Déjà vu

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 12th March 2019

Characters: Kapera, K'ran, Saibra
Description: Kapera and K'ran attend the Dragonsfall Hatching, where a series of events feels all too familiar for Kapera.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: R'enh, Kaiafel, U'kaiah

Kapera

K'ran

Saibra

Kapera pressed a hand to her mouth as the events played out on the
Sands in front of her. A green dragonet stumbling around the Sands,
her eyes whirling in distress, howling her despair. She knew that
sound, bone-chilling in its piteousness and in what it signified. It
gave her flashbacks to Riyanth's Hatching at Dragonsfall, when they,
too, had lost a dragonet who couldn't find a lifemate. The young brown
who they'd had to take away.

She sucked in a breath and went paler than normal, squeezing her hands
together in her lap. **Please let her lifemate just be in the
Stands,** she thought even as she knew it wasn't going to end that
way.

And then it got even worse. The Candidates turned to leave and the
green lashed out at one of them. Young Tyrael, knocked to the sands
and bleeding. It was a grisly sight. Others ran out to attend her and
rather than look, her eyes immediately tore away, scanning the stands
and sands, looking for Tarley, who must surely be absolutely frantic.
She couldn't spot her in the fuss that was happening.

She closed her eyes to not see more, until it was quiet and when it
was all over. She risked peeking out to see the Candidates and the
newly-Impressed gone, Erdenth going to take away the hatchling's body,
and the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman no longer in sight.

She touched K'ran's arm to draw the Wingleader's attention. "Tell
Rogueth to ask Chioneth if her rider wants to speak with me. Emphasize
it's a personal offer and optional, that it's something we both know."
The dark-haired goldrider inclined her head at the sands even as she
kept her eyes on K'ran's face, knowing neither of them wanted to see
it.

Even if K'ran hadn't remembered seeing the loss of one of Riyanth's
hatchlings at that Hatching, the haunted look in Kapera's green eyes
would have told him why the goldrider was offering. "We'll ask her,"
he said. "But if she doesn't want to speak..."

"Then it's all right, and I'll just speak with her professionally at
the Feast," Kapera replied.

K'ran reached out to Rogueth. **Ask Chioneth...** and he described
what Kapera wanted and why.

}:Chioneth. Riyanth's rider asks if yours wishes to speak before going
out to the feast. They lost a hatchling on these sands as well,:{
Rogueth said, in a mental tone both subdued and gentle as he didn't
want to irritate the grieving queen.

Chioneth, who felt as though she were dealing with multiple voices at
once, some asking questions, others seeking reassurance, took a moment
to process Rogueth's question. The queen, who had moved out of the
Hatching Cavern to be near the new Weyrlings, paused as she reflected
on the link with her lifemate.

}:She is with her weyrmate at the moment.:{ Chioneth could feel
flashes of grief intermingled with rage emanating from her rider. }:It
is not a good time. I will tell her that Riyanth's rider waits to
speak with her. I do not know if a private audience will be possible,
she told Erdenth's rider that she would meet him back in the Dining
Cavern as soon as his task is finished.:{

}:I will let them know. Please contact me if your rider needs a break
as mine and Riyanth's will help as they can.:{ Rogueth said to
Chioneth, continuing to be very respectful.

"Chioneth said she doesn't have time for a private meeting," K'ran
said to Kapera. Seeing the goldrider look a little disappointed, he
added, "But I bet we can run some interference for her at the Feast.
It's going to be a long one for her, having to fulfill all her
obligations. I think we could make the diplomatic obligations easier
for her."

Kapera considered that. She remembered fleeing outside of the Hatching
Caverns to be with J'nus because she couldn't bear to see what had
happened - she couldn't blame Saibra for needing comfort first. And
she remembered how hard it had been to put on a pretty face and smile
and beam at everyone afterwards. "Yes, let's go to the Feast and keep
an eye out for her. I'm sure I can contrive a goldrider business to
speak with her."

"I can invite her for dances," K'ran added. "We should get going to
meet up with her, unless you need a moment." She did look really pale
and drawn. He was feeling shaken as well, but she had more reason to.

The goldrider took a deep breath. "No. You're right. Let's go."
Really, what she wanted was to go back home to Dolphin Cove. To leave
Dragonsfall behind. Nothing good ever seemed to happen when she was
here. But she had obligations - Dolphin Cove had to be seen, she had
to pass on her congratulations...

K'ran led them to the Dining Cavern, and they filled into the rough
queue of local dignitaries waiting to speak to the Weyrleadership when
they arrived.

By the time K'ran and Kapera reached Saibra in the line of those
offering congratulations, and condolences, the Dragonsfall Weyrwoman's
face was strained, not at all similar to her normally jovial expression.
"Kapera," she said, taking the other goldrider's hand, "thank you for
the offer. I was," she licked her lips, "otherwise engaged," she forced
a smile that felt wooden.

Kapera offered a little squeeze she meant to be reassuring. "We
understand completely," she said. Leaning forward, she murmured,
"Anything K'ran and I can do for you tonight to keep the people off your
back, we will."

"You have no idea how good that sounds," Saibra murmured in return,
suddenly very thankful for the other goldrider, even though they had
only had limited interactions in the past. The bond of having shared
such a similar experience was strong.

"I'll find you after the dignitaries line is over. We'll have a drink.
It'll be important goldrider business," Kapera said. She knew they
couldn't take too long here in this line, not with impatient lords and
hallmasters and other dignitaries. But later, after the meal, when the
dancing happened, there was also time for people to just speak and
sit, and she could shield Saibra from some of that.

"And any dance you need to not spend with people prying at you, I'll
take. Just have Chioneth ask Rogueth," K'ran offered. He knew Saibra
had to dance with her Weyrleader, and he knew she was weyrmated. But
he knew many of the important people would try to dance with her and
it would be an exhausting string. If he looked somewhat rude by
monopolizing her and keeping them off her back, so be it.

Saibra smiled a genuine smile at K'ran for the offer, "Thank you so
much. Both of you." She looked between them, "It means more than you
know."

Since the other goldrider had become Dragonsfall's Weyrwoman over a
Turn ago, Kapera had always felt uneasy around Saibra. There was
something odd about interacting with someone who held now the exact
same position you had held, Turns ago... It had made her keep a
reserve of politeness and distance. It was a shame it took shared
grief to get her over her awkwardness here. "Not a problem," she said.

K'ran shook Saibra's hand next with a gentle clasp. "We'll speak
later, Weyrwoman," he assured.

Last updated on the March 22nd 2019

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Déjà vu