Red sky at night

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th March 2011

Characters: Briata, Y'gel
Description: Two new friends meet on the beach
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 6

Briata

Y'gel

The sunset was so pretty, burning through the night sky as if trying
to cling to the world, a child fighting his bedtime. The sun cast its
colour not only across the sky but singed the water as well, the
liquid glittering gold and red with hints of purple and darker hues of
blues playing at the edges.

While she was surely not the only witness to the cavass across which
the sun spread it's art, Briata was the only one on the stretch of
beach she had walked down to, standing close to the water's edge, just
far enough for the waves to tickle her toes and tease the edge of her
long skirt before sighing back into the sea. Then they would crawl
forward to resume their teasing before being pulled back once more.

Her hair had been taken down, long and flowing, she let the wind that
swept through play with her tresses. It felt good to let them go
free, no need to keep them back out of her face while doing detailed
work. She would brush it thoroughly later and wish her mother was
there to brush it forward, or had a friend kind enough to offer to do
so. Or B'lamick...no. Best not to think about him.

There was something about allowing someone to brush her hair. It
felt good, relaxing. But her mother wasn't there, and her few friends
at the Weyr weren't the sort to be comfortable with such a task.
Indeed, she found herself lacking in close friends. Friendly
acquaintances, she had a good many of. But close ones? Parale was
gone, married, following her husband. Those whom she had at the hold
were either still there or gone. And she'd not made any other close
friends at Garnet Valley.

The girl's mouth twisted and she reached up to rub at her temple. She
felt lonely. Lonely in so many ways. There was still an ache where
B'lamick's disappearance had left a hole. She didn't think anyone
could fill that. But there was also that ache for closer
relationships than the one she had. It was difficult, though. Even
in a Weyr, people gave the girl who was once Lady Holder and ran away
strange looks and whispered about her.

So, for now, the sunset was her companion, her bosom buddy and
together they would stare at one another until the sun could no longer
keep its eyes open and fell into slumber.

Aug had wanted to take his daily swim out in the ocean but Y'gel
hadn't wanted to go swimming. He sat a ways down the beach from where
the girl had stopped and at first he didn't pay attention to her. He
only listened to the playful pleasure of his big bronze. He'd long ago
resigned himself to the fact that they would not have an illustrious
career as leaders of one of the southern Weyrs He'd poured his efforts
instead into his healing. Now there, he'd been successful and was
quite proud of that fact.

He finally looked back down the beach again and watched the other
lonely figure thinking he knew who she was. Then it dawned on him, but
she looked so different with her hair loose. He heaved himself up and
walked slowly watching the sun sink. "Want some company?" he asked.

Briata turned her head toward Y'gel, the breeze teasing the hair into
her face so she had to reach up, a finger deftly tucking her dark
tresses behind an ear, the bottom length of her locks forming a scarf
waving to the sea. "Hello Y'gel. I wouldn't mind company." It would
help her get her mind off of things that she probably shouldn't dwell
on. "I hope you the evening finds you well."

}:The water is nice, do you want to come play with me Briata?:{
Aughashyth spoke directly to the young woman on the beach as he glided
toward them. Swirling happy dragon eyes looked at them from under the
water.

Y'gel laughed. "He likes you ya know."

**You are very sweet to ask and under other circumstances, I would
gladly join you. I fear I do not have any bathing clothes on at the
moment.** Briata turned her gaze to the bronze who spoke to her. It
was then a hint of light dared to try and enter her eyes. It wasn't
fully realised, but it was more than the dullness that hovered about
them with her smiles as of late. The dragons brought it there, a
brightness in the darkness of her mourning. "The feeling is very much
mutual. Is his desire to swim what brings you here?"

"Yes" he said with a smile. "It helps keep his wing from stiffening
up. He was injured when we were just out of weyrlinghood." That whole
time that was so full of both joy and pain had changed the course of
his life completely. "He is actually why I became a Dragonhealer."

}:And I am good at catching:{ Y'gel chuckled, a jolly rich sound that
floated away on the breeze. His heart went out to the young woman.
He'd heard a little bit of her story and knew how very lonely it could
be in the Weyr. He intended to make sure she knew how much they needed
her and her talent and how much her willingness to use it was
appreciated.

She was a lovely girl to his eyes and reminded him of his daughter so
much that his natural instinct to protect and try to fix kicked in
when he saw her so sad.

"Are you just enjoying the sunset, or did you need some time alone?"
his hands moved and offered to walk away if it was the latter.

"Is that so? Then there are many dragons and riders who must be
grateful to him for steering the course of your life in such a
manner." Briata's eyes closed as the warmth of his voice caressed her
mind. When talking like this, one on one rather than a brief, sparing
greeting, it was so much more intimate. It was in the moments that
she actually considered standing at a Hatching. Further thought would
turn her decision into a now, but these were moments of weakness that
caught her from time to time.

"I do not mind company when the company is pleasant." There was a
soft, not quite spoken invitation in those words, allowing him to stay
if he desired it. "I do enjoy the sunset. I come here often. Not
every day, but often. The day buzzes by so quickly, everything gets
blurry. I like to stop it by coming here."

The sun was touching the water and the sky in flames above them as it
slowly sank. Gold painted the bottoms of the far clouds even when the
sun was finally gone. One of the moons was high in the sky when
Aughashyth finally emerged from the water some ways down the beach.
}:For not splashing you:{ he told them as he shook himself.

**Thank you** he thought then turned to Briata, "Would you like a ride
back?" he asked.

Briata sighed, as if she had just finished listening to a grand
symphony written just for her by the Master Harper of Pern. But the
sun was down and the sky was littered with stars, the silvery gentle
touch of the moon glistening on the water below. That was a lovely
sight as well. "I wouldn't mind at all. I don't get to ride dragons
very often. It would be a treat."

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Red sky at night