RCW: Early Morning Planning

Posted on Sun Oct 5th, 2025 @ 2:33pm by Bronze Rider I'han & Green Rider Kelsa

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D10

Kelsa yawned a bit as she walked down to the Dining Cavern. Night watches were awful and she didn't want to disturb S'ven as she knew he had drills. Not to mention he had been a bit off lately. She would need to talk with him later. Right now all she wanted a warm cup of klah and her bed.

“Early start or late night, green rider?” I’han greeted as she shoved a tray in her direction as he picked one up. He was on an early morning sweep along the coast, which he was excited about as he loved the coastal sweep, especially as it was searching time, and Kanoth was eager to spread his wings.

Kelsa gave I'han a tired smile as he shoved a tray toward her. “Late night. Watch duty,” she answered. She really didn't mind watch duty but it made for a long day and she didn't get to see S'ven. “And you, bronze rider?”

“Sweep and then search.” He said brightly looking far too awake and jolly for it, barely being the 6th candlemark. He smiled back before he looked at the offering. “Anything interesting happen overnight?”

The green rider chuckled softly. He was certainly too happy for the candlemark. “Not really. Vy slept the whole time and I counted stars in between making sure everything was safe.”

I’han nodded. He hated watches like that when there was very little to do but counting stars sounded nice. “Sounds like a pretty normal standard night. Glad it was no trouble for you.” He had been on watches where there had been trouble and it never seemed to go right after that leading to a long night.

She nodded. “Certainly can't complain. Especially after some of the things that have happened in the past.” She has heard stories and seen the aftermath. Kelsa would definitely take quiet.

“For sure.” He replied, finally grabbing up several rolls and a small pot of jam to eat for breakfast. He did not fancy the porridge, though it would be better for him in the long run. “Join me if you want.” He offere. They weren’t wingmates, but he had always enjoyed the woman's company.

Kelsa collected her own meal and a large mug of klah. She was running on empty. “If you don't mind I think I will,” she answered, following I'han toward one of the tables.

I’han grinned. “I do prefer my meals with a Green Rider for company.” He flirted a little, but he meant nothing by it other than he was friendly and at ease with himself and others. “Just mind unfortunately is sound asleep, hopefully taking up less of the bed than she was when I got up.” He grinned, thinking of Tanly and the way she had been curled up against him when he had woken up.

Kelsa laughed a bit. She knew how in love Tanly and I'han were. No one could doubt that. She giggled a bit. “But it's fun to take up the whole bed,” she smiled, sitting down at the table. She had done it a few times to S’ven too.

“Not for me. Too big to have too little space.” He did not mind especially when Tanly and him had not had much time together recently and he was sure that she was still pretty mad at S’lei’s mate. .

The green rider grinned. “Perhaps. But I'm sure you don't mind her being close,” Kelsa pointed out, sipping on her klah. She was trying to stay awake but it wasn't easy.

“Not in the slightest.” He smirked, shaking his head to clear the view from his head. “What about you? How are things?” He asked as he added sugar to his klah.

Kelsa laughed softly. “Things are getting there,” she answered. “Still a bit of a mess from the Gather but we're getting back on the right track.” Sharding woman anyhow.

I’han frowned as she spread the butter over his bread. “I have heard that S’ven is having some difficulties.” I’han had been trying to keep an eye out of the younger man but it had been impossible when he avoided people.

Kelsa nodded a bit. “Yeah running into that girl definitely made things bad,” she agreed. She didn't know what to do to help S'ven.

“Ah yes Ciy. I haven’t thought about her in turns. How can I help?” He wondered softly, seeing how upset and unsure she looked suddenly.

The green rider shrugged a shoulder. “I'm honestly not sure. I don't really remember Ciy but just her words when we ran into her at the Gather sent S'ven into a spiral.”“

“Dragon hold brought the Weyr some of the best people as well as the worst. Sometimes it took a while for the worst to come out in people but Ciy it took a lot longer.” It was sad but not everyone was built for the Weyr and that was okay, it was how Pern flourished and thrived but it did not mean that riders like S’ven had to suffer. “Have you spoken to K’ron? G’len?” He wondered knowing it was not entirely the best option but sometimes the structure of the Weyr helped a rider get themselves back together.

She nodded a bit. She knew that a few very good people had come from Dragon Hold but she understood what I'han was saying too. Ciy was definitely one of the bad ones. “I haven't. Maybe I should.” She had thought S'ven was getting better but that wasn't the case.

“S’ven is a good man Kelsa. We sometimes get lost. I got lost and had to get back into being a rider so I get it.” I’han revealed quietly as he took a bite out of his roll. He had not really spoken about his shift back into the fighting ranks or why he had but dragon hold were to plan for it.

“I didn't doubt that. I just hate not being able to help him.” Kelsa looked up at I'han in surprise. “You got lost?” she asked. That was not something she had expected to hear, I'han.

“Mmm hmm…” He said, swallowing hard and quickly picking up his klah to wash it down. “There were some really dark days in the Weyr when you were still a weyrling and i needed to escape them.” He said trying to not think of the day that he had been summoned to the weyrleader’s weyr to patch up the weyrwoman.

Kelsa blinked a bit. She had only heard bits and pieces as she had been focused on her weyrling training and of course no one wanted to talk in front of the weyrlings. “I didn't realize that. No one really said much to us.” She couldn't imagine what had happened to send I'han running.

“Of course we wouldn’t. You are treasures to the Weyr, and your development and that of your dragons were paramount,” He reminded, smiling as he watched her processing what he had said. “So what is happening to your mate… could happen to everyone.” He said, simply summing up his thoughts on it all. S’ven was a good rider, shards he would not be wing third if he did not have a spark of something.

the young green rider thought about I'han's words. she could understand why the weylings didn't know anything but now it was hard to help her mate. “How did you deal with it? I want to help S'ven but I don't know how.”

“I found myself again by getting back to the basics of being a rider.” I’han said quietly. It had been a sharp learning curve to remember how to be a rider again but the learning curve had been what he needed to refocus his mind.

Kelsa nodded a bit. “I can see how that might help,” she agreed. maybe she would suggest that to S'ven. She wanted him happy again. “That woman really messed him up.”

“She did. No idea why she did it other than her own defence mechanism. One minute things were fine, and the next minute S’ven was arranging someone to take her anywhere she wanted.” I’han indicated her own food. “Eat up Kelsa. Don’t want to go to bed hungry.” He said kindly looking out for her.

That didn’t make any sense to her. What had turned the other girl so cruel? Kelsa nodded and started to nibble on the fresh bread on her plate, still thinking about how that woman had messed S'ven up so bad. “So how do I help him?” She asked softly, taking a bite of her porridge.

“I am not really sure about that one.” I’han admitted with a sigh. He had never been asked that before and the confusion was written on his face. “What do you miss about him?” He wondered gulping down some of his klah.

Kelsa hadn't really expected him to have an answer but it had been worth a try. She considered his question for a minute. “I think just him in general. He has pulled in on himself and there are times I'm not sure if he is even in the same place as me.”

“Then you better be prepared to pull him back out.” I’han admitted with a sigh. He was going to see if he could catch K’ron and G’len and speak to them too. “Which I am sure you lady are more than capable of doing. You're quite determined even at this time in the morning.”

The green rider smiled a bit. “I'll do my best.” She wanted to help S'ven. Kelsa chuckled softly, taking another bite of porridge. “Blame it on the klah. It woke me up,” she smiled.

I’han said nothing but just smiled at her. People doing their best was all that mattered in his opinion. She was exactly what the blue rider needed which was great to see after the last few turns.