The pain that never fades ic:dal eli and j'dol

[Jilli]

Dalrian sighed as he watched the rain from Nevinth's shelf. He would have been working on his swordsmanship again if not for the blasted weather. There was always working on another piece or two for that runnerbeast order he had gotten..

He frowned slightly crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, still staring into the rain as he scratched that idea too. While he knew full well what runners looked like, for his art, it wasn't nearly good enough. The secret to how good his sculpting was, was that it was lifelike. No, in order to do those he would have to spend some time at the runner corrals .

There went that idea. He could go see if the candidate lesson was still going on and help with that. Samara usually welcomed his assistance, since he was a human without a dragon he usually didn't distract them overmuch. Not like when ...

There it comes again... That familiar knot in his stomach. The heat from his jaw to his eyes. The tears that swam there didn't fall. He knew it was a fact of life, and he had to deal with it. Kelath wasn't coming back.

For months after the thread took him Dal had woken in the night tears flowing down his face. For a short time, kelath had been back with him, but each and every time, His partner had disappeared. It took a long time for the reality to set in, but Elitra had stayed with him every step of the way. And now, where he wanted to move to one of the holds and work until he was oblivious to all else, she was the one thing that kept him here.

A glance back at the fire told him his flits were still sleeping. Shigure in his usual undignified heap, upside down stretched over a stray log that had rolled free from its place beside the fire. And Hisame, always the little queen, curled up on her pillow, so delicate looking.

He had to crack a smile for his lazy bronze and his little spitfire queenlet. Those two could not have been any more different if they tried. He wiped a tear away and again, debated on what to do.

[Bellatora]

Nevinth backwinged as she came to her ledge. She wanted out of the rain badly. And so did her rider. Dalrian, Mine and I would like to GOOTR. EM is vt. But she is happy to see you. The Amethyst landed and let her rider slide from her back, soaking wet, her hair falling in undignified tangles, which she grabbed in her hands and rung out. She smiled when she saw him. "I guess this just gives me more reason to cut it, don't you think...?" she asked him, walking over to him and giving him a quick kiss, doing her best to keep him from getting wet.

She wasted no time in going to change and dry off. She came back quickly, drawing a comb through her hair as she walked, now in a fresh tunic and pants. "Are you doing alright my love?" she asked him softly, placing a hand on the side of his face, searching his eyes and his expression. "D'rian... when I graduate, we can leave the Weyr if you want... I'll go with you. Maybe I can be stationed as a watch rider... or.... or something..." she said softly. She knew it was hard for him to be here. Now that Kelath was gone... She couldn't imagine losing Nevinth.

Speaking of Nevinth... the amethyst was usually blissfully unaware of the loss that had been suffered - simply because she had a very short term memory... but as her rider was thinking about Kelath the dragoness let loose a low keen for a moment. Her bronze, the bronze she had loved so much and thoguht was so hot.... was gone. Forever. She lay down on her couch and curled up tightly. Yanoya bit her lip and looked to where her two huntyres now sat on the table not far from her, looking at her expectantly. She smiled and reached out a hand to the two. Pryd wasthe first to respond, clamoring to get there quickly and be the first. He, however, did not quite make it as Swift pushed himself forward, causing a quick squabble between the two. Eliitra sighed. "Pryd, Swift! Shush." She reached out a hand to her younger Lunar and moved him to a shoulder. These two were very well trained... well... Swift more than Pryd. But it was something that had been very important in her family. To have well trained huntyres and firelizards.

"Let's get some hot klah and something nice to eat..." She reached up again and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down to hers to kiss him again.

[Zirin]

If there was one thing J’dol didn’t mind, it was rain. Well, he minded it sometimes, like when he had work to do or someplace to be, but on a day like today, where it looked like he had a chunk of spare time, J’dol loved to stand in the rain. Why waste time in the rain when you could be doing something useful… Like making my hide shine. I swear there’s a dull spot back there! I want it fixed soon Mine. Kayath once again sounded grumpy in the back of his mind; she had been lately, though he didn’t doubt many of the mutant colours were grumpy these days. Come out here and I’ll wash you in the rain love. That seemed to perk the topaz’s attention, though she didn’t come out of her nice dry den very happily.

It wasn’t until she was already on the ground that J’dol remembered he had no equipment with him. ugh, I don’t care right now. The rain has already gotten rid of some dirt. I just want to be somewhere dry! J’dol chuckled. Oh look! Is that Nevinth up there. Surely she would LOVE to see me! We haven’t spoken in so long. J’dol didn’t bother to tell her the reason they never spoke was that the amethyst’s speech patterns confused the sub-queen. Nevertheless, he hoisted himself up on her neck and let her follow the purple dragoness home.

Well, he wouldn’t mind company, though if Eli didn’t want him around at the moment he’d simply go back to his rain dancing. Dropping off his dragon he walked to the entrance, though he remained outside due to his already soaking wet form. “Knock knock, anyone home?

[Jilli]

Dal smiled when Nevinth's voice filled his mind. Somehow, her presence there was soothing, like it filled some of the lonelyness kelath's loss had left behind. He stepped back letting the Amethyst land and Elitra slid to the ground. Picking up a towel he wrapped it around her shoulders as she wrung her hair out.

"You'll look beautiful either way Eli." He returned her kiss, then let her go get changed, grabbing a towel and starting to help Nevinth get a bit drier so she didnt create a pool on her couch. When Eli came back, dry for the most part and combing her hair , he patted nevinth's shoulder and tossed the towel onto one of the chairbacks.

He gave her a small smile. She would leave the weyr for him, he knew she would. But he couldn't ask that of her. Or nevinth. The little amethyst was too social to be expected to live the mostly isolated life of a Watchrider.

"I know you worry about me Eliitra. I'm stronger than I look. And anyway. What would he think? Me just picking up and leaving when all that he wanted to protect is here? I may not be a rider any more, but im not useless, I can still help here...I'm alright."He repeated outloud the same things he had told himself over and over again since then.

" And anyway, with the rebellion becoming more and more active the only way I want you and my little amethyst beauty out there is with a full escort of blues bronzes browns and garnets."
Nevinth's keen touched Dal's heartstrings and he scratched her eyeridges lovingly.

"I know you miss him Nevinth. I do to. But he didn't want us to be sad did he?" Amazingly the commotion up until now had caused niether Hisame Nor shigure to stir in the slightest. What DID wake them up, was the huntyre squabble. Shigure yawned long and slow, stretching each part of his body before wandering around and climbing up onto Dal's shoulder. Hisame blinked sleepily, looking around. That was the only time she looked innocent or soft at all, just when she woke up. Soon she would be demanding attention. His attention was taken as Shigure readjusted himself to allow for Eliitra's arms around his neck. He leaned down and met her lips, giving her a proper kiss hello, and as she came to herself, Hisame did just what she was good at. The large ametrine flew up onto his other shoulder and butted his cheek with her head, demanding petting. When he ignored her she cried and slid down his chest landing neatly between him and Eli, using her nose to probe and try to separate them so she could get the attention that was supposed to be hers.

chuckling softly into the kiss Dal, reluctantly broke it off and slipped his arm under Hisame to support her, petting her until she was content.

"Good morning to you too princess..." there was a familiar voice "Kayath! J'dol!" His smile was a little brighter as his friend entered. He'd only seen him once or twice since everything had happened. Dal had tried to keep to himself as much as possible since then.

[Bellatora]

"Are you sure you aren't biased, Dal...?" she asked him teasingly, smiling wide.

She looked at him seriously. "Dalrian... you already look really strong. Kelath would love to know you are protecting everything he held dear... You've turned into a true prince my love." She kissed him again gently. She loved him. And she would go anywhere if it meant he would be happy.

The amethyst didn't answer, but stretched out her head and gently nudged him and gave a soft croon. She loved her rider. And the man who would be her Rider's mate, she was sure.

Eliitra sighed. "She is always getting in the middle, isn't she." She had been enjoying that kiss... The flitter was something of an annoyance in her opinion from time to time. She sighed and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Graduation is just around the corner..." she said with a soft breath.

"Hello J'dol, Kayath."

HA Kayath. HIY. WDT of the rain? And it started... the confusing speech patterns that even annoyed her rider from time to time.

[Zirin]

J'dol grinned as Dalrian of all people was the one to answer him. "Well hey there handsome!" He waved first to the dragonless man then to Eliitra as she too greeted him. "Well aren't you two lovey dovey. Hope I'm not interrupting anything." That the two were an item was no secret in the Weyr and even J'dol knew the importance of privacy from time to time.

Kayath snorted, trying to shake off some of the water that had collected on her hide, though she stopped when Nevinth spoke, suddenly remembering why she tended to avoid the amethyst. Yes? Kayath snorted, not at all understanding what was being said to her. She never could wrap her head around the way the purple dragoness spoke. Translation Mine? She asked her rider privately, grumbling as J'dol gave her a mental shrug. Stupid useless rider!

[Jilli]

Dalrian sighed and kissed her back lightly. "I know, its just gonna take time. I hope." He gave her a half smile and sat Hisame aside as she chittered angrily at Eliitra. How dare she think she had a right to be loved by Hers before he'd even stroked her lovely purple gold hyde?! She drew herself up and made a show of turning her back on the woman and flicked hertail dismissing the woman and going back to her pillow.

Dal rolled his eyes. "She's a little sub qu.... Queen and she knows it. To her, her attention has to be looked to first before .... We can enjoy ourselves. Now she's had her attention... " His smile got a little gleam to it, and he started to scoop her up but stopped midway, looking up as J'dol came in.

"Oh just interrupting my fun, as usual J'dol, but that's okay. Hisame interrupts far more often than you do..." The large Ametrine Flit flicked her wings but otherwise didnt respond. He reached over Eliitra's shoulder grabbing another towel and tossing it to J'dol so he didnt make a lake in her weyr and then went to grab the towel he'd helped Neviinth get dry with.

"Kayath dear would you like some help?" He lifted the towel in a gesture to help her dry at least a bit. He didnt know why, but doing things with the dragons somehow helped him feel closer to kelath, providing at least a temporary bit of relief from the emptiness.

[Zirin]

“As usual? That hurt’s Dal… here I thought we had something…” He lifted a hand to his head, as if to faint. He grinned and caught the towel that had been thrown to him, doing his best to stop the dropping. “You know, if I really am interrupting feel free to kick me out. I can come back later.” Then he winked at Dalrian, “Or if you’re feeling particularly kinky I’d be happy to watch.” He prepared to dodge any objects thrown at him by Eliitra.

Finally, someone who is actually useful. Not like you, stupid rider. She huffed before lowering her head to look at Dalrian. If you would be ever so kind, I would appreciate it. She was a big dragoness though, not like Nevinth, as she knew Dalrian would never be able to get all of her hide if he tried. But it was the thought that counted. “No wonder she likes seeing you so much Dal… you spoil my princess rotten.” Now that he had gotten most of the excess water off he went over to try and help dry off Kayath as well.

[Bellatora]

Eliitra crossed her arms and gave J'dol a glare that was enough to make any lesser man cower in fear... of course maybe he was a lesser man, though she doubted it.

Uh-oh, KayathQueen. EM is very UHWY... He better WO or he might GH....

Eliitra gave a mischevious grin, giving a low whistle to Pryd and Swift who both took off, grabbing nearby items... one heavier than the other and brought them to Eli. She gave another low whistle and the two huntyres flew overhead of J'dol and dropped the items which they were carrying on top of him. "You earned that one." She gave a harrumph of annoyance and walked over to Nevinth, scratching her eyeridges adoringly. She was less than happy to have been interrupted. "You should think about maybe going the more traditional route and knocking... I'd have kicked you straight back out off the ledge if you'd walked in on us." She sighed. "Sharding Topazrider," she muttered under her breath. "I'm glad to see you Kayath... though I think you're right about your rider being rather useless. She sighed and crossed her arms, patting Nevinth.

EM is definitely NH with Y. Nevinth told the sub-queen somewhat humbly. She gave a huff and looked at J'dol then at Eliitra and Dalrian. This was going ot be an interesting conversation or day.... and then she was distracted again.

[Jilli]

Dalrian just chuckled and shook his head starting to gently dry kayath bit by bit. " I like feeling useful j'dol. After so link caring for him any time I can do something for them it makes it a bit easier.". By Him of course he meant Kelath, by them he meant dragons, and it was the re placement for life. He'd gladly spoil kayath if it meant he could feel some other connection to his lost partner.

"And I think my time for those kinds of things has been claimed by this little lady here j'dol. We'll have to take a rain heck I'm afraid. ". He gave the topaz rider a cheeky grin. Hopefully Eli would know I was all in good fun. Though the way she was glaring at him she may have thought it was a bit more serious? He winced at the first whistle. He knew what was coming. The two huntyres did just as elli had trained them to do and j'dol was soon put upon, quite literally.

"Ellitra, I'm not goin anywhere. Am I gonna need to start protecting my friends because you want so much 'us 'time?". He grinned and still yowled kayath with one hand using the other to reach out and make a grab for her hand to tug her back against him.

[Zirin]

J'dol just grinned cheekily at the glare, not at all phased byt Eliitra's look; he had experienced it way too many times to be swayed by it. Um. J'dol, I think Nevinth is trying to warn you about something... I think that meant watch out... oh look. It was a warning. Kayath rumbled as J'dol was suddenly assaulted by the huntyres.

"Oy! That's a nasty little trick you've taught them!" He pouted, rubbing at the sore spot. "I would have thought the sound of that topaz landing on your ledge was knock enough." He placed a hand on Dal's shoulder in thanks for the help, and in a show of support for his loss before grinning back at Eliitra. "Well if you really must know Eliitra, I'm not exactly on the market anymore, so your boy is safe... ish." He winked at Dal.

Kayath sighed and lifted a wing to allow J'dol to dry her there. She then crooned sadly at Dalrian. Yours is always upset with Mine, Nevinth. It's a good thing she has a wonderful man like Dalrian. Kayath was always free with compliments when someone gave her good attention.