Breaking the Shell

Writers: AL, Elyriel
Date Posted: 20th January 2009

Characters: Zelle, T'marek
Description: Zelle goes to see T'marek after her bout of depression.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 22 of Turn 4

"Hey Tam." A rather familiar voice greeted the brownrider. There was certainly more cheer in that voice than the last time the two had met. Zelle trotted to catch up with T'marek as he made his way through the bowl. The sun beat down upon them, promising the world below that it was going to be yet another warm day.

Picking up his pace, the brownrider purposefully pretended he hadn't heard his name being called. Zelle would just have to learn to go bug someone else. The last time he'd seen her had reminded him of all the reasons he didn't have any close friends. It was easier that way.

The greenrider simply picked up her pace and before T'marek knew it, one of her hands was slipping into his. "Hey Tam." She stated with a grin. "You, me, follow, now."

Shaking his head, T'marek slipped his hand from hers and kept walking. He still didn't say a word, intent on his destination. Iriketh sat not far away, if he could only make it to his lifemate he could escape.

The smile on Zelle's face faded, but she didn't stop. Instead, she picked up her pace, passed T'marek, then turned around to come to a stop right in front of him, grabbing his arm before he could traverse around her. "Tam, what's wrong?"

Glancing at her, his features could have been chiseled from stone. "Nothing." He replied, forcing that part of him that had softened toward her to be quiet. So she reminded him of his sister. So she had made him actually laugh _and_ smile. Watching her so upset and failing so miserably at being able to do anything to lift her spirits had reminded him why he didn't let people get close. "You're feeling better. That's good. Now let go, Zelle."

Zelle completely ignored the order and pressed on. "_Some_thing is wrong." It was obvious. What wasn't obvious was the reason. "Did *I* do something wrong?"

"No." T'marek replied with a shake of his head. "You didn't do anything wrong." Sighing, he picked up her hand and removed it from his arm. "Now if you'll excuse me." Shells but this was proving harder than he'd thought.

"No. Not until you tell me what's wrong." Zelle stepped with him, hands thrust against her hips. "Something _is_ wrong. I can tell."

"For the love of..." His temper was fast approaching boiling point. "Shard it, Zelle, obviously I don't want to talk to you. I tried to be nice about it but that isn't getting through to you." T'marek clenched his hands at his side. "Go spend time with your friends, you're just wasting air by talking to me." He sidestepped her this time and continued toward his lifemate. Just a few more steps.

"I wanted to spend time with a friend." Zelle called out as she watched him, though she didn't follow. "But I guess he doesn't want to spend time with me." She turned upon her heel and finally retreated, letting the man reach his lifemate without any other provocation.

Pausing at Iriketh's side, T'marek hung his head and muttered an expletive. Taking a deep breath, he turned then shook his head. Facing his lifemate once more he got one hand on the brown's riding straps to lever himself up and paused again. "Shells." He ground out, realizing he wasn't going to be getting up on Iriketh's back after all. "Zelle." The brownrider called out, climbing back down and turning toward where she'd been. He barely caught sight of her retreating form. With one more descriptive oath, he headed after her. Why, he had no idea, but for some reason he felt he had to.

He caught up with her easily and when Zelle realized he was coming after her, she stopped and turned toward him. "Did you forget something?"

As he neared, T'marek paused. What was he going to say? What could he say? Sighing, the brownrider shook his head. "Apparently not." He murmured, frowning. Opening his mouth to speak, he found he had nothing to say. Nothing he could get past his lips at any rate. He found talking difficult at the best of times and this was anything but.

Zelle stood there and stared at the brownrider for a moment. Finally, she held her hand out to him. "At least give me a chance?"

Settling his gaze on her hand, the brownrider looked at it for a long moment. He kept telling himself to turn and walk away. That this was all too difficult. Being alone was easier, he didn't need anyone but Iriketh. Despite the speech, he found his hand reaching out to hers, large fingers curling around her much smaller ones. With a brisk nod, he made his decision, knowing that with that one action he'd just committed himself to the pain he'd been avoiding for so many turns.

Zelle's face relaxed into a smile and she immediately turned and began to tug him along. "Come on. You've got plans for today."

"Yes, I do... they require me getting on Iriketh and returning to my weyr." The brownrider replied, allowing himself to be led along behind her.

"After we're done, sure." Zelle agreed readily and unapologetically as she pulled him along. The man was in a shell and she aimed to coax him out of it.

Last updated on the January 22nd 2009

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Breaking the Shell