KH: Slice Of The Past

Posted on Wed Feb 5th, 2025 @ 3:38pm by Emalee & Jemmada & Blue Rider R’kig

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D29

It had taken some effort, but R'kig had finally let his family tug him along. The Gather really wasn't where he wanted to be, but he had promised to show Raen how to play some of the games. Which is exactly how he found himself standing in the middle of one of the aisleways when a small slip of a figure crashed into him.

The next thing he knew, he was on his back with said person in his arms. “What the?” he mumbled, trying to sit up.

The woman in his arms pushed against his chest, trying to get up. She was thin, with dark hair and a pale complexion under the flush of her cheeks from having been running—and the moment she had literally run into the dragon rider. She had been going at some speed to knock him to the floor. “Let me up!” The soft voice demanded.

“Easy,” R'kig said, trying to untangle themselves. “Are you okay?” He had no idea where she had even come from. One minute, he had been looking at the games, and the next, he was on the ground. The woman desperately tried to push up against him, but it did not seem to work. She yelped as the man scooped her up and deposited her on the ground, allowing her to stand up.

“Fine,” she muttered, sweeping her hair out of her face, revealing a bruised cheek. Why did it have to be a dragon rider she ran into? “I am sorry for running into you.”

R'kig made sure she was steady before loosening his grip. His eyes widened when he saw the bruise. “How did that happen?” he asked, gently touching her cheek. It looked painful and pretty fresh.

“None of your business, rider,” the woman whispered, moving her hair back to cover it, looking away. “I deserved it,” she added, slowly picking up the satchel she had lost when running into him.

The blue rider frowned a bit. “No one deserves that,” he answered. No matter what someone did, being hit was never the answer. “Why were you running?”

The woman looked at the man and frowned, rolling her eyes at him getting involved in her business and asking questions. “What is it to you?” she demanded, looking at his shoulder knots, noticing his Weyr and position. At least he wasn't from Southern or, worse, one of the northern Weyrs. “You are a rider from River Cove… You have my thanks for destroying my former home and giving me my freedom back, but please stay out of my business now. I got this because I tried to pickpocket, and I am so bad at it I got caught. The holder did this. I was running to avoid any further beatings.”

R'kig narrowed his eyes. Served him right for asking. He should have just stayed at the Weyr like he wanted to in the first place. “You're from Dragon Hold?” he asked, hating everything about that place.

“I was, because I had no choice,” she shot back, defensive. Not everyone could escape to freedom or choose where they grew up. “I did not want to stay there, but I had nowhere else to go. We do not all get to Impress dragons.” She still had nowhere else to go, but she was working on getting to where her twin was, where there seemed to be people willing to help people like her get their lives back together.

R'kig quickly shook his head. “I didn't mean anything by it. I was just surprised. My best…” He trailed off. Now was not the time to think about Cassine again. He blew out a soft breath. “How can I help?” he offered.

The woman turned to look at the rider as she looked up and down the aisleway, working out which way would be more careful. It was too hot to be out in the sun, and she dared not go back toward the stalls. “Have you seen a woman called Emalee?” she asked finally.

He didn't think she was going to answer him right away. Then, when she did, it shocked him. “Emalee? I do. Her and Leisa should be around here somewhere.” He didn't see much of Emalee anymore because it brought back memories.

“Leisa?” the woman demanded, raising an eyebrow at the man’s name being connected to Emalee’s of all people. She had always expected her sister to end up with a woman, so hearing her connected to the soldier had thrown her, considering what she knew about her.

R'kig was left confused. “Umm, yeah. They're married and have the cutest little girl.” Just how did this girl know Emalee? “Did you know them in Dragon Hold?” he asked softly, not wanting to upset her.

“I did. I was there for a long time, as I said.” The woman explained distractedly as she thought about Emalee having children with someone as gorgeous as Leisa. Is that what happened when you got a chance at freedom? “I am Jemmada, by the way.” She finally introduced herself.

He nodded. He didn't know how well they had each known each other at Dragon Hold. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Jemmada. I'm R'kig.”

“R’kig. You were the young one they kept taking with Cass?” she questioned, realizing something. She looked sad at the man and frowned a little as she wrapped her cardigan around herself. “I am sorry you were caught up in that. I was never there when they did it, as I was sent away on trading attempts.” She knew she would have interfered to assist the pair if she had been there.

A frown crossed his brow. “I was. Did you know Cassine?” Saying the name took real effort, and he had to fight back emotions. He was still hurting from losing her. “Thank you. It was definitely bad, but we survived.”

“Same as Emalee,” the woman said, not missing the frown, but she shrugged. “It was a bad time all around, I think. We should go to Emalee, and then let you be free.” She said gently, allowing herself to be led to a communal picnic area. She could see hundreds of people just enjoying the Harper stage, and each family or friendship circle was different. She stopped in the shadows as she saw Emalee sitting on a blanket with a little girl on her lap and a baby lying on the blanket sound asleep. No Leisa with them, which was good, as Leisa had always hated her presence thanks to her being a brat then.

That really didn't answer his question, but R'kig wasn't going to push. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know or not. It would only open the old wound again. He nodded. “Fair enough.”

He wound his way through the crowd until he finally spotted Emalee with her children. A soft smile touched his lips. “Emalee!” he called.

The woman looked up at the familiar call and smiled at the man, waving him over. She stood to intercept him but paused as she noticed the person with him and did a double take. “Jemmada?” She wondered, confused as to why the blue rider was with her and more so what she was doing there.

“Hello?” The pale girl said, looking awkwardly as she had nowhere to hide now, following R’kig.

R'kig smiled at his friend as he led Jemmada over. He stopped, though, at Emalee's confused expression. “Ah, so you two do know each other?”

Emalee looked at R’kig and then the woman, who looked like her but with different colored hair and a lot thinner than she had been in turns. Emalee could not help but smile despite her confusion as she took in her twin.

“Of course, we do, blue rider. Emalee is my twin sister,” Jemmada revealed quietly. “Hey, Em.”

The blue rider blinked in shock. “Sisters?” he repeated, starting to shake. “Then Cass…” He trailed off. No, he couldn't do this. Not now, maybe nor ever. He shakily backed away from the two of them.

“She is my sister too,” Jemmada had never been close to Cassine, but she was her sister as much as Emalee was. Emalee looked at R’kig and winced a little at him backing away. Jemmada always knew how to make an entrance. She leaned out and grabbed his arm before he could run off.

“No one is running off,” she said as Elsa jumped up to grab Emalee’s other hand, seeing the woman who seemed to be causing issues for the grown-ups that she knew.

R'kig shook his head as he looked at his friend. “I can't do this, Em,” he nearly pleaded. “Please. Not again.” How, out of everyone, had he managed to run into one of Cassine's siblings?

Emalee let his arm go. She still counted him as a friend despite how they had first met and the way Cassine had up and left him. “As you wish,” she whispered sadly. She had hoped the pain would have lessened after all these months, but Jemmada’s appearance had obviously hit him hard. “Thank you for finding Jemm and bringing her to me. I am sure me and my husband can sort it all out.”

R'kig trembled a bit as he wrapped his arms around his waist. “Em, I don't know how to feel right now,” he whispered, fighting back emotions. He had thought he could do this, but he wasn't so sure now. “I am glad I could help, though.” He glanced at Jemmada. Hopefully, she was safe now.

Once he heard Emalee’s words, he knew Jemmada would be safe with her and Leisa. He couldn't stay any longer though. Not if he wanted to keep his sanity. He nodded to both before spinning on his heel and jogging away, tears pricking his eyes.