Haunted

Writers: Yvonne, Avery
Date Posted: 18th April 2025

Characters: Kapera, J'nus
Description: J'nus visits the Weyrwoman's Weyr for the last time, and remembers happier times with Kapera.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 2, day 20 of Turn 12

Kapera

J'nus stared at the bare spot on the floor of his weyr. There used to be a rug there, with a subtle pattern of reds, browns and cream white. The pattern had been obscured by Kapera's blood.

It was gone now, the stone floor scrubbed clean. The bronzerider shook himself and looked up bleakly at the rest of the weyr. The Headwoman had emptied it out in preparation for the next gold who would rise. It was no longer home.

He closed his eyes as the silence wrapped close around him. It reverberated with the echo of screams. The smack of his fists against flesh and the keening howl from his dragon. The faint, bubbling hitch in Kapera's shallow breath.

Someone else could have it. There were too many bad memories here, but also too many good ones. The good ones almost hurt worse.

~*~

Kopth settled onto his ledge next to Riyanth with a contented sigh, radiating a comfort that his rider was still getting used to. It felt _comfortable_ to come into Kapera's weyr and know it was his own, but there was a discomfort in that as well. The weyr felt overstuffed and cluttered with all his things, and even after so many Turns dancing around each other they still were getting used to each other's habits. Like the way J'nus changed his boots at the door for slippers, which he did as he came in from the ledge. "Kapera?"

She was sprawled across the couch in a robe only loosely belted, and lifted her head as he came in, slow smile spreading across her features. "Hi."

Even though he was tired, it was hard not to appreciate a vision like her. J'nus smiled back. "I see you beat me to the bathing pool."

"Oh no, I waited for you for that. I just took off my clothes to lounge." She teasingly flicked aside a bit of robe to showcase there was nothing under it.

The bronzerider lifted an eyebrow as he slid onto the couch beside her. "Good thing I didn't keep you waiting," he said, wrapping his arms around her. Her hair smelled like soap and sweat, and _her_.

"Everything is just more fun with you." She tilted her head up to press a kiss to his jaw. "We should go somewhere private soon. Just us. A day away on a restday."

"Beach or mountains? We could find some hot springs..." There were so many places to go on Pern when you had a dragon to take you, and for some strange reason J'nus was finding it hard to think of any of them. Ever since he'd moved to a Weyr he'd appreciated having a home that didn't move around the way a Trader caravan did, and he was surprised at how much more he liked home now that Kapera was in it.

"Hot springs, nice and warm, that sounds amazing to me. Somewhere we can relax and be comfortable and not interrupted by anyone who needs us for anything."

"I know the perfect spot." It was a bluff, but J'nus was confident in his ability to find a good spot before they left.

"Don't tell me about it. I want a surprise. I feel like there haven't been enough good ones lately. All I ask is that we go soon, before Riyanth clutches and I become stuck here for the whole duration of the hardening."

"Just say the word," J'nus said. "Your wish is my command."

~*~

He took a deep breath and turned his back on the weyr. The Headwoman had also moved their things into a new weyr for them, and J'nus had only come by to use the bathing pools one last time. The new bathing pool wasn't as luxurious as the Weyrwoman's.

He stepped through the door and closed it gently behind himself, vowing never to step foot in that haunted weyr again. He and Kapera would make a new home together without the burden of memory.

Last updated on the July 15th 2025

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