Kindra was fuming, pacing her Weyr angrily while Suunath crooned to her to try and calm her down but Kindra would not be mollified. She'd been taunted too far this time, a Bronzerider actually having shoved her against a wall and been positively disgusting, until Suunath ahd screamed at his Dragon and Kindra had kneed him. His words as he left her stung, that she'd have no choice whatsoever soon enough. Kindra was torn between feeling horrified and being incredibly angry but mostly she wanted to just forget the whole thing and go back home as it had reminded her of the young man her father had tried to match her with. She silently screamed in anger and hit the stone wall of her weyr.
Silently and without Kindra's knowledge Suunath spoke to a very familiar Bronze. "Mine needs some help, could you ask Yours to go to her please.... and to be careful?" she said to N'mol's dragon. She knew that Him and Kindra were friends, and she needed someone right now that could help her, Suunath had tried her best but Kindra was sitting on her bed now, knees up and she hugged her hand that she'd hurt in hitting the wall. "Ask Yours to bring some numbweed too, she's hurt her hand" added Suunath as an aside and ... maybe an excuse for N'mol to have been summoned.
---
Tyeth would have frowned if a dragon could frown when Suunath contacted him. Mine, Suunath calls. Hers needs you. It is urgent. Suunath suggests you be careful and bring numbweed. There should still be some in your pack from when we scraped ourselves on the rocks.
N'mol stared at Tyeth for a moment, then recapped the saddle polish, tucked it away and gathered up all of his things. He was always conscientious about keeping his gear in good working order, which was what he had been doing before this peculiar summons had come. The young rider climbed onto Tyeth's back without the aid of riding straps, instead settling the saddle in his lap. It was a short distance; he didn't need them. Where Kindra was concerned, if numbweed was needed and Suunath of all dragons was giving him a warning, something bad had happened and in usually implied a fight of some level. If Kindra was still in a foul humor, the warning was likely a good one.
"Go."
Tyeth rose into the air as N'mol settled himself and made the trip to Kindra's weyr far quicker than it would have been by foot. N'mol slid down into the opening of Suunath's section of the weyr, inclined his head to the Gold, and then paced through into Kindra's weyr. He stood in the doorway a moment, watching Kindra and assessing her mood before he put a small smile on his face.
"I've brought numbweed. Would you like a hand?"
---
Suunath's eyes whirled Kindra's distress, as well as her own but only mildly. Tyeth was there with His and this was good. Kindra on the other hand, wasn't too pleased at the looming dragon approaching, she was about to tell Suunath to order him away until she jerked her head up at N'mol's voice. "A hand? ..." she snorted a laugh and waved the bruised hand up "sure, .... " he snapped then bit her tongue. "Sorry ... " she mumbled, and Suunath relayed what had happened to N'mol, through Tyeth, she knew Hers wouldn't speak up about it unless prompted. and she thought that Tyeth's should know. Suunath was pleased they'd come fast, she didn't like when Kindra curled into herself the way she was doing on her bed, she wasn't the 'usual' Kindra then.
---
N'mol entered the room at her semi-invitation, easing down onto the edge of her bed. Even if Suunath hadn't said anything, N'mol would have been able to tell just from Kindra's snap reaction and apology that something had happened. He reached out and took her injured hand, slowly bringing it over to him for inspection. The bruising obviously hadn't started showing yet, which meant the injury was recent. He reached for the numbweed as Tyeth began a short, pointed explanation of what had occured. The last hints of good humor slid away from N'mol's face. He didn't let his anger or the cold that swept through him show in his movements as he withdrew the numbweed, unscrewed the cap, and retook Kindra's hand. It was one thing to be caught in the heat of Flight, but riders simply did not attack other riders without cause. It was, frankly, unheard of, even from the worst mannered of riders, primarily because riders had their dragons to steer them clear of such base behavior.
He didn't say anything as he dipped his fingers into the numbweed, ignoring that he was going to numb his own fingers as much as the back of her hand. He was concerned that he might say something if he gave himself any more time to think. He smoothed the gel onto her hand and rubbed it in with gentle, circular motions.
"What happened?" he finally asked, his voice even.
---
Kindra let N'mol take her hand without complaint, Her jaw clenched when Suunath informed her she had passed along information to N'mol through his Bronze and she clenched her fists, dwaring a pained hiss from her, "wall was hard" she said with the barest hint of humor. "He....." she started. "I don't think he was going to do anything... but ..." her sentence trailed, she did NOT want to seem so vulnerable... she was KINDRA dammit, she was a hardass. Not a whimpering fool that cried like this at the advances of a man, but she'd been shaken up. The last time something anything like that had happened was before Suunath, before even coming to the Weyr. No one knew, besides her family, what had happened back home.... well Except Suunath now that Kindra remembered. "I guess he thought he could get away with it... but i'll be sure W'lin knows... if Suunath hasn't already told his Dragon.. he'll be shovelling wher dung if i have my way" she said... there.. some of her attitude showed but her tone was soft, scared .. "N'mol .. i know you don't like me like that but ... well ...." Shards how was she supposed to say it? ... to say she'd never slept with anyone before and was terrified now that prospects of Suunath rising was being brought up by the older Bronze and Brownriders... the ones that thought being nice to her would encourage her influence on Suunath.
---
Her angry rant didn't fool N'mol. He knew she was trying to recover and shake off the fright she'd had, but Kindra, at some level, was vulnerable. Physically, it seemed, as well as emotionally, when she was taken off guard. Thank Faranth that she had Suunath to protect her. It seemed as if the attack on Kindra had hit a nerve, however, if she was still more shaken up about it than angry. And right now, it seemed as if she was very much shaken up. Whichever rider had had the audacity to do this was going to receive a swift and harsh punishment, one worse than just shovelling wher dung.
That was another thing that N'mol was going to do something about if W'lin didn't. They had lost Kestril already; who was stupid enough to attack one of the two Goldriders left to them? N'mol wouldn't take care of it if Kindra was going to go to W'lin in the end, but he would find out who had done it and he would see to it that proper amounts of justice were doled out if W'lin didn't. Not that the man could afford not to punish whoever this strange Bronzerider was, when W'lin's position as Weyrleader might be hanging in the balance. For political reasons if nothing else, this rider was going to become an example.
N'mol didn't care about the political implications. This man had attacked Kindra, N'mol's closest... well, friend, for lack of a better word. The actions alone deserved a reply, sheerly based on the quiet outrage N'mol felt stirring in him. Only his usual bounty of common sense kept him from devising outrageous punishments. He would sit down later and think of something appropriate, when he'd had a chance to consider the problem fully rather than being distracted by Kindra's distress.
Tyeth, see if you can quietly find out who the attacker was. Don't ask Suunath. Find out another way.
Of course, mine. Tyeth well understood the need for subtlety and as several dragons were already aware, he could have a nasty streak when someone got in his way or got on his bad side. Just because he was good at getting others to like him did not mean he was defenseless. If His was concerned for Suunath's, well, more to the better. Humans needed companionship, after all.
Kindra's halting start to her sentence drew N'mol's eyes up to hers. Whatever she was struggling with, it clearly involved him, which he didn't like one bit. Not on the ends of a conversation about male riders attacking her. "Like you like what, Kindra?"
---
Kindra clenched her jaw again, she was just NOT good when it came to 'real' talking, emotions were something to be held within, unless she was pissed that is. She was uncomfortable and unused to being vulnerable but it was now or never... there'd never be a better chance. She felt how careful he was being with her hand, now that the numbweed was taking the pain of it away. "Look N'mol ... you've never seemed interested when i've tried to be 'nice' to you" she said, her inflection on the word nice, meaning more than just friendship. "But... well the fact is, when Suunath rises.. i don't want my first time to be so out of control ." there.... she'd said it... she hadn't asked what she wanted but the reasons for her emotional outbburst was now in the open. Her throat closed on asking him, they were good friends, probably because he'd never took up her flirting offers, she'd let him deeper into ehr affections that even she realised and she actually begun to rely on him sometimes... like now... but she couldn't TELL him that.. she really didn't want to scare him off.
---
The "'nice' to you" spelled out what she was hinting at and N'mol sat very still as she finished her explanation, his expression attentive and calm. This had to be hard for her to say, and that was what he was going to focus on. He'd had a great deal of trouble lately when he thought of Kindra. He'd never really figured out an answer to whether or not his interest in her stemmed from using her as a path to being Weyrleader. He kept deciding on 'no,' but he knew where his aspirations lay eventually. It was hard not to consider that maybe he was using her for that.
When she finally managed to get to the point, it was very much an unspoken favor she was asking of him, but he wasn't going to make her spell out what she was asking him for. It was implied, they knew it had been said, offered. She'd had enough trouble getting that much out. N'mol wasn't a virgin-- mostly because securing a Wingleader position had earned him a bed or two lately-- but he wasn't as experienced as some of the older riders either. But she wasn't asking because he was experienced. She was asking because he was safe. He was someone she could ask, without having to open herself to a stranger. Regardless of what happened between them, she could trust he wouldn't tell anyone. That could not be said of the majority of their peers.
He thought about the offer for a long time, glancing between her eyes and finally considering his knee as he sorted through his feelings, her likely feelings, and the recent incident that had sparked this conversation at all. Even though he showed an outward calm, he could still feel his stomach doing nervous flips at being placed in such a difficult position.
"Maybe now is not the best time for you to be making this decision," he suggested finally, but he made sure that when he said it he was meeting her eyes. "This is something you really need to consider. Don't let recent events sway you; wait until you've had time to think about what you're asking. I also might suggest... considering if I'm the best choice." He set his hand over her good hand, for the first time making a decision of his own without continuing to consider the repurcussions. In that moment, with his very blue eyes fixed on her, it was easy to see how easily he would be able to capture people's attention when he got a little older. "If you decide, in the end, that you still want to ask, I won't say no, Kindra. But I won't be offended if you choose someone with more experience than I have either." W'lin came to mind, but N'mol squashed that idea. It wasn't his place to judge Kindra's choice, though part of him was sickened by the thought of that pairing. "This isn't a choice you want to make without considering all of the options."
---
Kindra sighed as he seemed to be thinking. She wasn't surprised at his answer but she was surprised when he held her good hand in his and she looked back at him, "N'mol ... i do choose. I'm choosing you because very soon i won't HAVE that choice .... especially if Suunath rises first .... i've never..." she halted, not wanting to say the words, knowing he would understand what she meant "Don't you think i would have already asked someone else if i chose differently N'mol. You're a friend... probably the only real friend i have and i trust you" she admitted, Suunath, in the background giving her support, flicking her tail a little.
---
Well. N'mol swallowed, then steeled himself. He'd said yes. She was likely feeling as awkward about this new change in their relationship as he was. Not to mention, she had an excellent point. Once Suunath Rose, it would be difficult for her to choose anyone at all, as she would go to the victor. She might not ever have the chance to make this decision again, unless she and her weyrmate came to some kind of understanding if he turned out to be... unsuitable for her. That wasn't something that often happened with Weyrwomen. He also got the impression that Kindra was unsure of how soon Suunath would Rise. He didn't think it would be soon, but he didn't want to end up being wrong and have her blame him for his mistake for the rest of her days.
N'mol looked at her injured hand and then smiled slightly at her. The first thing to do would be to put her at ease. She had calmed somewhat since his arrival, but she was still tense. He really did have to be in control at this point; once she adjusted, she could take over when she wanted. "Are you sure you're up for this with that injured hand?"
---
Kindra smiled a little, N'mol's thinking was right, Kindra had no clue how soon Suunath would rise, being such a small gold... she could rise earlier ... or later than the 'norm' that W'lin had advised her on. Not for the first time she cursed the fact they had no older Goldrider to teach them and her chest tightened a little, causing Suunath to lift her head and croon, the noise reverberating around the stone walls and floor of the weyr. She looked down at her hand when he mentioned it and rubbed it a little. "it doesn't hurt right now" she said, biting her lip. She was nervous but she trusted him, however.. she wasn't sure what it would be like afterwards, would it be awkward? .. she didn't know but she knew she wanted this.
---
He would take that as a 'yes' then. He leaned in, knowing her pride would never let her back away, and kissed her, his lips soft and warm against hers. If they couldn't handle even that small step without feeling awkward, then they would know that Kindra had to find another option. They would not 'go through the motions'. If she wanted her first time to be in control, he still intended that she not look at it as a necessity. That kind of view, he'd been told, carried with someone potentially for the rest of their lives. This was her one shot at not viewing it that way: he wouldn't let himself mess that up.
It felt like kissing any other girl, really, if he didn't think about the fact that it was Kindra. His body's reactions to that simple kiss said he was interested in her physically, if nothing else, but his mind was well aware of all of the strings attached to this offer; how much they-- he- stood to lose if it went south. That kind of thinking could kill the mood, though, and N'mol was not in the habit of giving less than his best. At anything.
---
Kindra wasn't prepared for the reaction to N'mol's kiss, her stomach flipped and she could swear her heart stopped for just a moment. She paused for just a second, then kissed him back, leaning into him. She knew this was more than just a friendship now, but even when Suunath Rose and was caught by a dragon other than Tyeth, she knew she wouldn't stop being friends with N'mol. She never thought it before but.... he was her best friend, and she was glad he was here and for once, she let him take the lead. He knew what she wanted but she didn't want to push it in case he was uncomfortable.
Suunath rumbled her support and gently withdrew from Kindra's public mind, one look at Her's private thoughts and Suunath knew she'd done the right thing. She moved out onto the platform outside her Weyr and took off, excersising her wings out above the Weyrbowl, inviting Tyeth to come fly with her, she enjoyed the Bronze's company but she also enjoyed the company of other dragons so he wasn't the only possibility for her when she did Rise, however this didn't occur to her, she simply wanted to enjoy flying and give Kindra a little privacy.
Dragonflight: An Alternative Pern (Old Guild)
A B/C Pern Roleplay
