Taking Shelter

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 27th March 2008

Characters: Kitali, Jh'slaen, F'naren
Description: Kitali, Jh'slaen, and F'naren get caught in a rain shower and seek shelter together.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 9, day 17 of Turn 4

"You scared of getting wet, too?" Jh'slaen teased when he caught sight of the woman under the overhang of cliff that he had F'naren had run to for shelter.

"I suppose you could say that." Kitali chuckled and peered up at the dark sky. The shower had come up quickly and Kitali hadn't been able to make it back inside. "I just really don't want to have to change my clothes if I can avoid it. This came up fast, so hopefully it won't last long."

"It had better not," F'naren complained. "You two are hogging all the room and I've got my backside hanging out in the rain here."

Kitali couldn't help but laugh. "Well, at least most of you is staying dry, right? Come on, let's see if we can scoot a little closer and let him stay drier."

There was a general shuffling of feet and bodies and then F'naren grinned, finding himself in the middle of the other two. "I don't think I've met you before. I'm F'naren."

"I'm Kitali." The harper held out her hand crossed over so that she could actually shake his in the crowded situation. "Well met. And you?" She looked at the dragonrider on the other side of F'naren.

"Jh'slaen." The greenrider nudged his companion aside to extend his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Kitali."

"Well met to both of you." Kitali couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Though I would have preferred under drier conditions!"

"It's living by the sea," F'naren informed her, his eyes twinkling though he managed to keep his expression solemn. "It encourages this sudden downpours. We never got anything like this where we came from, did we, Jh'slaen?"

"Never," the greenrider agreed obligingly.

"Oh really?" Kitali blinked up at the sky. "Yeah, I have to admit, sudden outpours are more common here. Though I guess they do help people to meet."

"Good point," F'naren agreed happily. "Because otherwise we would have had no reason to meet up with a journeywoman harper."

"Oh yes, I'm sure this will be the highlight of your day!" Kitali shook her head, smiling. "I never knew I was so fascinating."

"Take my word for it -"

"If you two are going to flirt, I'll stand out in the rain and give you some privacy," Jh'slaen offered.

"I'm not flirting." Kitali shook a finger at Jh'slaen. "And don't you dare indicate otherwise."

"What about him?"

"Me neither," F'naren said solemnly.

Kitali laughed. "Good, I'm glad that's all settled." Thunder rumbled loudly through the sky and a streak of lightning lit through the clouds.
"Lovely. And here I was thinking of going on a picnic for dinner."

"I have a big weyr. Perfect for picnics, as long as you're prepared to share with a Jzeth."

"It's nice to invite me." Kitali offered a smile to F'naren, "But I think my children would prefer to be able to run around outside." She leaned over a little towards him, as if speaking on a confidential matter. "They usually need to use up some of that almost boundless energy they have."

"Ahhh. Children." He paused, and then added: "Weyrmate?"

There was a rather sudden silence before Kitali answered. "No." She didn't like the sound of that word. It seemed so final, but she didn't want it to be final. She had to hope that it wasn't final, that there was still some hope of them coming back together.

Jh'slaen jabbed the brownrider in the back but F'naren would not be silenced.

"No? You want to talk about it?" Whether death or an unhappy parting, some people did want to talk and the rain was showing no signs of letting up.

"There's nothing really to talk about." Kitali shrugged and peered up at the sky again, avoiding the gaze of either of the dragonriders. She had already talked about it with a couple of friends. She had just met these guys, so she didn't really feel like delving into the situation. "It looks like it's slowing down.

"It's still pouring," F'naren said, laughing. "You don't have to run from us."

"He'll shut up if I jab him in the ribs often enough," Jh'slaen offered.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kitali laughed, glad that they weren't pressing the subject. "I do have a class in a few minutes though. I might have to brave the rain."

"Taking a class, or teaching one?"

"Teaching one, supposedly." Kitali sighed softly. She thought the rain was going to let up a bit, but it seemed to come down harder than ever.
"My students may just have to have a soaking wet teacher today."

"If you're going to make a run for it, we all will," F'naren said.
"Won't make you any drier, but it might make it feel like more fun."

She couldn't help but laugh. "Shall we all suffer together?" Kitali held out a hand, letting drops of rain fall into. "Perhaps on the count of three? One...two..."

"Three," the two young men said in unison as the three of them ran out into the rain.

Last updated on the March 29th 2008

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Taking Shelter