Tavern Hop
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: Steel, Halyonix
Date Posted: 6th April 2026
Characters: Katora, Rh'din
Description: Rh’din and Katora do some catching up.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 12, day 7 of Turn 12
They were in different Wings now so Katora didn’t get to see many of her weyrling classmates like she had grown used to. She found that she missed some of them. Especially Rh’din, since they had been Traders before Impressing and had a connection. Katora realized that one of the hard things about being an adult now (even though she still didn’t quite feel like one) was that friendships were going to take work.
“What are you doing this evening?” she asked bluntly but hopefully when she spotted Rh’din in the Dining Hall at lunch.
“Oh! Hey Katora!” Rh'din grinned at her, offered a meatroll. “I didn't actually have anything planned, can you believe it? Maybe a leisurely flight with Paskith, or something.” He shrugged. “You? It's been a bit, hasn't it? We should do something.”
Katora nodded once, sharply. “We should. What about that tavern we went to for our graduation party?”
A slow grin crossed Rh'din's face. “Oh, _definitely_.” He assured. “I haven't been out that way in a while. Let's do it.”
“This evening?” Katora suggested.
“Absolutely.” Rh'din grinned wider. “Have Saoirth bespeak Paskith when it’s time?”
Katora nodded once. She left to finish to up the rest of her afternoon.
Some hours later, as the sun began to set, Saoirth said to Paskith, }: Whenever you and yours are ready, friend. :{
}:We are ready and waiting!:{ Paskith responded. }:Mine says he is ‘cleaned up’.:{
“Cleaned up?” Katora echoed when Saoirth relayed. “We’re just going out for drinks.” She paused, thinking deeply. “Did he confuse it with…a date?”
}: I don’t know, Katora love, but let’s not be late, :{ Saoirth said as she spread her wings and took off. She calmly envisioned the tavern, counted to eight against the eternal darkness, and then smiled with quiet victory as Saoirth reappeared over their destination. It was getting easier -- no, just more familiar, the kind that came with practice -- to picture and pass /between/.
Saoirth warbled a greeting to Paskith when she saw him.
Paskith spread his wings and let out a brassy greeting of his own.
Rh'din had changed into a newer jacket, not the one all sandy from Paskith's earlier Weyrlake adventures, and was waiting by his blue when Saiorth landed.
“... Hey.” He greeted.
“Hi,” Katora returned the greeting. She took in what “cleaned up” meant and said, “You look good,” with an affirming nod. “Ready?”
“Thanks.” Rh'din grinned at her. “I figured showing up half coated in sand wouldn’t do anyone any favours.”
He trotted toward the door, pausing only to hold it open for Katora.
Paskith settled down on a comfortably warm patch of ground nearby. Saoirth joined him.
Katora tilted her head at Rh’din holding open the door. “You don’t need to do that to impress me,” she informed him right before she walked in. Katora hadn’t ever been one to be impressed by someone pretending or showing off. “It’s a nice thing to do, yes, but…you don’t have to impress me,” she added.
Rh'din snorted, despite himself. “Well, then, next time you can hold the door for me.” He teased, with a grin and shrug. “Maybe I'm trying to impress myself.”
He followed her in with a nod to the room in general. There were some other patrons already there but they were able to find an empty table. “What are we having tonight?” a curvaceous barmaid asked as she came over.
“An ale please. A dark one,” Katora answered. The barmaid looked at Rh’din for his order, her eyes looking over his dragonrider physique appreciatively.
Rh’din winked at the barmaid, offered his best charming smile. “A dark ale for me as well, m’lady.” He said easily. “Something to snack on, too, if you’ve got that.”
She wiggled her eyebrows at him flirtatiously. “I’ll see what I can find,” she answered as she slipped away to get their drinks.
Katora watched, like always, and said, “She seems pretty. I bet she’d join you for a drink if you came back.”
“Maybe.” Rh’din conceded with another grin. “... How’ve you been, Katora? Paskith’s settled into our Wing all right.”
After a moment of reflection, Katora nodded. “I feel that Saoirth and I are doing the same. There is a lot to learn but it doesn’t feel insurmountable. Even sweeps are easy, given how much of the area I’ve traveled before. Now it’s just a matter of seeing it from aloft instead.” That in itself was an interesting experience, one that Katora still hadn’t figured out how to explain to others who hadn’t flown before. “Have you gone back to visit your family?”
Rh’din nodded easily. “I have, actually.” he responded. “Paskith loved it, all the attention he got. He was especially interested in the kids-- I'll have to double check and see how Searchriders go about it.” He added, and leaned back in his seat. “Ma made me promise again to visit regularly.” he added dryly. “Though I did get a bubbly pie out of the deal, so…” He grinned with another shrug. “Win-win?”
“It does sound like a win-win, especially with bubble pies involved,” Katora agreed. “I’ve visited once, but it wasn’t for long. I need to go back on a restday. They’ll be making their circuit towards Garnet Valley soon. Have you ever been that way?”
“Not that I can remember off the top of my head.” Rh'din responded easily. “But then, I've been to a lot of places, and Betweened to more. Maybe I'll have to go see.”
“It’s a pretty place. There was a mine there that produced some big garnets. My aunt used them for jewelry chips. I wonder if I can go back and get one. Or find an emerald piece that matches Saoirth.” Her hand went to her feline fang pendant though. She wouldn’t replace it but it would be nice to have something else to wear at Gathers.
“A new bit of jewelry might suit.” Rh’din agreed. “Maybe I could find a stone the colour of Paskith’s hide to do something with.” he added.
“I bet we could find a Gather to go to,” Katora suggested. A Gather would be the best place to look, with all of the vendors there. “And, with our dragons, it’ll take us no time to get there.” That was convenient!
“I wouldn’t mind a Gather!” Rh’din said cheerily. “We should find one with a good set of musicians, too. I like dancing, Paskith likes getting attention, it’s a double win.”
Katora eyed him warily but with humor. “Are you any _good_ at dancing?” she asked in a tone that bordered on caustic jest.
“I know some Trader dances!” Rh’din protested, with a laugh. “And you know dragonriders have to be _flexible_.” He added, with a wink at the barmaid when she returned.
He shook his head. “Anyhow… Stepping on someone else's feet is just plain rude. I can avoid at least that much!”
“Good,” Katora answered as she watched the barmaid wink saucily back. How some people were able to flirt so easily was something she would have to figure out. “So, that’s decided. We’ll find a Gather, next restday or sometime soon. And go together.”
“Sure.” Rh'din responded easily, with a satisfied nod. “That'll give me a little bit of time to brush up my dancing skills.” He joked.
Last updated on the May 1st 2026