RCW: Stargazing

Posted on Sun Oct 5th, 2025 @ 2:14pm by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D19

Nerlyn lay in bed, trying to work through her feelings over K’ron going North. He was sound asleep next to her, but she could not sleep at all after candlemarks of tossing and turning, she got up. She moved from the bed to got sit out on the ledge with a mug of water, watching the stars. She used to do this with Leaneth when she had timed to much and needed a relaxation technique to calm down.

Tyreth yawned a bit as he opened one eye. The bronze flicked his tail a bit as he blew a warm breath over Nerlyn. He crooned softly, sensing his rider was still asleep. ):Are you okay?:( he didn't talk to Nerlyh much but every once in a while he would.

The woman jumped at the hot air that brushed over her and made her look over at the bronze and smiled as she reached out and scratched his eye ridges. “I am fine, Tyreth. I am star gazing.” She assured quickly, making sure he knew she was safe. She just thought to try her relaxation technique to calm her mind.

Tyreth yawned again, closing his multifaceted eyes at her scratch. Nerlyn always knew the best spot. He watched her quietly, thinking she looked okay. He shifted a little closer to her, laying his head next to her side.

Nerlyn smiled and kept her hand on his head as she looked up at the sky again, starting to try and find the star constellations again. “You know that’s The Harp.” She indicated a looping curve with radiating stars.

The bronze followed her finger before huffing, clearly not understanding that concept.

“Are you trying to teach my dragon the constellations?” K'ron asked around a yawn as he walked out onto the ledge.

Nerlyn glanced over at the bronze rider before looking at the dragon and scratching his ridge again, trying to help with the frustration. “Yes.”

Tyreth crooned in content as Nerlyn scratched his eye ridges again. );it does not look like a harp,:( the bronze told both of them clearly confused.

K'ron chuckled a bit. “Think it's gonna take a while.”

Nerlyn smiled and shook her head. Dragons and their literal thinking were a beautiful thing, it was like talking to Raen in all honesty. “It’s okay Tyreth. You are also tired.” She soothed kindly before she returned her gaze to the sky.

K'ron smiled at his mate. He was glad she was okay with Tyreth talking to her sometimes. Tyreth yawned again, closing his eyes. “He is tired,” K'ron agreed.

“I did not exactly set out to wake him. Sorry Tyreth.” She whispered shifting over so he was no longer in her space and could settle down.

Tyreth crooned softly at her, not minding at all. K'ron sat down beside Nerlyn. “I don't think he minded. I've done that to him quite a few times.” It always seemed like the bronze knew when he needed to wake up.

The woman glanced at the bronze rider and then his dragon smiling a little before she turned her gaze back to the sky. “Even so I came out and woke him accidentally either way.” She shrugged.

K'ron smiled. Tyreth was certainly a protector. “So what are you looking at? Besides a harp in the sky?” He chuckled, thinking about Tyreth’s words.

She smiled at the amused sound of his voice. “Just stargazing.” She assured him seeing the queen’s wing in the sky that honored Faranth and her rider.

He nodded. “That can be enjoyable,” he agreed. It had actually been amusing to see Tyreth try to understand stars. “You okay?” He asked gently, knowing there was a lot going on..

“I just could not sleep. My brain is running rampant.” She admitted softly. “You should go back to sleep. I am okay.” She was thinking too much and too deep.

K'ron understood that completely. He had spent many a night's like that. He shook his head a bit. “I'm okay,” he assured her, pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on his arms.

“Tomorrow is going to be a long day for you.” She reminded softly as she glanced at him and smiled sadly. She hated knowing that her mind was starting to wander more and more.

He closed his eyes, not wanting to think about the next day. He still didn't want to leave but he had no choice. “I'd rather sit here with you a while longer.”

Nerlyn shook her head and looked up at the sky again. Tomorrow she would pack to go to Dolphin Craft hall and try and sort out how she felt about it all. “Can you find the watchwher gaze?” She wondered.

K'ron didn't want to think about going North. He wanted to enjoy a few more candlemarks. He looked up at the sky. “That one is always hard to find.”“

“That’s because you hate night sweeps.” She teased pointing to just above the sea to a group of stars glowing low on the horizon. Nerlyn loved night sweeps even if she avoided certain constellations.

He rolled his eyes with a laugh. “True enough,” he agreed. Night sweeps definitely weren't his favorites. “Oh now I see it.”

“How could you not like night sweeps they are quiet, mostly warm and beautiful.”
She said smiling as she brought her arm down and settled to just staring at the horizon.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Guess I like sleeping at night,” he chuckled. “But I can't argue that it is beautiful at night.” He could see why Nerlyn liked it.

“I used to memorise the nights sky so I could always find my way home.” She admitted softly. If it was not fall patterns it was the stars and how they appeared different for difference seasons.

K'ron glanced over at her. “That was really smart actually,” he admitted. He still hated that she timed it but it sounded like she had taken as many precautions as she could.

“I am smart Kiron.” She said smiling, the amusement evident in her voice. ”nights when I was just so tired I used to lie at the ruins and just stargaze until my mind unraveled and I rested.”

“Never said you weren't,” he smiled, getting used to her calling him by his full name now. “I never realized.”

“You would not have.” She assured him. “I purposely avoided you as you did not deserve to have me bringing you down.” Nerlyn sighed rubbing her eyes a little.

K'ron felt bad for that. He did remember that time that she had all but disappeared, but she also had a mate so he hadn't thought much of it. “I do wish I could have helped.”

“I don’t.” Nerlyn said quietly. “I had to do this and you had to thrive.” She sighed seeing the crooked, wandering line of the lost rider constellation. A sad tale told of a rider lost between and honored in the stars. She used to hate being reminded of it by D’eng as a weyrling cautionary stories.

He knew better then to argue with her. Her actions had saved a lot of lives and thankfully not caused her to lose her own. “The Weyr owes you a big thank you for that time though,” he commented, finally able to semi talk about it without getting angry.

“It’s paid me back many times.” Nerlyn answered gently bringing herself back to Pern and the man sat next to her. She leaned over and touched his hand. “No debts.”

He wasn't so sure but if she was content then he was too. K'ron gave her a gentle smile, sitting up better so he could hold her hand. “I'm gonna miss doing this for a couple of days.”0

“What us being up in the middle of the night?” She wondered softly. She had not wanted to wake him up but it seemed like he had not minded.

K'ron chuckled a bit. “No, just us spending time together like this. It's nice,” he smiled, moving to put an arm around her shoulders.

She smiled as he drew her closer to him and she found herself looking up at him instead of the stars. “We could spend lots of time together if things weren’t so… “ she let the words go as she could not really think of a way to put it.

He kissed her hair as he stayed close to her. “If we weren't so us?” He asked playfully. They certainly didn't have a normal easy life.

“You are perfect bronze rider.” She replied smiling at his playfulness despite her sadness at him going north. She hated it, it felt all kinds of wrong and her stomach felt queasy at the thought of it.

“As are you my beautiful dolphineer,” he answered. He couldn't imagine his life without Nerlyn. She meant the world to him and he hated to leave in the morning.

Nerlyn did not say anything for a very long time before she sighed. “You should get to bed, it's only about four hours till dawn and you are leaving.” She said quietly wishing there was more time to sort out everything that they were both feeling.

K'ron blew out a soft breath. “As much as i hate to agree I do need to get some sleep,” he agreed. He didn't want to leave this position but he also couldn't go on no sleep for this important of a mission.

“Go sleep.” She encouraged gently. She hated moments like this but she knew he needed sleep and she needed a few more minutes of just stargazing by herself.

He nodded reluctantly. “Love you,” he whispered, turning to head back inside. He knew she would

“Love you more.” She called after him softly hating to break the mood and the connection she desperately needed.