Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I will," he nodded, his expression unchanging. "I promise."

As Y'io was turning to leave, he heard a familiar bugle; at the same time, Taliorth touched his mind. Mine! I come! From across the Weyrbowl, a large light brown dragon soared, backwinging to a landing right in front of Y'io, effectively blocking his escape. What is wrong, Mine? I felt something was distressing you! Who is this? Is she upsetting you? His eyes whirled orange as he looked at Mavri.

Y'io sighed. "No. I'm fine. This..." he gestured toward Mavri, speaking so she could hear, "is an old friend of mine. I didn't know she was here at High Reaches. Mavri, this is Taliorth."

Taliorth's eyes slowed their whirling and the orange quickly became a blue-green blend. Yes, I am Taliorth! You seem like a nice person. I don't know why Mine would be distressed over you...

Y'io eyed Dezinarth warily. If the blue dragon thought he was harming his rider in any way, it promised not to end well for any of them.

Taliorth, for his part, dipped his head at Mavri, studying her. Hello, Mavri. Mine was distressed for some reason -- I don't know why, he has feelings for you and I don't think that would upset him... Then he turned to Dezinarth. Mine means Yours no harm, Dezinarth. He has feelings for her and he seems confused by it? Mine doesn't like being confused.

With a heavy sigh, Y'io closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Taliorth was not helping. Not when he was still trying to sort everything out himself.

Y'io could feel the color rising in his face. Mine's mate! N- no, Dezinarth, your rider is not my mate --

Oh, is she the girl you used to love? Taliorth interrupted. You have told me about her! The brown's head moved very close to Mavri. Mine told me all about you! He said you hurt him very badly. That is why he is hurting now! But he also still has feelings for you? This is all very confusing...

There seemed to be no dissuading Dezinarth of the idea that Y'io was Mavri's mate. Y'io wasn't about to let the blue know about the few letters he had received, and he forced the memory of tearing them up unread and tossing them in the fireplace down as deep as he could. As for the rest... He sighed. There was no way he was going to lie to a grumpy, protective dragon.

But he knew -- or hoped, at least -- that the dragon wouldn't lie either.

Was she really Searched? Did her parents really encourage her to come here? Y'io gave Dezinarth images of what he saw that awful day four years ago. I... I have to know.

Taliorth crooned beneath Mavri's hand. I believe you.

As the images from Dezinarth flooded into his mind, Y'io felt more and more chagrined. Mavri was telling the truth; she was Searched by the dragonman, her parents had basically forced her to leave him. He was wrong for believing she would have fallen for and run off with another. How could he have doubted her?

"Thank you, Dezinarth," he said softly, petting the blue's nose. He looked at Mavri and for the first time the tiniest bit of emotion showed on his face. "I was a stupid teenager, full of angst and insecurity. When I saw you get on that dragon's back, I automatically assumed the worst. Why wouldn't I? Every girl I'd known before you betrayed me. You were no different. But... you were."

He closed the distance between them and held his hands out to her. "It's still going to take me awhile to process everything. Still... I would like to get to know you again. Slowly, because my heart is still hurting. It needs time to heal."

"You didn't know, Mavri," Y'io said, shaking his head slightly. "I didn't know either. The letters... might have helped. But what's done is done. The important thing now is we have found each other again. We can move on from that."

Taliorth whuffled happily at the two riders and tilted his head at Dezinarth. I think Mine is happy again! Everything is going to work out. They have us now, so no more miscommunication -- we can do the communicating for them. Isn't that right, Dezinarth?