Time to Catch Up - Calling Myra!

[Kitari]

The ocean was as alluring as ever, and Kitari couldn't help but be transfixed as the fading rays of Rukbat danced across the swells. She sat upon the sand with her feet positioned so that each surge of water up the beach enveloped them, pulling at her with each retreat. It was calling to her. The ocean had been her home before Araelen Weyr, but she no longer felt as trapped by land as she had once been. With Lefayeth, she would soon be free to travel wherever she wished. The sky was simply a new ocean to explore. Even so, she did long for the rocking feel of the waves against the hull of a boat once more.

Thus, she waited in anxious anticipation for Myra's arrival. They'd been so busy since they all became Weyrlings, and she'd had barely a passing moment to catch Myra in the Lower Caverns and tell her to meet today. It was a day off for all Weyrlings, and Kitari was eager to work on the raft they had begun construction on during candidacy. After all, she may not be able to return to the sea on a Fishing vessel, but she could enjoy a few trips close to shore on a raft! With the help of Lefayeth and Aglovth, they wouldn't even have to worry about being carried too far out by the current. The dragons were easily big enough to propel a raft back to shore.

Lefayeth was also enjoying the sea, albeit in a slightly different manner. She was currently swimming in the turquoise depths, a flash of gold hide occasionally appearing above the surface. I see what you mean, she commented. The ocean is very different from the lake in the Weyr. Kitari smiled fondly, recognizing that Lefayeth was attempting to share in her love for the sea.

"Don't tire yourself out too much!" she called, repeating the message mentally in case the gold couldn't hear. "We may need your help later, during construction and when we're out on the sea."

Yes, where are Aglovth and hers? Lefayeth retorted indignantly. She raised her glistening head out of the water to gaze around, never liking to wait on others.

[Shikai]

Myra picked her way quickly across the landscape toward the ocean, which, at the moment, was just out of sight over the hill she was climbing. Aglovth walked beside her, although he was now much taller and larger than the last time Myra had met Kitari in his company. The dragons grew so fast! Myra greatly anticipated the day they would be able to fly together. She smiled to herself, happy to finally be meeting her friend again to go out on their raft.

However, a shadow passed over her face and she faltered in her steps, stopping for a moment, and Aglovth leaned his dark blue neck against her hand to comfort her. Aglovth…do you think she’s heard? She asked anxiously, stroking his soft, suede-like hide. Well, the rumors are…floating about. But perhaps Lefayeth’s doesn’t listen to rumors. [/color]He answered, somewhat reluctantly, as he knew it wasn’t very comforting. What if she asks me? What am I supposed to say? Deny it? How can I deny it when I know that it did happen…

Relax, mine. If Kitari is your friend, she won’t care.[/color] Said the dragon, lowering his head to nuzzle Myra with his dark, soft nose. It would be nice to think that friendship works that way, wouldn’t it? She answered somewhat guardedly, and continued on.

In truth, Myra was still plagued by guilt for what she had done, even though everything she knew about dragons and fire lizards told her that it couldn’t be helped. Aglovth didn’t appear to have been much harmed by the incident, although he had been much clingier of late, to Myra’s worry. He had always been supportive and somewhat protective, but now these characteristics seemed to have been amplified. Perhaps, she knew, she ought not to confide in him as much as she did, but who else could she talk to about such things? Kitari might understand, but Myra cared far too much about what Kitari thought of her to risk their relationship. Robika…Myra hadn’t spoken to her since the incident, and she was quite torn between wanting to talk to her and never wanting to see her face again. It was no small wonder if Aglovth was confused, for Myra was very confused herself.

Finally, they made it to the top of the low, but long, gently sloping hill, but a short distance from the ocean. Myra’s heart seemed to leap into her throat as she caught sight of Kitari, the raft and her golden Lefayeth nearby. Greet Lefayeth, will you mine? Myra asked quietly, patting her dragon gently on the neck, and he rumbled in reassurance and agreement to his rider.

Greetings, Lefayeth! Is the ocean water nice?[/color] The blue inquired, intending to join Lefayeth in swimming, if she would have him. In a reflection of his rider’s fondness toward Kitari, Aglovth made more of an effort to be friendly with Lefayeth than he did with most other dragons.

Myra and Aglovth moved the short way down the hill toward the other weyrling pair, and Myra’s every step caused her heart to beat faster as she wondered what Kitari would say to her. Would she even bring the incident up? Myra hoped not, but who could say what would happen?

“Hello, Kitari.” She said softly, and waited.

[Kitari]

While Kitari was tracing shapes in the sand with a long twig she had picked up and Lefayeth continued to swim, they both failed to notice the appearance of the blue dragon and his rider at the peak of the slope. The greeting caught Lefayeth by surprise, and she quickly rose to the surface once again to examine the newcomers. Kitarimine, they are here, she informed her rider before responding to Aglovth. It is quite pleasant, actually. Cooler than the lake, yet with movement to it and strange creatures! She had already encountered a fish, and, since Kitari had failed to warn her that she would not be swimming alone in the sea, it had caused quite a momentary fright. Not that Lefayeth would ever admit that to Aglovth.

"Myra!" Kitari cried, standing as soon as Lefayeth relayed the message. She dropped the twig on the sand and waited for the other girl to reach her. "It has been far too long since we've had a chance to chat. How are you and Aglovth?" There was a note of seriousness in her tone. Although she certainly wasn't going to discuss the issue if her friend felt uncomfortable with it, the Weyrling had heard of the illicit results of the fire lizard Flight. She hoped that her shy friend wasn't negatively impacted by it, nor that Aglovth had suffered from this early blow to his innocence. It wasn't Myra's fault that she had broken that Weyrling rule; she couldn't have stopped her brown flit from Flying. Kitari had a hard enough time managing Falcon even in daily life.

Unconsciously, Kitari studied the other girl and noted the wary look in her eyes. Was Myra so afraid of her reaction? The Weyrling couldn't help but smile ruefully; the other girl ought to know by now that Kitari wouldn't judge her friend over such a thing. Once her loyalty had been won, it was not easily displaced. She was willing to talk about what had happened, if that was what Myra needed, but if not, they could proceed to work on the raft. She was sure that if Myra needed to, she'd voice her feelings with time. "If you need anything," she decided to add, "all you have to do is ask. I'm here for you." Lefayeth's eyes whirled in curiousity, as Kitari was not allowing her to access fully the meaning of these thoughts.