Poaching

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 29th May 2008

Characters: Kitali, F'naren, Talvan, Lidrin
Description: F'naren and Kitali have lunch together along with her boys.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 4

"Sorry we're a little late." Kitali offered an apologetic smile to F'naren as she approached the table. On one arm, she balanced a tray of food. The hand of the other clasped one of Talvan's hands while Lidrin held on to his brother's other. She set the tray down on the table and began to help the boys into their chairs. "We had a bit of an accident.
Oh, boys, this is F'naren. F'naren, these are my sons, Lidrin and Talvan."

"Uh. Pleased to meet you," he murmured at the boys, eyeing them uncertainly. He had got along with his nephews and nieces back at the cothold, hadn't he? Surely he would be fine with these two?

"Hi." Lidrin offered F'naren a smile while Talvan studied him for a moment before turning to his mother and stating firmly. "Ea'".

"All right, hold your runners." Kitali tied a bib around Talvan's neck, then took the two small plates she had filled for her children along with two spoons and set them before the boys. Talvan immediately took the spoon, proclaiming, "go' boon." Then he began to scoop up some mashed tubers. The bites were a bit big for him and he managed to get as much on his face and bib.

Kitali seemed unconcerned, evidently feeling that the boy did well enough to let him continue and took up her own fork. "Ah, finally, food. I'm about to faint from hunger."

"They might too," F'naren said, his eyes wide as he watched the children eat.

"They missed their snack today." Kitali smiled down at her children who were oblivious to the gestures thanks to their intent concentration on inhaling said food. "So they're pretty hungry."

"Do they ... Do they eat a _lot_?"

Kitali couldn't help but laugh at the tone of F'naren's voice. "They can when they want to. They'll probably pack away a decent amount tonight."

The brownrider made an effort to stop looking at the children and smiled. "That should be entertaining," he muttered. "You said that first day that you had class - Does somebody else look after them while you're teaching?"

"I have a cousin who lives here in the weyr." Kitali turned to Talvan who had taken a piece of tuber and was about to throw it. "Talvan, stop. No throwing." The little boy looked up at his mother, eyes wide with innocence, then popped the food into his mouth.

"That's a good arrangement for you." F'naren was silent for a moment and then added: "Now I've seen you as a mother it's not so hard to believe."

"Really?" Kitali's eyebrows lifted, "Why couldn't you believe it before?"

"You're so young and pretty - and nothing like the 'mothers' I know best. My own and my sisters-by-marriage. Ick."

"I see!" Kitali laughed again, shaking her head. "Well, I guess I will take that as a compliment!"

"You should. It was meant as one."

"Well then, I welcome any compliments that anyone is willing to give me." Kitali couldn't help but enjoy the attention. It had been a while since anyone of the male gender had paid her that kind of attention.
M'van hadn't exactly ignored her, but he hadn't exactly made her feel welcome, either.

"Do they look like their father?" F'naren asked nodding at the youngsters, his curiosity piqued.

Kitali paused, staring down at her food, then slowly looking over to her children. Talvan was holding out a noodle to Lidrin, making noises that seemed to urge him to take it. She smiled, the expression coloured with sadness. "Yes. Yes, they do." She had lost her husband, and, it seemed, she had lost M'van. At least she had something of both of them in her children.

"And ... He's here? At the Weyr?"

The harper paused again, this time for a longer amount of time before she answered. "My husband was lost in a storm when Lidrin was only a few months old. I came here, needing to get away and then met M'van, a bluerider here. He's the only father Lidrin's ever known and we had Talvan...while we were weyrmated."

F'naren hesitated. "I know M'van," he said finally, thoughtfully.
"_Were_ weyrmated?"

Kitali gave a small, humourless smile. "It's a long story."

"But ... are no longer weyrmated? Wouldn't want to be ... poaching."

"Not anymore, no." That had been her fault, and Kitali knew it, though she wished M'van had been a little more attentive and understanding.
She paused when she realised what he said on the last part.
"Poaching?"

"You know, taking things that rightly belong to others." He grinned and waved a dismissive hand. "Not meant literally in this case."

"I see." Kitali reached over and picked up her cup, taking a long drink of juice. She slowly set it down, letting the comment mull around in her mind, wondering if there was more to what he had said. "So tell me," She said softly after setting down her cup, "what are your plans for today?"

"Nothing. That's what restdays are about. Doing nothing, and doing it with the people you want to do it with."

"It's hard to do nothing with children." Kitali admitted, though she didn't mind. Her children were a joy in her life and she would never trade them for anything. "We'll probably just run around and play together ourselves." She hesitated but a moment before adding, "You're welcome to join us if you like."

The young man hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. "Thanks for the offer but I think I'll work on my doing nothing. It'll take a while for me to get used to ..." He nodded his head in the direction of the children.

Kitali nodded slowly. "You're welcome to join us any time." And the harper realised that she truly meant it.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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Poaching