Just a chance that we’ll find better days ~ (Neph)

[Rei]

Quiet. It was so very quiet in her weyr right now. Erilena moved to adjust the plate of snacks she had Dmitri fetch before he left with Harper and Dmisk. Nephele was due to come over for a visit. The greenrider was more then happy about her best friend coming over to see her. Erilena had been put on bed rest at the end of July. (Mostly because she herself was tiny and she was carrying multiples.) The woman was due the very end of September or the very beginning of October. However, as long as she could hold onto them until the beginning of September they should be fine according to Asharra. Any sooner then that and their lungs might not be developed enough. The lungs were apparently one of the last things to develop as the babies prepared themselves for the outside world. To lose them when she was this close would be….unbearable.

So Erilena behaved herself. For the most part anyway. She pushed things just a little. Not enough to hurt anything surely. The greenrider was a very active person by nature and being instructed to limit her activity to nearly nothing was driving her insane. She was bored, wanting to move, and at that stage where she was immensely uncomfortable and just wanted her babies here already. So yes a visit from Nephele was more then extremely welcome. (Plus it allowed poor Dmitri free to actually go do some work without her giving him puppy dog please stay with me eyes.)

Erilena moved the plate again and glanced at the door. Nephele should be here any moment right? It was a good thing the other woman also worked the infirmary night shift. It made Erilena being mostly nocturnal less of a hassle for her friend. When the greenrider was actually working she saw Nephele often, but she hadn't been to work in awhile and she missed the other woman a lot. A knock to the door had Grim chirping at his from his spot perched on the bedpost, overlarge wings crumpled around him like a sinister cape.

A sharp kick to her ribs had the Erilena sucking in a breath before she could move towards the door and she rested a hand on her overstretched abdomen. “Hey you. Contrary to what you may think my ribs are not your personal drum. So behave in there okay?” Despite the near scolding words her murmured tone was something like a caress as she finally reached the door and opened it. Smiling brightly at the woman on the other side Erilena shifted back to let Nephele enter. “Hey Neph! Come on in.”

From her couch Feyrianth too crooned a welcome. Hello Nuoth’s~ Is Nuoth coming as well? You may tell her she can come if she would like? Her tone was quite hopeful. I would be glad to see her and I have plenty of room? The four winged dragon shifted her head so that she could see the two humans a little bit better. She was glad the other woman was here. Hers was much happier when she didn’t have to sit around alone.

[Ember]

"Really, guys, could you settle down for a minute? Then you can go crazy," Nephele told her firelizards, though really it was mostly directed to the most energetic of the three. Charming was crawling all over her clothes in excitement, nudging at both Mother and Sweetheart to join in his antics. Sweetheart instantly froze in her position half curled around Nephele's throat under the shirt collar. Loyal to a fault. Mother offered a quiet comforting croon and flicked his tail at the brown when he scrambled past. Charming merely snorted and continued his merry way up and down and across Nephele's shirt.

The greenrider was, of course, excited to see her best friend. It was just a little more subdued than her oldest firelizard's reaction. Whether it was because she was content with weekly or bi-weekly visits after months of not seeing the girl or the oh-so-quietly simmering jealousy under the surface was debatable. She wasn't jealous of Dmitri's spot in Erilena's life. Nephele generally wasn't that concerned about other peoples' spots in her important peoples' lives. Mostly because she didn't care much to know them in the first place so all that mattered was her own connection.

No, Nephele was jealous because of what Erilena had, what she'd accomplished while Nephele was stuck in the exile weyr. Erilena had her partner. She had her Healing. She even had a family pet. Most importantly, though, Erilena had a family in the first place. Of course, Nephele had her own partner (but she didn't know if that would stay good), her own Healing (that everyone she knew was better than her at), and the promise of a family pet (but still none actually present). None of those quite quelled her jealousy, though, because she felt that she might never have a kid, a family of her own (because despite loving her brother, there was still a gap there and he had his own life to live anyways).

Those thoughts weighed on her guilty mind as she knocked at the door. The expected 'come in!' was absent and she spent a moment wondering what was up before the door opened. She immediately tsked. "You could have just told me to come in instead of getting up, you silly whale," Nephele scolded affectionately, smiling at her best friend. The female though distinctly un-Nuoth voice in her head caused her smile to stretch a little further. "Hey Feyrianth!" There was a momentary pause as she communed with her own green before, "Nuoth'll be right here."

[Rei]

Wrinkling her nose at her best female friend Erilena attempted a whale noise just for fun. Problem was she was just guessing on what they sounded like, having never really seen one before, so whether it was right or not she had no clue. “I don’t know if that’s correct or not but I’m debating joining a pod so maybe I should work on it?” Really she much preferred not being compared to various huge animals but it wasn’t like they were mean about it. So she could deal. “I feel like I live in that bed now. Believe me it gets really old really fast.” She responded in good humor. “I haven’t gotten tied down yet. Believe me Dmitri probably would if he thought I needed it.” A short walk to the door wasn’t going to kill her. It wasn’t like the greenrider was doing jumping jacks or anything. So what if she cheated and moved around a bit when no one was there to complain to her? Erilena was much too active of a person to restrict her activity to nothing. In fact she occasionally snuck into the hallway and walked down it and back when no one was home. Yes she was maybe a little naughty but it hadn’t hurt anything, she hadn’t been caught, and above all it kept her from going completely crazy. The babies so far hadn’t complained and the healers hadn’t said anything was wrong. Yes contrary to popular belief she wasn’t really made of glass.

As Nephele stepped into the weyr Erilena closed the door behind her and smiled at her friends grouping of firelizards. “Hello loves. I got some treats for you too.” She assured them before reaching over to give them each a quick pet and in Charming’s case a scratch under his chin. Grim whistled a hello from his perch before starting up a pleasant chatter at Mother and the rest. There was oh so much to tell. Shall they converse while his carrier of life was busy with theirs? Rustling his overlarge wings he waited patiently for his audience. Flicking a glance at her firelizard and then Feyrianth Erilena couldn’t help but be amused. You would think that they were starved for attention the way they acted. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. Silly creatures. Still the woman waited patiently while her mindmates got their comments in. wouldn’t do to completely overwhelm Nephele when she had literally just arrived.

Feyrianth wiggled in barely contained excitement as she waited for Nephele’s response to her question. When it came she half flared her wings excitedly as she slid off her couch. Thank you NephyNuoth’s! not bothering to disguise the enthusiasm in her tone she practically bounced to her weyrledge to meet her friend as she arrived. An affectionate croon was offered the other green and the other female had barely landed when Feyrianth moved forward to touch muzzles with her. Hello my sisterlove. How are you this evening?

When it seemed like things had calmed down, at least a little, Erilena moved forward to embrace her friend from the side. Well as well as she could embrace her given her current size. Faranth but she would be glad when she walk without waddling and hug people properly again, among other things. With another little squeeze she released her friend and turned towards the table. “I made sure we had snacks. You want anything to drink? I’ve got juice, water, and I think some klah?” Yes the greenrider was all for fetching Nephele something to drink. It wasn’t like it would kill her to be a good host. As she waited for her friend to answer she started towards the small countertop area and cabinets all the weyrs had. “How’s K’sel? He behaving himself?”

[Ember]

Nephele just about died laughing when Erilena mimicked a whale. Not that she knew what a real one sounded like either, but the sound her friend made sounded more like something dying than any distinctive critter. "I-I think you'll r-really haveta work on that call if you wanna join a pod!" She commented, laughter breaking up the beginning of her sentence. The greenrider folded in on herself when Erilena mentioned living in the bed and she automatically thought of a beeched whale. She even tried to communicate what was so funny but she couldn't get the words out because she was so breathless from laughing.

The firelizards adorning her took that as their cue to take over for her and Charming chattered animatedly at Erilena, as if catching up for all the time they had missed. Then, with a final chirp, he deemed her all caught up and fluttered over to Grim with a pleasant whistle. Mother brushed up against Nephele's cheek comfortingly before also flying over to join the other firelizards. Sweetheart, however, remained comfortabley curled up and half-hidden on Hers, waiting for when the greenrider would calm herself. Finally she mastered her laughter and grinned at Feyrianth's reaction. It was good for Nuoth to be surrounded by friends again.

Nephele straightened in time to receive a hug from her best friend and she returned it as enthusiastically as she could considering her friend was a whale little larger than usual. "I think I could go for some juice," Nephele responded, knowing it would be pointless to argue with Erilena about letting the woman serve her. When K'sel came up the greenrider let out a short bark of laughter. "The idjit wants a puppy, of all things. And he managed to make me agree to it."

Nuoth dropped gracefully onto Feyrianth's weyrledge, barely having time to fold her wings before her old friend swarmed up to her and was up in her face in the best possible way. She crooned and returned the nuzzle affectionately, eyes colouring an almost embarassed shade of happiness at the epithet. Greetings, Feysister. I am wonderful this evening. And yourself? In truth, Nuoth was super excited for Feyrianth getting a little and was oh so curious about it. Were all human females golds, then?

[Rei]

It was infectious. Nephele’s laughter, and Erilena found herself laughing too even if she tried to keep it under control. Laughing almost hurt lately and she was certainly breathless enough without adding to it. Still her hazel eyes lit up with amusement and she couldn’t stop smiling. Especially when her friend folded in on herself in near hysterics. That was just too much and the greenrider started laughing more until sudden kicking in her belly forced her to stop. Thankfully it wasn’t long after that that Nephele got control of herself as well. Which was a good thing because the woman was quite breathless now. To think that before Erilena could run for miles and now something as simple as laughter took all the wind right out of her. Too much pressure. On near everything. Yes she was now at the stage of her pregnancy where near everything was just plain uncomfortable and edging on painful at times. Not that she would trade this whole experience for anything. No strange as it sounded the greenrider actually found that she enjoyed being pregnant. Especially in the earlier months where she could take advantage of the increase in hormones. She was pretty sure Dmitri liked parts of that too.

Grim pleasantly chattered back to Charming actually folding his large wings properly against his back for once. When Mother moved to join them as well the blue crooned welcomingy and started all over from the beginning. Oh there as so much to tell. So much. Where should he start? Perhaps with the life carrier and then from there to how theirs was doing? Beyond that there was much from the hunting around the area to gossip he had heard from other firelizards. Yes Grim was more then content to chatter away to his company for as long as they’d hear it. Charming was quite the conversationalist as well and the blue found that he did enjoy the other’s company quite a bit. The near black blue leapt off the bedpost with a chirp towards the others. Come let them find somewhere more pleasant to chat. The firelizard didn’t much feel like riling Dementia up with his added firelizard company when she barely tolerated him to begin with. Yes it was much better for all involved if they took their conversation at least out to the ledge.

Reaching towards the pitcher of juice Erilena wrinkled her nose for Nepheple’s benefit as she poured two glasses. “I kind of expected that he might ask you at some point after he met Harper for the first time. He seemed quite taken with him.” Moving back toward the other greenrider and offering her one of the glasses she considered before continuing. “You know I never did see about possibly getting Harper fixed. He’s about four or so months old now. If you guys are willing to wait a little bit you could probably get a puppy out of him? I don’t think E’iah’s canine is fixed and she’s female.” Of course that would mean that Harper and Rishin would have to like each other and E’iah himself would have to be open to the idea as well. It wasn’t anything that could be counted on but at least it was a possibility? “Baring that I am sure it wouldn’t be hard to find a puppy or two in some of the holds in the spring and summer months. There were always a few litters around every spring when I lived at the hold.” Smiling warmly at her friend Erilena awkwardly settled herself into a nearby chair and sipped at her juice. She figured she’d let Nephele maybe get a few comments or a question in before she started to talk her ear off.

A soft croon left Feyrianth’s throat as the nuzzle was returned her eyes whilring in vibrant shades of blue. I am quite wonderful myself, especially now that you are here. She returned happily, backing up to allow the other green a little bit more space once she had been sufficiently greeted. Not that that was likely to last long. The minute Nuoth settled Feyrianth would likely be cuddling with her in seconds. How is yours doing? The more exuberant of the pair asked as she folded her four wings against her back and waited for her friend to pick a spot to settle.