Moving Back Home

Writers: Aaron, Suzee
Date Posted: 5th April 2024

Characters: L'cor, Corofel, Tarvon, Lantriv, Larvel
Description: Corofel returns home at last to find not all is as well as he expected.
Location: Amber Hills Hold, Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 11 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

L'cor

Corofel

L'cor grinned as he spotted Amber Hills Hold and spiraled in for a
landing before the front doors.

"Hey," he greeted his brother. "Are you ready to go?"

"Hey." Corofel smiled back, but there was a tinge of sadness there.
Bittersweetness. It was strange to be leaving this place where he had
spent the last six Turns, a full third of his life. He had always
known he would go home someday. But he was more nervous than he let on
about just how much like home the place he was going would still feel.
"I guess I'm as ready as I'm gonna be." He hefted his tightly-packed
duffle bag.

"I got some brownies for us to share!" He then held up a box that
ostensibly contained the spicy caramel and molasses-flavored
confections. What they actually held was a small assortment of brown
letter E's carved from wood.

"Yeah," L'cor slid down Tonuth's flank and realized that instead of
looking down on Corofel he was looking him straight in the eye.
"Well," he grinned. "looks like you have grown a bit since the last
time I saw you! Father will be pleased." He took a look at the box and
nodded. "Good thought," he said and grabbed Corofel's duffel. "Let's
just stick this in the carry net. Is that everything?"

Corofel was not entirely sure how he felt about their father being
happy he had gotten taller. He did not have much to do with thatâ€" at
least, not in terms of anything he had chosen to do or worked toward.
And had he been unhappy with how short he was before?

"Everything else was borrowed," he said. "Will you be staying for a
little while?"

L'cor blinked, he hadn't expected that. "Of course I can if you still
need to say some goodbyes. But I have training tomorrow so I can't stay
overnight."

"Oh, I already said my goodbyes here," said Corofel. "I meant back at
Emerald Hills. But I guess it's the same there, too, if you're busy
tomorrow. You can share those brownies with your wingmates, if you
want."

"Thanks buddy," L'cor smiled. They'd flown together enough that he
didn't feel the need to tell Corofel what to do. Tonuth lifted his
leg to give them help mounting. "Up you go," he said.

Corofel made it up with relative ease with a grin. He was a little sad
he would not be there to see them open the brown E's, but he had a
feeling he would hear about it eventually.

"Thanks, Tonuth." He patted the bronze's side.

L'cor climbed up and strapped in. Then, Tonuth launched them into the
air and he saw Amber Hills drop away below them. They circled the hold
and its vast fields of grain and full pastures of runners. Then in a
breath they went /between/.

Corofel took in the sight one last time. Then it was gone and in a few
heartbeats, replaced with the sight of home. His true home.

As they spiraled down into the yard he could see some activity in the
yard. Tonuth backwinged to touch down lightly as he would anytime he
carried a passenger. "Welcome home," he smiled. Then he looked around
a little puzzled. "What's going on?"

Corofel undid his own straps, slid down, and gave Tonuth only the
quickest of thankful pats. Something was definitely wrong. The
beginnings of a party were there, but the place was relatively empty.
A few people were frantically running about, and a couple of them were
staring at him like they were afraid. Of him, of what, he had no idea.
He rushed over to them.

"What is it? What's wrong? Where is everyone?"

"W-well, you see, young sir... The thing is, we've been looking for
the Lord Holder all day. He wanted to be here to receive you back, you
seeâ€""

"What do you mean, looking for him?"

"Well, he went to bed last night, same as usual, and in the morning,
we thought he was having a bit of a sleep in, you know, andâ€""

"Just tell me what's happened."

"Well... With it being so close to time for you to arrive, we thought
someone had better go in and make sure he wasn't still in there, sick
in bed or... And well, he wasn't, sir."

"He wasn't sick?"

"No, he wasn't in there. In his chambers, at all."

"He left the Hold?"

"I don't rightly know, sir. All I know is we can't find him. And we
all know how much he was looking forward to seeing you today."

Tarvon came hurrying down the steps and nodded to the Heir. "Sir," the
Assistant Steward said. "We've notified the Weyr through the
watchdragon." He turned toward the other man. "That's all Larvel," he
said. "Go continue the search and tell my brother-in-law I'd like an
update for Lord Corofel as soon as he can get here. "Lantriv isn't
far sir," he said to Corofel.

L'cor stood behind his brother concerned. "Is Coria alright?" he
asked. His daughter was fostered at Emerald Falls as his father had
requested of him.

"Yes sir," Tarvon nodded to the bronzerider. "She's with the other
children in the nursery."

"Thank you," he said and stepped back. Then he put a hand on Corofel's
shoulder. "What do you want me to do."

Corofel's eyes flitted back and forth. Was this some kind of test? A
joke? Getting him back for all those pranks? But no. It could not be.

"I'm not sure," he said. "Maybe tell Lord Zathris? Or... maybe we
should wait and keep looking for him for now? Where could he be?"

"We can do both," L'cor nodded. "I'm sure the Weyr will have sweep
riders out shortly. They can spot anyone not actively hiding."

Lantriv trotted up. "Corofel!" he smiled. "Everyone is sure glad to
have you home," he said. "Sorry," he turned to Tarvon. "We've searched
the entire main hold building with no sign of him. We're on the
outlying buildings. Do you want us to search the Halls as well?"

"Search everywhere he could be," said Corofel. "Even if you don't
think he would be." They had to find him. He had to be alright.

Lantriv nodded and took off again shouting to the other guards.
"Search the Halls!"

"I'm going to sweep right around this area until the rest of the sweep
riders arrive from the Weyr," He clamped a hand on Corfel's shoulder.
"Come get your bags, we'll find him."

Corofel nodded and hefted his duffel. He wished he had given L'cor
real brownies.

Last updated on the April 7th 2024

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