RCW: Stranger Friendship

Posted on Tue Nov 19th, 2024 @ 10:21pm by Apprentice Nerlyn & Brown Rider K’yar

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: MD 2 D5

Nerlyn had left the weyr after making sure K’ron was sound asleep just to get the much-needed walk that she had needed earlier in the day. She had done a circuit around the lake before she knew it and her legs finally told her enough was enough so she sat on the grass spreading her legs out in front of her. The Weyr was still wide awake which was nice to just sit by the lake and observe from the quietness of it. She would have joined them on any other night but there and then she needed the reflection of the calm lake instead of the rough seas she could hear in the distance just above the sounds from the cavern of some celebration.

K'yar slipped out of the cavern. He wanted to get back to Lenya and Kiyna but a familiar figure by the lake had him stopping in his tracks. A smile touched his lips as he made his way down to the lake.

“Well hello stranger,” he said, plopping on the grass beside her. “Enjoying the view?”

Nerlyn heard the foot steps but did not react until she heard the familiar voice and smiled as he plopped down on the grass next to her. “Stranger? Me? I have only been gone a sevenday but yes I am enjoying the view. Nice to see some stable water.” She admitted watching him.

The brown rider grinned at his friend. “That's a long time,” he drawled out. “Almost forgot what you looked like,” he teased, having missed his friend. “Don’t know how you do it. The rough water and all.” It sounded hard to him.

“It’s not well I suppose the fact I have been gone pretty much half a month over the last month but …” She shook away that maths. She was trying to not think about the what and how at the moment when she was enjoying the company. “Rough water is just like fighting thread with the motion and air thermals.”She admitted wondering if that was why she had not really suffered seasickness having been so used to the motion. “But I am sure you had lots of other friends, a brother and cousins over the last sevenday to bother.” He had almost as much family as she did he the Weyr.

“Hmm hadn't thought of it that way,” he admitted. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. “Maybe one day I'll come out. Ky would love to play with the dolphins.” He glanced over at his friend, hearing a slight hitch in her voice. “Perhaps but it's more fun to bother you,” he teased. “Although Kiyna takes a lot of my time.”

“Who would have thought me and you would have children who live with us daily? " she said, finally letting the tease go over her head. He was the brother who had replaced R’en when Thread had taken him from her. He was more annoying and a lot more troublesome, but she would not change him in the slightest.

K'yar shook his head. “I definitely never thought it would happen but I wouldn't trade Kiyna for the red star.” He loved his little girl. And he was glad that Nerlyn had Raen to keep her occupied. He did miss working with Nerlyn on a daily basis.
“She is a cute kid. She certainly gets that from Lenya.” Nerlyn mocked poking his shoulder before turning her gaze to the Lake watching a flit chase another across it. “Never thought you would get your shells together K’yar and have it all after the last turn. I am kind of proud of you.” Nerlyn said honestly.

“Hey,” K'yar laughed as he feigned being injured from her poke. “I agree though. Definitely takes after Lenya.” He blew out a breath as he watched the flits. “Yeah bad last Turn,” he agreed. He had nearly messed that one up completely.

“Obviously I got all your luck last turn hopefully we can both share it this turn.” Nerlyn decided offering a pat on his shoulder to soften the poke. “Are you good now? Lenya staying?” She wondered hoping it was sorted now but she had not wanted to pry nor had time to pry until now.

“I'd much rather share it. No more bad times,” he agreed. The brown rider nodded. “Yeah, we're good. She's staying,” he assured his friend. “Took some time but we finally managed to get things sorted.”

Nerlyn’s face broke into a bright smile as she listened to him. She might be feeling reflective and worried but she genuinely loved K’yar like a little brother and wanted the best for him. “That is great to hear. So why are you bothering me and not enjoying time with your family?” She asked smiling. If K’ron was awake she would have been with him trying to work through the drama that had come out.

“I was headed that way when I saw you. Had to stop and pester you,” he grinned. Nerlyn was one of the few who would put him in his place yet they still stayed best friends.

“Well off to your bed rider.” She instructed shooing him away as she returned her gaze to the lake. She was not planning to go to bed for a while; she needed to think about things a lot more to get it out of her head and work out how to discuss it logically with the Weyrleaders.

“Well now if that isn't a dismissal,” he laughed. Leave it to Nerlyn to just get to the point. “You sure? I still have some time if you need to talk or just want a quiet buddy,” he offered.

Nerlyn ripped up some of the grass beneath her fingers and chucked it in front of her as she contemplated her options. “I… I am just thinking.” Nerlyn shrugged, he was not prone to going into a protective mode like K’ron at the first sign of her wandering so it would be okay to admit. “I came back today and things have happened between, me, K’ron and the Weyrleaders. The past has come back to bite me.” She would not burden him with the knowledge of what but she did need to declare it. ”I just wanted a nice reunion with K’ron and Rean and things are complicated.”

K'yar raised a brow. “Ooh, that does not sound good at all.” He could only imagine what had happened to make things so complicated. And just what did the Weyrleaders have to do with it? “You and K'ron okay?”

“Yeah. We are good apart from him worrying about me taking steps backwards in my health. But I am safe.” She said reaching him before he started. “I sent him to bed and then came for the walk I have wanted since this morning. I just wanted to reflect on it all.” She shrugged and tugged another handful of grass taking her frustration out on it.

That sounded like K'ron. Before he could open his mouth she pressed on. “Alright. But you know you can always find me. I'm a listening ear,” he promised. He didn’t want to see her slide back either.

The woman nodded. She knew that and it was a bit of a relief to have someone close who would listen. She leaned over and wrapped an arm around his shoulder and lay her head there. “I know but I cannot burden you, my friend. You are fixing your life and I do not want to change that.” She said simply knowing he would understand.

The brown rider nodded as he stayed close to Nerlyn. The two had been friends for so long. “Thank you,” he whispered. He did truly want to be there for Nerlyn and would be if she needed him. He never turned his back on a friend.

“I care about you all even if I am not one of you anymore. This is my home and you are all my friends and more. This is where I want to have my babies and grow old.” She sighed wishing more than anything she had not set something in motion too many turns ago to fix now in following her passion for duty.

“And we wouldn't want you going anywhere,” he assured her. Nerlyn was as much a part of the Weyr as any of the riders. He couldn't imagine her not being there. “Good thing you're planning on staying,” he grinned. “Or we’d have to chase you.”

Nerlyn smiled a little at the declaration. It was not coming from the same place as K’ron but it was adorable that he had said that to remind her that he wanted her there. “I am pretty sure I am in no condition to be chased at the moment and I have no place to go other than home to my mate like yourself.” She assured squeezing him before she sat up properly.

“Good. Then we will have to get together later. Let Raen and Kiyna play,” he said. It had been great to talk with his old friend. Sometimes it seemed like they didn't get enough time to see old friends.

“Maybe. My schedule is very full at the moment.” She laughed. “I am sure yours is too keeping F’cone out of too much trouble with doors and weyrwomen alike.” She laughed suddenly remembering the door that they had to break down when she had been pregnant with Rean and she had revealed her lock-picking skills. “Being pregnant again is bringing up a lot of memories.” She admitted thinking about both good and bad.

K'yar groaned amid a laugh “Oh I had almost forgotten the door.” that had been a day. “Thankfully he hasn't pulled anything like that in a while.” With F'cone it could happen any time. “I bet. And I bet you two are thrilled.”

“Good. He looked pretty ashamed of himself when I saw him with Milayna last Sevenday.” She admitted thinking she had, had a nice day with the boys and Milayna if she was honest. The woman was lovely on the inside as on the inside. “We are shocked but happy,” Nerlyn assured. They had not come to terms properly with it yet but she was sure they would come around. “Why I need to stay healthy.”

“Ooh yeah. That girl has her work cut out for her,” he agreed. He knew the two had been through a lot. K'yar laughed a bit. “You better stay healthy or else K'ron will make you stay bedridden,” he warned teasingly.

“Tell me about it.” Nerlyn sighed. “I am trying. I am … trying I promise.” Nerlyn wanted to be healthy and she felt better than she had in Turns. “But I would hope you would rescue me or at least talk him down.”

“Well, I could certainly try,” K'yar promised. Although when it came to Nerlyn he wasn't so sure K'ron could be talked down. That crazy bronze rider was in love with her and would keep her safe no matter what.

“Big promise Brown Rider.” Nerlyn smiled before she grew silent again and just enjoyed the silence of the lake with the sound in the background. It was what she had needed after the Weyrleaders conversation to just give her some space to think about it all. “Okay… I think I can go home now.” She finally announced looking at K’yar wondering why he was still there.

He grinned. “All I can do is try,” he said, pushing to his feet. “Need a hand?” He offered.

Nerlyn nodded taking the offered hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She took a tentative step before standing up properly knowing that she was fine now despite sitting down to rest. “Thank you.” She squeezed his hand before letting go. “Go on. Away with you.” She said knowing his weyr was in a completely different direction than hers was.

K'yar didn't let go until he knew she was steady. Once she was standing he dropped his hand to his side. “Yes ma'am,” he grinned with a wave. “See you soon.” He turned to jog off toward his weyr.

Nerlyn smiled as she watched him race off to get home. It was nice to see him so eager and happy to be getting home when he knew that some night he had slept on her and K’ron’s sofa not wanting to go home to an empty weyr or worse had just gotten drunk and passed out in the cavern. She was proud of the changes that he had made to fix things. She shook her head and started in the direction of her own weyr slightly a lot calmer and tired than she had been.