Morning After Sickness

[Obsidian]

Fionn of Sapphire Ezereth

[/color]

No matter how much she scrubbed, Fionn could still feel his hands on her, still smell him on her flesh. The way she moved to rid herself of him in one spot caused another to waff his scent up to her nose, causing her to turn quickly and try to rub that part of her skin fiercely. Your going to hurt yourself, Mine,

[/color] a suddenly cool female voice echoed within Fionn's mind, causing the young Sapphirerider to turn her head quickly, causing her shoulder lenght, black hair to flip over her shoulder. "If someone hadn't decided to Rise with males around . . . I wouldn't be in this position!" Fionn suddenly found herself shouting at her beautiful, steely blue Sapphire dragon.

Yet, as she sunk down into the shallows of the lake, Fionn couldn't help but remember the soft way he had held her afterward, how he hadn't left her to sleep alone. Shards! Fionn cursed, throwing her handfull of sand out into the lake waters. Dragging herself to the shore, she sat back down, letting her legs and lower stay in the water, while she laid her chest and above on the soft shore. Her tunic clung to her bust, while her breeches hugged her legs. Her riding boots were still by the rock where her belt and dagger were laying.

She closed her eyes, bring back all the new memories, and worst of all . . . his face. The evening before, Sapphire Ezereth had taken to the skies, it was her time to Rise, and sadly, there hadn't been that many males around, but in the end, Ezereth had allowed Ruby Iashorinth to catch her. Fionn could remember herself turning to her left, in an attempt to escape from the small circle of males, only to run right into the arms of the Ruby's Rider. Z'reis', the quick-tempered, slightly aggressive Rubyrider that Fionn hadn't talked to much in her short four Turns at Sunset Weyr. She hadn't wanted to have any sort of relations with a male, as long as she was still at Sunset Weyr; she had actually kind of hoped the Weyrwoman Luci would have sent her to another Weyr, where Ezereth could have Rose and they left the next morning. But now . . . now she had to face the man that had shared her bed. At this last thought, Fionn threw a wet arm over her eyes, trying to block out everything.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

This wasn't how Rises were supposed to be.

Your male Chased, and he either caught the female or he didn't; either way you ended up bedding someone, most likely someone you didn't know well. That was pretty much a given. Then you woke up in the morning and left; usually your bedded person was either embarrassed and quick to get out, confident and obviously used to such things and in no hurry to leave, in which you left first, or already gone when you woke up. Mostly the latter for Z'reis.

That's how it was supposed to go.

Iashorinth didn't Chase very often; though Rubies stereotypically Chased lower colors, he still preferred Topazes and Opals to the often-Rising Sapphires. And even then he didn't always choose to Chase, to the secret relief of his bonded. By now of course the Rubyrider was familiar enough with Flightlust, the urgent and driving sensation that went with Flights. It made you want sex, so you end up having sex. Then it wore off. Boom. You went on with life.

So why was this Rise different? Last night one Sapphire Ezereth had Flown - her rider was Fionn; Z'reis really didn't know the pair except by reputation. But for some reason, perhaps because he hadn't in a while, Iashorinth decided to Chase. And he'd won. Z'reis had partial, disoriented memories of what he'd been doing: part of the usual crowd around the rider of the Flying dragon, and then suddenly he'd felt the burst of victory from Iashorinth as if it itself were a blinding flash, and Fionn was in his arms before he quite realized what had happened. After that....well, the Flightlust obliterated most, but his skin still retained the memory of her hands, her breath, her soft moans mingling with his.

That should have been the end of it. But this morning....They'd both woken up at the same time, and Z'reis found himself staring into her startled blue eyes. Startlement soon turned to a mixture of horror and something that wasn't quite anger and wasn't quite disgust, but somewhere in between; the Sapphirerider was quick to leave him, though not in embarrassment like many. But rather in something....else. For some reason it had left Z'reis feeling slightly hollow.

At least Iashorinth was happy, because he wasn't. Half the morning gone by, and he was still feeling....off. Disgruntled and frustrated, with the odd half-feeling that he was missing something. It was worse than a perpetual itch, and it was driving him up the wall. And it had something to do with Fionn, that was all he could place it as.

Z'reis had no experience with love, or passion. Flightlust, yes, but that was different, and much easier to understand and to appease. He'd never loved. Never had the chance to. And so the lingering thread that connected him to the Sapphirerider confused him. They'd done the deal, and it should be over, but for some reason it wasn't. Unlike the others, her touch was something that kept making his skin tingle in remembrance.

Finally, when he felt like he'd burst from the twitchy feelings running over his body, he stood up, deciding to go down to the lake, which is where he always went when he felt confused or frustrated. He clambered up onto Iashorinth ,and the Ruby took them down. You should calm down, Z'reis, he advised, feeling the twitchy, frustrated feelings coming in waves from his Lifemate. Don't you think I've tried that, Iash? came the annoyed snap back; the Ruby did not comment, and Z'reis stewed in a sullen mood that was bordering on sulky as they descended to the lake.

He got off gratefully and approached the waters; it was not until he was but a few yards away from her did he notice the figure lying on the ground, and with a jolt recognized her. Ah, shards.... The thought crossed his mind that he should flee, but it was too late; she'd already seen him. With a silent sigh he lingered, as if caught between two strings, and finally opened his mouth, for once not knowing what else to do. "Oh. Um. Hey," was the awkward-half greeting he managed to come up with; he would rather be anywhere than here at this moment....

Iashorinth however was quite pleased; he came to lie next to his new mate. Hello again my beautiful, he purred to her. Mine is quite flustered at the moment; it's rather amusing.

[Obsidian]

Fionn of Sapphire Ezereth

[/color]

Something felt strange, like there was slack in a mental string that caused Fionn to pull her arm from her eyes and open them. The sight that met her caused her to inwardly groan . . . something she didn't relize she was doing on the outside also. There, laying next to her Ezereth . . . was Ruby Iashorinth . . . and just before him, standing there like a fish out of water, was Z'reis. She bolted up, wrapping her arms around her chest, so as to hide the fact that she wasn't wearing much, but she remembered she had done the same thing that morning, before leaving him, and relized it was a rather stupid move. There wasn't much this man hadn't seen about her.

"Goodbye," Fionn retorted hotly, standing and making her way toward Ezereth, who was showing no interest in moving. We're leaving, Eze! she sent, resting a foot on her Sapphire's claw, ready to climb aboard, but suddenly foudn her dragon removing her claw from under her foot. I want to talk with Iashorinth,

[/color] Ezereth opened the link between them and quickly closed it once more, but not before Fionn heard a distant rumbling. The rumble had been deeper, not Ezereth, so it must have been Iashorinth, but of course, Fionn couldn't understand the Ruby, just hear his rumble.

Why hello there, my sweet, Ezereth replied, relaxing her body as her Ruby mate curled around her. As is Mine. She's been brooding all morning about waking next to Yours . . . or something else I haven't bothered to try and figure out, Ezereth admitted, reaching out with her snout to nuzzle Iashorinth, but stopped midway when she felt something tugging on her talon nail.

"Ezereth!! We are leaving NOW!" Fionn tried again, silently begging the Sapphire to open up the link between them, so she could beg them to get them out of here. "Can you tell your Ruby to let my Sapphire g-go!?" she suddenly rounded on Z'reis at that last word of her sentence, it catchign in her throat. How could a man affect her so much after only dragonlust? The affects should have worn off during the night, but every time she looked at him, she couldn't help but remember . . . . SHARDS!!!![/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

Apparently Fionn was as unhappy to see him as he was flustered to see her; she actually groaned at the sight of Iashorinth, and when she saw him she bolted upright, wrapping her arms around her chest.....The same thing, Z'reis vaguely remembered, she'd done last night. Yes, her shirt was still wet and clung to her skin and all, but.....Well, he tried not to look. Even if he had seen plenty of her body last night......

Shard it, what was it about her that made another memory of that flash before his eyes every ver moments?It was bewildering, and frustrating in his bewilderment. This wasn't something he was used to - feeling confused, feeling unsure. He began to get angry; what had this woman done to him? This wasn't him. Or was it? Maybe this was him......naked for once, not wrapped in a blanket of strength, pretended or otherwise.

Her tart response didn't do anything to help his mood; obviously she didn't want anything to do with him. Well, he didn't want to be with her - anything to do with her! he suddenly corrected himself harshly, startled by his sudden thoughts - either. Let her leave. See if he cared.

But apparently she wasn't able to; he felt some harsh amusement at watching her try and mount her dragon, and failing miserably. Fionn may want to leave, but Ezereth didn't. Sharding dragons, probably meant he couldn't leave either; a quick glance into Iashorinth's mind confirmed that.

He stared at her when she suddenly turned on him, actually asking him to tell Iashorinth to let her Sapphire leave. In a fit of superiority, feeling more like his usual self, he settled into a more comfortable posture, and surveyed her with raised eyebrows. Here was something he was better at; the fact that she had gone to him gave him control. "I could, but I'm not going to," he drawled decidedly. And then, in a brief show of something that was almost openness, he added, "Besides, Iashorinth wouldn't even if I told him to." It was true...and in his tone had betrayed some of how he wished he could be anywhere but here, too.

The Ruby in question purred contentedly beside his mate, only slightly paying attention to the strange antics of the humans. Yes....humans are so strange about their mating, he agreed. You'd think you Choosing me would be enough for them, but no. Which, by the way, he added, nuzzling her, I need to thank you for.

[Obsidian]

Fionn of Sapphire Ezereth

[/color]

As she stood there, trying not to picture running away after kicking the Rubyrider in the shin, like a Weyrbrat, Fionn suddenly relized how much taller he was than she. She hadn't noticed it the night before . . . she hadn't noticed a lot of things outside his hands on her flesh. The thought made her shutter in pleasure and annoyance, but she ended up turning her head from him. "I don't want this . . . I didn't ask for Ezereth to Rise," she whispered, looking up at her dragon, though she couldn't see any hatred toward her dragon surfacing.

She sighed, letting her chin drop to her chin, and closed her eyes, while crossing her arms. Sighing once more, she lifted her head and then shook it, as if unable to say the words that rested on her tongue. In one hand, she wanted to see what it felt like . . . to be with a man that didn't seem that bad. Z'reis seemed to be that type of man, a bit rough around the edges, but kind at heart. On the other hand, this was starting to feel more and more like what she had escaped from at her home Hold when she was a little girl. There was no way she would ever agree to anything arranged, and to her, it seemed Ezereth had arranged this. . . . Her head hurt trying to figure out which way to turn.

"Seems like we're both stuck here," she stated, knowing she wouldn't venture that far from her dragon. Slowly, she moved back over to the shore, spotting a small rock that was jutting out of the ground near the water. She leaned against it, trying to pull her wet shirt away from her body, while keeping an eye on any sign that Ezereth was ready to go.

You have no one to thank but yourself, wonderful Ruby. You flew well and won my favor by your own wings, Ezereth purred, enjoying her mate's touch. Though I do wish to see Ours just as happy, she crooned, opening her eyes just enough to look down at the two humans through slits.

[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

Suddenly, before his eyes, all the fight seemed to go out of Fionn. It wasn't the reaction he'd expected to his words; he was used to people getting angry, or condescending, or perhaps laughing if it were someone he knew well enough that they knew he'd never really pose a threat to them. Not this, the way she suddenly seemed more tired than angry.

"I don't want this . . . I didn't ask for Ezereth to Rise."

The whisper made Z'reis frown, the iciness in his eyes thawing somewhat. Was this the Sapphires first Rise? He didn't know, but from Fionn's reaction to it all that could be the case. But suddenly he understood her better; you were never in control when your dragon Rose, or Chased - not over who your new mate was - at least for the night - or what you did - to an extent - or even how you felt. Z'reis didn't particularly like it when Iashorinth Chased, and he could imagine it was worse for the rider of the female Flying. Z'reis knew he wasn't one to like it when things suddenly went out of his control as they did when Iashorinth rose to Chase. Fionn seemed that way, too. The only good thing about it was that you could just get up and leave the next day, and pretend it didn't happen (except for having to put up with a lovesick dragon for a while). But right now not even that was happening.

Fionn had changed to a very closed-in position, head on chest and arms folded. He couldn't blame her; he was confused about the whole thing too. He felt a sudden flash of something that was almost sympathy for her - certainly empathy. He shook his head ,and found himself saying with a similar sigh, "And I didn't ask Iash to Chase." And certainly not to win, he added to himself. Of course Iashorinth heard it too, and snorted quietly.

"Seems like we're both stuck here."

At that he had to quirk a crooked smile, watching her make her way back towards a rock that jutted out near the shore. "Oh, woe is us, trapped by our dragons," he agreed, humor changing to rueful rather than harsh. Part of him noticed that they'd both started using 'we' and 'us' - it was a part he quickly banished, After a moment he followed her, not quite knowing why he was doing so. If it had been anyone else it would have most likely been to annoy them...but that wasn't the case this time. He wanted to be near her.

No you don't! was the immediate denial to that thought, and he shook his head again. Stupid weird feelings he couldn't understand. This was way too long for any sort of Flightlust to last, so what in shards was wrong with him? Yes his thoughts didn't stop him from following her, and then sitting on top of the rock she leaned against. The Sapphirerider really was quite pretty, despite being rather....damp. Sitting so close to her made him shiver, remembering how much closer they'd been last night...The longing tickled his flesh where her hands had been, where her lips had been, and he actually groaned, putting his head in his hands in an effort to dispel the memories that wouldn't go away.

"I don't know why it hasn't gone away," he muttered, voice muffled by his hands. After a moment he looked up, back at the girl that had the mysterious, terrible power to make him speak his mind, no matter how much he wished he could throw all his thoughts into a fire and watch them burn. "Why do I still......want you?" His voice trembled, but he was beyond caring. It was all too confusing.

Iashorinth watched His, finally starting to pay more attention. So do I, my love. I believe they will come around. But he is as yet...confused. I don't understand his confusion. He nuzzled her again, blinking slowly whirling eyes. I want them to be as happy as we are, too.

[Obsidian]

Fionn of Sapphire Ezereth

[/color]

Fionn was pulled from her own thoughts, noticing that the Rubyrider was sitting next to her, his head in his hands, whispering about something that hadn't gone away. Of course, her mind had wondered for a moment, thus she had missed the very beginning of his statement, and him moving over to sit next to her. How had he gotten so close without her noticing. Why didn't you tell me he was about to sit next to me? she questioned Ezereth, but finding that the dragon had closed their link.

It wasn't a complete close, Fionn could still feel Ezereth, could still see her, could still get her attention, if she truly needed her, but Ezereth would know. The Sapphire would know if what Fionn wanted was important or not, and she would completely ignore her if what Fionn wanted wasn't important. Like leaving, that wasn't important to Ezereth, but very important to Fionn.

Yet, sitting next to Rubyrider Z'reis, almost to the point where she was freezing from her attempt to rid herself of his ghost hands, she couldn't make herself stand and move away. Glancing over at him, she tried her best, tried thinking of Ezereth running around the Weyr as a dragonet, of her family back in the Hold, of Luci wearing a dress and spinning around like a little girl while Gold Wrath sung her a lullaby. Nothing worked. Alright, so the thought of Ezereth just caused her to feel very warm inside, but didn't heat up the outside. The thought of Luci just made her want to laugh, mainly because she knew the Weyrwoman would never do something like that. While the thought of her family made her go stock still. Or maybe it was the fact that Z'reis just asked her why did he still want her.

Her head snapped around, almost throwing her off balance and sending her falling off the rock, but she kept her balance by clinging to the rock for support. "Excuse me?" she asked quickly, hoping she had heard him wrong. He couldn't feel the same way . . . No, thinking that meant that she would have to come to terms with the fact that she still wanted him . . . I don't think Z'reis will hurt you like your family did, my dear,

[/color] Ezereth purred, trying to calm Her's racing heart. All Fionn heard, was her dragon calling Z'reis by his name. "Ezereth just called you by your name," she whispered, looking away, then slowly standing and taking three steps away from the rock.

"What do you mean, you still want me?" she asked suddenly, not looking back. She didn't want to see his face, didn't want to see any disgust or hatred that passed over his face. As a child, she had almost been forced into a marriage that she hadn't wanted, and now . . . with Ezereth's Rise, she would possibly enter something a bit more meaningful, to what? . . . To make Ezereth happy? The Sapphire had her mate, she would be happy either way. To prove to herself that there was someone out there who could stomach her for more than five minutes? Fionn gave Z'reis less than a fortnight before he ordered Iashorinth to stop including him in his visits to Ezereth. No . . . . Deep down, Fionn knew what was happening, it was so simple. She was in love with a Rider she hardly knew, who's dragon was mated to her's, and knew nothing about personally. What a mess.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

Z'reis looked up just in time to see Fionn freeze; she hardly seemed to be breathing. He barely had time to wonder what had made her so statuesque bbefore she reacted to his question, head snapping around so fast that he was surprised she didn't crick her neck. The motion seemed to off-balance her; watching her grip the rock tightly to keep from falling off, the Rubyrider was suddenly assaulted by a bizarre desire to laugh, an impulse that he defeated only by pressing his lips together tightly.

The odd humor vanished as soon as she opened her mouth: "Excuse me?" The words had Z'reis biting his lip; of course now he'd gone and made himself sound like an idiot...stupid, stupid. IThis whole thing was stupid. He wanted it all to go away, but it wouldn't. So you know what? He was going to leave it. He was going to get right up and walk away. Iashorinth could do what he liked; Z'reis was leaving. He'd go back to his weyr and put Fionn out of his mind....Maybe he'd go down and get a few wineskins, something to distract him. Yes, the thought of drowning himself in wine until he could not remember the Sapphirerider's name was a very powerful lure....

That's what he'd do. He'd get up, right now, and walk away. Nothing could stop him; Fionn could beg all she wanted, but he wouldn't stay. Not that she was likely to beg; she clearly disliked him as much as he....as he...

Shards. He had to admit it: he didn't hate her. He hated what she was making him feel, certainly, hated what was happening - but her? No, what he was feeling was most certainly not hate. He'd never felt it for more than a night in his life, but it wasn't hate. After all, how could someone hate such beautiful, shiny black hair, such deep blue eyes, such soft skin....

"Ezereth just called you by your name."

Huh? Z'reis turned to look at her; he'd been lost in his thoughts and had completely missed anything that had happened between her 'excuse me' and this sudden statement. Called him by name...Was that...important? Iashorinth didn't have much of a problem with using humans' names - but now that he thought on it, there were many dragons who would merely use the rider's dragon's name in a possessive form - Ezereth's; Iashorinth's. So did that mean Ezereth valued him, or what? But if that was so, it was surely only because he was Iashorinth's rider, and the Ruby had Caught Ezereth yesterday....

"Uh...Well, it's probably because she likes Iashorinth, or-" he muttered, protests petering to a stop as he realized how feeble the words sounded. Shard it all, he was making himself look like an absolute fool. He watched Fionn step away from him, which only solidified his previous assumption in his mind.

She spoke again, this time while facing away for him; the question made Z'reis freeze. What do you mean, you still want me? What did he...mean? "I mean it won't leave me alone," he muttered, not knowing why he answered so willingly when what he really wanted to do was go crawl in a whole. "I mean every time I look at you I remember last night -" - his voice was rising, and its pitch along with it. "-And I'm split in two - part of me wants to run far away - and the other part says stay, never leave." Suddenly his voice dropped to a whisper; he truly had no experience with this sort of feeling and, though he'd never ever admit it, it scared him as much as it frustrated him. "That's what I mean."

[Obsidian]

Fionn of Sapphire Ezereth

[/center][/color]

The look of slight confusion on his face would have made her laugh, if Fionn had been looking at him after she had spoken her statement. Yet, she still refused to look at Z'reis. Driven by fear and longing, Fionn held her ground, knowing that one day, sometime in the future, she would hear Iashorinth's approaching wingbeats at her weyr, and then Z'reis' final goodbye. Honestly, my little one!

[/color] Ezereth suddenly interupted, actually hissing and moving her neck until one eye was swirling level with Fionn's face. Confusion and fear seem to be pouring out of the Rubyrider . . . but I don't feel any ill-intent! Leave the past in the past, little one. Take a chance and try to enjoy life,[/color] her Sapphire pushed, angling her head so that she could see her Ruby mate. You never know when love will find you.[/color]

And if this isn't love? Just some strange form of unending dragonlust? she questioned, stealing Z'reis thoughts, even though she wasn't sure he was thinking them. Then you get over it and move on,[/color] Ezereth stated simply, lifting her head and returning her body near Iashorinth's.

Sighing, moving slowly, Fionn turned to face Z'reis. He spoke of something not leaving him alone. Dragonlust? Speaking of being unable to look at her and not remembering last night. Her body tightened in all the right places, reminding her that it wasn't so easy to look at him and not remember his hands on her, his breath on her neck. Woah girl . . . Take it easy on the mental images! she scolded herself, pushing Ezereth's rumbling chuckle out of her mind. It was interesting to hear that part of Z'reis wanted to run, while another part wanted to stay with her . . . even never leaver. "Which part do you think will win?" she asked suddenly, not even really sure why she asked.

Tensing in fear that he would be angry with her, she started to stammer. "What I m-mean is . . . Would y-you just stick around for a fort-tnight then leave, or would Iashorinth stay by E-ezereth's side and . . . and you by mine?" she asked, hesitant about asking the last part of her question.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

Z'reis barely noticed the interaction between Ezereth and Fionn, and it meant little to him anyway; it wasn't like he could hear what they said, and if Iashorinth could then he wasn't enlightening Z'reis. He probably didn't want to know anyway. Fionn was probably just trying to get her Sapphire to let her leave. As if she couldn't go on her own feet. Whereas he.....The rubyrider suddenly remembered his own speculation about leaving, and ground his teeth together; he hadn't even followed through with it, and he was just as capable of leaving as Fionn. It wasn't like either of them were physically tethered here, with their dragons.

Mentally, though, might be another matter....

He shook his head frustratedly, not caring if Fionn saw or what she thought of it if she did. He only wished he could think clearly, yet every time he glanced at her, his mind got all jumbled up. The answer, of course ,was to stop looking at the Sapphirerider...but somehow he couldn't bring himself to do that, either. Weakling. As he stole another glance at the woman, he noticed that she was determinedly avoiding looking at him...Proof that this was all stupidly in his head. Not like she'd care what he felt, anyway. If he even knew what he felt. Anyway, it proved he was weaker than her. And Z'reis hated being weaker than anyone. Not even strong enough to control where he looked.

Iashorinth, though, did notice the exchange between Ezerith and Hers, though he politely avoided paying attention to the Sapphire's part of the conversation. The Ruby did, however, curl around the beauty of a dragon when she settled back, inquiring, Is all well, my jewel? He did wonder what they were saying to each other...He could easily fill Z'reis' head with his voice, but he doubted it'd really help, and would more likely than not just turn the rider's anger on him. He'd let Z'reis' forceful emotions run themselves out like they always did.

Finally, Fionn faced him. Only sheer stubbornness kept him from flinching away from the gaze, so afraid was he that what he'd see would be less than charitable...dislike...anger...disgust. Why he feared it so he could not have said, because he wanted nothing so much as theis woman out of his life so there could be an end to the confusion. But he made himsel face that gaze, as determinedly as he'd made himself stop looking (though admittedly that hadn't worked out so well) a moment before, but there wasn't any sign of disgust or hate on her pretty features. He couldn't tell what she was thinking - the expression seemed conflicted, complicated - but it didn't seem to be...Well, he didn't know. But Z'reis simply couldn't help the longing that rose up in him, looking at her face again, and for the briefest second his defenses fell, and there was something almost tender in his gaze.

Then she asked the question, and abruptly he stiffened, face closing off again. How could she ask that? He didn't know, he didn't know! Which side would win? He desperately wanted it to be the impulse to run far, far away...but..."I don't know," he answered curtly, turning his head to the side, desperate to look away from those eyes that challenged him so. It gnawed at him, that he must admit that. He did not like to show ignorance.

He fervently hoped that would be the end of it, but Faranth would not be so kind. Next thing she was stammering - somehow it did not make her voice any less beautiful - an explanation that made him, despite himself, look back at her, and the raw uncertainty and almost fear in her gaze stopped him short. She looked so innocent in vulnerability. When she asked if Iashorinth would stay by Ezereth's side, he almost barked out a mocking 'of course' - it wasn't at all likely the Rubny would be leaving his prize anytime soon. But she went on.

His blood ran cold. And me by...hers? But... Did this mean...? He bit his lip. Was she actually implying that she'd...want him by her side? Like...a mate? He'd never thought about - about love before, or - anything, never pictured himself as a mate....but something inside him leapt up in approval of the idea. Be with...Fionn? He didn't even know her well, but nevertheless the picture came to him unbidden, of them...eating together, talking...laughing,. Being friends - being in love.

No! Love isn't...no! This isn't love, it can't be...I don't even know her. I don't know what love is, it isn't for me... His thoughts swirled around in disjointed tidbits unti lhe was working himself into incoherency, and it was a long moment before he realized she was expecting an answer. Now might be a good time to run. But his legs wouldn't move.

Z'reis swallowed hard. "I...I don't...know what you mean." But that was a lie. He did know, he just didn't want to believe. Suddenly it seemed as if his legs would not hold him up, and he sat down heavily on the rock he had vacated in a want to not be below her. "Fionn, I...I don't know what this is. But if...somehow...we do, end up with...something...I wouldn't just leave you." Tight and pained as his voice was, he got it out, and the words were true. He wasn't exactly, well, romantic or anything...He was arrogant, maybe, but he didn't know about....about girls. About love. But he did know that he couldn't just leave someone that he did love. That wouldn't be right, even he knew that.

Suddenly he stood up again, turning eyes towards the Weyr in order to not look at Fionn. "I - we - I need to....think. Or...something. Iash, can we please leave?" His voice was suddenly pleading, directed at his Ruby. He couldn't stand being here anymore; he just needed to go, anywhere but here, and he still hadn't ruled out just getting drunk.

Iashorinth sensed the desperation in his bonded's voice and mind both, and purred softly. Wait to hear what Fionn will say, Z'reis, my own. Then make your choice.

((Obsi - do you want to wrap it up, or keep going? I can make him stay, or have him leave in desperation xD I've already got a follow-up thread in mind, for any other Wrathcursed riders except Fionn, like W'ren or someone, for what happens after he leaves.))