+- World of Pern (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum)
+-- Forum: Fort Territories (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Forum: Fort Weyr (https://pern.second-pass.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=123)
+--- Thread: [G] [C] 741.01.30 | Gotta Have... Taith (/showthread.php?tid=4619)
741.01.30 | Gotta Have... Taith - Kor'is - 30.Jan.20
Why do you keep staring at me?
"Because I still don't believe you're real," Kor'is replied quickly and honestly. It had been a little over two weeks since he Impressed to the dragon and he still doubted what was before him. Sighing, he leaned back to rest on his elbows and stretched his legs out in front of him, enjoying what passed as a nice and apparently warm winter day. Fort sucked and he was really missing Ista's weather.
They were currently on their 'free time' which meant they were still being watched closely by their evil overlords but were allowed to scatter out a bit more in the designated area of the Bowl to mingle as they wanted. Kor'is didn't want to mingle and needed to get further away from the obnoxious golds and just all of the extra voices in general. So he had led Taith as far away as was permitted and let the dragon roll about on the ground and pounce on his shadow and do whatever else pleased the blue ball.
He could still hear some of the louder dragons in the class but it was still the most silence he had had since the Hatching which meant he could think. And that meant he was thinking about what his life had become. What was he supposed to do with a dragon? Sure, when they first came back, Kor'is had thought it was the perfect chance to escape life in the Hold and his failings and he had convinced Alcynnia to take the mentor role in the Weyr. He had even eventually convinced himself to try for a dragon. But with each Hatching, Kor'is started to realise the dangers and the hassle and could see more of what Alcynnia meant in some of her rantings.
He was also away from Ista island in a major capacity for the first time in his life and where had that landed him? Two years ago he had ventured to Telgar for a Hatching and was almost killed. Telgar Hold's Gather had reunited him with Tazikel and brought the damned lordling back into his life. Tillek had given him a couple of crazy nights with said damned lordling and their shared lover that had left him confused for days and Fort Weyr left him with a dragon that had left him shackled for life. He always believed Ista held nothing for him but Kor'is didn't think that was so bad now. At least nothing was quiet; routine. Nothing good came from leaving that island.
Taith trotted over and playfully swatted at Kor'is' boot and then giggled as he more or less chased his tail twice before settling down beside his human. See? I'm real. We couldn't touch if I wasn't. Right? I can't touch the people in your memories because they aren't real. I think...
Kor'is patted the dragon's head that was now resting across his legs and sighed again. "Yeah, kind of. They're real people but they aren't really here so you can't touch them." The dragon's innocent take on the situation made some sense and he hated how he could so easily see it that way.
He also hated how much weakness he had shown at the Hatching thanks to Taith. Everyone had seen him go to the clumsy blue and dust him off with concern. It was definitely done in a moment of weakness as he was caught up in the bliss that came with the Impression and how he felt a piece that had been missing suddenly fall into place.
He did love the dragon as much as he could but Kor'is suspected that probably wasn't very much given how little he had ever experienced the emotion. His mother didn't love him, he didn't even know the name of his father, and the only woman he thought he loved was a bitch that was only using him. So really, what was love? How did he know what he felt for Taith was love or genuine or all he could give?
It's okay, Kor'is. I know you're trying and that's enough. We will figure the rest out as we go; together.
Together...
"Not like I have a choice, kiddo," Kor'is replied and sat up so he could continue petting the pudge-master with more ease. They stayed that way for the remainder of their free time, mostly in silence with a bit of light conversation before they were called back to the group.
And the chaos of his new life picked up again.