Crossing Paths

Writers: Jane, Yvonne
Date Posted: 31st July 2014

Characters: J'nus, R'haran
Description: J'nus finds another familiar face at his new Weyr.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 7

J'nus paused at the entrance to the dining cavern, squinting to encourage his
eyes to adjust to the change in light. He had a book in one pocket, an old thing
with paper as thin as onion skin and a binding that had been restitched once or
twice, and covers that had disappeared long ago. Unlike people, books never left
you alone when you wanted company. And better-- they didn't mind if you sought
out company and left them alone.

Sitting not that far away, absorbed in a hide of his own, was a familiar
greenrider. J'nus smiled, then crossed the dining cavern to slip into the seat
across from R'haran. "Good evening. I hope you don't mind the interruption, but
I swear I see someone who I haven't crossed paths with in turns."

"At least two," R'haran agreed, smiling across the table at the stocky
bronzerider he had known for Turns at Dragonsfall Weyr. "How are you, J'nus?
What brings you to Dolphin Cove?"

"I heard the weather was better, so I transferred." J'nus shrugged. "And so far
I agree. How are you?"

"I'm well. Evie, too. The warmth seems to keep her scoring more flexible and she
enjoys flying more here. Do you remember that I moved here for the children? My
sister's great-grandchildren that I adopted?"

J'nus had forgotten until R'haran had mentioned it. "There were... four of
them?" he guessed. "The youngest was quite young, if I remember rightly."

"Five," R'haran said with some smugness. It was ridiculous for a greenrider in
his sixties to become a 'father', let alone to five children. "And Tibby was
just a toddler. They came from a tropical seahold so this seemed like a good
place to raise them. So perhaps you could say I came here for the weather, too."
He didn't for a moment believe that was all there was to J'nus's move.

"I'm sure they appreciate that. How are they doing?" the bronzerider asked.

"Thriving." He meant it literally. When they had arrived at Dragonsfall it had
been clear that the elder two especially had been going without food to make
sure the younger ones had as much as possible - and then he doubted it had been
enough. That times were so difficult at the seahold they had come from had been
the main reason behind them being given into his care. "Sahna, the eldest, is
away now at the Harper Hall a Turn into her printer apprenticeship. Iselen just
asked permission to Stand here. The younger three are still with their
foster-mother and in harper classes - with mixed results."

"Congratulations on a future printer in the family, and I'll watch for Iselen at
the Hatching. But the youngest three... I sense a story." The bronzerider folded
his hands on the table and waited patiently.

"Nothing out of the usual, I daresay. Just running wild around the Weyr, getting
into mischief. People assure me it's perfectly normal."

J'nus snorted. "I suppose it is. I feel that Weyr children are unusually wild,
though. And boisterous."

"Yes. I've found I feel a bit guilty about it when they're mine, though. You
don't have any children, do you, J'nus?"

"Not that I know of. But maybe I'll be as lucky as you when I'm older."

R'haran nodded. "It has been lucky," he agreed. "What's been happening to you
over the last couple of Turns?"

"Oh... decidedly not much." J'nus sighed. "Hence the change. I led Cyan Wing for
a while-- I'm not sure if you remember. But since then? Nothing."

"Nothing ..." The greenrider's sigh was not matched by the amusement in his blue
eyes. "These days I can only dream of 'nothing'."

"I'm sure. But one day they'll all be grown up and gone, and you'll hate the
quiet." J'nus shrugged. "At least, that's what I hear. But if you do want to do
a little nothing, I have fishing tackle and free evenings. No conversation
required."

"Fishing," R'haran said slowly, remembering back to his childhood when that was
a children's occupation at a seahold. He'd seen people fishing around Dolphin
Cove but never thought of trying it again for himself after so long. "You know,
I'd like to try that again. Have Kopth bespeak Evie when you go out next time."

"I will." J'nus smiled, looking forward to it. The greenrider was good company.
"And I'll leave you to your reading so that I can attend to mine. Good to see
you again, R'haran."

"And you, J'nus. And welcome to Dolphin Cove."

Last updated on the August 1st 2014

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Crossing Paths