Short Story: Visiting Home
This is a post-dated story about a visit home which Felisa took with Kesida and green Anesath. It occurs after this log and before this one (thanks to banyth for the logs). Crackdust has not yet fallen, and Felisa does not yet know her family is not within the Weyr's traditional boundaries for protection.


A lovely green dragon appeared from *between* over the isolated cothold and spiraled to a landing out of sight of the small living cabin. The rider and the passenger had agreed not to mention Anesath's color to the holders, lest the debate over females riding fighting dragons dominate the visit, as it had almost done when Adria and her green Chiyath searched Felisa in the first place. Kesida and Felisa dismounted, shivering in the mountain cold which didn't seem much better than the *between* they'd just left -- just longer. After a short hike they reached the door, and Felisa knocked.

The door was answered by a boy of about nine turns of age, who looked up at the two women in confusion. Felisa was the first to speak. "Shells, Jalren, but you've grown! I barely recognized you."

Jalren replied "That's fine. I still don't recognize you."

Felisa giggled. "I'm your older sister, Felisa. I was searched three turns ago. And this is Kesida, who gave me the ride here. We're here to visit since we both had a restday."

Jalren peered closely at his oldest sister, finally saying "I think I remember you." At that point a woman's voice from inside said "Jalren, invite whomever in. It's too cold to be standing outside."

Felisa's mother came into view as the two stepped in and Jalren closed the door. Suddenly Cyrena let out a startled cry and rushed over to embrace her daughter. "Felisa, by Faranth how you've grown. Why are you here? Are things all right at the Weyr?"

Felisa glanced down at her brother. "See? I am Felisa, mum recognizes me." To her mother she said "Nothing's wrong. One of the wingleaders just suggested I come visit before thread starts. Kesida and her Anesath brought me."

Cyrena hmmmed. "I don't remember any queen or rider by that name." After a few seconds she said "The circuit Harper should be coming after the weather breaks -- I imagine she'll update us as to new bronzes and golds. Now come on in; I'll get some klah going."

Cyrena led them to a cozy living room and bade them make themselves comfortable. There was already a fire in the fireplace, by which the grateful young women sat. Cyrena bustled around in the small kitchen, calling out "Jarell, Karina -- Felisa's here to visit."

A girl of about twelve came pelting out of another part of the cottage. She stopped when she say Felisa, and both sisters said at the same time "You've grown!", then burst into giggles when they realized what had happened. At that point Jarell emerged, another "You've grown" was added to the stack, and Cyrena came out with some finger food.

Felisa introduced Kesida to her father and sister, and then the rest of the family sat down. As they discussed weather (Yes, it's cold at the Weyr, too) Cyrena listened for the klah pot to whistle, and when it did she came back with a steaming mugful for each. "No salt this time?" Felisa asked, glancing at her sister. Karina stuck out her tongue by way of reply.

Once Cyrena was seated, she asked "Felisa, what was that you said about thread?"

Everyone got serious immediately at the mention of the ancient enemy, though to be gone for good. "The Red Star was framed by the Star Stones, and there have been earthquakes and floods and other disruptions, all within months of one another. That, and the queens have been laying larger and larger clutches, with more queen eggs. The leaders at the Weyr are certain thread will fall this turn." Felisa stated matter-of-factly. "The Weyrfolk are training hard, so it's lucky Kesida could even bring me. But S'dric, one of the Wingleaders, suggested I come to visit now before it starts."

Jalenn frowned. "That's odd. We've heard nothing about any of that. Then again, it's been nearly a turn since we had the itinerant Harper come through."

Felisa nodded. "Lord Hrotti is probably just waiting for some sort of confirmation before upsetting his holders. I imagine he'll send information on how to thread-proof the place when the Harper comes."

Jalrenn nodded. "Thank goodness your grandfather went for stone roofs rather than thatching. I would hate to have to put metal on the barn and stables." Then, as Jalren yawned, he said "But enough of that talk. There's three turns' worth of news to catch up on."

The obvious was discussed; Felisa had not impressed. Karina looked rather satisfied with the fact, while Jalenn and Cyrena were sympathetic. Jalren was interested in what it was like to see dragons up close, being too young really to remember Chiyath. As Felisa recounted the maulings on the sands Karina began looking less jealous, but that was short-lived once Kesida described how it felt to impress and to fly with her own dragon.

Things at the cot had been going well enough. Crops last year had been a little sparse, but there was enough to feed the family after sending in their tithes. The bovines, caprines, ovines and porcines were, well, cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. They hadn't changed at all time out of mind, so three turns hadn't brought about any drastic differences to what she remembered.

Cyrena and Jalenn apologized, jokingly, to their eldest, noting that the pranks they had blamed her for had not, in fact, stopped when she left. Karina had been able to hold out for about two days before she broke down and went back to her old ways. Blaming 6 turn-old Jalren hadn't worked nearly as well as blaming Felisa had. Karina still liked her clothes and had fun experimenting with dye plants which she tended in her spare time. She was trying to decide whether she might want to apprentice with the Weavers.

Jalren had changed the most. He was now a fairly serious young man, studying avidly in between the annual Harper visits. He was somewhat of a dilettante, often changing his mind about where he might want to apprentice when he was old enough, or whether he would stay and hold. He wouldn't admit it, but Cyrena, Jalenn, and Karina all teased him about being sweet on a ten turn-old at Distant Shout.

Felisa in turn told them about the kitchen garden and the herb garden at the Weyr, and of the Southern venture, though she assiduously avoided any mention of the timing adventure. Jalrenn sounded rather aggrieved to hear of Benden Hold not tithing to the Weyr, noting that he always sent on the Weyr's tithe along with the Hold's. Felisa managed to lighten the mood by telling stories of how quickly things grew in the south, and how large they got. Some of it was obvious exaggeration to the point of being funny.

The visit finally ended, but not before a veritable mini-feast. In fact, it was arguably better than Felisa or Kesida would have gotten at the Weyr, given the absence of tithes. The fatted calf was killed and dried vegetables soaked, and a precious measure of wheat used to bake rolls. The butter was fresh and desert was reconstituted fruit. Jalren and Karina both invited Felisa and Kesida to visit more often if they got to eat like this for the occasion.

After dinner the two young women noted they needed to get back, since Kesida would need to be up at dawn and Anesath needed to be at her best for drills. Felisa received hugs from everyone in her family, even Karina. Fortunately the night air was too cold to allow for the family to see them off, so they got out without revealing Kesida's status as a fighting rider. When they got back to the Weyr Felisa thanked Kesida and Anesath profusely, then spent the night dreaming of fresh roast beef.