“I’m not saying you should run from tough situations but you’re always
welcome here and Eranar is just an extra cute bonus!” R’nar felt
fortunate to have found a sense of peace at Barrier Lake, but not
everyone could uproot their lives like he had.

"If I wind up doing so, you'll be the first to know," A'vel promised.

"Do you have plans for Turn's End or anything?"

"Yeah, I have a Turns End date, I mean, he's a drooler and poops his
pants sometimes but, other than that, he's a little party guy." R'nar
grinned a little, clearly talking about Eranar.

A'vel laughed and shook his head. "Would coming back to Dolphin Cove
be too painful for you? I've been invited to play with a quartet at
the celebration, and I'd like to see you come. But if it's too much, I
could maybe come here on the day and play for you two."

"Let me check with my date," R'nar said, leaning in and getting
Eranar's attention. The baby giggled with a gum-filled grin at his
father. "Can I get a raincheck for our date, little man?" Eranar cooed
as if to replicate the noises R'nar was making. "He says it's okay.
I'd love to come and see you play," the bronzerider said, looking up
at A'vel.

A'vel grinned. "I'm so glad. I've been spending free time working with
some of the Weyr harpers and I've really, really missed playing."

"I won't miss it," R'nar promised.

Last updated on the January 10th 2024

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Visit From a Clutchmate