Baby Foster

Writers: Devin, Chelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 10th February 2015

Characters: Z'ku, Pierka, Dazien
Description: Things are sometimes harder than you think.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 2 of Turn 7

Z'ku

Pierka

He was asleep but everything was packed up, at least everything she
was going to take down to Kazom's foster mother. Of course she'd keep
the magnificent cradle T'nom had made because there would be times
when he still stayed with her even though her weyr was quite small.

"This is going to be difficult," she sighed as she looked down at the
little guy.

"I'm going to miss him." Z'ku was trying not to think about _how_
much. "But it will be nice to sleep through the night." There were a
few positives, and of course it was necessary. They were both riders
and Pierka would be going back to her wing soon.

She smiled at Z'ku and picked up her son. "We'll still get to see
him," she told him softly though she was telling herself as much as
the bronzerider. "I'm going to miss this," she said and slung the bag over
her shoulder. "Ready?"

Sitting in her quarters, Dazien found herself rocking back and forth as she
watched the little four turn old play with blocks in the floor. It
wasn't unusual
for her to have up to four weyrbrats in her care, though they were usually mixed
ages. At the moment she only had one but she was getting a new arrival.

Z'ku followed Pierka down the hall, telling himself he wasn't going to
cry when they handed Kazom over.

**Your hatchling will be okay and you will be okay,** Xemroth told him.

Pierka made her way to the right door and knocked. Then waited with a
ready smile for the woman to open the door. Her heart was torn but she
knew her duty. It was her job to fight Thread to keep Kazom safe and
it would be this woman who made sure he was dry and fed.

Getting up and walking a short ways, the average blonde woman answered the door.
Opening it wide, she wasn't surprised to see the two parents. The
Headwoman had told her they were young and this was their first-which
would make it harder of course. "Hello and welcome. Come in." She
greeted them with a smile and stood back to welcome them into her
quarters.

Z'ku followed her inside and couldn't help wondering if this woman was
good enough to take care of their son. But Dazien had been doing this
for turns, she must be good at raising children.

"Good morning Dazien," Pierka smiled at the fostermother. She'd met
her a couple of times when the Headwoman had helped her choose the
appropriate woman. She shrugged the bag off her shoulder and held it
out. "Here are his things."

Taking the bag, Dazien set it aside on the empty table by the door and ushered
them inside before shutting the door behind them lest the small being
on the floor think to leave by the opening. As it was, the young girl
realized there were guests and turned around. "Hi!" she said with a
quick smile.

Dazien, on the other hand, didn't make a move to take the baby. She
knew they would need to give him over instead if they had any hope of
leaving him here. "Her name is Felsha. She likes saying hi." The
fostermother's look was indulgent
but full of fondness.

"Hi Felsha." Z'ku squatted near the girl. "Did your fostermother tell
you you're getting a new brother?"

"Oh! No. Just visitors." Her eyes looked back at Z'ku, measuring. Her
expression didn't change though. "What's a brother?" Grinning, she
clapped her hands together.

Dazien whispered very quietly as she stood beside Pierka and behind the
bronzerider. "She's a little...Mentally she isn't like the other children her
turns. She's sweeter than a bubbly pie though." Known for taking on the
challenges, Dazien had volunteered to take Felsha when it had become
known she would develop slower.

"Oh." Z'ku hesitated, not sure how to explain things. "Well," he told
Felsha, "You know how you live with Dazien? Kazom is going to live
with her, too. So you'll all live together."

"Fun! He can play too." She offered Z'ku a block quickly, ready to be praised
for sharing.

Smiling behind him, Dazien watched the baby in his mother's arms.
Usually they found the transition hard at first-seeing a different
face and hearing a different voice. Time would change that though and
it wasn't as if he wouldn't see his parents
from time to time.

Pierka smiled when she saw the sweetness of the little girl. She might
not be entirely happy about the situation or giving her son to this
woman but she trusted the headwoman and knew it was her duty to fight
thread so that Felsha and Kazom could grow up strong and healthy. She
took a deep breath appreciating Dazien's patience and placed the
little bundle in the woman's arms. Then she bent and kissed the tiny
cheek.

Adjusting the weight as Kazom settled, Dazien looked up at Pierka. "You're
welcome to come anytime to see him. And he'll know just how important his
parents are. My duty to you, greenrider."

Z'ku took the block. "Thank you. I could come and play with you
sometimes, too. Would that be okay?" he asked Felsha. She was going to
be Kazom's foster sister, so he wanted to establish a good
relationship with her. He glanced up at Pierka and his heart clenched
as she handed their son to Dazien.

Pierka continued to smile but when she saw Z'ku look up at her her
composure broke and her bottom lip began to tremble. "I'm," she
couldn't finish and her vision blurred with unshed tears. "I'm sorry,"
she finally choked out. "Thank you," she added before she turned and
bolted out the door. She ran partway down the corridor before the sobs
came. Then she held on to the wall and struggled to continue toward
her Weyr. She felt Liddith in her mind crooning and soothing and
sending wave after wave of affirmation and love. She struggled toward
the beacon.

"I'm sorry. I should go see how she is." Z'ku smiled an apology at
Dazien. "And I'll see you soon," he told Felsha. With one more glance
at Kazom, he hurried out to find Pierka.

His heart broke when he saw her crying, half-leaning on the wall as
she tried to walk. "Hey," he slid his arms around her. "It'll be
okay." Swallowing, he tried to hold back his own tears.

Leaving the two of them alone, Dazien smiled at Felsha who went back to
her blocks, oblivious. Then she took her rocking chair again as she held the
baby. "They'll be alright little man. They just need to realize it's better this
way for you and them. And you'll be loved."

Pierka turned and clung to Z'ku burying her face in his chest. She
couldn't even speak at first. Afer a few moments she collected herself
enough to look up at him. "I didn't know it would be this hard."

"Neither did I." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Would you
like to get out of here for a while? Maybe go play with the dolphins?"
They needed something to distract themselves, even if it couldn't
fully take their minds off what happened.

She nodded and wiped her eyes with one hand, still holding on to him
with the other. "Good idea," she said. "Let's go."

Last updated on the February 11th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Baby Foster