Hoofing It (Ivy)

[Aftershock]

Cainith cursed a bit as he tugged lightly on the reins of his runner, noticing it starting to stray a bit from the path in pursuit of something interesting on the side of the trail. The heavy-headed bay equine snorted a bit in protest, but straightened out once more. Being the size he was, Cainith wasn't exactly an experienced runnerman... in fact, this was one of the first times he'd ever been mounted on a creature capable of bearing his weight where he was in control of it's movements, so this entire experience was quite new to him... it had taken him months to find a local Blossom farmer with a runner large enough to comfortably carry Cainith's great weight and size, and the runner was more of a plow-puller than a riding runner, so the experience of wearing a saddle and bearing a rider was as new to the mount as being a rider was to Cainith.

Looking to his right, he smiled as he saw his weyrmate handling her own runner with much more skill than he was. Even after all these Turns, he still simply enjoyed watching Ivy as she performed activities; the look of concentration in her blue eyes as she directed the runner with subtle movements of the reins and knee pressure, the gentle breeze sending tendrils of her bright red hair fluttering softly, the bounce of her curves with each step of her mount. Grinning at his beautiful companion, he said, "This isn't quite what I expected, but it's still quite nice, isn't it? It feels like it's been ages since we've had time together with just us... I'm glad I was able to find a babysitter for Aithyn." Snorting a bit in amusement, he added with a wider grin, "Rollhead offered to watch him, of course, but I assumed you were still against such an arrangement."

As if on cue, Rollhead popped his head from his position in Cainith's curly hair, stating matter-of-factly, "Rollhead no know why Clutchmommy not let Rollhead watch Goddess-child! Goddess-child need Rollhead to explain how world works!"

[Ivy]

If Cainith was having an issue with riding his runner - which he was - Ivy was not. She'd ridden before, more than just a handful of times. She smiled over at him, chuckling quietly to herself as he had to correct his mount more than once. Sitting in the saddle felt natural to her and she bounced lightly with each step the runner took beneath her. Reins were held loosely in her hands, barely having to use them. Blue eyes flitted between her weyrmate, the runner beneath her, the trail, and the scenery around them. This truly was a pleasant date. The weather was lovely, the trail provided nice scenery, and she got a break from being a mommy and rider for the day.

Lighth was not at all pleased about this arrangement, especially since she had told him he was not invited to come along. He had whined and once again suggested she go with a different man instead of Cainith. For the umpteenth time she'd told him Cainith was her weyrmate and while he was not one of the 'pretty boys' Lighth prefered she loved him. He'd stormed off to the lake or some other place for boy watching at that point.

Her attempt to leave Eros and Perses behind had been less than successful though - and when Rollhead spoke up Perses felt the need to do so as well, Stoopid stoopids. Smelly ugly runnerthing. Too bouncy! Should be home brushing butiful hair! Rolling her eyes she flicked the 'mandyr who was hidden on her shoulder amongst her hair. Eros was flying above them and chirruped his opinion as well.

"Clutchmommy is capable of teaching Goddess-child how things work, thank you very much Rollhead. Perses you be quiet or I will let this runner step on you. Eros, you too." Chuckling to herself she looked over to Cainith once more, "Sorry for the peanut gallery, its like they're attached permanently or something." A quick wink was given, "And this is nice. Its nice to just be us, you know? How far til our picnic area by the way?"

[Aftershock]

Rollhead was about to respond to Ivy's statement when Cainith, having had long experience dealing with his tiny mindmate, felt the thought forming in the salamandyr's crazed little mind and sent a pulse of warning, cutting Rollhead off before he could get himself and Cainith in trouble with the fiery-tempered redhead. Out loud, Cainith replied, "This is very nice, despite the chatty winged company... it's sort of sad that we've been with them for this many turns, and we still haven't figured out how to leave them behind, don't you think?" Giving his weyrmate a grin to show he wasn't being too serious about his statement, he continued, "It has been a long time since it's been just us, hasn't it? Faranth, we didn't even move in together until you had Aithyn, and then you Impressed and had to move out for weyrling training, and it's been the three of us since you graduated and came to the Hold... we should really figure out some way to have alone time more often, I think, as we're well past due."

Cursing under his breath as he had to redirect his runner yet again, he shaded his eyes with one large hand as he looked forward on the trail. Bringing the hand back down quickly to grab the saddlehorn as he nearly lost his balance when his runner swerved sideways beneath him, he resettled himself before replying, "It looks like we're almost there... I can see the glinting from the water through the trees." Reaching to the side to pat the woven basket strapped to the saddle of his runner, he added, "A picnic by the river... a different river, and a different mode of transportation, but it's almost like our first date all over again. So much has happened, it almost feels like that was in a different life, doesn't it?"

[Ivy]

"Are you saying you'd take back everything else to have more alone time? You regret Impressing? Aithyn? Me Impressing?" She was teasing of course, and her tone reflected this as she looked over to her Weyrmate with a smile, "I for one wouldn't give up any of it, even if it did mean some extra alone time. Now that we have someone in Blossom we feel comfortable leaving Aithyn with though, I'm sure we can figure out a way to have it be just us. I miss it too, though I'm not nearly as sappy about it as you are."

Chuckling she pressed her heels against her runnerbeast's sides and flicked the reigns a bit to get him to go a bit faster. Trotting ahead of Cainith she glanced back at him, "Well then hurry up! I heard your stomach start growling at me about a half candlemark ago." A wink and she turned to face forward again, peering through the trees until she too saw the glint of water ahead.

"As far as the winged beasts go, they should know they aren't getting any of our food." It didn't take any visual contact for her to know neither Eros or Perses were amused by her statement, nor did they agree with her. They fully intended to share some of her food, thank-you-very-much.

[Aftershock]

Cainith laughed as his weyrmate teased him, and he replied, "Of course I do not regret any of that, my dear. And you are correct, of course... I should concentrate on finding ways to give us time alone now, instead of thinking of times lost in the past." Grinning, he added, "I, of course, apologize greatly for being too sappy for your sensibilities, my love," then swept his arm around and leaned in Ivy's direction in an exaggerated, sarcastic bow.

Unfortunately for Cainith, the maneuver caused him to lose his balance once more, and this time gravity would not be denied as it tugged his huge body free from it's perch on the back of his runner. Letting loose a string of obscenities as if they might cushion his fall from their sheer volume, Cainith tumbled from his saddle, landing on the ground on his back as a cloud of dust was thrown up from his heavy impact on the trail. His runner turned it's large head to observe it's fallen rider impassively, prevented from simply wandering off by Cainith's booted foot still tangled in one of the stirrups.

Climbing to his feet and cursing yet more colorful phrases as he patted the dust from what he could reach, he said, "That's it... the world is telling me that someone of my size does not belong in a saddle, I believe. I'm walking the rest of the way." Taking the runner's reins in his hand, he tugged slightly and said, "Come on, you, I'm not leaving you behind and having that farmer attempt to blame me for your loss if you wander off."

The group soon reached the river's edge, and Cainith tied his runner's reins to a nearby tree as Ivy found a smooth, mostly-flat section of grass to begin setting up the blanket for their picnic. His runner secured, Cainith began unloading the baskets from the creature's saddlebags, saying, "It was easier cooking in our own kitchen rather than having to maneuver around drudges and weyrfolk like I did when I cooked the food for our first picnic, though I do miss the larger quantities of ingredients made readily available in a Weyr." Starting to unwrap and place the food upon the spread blanket Ivy had put down, he revealed a sack of warm meatrolls, a braised herdbeast haunch, a pot of steamed, seasoned vegetables, a broiled wherry, and of course plenty of bubbly pies of Ivy's favorite flavors.

[Ivy]

Riding ahead of Cainith she missed his brilliant maneuver that ended with him on the ground, though she definitely heard it. When the distinct thud of him hitting the ground behind her was heard she halted her runner and glanced back. Eyes were filled with concern for a moment, before she realized he was fine - or he must be rather, for he was clearly capable of cursing like mad. Chuckling a bit to herself she nudged her runner forward once more until she was in the clearing.

Soon her runner was secured and she had set out a wide blanket for them to picnic on, just in time for Cainith to catch up with her and set out what was practically a feast. Green eyes danced over the food before finding his eyes she grinned, "I liked it better when it was the weyr's food and not our own personal stocks too." Sticking her tongue out playfully she reached out to grab some of the warm meatrolls to begin nibbling on them.

Eros circled above them like some kind of vulture, just waiting for his opening. Perses did not make his attempt to steal food quite so obvious. One moment he was hiding in Ivy's fiery red locks and the next he was on the blanket scurrying for the meatrolls. Ivy batted at him but he dodged her attack, managing to get a hold of a meatroll before running to the opposite end of the blanket to enjoy his prize.

[Aftershock]

Cainith snickered as Ivy attempted (and failed) to curtail her apparently ravenous salamandyr's food theft, responding, "I agree... though luckily my ability to eat twice as much as a normal man also comes with the ability to work twice as hard as one... at least when it comes to mining... so it's unlikely we'll ever have to worry about feeding ourselves with the marks I bring home."

As Rollhead ran down His' shoulder and arm to reach the ground and stuff his head into a meatroll in a manner that reminded Cainith of why he chose the name in the first place, Cainith took a plate and began to carve the herdbeast haunch onto it as he said, "You know, my love, if someone would have asked me where they thought I'd be now back when I first aged out of dragon Impression back in Benden Weyr, I never in a million Turns would have guessed I would be a wherhandler living in Blossom Hold with a beautiful young redheaded weyrmate and an incredible young son." Smiling at Ivy, his eyes twinkling with affection, he added, "I only hope I've been able to make you as happy as you've made me over the time we've been together, Ivy..."

[Ivy]

The bluerider opened her mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. Instead of replying she took a bite of her food and just gave a bright smile and a nod. Quietly she continued to eat - a bite of this, a bite of that, a nibble here, a nibble there. Everything was delicious of course, her weyrmate was an excellent cook in his spare time.

Perseus of course had no such qualms with possibly hurting Cainith's feelings, Ugleh stoopid. Big stoopid. Butiful should be skies! Lots of dragoons! Woosh woosh! Boring stoopid. Boring lake place. Everything boring and stoopid.[/color] The small blue salamandyr was sure not to mince words as he paused from his feast to look up at the bluehandler. Butiful sad, so so sad. Ugleh make butiful sad, keep her from skies![/color]

Ivy's mouth had been full as her 'mandyr took it upon himself to bring up what she considered a rather touchy subject - had she less manners she may have spit her food out in an attempt to hush him; not that it would have made much difference to him. Instead she quickly swallowed and shoved a hand over his small form, gently squishing him against the blanket. "Hush Perseus!" Fear flashed in her eyes as she looked up to meet Cainith's gaze.

"He's a little over excited from all of the food, don't listen to him love..."

[Aftershock]

Ivy's apparent start, then cancellation of a response gave Cainith pause, though he was willing to let it go until suddenly Ivy's mouthy little salamandyr suddenly gave mindvoice to what were apparently her true feelings on the matter. Rollhead suddenly shook his head free from the meatroll, bits of spiced meat stuck to his skin and frill as he glared at Perseus' location beneath Ivy's hand with raging red eyes while Cainith sat dumbfounded, his carving knife loose in his grip as he stared open-mouthed at Ivy.

He heard her words, but he also noted the fear in her eyes, and the fact she had simply told him not to listen, not that it wasn't true. Combined with her own inability to answer whether she was happy with him immediately upon him asking, the hurt in his eyes said exactly how he felt at the moment. Having to verify it for himself, he swallowed once and, his deep voice cracking a bit with emotion, he asked, "Is that true? Are you truly sad living with me and Aithyn here in Blossom?"

[Ivy]

Sharding 'mandyr! Why couldn't she have Impressed a razorclaw? Those never spoke! Then she wouldn't have to deal with the issue she had been avoiding for quite some time. At least Lighth wasn't throwing his two cents into the matter, she couldn't handle more outbursts from the obnoxious blues in her life. This was going to be hard enough as it was.

After a moment she shook her head slowly, "No, dear. I'm not sad. It's just..." Growling under her breath she squeezed against Perseus lightly before letting him go. Feeling the anger from His he managed to keep his maw shut for once and scurried off to go eat. Running a hand over her face she sat up a bit more and then put her hand on his. "I imagined my life would be completely different, to be honest. After I lost my first child all those turns ago... I thought I would never have children again. I never thought I'd be in the kind of relationship again that I was before going to the Weyr. I thought I would Impress a Green and be free. Then I met you. Then I had Aithyn. And instead of a Green I got Lighth, funny how that is right? I seem to attract nothing but Blues..."

Another sigh came from the redhead and she squeezed Cainith's hand. "I'm happy enough... Though even you have to admit there isn't much to do in Blossom... There aren't many dragons that come and go either so Lighth is dreadfully bored and annoying as all get out."

Scooting closer to her weyrmate she leaned her head against his arm and looked up at him, "I love you and I love Aithyn. I'm not sad, I'm just restless and a bit bored love. It's not your fault. Please don't be upset... I don't want to ruin our date."

[Aftershock]

Cainith moved to wrap his huge arms around his weyrmate as she moved closer to him, still not completely happy, but at least relieved that the situation wasn't nearly as dire as it appeared at first. He easily tugged her into his lap, forgetting the food laid out on the blanket as he enfolded the buxom redhead softly in his powerful grip, bending his neck to nuzzle her cheek with his own as he said, "I'm sorry, Ivy... I, too, never expected this life for myself, though I suppose I'm happier than you are simply because even after all these Turns together, it's difficult for me to truly accept that this is reality, and not just a dream." Chuckling ruefully, he added, "I suppose I concentrate so much on my work and making a good life for you and Aithyn I forget the life you left behind to be with me, and how boring it must be living in a Hold with the only other dragons being from the few other watchdragons."

He sat silently for a moment, simply enjoying holding Ivy in his arms as his mind mulled over the problem. Finally, he grinned and moved his hands up to Ivy's shoulders, pulling her away from their embrace to be able to meet her eyes as he exclaimed excitedly, "I've got it! We'll take a vacation, just the two of us! We'll find someone to watch Aithyn, and we'll visit Selenitas, and maybe do something new like visiting the ocean, or exploring ruins like the old Monaco Bay Weyr! I'm sure I can convince the Master Miner to give me time off... do you think you could do the same with your boss?"