DH: Walking The Tables (2/2)

Posted on Sat Jul 5th, 2025 @ 2:41pm by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Dolphins Craft Hall
Timeline: M3 D3

Nerlyn lay by herself on the sand looking up at the night sky trying to recognise all the constellations that she had grown up learning and then as a rider used them to guide herself by. She was happy and calm for the first time in a long time though she wished she could drink like the rest of the dolphineers but the little life inside of her was far more precious than partying even if it was her celebration. It was not often that she had a night like that and stranger to have 2 child free nights as her parents had taken Raen back to the Weyr as he was sound asleep under a table after tiring himself.

K'ron had lost track of Nerlyn for a bit as all the dolphineers congratulated her and swept her away. Than N'raen and Lyna had taken Raen so he found himself alone with Tyreth sleeping by the water and Koda curled around his neck. He quietly walked the beach, soon seeing a familiar figure. “So this is where you disappeared to.”

Nerlyn glanced over as she heard footsteps coming in the direction and froze establishing who it was walking towards her. “You finally found me then. Slightly harder without Koda now.” She teased quietly, smiling at him as he joined her. She shifted over on his jacket to let him lie with her. Her dress had dried out enough that it was only clinging to her small bump now.

He laughed a bit as he sat down beside her. “It is a bit strange to have him back. He's always with you or Raen,” he agreed. “And Ty is sound asleep so he’s no help either.” K'ron laid back with his hands behind his head. Koda moved to curl up on his stomach. “Quite a night.”

“Very surprised he did not go with Raen when my parents took him home.” She could remember falling asleep under tables at Weyr celebrations. He might not quite be a full weyrbrat he certainly was close to being it. ”Certainly something.” She assured him as she shifted to lay her head on his chest. The green fire lizard blinked at the change in movement and climbed onto K’ron padding around a little until she was sure Koda would not mind and curled up next to him.

“I am too honestly.” Koda was usually close to Raen but he must have felt the boy was safe. K'ron smiled as the little green found her way over to Koda. The brown didn't seem to mind as he curled his much larger body protectively around her. “Looks like I have become a pillow,” he commented.

“What happens when you aren’t scrawny anymore.” Nerlyn commented watching Koda wrapping himself around her little green. The poor thing was confused but she was happy enough from the images she sent Nerlyn trying to work out who was who. “Plus you are my favourite pillow. This is my favourite place in all of Pern.”

“Guess I had to grow up sometime,” he chuckled. Koda chirped softly at the little green to comfort her. “She still doing okay?” He asked. “And you can always use me for a pillow,” he smiled.

“Yeah she is doing okay. She has just met a lot of people but she loved her little swim in the sea with me and Raen before it got dark to help her wings get strong. And she’s eat lots so she is doing okay.” It was nothing like a dragonet but she was doing so well from her understanding. Nerlyn leaned down and stroked a finger along the greens back and then stroked Koda. “I will. Most comfortable pillow after a long day. Warm sand, stars and you.” It felt perfect to Nerlyn to be honest.

He listened quietly. It seemed like the little green was doing well. He was glad. He would have hated for anything to happen. Koda cheeped softly at Nerlyn’s familiar stroke. “I couldn't ask for a better night,” he agreed.

The green cocked her head to the side taking in the sound Koda made and tried to repeat making Nerlyn laugh. “Good girl.” Nerlyn stroked her again and this time made a cheep which made the woman laugh. “It kinda reminds me of that night on the beach after that hatching.” She said quietly. It was a long time ago with Elysia’s hatching. It was the first hatching after she lost her green where they had truly come back together as a couple.

K'ron chuckled as he watched the little green. He remembered Koda going through that learning process too. “you're right. It is a lot like that night.” He smiled at her. “It's a very nice night.”

Nerlyn shifted to look up at him and caught him smiling at her. “Lot more sober. And a lot less grief stricken but the vibe of a celebration and us just lying on the sand is all there. I much prefer this night. It’s not quite as raw and emotional.” She slugged looking away against turning her gaze to the stars.

“Mmm that's true,” he agreed. “I'm not afraid I'm going to lose you at any moment.” He had held that fear for a long time. It was only recently that he was feeling confident about their Lives again. “This is a perfect night.”

“Nope. Stuck with this journeywoman.” She laughed a little. She hated herself for letting him believe for so long that she would leave him. She should have done better to reassure him. “The stars are beautiful. Why do we not do this more often?” She wondered glancing up at him.

“I think I can handle that. As long as you can handle putting up with a wherry headed bronze rider,” he smiled. K'ron considered her question. “I don't know. We should definitely try doing it more though. It's peaceful.”

“My wherry headed bronze rider who is nowhere near as wherry headed as he used to be.” She teased him as she scooped both firelizards up gently and laid them on the sand softly as she moved to straddle the man and grinned down at him. “You are not going to lose me Kiron… I love you and Raen, I love our little fire lizard family but more importantly I think for the first time in a very long time I love myself a little.” She whispered sounding a little confused. She was a screw up, she knew that but today had made her realise that she tried to be a good person, tried to do the best for Pern.

He laughed a bit. “Guess we all grow up sometime,” he smiled. He was trying. Koda chirped softly but snuggled back up with the little green. K'ron smiled up at his mate. She looked so much better and so happy now. “Good. I love you too and I will be here no matter what.” Nerlyn and Raen were his life along with Tyreth who grumbled at them.

Nerlyn leaned down and kissed him softly before she turned to hear the bronze grumbling in the distance. She turned back to look at her mate and traced a finger along his nose to his lips. “I know you love me, my bronze rider. You make me so happy.” She assured him knowing that not every day could be happy and some days her mental health and absences tested her and him but it was out of her control.

He leaned into her gentle kiss, wishing there were more times they could just rest and be happy like this. But he knew they both had responsibilities and that there would be times that still tested them. “And you make me happy, journeywoman,” he smiled.

Journeywoman sounded so strange in connection to her but she nodded. She would always be a dragonless rider but she could be something more along side that. “Going to take a while to get used to that.” Nerlyn giggled, shaking her head relieved that she had lost her seaweed crown a few candlemarks back. “Everyone else has gone to sleep so it’s just me and you.”

K'ron chuckled. “Feels odd having a title doesn't it?” He asked. He had felt the same when he had been appointed wingleader. He reached up to brush hair out of her face. “Really? Well, I am fine with just us,” he grinned.

“It feels like when F’cone made me wing third and people referred to me as that instead of just rider.” She had never thought she would have thrived being in F’cone’s wing but she did with his way of approach and his brand of rebellion along with K’ron’s support and no longer timing. “Me and you is all I care about right now.” She assured getting out of her head.

K'ron nodded in understanding. “I get it,” he agreed. “But you Nerlyn are special no matter what.” He wrapped his arms around her and leaned up to kiss her gently. “I like just me and you.”

Nerlyn did not argue. As long as he thought her special that was all that mattered to her. “Always and forever.” She promised as he pulled her down to him. She had to make so much up to him and tonight felt like a perfect night to make a start.