Wandering Thoughts (Samari)

[Wesku]

Iggent sat on a large rock on the shore of the lake. It was still light out, and the unfamiliar light was burning his eyes and stinging his skin. Iggent hadn't liked the day much before he became Iggesk's handler, and eight years of darkness had only furthered his distaste for the daylight.

The reason Iggent was out here in the accursed sun was currently asleep in his room where he had left her. Usually Iggent shrugged off the mating Run and moved on. He didn't like it, but it was what was expected of him.

Samari was different. He had been the girl's first. Not to mention he had developed a sort of soft spot for the exuberant young lady after first meeting her and watching their insane and oddly dancing whers.

Just my luck.

Iggent honestly didn't know how much of his feelings were even involved in this. Iggesk made it clear that he wanted Samarsk. That's what had started this whole mess. Iggent growled under his breath.

Wher knows I don't let him Run in maiden Runs, but he wanted the Gold so I take second place.

Swiping another hand through his now mussed up hair. Iggent laid back on the rock. If he was going to burn, he might as well be red on more than his head and shoulders.

[Houka Ryuu]

Samari slowly awoke from her contented sleep. She languidly stretched noting the fact that she was naked underneath the blanket. She opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. It was then that the events of last night came crashing back to her. The coldness of the bed beside her gave evidence that Iggent had left the bed some time ago. Samari wasn't overly concerned about that. Having been Weyr-bred, Samari was too averse at having had her first time at same time that Samarsk had her first Mating Run. Last night was still a haze but for the moment, she felt wonderfully sated.

Although it was the wrong time of day to be up, Samari got up from the bed. Looking around, she saw her scattered clothing on the floor. She quickly retrieved them as she dashed into the bathroom. For some reason, she'd turned shy at being seen naked by Iggent. She did her ablutions and dressed herself. As she got out, she raked her hand through her hair to get it into some semblance of order. She felt that they were sticking out of her head in wild disarray. Feeling presentable, she left to find Iggent.

Samari wasn't too concerned about Samarsk for she could feel the wher deep in slumber presumably curled around with Iggesk somewhere nearby. She finally found him by the lake shore sitting atop a large rock. The sun was still up and Samari soaked up its rays for a while before she continued down the hill to where Iggent was. She really didn't want to confront the man but... she had to let Iggent know that... well, it was all new to her and she really wasn't sure about her feelings for the man. Sure their mating was... exquisite but, Samari didn't put much meaning on it since their own mating was induced by Samarsk's need to mate.

As she neared Iggent, she had to give the man credit for giving her the best time of her life. The details were hazy but she knew that he had sated her need just as Iggesk had sated Samarsk's need. When she was finally near, she stopped and for the life of her, she found herself shy and blushing all over, just trying to get enough courage to call out his name. She was helped out of her dilemna when Orn popped out from Between and warbled a greeting at her. She didn't know where he had been and she didn't want to know about it.

Orn, being the pest that he is, dove into the shallows and swimming near the shore of the lake, went and splashed near Iggent probably drenching the poor man in cold water. Orn looked up at Iggent with a grin on his face and enticing the man to join him in the freezing waters of the lake.

[Wesku]

Iggent spluttered indigently as the little Bronze firelizard splashed freezing cold water on him. Sitting up, the scarred man cursed down at the annoying flit before sighing and running another hand through his now damp hair. Iggent may have come from the colder regions of Northern Pern, but he still enjoyed staying warm and dry. As he was grumbling to himself, Iggent noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Twirling out of his seated position and into a ready crouch, Iggent drew his knife with expert speed.

Then he lowered it. Of course it wasn't an enemy. He was on Earth now. No one on Earth was lying around waiting for a chance to slit his throat. At least he hoped not.

Oh well, I guess you can't override instinct.

Leaping down from his position above Samari, Iggent landed on the snow with a barely audible crunch. He never made a lot of noise. For this he was glad. Samari looked as if she was about ready to bolt.

"Hey, did I wake you? Is everything alright? You want me to go get you something?"

Iggent reached out as if to brush her shoulder, but pulled back at the last moment in order to swipe his hand through his hair yet again. He was going to get some serious tangles if he didn't stop.

[Houka Ryuu]

A silent gasp escaped from Samari as she saw what her pesky bronze Orn did to Iggent. Before she could say anything in defense of her flit, her eyes were drawn back to Iggent who was now in a crouching position with a knife drawn out. Her eyes grew wide and she took an involuntary step backwards as her hand instinctively moved towards her throat as if to protect it from an imagined incoming attack from the man that she now faced.

When Iggent lowered the knife down, Samari released a breath that she had unconsciously held in fear. She was weyrbred and wasn't used to faced someone who held a weapon at her approach. Oh she heard about the holdless being lawless and all that, but she had never met any in her life so she wasn't exposed to that kind of experience. She relaxed somewhat when Iggent came down from his position and talked to her.

'Hey, did I wake you? Is everything alright? You want me to go get you something?' Samari heard as she now tried to recollect what she had been about to do. The fright had scattered what courage she had gathered in confronting Iggent and replying to his questions gave her time to recollect her scattered wits.

She shook her head in the negative as she softly said, "No, you didn't wake me." She paused as her eyes got that glazed look that said she was communcating with her wher.

Samarsk who had been contentedly asleep had felt the fear that spiked through her bond with Hers. She woke up enough to ask if everything was okay with Hers.

Mine? Samarsk asked through their link. Just one word but with it was the feeling that asked Hers without words if all was fine.

Samari had to pause with what she had been about to say as she reassured Samarsk that everything was okay.

I'm okay Love. I was just startled. Go back to sleep. Samari told Samarsk. She didn't want to wake Samarsk and wanted to let her wher have as much rest as she could after the mating run.

Once done reassuring Samarsk, Samari continued in speaking the same soft voice, "Everything is alright. And I don't need anything." And then Samari stopped speaking as she ran out of words to say. She looked at Iggent clearly wanting to discuss something but also clearly not wanting to start whatever it was that she wanted to talk about. She stood there making an indentation of her right foot on the snow. An unconscious habit of hers when she gets shy around others. It would seem that Iggent would have to pry whatever it was that Samari wanted to discuss with him.

Orn had felt HisSamari's fear but since he couldn't see anything that would be deemed dangerous anywhere about, he just went about his swim in the freezing waters of the lake. He was somewhat disappointed when the man had not joined him but, that was already a passing memory that was quickly forgotten as Orn enjoyed himself with his swim.

[Wesku]

Iggent sighed. He had frightened the girl and now she wasn't talking. Iggent took a step backwards so he could study her better. It appeared as if she had something she wanted to tell him, but it didn't look as if she were about to offer up that information.

Iggesk stirred when he felt Samarsk stir and sent a wave of irritation towards his handler before settling back down again with the Gold.

Taking his wher's irritation in stride, Iggent finally spoke to his reluctant companion.

"What is it? You look as if there is something weighing heavy on your mind."

[Houka Ryuu]

[OOC: Gah, so sorry for the long wait. I've been busy IRL.]

Samarsk getting reassured by Hers went back to sleep. She snuggled more closely with Iggesk rumbling a little from her disturbed sleep she was tired and she really wasn't in the mood to deal with Hers right now. But in less than a minute snuggling more comfortably with Iggesk, she was once more deeply asleep. And if a Wher could snore, she would have done so.

'What is it? You look as if there is something weighing heavy on your mind.' Samari opened her mouth to reply but the word got stuck in her throat and no sound emerged from her. She closed her mouth and swallowed to moisten her throat as her skin got red in embarrasment. She wasn't normally like this but having this confrontation was taking the best of her and thrown out the window. She breathed in gathering whatever courage she could get and once more tried to reply to Iggent. To relieve some pressure, she was looking down on the ground but not really noticing her right foot had left a rather deep indentation on the snow. She talked with her head down but with her eyes trying to spy Iggent's reaction as she spoke.

"About what happened ..." Samari said softly pausing for a bit before continuing on with what she really wanted to say. "I just wanted to clear any misunderstanding between us." She stopped one more as she breathed in once more. As she exhaled, she continued speaking and finally looking up to face Iggent. "To be honest, I'm not putting too much meaning behind what's happened between us. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a one night stand, as they say it here on Earth." She paused again as she caught her breath and once more spoke to Iggent. "Besides, I'm really not sure about my feelings for you." She shrugged her shoulders as if she she was finally free of some heavy burden. Then she looked at Iggent waiting for his reaction.

[Wesku]

Iggent shrugged at Samari's words. Sure he wouldn't have minded keeping something between them, but this was the expected outcome. Like a Flight, a Run rarely made people open for a relationship. Besides, the girl was young. She needed time to organize her whole thoughts and feelings on Runs much less what resulted afterwards.

"I understand. I have participated in many Runs and have never felt a desire to remain with a person. I understand your feelings entirely. Just understand that I did consider you special."

Placing a friendly hand on her shoulder as he walked past her, Iggent said a few parting words.

"When you organize your feelings, you either forget me or tell me. Don't expect not to see me though. Iggesk does enjoy Samarsk company, and I can deny that Bronze nothing."

Grinning where she couldn't see him. Iggent gave a half wave as he walked away.

Perhaps one day, but not today.

[Houka Ryuu]

As Samari watched Iggent's retreating back, for some odd reason, she was overcome with a sense of wistfulness. Perhaps, in some corner of her heart, she had already begun to develop a liking for the man.

Orn, who had enough of swimming by himself, swam for shore and shook himself dry. When he was relatively dry, he launched himself towards HisSamari. He landed to perch on her right shoulder thereby waking her from her daze.

For once, Samari was thankful of her Bronze giving Orn a brief caress, as she mentally shook away the feeling that overcame her. And with a happier mood, she retreated her steps back the way she came with Orn riding on her shoulder.