Freedom Ride

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 8th September 2019

Characters: Urlene, Y'gel
Description: The Master Healer feels her freedom
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 20 of Turn 9
Notes: Occurs after "Ambition Attained"
Mentioned: Cyradis

Urlene

Y'gel

~*~
She couldn't hold still, could barely keep the triumphant, excited
emotions from surging out of her and whooping where the entire Weyr
would be able to hear her. So, Urlene decided to do something she'd
not done in over a turn. Returning to her quarters, she changed. The
clinging trousers felt odd to legs used to skirts, but she knew full
well that skirts would simply get in the way and there was simply no
way that she wanted to worry about the billowing cloth this afternoon.

The stables were near the entrance of the Weyr and she found her
favorite runner waiting. The big fractious stallion pawed the ground
as she saddled him, the gleam in his eye matching her own. Thanking
one of the beastcrafters who gave her a leg up and looked at her and
stallion with a hint of concern, she restrained the big runner until
they were away from the outer walls.

Urlene had always loved to ride and had since she had been a child,
but had had little opportunity since she'd come to the Weyr. She rode
on occasion, but today, she needed more than just the quiet ride she
normally took. Feeling her eagerness, the runner stallion became
anxious, sidestepping and half rearing with his own excitement. With a
sudden grin, Urlene, on an impulse, let her hair down, leaned over the
runner's neck and gave him his head with a wild whoop.

Y'gel and Aughashyth we're out on their daily exercise run to Emerald
Falls and back to the Weyr. While Aug couldn't fly 'fall because of
his injury, they both tried very hard, as a habit, to stay in the best
shape they could. He smiled as they came out of /between/ and he saw
someone riding fast across the hills. "That one is having some fun
I'll bet," he chuckled. Then that hair unfurled and his eyes widened.
He'd had that very same hair draped over him the other night. "Urlene?
Well I'll be..." He chuckled and directed Aughashyth to land behind a
hill so as not to scare the runner and he jogged to the top to watch
her joyful ride.

The runner thundered over the lane before Urlene directed him towards
a low stone wall. There was no hesitation as the runner leaped over
the wall; Urlene wore a wild grin and the light in her eyes sparkled.
She spun the runner on his heels, directing him with both knees and
reins. The stallion fought her control, half-rearing as she gained it
back, then directed him back over the wall with a laugh.

She'd come directly back at him and Y'gel had sent Aughashyth trotting
away to keep the runner calm as he stepped to the top of the hill with
a grin and began applauding. "Fine riding Urlene," he called.

Her head whipped towards the applause and she drew the runner to a
stop, fighting against his will to keep plunging forward. Her brows
shot up, but she couldn't keep the wide smile from her face even as
she maintained control over her mount. "Y'gel? What are you doing out
here?" With a nudge of her heels, she sent the runner into a canter
towards him, pulling the stallion to a halt near the rider. Her face
was bright with the joy of the ride and her own still surging
emotions.

"Oh," he grinned, "I was just flying over and recognized the golden
mane of hair you had flying behind you. So I had to come watch. You
really enjoy riding," he nodded.

She lifted a hand to touch at her now wind-mussed hair and couldn't
help a grin. "It's the one time I really feel like I'm free. I miss
riding every day, honestly." She kept the stallion under control with
a tug of the reins. "Y'gel, I got it. Pacham is retiring and Cyradis
offered me his place." Her eyes gleamed. "Everything I've worked so
hard for." There was fierce pride and triumph in her expression,
completely free of the restraint she so usually practiced. It was
complete vindication of her skills and a balm to the invisible wounds
of doubt that Pengwil and her parents had inflicted.

He already knew, of course, but he wasn't about to spoil her fun.
"That's wonderful," he grinned at her. "I'm so proud for you Urlene.
You deserve it."

If she was entirely sure that the stallion wouldn't bolt, she would
have dismounted and hugged the man. Instead, she pushed her wind-swept
hair from her face and sat a little straighter. "Thank you." Her face
visibly glowed at the compliment. "Healer Hall can never take this
from me, even if they don't recognize my knots. It's enough that the
Weyr does." She shifted in her saddle."Will you be busy this evening?"

"No they can't," Y'gel nodded. "Not if my uncle has anything to say
about it, and I assure you he does." He looked at her a long moment
appreciating the completely competent healer inside the beautiful
woman. "I'll be happy to have time for a nice long chat," he smiled
and bowed his head slightly with a hand over his heart.

Urlene's lips curled upward. "Just a chat?" Her eyes glinted with
merriment. "I thought we might share a drink or two and then..." Now
that the stallion had calmed a bit more, she dismounted, taking firm
hold of the reins. Heart still pounding with adrenaline and the
euphoria of her success, she approached Y'gel with a light in her eyes
that couldn't be mistaken. She felt unbound and wild, wanting to share
it with him with an intensity that should have surprised her. "Or..."
She slid a hand up his chest, tracing her fingers along his neck.
"Perhaps now. Outside...free."

His own hands slid around her waist to draw her against him. "You'd
better tie that runner," he said with a bit of intensity. He didn't
think she be able to hold on to the beast once he had a real hold of
her and his eyes told her so.

She slipped away from his grasp, moving to quickly hobble the runner
so that he could graze, but not stray far. The runner taken care of,
Urlene held back from Y'gel, slipping out of her clothes to stand bare
before him. She beckoned to him, pale skin glowing in the light of the
sun.

He'd taken the few moments to watch her elegant movements and just
appreciate the beauty of her form. He knew her sensitivity to that
sort of praise, but the light in his eyes told her all she needed to
know as she stepped closer. "Urlene," he said in a gravely tone and
reached out to pull her toward him. "I need you," he said.

She readily went to him, standing on her toes to wrap her arms around
him. In a voice husky with eager need, she lightly raked her nails
over his scalp. "Then take me, bronzerider."

He groaned and held her against him for a moment in a tender embrace
then he picked her up with a growl and stepped over to a patch of wild
flowers in the dappled shade of a tree. There he laid her down smiling
at the picture of naked beauty in a bower of floral splendor. A
moment later he was out of his own clothing and lying beside her hands
roving over her silky skin.

Last updated on the September 11th 2019

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