The Great Birthingday Heist (1/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 15th February 2025
Series: N'kevyn's Firelizard Hunt
Characters: Aydhan, Aydhara, N'kevyn, N'kayden
Description: N'kevyn's birthday picnic has more than a few surprises.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 14 of Turn 12
“I don’t know how you expect me to carry everything,” N’kevyn called as started unloading Avicath, “I’m so old now. Will no one consider my decrepit body? There’d better be cake.”
As soon as he’d freed Avicath from his baggage and straps, the big bronze happily trotted a few dragon steps away and started digging himself a wallow.
“Hey! Away from the picnic area!” N’kevyn scolded, shaking his head to dislodge the sand from his hair and beard.
"Now, now." Aydhan said, "The picnic basket is fine." She patted the oversized basket she carried, "My present is watching my handsome man pick things up and put things down."
Aydhara made a face.
It was still a thrill, going /between/ unsupervised. Even though he and Aberath were only going a short jump away to join the rest of N’kayden’s family for some birthingday celebrations, it felt like a giant leap of an adventure!
Aberath came bursting out of /between/ above the family picnic site bugling triumphantly to announce his arrival. N’kayden had a silly grin plastered across his face as he and Aberath swooped by for a low landing, sending sand spraying in all directions.
“We’re here!” N’kayden called loudly.
Tymborikath, ever helpful, practically oozed into Avicath's space, bullying the slightly bigger bronze further away from the picnic area. That she snuggled into his newly-made wallow was just a side benefit.
Aydhara shrieked as Aberath landed, getting a mouthful of sand as she tried to keep her hat from flying off her head. "You're the worst!"
Avicath grumbled, growled… and was shoved out of his wonderful new wallow. He retreated farther from the picnic area and almost immediately started digging again, but at least this time he was facing the picnic area and flinging the sand behind him, if only because he was still glaring at Tymborikath. He decided to take that moment to give entirely unsolicited advice to the young brown. }:If you dig into the sand until it’s cool it’s almost as nice as floating.{
“Can we all please stop flinging sand?” N’kevyn had the weary tone of a long-suffering parent.
Tymborikath hummed happily at Avicath from her delightful new wallow.
“Don’t be jealous, Ayddie,” N’kayden said, shaking his head as he indolently slid off Aberath’s flank. “You’ll have a dragon someday too, probably, and then you can make grand entrances… Probably.”
}:I don’t need a wallow, I’ll just…:{ and here Aberath opened up his wings and then flopped over onto his side, }:lay here.:{
}: Dignified. :{ Tymborikath teased.
Aydhara made another face in the typical teenage fashion. "I _will._" She huffed.
"Children, come help your father. His old bones don't work like they used to." Aydhan teased.
N’kayden didn’t need to be told twice, and tromped across the sand. “Is this a birthday party or,” his eyes narrowed at the equipment, “another firelizard scavenger hunt?”
Avicath watched Aberath with quiet dismay… for a few seconds, then said, }:How could you not need a wallow?:{ As if he’d suggested not needing food.
N’kevyn turned to look at N’kayden, “I don’t see why it can’t be both. We’re here, it’s a beach. I brought my rake! Who knows, maybe it’s a lucky day.”
"What else would we be doing to celebrate? Not all of us have a giant caravan-kill to drag around." Aydhara said with a gesture towards the carcass that was Aberath.
"After we eat." Aydhan said, "In case you two stumble upon a nest this time. We'd have to rush out of here before the mama comes back."
N’kayden didn’t think there was any fear of them _actually_ finding a clutch, so eating first sounded like the perfect plan in his mind.
“Did you help pack the food, Aydhara? Is that something _Candidates_ help out with? I can’t remember.” N’kayden batted his eyelashes at Aydhara as he helped his father set out the rakes for egg hunting.
Aydhara had resolved to be the bigger person when N'kayden abandoned her for his stupid dragon, so she only stuck her tongue out at him. "Dad, did you bring the whistle? You should let N'kayden have a go."
“The whistle is right here,” N’kevyn patted one of the mended pockets in his vest, “but we are not setting a flight of firelizards on your brother. I'm not explaining to the Weyrlingmasters why we brought him back maimed.”
"You're such a fun ruiner." Aydhara complained.
“If anyone gets injured, we have to go back to the infirmary without having cake,” N’kevyn pointed out.
N’kayden shared a look with his sister. “Fine. Firelizards first and cake, then the maiming.” Propping a rake on his shoulder, N’kayden walked over to his mother. “Are we a team, Mom? Let’s see if we can find a clutch before those two.”
Aydhan reluctantly set down the picnic basket. She'd been hoping to lounge and watch N'kevyn work. "You and me, dearest. It'd be just their luck if we found a nest on our first try."
“Well, that means you’re stuck with me. But we have experience on our side,” N’kevyn grinned at Aydhara with rather unearned confidence. “Should we try the call again?”
"Only if you do it far away from me." Aydhara said, "I like my hat. Why don't you do it and start running. We'll look while you distract them."
Last updated on the February 18th 2025
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