Visiting Family

Writers: Mirren, Paula
Date Posted: 17th December 2015

Characters: Sh'lua, Elona, Elonus, Balidora
Description: Visiting Sh'lua's family
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 16 of Turn 8

"Am I really going on your dragon Da?" Elonus asked, his eyes huge. "And flying? And between? And…" He was all but jumping up and down with excitement.

"Yes, you are. We are going to Dolphin Cove Weyr," Sh'lua replied. Galerith was strapped and ready, his head turned to look at the excited boy. The big blue had always liked children. Sh'lua bent to pick up the boy and lifted him up to Galerith's back. "Up you go, hold on from his neck ridge, until I get there to close the straps."

Elona stood back, a smile on her face. Father, son and dragon all seemed to dote on each other. "Have you got some room for me?" she asked teasingly.

"Of course, there's always room for a pretty lady. Besides, he's a big fella," Sh'lua replied and offered his hand to help her up. Galerith offered his front leg as a stepping stair.

"Are we still talking about your dragon?" she whispered into his ear before settling down behind Elonus. She gave Sh'lua a secret little smile.

Sh'lua grinned. He vaulted up after them and settled to his spot. Then he made sure the straps were secure and closed properly.
"Hold on," he warned and signaled Galerith. The blue launced to the air with more caution than normally. He made few extra circles around the Weyr while gaining altitude, giving the boy and his mother a good look at their home.

"Look, little people!" Elonus pointed. A brown dragon flew past, the rider waving in response to the boy's furious wave.

Elona smiled and kept an arm tightly around him. She didn't think he'd care where they went, he was just enjoying the ride.

"We are going to /between/!" Sh'lua warned them before passing the visualization to Galerith.

They were engulfed the black nothing.

Elona held on tighter to her son, worried that he'd be scared. As it was, she had her teeth gritted. When they popped back into daylight, she heard Elonus gasp and giggle.

"Again!" he called out.

"On our way home," Sh'lua promised.
Galerith bugled a greeting for the watchdragon. }: I told Naryath we are coming, :{ Galerith informed his rider.

**Whose?** Shards, Sh'lua was starting to have difficulties keeping track of his relatives. **Oh, Ged's green,** he remembered. Hasn't the boy recently graduated to Wings?

Galerith backwinged and landed smoothly near the dining hall entrance. Balidora was already waiting for them. Sh'lua's grandmother was approaching her 80th birthing day and looked much younger. She was round, motherly woman.

Elona licked her lips and waited for Sh'lua to let her down. She'd told Elonus several times to mind his manners and hopefully he'd remember. Although these people were his family, it was important to her that they like him.

"Hi, granny!" Sh'lua greeted and the woman waived at them. He then unclasped the straps and helped his passangers down.

Elona stood behind Elonus, who was now staring at the woman, his thumb in his mouth. He noisy sucked and gave her a shy smile.

"Elona, Elonus, this is my grandmother, Balidora. Granny, this is Elona and Elonus," Sh'lua handled the introductions, after she had given him a big hug.

"About the time I meet you two. Welcome to the Dolphin Cove Weyr," Balidora said warmly. She then gave Elona a hug too.
"And welcome to the family. It's large one and spread to several Weyrs and few holds too."

"So I've heard," Elona said, almost as shy as her son. "I mean, it's nice to meet you, ma'am."

"Are you my granny too?" Elonus asked, staring up at her.

"Yes, I'm a great-granny to you," Balidora smiled and held out her arms to him. "Wanna hug?" she knew better than just force the boy into a hug. She had a long experience with children.

He kept his thumb in his mouth, but went to press his shoulder against her, letting her hug him while he looked over her arm. He'd never been overly cuddly with new people.

"So nice to finally see you," Balidora said. She ruffled the boy's hair, but kept the hug short, sensing his shyness.

"How are things here?" Sh'lua asked.

"Those technicians, they are turning everything up side down. I'm so glad when they are done," Balidora replied. "Let's get inside."

Elona looked around as they walked and asked, "What are the technicians doing?"

"Renovations, setting up electricity for the kitchens," Balidora explained.

"Oh, well that's exciting," Elona replied. It was easy to forget that other places didn't have it, although plenty still didn't.

"Yes, _when_ they've done it. Now, tell me about yourself," Balidora replied and asked.

"Um, well I'm a candidate." Which was basically highlighting how young she was in comparison to Sh'lua. Not that it mattered to her, but it might bother other people.

"What did you do before you became candidate?" Balidora was just curious. She led them to the table with some food, cake and chilled juice. "I thought you might like cold drink more than klah."

"I was just a holder," Elona admitted. "My parents were looking for a husband for me before I was Searched." She nodded her thanks for the cold juice.

"Just a holder? I was just a holder before. No one is -just- anything," Balidora said and offered Elonus some cookies. Sh'lua took some too.

"Well… I mean… I wasn't…" Elona stammered. "Make sure you say thank you," she reminded the boy before he took a bite.

"Thanks," he said around a mouthful.

"Never think of yourself as just something. Everyone is special," Balidora instructed motherly and smiled kindly at them.

"She's the best cook on Pern," Sh'lua declared, indicating his grandmother.

"I'm sure she is." Elona smiled. Wasn't everyone's mother or grandmother the best at something, often cooking. She avoided sweets and stuck to juice, wanting to watch her weight.

Balidora had long since stopped watching her weight. She took herself something to eat. "Have you met Ged since he Impressed?" she asked from Sh'lua.

"No, I haven't. I did hear he graduated. How is he doing?"

"He's fine, they put him into the queen's wing. Should keep the lad safer," Balidora replied.

Sh'lua nodded. "He's still apprenticed to dragonhealing?"

"Yes," Balidora replied.

"Who is Ged?" Elonus asked, staring wide-eyed at the adults.

"One of my younger brothers. He would be your uncle," Sh'lua explained. "He recently got his dragon, you see, that's why I'm interested how he's doing."

"My uncle has a dragon too?" Elonus looked even more impressed.

"You have a quite a few uncles with a dragon. Not to mention aunts or cousins," Sh'lua replied to him.

"I'm going to have a blue dragon like Da!" Elonus declared. "Blue is the bestest. And brown and bronze and green too."

"Blues are the best," Sh'lua agreed and ruffled the boy's hair.

"What about golds?" Elona asked.

"Golds are for _girls!_" Elonus said.

"So are greens, sometimes."

"But sometimes for boys too." Elonus reasoned.

"He's a thrubred weyrbrat," Balidora chuckled.

"That he is." Elona had thought about sending him to foster at a hold, but dragons were too deeply embedded in his blood.

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

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Visiting Family