A Beginning

Writers: AL, Clancey
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: R'yin, Kitali, Cirina
Description: R'yin invites Kitali and her children to see the dolphins.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 14 of Turn 4

"Well, hello R'yin." Kitali smiled at the brownrider as he was
enthusiastically greeted by his daughter. She didn't normally see the
brownrider, but instead the girl's foster mother. She hadn't realised
that Cirina was R'yin's daughter. "I didn't expect to see you here.
How are you?"

A bright smile, almost shy in its warmth greeting the Harper. "Hello,
Kitali. Its a pleasure to see you." He said, finally, after lifting
Cirina off her feet and twirling her in the air. He kissed her
cheeks and put her back down as Fall swooped into view for his own
greeting.

"I'm doing well; I sometimes pick up Cirina and take her on
adventures." He put a finger to his lips and winked conspiratorily at
both Kitali and his daughter. "We tell her mother that we did
something boring, like eat dinner!"

"Adventures, eh?" Kitali laughed softly, looking from daughter to
father. "Now you've aroused my curiousity. What sort of adventures?"

Cirina grinned but wouldn't tell the story, so R'yin laughed at his
daughter and then smiled at Kitali. "Well, once we went looking for
fire lizard eggs. We found Fall here. Once I taught her to fish,
and once we went on a diving sweep with Aerrath....and lots of things
like that. But if we told you any more, we'd have to make sure you
wouldn't tell anyone... ever!"

"Well, don't worry." Kitali leaned down so that she was at eyelevel
with the child. "Your secret is safe with me." She straightened,
then raised her eyebrows at the brownrider. "So what's the adventure
for today?"

Cirina giggled and winked at Kitali, and then turned her eyes up to
her father too. "Yeah, Da! What are we doing today?" She was always
excited when he came, they always had so much fun together.

R'yin's smile curved, first down to his daughter, then warming, to
Kitali. "Today, we are going to go play with the dolphins!" He
paused, looking curiously at the Harper. "If you are finished here,
would you like to come with us, Kitali? And your sons?"

Kitali blinked, surprised at the offer. There was a bit of hesitation,
but then a slow, warm smile spread over her features. "Why R'yin, that
would be wonderful. But are you sure you wouldn't mind us tagging
along?"

R'yin was surprised at the offer, too. He did not usually do things
spontaneously. And he barely knew Kitali, or not very well any way.
A faint tinge of embarassment hinted at his cheeks, but he masked it
quickly. "Of course not! We love company, and I know Cirina would
enjoy some playmates." He grinned down at her. "Wouldn't you, lass?"

"I know my boys would probably enjoy a new playmate as well." Kitali
looked down to smile Cirina, then cast that smile upon R'yin. "All
right, we'll join you. Shall I meet you in half a candlemark? And
where?"

R'yin was almost blushing now. Why had he invited her? He couldn't
find a reason in his head that made any sense. Cirina was bouncing
with happiness, though, and that would have to be reason enough.
"Half a candlemark, just down in the Weyrbowl would be fine. We'll
be walking a bit along the beach until we find a likely place along
the bay that will allow the dolphins to come in and visit us."

"Very well." Kitali stated with a smile. "I'll see you then.

****

"We're gonna see dolphins!" Lidrin had been repeating those very same
words every five minutes since Kitali had told them about it. She had
rushed to get her children, then rushed to get some bathing clothes,
then rushed back to the weyrbowl, Lidrin and Talvan in tow. "Dofin!"
Talvan repeated, giggling every time he did so.

Kitali grinned down at her children as she paused in the weyrbowl.
She turned her gaze upward and around, searching for R'yin and his
daughter.

R'yin lifted a hand in greeting, waving to Kitali and her sons.
Cirina was bouncing happily beside him, and Fall was cavorting around
R'yin's head. "Here we are, Kitali." Aerrath was crouched beside
them, and had been willing to carry them straight to a place on the
beach where dolphins sometimes came in to play.

The harper's smile widened as she approached R'yin. Lidrin didn't give
her a chance to speak a greeting, he jumped forward, exclaiming, "We're
gonna see dolphins!?"

R'yin laughed aloud and nodding in response to the exuberance of the
little boy. "Yes, lad, we sure are!" He turned his smile to Kitali,
then beckoned them all toward Aerrath.

"There is a place just down the beach; lets go hmm?"

Two very short, exciting dragonback flights later, all five of them
were on the beach and Aerrath was diving off into the warm waters.
Usually when his dragon went out that far, dolphins came to
investigate.

Lidrin and Talvan rushed toward the water, but danced back as the
waves lapped at their feet. Kitali's laugh rang through the air as
she set aside the towels she had brought. "Do you do this often?"
She asked softly to R'yin, though she kept a close watch on her boys.

"Fairly often, yes." He smiled at her, and then shooed Cirina out to
play in the water. Aerrath was swimming happily about, and a few
squees were heard as a wild pod of dolphins appeared to answer
Aerrath's bugle. "Sometimes the dolphins come, and sometimes they
don't. If we go out to the end of the dock with the children, they
will be able to see the dolphins up close." He pointed in that
direction, but didn't make a move to get up just yet.

He was happy on the sand, watching the children play together, and
enjoying Kitali's company.

"Then why don't we go there?" Kitali suggested, her smile flashing him
once more. "I bet they'd love to get a closer look. I know I would."

R'yin nodded in agreement with her and smiled. "That is why we came,
I suppose!" He turned his attention to the water and called out to
Cirina and Fall, and they all began the trek to the dock sticking out
into the water. There were a few other folks about but not too
many, surprisingly.

It was lovely. Just lovely, to be able to spend some time with
someone, another adult, who had children and knew what children liked.
Kitali smiled, her stride matching the dragonrider's as they walked.
Perhaps this would be the start of a good friendship.

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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