The Wrong Way

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 12th April 2008

Characters: Treya, L'nie
Description: Treya finds L'nie after a night spent together and has a rather disappointing reaction at her exuberance.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 9, day 4 of Turn 4

"L'nie!" Treya waved wildly across the expanse of ground between the Bluff and the river, towards the brownrider. His tall figure, topped with almost white hair, meant he could rarely be mistaken in a crowd and he stood tall among the men of the Weyr out here in the bowl.

She virtually skipped across the hard-baked ground towards him. "You left before I had even woken this morning, brownrider!" she pouted when she finally reached him. Her arms snaked out and wrapped around his neck, before she planted a kiss full on his lips.

L'nie stared down in surprised at Treya before slowly and gently unwrapping her arms from his neck. "Uh, good morning Treya." He managed a half smile and slowly took a small step back. He hadn't expected her to look for him, nor had he expected such an eager greeting. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Not right now." she smiled seductively, "though I did expect at least a good bye kiss this morning." she reprimanded with an indulgent smile.

"Uh, yeah, okay." L'nie scratched the back of his neck, uncertain as to how to react to this rather clingy display. It wasn't like they were weyrmates or anything. They had just had a good time, but she was acting as if they were something more. "I need to go oil Terrinth, so if you'll excuse me..."

"I'll come with you if you like, Cenith has already been done this sevenday, but I can help you if you like. I don't have anything else to do until tomorrow morning." she linked her arm into his, and walked beside him towards the river where the brown lay indolent on the shore.

"Sure, I guess." L'nie had to admit, having help with the brown could be useful. Even a smaller brown was a big job, and Terrinth was actually one of the bigger browns in the weyr. He just hoped he wasn't going to regret his decision to let her help. He eyed her arm where it intertwined with his and decided not to withdraw. He supposed letting her walk with him like that was harmless.

It was obvious that L'nie had just stepped away for a moment. Oil sat by the brown, ready to be slathered over his deep, klah-swirled hide.
L'nie pulled away from Treya and patted his lifemate. "Looks like we have company, Ter."

"Hello Terrinth." Treya said, bowing deeply to the brown, "You hadn't started yet?" Treya asked, reaching for the wash cloth and soap sand.

The brown lowered his head and gazed at the greenrider with one jeweled eye for a moment before allowing one of his eyelids to close, glazing its colour.

}:She likes you.:{ Terrinth almost purred as he thought that to his rider.

**Yes, and she's very obvious about it.**

}:She's nice.:{
**Uh, yeah, she seems so but really, I don't know her that well. She's kind of creeping me out with this expectant intimacy.**

}:I like her.:{
**I don't dislike her. I just...well, barely know her and she's acting like we've been pals since childhood.**

"Why don't you start on his head," L'nie suggested, "I'll start on his tail, and we'll meet in the middle."

"Oh..." she looked crestfallen, "you mean you don't want me to work close to you?" she gave him a playful pout, "Well I suppose the quicker we get Terrinth done, the happier we'll all be." she said, alluding to the chance of them retiring together once Terrinth had been catered to.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly." The sooner Terrinth was done, the sooner he could make an excuse to be away from her. L'nie rolled his eyes when her back was turned and shook his head, then began to rub his lifemate's hide.

**Watch your tail, buddy. I kind of would like to keep my legs unbroken.**

}:Sorry.:{ His rebuff brought back memories of the way things had been before C'pouk, and she wondered if she hadn't been better off staying up in her weyr, after all. Would she ever find someone who would still want her as a companion _after_ they sobered up? She hadn't thought L'nie had had too much to drink last night, but from his reaction to her now - maybe it had all been the drink that had brought him to her bed furs the night before. She slowly began washing the dragons hide.
It wouldn't be fair taking out her disappointment in the rider, on the dragon.

The dragon seemed to like her at least. Terrinth drew his great head close to Treya and made a strange clicking sound at her, his eyes whirling gently.

"Thank you Terrinth." she smiled indulgently, feeling a warmth she always felt from Cenith infusing her from Terrinth as well.

}:I will come - if you need me:{ Cenith echoed in her head.

**I'll be fine, sweetheart.** she replied, **Looks like I fell into the same old trap - but it'll be okay, and so will I.**

}:You will _always_ have me:{ the warmth in her words filled Treya with comfort. Yes, she would always have Cenith, whatever else happened.

}:She is sad.:{ Terrinth lightly touched his rider's mind.

**Huh?** L'nie paused in his work to look around the wide expanse of his dragons bottom.

}:She is lonely. You should be friends.:{
**Since when did you start giving advice?**

}:Now.:{
**She's clingy.**

}:She's lonely.:{ L'nie sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He could understand lonely. **Look, I'll invite her to lunch or something.**

}:I think that would be good.:{
**Yeah, okay.**

L'nie watched Treya for a a moment, then moved back to his work. For a long while, he didn't speak, except to his dragon, making sure that he didn't miss any parts and checking for any tiny cracks that might have started to form in the dragon's hide. When they were finished, he gathered the now empty containers of oil and tossed the rag he used inside. "So um, thanks Treya."

"You're welcome L'nie, and so is Terrinth." she said quietly, once more caressing the brown's side. "I'd better be getting back to Cenith now," she faltered, not wanting to meet L'nie's eyes. "she's been wondering where I've been." it was a lousy excuse, but she wasn't up to more than that - not right now. "See you 'round!" she waved briefly and hurried back across the open ground towards her weyr.

}:Go after her.:{ "Oh shaffit." L'nie spurted forward and jogged after greenrider.
"Treya...Treya wait!"

"Yes?" for a moment hope rose within her, and she gave a half felt smile, but she realised by the look on his face, he was here more for pity. "What is it, L'nie?" she asked, trying once more to mask her disappointment.

"Look, I'm sorry." This was not a comfortable position for the brownrider and he shifted from foot to foot. "I'm just not used to people being so...intimate I guess."

She shook her head, to negate his apology, "It's okay L'nie, I just took things the wrong way, its a bad habit I've developed. I really must go, Cenith is waiting for me..."

"Would you like to have lunch later?" L'nie spit out before she could run off again. "Maybe take things a little slower?"

She considered his words and finally gave a slow nod, "I'd like that."
she answered quietly. "Thank you, L'nie." She gave him a brief smile, "I'd better go." she said half in apology, "I'll meet you later - in the dining cavern?"

"Yeah, in the dining cavern." L'nie ran a hand through his hair. "See you then."

She turned and headed back to the Weyr still unsettled with the way things had ended, but at least he was still willing to be friends, if nothing more.

Last updated on the April 17th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Wrong Way