Red Sunrise }{ Redd's Keeliah

[danaphantom]

Though she was awake, Norra did not not stir. She was still clinging to the last dregs of a dream she now barely remembered. Of course, she knew in the back of her mind that opening her eyes would reveal a whole new wonderful dream. With the contented mind of her dragon connected to her, she really couldn't forget.

Not that she wanted to.

A good sort of ache filled her, a smile gracing her lips as she imagined what had happened (for in her current state, there was little she actually remembered. That took effort!). Hmm, a good day.

Finally opening her eyes, Norra rolled them when she realized it was dawn. She gets a day off, and for what, not sleeping in? Still, she couldn't be annoyed, her gaze falling on the woman beside her. Keeliah... a gorgeous thing, one she had occasionally admired during Wing Drills. Now here she was. Carefully, Norra reached out, gently stroking the halo of hair surrounding the Redrider, trying hard not to rouse her. If one of them could sleep in, the morning would not be wasted!

Moving tentatively, so as not to wake anyone, the Bluerider slid out of bed, stretching once she was on her own two feet. Yup, good ache. Though something to let her move normally would be nice. She hadn't even known she could bend that way... but enough about that, breakfast was just around the corner.

[lredd011]

Keeliah didn't want to get up. She was perfectly content to lay in bed all day long, remaining blissfully ignorant to the world around her. Bliss. Yes. That was what she was feeling right now. It was a nice break from the dark funk that the entire Weyr had been in lately. It was depressing. And depression just didn't suit Keeliah well at all. There was a time to mourn, yes. But there were still things in this world to be thankful for. Like, well, Flights for instance. Not that Keeliah remembered every detail perfectly. But she remembered having fun. She remembered Norra. "Mmmm," Keeliah said sleepily. The Redrider rolled over in bed to face the spot where Norra had been sleeping moments ago and opened her eyes, only to find that space unoccupied. She frowned slightly, wondering if maybe it hadn't been as fun for the Bluerider as it had been for her. But then Keeliah spotted her, stretching, only moments out of the bed it appeared.

A devious grin spread on Keeliah's face. She crawled over to the other side of the bed silently and cat-like, as if stalking her prey. And when she was within an arm's reach of Norra, she grabbed the woman by the waist as she knelt on the side of the bed behind her, wrapping her arms around her tightly. "Hey you! Where do you think you're going? It's much too early to be doing anything other than laying in bed. With me." She planted some soft kisses on Norra's back, her shoulders. Surely the Bluerider would not be able to resist! She had some other tricks up her sleeves if need be. And she wouldn't be afraid to use them!

[danaphantom]

A small grunt escaped Norra as a joint popped back into place, the Bluerider breathing out a sigh of relief just as Keeliah grabbed her. The happy exhale turned into a surprised yelp, the elder woman giving her mate a playful slap on the wrist before taking the Redrider's hands in her own, laying kisses on the knuckles.

"Honey, I would love to! But don't you think a little breakfast is also in order?" Norra glanced over her shoulder, a smile spreading across her face. "Sweet rolls, some fruit, eggs, klah... Mmm, makes my stomach rumble just thinking about it." She gave the other rider a wink, carefully prying off her hands.

She bent down then, retrieving a rumpled tunic and pulling it on without bothering to check whose it actually was. "Unless you've got room service, one of us has to go get it," she added with a laugh.

[lredd011]

As Norra began to list out food items one after the other, Keeliah's stomach suddenly felt extremely empty. She chuckled in response, releasing her and allowing the woman to continue on her mission. "Yes, I suppose I am a little hungry," Keeliah admitted. The Redrider tilted her head to the side and watched Norra dress, noting how limber the older woman was. Yes, time had been kind to the Bluerider. Not that she knew her exact age or anything. But it seemed like she had aged very well. Keeliah hoped she would be as lucky.

As Norra dressed, Keeliah wrapped a fur around her shoulders. It was Spring at Solace Weyr, but that didn't mean it wasn't a little chilly in the weyrs in the morning. "You know, Norra..." Keeliah said as she admired the woman. "You really don't have to get dressed if you don't want to. I'm sure no one would complain. Not with that body."

Keeliah gave Norra a playful smile though she was serious about the woman's figure. She then added, "Hurry back now! Don't keep me waiting for too long!" For emphasis, she mustered up the best pouty face she could, bottom lip curled and all.

[danaphantom]

Norra struck a pose to show off her mismatched outfit. With an oddly clinging tunic, likely shucked from one of the men and then forgotten as they left to find their own partners, and Keeliah's pants, which were more capris on the long-legged Bluerider, she certainly looked interesting, to say the least.

"I tried, once. Ranis was not happy in the slightest." Whether this was true or not was left to Keeliah's imagination as Norra gave her a small wave and stepped out. Hezzath harrumphed a small laugh at his Rider, before shifting, attempting to get comfortable again to fall back asleep. Overexertion led to complete and utter exhaustion. The Blue would take a fellis-induced coma if it were at all possible.

Several minutes later, Norra reappeared, carting a tray piled high with goodies of all sorts. "Hope your hungry!" she chimed, setting the tray down on a desk. She then moved over to the Redrider, extending a hand as if intending to sweep the other woman off her feet and over to breakfast.

[lredd011]

Keeliah couldn't help but give a girlish giggle at Norra's antics. When the Bluerider disappeared to retrieve sustenance, she gave a contented sigh. She couldn't remember the last time she had been able to let go and just enjoy herself for once. It seemed so easy to do with Norra. Things had been rather tense around the Weyr lately, and Keeliah was not exempt from feeling this tension, though her constant smile and brave face might say otherwise.

Keeliah let herself fall backwards into the pillows. The after-Flight euphoria was still in effect for this Redrider, and it was amplified being connected to Lilith. They were both happy. And it felt, well...just nice! Keeliah sat up on her forearms at Norra's voice announcing her return. She gladly accepted the Bleurider's hand and got up to her feet.

"Mmm...it smells delicious! If I wasn't hungry before, I certainly am now!"

[danaphantom]

After pressing a quick kiss to Keeliah's forehead, Norra grinned brightly, guiding the other Rider over to the tray as if she was blindfolded.

"Good, good!" the Bluerider replied as she guided her mate into the chair. "I brought more than enough, so eat up! And whatever is left over we can save for later. That way we only have to leave if we really want to." A sly wink later, and the Searchrider wandered off to find a second chair. Leaving hadn't seemed like a good idea at first... but maybe a picnic would be nice. Norra let her mind wander as she returned with the chair, setting it down and having a seat, plucking a sweetroll off the tray.

It would all depend on Keeliah, really. Norra decided she didn't really care one way or the other... mostly because she knew she would find fun regardless. She blinked suddenly, realizing she had been staring off into space. With a gentle smile, she returned her attention to the Redrider, watching her quietly as she ate.

[lredd011]

Staying in for the day sounded extremely appealing to Keeliah. How often did she get to do that? The petite woman allowed Norra to guide her along, her eyes growing wide as she took in the sheer amount of food in front of her as she took her seat. It took Keeliah practically the same amount of time it took Norra to retrieve a chair for herself to decide on something to eat. She started with a large piece of fruit and bit into it slowly, having to catch the juice with her free hand.

As she ate, she noticed the Bluerider had began to stare off into space, having that look like she was deep in thought. She came back shortly though, and Keeliah tilted her head to the side, wondering what the other woman had been thinking. Keeliah paused for a moment and placed her fruit down on the tray. "What are you thinking?" she asked, her curiosity growing. Sure, she knew the Bluerider from Wing Drills and such. They had both been around the Weyr for a while now. But what did she really know about the other woman? If they were going to be spending the day together (and more days after that hopefully), Keeliah figured they might as well take the time to get to know each other better.

[danaphantom]

Norra shrugged at Keeliah's comment, giving her a wry grin when her mouth was empty. "About picnics," she admitted, which was true enough. "But staying in would be fun, too! Less chance of being walked in on, hmm?" A sly wink was given, before the Bluerider took another bite of her sweet roll. "Whatever you want to do, honey." A long glance was cast to their still sleeping dragons, followed by a shake of her head. "Actually, staying in might be the better idea. It seems like that, or go on foot."

What Keeliah wouldn't be able to see was the sheer exhaustion in the neon-colored Blue. He really had overexerted himself. It would be quite some time before he would fly again, but it had been so worth it. He had his lovely rose... and Norra had a new interest. "So, where're you from?" Norra asked somewhat suddenly, striking up the conversation. At least, if they couldn't go out, she could start investigating. Oooh, and maybe gossip. Yes, this would be loads of fun.

[lredd011]

Keeliah followed Norra's gaze to where their sleeping dragons laid, still intertwined. She nodded in agreement. Lilith had really outdone herself that time, hadn't she? Even though they were both still young, they were certainly not immune to the aftereffects of the Flight. "Yes, Lilith is exhausted. But happy. They both look happy, don't they?" the Redrider asked, though the question was mostly rhetorical. If Hezzath was happy, Norra would know. She would be able to feel it herself, just as Keeliah felt Lilith's contentedness now.

Keeliah turned her attention back to Norra as she asked her a question. "Cliff Hold," she said without batting an eye. "My family has a farm there. I have five older brothers. So I guess that makes me the baby of the family," she said with a laugh. "They spoiled me too...rotten. But I'd like to think I'm pretty good at reining in my spoiled rottenness." She smiled, thinking of her family. She saw K'lor often enough, obviously. But she did miss the others sometimes. She tried to make it over to Cliff Hold for Gathers, but certainly not as often as she would like to. She took another bite of her fruit and swallowed before turning the question back around to Norra. "What about yourself?" she asked, her grey-blue eyes wide with curiosity.

[danaphantom]

Norra nodded slowly as she listened to Keeliah, all of her attention devoted to the other rider. She may not have the best attention span, but when something caught it, there was a vice-like hold that would not sway. At least, not for a few minutes. Hezzath was ignored, but it wasn't as if he minded. If had been concsious to be aware of being ignored. Right now, he just wanted sleep. Sleep and his rose.

"Hah, seems like we're two of a kind! I'm from this little hold south of here. Nothing major. Kinda secluded, actually." Norra laughed, pausing a moment to take a swig of klah. "When my parents could wrangle me in, I helped herd ovines. But mostly I just did whatever." She shrugged, her cheer diminishing somewhat. "My parents and I had a disagreement, so I left. Got picked up by searchriders, and, well." She looked over to Hezzath. "But all that is over. I'm here, and I'm happy." A warm smile was given to Keeliah.

[lredd011]

Keeliah listened intently as Norra spoke, head tilted to the side slightly. Norra's faded smile didn't go unnoticed either as she spoke of her parents. Keeliah herself was sort of family oriented, so she was somewhat saddened to hear of Norra's falling out with her parents. Obviously the Weyr has a different sort of family structure than a Hold does, and many a Holder would frown upon the Weyr's way of doing things. But Keeliah had come to adapt to it and appreciate it. She saw the Weyr as one big family, really. Everyone pulled their weight to help the others out, whether it be cook, healer, drudge, or Rider. And not even children were the sole responsibility of the parents, but rather the responsibility of the Weyr as a whole.

Keeliah returned Norra's smile and responded, "Yes, and how lucky for me that you did end up here!" Keeliah gave the Bluerider a wink and her gray-blue eyes sparkled playfully. She leaned over and gave the woman a kiss on the cheek. She settled back into her chair, but kept her gaze on the older woman as she took a sip of her own klah.