A Special Request

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 26th November 2008

Characters: Rahona, Eliste
Description: Eliste makes a request of Rahona.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 9 of Turn 4
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

Rahona checked the sand in which the firelizard eggs rested. Still warm. Sunbow trilled her approval and then nudged her friend's hand.

"Oh I know. Smooth the sand all flat afterwards." The woman suited action to words and with the edge of her hand smoothed the fine, pale sand around the large bowl. "Is that all right?"

Sunbow leaned forward and inspected the sand, chittering and flapping her wings in what Rahona had learned was approval, or perhaps approval; for _her_ and an admonition to the eggs to stay safe. These days the gold didn't stray far from her clutch, following instincts Rahona was pleased to see develop in the otherwise gregarious gold. Usually Sunbow would go almost anywhere with almost any of the crew, trusting them all as much as she did her special person.

Rahona was fairly certain none of the others could feel Sunbow's messages the way she could, but most of them enjoyed the gold's company when she chose to bestow it.

"Rahona?" The voice was muffled through the door and it was accompanied by a soft knock. It was a voice that had become familiar with the crew. At one point in time, she had called herself Ellina, mainly in fear that her name would be known by someone else. Since then, however, the truth and her story had come out and now everyone knew her by her true name. Now that Helvar was gone, she didn't have to hide any longer. "It's Eliste."

"Come in, Eliste." The door was only really shut to calm Sunbow's fears while Rahona checked on the eggs, but the gold didn't seem to object to the new crewmeber. "We're having to run the heating in here to keep the eggs warm enough."

The young woman entered slowly, offering Rahona a fair smile. "Good evening." Her gaze flicked to the gold and the eggs that were being so carefully attended. "I hope I haven't come at a bad time."

"No, no. Nothing like that. I just like to make sure the sand is hot enough. It would be awful if -" Rahona glanced at the attentive firelizard with her gold head tilted to one side as if she understood every word. "Er - warm eggs are hardening eggs," she said lamely and Sunbow seemed happy with that.

"I understand." Eliste's smile brightened, as if it too were warmed by the same sands as the eggs. "I...heard that you're looking for good homes for the eggs."

"I am. I know people sell them, but - Oh." Belatedly Rahona realised that the question might not be just an idle one. "Do you want one for yourself? You're welcome to one. Lineal said we could keep one ... or two ... aboard."

"Well, actually..." Eliste drew a bit closer, but she didn't dare try to touch the eggs. She certainly didn't want to upset the little gold. "I was hoping I could ask for one for Fog."

"Of course! I know Lineal would regard him as somebody responsible," Rahona said, thinking of her husband's admonition to give the Sungazer-bound eggs to people who were sensible enough to make something of the creatures, not just let them become pests.

Eliste nodded. "I think both of us would make sure the creature was properly trained. I think he'd be tickled to have one."

"I'm sure he would, and his girls would be just as 'tickled'." Rahona eased herself closer to the sand filled bowl. "Sunbow? Do you mind us looking? Choosing for Fog?"

Rahona received an image of Fog; not exactly as a harper artist would paint him, but something between a likeness in manner and a reflection of Rahona's own opinion of the man. However the firelizard communicated it was clear she knew (and remembered) who Fog was.

"You're cleverer than your large cousins about some things, aren't you?" Rahona said with a smile as she reached out to help the gold onto her shoulder - the one with the quilted pad for protection against needle-sharp talons. "She knows who Fog is, and she's agreeable to you choosing an egg for him - but not about it leaving yet."

Surprise registered over Eliste's face. "She told you that?"

"She doesn't use words, but she has a good memory for people. Better than a dragon's. Fog, yes, she knows Fog. I guess she's feeling he would be be a good 'parent'. I can feel approval from her. And also that she's not ready for the eggs to go, yet." Rahona smiled as she stopped trying to interpret Sunbow's sequence of comments. "It's her first clutch, after all."

"I see." Eliste couldn't quite understand, truly. She patted Follen's bottom, "I can certainly understand her concern and I am sure Fog will take care of the firelizard he receives."

"I'm sure he will, too. I've seen him doting on Follen."

"Yes." His son, completely and totally now without worry from Helvar. "Thank you, Rahona, and you too Sunbow. I appreciate your willingness to let him have one."

"It's nice to know one will stay around," Rahona admitted. "For her - and for me!"

Eliste laughed softly. "Glad to know at least one isn't leaving the nest empty?" She straightened, then glanced back at the door. "I should get back. Follen will want to eat soon." As if the child understood her words, he let out a soft coo.

"It's lovely to have a baby around, and if you ever want somebody to mind him for a while ..." Rahona rubbed her own rounding midsection. "I need to get back in practice."

That brought about a smile. "Thank you for the offer." The young woman moved to the door and nodded politely. "I'm certain I will see you around, hm?" The thought made her heart buoyant. She would see Rahona, Lineal, Linli, Tahna...all the rest of the crew...every day. They were her family. Or, would be as soon as the marriage was made official. What a lovely thought.

With a smile for differences between her former life in a sprawling Weyr and that on the Sungazer, Rahona made a promise of the reality of their life: "I won't be far away."

Last updated on the November 27th 2008

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A Special Request