"Three's a Crowd"

Writers: Devin, Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 21st July 2014

Characters: J'kri, Paetri, R'axe
Description: The three wake-up from their night of sleep and more awkwardness ensues.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 19 of Turn 7
Notes: Notes; directly follows "Two's Company"

R'axe

The shifting of the mattress woke J'kri up. Paetri's soft warmth was
still in his arms, but the space behind him was empty. Half asleep and
with his eyes still closed, he called out, "D'ret?"

Paetri murmured softly, snuggling closer to J'kri. "Go back aseep."
She sighed and wrapped her arm around his side, her breathing evening
as she slipped back into sleep.

The word "D'ret" was like a splash of icy cold water sluicing down his
back. R'axe's teeth gritted together as he tiptoed about and put his
boots on. He hadn't slept much that night at all. It was awkward, and
weird, and he didn't belong. He wasn't some D'ret-substitute and he
didn't plan on pretending that he was. A hot bath was what he needed,
and perhaps a good looking man or woman from the Dining Caverns. He
buttoned up his tunic and began rolling the sleeves back, nervously
glancing back toward the bed where J'kri and Paetri were still
snuggled together.

**Definitely must get out of here.** He nearly groaned outloud when he
looked down and realized he had misbuttoned his tunic. **Shaffit.**

Opening his eyes, J'kri turned his head. Not D'ret. No, he was...
gone. He blinked at R'axe. "Where are you going?"

R'axe froze. He had to think of something quick. **Jayth, help!**

}:Fine.:{ Jayth said around a sleepy sigh, and then followed that with
a pitiful sort of bellow.

"I need to go see to Jayth." He told J'kri. It was a sort of routine
that he and Jayth had developed for when R'axe needed to get out of
situations quick.

"Is he hurt?" J'kri frowned in concern.

"Complaining with his stomach. I am sure he just gorged himself too
much but I should go check anyway." R'axe lied, "Go back to sleep. We
can catch up," **Never.**, "later."

Paetri opened her eyes, blinking slowly before giving her customary
sinuous stretch. Her feet pointed and her back arched, her hands going
over her head. Wiggling her toes, she finally relaxed and looked at
R'axe, her eyes still sleepy. She blinked slowly, her brow furrowed.
The bluerider didn't look overly comfortable. In fact, he looked
panicked. She sighed softly and remained silent, laying back on the
bed.

J'kri shifted around, propping himself on an elbow. "Oh, okay. Thank
you for staying. It made me feel a lot better. Both of you." Lying
between them, he'd been able to fall asleep faster and sleep better
than he had in days.

She glanced between the pair of them and before she could stop
herself, suggested something that shocked even her. "He could stay."
She rolled away from J'kri and rose to her feet, only clad in a warm
shift. She glanced at J'kri and with her own cheeks reddened, cleared
her throat. She then lifted her chin and with a sway that had only
been seen privately and in Camilth's mating flight, approached R'axe.
"I wouldn't mind."

She was just a little girl and that was all R'axe could think of as
she walked toward him. He stood and held up a hand, "I am flattered
but as I said, Jayth needs me. I don't have time for anything else
right now."

He glanced at J'kri and then back to Paetri, "You two enjoy
yourselves." He turned and strode from the weyr.

As he walked away, Paetri flushed in embarrassment and bit her lower
lip. She looked over at J'kri and shifted on her feet. "I'm sorry. I
tried to.." Her shoulders slumped a little. "I didn't mean to ruin
that for you."

"You didn't ruin anything." He opened his arms, urging her back into
bed. "I probably cried too much." R'axe wanted fun, and grief was the
exact opposite of that. "I hope I didn't scare him off for good." A
raw feeling clawed up his throat. Losing D'ret was terrible and now on
top of that R'axe might ignore him.

At his urging, Paetri immediately climbed back into his arms, rolling
to face him. She laid a hand on his cheek and pressed tightly against
him. "Give it time." She bit her lower lip and then looked up at him,
her hand sliding to his shoulder. "Love me."

J'kri wasn't quite in the mood, but for her, he'd make the effort.
Besides, he knew it would make him feel better. Make them both feel
better. J'kri kissed her, slow and deep while his fingers brushed
along her hip.

Last updated on the July 22nd 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

"Three's a Crowd"