RCW:: Return Of The Dolphineer

Posted on Sun Oct 27th, 2024 @ 9:41pm by Gold Rider Lana & Apprentice Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Timeline: M2 D5

Nerlyn knocked on the door of the office and smiled at the voice inside letting her in. He sounded okay which was positive but she would only know once she opened the door and stepped inside. Normally she would have just waited for him at the weyr but she had wanted to let him know that she was back before anyone else saw her. She had been gone seven days and it had felt like a lifetime if she was honest thanks to the rough seas and the threadfall that they had narrowly avoided but had been able to see in the distance.

“Hello Wingleader.” She greeted as she walked in still wearing her dolphineer uniform underneath one of his old jackets that he had made her take.

K'ron had been busy working through his flight charts when the knock sounded at his door. He had no idea who it was but it didn't matter. His door was always open to his wing.

His gray eyes widened in surprise though when he recognized the voice. A voice he hadn't heard in what felt like forever. “Nerlyn!” He cried happily, jumping to his feet. “You're back.”

Nerlyn smiled at the reaction and rushed forward to meet him as he jumped up wrapping her arms around him. They had been separated a lot recently by her sea watches thanks to the queen flight being so close to the last one.

“As of a candlemark or so ago.” She admitted. She had not gone straight there having gone to their old weyr but it was close enough to the truth and she was sure that he would only worry of what her thoughts had thought on.

K'ron pulled her into his arms, having missed her terribly. It had felt like ages but he also understood why she did what she did. And if it kept her sane and coming back to him he wasn't about to argue.

“Missed you. Koda isn't nearly as good of company as you and half the time the little rascal is with you,” he laughed. Koda had certainly taken to staying close to Neryln.

The man felt relaxed and happy to see her so that was positive. “He just likes playing with the dolphins which I am very friendly with if you did not know.” Nerlyn assured unburying her face from his chest and looked up at him smiling. “I missed you so much.” She breathed playing with the collar on his shirt.

“Oh I know that is true,” he laughed. “He's sent me images of the dolphins.” He kissed her hair. “I have not forgotten.” Thanks to the dolphins he had his mate back. “And I missed you. Please tell me you get to stay at least a couple days this time?” He asked, being glad she hadn’t been there for the queen flight though. He grinned down at her as she played with his shirt.

Nerlyn smiled at the tone in his voice. If she had been on duty in the next few days she would have changed the duty with the tone of the question. “Yeah of course I should be back for all of this month and the gather.” She said brightly, already looking forward to the idea of the first gather in 4 turns. “I only took the duty because of the flight. How did that go?” She ventured, deciding to just get that out in the open now and deal with it whilst they were both in a good mood.

K'ron breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't fault her for being gone but he missed her. “Really? That will be great. We can finally go to the Gather together.” He nodded, knowing she had stayed away from the flight and he didn't blame her. “Well Ty is gonna be a daddy,” he finally said, pride in his voice for his bronze. “Surprised me.”

“No, it did not. You won last time.” Nerlyn said with a roll of her eyes as she stepped back and looked him over. “Proud of you both. Everything you deserve.” She said genuinely not feeling jealous of it this time. She knew she had made the right choice to leave the weyr for it, she knew she would not be able to for every Queen flight but it made her feel happier she did not have to feel all those emotions and have no one to turn to.

“It is still odd. Never thought about my bronze catching gold. As long as he stays away from Kaliath. I do not want to be Weyrleader,” he laughed. “I am happy as a plain old bronze rider with a very understanding and beautiful mate.” That was all he wanted. He wanted Nerlyn safe and happy along with Raen and their new little one.

It was not odd in her opinion. He had always held himself back before from putting his head out there to show his leadership qualities. She was glad that she was not holding him back any longer. “You are a good man and a good leader,” Nerlyn said. “The Weyr would be lucky to have you as Weyrleader if that day ever came,” Nerlyn said thinking back to a conversation just before the last queen’s flight that was similar to this.

K'ron loved being a wingleader and wouldn't trade that but Weyrleader? Nah, he didn't want that responsibility. “I thank you for such sweet words. Guess only the dragons know. but you know I'm coming back to you no matter what,” he said. He loved Nerlyn, always had. In his mind there had never been anyone else.

Nerlyn looked at him trying to work out for a second if he was trying to stop her worries or his own. If it had been a turn or so ago, she would have let the jealous being inside of her rise to the surface and spill out all her insecurities but she really did not have anything there to worry about. She had made her peace with K’ron winning the Queen flights because it was down to the dragons. “I know.” She said firmly offering a small smile to him as she looked away and looked around the office. “So… anything else changed?” She wondered trying to move on from the topic now she had asked.

K'ron looked back at the charts spread across his desk. He was so glad that they finally were in a good place. “Lots of wing changes,” he admitted. “So getting the new riders to all work together has been interesting. how's Oceania?”

“Oceania?” He had never asked specifically about the Dolphin before but she nodded. “We all came back in one piece despite threadfall being less than 100 dragon lengths from us.” She looked at him and shook her head, she was in one piece and not damaged other than a cut on her leg from coral. “Yeah, I gathered. I went to our old weyr on the way here,” She finally admitted running a hand across the charts.

“Did I get the name wrong?” He asked worriedly. The look on her face had worried him. “Shards, that close?” He asked. “I'm glad you are all safe.” He watched her look at the charts. “What made you want to go there?” K'ron asked, trying not to sound worried.

The woman shook her head at his worried tones around her sevenday. “I woke up today as we came into port needing some closure.” She admitted looking away from his worried tones to keeping her gaze on the charts and requests for things. “I needed to know I could come back from the edge.”

K'ron had to bite his tongue to keep from saying anything. He had seen her on that ledge, had nearly lost her to that ledge. It was just one more time he was glad Koda was so protective. He slowly nodded, understanding but still worrying. “Feel better now?” He asked gently.

The woman could feel his tension and turned to look at him properly as he asked his question. She nodded. “I stepped back all by myself.” She offered as a shrug. She still did not know all those months since what had woken her up in that mood that day and it had haunted her since. “And then I came to find you.”

The bronze rider worked to relax himself. He didn't want to get upset as he knew she needed to do it. “You did it,” he said softly. “Good girl. You okay?” He was glad she had managed to conquer that fear.

“I think so but I am not sure you are. I’m sorry I did not mean to dampen your high from winning the flight I just…” The woman shrugged again. She was not sure she was okay but she did feel a sense of relief from knowing that the urge was not there. She did not want to go further into the pregnancy with that hanging over her.

“I am okay,” K'ron assured her. “Just brought up memories of that day. I am glad to hear though that you are better.” He shook his head. “You didn't. You are here so I am very happy,” he grinned. “How are you and the baby feeling?”

Nerlyn smiled sadly at him as she wrapped her arms around herself and turned fully to him from pretending she was looking at the charts. She liked it when he grinned at her like that, it made her feel warm inside and that she was doing a good job of being his mate. “We are doing fine. Tired but fine.” She moved over and touched his cheek wishing she could have prepared him better for thinking on that morning but she either said something or did not. “I love you.” She declared not sure why she was saying it but she did not want him to doubt her or anything.

“Tired is to be expected.” K'ron was trying really hard not to be overprotective but it wasn't easy. He was a protector and he wanted Nerlyn and the baby safe. He gave her a gentle smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I love you too,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

“Yes.” She knew it was her body’s way of telling her to slow down. “So I am trying to not be hard on myself this pregnancy.” Nerlyn admitted smiling up at him as pressed a kiss to forehead and brought her close. She closed her eyes savoring the moment of being reunited with him.

“That is a smart idea. I'm sure our little one will tell you when to slow down,” he smiled. “And I'll try to behave too.” He was so glad to have her back in his arms. He had missed her terribly.

She was sure that her body would tell her indeed as long as she wasn’t Nerlyn and ignored every sign, her inner voice spoke up. Nerlyn raised an eyebrow as she opened her eyes as she tried to understand why he needed to behave. “You behave?” She wondered if she had missed something.

He chuckled at the confused look on her face. “I'll try not to be too overprotective,” K'ron answered. “it might not be easy for me but I know you still need to be able to do things too.” If he had his way he would keep her in bed where she was safe.

The woman blinked a couple of times as she took in his words before leaning up to kiss him softly for the first time in over a sevenday spreading out her hand across his chest. “Be overprotective, be you and I will try and not be so… so… me.” She would not take risks, she would not be quite so Nerlyn in her approach to life. “I know it comes from your heart.” She said pulling back.

“Think I can do that,” he grinned, leaning into her gentle kiss. He had missed her. And this time that they had together. “But I love you,” he promised, laying his hand over hers. “Just no crazy stunts.” He knew she would try and he would help as much as he could.

Nerlyn nodded and she opened her mouth to say something else but a knock at the door broke the moment forcing Nerlyn to step back. “I have taken up enough of your time. I’ll leave you to it.” She said brushing a hand through his hair to flatten it a little.

K'ron frowned when he heard the knock. Well, that was one way to spoil the mood. “I'll find you later,” he promised, wanting to spend more time with his mate.

Nerlyn nodded and quickly went to the door opening to find the Weyrwoman there. Well, that certainly saved her a job, the weyrwoman thought having been there in the first place to ask K’ron if he had seen his mate seeing Lana had seen her ship returning that morning.

“Weyrwoman.” Nerlyn greeted in a soft tone bowing her head respectfully. Lana wished the woman would not do that, she did what holders and crafters did now instead of what Dragonriders did.

“Hello, Nerlyn. I am glad I did not have to go too far to track you down.” Nerlyn glanced back at K’ron confused but the woman did not give any hint of what she was after. “K’ron.” She greeted glancing at the man before she turned back to the dolphineer. “Fancy a walk?” The woman asked.

K'ron was surprised to see Lana on the other side of the door. He couldn't remember the last time she had come to his office. He shrugged a shoulder when Nerlyn looked back at him just as confused as his mate. “Lana,” he smiled. “Is all well?”

“All is well K’ron. I just need to borrow Nerlyn.” The Weyrwoman said softly as she stared at the man.

“Um… okay. A walk sounds good weyrwoman .” Nerlyn said. “I’ll see you when you are free.” Nerlyn shrugged as she had no idea what was going on.

K'ron was left really confused but nodded. He would find Nerlyn later and see what was going on.