Keeping Promises

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th August 2006

Characters: D'cal, Zanie
Description: D'cal brings Zanie to the healer hall so she can visit Renner for the first time since he was sent away.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 16 of Turn 3

Aosorath settled in front of the Dolphin Hall, and D'cal slid down his side to wait for Zanie to come. He couldn't believe he had actually offered to take her to see Renner. Despite the fact that they were no longer in a relationship, he couldn't help but feel a small stab of jealousy about the whole thing still. True, they were not in a romantic relationship, but still, the sullen dolphineer was more special in the young woman's heart than he had ever been...

"Thank you, D'cal." Zanie leaned in to hug the bluerider tightly, nerves making her hold onto him perhaps a little more tightly than was comfortable.
Now that she was ready to go, she had no idea what she'd do when she got there. "Hey, I'm just hoping it will put a smile on your face again," he said, reaching up to gently caress her cheek. "Are you ready?"

"I suppose I have to be." She pulled back and straightened her tunic. "Here, I'll help you up," he said, offering her a hand.

Once she was seated behind him, Zanie did her best to calm her nerves. She hadn't seen Renner since they'd taken him away, in spite of her promise to him. Her father had heartily discouraged her, and her own nervousness had made it easy to put it off with excuses. But she _had_ promised him, so she would visit.

D'cal could feel the tension in her as she put her arms around him for safety. He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze before Aosorath launched them from the ground. With another small squeeze they went /between/, and soon popped back out over a small cove. A large building was situated in a wide open clearing a good ten minutes walk from the beach. Several faces turned towards the sky and many happy, welcoming shouts rang out as Aosorath came to land. It wasn't often a dragonrider came to the hall, and when one did it usually meant they were bringing a friend. Faces pressed up against the glass to peer out as D'cal helped Zanie down. They were all hoping perhaps this friend was one of theirs.

Feeling uncomfortable with so many eyes on her, Zanie tightened her hand around D'cal's. "I don't know where we're supposed to go..."

"Well," he said, smiling down at her encouragingly, "I think the front door is the best place to start. Do you want me to go with you?"

She almost shook her head, but changed her mind. "I think--I think, maybe, yes. Just until we find Renner?"

"Sure," the bluerider nodded, giving her hand a squeeze. "Come on then." He gave Aosorath a silent request to meet him down at the beach as he lead the young woman towards the door. "He'll be really happy to see you, Zanie."

Zanie trailed after him looking more and more nervous by the second, though it might not have been obvious to a stranger that her smile was forced.
Shards, what was she going to _say_ to him?

D'cal held the door open for her and followed her inside. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust after the bright sunlight. "I think we should just ask someone..."

They stopped at the first man with healer knots, and Zanie gathered her courage. "I'm here to visit a friend? A dolphineer named Renner."

"You should ask at that office right over there," he said pointing to an open door before continuing on his way.

"Shall we?" D'cal asked with a small smile. Squeezing his hand, Zanie squared her shoulders and followed the healer's directions, hoping she could face what she'd find when she found Renner.

Last updated on the August 15th 2006

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Keeping Promises