What 'Just Friends' Means

Writers: Devin, Noli
Date Posted: 21st June 2025

Characters: Aynia, D'ren
Description: Aynia and D'ren discuss the implications of Nalath's flight on their friendship.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 12

Aynia

Aynia moved silently through the low light of the weyr archives, no clear destination in mind. She wasn't here to study. She purposely avoided the more popular sections of the segmented cavern, picking a path instead that allowed her to meander through the sections where to older hides were stored. Her eyes were only half-lidded as she slowly wandered, breathing deeply of the familiar, comforting scents. She had been a frequent presence of the archives at Dragonsfall, and had used to spend candlemarks curled up in a corner, eyes drinking in decades' worth of historical information on all manner of topics. She had rarely set foot in here since her transfer, though. Interest in history had been one of the unfortunate casualties of her struggle this past Turn.

As she glided absently into a new section, her forward progress was abruptly arrested when she rounded a ceiling-high shelving unit... and ran directly into another rider.

"Oomph. Oh, I'm so sorry!"

"Oof . . . oh, Aynia," D'ren said as he managed to keep his small stack of books from falling. "Hi."

Aynia flushed with embarrassment. "Hey, D'ren. I apologize, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." She pushed loose hair back from her face and rubbed self-consciously at a small purple-ish mark on her neck. "How--ah--how have you been?"

D'ren's gaze flitted to the mark and he couldn't help thinking of the flight yesterday. Menanth had chased, and D'ren was glad he'd lost. He and Aynia had just started building a friendship, and ending up in bed with her would have made things awkward. "I'm doing all right. How are you?" he heard himself ask distantly.

"Fine." The word sounded hollow to her own ears, and the uncomfortable silence that followed felt heavy and oppressive in the enclosed space.

}: I do not understand why you are distressed. You like Menanth's rider. Why do you not want him to try and catch me?:{ Nalath's voice in her head was confused, concerned, and just a _tad_ condescending at what the green considered a baseless fear. }: It's not like he could, anyways. He is warm to cuddle with for a nap, but he is much too slow.:{

**It's a human thing, dear one.** Dragon memories were short; Nalath had no recollection of the several times Aynia had attempted to explain why she did not enjoy the green's flights as much as Nalath herself did.

Aynia sighed, realizing that she had been standing staring at the floor silently for far too long.

"Look, D'ren, can we talk?" Her voice was small. She gestured towards a small, better-lit seating area used for study.

An icy shard of worry formed in his stomach. "Sure." He followed her over and took a seat.

Aynia took a deep breath as her hands played nervously at a loose thread on the bottom fringe of her blouse. When she finally spoke, her words tumbled out rushed and anxious.

"D'ren, I really don't want things to be weird for us. I really like hanging out and talking with you. You're the first friend I've made since transferring here, and I'm scared to lose that." Her eyes sought his, pleading with him. "I know Nalath and Menanth have been spending some time together these past few weeks as well. I... really hope you didn't take it personally that Podrith caught Nalath yesterday instead."

"Oh, no. I'm relieved he didn't win. I don't want things to get weird between us either," he said. "I know flights happen and we're supposed to just accept it and move on, but sometimes it's still hard for me."

Aynia felt gratitude and relief wash over her. "Same here." She rubbed again at the mark on her neck, thinking ruefully about her wordless escape from the flightroom the previous day and the fact that there was yet another name on her list of riders she had to lowkey avoid around the Weyr. She was exceedingly happy that D'ren's name hadn't been added to that list.

}: I am glad, too. I like Menanth. And his rider is good for you.:{ Nalath was eavesdropping again.

Aynia chuckled and winked at D'ren. "Well, since we didn't ruin anything in a flightcot, did you want to hang out later? I think Nalath is wanting to cuddle Menanth. She's a shameless user when it comes to cold nights and warm dragon bodies."

That got him to relax into a smile. "I'd like that. Menanth likes her, too, and it strokes his ego to have a pretty green wanting to curl up with him. Even if that might cause us problems down the road," he said lightly.

Aynia smiled. "Well, if they get any ideas, we'll have to remind our dragons what 'just friends' means," she joked. Then she reached out and gave his hand a brief, gentle squeeze. "Alright, let me get out of here. I've got to take care of a couple errands before dinner. Meet you in the dininghall later?"

Last updated on the June 22nd 2025

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What 'Just Friends' Means