Escaping the Chaos
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: Francesca
Date Posted: 7th May 2025
Characters: Tolna
Description: Tolna goes for a swim and reflects.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 13 of Turn 12
Fast, sure strokes took Tolna away from shore and the other
dolphineers. Away from the constant thoughts in her head: the unending
to-do list, the guilt at leaving one of her kids behind, the anxiety
that, until she left, she could run into her ex-husband or his younger
girlfriend at any moment. Swimming was the only time her mind settled
and she could just _be_, muscles working together to take her where
she wanted to go.
She headed in the general direction of where the dolphin pod usually
was at this time, in the hopes of talking to her dolphin partner.
However, if he wasn't there, she could always wait until the next day.
Swimming had been a good enough excuse to escape the chaos in her
rooms as she packed.
Tolna didn't have as many belongings as the other Masters, having
downsized already in the divorce. However, there were still her and
her kids' clothes and books, and the collection of "art" from when
they were younger that she didn't think she would ever get rid of. And
she would keep the commissioned painting of her and Kas, her previous
dolphin partner. The sting of it having been a gift from her
ex-husband and seeing herself pictured with the wedding ring she had
thrown into the ocean was dulled by having a concrete depiction of Kas
and seeing herself young and full of joy.
She had been 25 at the time: recently promoted to senior journeyman,
married, a mother of one. She still remembered feeling that her life
was everything she wanted it to be and that she could do everything:
continue with her teaching and research, be a loving mother and wife.
And that had been true for Turns, until the man she thought she would
love forever told her he wanted a divorce and it soon became obvious
he had been cheating on her.
Tolna had refused to beg for him back, especially after learning about
the cheating, but couldn't avoid feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Why
hadn't she been enough? Would he have cheated on her if she had stayed
at the Hall rather than going on frequent research trips?
In those first sevendays after the end of their relationship, her
emotions had been all over the place: devastated, then angry, then
anxious, then back to grief. There had also been a small feeling of
relief that she could now focus on herself and not her marriage, and
hope that she could create a new, perhaps even better, future than the
one she had imagined for so many Turns.
She was now largely able to mask her more negative emotions in public,
but they were still there under the surface. When the Master of
Apprentices position had opened up, it had felt like the perfect
opportunity to both move forward in her career and be on a completely
different continent from her ex-husband and his girlfriend. And being
so close to a Weyr was intriguing. Did dragons like dolphins, or did
they try to eat them? Could she attend a Hatching?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a few fins approaching
her and she smiled, stopping and treading water. Zan came right up to
her, bumping his snout lightly against her side. "Hey, Zan," she said,
greeting the other three as well. The others continued their swim,
leaving the pair alone. Tolna scratched the large male under his chin,
enjoying the calm she felt with him.
"I'm glad we're making this move together," she told him fondly. She
felt more confident, knowing he'd be there with her. Unlike her
children, who would always feel split between her and their father,
Zan was just hers.
"New friends!" Zan said.
She had already asked him multiple times if he was sure about their
decision, so she didn't bother him with the same question. "Yes, we'll
be able to make new friends," she agreed. "Come on. Let's go for a
swim."
It would be exciting to be in a new climate and memorize a new
coastline. But for now, she would enjoy the waters and the air she had
grown up in, and leave the emotions and the packing for later.
Last updated on the May 19th 2025