Meeting Pierka

Writers: Devin, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th June 2015

Characters: L'cor, Pierka, Z'ku, Annileri, Yendon
Description: Pierka remembers meeting her grandparents.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 5 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Lanniya

L'cor

Pierka

Z'ku

As she fastened the last of the ties on the little flight suit she'd
borrowed for the purpose Pierka picked up her son and smiled into his
tiny face. We're going for a visit," she said softly and fastened him
to herself with straps. Then she walked out onto the ledge

~~~Flashback~~~

When the young bronze landed at River Bluff it was for the purpose of
transporting a pair of elderly traders to Dolphin Cove for a visit. He
wasn't fully informed as to the reason but he knew there were the
grandparents of the newest gold rider. He was still new enough in his
position as a bronze rider that he hadn't met all the gold riders on
the continent.

"Hello," he greeted the people in the Weyrbowl. "I'm L'cor of Dolphin
Cove," he said after he'd slid down to the ground.

Annileri smiled, but it was a nervous smile as she stared at the big
bronze. She hadn't been dragon-back before and Lanniya's little gold
wasn't quite so big yet. But the reason they were going...it was so
worth it. "It's a pleasure, L'cor of Dolphin Cove."

Yendon, though nervous for much the same reason, didn't show it as
much. He offered his hand to L'cor, a smile coming to his mouth. "Your
bronze is a handsome one. I'm Yendon and this is my wife Annileri.
Thank you for taking us to your Weyr. It's appreciated."

L'cor smiled reassuringly and stuck out his hand to take Yendon's.
"Thank you sir," he smiled. "Very good to meet you both." He signaled
for Torerath to crouch down as low as possible to make it easier for
the lady to board. "If you would like to climb aboard or if that seems
difficult I believe there is amounting platform over there." He
pointed at the rock face where stairs led up to a platform.

It took some effort for Annileri to get mounted and settled, but
Yendon was able to get her up with gentle encouragement. He followed,
sitting behind his wife with his arm wrapped lightly around her. He
checked the straps, then waited for the bronzerider to climb up. He
assumed that he had done the buckles correctly, especially if they
were anything like his granddaughters.

L'cor climbed up and checked all the straps then settled into his own
seat in front of the pair. Tonuth's broad back and wings could carry
much more than just three people and he knew it. After a brief
instruction about /between/ and what it was going to be like. Then
with a small warning they were in the air and climbing to an
appropriate altitude. He thought he'd better get it over quickly so he
formed a firm picture of the beautiful bay and weyrbowl and sent them
through. A moment later they were circling down into the bowl toward a
group of waiting people.

Annileri and Yendon had borne the trip /between/ well enough, though
neither could say it was something they'd beg to experience again. The
warmth of Dolphin Cove's weather immediately chased the chill away and
they looked down at the bowl with awe and excitement. Hope churned in
both of them as the circled lower. Was their Pierkanya there? Could it
be that she was alive and had been all this time? Neither of them had
mentioned it to Lanniya; they hadn't wanted to get her hopes up just
to be possibly dashed later.

Pierka looked up when Liddith told her Tonuth had arrived. She watched
the bronze circle to a landing nearby and blew out a slow breath to
calm herself down. She reached out for Z'ku's hand and gave him a
quick squeeze.

Both elderly traders' hearts were collectively pounding as they were
helped down from the big bronze. They thanked L'cor, brushed
themselves off with a shiver with the memory of /between/, and then
looked up at the group of people around them. Annileri scanned the
group, her gaze hopeful and immediately went still when her eyes
landed on Pierka. She gave a startled gasp and grabbed her husband's
arm with a shaking hand. The recognition in her eyes was instant, even
as they flooded with sudden tears. "Yendon...look. It's true, sweet
Faranth, it's true!"

Her husband turned to gaze in the direction his wife had indicated. He
had hidden the fear that this hope would be false, that they would be
crushed when they arrived and found that their granddaughter would
remain lost to them. But when his eyes lit upon Pierka's face, he
couldn't stifle the sob that emerged out of his throat. He clutched at
his wife and took a stumbling step forward, then another, his steps
quickening. "Pierkanya...

Annileri's steps were quicker. So focused on Pierka's face, the rest
of the people didn't matter. She didn't know who they were and didn't
quite care at that moment. Tears of pure joy streamed down her face as
she reached Pierka and lifted a shaking hand to touch Pierka's face as
if she couldn't believe what she saw. In a voice broken with tears,
she cupped Pierka's cheek. "You...you look like your mother. You
always looked like your mother. " Unable to stop herself, she cried
out in ferocious joy and clasped Pierka to her, sobbing. "Our
baby...our precious Pierkanya..."

Z'ku stayed where he was, watching to see how Pierka would react. The
older couple seemed very sure they knew her.

At first Pierka was stiff with surprise but the arms around her were
warm and full of love she could feel. The look in their eyes told her
they knew her as surely as her son did. She couldn't help but hug the
woman back even though she didn't remember her. "M-my mother," she
leaned back her confusion apparent on her face. "So you know who I
am?"

Yendon was right beside her and spoke, his voice deep but watery with
his own tears of joy, but also grief that she didn't know them. "Oh
yes, Pierkanya. We thought you dead after that storm; we were told
none survived or we would have never stopped looking for you. You are
the oldest daughter of our daughter. Your father was a Seacrafter and
your mother was raised a trader. She was just as beautiful as you and
your sister."

"I don't remember," she said with a tiny shake of her head. "I'm
Pierka now," she added. That other name Pierkanya was foreign to her.
"I don't remember anything from before the shipwreck. So you're
traders?" She looked back and forth between the two elderly people.
"And I have a sister?"

Z''ku took a small step forward, letting Pierka know he was still
there. Whether she accepted these people as family or not, he was
there for her.

Annileri wiped her eyes and nodded. "Your Weyrleader told us that you
didn't remember." She took a step back, giving Pierka some room to
breathe, though it was difficult for her not to bring her lost
grandchild back into her embrace, she understood that she might become
too easily overwhelmed and she did not want to run Pierka off.
"Pierka, then." She agreed, willing to agree to anything she needed at
that point. " Yes. Lanniya. She just Impressed a fine gold at River
Bluff, Anaeryth." She smiled then through her happy tears. "She has
missed you so much. She doesn't know we're here. She hasn't heard yet.
I didn't want to...we didn't..." She cleared her throat. "We didn't
want to get her hopes up."

"I'm sorry," was Pierka's immediate response realizing these people
were her grandparents even if she didn't know or remember them. "I
would love to meet her when you think it's appropriate," she smiled.
"My lifemate is Liddith," she said and her green crooned from nearby.
"So I can come to you at any time I'm not on duty."

She reached out for Z'ku's hand. "I'd like you to meet Z'ku," she
wasn't quite sure how she could explain their relationship so she took
a small liberty with it hoping he wouldn't be offended. "He's my
weyrmate."

He swallowed and heat rose to his cheeks. He'd been afraid to ask and
here she was introducing him -- to her _grandparents_-- as her
weyrmate. His voice cracked a little when it came out. "Pleased to
meet you." He offered his free hand.

Yendon took his hand, glanced at the knots on Z'ku's shoulder and
offered the man a warm smile. "A real pleasure, Bronzerider Z'ku."

Annileri also offered Z'ku a warm smile, but her attention focused on
Pierka. " Soon, if you will, Pierka. I have no doubt that she'll be
thrilled to see you. " She nodded to the green and like Z'ku, her
smile conveyed warmth and an unspoken welcome to the fold of their
family. "We are available any time for either of you." Her blue eyes
were soft. "And I was told you have a little boy. Can we find some
where to speak? You must tell us of your life since you left us, and
I'd love to see your son."

~~~Flashback Ends~~~
In a few moments they were buckled in and Pierka took a deep breath.
She looked over at Z'ku and smiled. "Here we go."

Last updated on the July 8th 2015

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Meeting Pierka