Try Not To Fight Me [Taxx]

[Esko]

Fuzzied to Month 5

Typically, you would find Karo doing something to occupy her free time. Socializing with other weyrlings, keeping her strength up, carving some sticks into fish-hooks. But not today. Not so soon after a whole class of Candidates left as regular people and returned as older weyrlings. She didn't get to see Joia again yet. And she swore that she saw Kalzen on the back of a green.

Karo sat on the shore, arms around her legs and her jaw rested on her knees. Her brain was whirling, trying to process her brother alone. It made zero sense. How could he, who had everything on the boat, just give it up? He was the son, the eventual inheritor of the business; and he willingly Impressed? She had faint knowledge that he'd gotten himself Searched, but there was no way he would go back in time willingly just to Impress. Went back in time? It made her head hurt. And yet...he wasn't better than her anymore. Back on The Bronzer, it was made abundantly clear where she stood between the two of them. It fueled so much childish rage, so many fights between the two. The pain it caused in her heart when Kalzen won, yet again, because he was the male and the best. Her anguish when she couldn't convince her father -who encouraged it- to believe her when she did get the upper hand. Kalahan always believed him, because it was always about him-

And the one source of her comfort on the boat was gone. All of the feelings she'd suppressed after Kalzen casually told her Quilken was dead- they came rushing back up. The thought of the man caused tears to well up. She knew in her heart that he'd lied to give her enough time to get away- did he ever find out that she Impressed? Oh how she would've loved to gush to him about her wonderful life partner! Yet he'd sacrificed himself; lying to Kalahan was a fatal choice. But he did it anyway...stupid fucking man. Karo suddenly stood up, large rock in hand, and with a yell hurled it into the waves. Sploosh. She stared, fuming. This caught Gargerrith's attention. He'd been curled up nearby, but lifted his head at the sign of genuine anguish.

Hey...he probably died knowing he'd been successful. Karo huffed, but didn't respond. And he was prolly willing to miss some monumental moments for your escape. That's cool. I don't need to meet him- I can see how you feel. He was right. Despite that, things were...well, things were the best they'd been. Though she had no intent on reconciling with Kalzen -whatever his name was now- she just had to live her best life. It was easier to do knowing that he wasn't the sea's favorite son anymore.

But crunching sounds on the sand made her turn her head-

Taxx

[Taxx]

K’zar stood rigid, cool blue eyes on the girl as she turned toward him, alerted by the sound of his boots over the sand and possibly Lepsuth’s footsteps too. The green, as usual, shadowed him closely, and as he stopped she tucked her nose against his back, peeking one whirling yellow eye over his shoulder toward Karo and Gargerrith. She knew the brown’s name, of course, but she still didn’t know him, and even with the presence of her rider she was nervous. He was new, and new was frightening.

K’zar had barely given Karo a thought in… months, really. He’d been busy with other things, living Turns in the past, and being away from her had slowly faded her from his mind. Impressing Lepsuth had only made her less important, and his time had been fixed on nothing but his green lifemate. Not until now, when he’d made one of his daily trips to the beach and recognized her as she turned to him, did he remember her, and that she was the reason he had come here in the first place.

He blinked at his half-sister across the short space, saying nothing yet. Did she think anything had changed between them? It didn’t. His coming here hadn’t been his choice, and in all honesty, neither had his decision to go back in time. He’d sort of just let himself be nudged along by those who had agreed; the most he’d done in actually going was packing and pulling himself up onto the dragon’s back. Everything else had been chance, his path laid out before him.

Until now. K’zar eyed the younger girl, a brownrider, the thought that she actually outranked him- in the eyes of these riders, at least- crossing his mind. It was just a flash, really, something that hardly mattered in the long run, because nothing had changed between them. Arms hung at his sides, face impassive as he stared a moment longer before he spoke. “Karolinna. What are you doing here?”

[Esko]

Tension in the air was tangible, and Gar felt uncomfortable. He turned his attention to the skittish green, showing no sign of sudden movement or hostility. Chillness. They were about the same size so her fright was strange, but Gar wasn't an instigating beast. Right now, anyway. Hey. How's it goin'? He laid his head on his front paws, keeping his gaze at Lepsuth.

Meanwhile Karo's anger from her thoughts was leftover, and it flared up once again. Of all the people to find her on this beach! Nothing but silence passed between the two of them. For her, nothing had changed. It annoyed her even more that his face was so blank. Why did he have to be annoying? Karo's face would be alive with emotion in contrast. Subconsciously, her stance ready to defend. Or switch to attack. Though, she knew that she had to curb the desire to pounce; dragonriders frowned upon fighting each other and she'd surely be punished. Soon they would be moving into their own weyrs, and the thing that Karo hated most now was a restriction of freedom.

Finally he spoke, and used her old name. Karo flinched; she hadn't heard that in a hot minute. "it's Karo now. That's what Gar calls me, that's what it is." And he had the audacity to ask what she was doing here? "Was tryin' to enjoy a rest day."

Taxx

[Taxx]

Gargerrith's attempt to talk was as bland as possible, but Lepsuth didn't even try to respond; she only tucked her head out of sight of the brown and left her rider to do all the interaction between him and his rider. For his part, K'zar glowered at the brown Impressed to Karo and snapped at him. "Don't talk to her. Ever." Lepsuth wouldn't argue either; she had no more desire to talk to Gargerrith than he had to talk to Karo. She just didn't have the strength to stand for herself and say so, relying on him to speak for her.

"Don't care what name you're going by these days. Don't care what plans you had. Came out here with my green to be alone. Plenty of beach, go enjoy it somewhere else." His accent was shifting to match Karo's, almost of its own accord, without him realizing it, but his distaste at the thought of being within one hundred feet was all too obvious and he didn't care to even try to hide that. And, considering her own tone, she was all to likely to take him up on the offer. Unless she wanted to argue with him, in which case he’d be plenty willing to let her have it.

[Esko]

The last thing that Gargerrith expected from his fellow dragon was outright fear. He watched as she physically dove behind her rider, which was almost comical given the size difference. What was the big deal? He was her size, surely he wasn't scary? Gar didn't press it, but when the rider suddenly became defensive and threatening... well, that was very very strange. Never talk to her? Then how was anything supposed to get done? It was a strange notion to not communicate with his fellow dragon. I'm not scary, am I? He tilted his head back and let his tongue loll out to look as silly as possible. Karo would be laughing her lungs out if she weren't in such a mood.

Reliving all of the painful moments this man caused. No, there was no room for merriment right now.

'No. I don't know what's up.'

Huh. Wild. Gargerrith shrugged it off. No need to force conversation. Karo, meanwhile, snorted at her brother's diatribe. Yeah sure, he didn't care. "Don't use my name at all then, if ya don't care." It was only natural to correct someone if they made a mistake. Her time on the mainland and experiencing true companionship with Gar, being treated like a human by Aleni and Mizao, helped her realize somewhat the extent of all the insult she had taken. Back then, she didn't know any other reality. But human kindness was a powerful drug.

"Bold to demand the beach to yaself. Was here first." Despite being much, much smaller than him, she squared her shoulders and stood her ground. If he had wanted such isolation, and if there was plenty of beach, he should go somewhere else. Unless he had another reason for bothering her. Did he want a fight? Karo had no qualms should he press it. But she had some understanding of the consequences she might face- and frankly, she didn't care. In the anger, though, a burning curiosity persisted. A repeating why? kept circling and circling. She dared to step ever so slightly further.

"Why?" She asked, her voice straining some. "Why did ya do it? Ya had everyin' on the ship. The sea's favorite son. Dad actually loved ya, prized ya. Why'd ya leave it all behind? Willingly go back and Impress?" Gargerrith began to absent-mindedly chew at a talon, keeping a curious eye on the other man.

"Why?"

Taxx

[Taxx]

Interaction with Karolinna- Karo, she was calling herself now, it seemed- was not what K'zar had planned on, and he didn't really care to carry on with it. If he'd known she would be here, he would have come out later, or gone somewhere else, or just stayed in his sharding weyr with just Lepsuth as company. All the company he needed, really. But here he was, and here she was, and a shred of stubborn pride kept him from turning on his heel and leaving.

Arms crossed, the solid weight of Lepsuth leaning against his back, he stared at her, unrelenting. He flashed a quick, puzzled glance at the brown at his antics, but he didn't comment on it. Dragons were weird sometimes, and for all he knew it was something the two of them did that made sense to no one else. His stony gaze returned to the young woman and blinked, caught off guard by the question- and suspicious of the reason as to why she was asking. What did she care what he did? He'd expect she'd enjoy the reprieve- even though it'd been less than a day in this time.

It was a question he didn't have a solid answer for, either. He'd just- gone. There hadn't been anything to tie him to this time: he was far from The Bronzer, left on this island at the direction of his father to keep an eye on the sister he wanted nothing to do with- potentially to bring her back at some point, though Kalahan hadn't outright confirmed or denied that- and most of the Candidates had agreed to go. There hadn't been much sleep that night, the buzz of news traveling back and forth across the barracks, and when asked, K'zar had just shrugged and muttered some non-committal answer. Not until the time had been nearly on him had he given verbal assent.

"Didn't know if I'd Impress. But- dunno, no reason not to go." A careless shrug, but he glanced over his shoulder at the green who was looking up at him. "Dad should've kept me on The Bronzer, he cared that much. Can't leave now. Can't take my green with me, can't leave her here alone." His eyes narrowed at Karo. "And you? You left. Must've known Dad'd go after you."

Her head flat on the ground now, Lepsuth peered at the brown and his rider through the legs of her rider, a faint yellow tinge still obvious. They were new, which was why she was wary, and she didn't make any attempt to speak- but they were both keeping their distance and she had every trust that K'zar wouldn't let them hurt her. She was less sure of her rider's feelings toward them- a mix of dislike, irritation- and something else she couldn't really identify. It was easy to understand that they were clutchmates, but her rider's flood of confusing feelings toward the brown's rider made her wary, and she kept her distance for now.

[Esko]

Her surging anger began to lower and cool into a sort of frustrated confusion. Especially at his answer. Her defensive stance faltered and her curled fists unclenched into drooping hands. He just...was sent away? That didn't make sense. He was Dad's favorite, there was no way Captain Kalahan would just give him up. It directly clashed with the narrative that she'd seen and experienced with her own senses. Kalzen had to be lying. He had to be! There was some other reason he was here, and why did he Impress? He didn't know? He went back in time on a mission specifically to raise a full class of weyrlings...and didn't know if he'd Impress? This was entirely too puzzling and she knew he was hiding the full truth.

And what about her? Well, she had nothing to hide.

"Why did I leave? Cos I wanted to. It was my chance to be more than some kid raised to be a criminal." Her words grew more emotional, aggressive even. "And Dad waited too long. I got a taste of the real world, and I found the best person ever. Friends. I left cos Dad sent me on a trip, but never goin' back was the best thing I coulda done." She felt as if she didn't deserve the comradery of Aleni and Mizao, the eternal love of Gar, and yet she got it. Quilken had shown her some humanity, but she realized that more people were like that.

Taxx

[Taxx]

Maybe it hadn’t been directed at him, but it sure felt like it had, and K’zar’s expression dropped again into a scowl, and at the turn of emotions, Lepsuth recoiled again, second-guessing her initial impression that they weren’t that bad. “Criminal?” K’zar growled, taking offense at the imagined insult. He didn’t know why she’d gone- from the sound of it, Kalahan had sent her away instead of what he’d thought, that she’d taken off on her own: he hadn’t known that, but that wasn’t atypical of their father- he told nobody more than what he thought they needed to know.

“Look where it got’cha,” he retorted. “Wasn’t so bad on The Bronzer. Hope your runnin’ off was worth it like you think. Nothin’ to return to anyway, is there? Quilken dead, ‘cuz of you. Best thing for him, you not comin’ back? Was there when Dad…” He stopped abruptly, less because he cared what Karolinna thought, more because of the burst of horror from Lepsuth as she grasped what he was saying.

Dead? Who’s dead? That’s bad! Because of her? Why? What did she do? The green was staring at K’zar, seeking either explanation or comfort- maybe that she’d somehow simply misunderstood what he had said, and he couldn’t help the grimace; he’d let himself get a bit too carried away and he’d spoken without considering that she was there.

No, it’s okay. Gently calming words and assurance, one hand settling on her neck and rubbing lightly. It would be too much to explain and he wasn’t sure how much Lepsuth would understand anyway- no point in trying to when it would only increase her distress. Everything’s okay.

She took his words without question, trusting him wholly and leaning her head against him again, still avoiding the attention of Gargerrith and his rider behind the frame of her own lifemate.

[Esko]

For a second, for a precious split-second did Karo feel as if she had the upper hand. Watching his miserable face contort and twist as he repeated a single word with a growl. Perhaps she hadn't meant that as a particular insult to him, but seeing the reaction was as if a drug were injected into her veins. Pure elation. Her fists curled more decisively at her sides in anticipation. "What else would ya call it? Why? Don't like it?" The poisonous tone slipped in, and she'd never regret spitting it if it were him receiving it. It was addictive, after all those Turns of getting punched down. Her spine straightened itself out, giving her tiny form some more height, absorbing every inch of his expression.

And then the oaf got his vocabulary working again. Karo was prepared to verbally spit at his first words- good on The Bronzer?! Only for him! But then his next words made her pause, her sneer dropping into an expression of disbelief, then horror. His choice of words struck home. Her fiery defensiveness momentarily died as it ripped to her insecurities, the thing that had been hanging in the back of her mind. For a moment, all of the noise in her head just halted, and the message sank in. Louder and louder did the roar of her heartbeat take over many thoughts in her head. She could see it now. Quilken taken out somehow, in retaliation for her leaving. Because in her heart she knew that he'd protected her. That was the exact kind of thing he'd do. Karo couldn't take advantage of her brother's silence to retaliate for in that moment, there was no ammo.

And then the dread that built up like gas met a spark.

Gar's head perked up at the geyser of anger suddenly rushing through his bonded, enough of it to cause alarm within the brown. Karomine- He warned, starting forward to try and stop her forward momentum. His snout was too late, unfortunately, and as Karo rushed forward with a war screech, her balled fist was thrown forward- ideally, to connect right with the taller man's jaw.

Taxx

[Taxx]

K'zar had turned his back on Karo at Lepsuth's exclamation of horror, turning from the unimportant part of his past to comfort the dragon who was more than Karo could ever be. He'd reached out to the green, patting her neck to calm her. He had taken his eyes off the girl, unaware of the changes in expression that might have led him to take action before she'd lunged forward, and the solid impact of her fist across his jaw was hard enough to make him reel back, head snapping to the side and heat instantly searing the point she'd struck.

Before he could do more than suck in a breath, eyes flaring with shock at the attack, Lepsuth had lunged. She'd seen Karo move, but she'd shrunk backwards at the lunge, flinching as Karo was suddenly far too close for comfort; she hadn't expected her rider, her other half, her entire world, to be hit, and the pain from it was a wholly unwelcome sensation that made her own jaw throb in sympathy- and then she was screaming, a high-pitched, prolonged shriek of protest and fear and a shock of unanticipated but overwhelming desire to protect the person who was everything to her.

So she lunged, screaming in a way that made her own ears ring with the noise, eyes a bright shade of yellow as she coiled her entire self around K'zar and lashed back at Karo, jaws snapping rapid-fire to drive the threat away. If she'd been anything less than terrified, she might have aimed, but as it was her snaps were panic-driven, wild and furious but no less dangerous on the off-chance that they caught more than air between the gleaming fangs. And her screams continued.

K'zar added his own voice to the green's ongoing screeching- he might not be heard above the shrill noise, but yelling sure made him feel better about all that had just happened- was still happening. "You sharding coward! Go chase yourself, Karo!" He wrapped both arms around Lepsuth's neck, for all the good it did; she trembled horribly, tremors wracking her from nose to tailforks, jaws still snapping frantically, mindlessly, her presence a chaos of fear against K'zar's own fury.
Esko