World of Pern
[G] [C] [EVENT] 720.02.16 | Moving Day - Printable Version

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720.02.16 | Moving Day - S'igi - 29.Nov.17

Finally the call to reunite had come. S’igi had nearly given up on this day, though he had long since stopped asking Kovith on a daily basis if he had heard anything or could reach any of the golds they knew. The fact that it came from Nirinath and Tsuen didn’t really bother him. S’igi could only assume she had knowledge of the plague and it dying out that he clearly didn’t know. He had taken the exile seriously and never sought out anyone else. He did have two beautiful women with him for most of his time exiled so that had helped. The past several months had been hard on him, though, with raising two young toddlers on his own when he didn’t even have a strong affection for children to begin with.

He paused in his packing of the few things they had as memories hit him hard with the death of his lovers and the birth of his children. His gaze went distant as he sat down in the dirt, playing idly with the buckle of his riding jacket.

Everything had been going rather well considering they were in exile and only three of them. He had chosen wisely over those he would take with him. He had been casually seeing greenrider D’nal and while she was a great lay, S’igi almost turned her away, afraid for Kovith. In the end, it seemed both of their dragons were fine and it was best to pack and head out as soon as possible. With two dragons, they were able to pack a decent amount of clothing and supplies and still have room for the other woman he was casually seeing; the Effervescent kitchen worker Kimalt. She was easy on the eyes but also could cook for them, which was a strong selling point since he could barely boil water for klah.

They had a good arrangement and S’igi was almost able to convince himself he was happy with being settled down even if it was with two women who had to come to terms with sharing or not getting anything at all. Then, he had screwed up and got D’nal pregnant. Kovith still liked to point out he had been careless and taking care of the kids was a proper punishment. S’igi supposed Kimalt’s jealousy and insisting a few months later when it was obvious D’nal was with child that she also wanted to give him a kid was part of the punishment for being stupid. Since he was stuck in the wild with two women that could swing their mood as fast as swing a stick at his head, he had relented and taken the next several months to increase their fortification around their camp, knowing the wailing babies would attract predators’ attention.

S’igi focused again on the task and went to the bags that were stuffed in the corner of their hut that he hadn’t looked at for months, having belonged to Kimalt. D’nal’s pregnancy had been surprisingly easy and it was only when she went into labour that he truly realized how stupid it was to knock up both women. They didn’t have a Healer and none of them knew more than basic first aid for scrapes and a fever. Luckily, she had survived and given him a son, Dyndandal. Kimalt, however, hadn’t been as lucky. The labour was long and hard and in the end she bled out and died hours after giving birth to a girl, Kydra. She had held her daughter and seemed at peace and, oddly, S’igi took comfort in that. He didn’t blame the girl for killing one of his lovers and the one that was most talented with cooking, but focused on the positive; they had learned to cook along the way and D’nal was happy to look after both kids.

He decided that all the supplies they could carry would be welcomed at the reunion since he wasn’t sure what anyone else had though most of her clothes had been repurposed for the children. Kimalt’s bags were added to the trunk and without debate, D’nal’s were added as well. Someone might like her extra clothing. A slight pang of guilt hit him and S’igi almost didn’t recognize the foreign emotion. It hadn’t been his fault for her death but sometimes he wondered if they could have done more or maybe he should have gone with her on the foraging for berries. The felines hadn’t been seen in over a week and they assumed it was safe. They were on her quickly and Kovith was quicker than the lazy green that had been napping in the sun and got to her side, but not quick enough. He had suffered vicious claw attacks and even a few bites before they were scared off. It didn’t matter though. D’nal was dying and Kovith was bleeding from deep enough wounds to leave scars. By nightfall, D’nal was in enough agony that she asked her dragon to take them between to end it sooner and with more peace than her wounds would give her.

The next day, sitting somewhat numb at the campfire as he made klah, S’igi debated bringing the kids out to the woods and leave them for the felines. He couldn’t though. He wasn’t a murderer and couldn’t banish their mothers’ memories that easily with them out of sight.

Even now, hours before they would head off to reunite, S’igi once again had a brief moment of leaving the kids behind. Kovith, however, had already chided him for those thoughts and S’igi took that seriously. The bronze didn’t like kids any more than he did but he did have a high code of morals that wouldn’t let either of them abandon those who couldn’t take care of themselves.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t foist the toddlers onto someone else as soon as they were reunited with others once more. It’d be best for the kids and even better for him and his need to stretch his wings and be free again.