[PRP] Family Reunion (Niviora x Sioryl)

[SilverLutz]

Things had been a bit of a blur from when Sioryl had been Searched to this exact moment. He'd arrived at Western weyr on the heels of a hatching, relieving him of the worry of having to stand without knowing anything about dragons or being a Candidate but saddling him with the disappointment of having to wait for the next gold to rise. He'd been tossed right into the thick of things with his studies, quickly getting used to his new home and how things were done. The structured life of a Candidate was new but Sioryl found he excelled at it, getting his work and chores done with ease. He was even starting to make a few fast friends among his peers, though that wasn't much of a surprise given his personality.

Through his few months at Western Sioryl had his eyes and ears open at all times, trying to catch wind of his mother. All he had to go off of was a name and a general description, but he knew it couldn't be that hard to find her. She had to be here still! If she had left, she surely would have come back to get him. It didn't take long for the name to reach his ears and he had nearly dropped the bucket he'd been carrying to go run over to the person that had mentioned it, but the Candidatemaster was quick to bark an order at him and he knew he had to wait. Still, the fact that Niviora was here lit up the young man so brightly he was asked a few times why he was smiling so much for the rest of the day.

After a little detective work and asking around, Sioryl finally managed to figure out his mother had Impressed at the hatching he had just missed and was now a rider of a spunky green dragon. That would certainly help pick her out of the crowd, especially when someone was able to give the name and a description of the young dragon she now rode. Sioryl just had to find a day that his off day and the weyrlings matched up, then go hunting for the pair.

It seemed like forever before that day finally happened. Sioryl was up early, not wanting to waste a moment of his time. He took a few extra minutes to make himself look presentable - this was the first time he was going to ever meet his mother, the first time she was going to see him since he was a baby, he had to make a good impression! - before bustling out of the dorms, making his way through the bowl and the weyr in a hunt for his mother and her dragon.

After deciding Niviora probably wouldn't spend a free day inside, Sioryl took to the beach. It was wide open and lots of other dragons were spending time there today with their riders, so he hoped he'd get lucky and find them. Indeed, he hadn't been searching the sands long before a certain green dragon caught his eye prancing around in the shallow waters of the sea, a young woman standing with her back to the beach as she watched her partner. Sioryl felt his breath catch in his throat and he took a moment to collect himself. Right. Make a good first impression.

Rather than bolting over as he wanted to do, Sioryl walked (quickly) towards the pair. As he drew closer he was sure they'd be able to hear his heart hammering in his throat.

"Niviora?" he called out, hoping she'd turn at the sound of her name.

Prism Shine

 

[Prism Shine]

The months had, metaphorically and now quite literally flown by. The summer had seemed so very long ago, and yet felt only yesterday she had leaned upon a friend and met her beloved. The green was full of spunk and fire as Niviora, and watching her grow and never waver on that brilliant personality had made her rise to meet her. The brilliant green had grown from a small hatchling she could carry, to a becoming senior whirling suddenly able to fly. Throughout the rainy season, though Sauzath may have her opinions on the drear and mud, they had taken each milestone in stride.

With between lessons on the horizon, and most of their free time having been assigned to chores and fishing for more resources, to have an actual rest day to themselves wasn’t to be wasted -- and thank Faranth that the sky seemed to mostly agree with the sentiment.

I do wish you’d have prepared to swim with me. The water feels rather fantastic. Sauzath’s tease was light, as the water played around her ankles. The green flicked water at her rider, laughing as Niviora only backed up a step.

“When the day comes that I suddenly have hide as thick as you, certainly.” She loosened the shawl wrapped around her, watching as Sauzath busied herself with fishing a few shells out of the surf. Beautiful little baubles that deserved to be in their weyr is the general feeling passed quietly through their bond, and can only make Niviora smile -- a deeper-rooted happiness that she hadn’t felt in so, so long; at least before Sauzath had come into her life. It’d been hard to believe when her nameday had come and gone; the difference a turn could bring.

Across from her, Sauzath tensed and looked up -- her eyes draining from their happier tones to more inquisitive ones. It’s the call of her name that has Niviora turning curiously -- and her heart stopped.

… No.
It couldn’t be, could it?

His name dies in her throat quickly, and it’s pure reflex to keep her expression passive. The strike of emotions hits her all at once -- fear, anger; was this the other shoe she had waited so many turns to finally drop? Over a decade of waiting for this man to finally come back. Western Weyr had been her restart at life, and that fate would find her after so long was almost cruel --

Sauzath’s frame was suddenly around her, hovering almost protectively -- and curious. Her eyes were a myriad, and for the briefest moment, could have almost mimicked a rainbow. Reds, oranges… before settling in some confused yellow tones.

’He does not look of the same stature as the man of your memory, Niviora.' The resemblance was uncanny; the same hair color, the same eyes. Yet he was.. Smaller. Younger. Kinder. Almost as if he had stepped almost exactly of her memories (give or take a couple turns). This child knew her, and yet; how?

Her inner turmoil, metered out by the bond between her and Sauzath, seemed to have summoned her firelizard -- for there’s a snap as Royalty appeared from the breadth of between -- and the queen hovered. She had been with her some time, the striking beauty Niviora had latched onto when all around had fallen away, and yet -- the firelizard only crooned gently, swooping in to take a closer look at the boy. Her small eyes bright beacons of purple, fussing over him with the softness of a mother.

And it hits her; it hit her like a rampaging wherry -- so many turns had passed, and he had grown to much, but it’s a name she’s kept tucked in her mind. Private thoughts as she wondered how he was, how he had grown. She had made her decision to let him go; a fresh start with a family that would raise him as one of their own -- or so she had hoped. Yet it seemed that the world worked in mysterious ways.

Niviora took a step away from her dragon as Sauzath relaxed -- confused, curious, but looking much more relaxed -- as she glanced him over. “.. Sioryl?” Soft, wondering, but still close to her chest. She could play it off easily over mistaken identity, but..
Maybe…

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Sioryl waited with baited breath, hands clenching and unclenching at his side to keep himself from simply bolting forward and scooping the woman up into a hug. He had to be sure before he went around hugging people, didn't want to cause a scene or anything. The dragon - Sauzath, if the bright green was the correct one - fixed her gaze on him before Niviora could even turn around. He didn't notice the tensing of the redhead, but he did see the whirling colors in Sauzath's eyes, most notably red. He knew enough about dragons to know that wasn't good, and even though the green wasn't fully grown she was definitely large enough to do serious damage if she wanted to.

Fear didn't grip Sioryl, though the smile on his face did falter a bit as Niviora turned around to look at him with her dragon. He tried to stand up a bit taller, locking eyes with the woman hopefully, trying to ignore the dragon behind her who was wrapping up around her in a protective way. He almost raised his hands to placate the green, but a moment later and he was being nuzzled and groomed by a firelizard.

"Whoa!" he said with a laugh, forgetting for a moment just what and who was looking at him in favor of reaching up to try to flap a hand at the gold currently messing up his hair. "Hey there, you're awfully friendly. Guess that makes one of them," he added quietly, more for himself and the firelizard than the pair standing off and still sizing him up. Hopefully he'd gotten the right rider-

His name. It was quiet, questioning, but it was his. He'd never heard it said like that before, and all focus on the firelizard fell away, recognition and hope building on his face.

"Yeah. Yeah, that's- that's me." Sioryl hesitated a moment before a little smile broke out on his lips, slowly widening as his hopes were confirmed. Every bit of his being was starting to vibrate with the need to run forward, to laugh, to cry, to hug her - his mother! His mother the dragon rider! - but Sauzath was still guarding her, though she didn't look as intense as she had a moment ago.

"Mom?" he added after a few moments more, his voice just a little shaky. This should be her. This should be her. But he had to check. Had to be sure.

Prism Shine

 

[Prism Shine]

The gold firelizard only pawed playfully back at his handflaps, ever careful of keeping claws where they couldn’t hurt. A game, maybe one from so long ago, but the shimmering little girl seemed to delight in his laughter. Words were mostly lost on her, but she nestled against his cheek with an affectionate bump of her head. Yet when playtime came to an end, she gently winged away to settle in the sand.

Niviora could only watch, processing quietly. Royalty knew him, and if the kid’s unfortunate luck of looking so very much like his father didn’t clue her in, it most certainly would’ve been that. But he’d sought her out, when she was just a weyrling of the most recent clutch. No reason a candidate should seek her out -- daresay she didn’t make many friends in the many turns she spent in candidacy. Half of her life, really -- and the living proof was before her.

There was such budding hope in his eyes, smile, voice, that it had her choking up a tiny bit. “You’ve gotten so big..” There’s a touch of awe in her voice. He was but a squirmy little thing, last time she saw him. A bundle of blanket pressed into his new foster’s arms with a dragonrider awaiting her.

The dragon at her side was watching the procession with curiosity; where there was the blind panic in seeing someone who looked so familiar, it simmered down into something murky. Affection, wonder, uncertainty. The anger drained from the weyrling’s eyes, now merely curious. Hedging the faint pink-purples of her rider’s own emotions. She padded around Sioryl, taking him in.

“Oh, don’t scare him, Sauzath.” Any other time, she would have winced at the mild crack in her voice, the bubble of laughter that followed after. Her dragon was pacing around like some predator, even if she knew better -- Sioryl didn’t know how.. interesting her dragon could be sometimes. Not yet, is a quiet.. almost happy thought.

Nonsense. I’m only taking a look at what is properly the second best human in Western. She gives a playful snort, broadcasting so that Sioryl would hear her, as well.

Niviora can only chuckle, a bit defeated to the whims of her green, but smiles back at Sioryl. Impression had helped to pry so many holds on her simply enjoying things, and though her original shock had worn off, she’s almost nervous to take a step forward towards him. His shaky voice doesn’t help the almost itch she has to scoop him up. Maternal instinct, maybe? Perhaps it wasn’t as dead as she thought.

“That’s me, kiddo. I’m-” And now her voice was growing shaky, tight. Instead, Niviora could only hold her arms up weakly -- was she allowed to ask a hug of the son she hadn’t seen most of his life? Yet she wants to. “I’m your mom.”

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Sioryl had no memory of Royalty but it seemed like second nature to have the gold nuzzle his cheek so affectionately. He had his own flit - recently gifted to him on his last nameday as an egg - so perhaps that was what he was familiar with, but there was just something different about the gold. Perhaps it was the fact that there was so much energy in the moment, charged with hope and hesitancy and uncertainty bouncing back and forth between the three females and the young boy. Well...Royalty didn't seem too hesitant or uncertain.

He swallowed thickly as Sauzath continued to size him up, though the colors swirling in her eyes were a bit less aggressive now and more hopeful. The rider's scolding and her own quite wonder made it hard for Sioryl to stand still, but he held his ground. It wasn't until a mindvoice touched him with amusement that his hopes soared and he let out a little laugh, his heart hammering in his chest. Second best person in Western...of course he couldn't be first, not to the dragon nor her rider, but second best? He would take that title happily.

A noise of relief and delight left him as Niviora confirmed who she was and the open arms were all the encouragement Sioryl needed. He launched himself forward at impressive speed, not at all hesitant at hugging this familiar stranger within an inch of her life.

"It's you! It's really you!" he laughed, squeezing Niviora as tight as he could. "I knew it! I knew it! You're a dragon rider!" Never for a moment Sioryl had doubted the stories he'd been told of Niv leaving him in the hold to stand in front of the dragons of Western, but the other kids in the hold had teased him about being abandoned. His conviction was strong, though, and he'd always held his birthmother in the highest esteem, knowing that she'd come back for him if a dragon didn't pick her or to visit if she'd been able. Clearly she hadn't been able to, being a Candidate for his whole life, and now he was here instead...it had all worked out so perfectly.

His bubbling happiness settled into something like contentment as he calmed down just a bit, loosening his hold around Niviora so she could breathe a little, though the smile still stretched his face to the point of pain. It turned into a less desperate and more warm hug, one that was full of unquestionable love and happiness.

"Hi," he added after a moment, looking up to direct his smile at his mother.

Prism Shine

 

[Prism Shine]

Faranth help her, but she didn’t think a noise could sound so simply pure as Sioryl’s laugh. Soft, hesitant with Sauzath’s teasing judgment. She could explain that her dragon loved to be fickle and tease, that he was her son and that simply made him the cream of the crop --

Niviora was able to brace herself as he launched himself at her, staggering back a step to catch her balance. Her arms wrapped around the boy in instinct, and as she stared down at his (once nicely arranged, now firelizard-and-wind-ruffled) hair, it just helped make everything click into place. His laughter, his joy was palpable, and Niviora squeezed him tight, placing a kiss on top of his head. Her eyes squeezed shut, tight, as the saltwater in the air threatened them into watering. Honest.

“Yeah, it’s me. And it’s you!” A few stray strands of hair are pushed out of her face, resting her chin against the top of Sioryl’s head. Daresay.. The hugs were nice. Oh Faranth help her, she’d missed so much, hadn’t she? ’You had no way of knowing, nor any say in how things could have changed. You take too much blame onto yourself.’ Sauzath’s private thoughts leak in, and with a free hand, Niv scrubbed at her eyes. “Newly minted senior weyrling. Give a few months, we’ll be full riders.”

She loosened her grip as he did, though there was a brief flicker to not quite let her son go. Not yet, anyhow. Perhaps it would have been a dream, if she allowed him to stray too far just yet. It wouldn’t have been the first time, at least. Niviora smiled down at him, and it was almost a surprise at how easy, how free it was. The memory was still there; of the small, bubbling babe in her arms, remembering such deep feelings of anger, hurt, pain -- and yet looking at Sioryl, there was nothing but happiness and the nibbling of guilt. “Hey,” She mirrors, quiet delight simmering at the top of it all.

“My son.” The chuckle that shakes out of her is almost disbelieving, testing a word out she hasn’t used in so many turns. “A candidate, huh?”

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

It would be wrong to say that Sioryl hadn't grown up in a loving home, with a supportive surrogate mother and a perfect adoptive brother who had made his life whole. Sioryl had nothing but love and affection growing up despite knowing his mother wasn't the woman raising him and there had never been a drop of guilt or regret at being left behind, only pride and eagerness to meet his very important mother. Any dragon rider of Pern was important, after all, and Niviora was no exception.

But to have his mother hugging him, kissing the top of his head, welcoming him like it hadn't been fourteen Turns since she'd seen him last...it was just different. Different in a good way, different in a 'finally home' way.

As she pulled back a bit, Sioryl did as well though he kept his arms loosely around Niviora. He stood up a bit taller, puffing up his chest as she called out his new profession. Being a cobbler was nothing to stick ones nose up at - everyone needed boots after all - but being a Candidate was something else! He could take up the family trade, as it were.

"Yup! Searched just after the last clutch here at Western," he said, turning his gaze from his mother to Sauzath. Her clutch. He bit his lip slightly - he'd never seen a dragon this close up before excluding the one he'd been Searched by - before offering the bright green a fond smile.

"Is it okay- er-" He paused, looking between the dragon and her rider, unsure who to ask. Sauzath obviously had her own agency and could make decisions on her own behalf, but she was also her mother's dragon and perhaps he'd need permission from both. So when he posed his question, he continued to look between Niv and Sauzath.

"Can I pet her? You? Er...or- sorry, this is still kind of new still..."

Prism Shine