Mysterious Powers

Writers: AL, Paula
Date Posted: 9th September 2013

Characters: Lenala, J'ren
Description: J'ren tries to surprise Lenala with a picnic.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 21 of Turn 7

Lenala

"Ah, there you are." J'ren had been walking down the hallway when he spied
Lenala. He immediately stopped, then began to walk backwards, his head
twisted so that he could see behind him out of the corner of her eye and
look at her at the same time. "I've been looking for you."

"Hello, J'ren. Don't bump into anything," Lenala replied and warned with
amused smile. "I did a raid into the kitchen," she lifted up the basket she
was carrying.

"You," J'ren stated as he pointed to the goldrider. "Must be a
mindreader. I was just coming to see if you wanted to go on a picnic."

"Well, I am a goldrider. We are supposed to have mysterious powers," Lenala
replied with a mysterious smile and a flip of her hair. The truth was
actually more mundane: gossipy dragons. Kenaranth had tipped Vilarth of his
rider's intention and Vilarth had relayed it to her rider.

"Well, you're certainly proving that." J'ren laughed and held up one of
his arms over which he had a blanket "You have the food, I have the
seating, I'd say this is meant to be." He turned to walk forward before he
tripped or ran into anyone. "Dare I ask what sort of goodies you have
procured for us?"

"Whatever the kitchen had, let me see..." Lenala peered into the basket.
"There's cinnamon buns, meatrolls, some sort of cold fishpie, fruits and
cheese and naturally wine."

"Can't have a real picnic without wine." J'ren nodded in somber agreement.
"I wonder if you read my mind about_where_ we should have this picnic."

"No, I didn't. I would like that to be a surprise," Lenala replied.

"Well, that's a shame, because I haven't decided on it yet." J'ren
chuckled. "What about you? Is there somewhere you'd like to have a
picnic?"

"Well, there's couple places I like to retreat when the other golds are
Rising. One is beautiful mountain meadow and then there's the beach."

"I'm good with either one." J'ren stuck his hands in his pocket as he
walked alongside the goldrider. "You make the decision."

"Okay, so it will be surprise for you then," Lenala said with a grin.

"I like surprises. Most of the time." J'ren winked and offered Lenala his
arm. "Lead on."

"Will do, acting wingleader," Lenala replied and took his arm. They walked
over to weyrbowl. Vilarth was waiting with her straps on. It didn't take
long to attach the basket and mount the large gold. After they had gotten
to air, Lenala gave Vilarth the visualization and asked her to send it to
Kenaranth. Then they went/between/.

They came out above a mountain meadow, not far from Garnet Valley hold. A
river ran thru the vale, forming a spectacular water fall when it reached
the edge of the mountains. Cool breeze made the grass sway gently. Few
wild herdbeasts were grazing but the appearance of dragons made them run
off to safer location.

}: Ooh, lunch :{, seeing the herdbeasts bolt woke up Vilarth's hunting
instinct.

** Leave them be, you're not really hungry yet,** Lenala snorted with
amusement and the gold circled to land.

Kenaranth's comment was very similar to the gold's but J'ren wasn't going
to hold the dragon back. Kenaranth wasn't inclined to eat wantonly. The
bronze came to a landing near the gold and J'ren dismouted. "This is nice,
Lenala. You come here a lot?" He asked as he approached the female rider.

"Now and then," Lenala replied, removing her flying-gear. "It's a good
getaway place when Orlaith Rises. Good hunting grounds for Vilarth too.
There's a cave hunters and miners use as a Thread Fall shelter nearby if
the weather turns ugly."

"Yes, Kenaranth took notice of the beasts right away." J'ren stripped of
his jacket and gloves, then folded them before he put them to the side.
"Nice to know there's a shelter - though I don't think I ever recall
Thread falling off schedule."

"No, and they would know before us," Lenala said with a nod towards the
dragons. With her straps removed. Vilarth headed for the river. Lenala
looked around more thoroughly and noted some tree stumps. "Someone has been
cutting trees here," she said almost sadly. Taking the basket, she gestured
J'ren to follow, heading towards the river herself.

"I see that. Did someone settle in a cot nearby?" J'ren didn't see one,
but that didn't mean there wasn't one close that someone had erected. "Is
this land claimed?"

"Shouldn't be. Unless there's been change since the last time." Lenala
looked around. "I can't see anyone."

"True, but if some people moved here. Could have been traders too." J'ren
shrugged. It wasn't as if they really needed to worry, they wouldn't be
staying there permanently.

"Whatever," Lenala said indifferently. "At least no one has touched my tree
trunk," she pointed a tree that had partially fallen along the river bank.
"It's a perfect bench," she smiled. Some of it's roots were still attached
to the ground and it had leaves.

"Hey, nice." J'ren picked his way over to the large tree and patted the
bark. "You're right, it's perfect. Shall I put the blanket over the trunk
to sit on?" He didn't mind getting a little dirty, but he didn't know if
Lenala would feel the same.

"Yes," Lenala answered. Shedding off her wherhide-jacket, she hung it from
a branch and started to open the basket.

J'ren unfolded the blanket and threw it over the trunk. He then inched
over and tried to peek inside the basket. "What goodies did you get us?"

"All kinds of. Here, you open this," she pulled out the wine and offered
it J'ren. Two glasses followed, as well as all kinds of picnic food was set
to the blanket.

"You brought dessert, right?" Of course bubblies were the favoured among
most, but J'ren had a particular fondness for a certain other treat. He
wouldn't complain if it wasn't there, but he could hope she'd somehow
managed to know what he liked.

"Oh, yes. The cook was being generous. There's actual several kind of
desserts," she pulled out fresh cinnamon buns and bubbly pie. She loved
cinnamon buns herself, something in that spice she liked.

"Nice." No tarts, but that was all right. They probably wouldn't have
traveled well anyway. J'ren reached for the various items to arrange them
on the blanket. "Ladies first."

"Thank you," Lenala said and sat down graciously. She picked up a plate and
started filling it, leaning against the tree. "This was an excellent idea,
J'ren."

J'ren waited until Lenala finished piling her plate before he proceeded to
do his own. His, of course, entertained a great deal more food than hers,
but he would certainly not waste any of it. "I get a good idea every now
and again. It's your turn next, though."

"Ooh, now I'm under pressure," Lenala replied jokingly.

"Yes. You must decide where we're going to go. I guess I'll decide what
we get to eat since you did that this time." J'ren chuckled and munched
heartily on some meat. He then realised he hadn't doled out the wine. Of
course that had to be amended!

The glasses were filled and J'ren passed one over to the goldrider, then
lifted it up. "To a great picnic with a beautiful woman. What more can a
man ask for?"

"To a great picnic with handsome man, what more can woman ask for?" Lenala
replied to his toast.

Last updated on the September 13th 2013

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