Flights and Firsts
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Corrin, Shawna
Date Posted: 23rd April 2024
Characters: T'gyrlan, Zariah
Description: Zariah encourages T’gyrlan when he gets emotional after a long awaited milestone.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 26 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentor Approved.
Relsath had a new chaser.
The lanky bronze was not one she’d seen in her flights before. He surged through the air after her on gleaming wings. It wasn’t a graceful pursuit. He didn’t outmaneuver her nimble blue suitors so much as snap at them to keep clear. Interesting. She would see if he could keep up.
Her strategy has changed, then, flight arching higher and straighter as she traded agility for sheer speed. Strength and determination would be the test for the day- let the strongest flier win.
+++
Zariah had been a rider for fifteen Turns. She’d seen the gamut of greenflights from the embarrassing to the mind blowing and everything in between" but this was a new one. The lust was ebbing into a haze of contentment, but she just distinctly heard her partner… sniffle?
“Hey”, the greenrider managed to twist free enough to get into a seated position, “are you alright over there? I’m pretty sure I’ve never been so bad I made someone cry before.”
T’gyrlan sat back on his heels, swiping a hand over his face-- half in disbelieving exasperation at himself, half to wipe away the tears he felt running down his cheeks. “No--” He cleared his throat, eyes briefly unfocusing as he reached for his lifemate.
He felt Hanassath curled up with the green on a sun torched cliff. There was no pain he could feel anywhere in the bond. They had caught a green. There was no pain. He felt the tears well again, the emotion rising in his chest. The tears didn't spill this time, but they made his eyes seem exceptionally bright as he looked at Zariah, a wild smile on his face. “No. You were perfect, that was _amazing_.”
He took a steadying breath and tried to slow, to clarify. “I’m sorry. I just thought… I thought I'd never experience this again.”
She was skeptical about the ‘perfect’ and ‘amazing’, as well, but she decided that at least gave her a little leeway, and she reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze, brow still furrowed in confusion. “Why would…” recognition set in as the hazy feeling of flight lust finished drifting away, and she cut off her sentence with a hiss of indrawn breath. “Because you’ve been grounded.” It wasn't a question, she recognized him.
He nodded and the emotion started to choke him again.
The silence started to stretch as she tried to think of something better to say. Instead, she settled on giving him a little slap on the shoulder, “Hey, you've been _grounded_,” she repeated, this time in a brighter tone, “and look now!”
He'd said that was ‘amazing’ so she held her tongue on asking if his bronze was alright, not wanting to offend his pride. “And your boy didn't let my green splat on the ground or anything!” Realizing that was worse, she added, “not because HE would. Of course he wouldn't. It's because she's more competitive than she is clever. I'm always afraid she's going to keep going until she just falls.”
She amended her words quick enough that there was nothing for T’gyrlan to take offense to. Instead he gave a watery laugh that ended much stronger than it started. “Yeah, no splatting. He's flying well, stronger and better than we dared hoped, if he caught a _competitive_ green.” He rubbed his face again. “Shards. It's been… almost four Turns. I didn't think we'd get here.”
“But you did! And Relsath is _very_ competitive.” Zariah wasn’t against a little flattery. “On her behalf, we’d like to welcome you back to full fitness.” She tried to keep a straight face, but her lips twitched with repressed amusement, “It’s not a service we provide to all injured parties.”
It was tongue in cheek, but it felt good all the same. T’gyrlan smiled. The greenrider’s brand of humor made it hard to wallow, and for that he was grateful. “Well, Hanassath I are honored to be a part of this exclusive program. We’ll have to repay you somehow…” He cast about the bed for a moment and dug up a shirt, which he gallantly turned right-side-out and held out-- “Oh. No, this one’s mine.”
“I like flowers,” Zaria suggested shamelessly. She leaned back on her elbows, watching him gallantly offer… the wrong shirt. “I think mine was over there,” she pointed, although quite honestly she didn’t remember. She just wanted to see the 360 view when he turned around. “You spend a lot of time exercising, don’t you.” The tone was not critical. “No, I think it was over to the left a little.”
He put down his shirt and turned to look where she pointed. Rising up on his knees he dug through the furs, making a thorough search and, unknowingly, a thorough show. “Yeah, it kept me busy. Kept me sane.” He twisted athletically to look under the bed before calling back over his shoulder, “I don’t see it-- oh.” He’d turned back enough to see her comfortable lounge, her appraising gaze. “A little to this left, huh?” He reached, and flexed. “...Should I keep looking or is there some other way you’d like me to thank you?”
“Yes. I can see. Very sane.” Caught in her ogling, she grinned, and considered the question for a moment, eyes roaming. It would be fun- she could now say that with certainty, but there was something more than a little impersonal about post flight sex with a man she’d never talked to before. So she sighed and moved to climb out of the bed, “No, bronzerider, your services are no longer needed, but it was a pleasure.” Going to the opposite corner than where she’d directed him, she bent, “Oh, look. Here it is.”
“Imagine that,” he laughed at her brazen trickery, but didn’t seem to mind that or her gentle refusal. Digging through the furs he helped find and sort out the remainder of their clothes, helping right whatever articles he could before handing them over. When they were both dressed he lingered a moment and cleared his throat. “Really. Thanks for being--" What? Cheering him up? Not mocking him? “Thanks for understanding.”
“I’ve been grounded before. For months that felt like years. Not nearly the same but,” she shrugged. “I can use my imagination. Just, you know, try not to cry on any more greenriders. They aren’t all as understanding.”
“I don’t intend to.” T’gyrlan moved to the door with a chuckle. The tears were gone now, just the good remained. He was well, his dragon was well. Life was starting again. He held the door open and swept an arm expansively in front of him, “Ladies first.”
Last updated on the April 26th 2024