Too Far to Go Back
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 31st January 2010
Characters: B'lamick, Briata
Description: B'lamick and Briata are still riding out the storm.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 5
Again, the young man surprised her but once again, Briata didn't resist. His hold was warm, particularly against the chill in the air, and oh so comforting. She closed her eyes and returned the embrace. "I'm sorry." She murmured again. That seemed to be the only thing she could say with any sort of confidence.
He started chuckling. "You're ridiculous you know that? You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault I can't seem to keep my hands off you. Even now, when I should be leaving you alone, here I am keeping you as close to me as I can and explaining it away in my head."
"Don't leave me alone." The command was firm and Briata's hold upon him tightened. That would have been the worst thing he could have done, just to walk away. "Whatever you do, don't leave me alone."
"I don't even think I could." B'lamick said weakly.
"Thank Faranth." The words came out with more emotion than she thought they would. The girl buried her face in B'lamick's chest and inhaled. She breathed deeply in an attempt to gain some control over herself. Instead, she breathed in his scent, musky, spicy, and very, very nice. "Is this right?" She asked, the question more to herself than to him.
B'lamick heard her, even with the wind and the crackling of the fire, there wasn't much sound to mask her quiet question. "It feels right... but I don't know. I don't have much experience with this sort of situation."
"I don't either." It did feel right. It felt good. And someone wanted her...didn't he? Briata tilted her head back and gazed up at the young man who still folded her in his embrace. "What do we do now?"
He shook his head, completely out of his element and completely scared. "I think, we've gone too far to go back... don't you?"
In a way, yes. Briata was still scared. She had given herself to someone before. It hadn't taken her long to realize that his promises had been empty. But B'lamick? He hadn't seemed like that. Of course, Ishek hadn't either. What should she do? Could she dare to try again? Especially so soon? "I...don't know."
He certainly couldn't imagine acting like nothing had happened. To go back to just being friends, to not wanting to touch her... perhaps it was different for Briata though. Perhaps she could go back, perhaps she should. He couldn't help but feel like he was taking advantage of her. He'd brought her out here for some fun, to get her mind off of things, but he didn't want to be that distraction. Not at the sake of their friendship. "Maybe... The fire's going to be out soon. Latarth says he still can't fly. I should go get some more wood, I think. Is it okay?" She'd asked him not to leave her alone.
Her eyes flicked to the small pile. There wasn't much left and he did need to restock if they were going to keep the fire going. She started to say no, to ask him to stay, but such a thing was foolishness. Instead, Briata nodded, but her hold upon him didn't loosen one bit. Neither had his. The fire would go out and while it was still chilly in the cot, it had warmed up considerably since their excursions outside. When they were close, it was even warmer. She was loathe to let that go, even for a moment.
Finally, B'lamick did break the hold. He hadn't wanted to, but as soon as he moved back to his wet clothes he could feel his head clearing slightly. A few moments alone would be good, he could try and think. He slid on his second pants and boots, and found that his shirt was almost dry. His jacket was still wet, but it was better as well and he'd only be out a few moments. "I'll be right back." He pulled opened the door and was immediately flooded with cold air and something harder than snow... ice... with wet slick sleet mixed in.
As soon as his touch was gone, Briata pressed against the wall that was flush with the bed. She gathered the blankets around her which helped keep off the worst of the chill that burst into the room once the door was open. She shivered despite herself but she wasn't sure it was all because of the cold. She watched him, her green eyes still darkened, her expression uncertain, scared.
She waited, and the minutes crept by. How long had he been gone? The wood wasn't far. He should have been back in only a moment or two. Still Briata waited. And waited. And waited. How long? A good ten minutes at least. Finally Briata could stand it no more. She crawled from the bed and slipped out of the blankets. Her clothes were warmer. Her shirt was dry, her jacket and pants still wet, but not as bad as they had been. She quickly pulled on her clothes and her coat, then opened the door as little as she could and slipped outside.
The wind continued to howl and whip. Her hair whipped around her head. Briata squinted and then winced as something struck the side of her face. Snow was no longer falling.
"Briata, what are you _doing_ out here!" B'lamick shouted. He was clutching his hand, his boot knife half buried in slushy snow ice that surrounded the cot. "Get back inside!"
Briata didn't listen. Instead, she heaved herself through the snow over to him. "What's wrong?" She looked at his hand and her eyes widened - he was bleeding. "What happened?"
"It's nothing." At least that's what he was telling himself. It burned like it was frozen, and maybe it was, his un-gloved hand was certainly red enough. "Since you're here, take some wood back with you, I don't want to try this again."
"You're coming inside." Briata demanded as she gathered the wood. More ice struck her face and made it sting more than the wind itself. She gathered as much wood as she could carry and looked expectantly at B'lamick.
He wasn't far behind her. He'd put on his gloves again and was loading up as much as possible. He hesitated as he looked at the wood door, then finally pushed it as far open as it would go and placed several pieces of wood against it to prop it open. Then he grabbed two more pieces before following Briata inside.
Last updated on the February 1st 2010