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 Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:55 pm
Hekate had had a long day. They'd hit a road block in the salvage operation with one of the bigger structures and being the slim cat like thing that she was she'd spent most the the day squirming past fallen beams and rubble to attach rope to them so they could be puled clear. At least in this her flits proved to be useful and her fair lay flopped about her shoulders, curled in the crook of her arm, or snoring in her lap about their mistress where she had finally taken a seat to eat. It had taken her forever to get all the soot off of herself and even longer to remove it from her flits and this combined with the oiling she'd given them as a reward saw her coming and collecting her food later then she would liked. The only table left open had been with a few younger riders who now eyed the pretty red head with the same look dragons would eye a fattened herdbeast.
Typically Hekate would have toyed with their attention and shown the boys she was more then just a pretty face, but tonight the tired woman simply wasn't to be trifled with. Doing her best to ignore them she concentrated on eating her food occasionally lifting a hand to sooth an irritated flit that would occasionally be aroused by her ire. Her fair had taken to sticking increasingly close since her last spat with Z'fer and were less then friendly towards the overly interested males, but lucky for said riders they were just as tired as their owner and more prone to snoozing though that didn't stop them from setting sharp little teeth and claws into any stray wandering hands.
Mentally Hekate did her best to calm her lot. She'd been dodging quick sand all week with her last scuffle with Z'fer, the Weyrling lessons, and her salvage plans eating up so much time and she didn't need to get into any more trouble. That and Devith would be in an even worse mood if the two of them missed his daily evening bath and oiling.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:22 pm
Calanoth had been relentless in his efforts to get Z'fer to apologize. Unfortunately for him the rider was just as stubborn as the dragon. Still Z'fer found himself keeping an eye out for a flash of red hair. His attempts to get close enough for speech didn't pan out as she smoothly escaped him every time. The attention he paid to other parts of his life dwindled, his efforts in rebuilding were lazy, his wings training was postponed, and even his social life was neglected. He couldn't focus on anything until he actually sat her down and talked with her.
Now the moody bronzerider found himself lounging in the mess hall during the lunch rush, just waiting. He knew her movements well enough to know she normally ate early, as such he was the first rider in to eat when the meal was ready. Finished with his meal he sat and waited, eyes flicking between the entrances and the kitchens. He began to grow irritated the longer he waited. Was she not going to come today? Or had she seen him and decided starving was the better option. ~ Cal do you see her anywhere? ~
~ She was bathing earlier. ~
~ Why didn't you tell me?! ~
~ It would not have been appropriate and you were already waiting for her here. ~
Z'fer let it slide as he saw his prey bob her weary head into the hall. He watched to see where she sat, forcing himself to wait till she was good and settled before standing and making his way through the crowd towards her. He couldn't see her expression clearly from the direction he came but the irritated rustlings of her flits gave him clear enough warning of her mental state. Though it's cause probably had more to do with the young men around her than his silent approach.
"Shove over." He growled at one young man sitting next to her. Z'fer slid his tall form sideways onto the bench between him. Even as he physically shoved the young rider away, he was careful not to disturb a single hair of Hekate's. A frosty glare was directed at the foolish men around her before he turned squarely towards her. "Hekate I want to talk with you."
He'd rehearsed plenty of things he could have said, thought of plenty of things he could have done but he had no clue how this encounter would turn out. He would try to keep his calm...for Cal's sake, but there were no guarantees with him. Especially if she struck him again.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:15 pm
The young rider's eyes shifted between the irrate wingleader and the even more irrate pretty little weyrling as they debated whether the chase was worth it. However the small group decided that perhaps it was better to leave now and save face for another day then get shot down right away. Since as Hekate lifted her head her gold eyes narrowing at Z'fer it was clear she was no longer paying even the slightest attention to the rest of them. So one by one the moved off leaving the pair alone at their table.
The mistress wasn't pleased. No she wasn't pleased one bit as all around her form baleful little eyes slid open, their gazes settling on Z'fer and swirling red to echo their owners ire. Lady even went so far as the spread her slick poison green little wings and hiss, but she'd always been the most violent of the bunch. However a gentle eyeridge scratch soothed her long enough for Hekate to turn her head and eye Z'fer a bit more critically as she mentally berated herself for allowing her guard down enough for him to catch her.
She'd been using her many firelizards to easily keep tabs of him and the area around her allowing her to seamlessly dodge the man with little effort. However her winged companions had just been too tired and now here she was face to face with the source of her displeasure. In the back of her mind she felt Devith's attention sharpen where he lay stretched out on the warm sand near their weyr.
Mine? Do you wish for me to deal with this? Devith rumbled in his rider's mind his tone dark and possessive and far from pleased the stubborn bronze two-legger had finally tracked down his beloved rider.
We're in the mess hall Devith. He won't dare try anything here and if he does I'll leave. He can't stop me. Hekate assured him doing her best to take a few deep breaths and calm herself as she straightened up slightly. Despite her exhaustion she still radiated confidence and with it she let that calm assurance wash over flit and dragon alike.
"Do you need something Wingleader?" Hekate ask her tone tight, controlled, and sharp with formality as she wielded custom and manners like a well cared for blade.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:14 pm
"Don't try that crap with me you know I do." Z'fer didn't give a tunnelsnakes a** about formalities. Right now it was man and woman not wingleader and weyrling. He still eyed her flits warily, especially the hissy little green. If she wanted to start something... he'd finish it.
"I want..." Now that he actually had Hekate's attention... he wasn't sure what to do. Everything he'd thought of saying had been in response to her previous arguments (hindsight much?). Z'fer leaned an elbow on the table and his brows drew together in a mixture of frustration and confusion as he stared at her. This was the man who's easy confidence convinced a room full of people to vote him Wingleader despite his less than respectable reputation. He along with Kleos had organized and almost pulled off a counter attack and as far as Trine was concerned he was the leading bronzerider from Malvren, yet he found himself without words when it came to this young woman in front of him.
A flash of light caught his eye even among the glistening hides of her well kept flits. His voice softened as he said the first thing that came to his mind. "You're still wearing your clip." For as short of time as she'd had it it had become a habit to touch it when he saw it. Now he kept his hands to himself despite the urge. He was learning.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:48 pm
"Pardon me for being polite!" She snapped right back as her gold eyes narrowed with anger and displeasure her lips twitching into a snarl as her flits shifted their gazes going between their owner and Z'fer. The little shining hides shifted as those few still sleeping awoke and peered over the table or out of her sleeves giving the appearance of there being a few more flits then perhaps Z'fer at last remembered. Had she always had such a small army of winged protectors with her? In truth the whole fair was rarely seen with Hekate all at once, this being one of those rare times as they hissed and shifted the only sound for a moment as Z'fer struggled for words being the slight whisper of their wings as they fanned, folded and unfolded them.
Raising a hand Hekate mentally silenced them though her eyes never lost their cold hard edge. "What do you want Z'fer?" She asked stabbing at her food angrily. . .her meal had hardly been touched and with Z'fer's arrival she'd be rather put off her food.
However she was caught off guard when Z'fer's voice suddenly softened and he brought up her most prized possession pointing out the clip she still wore in her hair despite her displeasure at the owner. Hekate had considered taking off the rampant feline clip, the very sight of it still tugged at her heart strings, but in the end her love for it's flashing bejeweled eyes and beautiful workmanship won out. Besides. . .buried deep, deeper then her deepest depths was the lingering hope that he had bought it for her because he had seen her as more then a silly weyrling or pawn in the politics of the Weyr despite his betrayal of her trust.
"I haven't taken it off since you gave it to me." Hekate admitted reluctantly though she felt ashamed for not being strong enough to cast the gift aside as she aught to have. It was the truth though. Hekate only ever removed her clip to sleep or to bathe so as to not risk losing the hair clip in the depths of the lake though she was certain her flits would find it easy enough for her if Devith didn't spot it first.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:18 pm
Her admission brought a smile to his face before he caught himself and squashed it. Right. Angry. It was so easy to forget everything that had happened as he sat beside her again, and yet it was just as easy to let that fury return to the fore. Calanoth's presence in his mind provided a reminder of Z'fer's purpose even as the dragon kept a sharp 'eye' on the proceedings.
The bronze couldn't hide his smug amusement as he pressed Z'fer to continue.
Z'fer looked away, huffed, took a deep breath, and turned back to Hekate. He tried hard to focus on his task and ignore the collection of ruby eyes trained directly on him. "We need to talk. You've been avoiding me." One hand laid still in his lap, the other toyed restlessly with the abandoned utensils and cups on the table. He lifted one up and smelled it's contents before putting it back down and pushing it away.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:34 pm
Hekate let out a snort of disbelief startling a few flits into the air, but they quickly returned tucking themselves against her side and keeping their ever watchful eyes on Z'fer. Of course they weren't the only ones and Hekate had little doubt her lifemate was keeping tabs not only on her through her emotions, but through what images the flits would send him. "No you think?" Hekate drawled out her reply her voice heavy with sarcasm as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at how damn thick the man was being.
"I wanted to avoid another episode and right now Devith feels your purpose on Pern is best served as a throw rug." She added with an amused grin that had a bit more wicked humor and teeth in it then most people might have liked.
I still say he'd look good on our weyr's floor. At least then you could wipe your feet of his scum and when he got dirty we could take him out and dump him in the lake. Devith crooned in Hekate's mind their bond brimming with their own dark brand of humor and tugging a smile from the woman's lips.
"Besides you made it rather clear you didn't want anymore to do with me." Hekate replied the memory of Z'fer's cruel words still fresh in her mind and just the thought of them making her eyes shine a touch brighter with a flash of pain as she looked away glancing down to run a loving hand over little Countesses back and pushing her untouched plate within the little green's reach allowing her flits to help themselves to the discarded food.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:15 pm
Z'fer hung his head, scrubbing at his face with both hands. "Hekate don't make this harder than it already is alright?" Her biting sarcasm made him want to grab her all over again. "Look." He snapped. "I've got Calanoth breathing down my neck to apologize to you and frankly I think I'm the one who deserves the apology but he's being sharding persistent about it." He sighed and continued. "Aaand I admit that runners a** might be right and I might have said some things that I didn't entirely mean." His lips pursed as if he'd eaten a sour fruit.
~ Don't lay this all on me. ~
~ Do you want me to do this or not? ~
Devith... Z'fer growled at the mention of that particular thorn in his side. "Devith can suck a trundlebug for all I care about what he thinks."
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:34 pm
He didn't mean a word. . .he'd only come here because Cal had asked him too. How how cruel and here she had thought she'd actually meant enough to him for him to try and make amends on his own, but no! All he thought about was himself! Here he was claiming she was making things harder when he had showed up here and now when she was finally just begining to get over him!
Hekate's gaze could have burned holes in Z'fer's head at that moment as she sat shaking in her seat with the force of her own anger. "Oh you feel you deserve an apology do you!" She snapped her words twisting into a snarl as she stood up with enough force to knock the bench she had been sitting on over on it's side. Half of her fair took wing in startled flight calling out their concern and Prince and Baron stuck close to their owner's neck creeling and attempting to comfort her eyes unbidden tears pricked Hekate's eyes.
"Well I'm sorry!" She growled out trying to hold back the tears that began to pool in her bright golden orbs trying to blink them away as she rubbed at her eyes. "I'm sorry I cared about you! Trusted you! Was concerned and worried about you! I'm sorry I thought you were different! I'm sorry I ever let my guard down around you and most of all~" And her voice cracked falling to a whisper as the tears finally spilled unbidden down her cheeks and her breaths came in pained gasps.
"I'm sorry I ever thought you actually cared about me in return. Maybe Devith is right." Hekate whispered hugging her arms to herself and turning to dash out of the mess hall and down towards the lake her tears blinding her as she desperately sought the comfort of the only being in the world she knew besides her flits that truly loved her.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:43 pm
Z'fer lept to his feet as the bench went sideways beneath him. His mouth hung open as her words flowed and the flits around her took to the air. He should have seen this coming. He should have known to be careful with his words but he had no experience with this. Maybe as a young man he might have fallen in love but the moment he'd Impressed Calanoth he'd adjusted to the stereotype of a bronzerider. He'd liked his life like that and never expected it to turn around and bite him in the a**. Now as she cried he felt his heart ache. He didn't want to see her like this and worse, he was the cause of it. Cal was there, but offered no help at this point. It was all on Z'fer.
He held out his arms gently to her when she turned around and slipped through the crowd. "Wait! That's not what I meant! Hekate!" The scene was all too familiar as Z'fer charged after her shoving people out of his way without a care. "Hekate please! Stop!" The bright sun was blinding after having spent so long indoors waiting for her. "I DO care about you!" He figured she was heading for Devith and at this point he didn't want a repeat of last time, even if that's exactly what this looked like. Instead of trying to grab her or otherwise force her to stop as they neared the lakeside he slowed, frustrated. "Just give me a chance! Don't just run away when I'm trying to apologize!"
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:06 pm
The scene was indeed all to familiar and the nostalgia rose up from her heart and left a tight sour feeling in her chest as she ran. It had been so long ago that he had chased after her like this before only this time when he called out for her Hekate stopped. Her steps were jarring as she slowly stumbled to a halt her back turned to him her flits hovering, circling in their worry as her form shook under the weight of her own emotions. Her own damnable emotions. She should be stronger then this.
"And what do you mean Z'fer? Because right now all it sounds like to me is just you trying to talk me around into letting you use me all over again." She snapped over her shoulder slowly turning to face him her cheeks wet with tears even as they still dripped from her accusing eyes.
"You know what hurt the most? Not that you were trying to woo some air-headed thrice betweened Benden Queen. No, it's the fact you used me for your own ends thinking I wouldn't notice your game and never bothering to fill me in! I thought you were my friend! I trusted you! I thought you were better then them and that you'd treat me like an actual living breathing being! Not like an emotionless pawn. And then you grabbed me and~" Hekates voice trailed off cracking with emotion as she raised one arm to try and wipe away her tears a look of betrayal on her face. She was shamed, so ashamed to be seen crying by him of all people. Only Devith was allowed to see her cry. No one else and in the back of her mind she could feel the silver stirring angrily at her tears. However Hekate tried to calm him, to tell him to stay. There was no telling what he might do if he showed up them. While she was confident he wouldn't kill Z'fer she certainly didn't want Calanoth and Devith to fight just because the stupid bronzerider had made her cry.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:32 pm
He... That's exactly what it sounded like. Z'fer stopped a few feet away from her. His arms hung at his sides and he sighed. "Just... give me a chance. I didn't mean for you to think I was using you. And I never thought you'd be fooled by that! Shards you're young but I never thought you were stupid!" He took a step closer his voice pleading. It was humiliating but it was for Hekate. He'd been given that chance and is this doesn't work he was afraid of what lengths he may have to go to to fix things. "And I didn't exactly have a chance to 'fill you in' if you happened to notice. I wasn't expecting to run into her let alone you at the same time." Z'fer was secretly ashamed that he kept searching for help from Calanoth. The bronze was still there in the forefront of his mind. He could feel him but his mental voice was silent.
"For the love of little green dragons... I care for you. More than anyone I've ever met. It's stupid and... ugh." Z'fer wanted to reach out and hug her, his body leaned towards her. He wanted to forget all of this had happened, to go back to how they'd been just after the gather, curled up next to Calanoth in each other's arms. It wasn't even a sexual attraction anymore. It had grown far beyond that and he hated that he'd not let himself see it. "Hekate..." He almost whispered. Finally a small loving caress from Calanoth fluttered across their bond. "Hekate... I think I love you." The admission was strained. Z'fer for the first time seemed sunk in on himself as he stood before her.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:58 pm
"You could have just said hello and sent me on my way or asked for my help some other time. You had other options~" She reminded him staunchly though as he stepped closer his eyes pleading and voice soft she felt some of her anger begin to drain away. Why did he have to look at her like that? Why couldn't she just storm off? Why did he have to be such an idiot and worse why did she actually care about him. However no amount of questions changed the fact that Hekate did in fact care about him.
One by one her flits began to calm, the greens taking roost in the nearby trees their whirling eyes starting to soften as the others settled down. Hekate listened still dabbing away tears as Z'fer stumbled over his words. That is until it dawned on her what he was leading up to making her freeze and glance up at him with a wide eyed startled stare her usually sharp tongue silenced with shock.
Love? He loved her? Or just thought he loved her? Maybe he was just saying it to lure her into complacency? She couldn't trust him. That didn't change the fact though that she wanted to as she watched him seem to sink into himself under the weight of his own words and confusion.
Slowly Hekate moved forward with short hesitant steps until she stood, but a hands breadth away from him. Looking up at him her eyes were hard as glass and emotions within them unreadable. "You're a wher-headed idiot, but~" She said trailing off as she glanced down her expression softening slightly as she leaned forward closing the distance between them to tuck herself against his chest her arms reaching out to wrap around his waist in a hug. "I'm sorry I hit you. I was mad and you surprised me, but that doesn't mean I should have done it." Came her muffled admission even as her heart thudded in her chest.
Did he really love her? More importantly. . .did she love him?
Yes. But it would be some time yet before she'd admit such a thing outloud. Instead she settled for giving him a slight squeeze where she stood hugging him. "Next time warn me or at least bring me a cup of klah or something instead of grabbing my a**." She added trying to keep her muffled tone chipper though her voice still cracked slightly with latent emotion.
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:47 pm
It was hard, so very hard not to crack a smile at the stunned look on her face at his admission. It almost ruined the entire moment. He forced himself to hold still, barely breathing as if a single twitch might scare her off again. She'd probably never know was a test of his will it was though. He searched her face as she approached, unsure of whether she was actually going to forgive him... or setting him up for another attack. With her Z'fer honestly felt he couldn't be sure.
It wasn't until she slipped her arms under his that Z'fer allowed himself to breath. He clung to her the warmth of her pressed against his chest making him aware of the rather unmanly fluttering of his own heartbeat. "I probably deserved it. Though you can't blame me when you present it so prettily." He chuckled with relief. Of course he deserved it. Now that he had the apology he could admit it.
"I'm sorry too. I really do care about you. You're more than just a potential bedmate or another pretty skirt. Shards! I just..." Z'fer returned her squeeze. He didn't want to spoil anything now that he had her in his arms but their issues were legitimate and couldn't just be swept under the rug. "It's complicated. With the goldriders. I don't want you to think I'm using you. I'd rather have you on my side in this. It's politics." He looked down to meet her eyes.
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:18 pm
"Well~" She grumbled good naturedly. "I do have one of the nicest butt's in the Weyr." Hekate admitted never loosening her hug just basking in the quiet of the moment and letting Z'fer's words wash over her. It was the nicest feeling to be accepted, to be cared for. True he certainly wasn't the most respectable bronzerider in the Weyr has Dizzian had pointed out more then once to her, but he was hers.
Mine. I think you are getting in too deep. Can you truly trust him? Devith rumbled low in her mind. While Hekate was willing to forgive he was still bitter over the pain Z'fer had caused his rider. However if she wished to keep him then he would not take from her this one happiness. Z'fer simply would have to watch his steps.
Hekate ponder her dragon's words even as she listened to Z'fer's. Could she trust him? Could he really handle the truth? True she hadn't lied to him, but she wasn't forthcoming either. Then again neither was he. . .but it was worth taking the risk. For now she would watch and wait. Give him time to regain her trust then maybe if she thought he could handle it she'd tell him the whole story. However matters needed to be dealt with.
"I know it's complicated. . .however that doesn't mean I like it." Hekate explained her voice rough and laden with hate for the shining golds. "If~" And she held up her hand before he could try and explain himself further wanting to speak her piece before he thought she was throwing the whole idea out without a second thought. "If you promise to stand by me then I promise to support you in this. I won't say I'll be the easiest person to deal with. I have my problems just like you. I won't say I'll be happy about it, but as long as you come back to me no matter how many dragons you fly and don't leave me for some girl who's dragon happens to have a shinier hide then I'll help you." She stated looking up at him to lock her gold eyes with his stormy gray green ones. There was a certain power to her words, a seriousness and levity to her tone that far outweighed her age in that moment.
"Most others would scoff and ask what a weyrling can do for them, but you know me Z'fer. You know the moment Devith and I graduate we won't be content to languish in the lower ranks. We'll claw our way the top as fast as we can and I can help you. If you promise to at least try to be honest with me about your plans so we don't clash then I'll promise to learn to trust you and do the same." Hekate explained taking one of his hands into her own and giving it a light squeeze. She couldn't honestly say how she'd react come time for the Queen flight anymore then she could say how he'd react upon learning about her past. However like all things they'd cross that bridge when they came to it and probably light it on fire while they were at it.
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