Gil Goes Wandering (2/3)

Writers: Estelle, Devin
Date Posted: 1st February 2025
Series: Guarding Gil

Characters: Tr'vel, Gilbek, I'lek, D'stan, C'nal, Terella
Description: The retired riders try to find Gil before Tr'vel returns
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 12

Tr'vel

A few moments later Normyth returned and his rider dismounted with a
stormy expression. "Nothing. Guessing no luck here either?"

"Some possible sightings, but nothing certain." Even D'stan was frowning
in concern now. "He must be somewhere in the caverns. There's nowhere
else to hide."

"We were going to head around by the creche and the classrooms, and then
past the council chamber and the rankers' offices." Terella didn't say
so, but those were the highest risk locations. Best to check there
first. "If we still can't find him then...we'll have to tell the
Weyrleader."

C'nal's frown deepened. "I'll check by the council chamber and
offices." He was the youngest and strongest of the three, and if Gil
was slinking around there it meant he was up to no good.

"All right. D'stan, let's make sure he isn't in any of the classrooms."
Terella tried not to think of what he might be doing there. "We'll meet
back here."

A short while later, they returned, empty-handed and growing more
anxious as every minute passed. Julath's eyes were glowing an uneasy
yellow, and she crooned in concern to Normyth as Terella emerged from
the caverns. "Still nothing?"

"No sign of the sharding tunnel snake,' C'nal growled. This was bad.
This was very, very bad.

"He must be hiding somewhere," D'stan said grimly. "Waiting to creep out
under cover of darkness."

Terella glanced over towards the feeding grounds. The flight must be
almost over now - and in fact, the little group of riders was beginning
to disperse, some heading for the flight rooms, others to cool off as
best they could. "There's nothing else for it. We'll have to tell the
Weyrleader."

"Tell the Weyrleader what?" a voice asked. I'lek bounced up to join
them, beaming with enthusiasm. And following him, looking more than a
little dazed, was a familiar figure. "Look who I found!"

"Where under the Red Star have _you_ been?" C'nal had half a mind to
throttle the prisoner. "What have you been up to?"

"I've been giving him the tour!" I'lek explained before Gil could get a
word in, oblivious to the incredulous looks they were getting. "Can you
believe that Tr'vel hasn't even shown him the Hatching Grounds?"

"You...took him to the Hatching Grounds?" Terella asked faintly.

"It was incredible. I'm honored to have seen it." Gil sounded contrite.
"I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to have a look around."

Tr'vel came jogging up, looking very flustered and more than a little
annoyed. "Flaming dragon, I'm going to stuff him back into his shell
and let someone else have him." He sighed and looked around at the
group. "I didn't mean for half the Wing to watch him."

The older riders looked at him, then at each other, their expressions of
anger and relief giving way to guilt. Even Gil had the grace to look
abashed.

The only person to show no sign of discomfort was I'lek, who piped up
cheerfully. "Oh, they didn't do anything. Gil and I have been touring
the Weyr! I found him wandering around the Lower Caverns like a lost
puppy." He barely paused for breath. "So Eboroth didn't win, then?
Better luck next time."

Tr'vel's gaze snapped to Gil. "_Wandering_!? You were supposed to stay
_here_." He jabbed a finger toward the ground. At least the anger was
pushing back the dragonlust.

"I wanted to have a look around. By myself." Gil had felt some remorse
when he'd seen all of the retired riders standing around the place where
he should have been, clearly worried, but there was something about
Tr'vel's words that irritated him to the point of recklessness. "I'm not
a child. I can survive for a few minutes in the Weyr without you."

"That's it. You're _done_ for today," Tr'vel said. **Eboroth, come here!**

}:I am busy swimming.:{ The blue was sulking in the ocean.

**This is all your fault! We need to take Gil back up to his weyr, so
get over here now.**

Eboroth sighed. }:Fine.:{ He leapt up with a spray of salt water and
turned toward the Weyr.

"What do you mean, I'm done?" Gil demanded. "I haven't had a chance to
exercise yet."

"You _ran off_! You better thank the stars I'm not taking you to the
Weyrleader right now. You're going back to your weyr," Tr'vel said.
Behind him, Eboroth backwinged for a landing, his single eye whirling
red.

"Why should I?" Gil folded his arms and planted his feet stubbornly. "I
didn't do any harm. I didn't go anywhere off limits. I'm sick of being
stranded alone in that cave when I've done everything you people asked
me to."

D'stan glanced at C'nal. He knew how emotions were heightened in the
aftermath of a mating flight, and Gil was unknowingly making it worse by
choosing this moment to show defiance. "Ah - do you want me to look
after him for a while, Tr'vel?"

"He's _my_ responsibility!" Tr'vel shouted as Eboroth roared. The
bluerider turned his glare back on Gil. "You are a _prisoner_, you
don't get to wander off on your own." He marched over to Gil and
grabbed his arm.

Gil instinctively turned to jerk his arm out of the dragonrider's grasp
and back off a pace, but D'stan's intervention had given him a moment to
consider where he was. Even if he could evade Tr'vel and the others,
there was no way he could outrun Eboroth. He'd only humiliate himself
and make his situation even worse.

He forced down his frustration, and held up his hands, palms outwards in
a gesture of surrender. "Fine. You're in charge."

Tr'vel tried to control his anger as he tugged Gil toward Eboroth.
"Up," he ordered as the blue lowered himself as much as he could to
make Gil's ascent easier.

In his haste to get out of the situation, Gil climbed up to the dragon's
back without his usual caution and winced at the strain on his damaged
muscles. He refused to make a sound, but instead stared down at Tr'vel
and the upturned faces of the other riders in silent resentment.

Tr'vel mounted behind Gil like usual and started to strap them both
in, the motions nearly automatic. With a warm, hard body pressed
against him and dragonlust still flowing through him things . . .
started to happen. Tr'vel worked faster, hoping Gil wouldn't notice.

As the dragon rose, readying himself to leap into the air, Gil felt an
unexpected pressure on his lower back. He thought for a moment that a
strap had got twisted, and while he didn't really want to talk to Tr'vel
at the moment, he didn't want to fall into the sea either, so he turned.
"Wait, there's..." Then he understood and his mouth fell open. "Oh."

Last updated on the March 5th 2025

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