Something About Children ...

Writers: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 30th September 2009

Characters: K'deren, R'haran
Description: K'deren and R'haran meet while their respective children swim.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 14 of Turn 5

K'deren

The Weyrharper stood on the rocks that edged out into the tropically blue sea beside the best swimming spot around the Weyr's beachfront and kept his light blue eyes trained on the youngest of his adopted children. Tibby, at three Turns old, was still rather dependant on the help of his older siblings - and they could all swim like dolphins. Despite being exceptionally responsible in their care of the youngest two accidents could happen and R'haran didn't mind spending a bit of time loitering on the rocks where he had a good view of the children to make sure that any accident or incident didn't become a tragedy.

"Now remember your sister still needs some help," K'deren told Trievan and Kedon. "She's learning, but you need to help her."

"Yes Da," came the response.

"Now go." Three children scampered off into the shallows, squealing briefly as they entered the water. Looking out, K'deren could see others in the water, and a watcher for them. He waved, hoping to attract their attention.

R'haran noticed the additional children and smiled as Sahna moved herself and her siblings closer to the newcomers. He waved a hand at the man with them in silent acknowledgement of the other dragonrider's presence.

"Nice day for it," called out K'deren by way of a friendly greeting.

"Aren't they all nice days here?" R'haran asked. "Even warm when it rains, or something." He had grown up in a similar sort of location but that was what felt like a whole lifetime ago.

"Pretty much, except when it gets too hot. Deralie doesn't like it too much. She's got her mother's colouring." He pointed to the smallest one, still paddling. Her red hair was shining in the sun.

"And very beautiful it is, too." He pointed out his five. "They're all nut-brown like me, which saves them from too many problems. And they were born in a place like this."

"But you weren't?" The knots the other man wore indicated Weyrharper, which meant K'deren knew him by reputation at least. "I hear Dragonsfall can get as cold as /between/."

"Very nearly. And to a person who'd spent any amount of time here it must seem like that." R'haran extended his hand. "We haven't introduced ourselves, though I'm sure there'll be no surprises. I'm R'haran."

"K'deren," came the reply as the brownrider shook the hand. "And those are three of my tribe out there. Deralie, and her brothers Trievan and Kedon."

"Three of them? Are there more in your family?"

"Just one more. I have an older daughter who's a candidate now, but this lot aren't all mine. See that lad there with the red hair as well?" K'deren pointed to the younger boy. "He was my weyrmate's son."

"That was Trievan?"

"Yes, Vonalie's son. But he might as well be mine. He came as part of the package when we got together."

"Mine are a package, too," R'haran said with a smile. "Literally. My children now, but they are my sister's great-grandchildren. They were brought to the Weyr and dropped at my feet."

"Then you'll know how you can learn to love them no matter what. Somehow children can steal a piece of your heart without you realising it."

"Even when being a father is quite an unexpected experience," R'haran agreed. "Am I being over-protective in supervising them here?" he asked, having wondered that over the last few sevendays seeing the low numbers of adult with the children in the safest part of the bay.

"Not when there are little ones. Deralie isn't a strong swimmer yet, and while the boys would help her. I need to know she's okay." Donneth wasn't far away either, but children could get into difficulties so easily.

"That's good to hear." Not having ever really studied parenting he was now in the midst of it without any clear idea what was too little or too much in many situations. "The older ones are all good swimmers but Tibby's only three Turns old and even the best swimming three Turn old - which he's probably not - can be knocked over so easily."

"Deralie's three as well," commented K'deren. "She's only really learned to swim properly in the last month or so, so she'll need watching for a while. "Trievan's five and Kedon nine. It makes sense to keep an eye on all of them."

The harper greenrider nodded, reassured. "Do your children have a foster parent?"

"They do, and she helps immensely. Especially with the younger two having lost their mother in fall."

"The reasons for the old traditions are becoming clearer these days, aren't they?"

"Indeed, but some would say we should make new traditions for new times. They thought thread was gone forever, but it came back and we had to start over."

"How lucky we were that there was something to start over with," R'haran said with a nod toward the more distant spot of the beach where dragons were stretched out in clear enjoyment of the day. "The numbers had got very low."

"My father told us more than once how lucky we were to get the chance to stand," K'deren said. "But not all of us were lucky enough to actually impress."

"We can perhaps console ourselves with the thought that -" The greenrider broke off and headed down from the rocks. "Just get Tibby's head above water," he called back over his shoulder. "Won't be a moment."

K'deren smiled. There was something about children ...

Last updated on the September 30th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Something About Children ...