Leaving Home (Tags : Keldesh)

There were very few times in her life when she had been as conflicted as she was now. When Shyorien mentioned he might have a way to rejoin their fallen sister, she thought long and hard about if she would go when the time came. Shyorien didn't pressure her but he did make sure she knew the information as he did.

Kalabria was not a particularly brash sort of person and took her time weighing the pros and cons of going since she had the time to do so. She wanted to study mutated dragons and they were not here. She wanted to Impress a mutated dragon, still not at Eastern anymore. And as much as she loved her family, she did have her sister to think about. Kyabree had always been loving, almost too caring for their family, much like Shyorien could be.

Her sister needed her more than her parents did. In the end, it came down to the simplest fact. Her future was not at Eastern. When the time came, she was prepared. She had a small sack with changes of clothes and some notes she had taken for her studies in small hidebound journals. Everything else was disposable really. Slipping out of their weyr was hard enough in and of itself.

Shyorien looked around the large central space and found their parents were asleep in bed, so he motioned Kalabria to follow. She would normally have slept through this sort of thing but she had been rather worried and also excited. So though she had gotten some interrupted sleep, she didn't feel rested at all and rubbed her eyes before following her brother toward the door.

Keldesh had known something was up.  He'd caught vague snippets of conversation from his mutant-sympathizing siblings and eventually realized they were planning to find a way to leave Eastern.  How he wasn't entirely sure, but he continued to keep an ear out for further information.

He'd originally intended to tell his parents once he had certain proof, but he'd never quite managed to find it.  Shyorien and Kalabria had been careful not to speak in obvious terms around other members of their family.  And even though he was good at shadowing them, he had nothing but his own word to take back to his parents.

Until he finally learned that his siblings had been in contact with the exiled.  And that a certain scarletrider was going to come pick them up at some future date, and sneak them away from their home.

It occurred to him that all he'd have to do was vigilantly watch and wait for Kyabree's arrival and then alert his parents-- that would surely be enough to earn him his father's approval, wouldn't it?  But a completely different idea began forming in his mind-- one that would earn him far greater favor if he pulled it off.

Instead of ratting them out, he'd go with them.  He'd tell them he missed his older sister or some other silly lie, and make sure Kyabree took him with.  Because she would, wouldn't she?  She'd believe him and never question his motives, and once he got to the exiled Weyr… it would be too late.  He'd make a place for himself, find out just what was going on at White Lightning… and then find a way to report back what he'd learned.

Of course, when he'd approached his siblings about the trip, they'd given him strange looks.  So he'd bitten his lip and pleaded with them to let him come with, to let him see his sister, too, and that had apparently been enough.  He'd pasted on a warm, grateful smile, even, when they'd agreed, just to keep up appearances.

Now that the moment was at hand, he was nervous.  He wanted to go, wanted to see just what was happening, wanted to make himself useful by spying on those who'd been thrown out of Eastern… but he was worried about getting caught.  Because if he was, he'd likely be punished just the same as his siblings, despite any protests or reassurances that he'd caught them in the act, and was going to turn them in.  And what would he do then?

Swallowing in an attempt to calm himself, Keldesh tried to grab his own sack as quietly as possible.  His feet were covered only by his socks so he'd make little sound as he walked-- he'd carry his boots until it was safe enough to put them on.  He wasn't entirely confident he could run very well with them swinging from his hand, but he'd try if it was necessary.  Because he didn't intend to be caught, not when it would completely ruin his plans for glory.

Slowly picking up the boots, he nudged them under his arm so they wouldn't clack together, glanced up to catch Shyorien's gesture to follow, and headed for the door after his brother and sister.

This was it.  There was no going back.

Following her brother, she thought she heard or felt something behind her so she turned her head. Why hadn't Shyorien told her Keldesh was coming? She was not one to take things on a leap of faith. She liked facts. She liked logic. And it made absolutely no sense in her mind that Keldesh would want to go. Kalabria was not going to confront him here and risk waking anyone. Instead, she and Shyorien went on as planned. They could talk about this little surprise later.

Careful not to be seen, they made their way quietly out of the Weyr. Shyorien used hand signals to direct them.

The almost crimson shade of the scarlet dragon's hide could be seen at a distance in daylight but when night fell it was difficult to make out. From far away Nwynth appeared as a looming shadow. Kyabree was shaking inside, they might not show. They might be stopped by their father. She would have paced had she been on the ground. However, as things were, she was still mounted on top of Nwynth. More as a precaution should she be seen.

Shyorien arrived with two more siblings in tow.

Sliding down from the dragon's back. "I'm so glad you made it." She beamed at all three of them. "Here, we need to hurry in case a watch dragon comes this way. Give me your things so I can strap them to Nwynth. Shyorien, you can help Kalabria and Keldesh up..."

Nwynth had lowered herself for them to climb up.

Kalabria handed her sister the small sack of her things after Shyorien. Then climbed up onto Nwynth with his help. Looking down at Keldesh, she tried to hide her suspicions and encourage him to join her with a smile. They'd figure out what he was up to when they got well away from Eastern.

Keldesh kept his expression neutral as he followed his siblings towards Nwynth.  Though she might appear to be a brown, maybe a dark blue or green, in the dim light, he knew no one would mistake her for anything but a scarlet upon closer inspection.  And that had him worried-- surely the watch dragon had seen them come in?  Or another dragon  who was awake at this hour?  And if whoever spotted them sounded the alarm, they'd all be caught.

Of course, if that was the case, he'd claim he was following them to find out what they were up to (not entirely a lie), and tell someone of importance what he'd overheard.  They'd believe him, after all-- he was the son of a bluerider who'd spoken out against the mutants, had other siblings who'd been vocal in their distaste, as well.  Kyabree's presence would confirm his claims, as she had no other business at Eastern now that she had transferred to White Lightning Weyr.

Maybe he wanted them all to be caught, wanted someone to discover them before the scarletrider managed whisk them away between.  Maybe he was having second thoughts about moving, leaving behind all he'd ever known, leaving behind the father whose approval he was trying to win by making the trip…

But then Kyabree smiled at him as if nothing was wrong, as if she was happy to see him, even after all this time.  And for a moment, he was confused-- why would she welcome him, when he'd helped send her away with the others?  When he'd wanted her gone?

Quickly hiding his surprise, he smiled in return, said, "I missed you," as sincerely as he could, and allowed his brother to help him up to Nwynth's neck behind Kalabria.

Surely someone would notice notice them?  Surely someone would… realize he was being kidnapped, taken against his will, if they were spotted.  Right?

Seconds ticked by, maybe minutes, his heartbeat loud in his ears as he realized they were actually going to do this.  They were actually going to leave Eastern, leave their parents, friends, and everyone else behind… and no one was going to stop them.