Sionnach (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"If tha' tired old man can keep up." Sam pressed his forehead to hers. "Give Soma a little time an' then sit down an' talk with 'im. Tha' way when we do go off, it's on a good note."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I told him that I'd talk to Ezra about a punishment. I know I should let it go, but he insists that he wants to be treated just like everyone else." Fiona murmured as Sam pressed his forehead against her own. "I don't think he'd appreciate it if I backed down now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Soma's a lot more understanding than you give him credit for, love. Save the hard front for th' greenhorns that actually need it. Soma understands discussion and explanation better than strong-arming."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then Ezra is the soul to set him straight. He won't go easy on him." Fiona said as she relaxed into Sam's chest and just let herself exist for a while.

When Riley woke, she smell food cooking on the fire that was close. She was sore, but felt better without a splitting headache. Sitting up carefully, her eye was swollen shut, but she could still see clearly. Andre was in his usual spot next to the fire and Brogan was sleeping near by.

"Why did you leave last night?" Riley asked Andre. "You know better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do know better. But I also knew a bunch of people we care about were out there," Andre murmured quietly so not to disturb Brogan. "Emotion won over logic."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And you left me behind knowing that I had been hurt." Riley murmured as Andre admitted that he had been in the wrong.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I left you with Jani who I knew could take good care of you, because I was more worried about how you'd feel if something bad happened to one of the others." Andre looked over at her. "You know there isn't a right answer here and you're going to be mad no matter what, so just be mad, Ri. I was impetuous and ran off to help people despite too much risk. But I figure you would've been right beside me if you hadn't had that bad landing."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course I would have." Riley said as she wrapped her cloak tightly around her shoulders. "But it was hard to wake up without knowing what had happened and not knowing where you had gone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know. I thought about that." Andre looked back to the slowly bubbling pot over the fire. "If Jani hadn't been there too, I wouldn't have even thought of leaving. But she's a lot more capable than me when it comes to taking care of a nearly-crashed Rider."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Just know that if you ever do it again, I might not be so forgiving.” Riley said in a soft voice, not having the energy to stay angry or sustain a fight with him. It was her little way to give in without giving too much to him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I figured that was the deal." Andre rose despite his twisted ankle to move to her side of the fire, settling beside her to wrap an arm about her shoulders. He didn't need to say much else, but he kept close for the time being.

It was a few days before the dragons were deemed ready to go by Jani and Fiona, and the rest of the journey to the mainland was mercifully clear. Rain only set in once, just after they'd stopped to camp, and then they were unbothered the rest of the way.

They arrived back at the Voya village nearly a month after they'd originally left, and we're welcomed back heartily by the locals and more family members who'd come to Sweden. According to updates delivered by Mako who'd recently come through, the entire Ghis family, even Dylandra and her children, were either in Norway or Sweden.

As they were all being greeted and helped to unsaddle their dragons, Schaller appeared, a clear concern in his gaze. Fiona's uncles had insisted on taking care of her tack and looking after Invah, so Schaller gently plucked her from the group, letting her perch on his crest.

"You scared me, my love," Schaller murmured as he walked away from the main group. "We just barely beat the storm and I was more and more afraid each day I didn't see you. But thankfully, we managed to make it out of the way before the storm really hit. Sveri slept most of the way, and her ears finally opened up, thankfully. When we arrived, those other two dragons weren't happy to see us, but they've been tolerant. Dzana's staying up in one of the mountain caverns, far from the village and noise." As Schaller was updating her, he motioned toward one of the nearby mountains. Glaynviahr, the Voya dragon, had a few dens around the place, and had offered one to Dzana to nest in for privacy. "She's doing... better. But it will be a long time before she's any kind of social. Thankfully, she's allowed Luna and Jan to take a look at her wounds and Sveri, and they're both doing well."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sat easily on his crest, road-weary, and happy to be back home. She was exhausted and mostly still frozen, but she didn't complain as Schaller took her away from the rest of them and off on their own.

"We almost didn't make it. Riley and Brogan were injured along with their dragons. Andre turned an ankle, but he seems better now." She explained where they had been. "The rest of us are just half-frozen and exhausted. Sam's threatening to take me somewhere tropical for a while to get the last of it out of our system."

"And how have you been? I know it's been hard with everything going on. Did Rikke have questions about Dzana?" Fiona asked as they lumbered along at a slow pace.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Fiona mentioned she was still cold, he plucked her off his crest and held her against his chest with one arm til they found a quiet spot to sit down and he let her rest against him as his chest glowed green and heated up. "It's... gotten better. I ended up carrying Sveri a good half the way back, trading off with Dzana so one could sleep in flight while the other kept watch. Dzana's thawed a bit and she lets me help out and bring her materials and food, and Sveri seems attached to me. Rikke's been keeping a respectful distance and hasn't asked too much, but I took a moment yesterday to explain the broad story. She understands, and she actually went to meet Dzana last night. They seem cordial, and Dzana told Rikke about the sister she never knew... I've told her bits and pieces, but Dzana is braver than I. She told Rikke everything she could remember. They even seemed to hit it off after that... And Sveri's been excited about new dragons."

 

[heartofcourage]

"One big happy dragon family," Fiona said with a slight smirk to Schaller. "It sounds much better than what I've been going through the past few days. I didn't think we were going to get off that damned island and Soma has shown a rebellious streak almost as bad as his sister."

Fiona went quiet for a moment, simply leaning against her dragon's scales as he did his best to keep her warm. "You know that you always have your freedom to do what you wish. If you felt like you needed to leave to be with Dzana, I wouldn't stop you. It might wreck this family, but you've done your service to us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My home is with you," he told her firmly without missing a beat. "What Dzana and I had will never be whole again. We may become friends, even fall in love again... but she knows where my heart lies. Even if she's scornful to the world of Riders, she once knew the bond of Rider and dragon. And with Elder Dragons, that's simply a bond you don't break." He nuzzled gently against her. "You are the love of my life for as long as you live. My dearest sister and comrade."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona had to smile, chuckling softly as he swore that she was the love of his life. "Sam has even more reason to be jealous then. To think, this all started with you nearly killing me all those years ago. I knew that I would wear you down in the end."

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller chuckled deeply, curling around her comfortably for a long while to let her rest unbothered. Eventually when he returned her to Rhett's little homestead, it was growing late and Sam was waiting for her, sitting against the outside wall of the house with a chilled clay jug of mead and two cups. Tati was asleep against his side, and Owen was there with his own cup, seemingly half-dreaming as he sat on Tati's opposite side.

"Hey, love," Sam greeted as Fiona approached, and Owen looked up as well. The old Fox stood stiffly and greeted his daughter with a tight embrace.

"Welcome back, little kit," Owen murmured. "Your daughter wore herself out telling Sam stories. I'm sure she'll do it all over again soon for you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I look forward to hearing all of her stories over and over again," Fiona said as she hugged her father tightly, nuzzling against him before she turned to scoop Tati up. "But, I think first, it's time for her to be in bed. She's probably been worried about us this entire time just as everyone has."

She kissed Sam's cheek as she passed into the house to put their youngest kit to bed, grabbing extra food on her way back to sit and enjoy a moment with her husband and her father. "Things are getting difficult, Da. Far more difficult than I could have imagined with getting all the dragons to a safe place."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know," Owen nodded slowly. "Sam told me a bit. I think once we get past this next year and once things are settled... I'm going to start working with the havens again. We need Callers and Riders out there keeping a finger on the pulse of things. I think once their military duties are done, I'll see about getting some of your younger Riders contracted by the Northern Kingdoms for this. See if Kayla and Monomakh especially would fund the effort of supplying scouts, and training promising new Riders. I'm a bit too slow to go out and wander anymore... But I can help with training and advocating."

 

[heartofcourage]

"How about being too slow to watch our kits if we were to go on a small trip?" Fiona asked as she snacked on a piece of Rhett's fresh bread. "It's probably a taller order than working with the havens, especially with Soma finding his rebellious streak."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Considering Riley seems content to adventure with Andre, I'll really only have two to worry about." Owen smiled lightly. "Why, what did you have in mind?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’m not sure. Sam seems to have some secret plans in mind and wants to go off traveling with me.” Fiona said as she looked at her husband with a small smile. “He’s a sly old man the older he gets.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Wandering around fer fun isn't a secret," Sam chuckled. "Jus' wanna get away with you fer a while."

"Absolutely. You should," Owen encouraged. "I can hold down the fort with your uncles."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Maybe you could talk with Soma. You might understand him better than us about everything happening to him.” Fiona said as she looked over at Owen and laid her head against Sam’s shoulder. “I’m not sure I have the strength for another teenager like Riley.”

"He's not a bad child. He's never gotten into any real trouble. He's just stuck between being a boy and a man and wants to be the latter sooner than we would like." Fiona let out a long sigh and shook her head slightly. "I don't want him to lose his way in life. It terrifies me that he might find our family's habit of burying yourself in drink to numb the pain or Sam's family hiding behind a lack of emotions."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It may require some bending on everyone's part. But don't give up on him at the first sign of resistance, little kit. He's at a difficult stage." Owen picked himself up once more, glancing around. "Maybe I'll have a little chat with him. See what he needs."