Happy Birthday, Happy Day

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 4th July 2016

Characters: Ikalis, Crea
Description: A charming time on the beach.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 8

Today was Ikalis' birthingday. She had said she wanted to go outside the Weyr for a picnic, so Crea wanted to make it special somehow. She just wasn't sure how yet. She let the idea simmer in her mind as she begged some sweet buns and a bottle of white wine from another kitchen worker, citing it was her friend's birthingday, and with her prizes tucked into a little basket, she grabbed her favorite wide-brimmed hat and hurried outside to meet Ikalis. "Hey! Sorry if I'm late," she called out. "I had to snag some goodies for us."

Ikalis smiled in genuine delight. "I didn't expect you to get anything, but I'm sure glad you did."

"It's my best girl's birthingday, so I had to," Crea said, falling into step with the kitchen worker. "So where are we headed today?"

"Aw, that's so nice of you," Ikalis answered. "So there's this beach with these pretty rocks not too far away, about half a candlemark's walk. Is that too far?"

"Oh, not at all. The farm was full of longer walks," Crea said, which was true. And considering how much walking had to be done in a Weyr to get anywhere important, she was still in good shape. "How did you find out about this place we're headed to?"

"My sister is a dolphineer and she found it," Ikalis said. "It's not really safe to swim at with the rocks, but it's good for catching spiderclaws and watching the tide pools."

"Ooo, let's try to catch some and build a fire to roast them," Crea said eagerly. "Spiderclaws are so succulent when cooked right. It's one of my favorite foods." She paused, registering something else. "Oh, your sister is a dolphineer? I don't have any siblings. What's it like?"

"You don't have any? That's so weird. Weyr families often run big, so I can't imagine _not_ having any," Ikalis said. "I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers and I'm right in the middle. My sisters are a dolphineer and a greenrider, and my brothers are a tanner and another caverns worker."

She was so busy talking about her family she didn't stop to address the food question.

"I know, I'm an oddity. Hold families can get just as big, but somehow I wound up being the only child of mine. Same with O'wez," Crea commented. "But he has a few cousins who could inherit and all that, so he was free to accept Search. Are your siblings nice?" **Would they like me if they knew just how ardently I'm pursuing you?** she thought.

"Most of them are nice. Idali will flirt with everything that moves, but he's good hearted. Ikara's kinda withdrawn and quiet and so is Alidan. Kalanes is headstrong, loud, and annoying," she said, giggling.

"In other words, they're family and you have to love them," Crea chuckled. "When do I get to meet them?" Well, shards, she hadn't quite meant to ask that, but she would go with it.

"Getting them all in one spot is hard, but I can introduce you around," Ikalis offered.

"Good. I'd like that. Just give me some notice before it happens, so I can rehearse my answers to the inevitable question of 'what are your intentions toward our family member,'" Crea chuckled.

"Inevitable, hmm?" Ikalis asked.

Crea met the kitchen worker's eyes, and questioned, very seriously, "Well, isn't it?" She'd made her intentions clear to Ikalis, hadn't she? She hoped she had, anyway.

"I mean, eventually you'll meet them. Hopefully they're not going to be so bluntly asking questions at you." She wrinkled her nose. "Well...Kalanes will be."

"That I can handle," Crea stated confidently. "It'll be worth it."

"You say that _now_," Ikalis said. She would have said more, but she stumbled over a small rock and fell forwards, throwing out a hand to catch herself before she totally impacted with the sand. "Oof."

"Oh, are you all right? Here, let me." Crea helped Ikalis back up, and dusted off her hand to examine it for scratches. "And of course I'm saying it now. I'll say it later, too. It really will be worth it."

The touch of the potter's fingers on her skin sent a thrill through Ikalis. "It looks fine," she said. It hadn't been a hard fall, just startling."

"It could be better," Crea said, and bent her head to kiss Ikalis' palm softly, gently. "There, all better," she added, smiling up at her date.

The tingles grew stronger and she shivered under the touch. "All better," she said, voice huskier.

Oh, how she wished she could kiss Ikalis properly. But perhaps it was best if she waited, so Crea reluctantly let go. "Do you think we'll be lucky enough to see dolphins playing while we eat?"

"Oh, I _hope_ so," Ikalis said. "Maybe Wavecrest can go looking for us. Hold on." She closed her eyes to summon the flit and give some pictures of what she wanted.

"I've never met your little boy. Am I about to?" Crea asked eagerly. "I love fire-lizards. They're so darling."

"We could look for clutches while we're here," Ikalis said. "The little tidepools aren't good for eggs but they're good for babies to eat at."

"Even if we don't find any, a good treasure hunt would be so much fun." Crea grabbed Ikalis' hand again and tugged. "Come on, let's go, I can't wait! Lead the way!" She grinned merrily in anticipation.

Ikalis laughed and let herself be tugged along. "I swear you'll like it."

When they arrived at the designated area, Crea had to stop and stare for several moments. "This place is so lovely," she finally said, smiling brilliantly at Ikalis. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I didn't think such a nice place was so close to the Weyr."

The tide was out and many rocks were exposed, so they could settle down on what they'd brought with them. She grinned over at Crea. "I told you it's beautiful here."

Wavecrest popped from /between/ above Ikalis' head. He ducked down to inspect Crea, flitting rapidly around her head and making noises of curiosity.

"Oh, hello!" Crea squealed in delight, twisting about to try to keep the little blue in her line of sight. "This is Wavecrest, right? What a handsome boy! How long have you two been paired?"

"A really long time. At least five Turns. I found him as a kid…not far from here," she said.

"You're so lucky. It must be a solid partnership by now," Crea said. "What's he say about dolphins? Oh, and the spiderclaws I mentioned earlier?"

"Not as strong as with dragons, but I love him anyway." Ikalis tried to parse the pictures. "No dolphins, yes claws."

"Come here," Ikalis coaxed, cooing until Wavecrewst left Crea and settled onto her hand. "You can stroke his back if you want," she offered.

"Can I?!" Crea slowly extended her hand, giving Wavecrest a chance to change his mind, and stroked the soft, leathery skin. "Oh, he's so smooth. You obviously take such good care of him."

"I do try. The oil can get expensive, but at least I can trade food for it," she said with a smile.

"It's worth it, then," Crea stated. "Speaking of food, we can either eat what we have, or you can laugh at my pathetic attempts to catch spiderclaws first."

"Let's try to catch some. I do all right with it," Ikalis said, beginning to look in tidal pools.

The young women did their best, but in the end, the spiderclaws were too wily for them. And Wavecrest wound up stealing the one they did catch. Crea liked to think the kiss she gave Ikalis on her cheek was a nice consolation prize, though. She certainly enjoyed it, anyway.

Last updated on the July 18th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Happy Birthday, Happy Day