06.Sep.19, 07:22 AM
Despite not being tired, A'tay found himself lightly drifting off from time to time as Madiquel's nap kept going. He spent most of the time talking with Xyxyth and sometimes he'd watch Zezeth who was usually watching him in return. A few times he ventured to have a conversation with the green dragon when it became clear Madiquel was zonked right out but Zezeth had gone silent, only giving little nods when A'tay figured out yes and no questions worked best. In the end, he tried to sleep if only because his legs had fallen asleep and it kind of hurt and he didn't want to think about it.
When Madiquel finally stirred, A'tay was in the middle of one of his not-quite-asleep moments and he continued staying still in case his friend was just rolling over in her sleep. He gathered from Zezeth that Madiquel needed the rest so he wasn't going to disturb her in any way. But then she was bolting from the bed and out the room and A'tay looked over at Zezeth who almost seemed to shrug in reply to his silent question of 'what the heck just happened?'
"Looks like I have two dragons now," A'tay joked with a smile when Madiquel didn't immediately come back. "Not sure I want to go through weyrlinghood again when I'm just about to graduate from it, though. No offense, Zezeth." He wondered if that would be the better option versus being a full dragonrider for years and then suddenly going through it all again. At least he was still used to the restrictions and the rules whereas his brother hadn't gone through it in like five years!
When Madiquel did return, she went right into a task that involved all the items she held and he watched, bemused but not wanting to interrupt her work. But maybe he should have, as he seemed to startle her when she glanced his way. Did she forget he was there? A'tay laughed and shook his head at her statement. "I was never actually asleep. And it's fine, not rude at all. You needed the sleep and apparently I'm a good pillow. R'dal will be pleased to hear that. Or maybe he'll be worried? I could be competition now for all the cuddles out there."
He was still smiling when he joined Madiquel at the picnic. He wasn't sure what suddenly prompted it but he was okay with it since he was getting a bit hungry. Honestly, his rumbling stomach was probably what woke Madiquel! He'd been too nervous to eat anything before seeing Jajojin and too afraid after to consider food. But now, food was good. Or it was until Jajojin was brought up again and he stopped reaching for the snack.
"The outside world is the same as usual, nothing exciting there. Though, everyone really wants to see all of you. Pretty sure Mylorah is close to either seducing a Healer or just camping out nearby so she can see you and the boys." His sister was a lot of things, and patient was sometimes one of them--but not since the Hatching. She was close to all three that Impressed and it was driving her crazy not being able to check in on any of them. A'tay was glad he wasn't an assistant or Healer and having to deal with her.
He couldn't delay the letter again so he reached back to the bed where the letter had been set and cleared his throat to read the words that he had practically memorized by that point. "My baby girl, you're probably having a rough time and I'm sorry I can't be there to help you. But I will be there soon. You know how hard that sort of travel is for me and my love for you is warring with my fears. Otherwise, I would have been there the moment I heard. But when I see the dragon meant to take me... I love you, my sweet girl. Papa"
A'tay fell silent as he finished reading but stared at the paper a moment longer. He had a feeling Madiquel would be crying and still blaming herself for Impressing and he didn't want to see her that upset. "He does love you, DiDi. I even saw him try to mount Zeianth for the trip over here today instead of sending me with the letter but... he couldn't." In fact, Jajojin had started crying and holding his head at what A'tay guessed were memories of climbing aboard Denath likely flooded back to him. But he couldn't tell Madiquel those details, knowing they would destroy her. At least he hadn't seen Xyxyth, the bronze wisely hiding up with Kadaisicalth in the blue's weyr until he was needed.
When Madiquel finally stirred, A'tay was in the middle of one of his not-quite-asleep moments and he continued staying still in case his friend was just rolling over in her sleep. He gathered from Zezeth that Madiquel needed the rest so he wasn't going to disturb her in any way. But then she was bolting from the bed and out the room and A'tay looked over at Zezeth who almost seemed to shrug in reply to his silent question of 'what the heck just happened?'
"Looks like I have two dragons now," A'tay joked with a smile when Madiquel didn't immediately come back. "Not sure I want to go through weyrlinghood again when I'm just about to graduate from it, though. No offense, Zezeth." He wondered if that would be the better option versus being a full dragonrider for years and then suddenly going through it all again. At least he was still used to the restrictions and the rules whereas his brother hadn't gone through it in like five years!
When Madiquel did return, she went right into a task that involved all the items she held and he watched, bemused but not wanting to interrupt her work. But maybe he should have, as he seemed to startle her when she glanced his way. Did she forget he was there? A'tay laughed and shook his head at her statement. "I was never actually asleep. And it's fine, not rude at all. You needed the sleep and apparently I'm a good pillow. R'dal will be pleased to hear that. Or maybe he'll be worried? I could be competition now for all the cuddles out there."
He was still smiling when he joined Madiquel at the picnic. He wasn't sure what suddenly prompted it but he was okay with it since he was getting a bit hungry. Honestly, his rumbling stomach was probably what woke Madiquel! He'd been too nervous to eat anything before seeing Jajojin and too afraid after to consider food. But now, food was good. Or it was until Jajojin was brought up again and he stopped reaching for the snack.
"The outside world is the same as usual, nothing exciting there. Though, everyone really wants to see all of you. Pretty sure Mylorah is close to either seducing a Healer or just camping out nearby so she can see you and the boys." His sister was a lot of things, and patient was sometimes one of them--but not since the Hatching. She was close to all three that Impressed and it was driving her crazy not being able to check in on any of them. A'tay was glad he wasn't an assistant or Healer and having to deal with her.
He couldn't delay the letter again so he reached back to the bed where the letter had been set and cleared his throat to read the words that he had practically memorized by that point. "My baby girl, you're probably having a rough time and I'm sorry I can't be there to help you. But I will be there soon. You know how hard that sort of travel is for me and my love for you is warring with my fears. Otherwise, I would have been there the moment I heard. But when I see the dragon meant to take me... I love you, my sweet girl. Papa"
A'tay fell silent as he finished reading but stared at the paper a moment longer. He had a feeling Madiquel would be crying and still blaming herself for Impressing and he didn't want to see her that upset. "He does love you, DiDi. I even saw him try to mount Zeianth for the trip over here today instead of sending me with the letter but... he couldn't." In fact, Jajojin had started crying and holding his head at what A'tay guessed were memories of climbing aboard Denath likely flooded back to him. But he couldn't tell Madiquel those details, knowing they would destroy her. At least he hadn't seen Xyxyth, the bronze wisely hiding up with Kadaisicalth in the blue's weyr until he was needed.