To The North

Writers: Avery, Jelena
Date Posted: 11th April 2015

Characters: Genna, K'ran
Description: Genna and K'ran finally go visit the Istan beaches and Genna has a bit of a scare.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Corran, Daihmin, Orlaith

Genna

K'ran

K'ran hadn't forgotten that he'd told Genna he would show her Ista.
He'd suggested it on the way back from Orlaith's Hatching. But then
he'd had his scheduled family visit the next restday, but now he
finally had some time and the
weather at his former Weyr was quite decent. It was a lovely contrast
from the storm brewing on the horizon of Dragonsfall.

Now all he needed to do was see if the goldrider was free. **Rogueth,
could you see if Lissath's rider is available?**

}:Lovely Lissath, does your rider have plans for the day? Ista and the
beaches are warm and clear,:{ the bronze encouraged.

}: She's working. :{ Lissath replied promptly, without consulting her
rider. Genna, however, nearly dropped the book she was reading as she
heard her gold reply. **Lissath! Tell him I'm available** she
practically mind-yelled at her gold. Sometimes all Lissath did was
push her to study harder and do more work. **I deserve some time to
relax.**

}: You were lazing about for days last week! :{ the gold huffed. **I was
sick!**

Even though she didn't agree in the least, the gold contacted Rogueth
again and told him Genna was available and looking forward to the
trip, asking where and when he wanted to leave.

}:Around a candlemark, and meet in the bowl by the weyrling
barracks?:{ the bronze suggested.

K'ran prepared for the trip by picking out clothes that would work
better in the warmth and convincing a few kitchen folk to give him a
basket with little snacks. He carried it out and was strapping it to
Rogueth when the time came.

Just as K'ran was fastening the basket to his bronze, Lissath landed
in the bowl, her long orange-tinged wings now nearly at their final
length. The gold landed easily and Genna watched K'ran fastening the
basket from Lissath's back.

}: My Genna wants you to know we are ready. :{ she relayed the
message, a hint of disapproval still in her mind-voice. Genna really
should be studying.

He waved at Genna. "Hope you dressed for the warmth. We've got the
visual when you're good to go."

"Layers!" Genna called out with a grin, pointing at her outfit. As soon as
they landed at Ista, she'd peel them all off and leave as little of fabric
as she felt she could get away with. Thinking about her skimpy outfit,
though, she felt a little nervous rumble in her stomach. She wasn't
entirely sure yet of K'ran's motives for the trip, but she knew with
Lissath right there, there was no way he would try anything she didn't want.

As they received the mental image from Rogueth, Lissath spread her giant
wings and lifted from the ground, ready to pop /between/ at her rider's
command.

K'ran carefully constructed the image in his mind of Ista, then had
Rogueth pass it along. When it was completely sent, he took his bronze
/between/.

Ista was a beautiful sight spread out beneath them. It was midday and
Rukbat high in the sky, which was bright blue with only traces of wispy
clouds above them. Below them, there was a sweep of the promised black
sand beach, contrasting with the bright colored turquoise of the water.

Rogueth spiraled down towards the sand. K'ran slid off with ease, already
feeling too warm in his flight leathers.

Following Rogueth, Lissath jumped between and then spiraled towards to
beach in a single majestic glide. She might not think it a good idea for
Genna to leave her studies, but still the young gold was intrigued by her
new surroundings. As she touched down, a pleased rumble escaped her. }:
It's warm here. :{ the gold commented to her rider as Genna dismounted.

**It really is.** Genna had to agree and soon she was peeling of the many
layers of clothing that kept her warm at Dragonsfall's fall chilly climate,
not able to stand the heat for one more second. When she was done, she
looked out over the beach and her breath stilled in her lungs. K'ran hadn't
exaggerated by far. It was gorgeous.

Once he was down to shorts and a thin short-sleeved shirt, and Rogueth's
straps were off, K'ran turned to grin at Genna. "Doesn't look anything
like the cliffs and fields of Dragonsfall, huh?"

"Not by far," Genna said, still a bit breathless as she looked back at
K'ran. "Thank you for taking me, it's just what I needed." It was indeed,
the calm serenity of the place soothed something in her she hadn't realised
needed soothing. Perhaps the tension of the upcoming Blooding, or even the
ever-nearing graduation was finally catching up with her.

"I thought you'd like it here," he told her. "There's something about
being able to go wherever you want, lay eyes on sights that you've never
seen before. Amber Hills, then Dragonsfall, then Ista. And it's up to you
to pick where to next."

}:You should focus on the now,:{ Rogueth said sharply.

"It's amazing," Genna smiled. She watched as Lissath waddled off into
the gentle waves, looking back at Rogueth.

}: Won't you join me? :{ she asked, expecting nothing else than for
him to follow her.

"It's amazing how fast she's grown up. It feels like she could take
off for her first flight any time now," Genna sighed wistfully as she
watched her lifemate lure the bronze into the water. Lucky for her
that wasn't entirely true and she still had some time.

The small bronze eagerly followed the gold into the water. The queen
was bigger than him already, but she was still lithe and growing.

}:Do you fish?:{ he queried.

"Weyrlinghood seems to take forever for the first few months, then
flies by once courses end." At least he'd experienced it that way.
"Sometimees I miss the experience."

}: Of course :{ Lissath replied, happy to know Genna was busy with
another conversation on her end, or no doubt she would get a snide
comment about her lack of skill in that department. It had taken her a
while to make her first catch and because she hated practising it in
the cold Dragonfall's waters, she hadn't really gotten much better.

}: But surely a gentleman like yourself wouldn't let a lady catch her
own fish? :{

"It really does. It seems like over a lifetime ago, since I was back
at Amber Hills Hold," Genna said, really feeling what she said. In her
mind, Amber Hills Hold had been her childhood and coming to the Weyr
and impressing Lissath had been her coming of age. And now it wouldn't
be long before she'd be expected to take on her adult
responsibilities. The thought made her quiver a bit and she quickly
turned the conversation around. "Have you ever been? To Amber Hills?"

}:I can bring you fish,:{ the bronze said immediately. He did so enjoy
the task, and in the warm water, it was much more pleasurable.

"I've only visited the Hold when visiting my family," K'ran said.
"They're from Amethyst Cliff territory and that's where I grew up.
After the collapse, my brother moved there with the other refugees."

}: Of course you can :{ Lissath replied smugly. }: Make it a fat one. :{

"Oh, he's a holder in Amber Hills territory?" Genna asked with
interest. "Maybe I've met him."

"Our parents are holders. He's a guard," K'ran said.

"A guard?" It was like someone had poured a bucket of ice down her
back. Genna's head snapped in K'ran's direction, while she took a few
steps back, almost as if he'd struck her. For a moment it felt like
her doubts on his motivation was founded in truth. For a moment the
premature conclusion seemed to be the only one possible and to think
K'ran was related to that.. that.. It shocked her to the core.

Suddenly all she wanted to do was run, run fast and go back home as
quickly as possible. So much even, that Lissath got distracted from
promised fish and turned back to the beach, her eyes whirling with
sudden worry. }: Genna? :{

At that inquiry from her dragon, the reasonable Genna stirred again
and spoke up softly. "What's his name?"

The shift in the queen's mood did not go unnoticed. Rogueth sent to
his rider, }:Did you say something?:{ Something wrong, the bronze
meant.

"His name's Corran. He looks just like me, we're identical."
Brown-haired, remarkable for their short size.

Breath returned to Genna's body and as the blood rushed back to her
face, so did an expression of shame. That had been plain silly, or no,
downright crazy, to be honest. She flopped down in the sand and folded
her arms over her face for a moment.

"I'm sorry," she groaned, mortified with shame. "I know this guard
there and he's... well let's just say we're not friends. I
overreacted." **Big time.**

}: Hmm, it's bad memories from before me :{ Lissath said, hesitating
for a moment, looking back and forth between Genna and Rogueth. Her
rider seemed fine now. Ashamed, but fine.

}: She'll be alright. :{ the gold decided. }: Now about that fish... :{

}:We'll catch the fish, and they'll enjoy being out in the nice sun
away from the snow. And look at how the light compliments your hide,:{
the bronze sent back as he twisted back beneath the water, hunting the
silvery darters.

"Sorry to hear that," K'ran assured, feeling bad that he seems to have
accidentally bothered her. "At least at the Weyr, you won't have to
see him again."

}: It does, doesn't it? :{ Lissath answered, allowing herself to be
distracted by the compliment, now that she felt Genna slowly relaxing
again. }: It doesn't do worse for yours either. :{

"That's true, I guess deep down that's really why I went to the Weyr
in the first place, to avoid the whole thing," Genna admitted as she
felt herself calm down again. She glanced at K'ran, thankful that he
didn't seem too phased by her little scene just now. He really was a
nice guy, wasn't he? Even if he had been related to Daihmin, how could
she hold that against him like that? Perhaps she was just looking for
an excuse to pull back, because she had to admit she was starting to
like him a little too much to her liking.

She seemed to consider something, opening her mouth and closing it
again, before finally deciding on saying it anyway. "You're a cool
guy, K'ran, I'm glad we met."

"It's nice to talk to you as well, Genna." After all, he didn't have a
lot of - or really any - good friends who were female. But she was
inquisitive and interesting, easier to talk to.

Genna smiled and relaxed back into the sand, feeling the anxiety of before
ebb away. K'ran really did not seem to have any ulterior motives for the
trip and in - and maybe because of - that realisation, she became aware of
herself wishing - just for a moment - that he did. But that was a thought
for another day. For now, she just wanted to relax in the Istan sun.

Last updated on the April 11th 2015

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