Midnight Rainbow

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 29th July 2014

Characters: Irabel, Thayde, Whennae, Teralee, Jexam
Description: Thayde thinks Irabel needs to take a break from the craft, so he shows her how.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Famell

Thayde

"So here's the final list of everyone going. I figure Famell will
probably let you know but I already had a copy made." Irabel passed
over the piece of parchment, then two more. "Here are the perameters
and the list of supplies and equipment needed. He has all this too."
And he'd probably give Thayde copies as well.

"Thanks, Irabel. I will make sure we have the necessary medical
supplies ready to travel." Thayde set a paper weight on top of the
copies to make sure he didn't misplace them.

"Of course, if you have any suggestions, I'm more than willing to
listen." Irabel knew that it was smarter to accept help and advice
from those who might have more experience than to wind up drowning
because one wouldn't listen.

Thayde smiled and raised a hand, "It is your project. I am sure you
have included everything that is needed." From what he had seen of
Irabel since he had been back from Jade Harbor, the woman lived her
job and was meticulous at it.

"Yes, well, it's always good to have multiple eyes look at it. You
never know what you might miss, especially if you've been working on
it for a while." Irabel didn't want to be caught off guard. If there
was something she missed, she hoped someone else would catch it. "Or
if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them."

The Master Dolphineer studied the woman for a moment, "Irabel, I do
have a question. What do you do to relax? You know, to get away from
the craft?"

Both of Irabel's eyebrows shot up. It had certainly been an
unexpected question and not at all related to the mission about which
they had been discussing. "Er..." What was she going to say to that?
Well, obviously the truth. "I swim. Spend time with Kerchek."
And...basically work on her craft.

"Both of those are related to your craft." He pointed out, the hint of
a smile gracing his lips, "Don't ask me to explain it, but if I asked
you to meet me tonight at dusk, would you?" Thayde didn't want to give
away too much about what he had planned for he feared she would not
join him if he did.

Even though he'd told her not to ask to explain it, the first words
out of Irabel's mouth were almost 'Why'. She shut it before it could
escape, however, and studied the Hallsecond with a critical eye before
actually voicing a slow, deliberate answer. "I suppose so."

Thayde laughed at the look she gave him, "I swear on my dolphin that
it is nothing bad. Trust me." If anything, Irabel might actually
loosen up a bit and enjoy herself. Maybe even smile or laugh. He hoped
so.

"All right. Then I guess I will meet you at dusk." That response
resonated with a little more certainty than her first. "But until
then, is there anything else you want to discuss in regards to the
mission?"

**One track mind.** Thayde thought.

"No, there is nothing mission-related I wish to discuss. I'll see you at dusk."

~*~

As promised Thayde was waiting outside for Irabel in the waning light
of the day, just as a dark blue was beginning to tinge the skies and
stars began to appear.

Irabel was, at the very least, prompt. She arrived just as dusk began
to paint the sky and sea, her duties tended to and Kerchek off playing
in the water with his fellow pod mates. Thayde was, at least, easy to
spot and she approached almost cautiously, uncertain as to the sort of
plans he had in mind. "Here as you requested, sir."

"Just Thayde will suffice for the evening Irabel." The corners of his
mouth twitched. Shells but she was a stiff one. "Follow me." The
Master Dolphineer led the way away from the front steps leading into
the Hall and took her around to where some of the taller grasses grew
back away from the shoreline.

As they drew closer little heads began to appear, "Thayde! Thayde!"

A small gaggle of children appeared, each one clasping a small glass
jar in their hand and brandishing it like a trophy. Their appearance
did bring a smile to Irabel's face. She enjoyed children though she
didn't get a chance to interact with many of them.

"Now who brought a jar for Miss Irabel?" He asked, scanning the gathering.

"Me! I did!" Teralee was about eight and her brown hair bounced with
curls as she held up the jar.

"Excellent. Thank you Tera." He put a hand on top of her head and
tousled her hair.

Turning to Irabel he handed her the jar, "This will be your jar madam."

That smile faded into an expression of confusion as she hesitantly
accepted the proffered object. Irabel peered into the jar and then up
at Thayde, her mouth twisting in uncertainty. "A jar?"

A grin crossed Thayde's face, "Who wants to show Miss Irabel the game?"

"All you do," Jexam, the tallest boy in the group spoke up first, "is
snatch a firefly," he waited for a moment for one to flutter up an
then caught it with his hand, "and then put it in your jar for safe
keeping. At the end whoever has the most wins!"

Thayde leaned in to murmur, "And never fear, no fireflies are harmed
in this game, unless you accidentally squish one. Otherwise, we then
them all loose at the end."

Irabel blinked at Jexam, then the jar, then at Thayde. "Okay.
So...just catch fireflies?" The children seemed rather enthused about
the game, so it had to have some semblance of enjoyment. "I guess
I'll give it a try."

The man chuckled at her, "Loosen up." He turned and snatched a
firefly, "One for me!" He crowed to the children before dashing off
for more.

Irabel wrinkled her nose, but she figured she might as well
participate. Fireflies weren't difficult to catch. A gentle swing of
her hand at a purple flash and she already plopped one into her chair.
She pressed the lid over it, but didn't screw it on all the way so she
could open it quickly to add more. Another flash to her left and
Irabel was awarded with a green one. She placed it in the jar with
the other, then began to walk up a hill to aim for a larger cluster.
Maybe she could get more than one at a time.

"Oohh! Oohhh!" Whennae, a small redheaded girl, was stretched on her
tiptoes, jumping at a purple firefly that seemed to hover just beyond
her reach. "Miss Irabel, could you please?" She turned big brown eyes
on the woman.

"Sure." Irabel curled her fingers around the small insect and then
crouched down as she offered it to the wee one. "Here you go. Isn't
it pretty?"

"Purple is my favorite." Whennae confided with a smile.

"Master Thaayyydeeee!" A child whined.

"You snooze you lose!" Thayde merely said in a sing-song voice as he
snatched up a firefly and deposited it in his bottle. He looked over
to where Irabel was helping Whennae and he shot her a smile.

"Look, there are some lower down in the trees over there. I bet you
could catch lots." Irabel motioned to the line where various
fireflies sparkled and shone among the leaves in a glittering display
of miniature stars descending to Pern. She caught the smile from
Thayde and offered a small one of her own.

When the sun had completely disappeared behind the horizon, Thayde
finally called the game to an end, "All right. Everyone join back up.
Who has the most?" He asked, looking around as the children ran over
to where he stood.

"Really? That quickly?" Irabel had only caught three or four.
Whennae had gotten a few more, and had more than she did, but that
didn't matter because all the children seemed to be having fun.
Although she'd been around them most of her life, Irabel hadn't taken
the time to really_look_ at the insects that glowed in the dark.

They were pretty even close up, though a bit fatter than she had
expected. As the children clustered around Thayde, she joined them
even though she probably had the fewest of them all.

"I win!" Teralee squealed with delight, brandishing her jar of glowing
insects above her head.

Thayde laughed, "Easy with the insects, Tera, you are giving them a
massive earth quake in there."

The little girl looked chagrined and hugged her jar to her chest,
"Sorry in there!" She said looking down at the bottle.

"No one has more than Teralee?" Thayde asked looking around, but the
other kids merely shook their heads. The best part was the release
anyway. "Okay, everyone open your jars on the count of three. Ready?
One, two, three!" The sound of the jars being uncorked let out a small
chorus of smacking sounds. A stream of multicolored flashing insects
filled the air, like a midnight rainbow.

Irabel didn't let hers go. Rather, she remained still and watched as
the cloud of fireflies drifted into the night sky, each irridescent
tail twinkling and shining through the darkness, breaking it and
bringing some sunshine into the night. She sighed, her smile
returning a little more easily than before.

Thayde leaned in and whispered, "This is the part where you release
your fireflies."

"I kind of don't want to." Irabel admitted as she lifted her jar. If
she used a little imagination, it was almost as if she had her own
personal stars that danced within, just for her.

"I know," Thayde agreed, "but they will die if you don't. You can
always catch new ones tomorrow."

"A shame. I wonder if I caught enough and let them go in my room if
it would look like I had my own personal sky." Even as she spoke,
Irabel twisted the top of the jar and allowed the fireflies to go
free. Most of the others had risen to the sky and her quarter danced
after them.

Last updated on the August 1st 2014

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Midnight Rainbow