RCW: By the ocean

Posted on Mon Sep 21st, 2026 @ 2:47pm by Jr Journeyman Terliyn & Apprentice Talomin

Mission: 3531 AL

Talomin helped Lea pack her bags. They planned on spending the day at the beach to help Terliyn relax after her hectic time back at the infirmary. He personally would have rather gone anywhere but the beach but that's what Lea had wanted.

“All good, Terli?” He asked.

Terliyn looked up from where she was checking herself out in the mirror. “Um… Yeah.” She was not sure if she wanted to wear shorts and a vest top but it was too hot for anything else especially over her swimming costume.

He gave her a smile as he swung the pack with the food over his shoulder. “Good. I think we have everything,” he commented, having given in and wore a pair of loose pants and a sleeveless shirt. At least he didn't have many scars along his arms.

Rilo was in the creche so they could spend time with Lea without the baby so she got some time with them. “And you look ready for the beach. Do I? She wondered looking at herself again in the mirror again.

Talomin knew Lea was excited for the day. Not that the little girl really complained about her brother, but it would be nice. He smiled at his wife. “you look very ready for the beach,” he assured her.

“As do you.” Terliyn assured rubbing her hands down his arms. “Lea will love this and it will be nice to get some sunshine. Spent a lot of my time last few days inside.” She whispered as she shimmied past him to go check that the little girl had her towel and sun protection.

He smiled at her light touch before she moved around him to check on Lea. “Then it's a good thing we're getting you outside,” Talomin smiled, following behind her.

“I am sure you need the sunshine too.” She commented as Lea danced around happily. Terilyn stood and held out the bag to Lea before she laughed and shouldered it before the girl took it.

He raised a brow at her. “Are you saying I stay inside too much?” He chuckled, watching Lea dance around. She was certainly excited for their outing.

“I think we both do.” Terliyn commented grinning as she caught Lea and started guiding her towards the door with a grin. She grabbed Talomin with her other hands and tugged on him too.

“Yeah that's probably true.” Since picking up a new craft and getting out of Dragon Hold he wasn't outside as much as he used to be. It would be nice to be out for a bit. He chuckled as Terliyn tugged him out the door behind her and Lea.

The walk to the beach was not long but it certainly hot already. “Wow did we pick a nice rest day?" Terliyn declared as they got out of the bowl and onto the path to the beach. It looked like several other people had the same idea as them as there were a few other families and riders going the same way.

Talomin walked happily beside his family, trying not to sweat clear through. “We did but I would be happy if it wasn't so hot,” he chuckled, watching Lea bounce ahead of them. He smiled as he realized a lot of others had the same idea.

“You are so northern.” Terilyn teased the man as she shifted stuff so they could walk together hand in hand as Lea let go spotting a friend in another group. Terliyn waved to the cook she knew who’s daughter was friends with Lea.

Talomin shook his head with a laugh. “Maybe I just like not sweating,” he teased, smiling as Lea found a friend. At least that might mean he wouldn't have to go near the water.

“Wrong continent for that I am afraid. But could go into the sea to cool off.” She said already thinking of the cool water and making seeing a dolphin if they were lucky enough that they came to investigate groups.

The young man froze at the suggestion. “Umm maybe,” he agreed. He was good with not going in the water. He liked watching everyone else. He just didn’t want to go in himself.

Terliyn glanced at the man and raised an eyebrow. “You good?” She wondered having caught the way he froze as they got to the dunes and Lea ran back.

“Can we go close to where Killia and her family are?” She wondered hopeful.

Talomin nodded. “Think so,” he answered, grateful for Lea's distraction. “I don't see why not. What do you think Terli?” He asked, hoping she forgot about his hesitation.

The woman narrowed her eyes but said nothing to him. “We can.” Terilyn promised the little girl as she directed her to follow where the group was going. It did not sound like a bad compromise if she was honest, everyone would get to relax whilst the children played.

Talomin inwardly cringed when he caught the narrow eyed look. Apparently she didn't believe that he was okay. Just great. he turned to follow his family.

Terliyn smiled as they finally found a good spot that was a little shaded by the cliffs but would still give them a little bit of sun. It was close to the other family but they all had their own privacy even as the children played between them. Terliyn finally sat down on the blanket and sighed happily as she lay on her back and just stared up at the clear sky.

He helped set up their little spot, quite content with where they were. And it was close to Lea's friend. it is gorgeous here,” he commented, laying back on the sand.

“We live in a beautiful place.” Terliyn reminded him and most importantly herself. She could not imagine now after dearly ten turns of living somewhere other than Healer Hall and Kymos.

“We do,” he agreed. Growing up Talomin really hadn't had a chance to truly appreciate where they lived. It had been more a fight for survival than anything.

“Much better than the jungles of Kymos.” She laughed. “A little cooler and dryer.” She patted the space next to her where she was lying hoping he would relax lims she was trying to. Lea was safe, every single person around them would keep an eye out and Lea knew to scream if she was in trouble.

“Cooler is better,” he agreed, moving to lay next to her. “This heat is brutal though.” It wasn't that he wasn't used to the heat, but this had been bad. He sighed softly as he put an arm behind his head, knowing for the first time in his life everyone he loved was safe. “I'm glad we could all have this time together.”

“Well it is summer Tal.” It was hard to believe that elsewhere in Pern that there were whole areas covered in snow and ice. “Me too. Lea looks so happy.” She breathed as she turned on her side to watch Lea sat talking with friends. How had they gotten that lucky to have moments like this?

“I know,” he laughed. “But it is still hot.” Although it felt cooler by the water. “She does,” he agreed, thankful the little girl had been young to know anything that has happened in the past.

“That is all down to you husband,” Terliyn stated firmly as she decided to shimmy out of her shorts and shirt and just wear the swimming costume. It was hot and she did not care that she felt flumpy after giving birth recently.

He looked over at her. “Me?” He asked curiously, sitting up to take his shirt off. Even being sleeveless he was still hot. He refused to go near that water though. He would just be hot.

“For marrying me and a million other things,” Terliyn said quietly as Lea gkk handed up and waved at her. Terliyn waved back with a smile. The girl was perfect and that was not down to her, she would not have survived without Talomin.

He smiled at her. “And I love you and couldn't imagine not having you in my life.” There had been some bad times but somehow they had gotten through. Talomin chuckled as he watched Lea. “She is growing so fast.”

“She really is. Hard to believe she is nearly four next month.” She whispered as the girl in question came over looking for something to drink. Terliyn sat up to sort her out just smiling at the girl and the amazing little thing she was - loving, intelligent and most of all kind.

Talomin shook his head. “That is hard to believe.” Lea was perfect in every way and Talomin loved the little girl. “Hey baby girl. Having fun?” He asked as she came up to get a drink.

“Best day!” She declared smiling as she sat in the shade for a moment drinking some of the juice from the skin and a quick sandwich that her parents brought with them. “It’s hot though. Can we go into the sea?” She wondered.

The young man's face paled at his daughter's request. He would like nothing more than to agree, but he couldn't. He glanced at Terliyn, hoping she would agree and he wouldn't have to. “Ah…” he started.

Terliyn raised an eyebrow as she saw the man pale. What was going on? “Sure Lea. We can go whilst daddy stays here.” She said feeling like there was something she had missed about her husband over the last five turns. The little girl squealed and stood back up as Terliyn pushed herself up from the black to follow the girl to the sea.

Talomin breathed a sigh of relief but he knew there would be a lot of explaining to do. He managed a shaky smile for his daughter as she was clearly happy with her mommy going with her. He did feel bad though because he knew Terliyn was still getting back on her feet.

Over a candlemark later Terliyn returned back to the man and wrapped a towel around herself grinning as Lea barreled into her making Terliyn laugh as she grabbed up another towel to at least try the girl off a little. “Rest before you go out there. You are out of breath.” Terliyn instructed smiling as the girl jumped over to her daddy.

Talomin watched them play in the water. the two looked so happy and he felt bad for not joining them. “Hey baby girl,” he laughed, catching his daughter in his arms. “Did you and mommy have fun?”

“We did.” Lea giggled as she snuggled close and got him Wet. “Mama said that you did not want to come into the water today so we played together.” She knew that some people didn’t like the ocean water which is what she thought was going on.

He smiled at his daughter. “I'm glad you guys had fun.” He knew sometime soon he would have to explain but thankfully for the moment Terliyn had covered for him.

“We did. But we are soaked.” Terilyn said as she scooted forward so she was against him too making him wet too. “It was nice to cool off for a little bit.” She laughed against this chest.

“Hey!” He laughed as his girls drenched him. Although if he were honest being wet felt good. “With this sun you won't be wet long,” he said, putting an arm around Terliyn .

“Not at all. So I feel no sympathy in trying to cool you off.” She teased lightly ruffling his hair as she shifted a little to lay her head on his chest as Lea snuggled a little more against them looking tired. “Someone looks like they will need to be carried home soon.”

“Oh I didn't figure you felt bad,” Talomin chuckled. He hadn't really minded and it was nice to have the girls close. He gently rubbed Terliyn’s arm as Lea started to drift off. “I see that. good thing i'm strong,” he teased.

“All that becoming a tanner.” She responded by squeezing his arm to prove her point. He had changed more than her over the last couple of turns as he learned a craft that required him to get strong. “Good job she ate some of the food before she swam.”

He laughed a bit. “Yeah, a lot harder work than I had thought when I started it,” he admitted. He really did enjoy being a tanner though and actually have a craft that was productive. Talomin smiled down at their daughter. “Very true.”

“But you do so well Tal.” She pointed out as Lea got heavy against Talomin and fell asleep. Sometimes she had naps, sometimes she did not but the sun and swimming was too much for her that day it seemed. “So what’s up with not wanting to go in the ocean?” She whispered looking up at him.

“I do enjoy it. I just hadn't realized what all it involved,” he answered, chuckling softly as Lea gave into sleep. He knew she had played hard and couldn't blame her at all. Talomin looked down at Lea and watched her sleep, considering how to answer Terliyn. “Water terrifies me,” he finally answered. “I can't swim and I sink like a rock.”

“I… why have you never said about this? We are married and I did not know this.” The woman whispered, poking his chest gently. She could not believe she had not known about it until now.

Talomin shrugged a shoulder as she poked him in the chest. “There was never a reason to. It's not something I go around telling everyone,” he said quietly. It would have been used against him in Dragon Hold.

“We live by the ocean and I am your wife, not just anyone or everyone.” Terilyn murmured, smiling fondly but not able to wrap her head around the fact he had not mentioned it to her. She was really surprised that he hadn’t.

“I know,” he said quietly. “I should have told you. I just never really thought about it as we never really went swimming so it never came up.” It was something he should have told her though.

“Too busy and well I never really wanted to leave our living space until last turn. This would have been impossible.” She would have fear that Lea or herself would disappear being out in open.

He nodded. “True. And it was something I never talked about it because it would have been used against me. I am sorry I never told you,” he apologized.

The woman nodded she could understand for the most part why he had kept it to himself but there really had been no need with her. She would have helped and supported him. “Don’t be I understand.” Well for the most part.

“I still feel bad.” He really should have told her. “But yes I am terrified of water. Thank you for not making a big deal of it in front of Lea.”

“Of course not. We are a team.” She reminded gently as she snuggled a little closer and lay a hand over his heart. ”but how are we going to change that? We live near the ocean and I am worried if we … I am worried.” She admitted softly.

Talomin hadn't thought about how his fear would affect Terliyn. He sighed softly before kissing her hair. “I don't know,” he admitted. “But I promise you you're safe. I will not let anything happen to you.”

“It’s you I am worried about.” She said trying to laugh a little but she was worried about living so close to ocean and the fact he could not swim and was terrified of the water. But it did make a few things make sense.

He looked down at her in confusion. “Me? I just stay back like this,” he commented. Was it really that big of a deal to be afraid of water?

Terliyn looked up. “We just live so close to the ocean. I just worry that you will need it one day.” She said gently. It was not really a big deal, she just thought it might be useful for where they lived.

Talomin sighed softly. “I hadn't considered that,” he agreed, but he just couldn't bring himself to go near the water. Not after his childhood and what had nearly happened.

Terliyn could feel the tension in his body and smiled sadly. “We can talk later. Let’s not spoil it now.” She whispered snuggling against him hoping that them both lying on him was not to much.

He nodded. “Sounds good.” He really didn’t want to ruin their nice day by talking about his fears. He gently ran his hand over Lea's curls, watching their little girl sleep.