Are we wise elders or old fogies?...both! 15.06.07

[Kaya]

[Kaya's weyr, mid morning]

She knew someone was due for a visit, and so she was tidying up. There was something that brought a smile to her face, adding another layer of wrinkles, as she moved the couch pillow to its rightful spot and adjusted the rug with her toes so that it lay just so. She'd sent Sliki with a note to get tea and something nice to snack on. Guests usually liked that. She hoped that the two, guest and tea, would arrive in unison. She didn't want to leave them waiting, or the tea to get cold.

Now if only she could remember who was coming. It was important enough that she remembered, but the name, which was on a note somewhere that she'd misplaced, eluded her. Kayleth, sometimes I feel like I've lost it already... Kaya half joked, half lamented. How was it she could remember so much else and not this?

They'll come if they come and it'll all work out. Don't fret so much, Mine. Kayleth encouraged. She was still the caring mother she'd always been, just a bit greyer at the muzzle.

Kaya opened her mouth to say something but stopped. She did worry too much, but well, that was her nature. She took a deep breath instead and let it out somewhat slowly. Mornings did tend to work themselves out. She moved across the room to tidy the bedsheets and make sure her dresser wasn't in disarray.

On the wall near her dresser were a series of things Tyra had collected or made over the Turns. Kaya picked up a shell and stared at it for a while, sifting through the memories of the day her daughter had found it. It had been warm, summer time actually. Koryn holding her hand and Tyra running ahead. So curious and excited. Smiles and laughter. All held in a little shell.

[Jay Kitten]

Ah, yes, the Goldrider. It had been some time since he had seen her, but then again, it had been some time since they were both young and both lived in the same place. Now, his visit was unscheduled- that is to say, he had mentioned he was coming, but not when- and so it was that he was late to his own time frame.

R'nos was never really punctual. He'd be late for his own funeral.

Regganith was trying not to fall asleep as he winged himself down into a dusty old weyr, a very familiar dusty old weyr, the one they used to inhabit that it appeared nobody had taken since. Some of his possessions were still in the corner. He dismounted and picked up the old spear that had cobwebs covering it's handle.

"So that's where this bloody thing went!" He shouldered it and grinned over to his dragon, whom was already asleep. Darned cats when they got old, he thought as he headed out into the main tunnels of the weyr caves. Aiyr arrived promptly and alighted on her favorite spot; his head was now heavy as she sat atop it. He was used to the moonlight doing such a thing, though, and so he didn't complain despite the perfectly good perch formed by the horizontal bar of his spear being readily available.

The walk to the Queen's weyrs was a short one from his old high-ranking weyr, near the bronze's quarters. He found himself on the backside of Kaya's weyr shortly enough, and he knocked on the door.

R'nos had thought to wear something he had never worn on the weyr grounds before save for today; a tiger pelt jacket that matched Regganith's hide nicely. The furs spread around his shoulders and down his back, giving a gruff look to his old age. His wrinkled face had aged gracefully enough, though, and for being as old as time itself he was still quite healthy. But of course the man who had seen so much death would be the last to die, right? He was surprised Kaya and K'cin hadn't kicked the bucket yet either.

"Dearest Kaya, did you forget of my arrival?" he questioned in a sing-song voice, knocking again. She was probably not far off from Sakura's memory condition in her old age, Queenriders tended to be quite forgetful when they were older, from what his experience was.

[Kaya]

Kaya heard the first knock. She was still sorting through things on her dresser, not quite ready to give up looking at the rocks and shells and trinkets that her children had collected over the Turns. It was probably just the tea at the door anyhow, and they could wait a moment while she arranged one last hair trinket and-

The voice she heard with the second knock did not at all sound like someone that would be bringing tea. Muttering some disappointed words to herself, Kaya made her way to the door. She still had voice in her, it was her hips that had lost their spring and strength.

"I knew you were comin'," Kaya shouted in reply when she was almost to the door. It was almost true. She knew someone was supposed to be coming. "K'ryn, is that you?" Kaya asked as she started to open the door but as she caught the first glimpse of the visitor at the door she knew it was a different TigerRider. "R'nos, you wily cat, you're late," she scolded, teasing. She remembered she was supposed to receive a visit from her son's family soon, but still they weren't the person for this day. Kaya had a hunch R'nos wasn't her expected guest either, but she was glad to see him and so it didn't matter. It wasn't like she kept a tight schedule of guests anyhow.

"Well, don't just stand in the door! Come in, give me a hug and tell me all about what the feline's dragged in this time, and by that I mean you," Kaya grinned. Ah, to have people around. It brought a life to her that was otherwise lacking. Perhaps she should see to it this summer that her general haunts and daily things be centered in a busier area. A nice table in the dining hall by the fire perhaps, or even a nice spot outside on the nice days. Yes, that sounded very nice. Sure Tyra might glare at her if she got caught out in the rain one afternoon, but rain be bothered. She was a southern girl and rain happened.

Welcome R'nos, Regganith, Kayleth greeted, watching her Rider slip out of her worries and into the role of hostess. She had been getting a lot better lately at not letting things bother her. Honest problems and her age, that was what Kayleth realistically expected to get her Rider to be concerned about, and those things only. She'd omit age, but...Kaya would probably never let that one go.

[Jay Kitten]

Ah, as soon as that door opened, and he was greeted by a familiar face and asked to come in, he did just that. He gave the old woman a hug as asked, of course, he couldn't exactly turn down a hug from the greatest Weyrwoman Rainbow Mists had ever seen, after all, right? And then he looked her over. Old age wasn't kind to people of their age, and so he was afraid to say that she wasn't anything compared to what she used to be. And so instead, he stuffed it. Best not to insult, right?

Instead, he grinned. "Hallo, hallo, old friend! How's the kids? How's the grandkids?" He nudged her knowingly, and his eyebrows raised, before he gave a laugh. "As far as that goes, I think the one dragging stuff in is Regganith. No, seriously, there was a wherry carcass in my living room the other day, and..." He trailed off and shook his head. Nevermind what had happened behind the wherry corpse. Instead he moved to the woman's table, and took a seat.

"So how are things going down here? Came by 'cuz I heard we'd be having a Hatching. Lemos is same old same old, trees and rain." He grinned, he was sure she knew he liked both of those things immeasurably. R'nos always had, after all.

Greetings again, mother,[/b] Regganith replied, though he wasn't near their weyr in the slightest, instead he was a few ledges over at R'nos's old weyr curled up and about to start yet another nap. At least he had been respectful enough to remain awake long enough to greet his clutchmother, right? Tigers were always like that towards their parents. In fact, R'nos had used that against him many a time before to get what he wanted, either by threatening to tell Kayleth, or by questioning Regganith on what Kayleth might think of his actions... Worked like a charm.

"So, what's a retired ol' bag like yourself been doin' now that we don't have any more wars to fight? Not that these creaky bones would fair so well now-adays. Though Regganith could probably fight all of Akash's forces by himself, mmhm." He nodded, and scratched his chin. Kaya always reminded him of Sakura, and in her old age, she never did remind him more so than now. It was strange to think he was as old as the deceased Weyrwoman had been when he was so young. Perhaps his time was near, too.