Under the Stars

Writers: Devin, Cali
Date Posted: 31st October 2009

Characters: Zanen, Talmina
Description: Zanen, Talmina and Taljin arrive at the Weyr.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 15 of Turn 5

Talmina watched as Taljin talked with one of the stablemen and then left towards one of the Weyr entrances. He'd said he was going to secure them accommodations for the night and speak to either Briata or the Headwoman in the morning. Talmina wouldn't have minded spending another night out under the stars, it had been dry today and now that they were on the coast there was a good breeze bringing in a bit of cooler air. Zanen had assured them though that they could make it to the Weyr, and they had, even if it was late in the evening.

She turned to watch Zanen putting their runners in the assigned stalls and walked over to help him unhook their bags. "Are you going to be staying here long?"

"Probably not long," he said. "I stayed at Garnet Valley too long, and even with Thread falling, I'd rather be traveling." Despite Taljin's whining and glaring, and worrying if he was pushing Talmina too hard, Zanen had enjoyed the trip to the Weyr.

Talmina was surprised at how his news deflated her. She'd have no friends once he was gone. The closest she'd have would be Briata... and that made her slightly nauseous. "Where will you go do you think?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead." He unfastened the runner's saddle.

She stood there, holding her bag and watched him work. "But you'll come back sometime?"

"I'm sure I'll come by sometime. I like visiting the Weyrs." He tried to sound casual. He hadn't missed the tone in her question.

She nodded, drifting off to where Taljin had set down his bag and dropping hers down beside it. She saw a stool not far off and sat down. She really didn't know what else to do. She'd never been to a Weyr before and she didn't want to look around. The less people noticed her, the better.

Zanen finished unsaddling the runners and turned to see Talmina sitting there. He thought about asking her what she was still doing there, but expression made it clear she didn't know what to do. "Would you like a tour of the Weyr? I don't think it's changed too much since I was here last."

Her first reaction was to say no. Touring a place filled with so many people would only bring attention to herself and she didn't want people staring at her. Not tonight. She didn't want him to leave her though, to go out by himself where she'd be alone. "If we stay close. When Taljin comes back I don't want him having to look all over for us." Perhaps since it was dark people wouldn't notice her if they stayed out in the bowl.

"It might be fun to disappear on him. Give 'em a heart attack." Zanen winked.

Talmina grinned; then looked down, the grin instantly gone, as she remembered how hideous she looked now when she did. With Zanen, sometimes it was too easy to forget the scars across her cheeks. "I should just stay here." She suddenly didn't want him looking at her anymore, didn't want him acting like there was nothing wrong with her.

"Why? Worried you'll get in trouble?" Zanen leaned against a stall. "Your brother has no say in your life anymore, unless you want him to."

She shook her head, he just didn't understand. "Taljin will be gone in a sevenday or two, it has nothing to do with him. I just don't want to go out there. You go though, I'll be fine."

If it wasn't her brother, then it must be her scars. "Have you ever seen a Threadscored rider?" he asked.

She had, once. Rider's usually wore long sleeves and pants so their bodies were mostly covered, but she'd seen a messenger before with the thin puckered marks across his face. "Yes, So what of it?"

"So has everyone else here. They see people with scars every day. It's normal."

It might be normal for dragonriders, but she wasn't a dragonrider. Never the less, it appeased her slight panic. She opened her bag and pulled out the light cloak that had been too warm to keep on during their ride that day. She put it on and pulled the hood up so that it put most of her face in shadow. "Fine. I'll go for awhile. For you."

He held out his arm for her. "You should go for yourself, Talmina."

Last updated on the November 15th 2009

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Under the Stars