Sunshine Day, Everybody's Smiling

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 7th May 2025

Characters: C'uren, Z'renh
Description: Z'renh is certified infection-free and ready to go back home!
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 10 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned M'rhas

Z'renh was back in his own clothes -- his trousers had received their own stitches -- and ready to step outside into the beautiful sunshine.

Only, it was still freezing outside. He hurried as much as he could back to the barracks, slowing down only when the Healer who was escorting him cleared her throat.

He had been keeping up with his classwork as much as he could while stuck in a bed, but today would be his first class back, and he had not been happier since the moment he Impressed.

}:You are happy.:{ Adamanth seemed surprised.

**Why shouldn't I be? I'm finally home!**

}:It feels... new. Different. You were not happy before.:{ There was no question to it. And it was more of an accusation than an observation.

**Things have been difficult.**

}:Because of me.:{

**Well... yeah.**

}:You were strong that day.:{

**You remember?**

}:I remember I was terrified. And I remembered you were strong, even though you were hurt. I never need someone to be strong for me. But I did, then. And you were.:{ Adamanth did not, it seemed, quite remember how Z'renh had been hurt or any of the exact circumstances. But he remembered how he felt.

**Hey. I love you.**

}:I know.:{

As Z'renh approached the barracks, he spotted C'uren and waved.

"Aren't you cold?" he called.

"Cold? No, my friend!" C'uren answered. He appeared to be jogging or dancing in place. "Keep that blood going and you'll never be cold! Ah, I see they've released you from the Infirmary, yes?"

"Yeah, they managed to keep most of my blood where it belongs. Thanks to M'rhas." Z'renh was not sure just how much any of his classmates knew about what happened, but he was going to make sure everyone knew who was to credit for saving his life.

"Ah, that's an important thing to do! Keeping blood and body parts where they belong." He stopped his dancing in place and stretched his arms over his head. "Did they put you on bed rest? What shenanigans can we get into before class?"

"Not many," said Z'renh. "No running or lifting anything over twenty pounds for at _least_ two weeks. They'll do a check-up to see what it looks like at that point. Have you got a light shenanigan?"

"No running?" C'uren echoed. He made a comically dismissive sound. "Well, we can't go against Healers' orders, can we now my friend? But that doesn't mean we can't keep you in shape!" With that, he struck what looked to be some ridiculous pose, with his arms held out straight from his sides, his feet in a half-lunge stance. "Hold this for a minute! You'll see how it works!"

"Like... this?" Z'renh looked back and forth from C'uren to himself, adjusting his stance until he was fairly sure he was mimicking him perfectly.

C'uren let out a delighted laugh. "Precisely, my friend! Now, hold that pose for five long breaths. Breathe from your belly. And then, we switch sides!"

Z'renh was still unable to resist smiling along with C'uren. He followed along for the ten breaths, and when they were done, he was... perhaps a bit alarmed at how quickly he felt the burn from it.

Well. He _had_ almost died. But he had hoped to bounce back a bit more quickly than this.

"I like it," he said. "It's... nice."

"See? Everyone thinks that it's a silly thing but it builds muscles in places you didn't expect! Okay, next pose." C'uren balanced on one leg while one arm nearly touched the ground and the other was extended towards the sky. "Builds balance too! Try these on a ship next time. You'll be fit in no time! Okay, five breaths and then switch."

"Uh oh..." Z'renh balanced himself on his uninjured leg, but he was quite a bit more wobbly than C'uren. Five breaths. He could do it. But when it came time to switch, he balked.

"I think I should skip putting all my weight on the bad leg, though."

At first, it looked like C'uren was going to disagree, to continue on with some toxic positivity slant like usual, but he cocked a critical eye at Z'renh's leg and said, "A wise idea, my friend! Today we skip that leg. But tomorrow -- we don't skip leg day. Never skip leg day more than once. Lucky for you, I have other poses to show. Down we go!" He laid on his belly and braced his arms so that his back was arched. "We call this one the canine greeting one. All you need is a tail!"

Z'renh smiled, and a little chuckle escaped. He got down carefully and mimicked the pose.

"Know where I can get one?"

"A tail? Ah, good question! I bet one of our beasthealers could fashion you one." C'uren wiggled his butt a little bit. "And hold!" he instructed. Five breaths later, he said, "And release. See? Gives you a good workout!"

"You'll have to keep showing me until I have it all memorized!" Z'renh smiled. There was just something about C'uren that was lovely to be around.

"We can certainly do that, my friend! Every morning. At dawn. Until we graduate. Who knows? Maybe we get more of the class out here to try it. Can't hurt, right? We dragonriders have to be fit!"

"Adamanth won't let me sleep any later than that anyway," Z'renh laughed. "So I might as well. Can't hurt."

"There's the spirit! Seize the day or whatever they say."

Last updated on the May 19th 2025

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Sunshine Day, Everybody's Smiling