Hatching Ground Catch up

Posted on Mon Sep 21st, 2026 @ 2:38pm by Gold Rider Jena & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL

K'ron hadn't attempted to visit the Sands right away as he knew Jena needed time with Zalyith and he didn't figure the gold wanted intruders on her Sands. He finally decided enough time had passed and Tyreth kept asking so he had Koda stay with Nerlyn and Raen while he headed down to the Sands.

“Jena?” he asked, stepping onto the hot sands.

The younger woman looked up from her hide work as she heard the familiar voice. She smiled and waved to him standing up so he could see her in the stands. “Up here. It’s safe. She’s asleep.” She assured knowing that the queen was starting to get less testy but it was always a little touch and go if she would make a scene just to remind everyone she was in charge.

K'ron smiled when he heard Jena's voice. She didn't look so exhausted so Zalyith must have been settling down some. He quietly walked around the Sands so he didn't disturb the sleeping queen and climbed up into the stands. “She looks good,” he commented, noticing the queen's hide was still shining.

“It is a shame she’s not being good. If you were a candlemark earlier you’d have seen a candidate nearly wet himself at the way she growled at him.” Jena said rolling her eyes. “But thank you for the compliment of her.” A lot of bronze riders tried to compliment her queen in an attempt to gain favour but K’ron was not like that.

The bronze rider pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh. “I remember having that same feeling. Even if you grow up in the Weyr having a queen dragon growl at you scares you.” He remembered having that happen himself. “Of course. And from what I can see the clutch looks good. You guys have done well.” He was proud of the young gold rider and her dragon, not to mention Tyreth felt a big smug.

“Me too but I felt for the teenager. He has barely seen dragons and there he is having Zalyith growling at him. 39 which is understandable with the surge in dragons recently.” Jena said proudly. “We did well.” She reminded him smiling a little more. “How are things?” She wondered

K'ron cringed a bit. “Yeah I would have felt bad for him too. Poor kid.” That had to have been scary for him. The golds were big. He nodded with a smile. “We did well. And a nice number.” He shrugged, glad he didn't have to be as careful with his shoulder now. “They're good. Getting back to normal now.”

“Normal is good.” Jena said quietly wishing it was as simple as that for her but a month or so and she would not have to spend her days hot and sweaty. “How are Nerlyn and Raen?”

The bronze rider took a seat in the stands and stretched out his legs. Normal was good. It hadn't been that way for a while. “They're doing good. Raen is growing fast and Nerlyn seems to be feeling well despite the pregnancy.”

The woman smiled as he finally sat down below her in the stands. She had chosen up high so she could keep a proper eye on her queen and anyone coming in and out. “I am glad things are doing better. I have been worried about you.” She admitted.

K'ron looked up at the gold rider in surprise. “You have?” He asked. Had he really been that distant? Shards no wonder he kept getting questioning looks when he did go out. For a bit he had just stayed in his weyr.

“Yes.” She smiled seeing his surprise. She rolled her eyes as she leaned up and pulled her hair up into a runnertail. “Since whatever happened with the ruins and north has made you a little … well it is just nice to see you looking relaxed.”

The bronze rider nodded a bit. She had a point. Both him and Nerlyn had been very off since the ruins. “Thanks. We're getting there. Still a few ups and downs.” and then Raen's revelation had thrown them for loop.

Jena frowned. She had hoped it would not be up and down for them but there they were. “So it did affect you and Nerlyn hmm?” She wondered softly as the Queen opened her eyes and blinked at the other figure with her rider. She grumbled but closed her eyes again, she was tired and Jena was safe.

The bronze rider slowly nodded. “It did,” he admitted. Those ruins had caused nothing but trouble for the two of them. “just some things from the past that came up.” the ruins, the north, timing, and Raen had taken their toll. He smiled as he heard Zalyith.

“I wish you all would tell me what was going on so I could help better.” She sighed gently and shook her head. She felt useless not being able to help him. “But as long as it’s going a bit better I won’t pry.”

K'ron gave her a grateful smile. He knew she just wanted to help. There wasn't much she could do about the timing and how it affected them. “Did you hear Raen can hear the dragons?” He asked, wanting to give her something.

“No… oh… K’ron… I can see why things have been fractious for you and then you went North with that chaos.” She whispered, putting her hand to her heart, feeling it going out to the man and Nerlyn. No wonder things had been hard for the pair, a child hearing all the dragons was no often a wonderous thing when you lived in the Weyr.

The bronze rider nodded. “We learned about it just before I had to leave,” he admitted. Raen was doing okay and would hopefully continue to as Kaliath had given the order not to talk to Raen unless the boy talked to them first. “It's been a lot.”

“Sounds like it.” The gold rider said sadly. “Is there anything I can do to help you all?” She wondered softly hoping she could help at the very least or at least listen to his concerns.

“Raen seems okay,” he assured her. “Right now Ty is the only one who talks to him unless he talks to them first. Lana and Kalaith made sure of that.” He blew out a soft breath. “Ner is still afraid he is going to be overwhelmed and then with the baby.” He shook his head. “I just don't know what to do sometimes.”

“Of course she is going to be worried. Raen is her child. Us as riders…” She used thinking it might not be the the rug her phrasing. “It’ll be different for her than others around the Weyr. But she looks healthy? I’ve seen her daily at the lower cavern meetings. She’s there despite looking like she was forced for the first few.” Jena said laughing a little before she saw his face. “What do you want to do?” She asked.

He knew Jena was right. As riders they had never expected to actually have a family but he wouldn't trade Raen for all of Pern. He was the bright spot in their lives. “I'm glad. She seems happier since having those meetings.” He was grateful to Tula for that. “I don't know. I just want things to settle back to normal.”

“And what if they don’t?” She wondered softly wishing she knew exactly what was going on. She was going to have to demand to know from Lana and A’ren, it was not fair to be left out what it was affecting people she cared about.

K'ron blew out a breath. “Then I will have to make the best of it,” he answered. “I will not lose Ner over something wherrybrained like our pasts that we can't change.” Well that was only semi true. Timing could change things. “And we'll help Raen through this hearing the dragons as best we can. He actually seemed to enjoy it.”

“He is a bright child. He will adapt I am sure but I do understand the worries as there are 200 dragons here, it could be very noisy.” Jena said softly wishing she could help him more. “But if I can help you need to speak up.” She told him firmly wishing that she was not stuck there so she could delve into things.

“He is,” K'ron said proudly. Raen was a very special child and one he loved dearly. He was grateful that Kaliath had let the dragons know not to overwhelm him. “If you and Zalyith wouldn't mind checking in on him sometimes. Ty tries to let us know but he might tell a gold more,” he said hopefully. He nodded. “Thank you Jena. Right now there isn't much to do. Just make sure i'm not going crazy from time to time,” he smiled.

“That I can do.” She assured quietly as she glanced around the hatching ground and sighed leaning back a little against the stone chair. “But I am sure it will not come to anything like that K’ron. You are so much stronger than I bet even you know.”

He gave her a smile. It was nice to talk to someone who just let him talk. K'ron raised a brow. “Maybe. I thank you for listening though. I didn't mean to burden you with my problems.”

“No, do not be daft. You came here to check on me and my current burden.” She indicated all around them. “You did not just come to share all that was happening.” She reminded him, smiling at how silly he was for thinking he was birding her. “And this is what friends do. I am glad that you could share something so that I understand a little better what is going on.”

K'ron looked out at the eggs hardening on the Sands and the very protective queen next to them. It was an encouraging sight to see. He then turned back to Jena and nodded. “Thank you. I do appreciate it. And I am glad you and Zalyith are doing well.”

“We are. K’vin checks in on us and brings me dinner. Lana and A’ren come regularly to check on me too so it’s not too bad to be honest.” It was something she knew she had to endure but now that she had slept she was more positive about the next month or so.

K'ron was glad to hear that Jena was doing well. “you'll have to let me know when Zalyith is ready to let Ty meet the eggs. He doesn't do patience well,” the bronze rider laughed.

“I will. I am sure it won’t be long. She's just a little protective.” She sighed, rolling her eyes at the snort from the sands as if to say no I am not. Jena shook her head looking at the man still smiling still. She was lucky that K’ron was K’ron and despite the flights they shared it did not mean anything and he expected nothing from her.

The bronze rider laughed as Zalyith snorted. “It's fine. She has a right to be. She did a good job with those eggs. Ty will be fine.” Tyreth would grumble at him but the bronze wouldn't visit until he was given permission. K'ron leaned back, still being careful of his healing shoulder as he rested against the seat behind him.

“So what are you plans for this evening hmm?” Jena wondered thoughtfully as she decided to live through him for a moment.

He thought about it for a minute. “I'm not sure,” he laughed. “Maybe I'll see if Nerlyn is off duty and take her and Raen for dinner. I'm going to have to get back into wing rotation soon that will take some of my time.”

“Sounds nice.” She admitted hoping the woman was off duty. She wanted to see him happy how he had been at the flight eager to get out of the room to go see if Nerlyn was back. “Have you considered just taking her to Kymos or Far Site for the night? Get away from the Weyr?”

The bronze rider tilted his head in thought. “That's actually a really good idea. I had not considered it but I will definitely see if I can get her to agree. Thank you.” It would be great to get away for a bit.

“Works for me and K’vin.” She said grinning. K’vin and her escaped the Weyr like that often to keep connected, especially with her being a queen rider with her roles and responsibilities.

“Thank you for the suggestion, Jena. I am happy to hear you and K'vin are still doing well.” The other bronze rider didn't talk much but K'ron had seen the two together.

“Course we are. That man is … wonderful.” She said, sounding far away for a moment as thought about him before smiling. She would miss him a lot over the next month or so.

K'ron chuckled a bit. “I know that smile,” he grinned. “Good for you two.” It was good to see them so happy. The gold rider deserved it.

“Why I know we are both safe with flights. You ain’t going to try anything.” She laughed. She also knew that K’vin felt comfortable especially when he tried his hardest for them to have a flight together again.

K'ron laughed a bit. “Nope you are safe with me. I definitely will not try anything,” he smiled. He was happy with Nerlyn and for him it was just a flight. Not that he wasn't proud when his bronze sired a clutch but he was happy even if he lost.

Jena just nodded and rolled her eyes at the queen who was now fully awake and watching the entrance again. “Thank Faranth for that.” She sighed.

The bronze gave her a smile. “I see Zalyith is on protective mode again,” he chuckled. Poor Jena.

Jena just nodded. “She’s awake and ready for a fight.” Jena stated smiling fondly but she was tired of the Queen making it hard for people to come close. “You better escape before she blocks you in.” She laughed trying to sound happier than she was.

K'ron cringed at that thought. “Smart idea. Let me know if you need anything,” he offered, pushing to his feet. He definitely didn't want to make Zalyith mad.

“I am sure I won’t need anything but promise me a dance at the feast.” She called as he started to make a move and escape whilst he could.

***K’ron is leaving. We like K’ron and he is Tyreth’s rider.*** Jena reminded Zalyith as she swung her head around to watch K’ron.

}: He won’t steal my eggs. Tyreth won’t let him. :{ She decided before Jena could remind her.

*** No he wont*** Jena confirmed.

“I can do that,” he promised before giving Zalyith a respectful bow. Once he was sure the gold was alright with his leaving he slipped out of the Hatching Grounds.