Girls Grow Up

Writers: Chelle, Devin
Date Posted: 5th May 2017

Characters: E'rae, K'mai
Description: The two friends talk about Fatherhood.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 12 of Turn 8

K'mai

K'mai slid down from Sebeth's neck and greeted his friend with a
smile. "E'rae, how have you been?"

Looking up at the other bluerider, E'rae found himself falling into an
easy smile that wasn't often seen. A visit from K'mai was always a
happy occasion and one of the few times he could relax. Standing on
the weyr ledge, he walked up and reached around to hug K'mai briefly
before pulling back. "Alot better than where I was before. Still don't
have a lot of friends here, but there are a few wingmates I can poker
with sometimes. Progress. And I'm learning to surf. You?"

"I'm good. Surfing, huh? What got you into that?" K'mai was glad E'rae
was doing better. The poor man had been through enough heartache.

"Well still right on the beach and it's good exercise but the
water's relaxing too. It's something I can do alone which helps
me to think and recharge sometimes." He liked the balancing
aspect too, which reminded him of his old days as a hunter, when
he learned to be quiet and graceful in the forest. "You don't look
any different. I suppose that's a good thing. So catch me up on
all that's happened." He led K'mai inside his weyr which held his
belongings mostly but here and there something looked out of place
indicating it was one of the few belongings Werenn had left.

"Sabia is growing fast. I spend time with her and Uetia when I can."
Mindful of how E'rae liked things neat, K'mai draped his riding gear
carefully on the back of a chair rather than just tossing it down. "I
think I might like this fatherhood thing."

"Ah..." That one subject was the root of most of his problems. On the
one hand he had seen his daughter grow into an interesting young person
who he often did not understand. On the other, he hadn't been able to see
any of his other children grow into anything.

Before, he might have quietly turned away at such a conversation. After
so much work, though, he nodded. "It's good to do it when they're young
because when they get older they have less time and need of you."

"Aww, feeling neglected by Werenn?" K'mai's tone was both teasing and gentle.

"She's 13 turns now and of course can choose to apprentice or do whatever she
wants. She could Stand if she wanted to, as well. So far, she's been working in the
Lower Caverns doing whatever tasks there are for her. I personally think it's a waste
but she won't move toward anything else." He understood that the lower caverns
staff was valuable and that they needed those people to support them but somehow
he had always expected differently of his daughter than his sister. He shrugged before
moving to sit down on the couch. "You hungry?" He didn't know if K'mai wanted to
go eat or just chat for awhile.

K'mai waved a hand. "I'm fine. But I wouldn't mind a drink." He sat on the opposite
side of the couch. "If she's happy, then it doesn't matter what she's doing."

"I don't know if she's happy and I don't think she does either. She's a teenturner and
that means she's one thing one minute and something else the next. It's the worst."
He was beginning to thank Faranth that she had her fostermother for advice about
things like that because he was at a loss most days. Then again he'd never been great
at dealing with emotional reactions. Reaching over, he brought a wineskin he'd hung on
a hook up and handed it to K'mai, allowing him to taste to see if it was something he'd
want.

"Mmm, that's good." K'mai said when he'd tasted it. "Just let her have
some space to figure things out. I didn't want to craft either."

Giving the other bluerider a quiet glance, E'rae considered the advice. All he'd ever
given Werenn was space. Still, this was something she would have to decide on
her own, as he had when he'd gone to the Weyr on Search. "Allright, so tell me
the new jokes."

"Ahh..." K'mai rubbed his hands and leaned forward. "I heard a good
one from a trader...

Last updated on the June 8th 2017

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Girls Grow Up