Gone

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd July 2014

Characters: Z'an, Saibra
Description: Saibra receives an unexpected visitor.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Gelira

Z'an

Saibra

"Z'an!" Saibra's voice lifted in delight as she looked up to see a
familiar brownrider coming into her weyr. Someone she had never
expected to see visiting her at Dragonsfall. Especially since he was
still dressed like he had just come from Dolphin Cove. Didn't he
realize how cold Dragonsfall was?

"What brings you here?" She asked as she pushed away from her desk.

"I'm just visiting." There was a wide smile on his face as he
approached, arms open. "I'm checking in on Gelira to see how she's
doing, but I can't stay long." He stepped forward and gave her a warm
hug. "I couldn't come to Dragonsfall without checking in on my
favorite goldrider, now could I?"

Saibra returned Z'an's hug, finding the embrace warm and supportive,
exactly what she needed as she had been feeling so homesick for
Dolphin Cove recently, "I am glad you came, I didn't get a chance to
say goodbye before I left."

Z'an kissed her brow lightly. "It's okay. It was a busy sevenday." He
kept his arms around her for a little longer before he sighed. "I'm
going to miss you, you know. Being so far away now."

"I know," she frowned, "I didn't really want to leave, you know? There
are so many people at Dolphin Cove that are important to me, that I
care about. I didn't want to leave them behind." But it was already
done. She would have to live with her decision now.

"But enough of that sad stuff. I want to enjoy you while you are
here." She smiled up at him.

"But sometimes you have to leave, even if you really don't want to."
There was a flash of sadness in his eyes that was quickly replaced by
his smile. "Well, like I said, I can't stay long and I don't know how
often I can visit. I'm needed elsewhere." He then chuckled and tapped
her chin lightly with his finger. "You want to enjoy me, hmm? Why
Saibra, I would have thought you'd had plenty of new men to break in."
He waggled his brows.

Saibra reached up and smoothed her fingers over his waggling eyebrows,
"But not everyone can be you, Z'an. You required no breaking in at
all." She winked as her fingers trailed down over the front of his
tunic.

"Well, no. I'm so charming and all." He nuzzled the hands petting him
playfully, but with a good deal more warmth. He looked down as she touched
his chest and slowly wrapped his arm around her waist. "You're trying to
make me stay longer, aren't you?"

The Weyrwoman giggled as she looked up at him, "Guilty as charged, sir."

He laughed softly, then bent to nuzzle her neck, letting a light kiss fall
on the soft skin. "You're a wicked woman." His hands wrapped around her,
pulling her into a full bodied embrace. "Tell me that you'll miss me."

Saibra slid her arms around Z'an's waist as she looked up at him and then
pressed a kiss to his chin, "I will miss you, Z'an.... In fact, I miss you
already." There was a twist of sadness in her chest that she could not
explain. As if they were saying goodbye for the last time, "You will come
see me again won't you?"

He lifted her chin and pressed a slow, sweet kiss to her mouth, pulling back
with a sigh. "I wish I could. But you know how it is. You're here and I'm,
well...I'm not." He lifted a hand to lay it on her cheek, cupping her face.
"I can't stay. I will miss you. But you'll do fine, Saibra. This is where I
grew up and they need you. Gelira needs you. Keep an eye on her for me?" His
brown eyes were soft. "She'll be upset that I won't be able to visit."

"I will," she promised, although her voice came out choked, her eyes flooded
with tears, "I will make sure she is taken care of."

"Don't cry. It can't be helped." He cupped her face with both hands now.
"Someday let my child know how much I loved it. That I was a good man. Okay?
And don't cry for me. Let Gelira know how much I loved her. I never told her
how much she meant to me. I didn't want to hurt her. And I loved you as well
as much as I could..." He paused and then winked, but the humor was tempered
with sadness. "and as often as I could. I hope it was enough for you to
remember me and smile."

"I love you too, Z'an. I will never forget you." She smiled through her
tears up into his eyes, but the longer she looked the more the image
shimmered until she could see nothing at all.

"Z'an?" Darkness greeted her eyes and for a moment she was horribly
disoriented and confused. Where was she? Where was Z'an? Reaching out, her
hand come in contact the basket of glows on the floor beside her bed and she
flicked the shutter open.

Dim light washed over the weyr and it all came rushing back to her. She was
Weyrwoman of Dragonsfall, she had left Dolphin Cove, and Z'an.... Z'an was
dead. It had all been a dream!

A deep gaping whole of grief blossomed in the pit of Saibra's stomach. Gone.
The warm hearted brownrider with the infectious smile was nothing more than
a memory now. Pulling her pillow into her arms, Saibra buried her face in it
and sobbed.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2014

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