A Place For You

Writers: Bree, Estelle
Date Posted: 18th July 2005

Characters: T'moran, Dyaera
Description: T'moran visits Dyaera and tries to encourage her about her healing progress.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 3

Though there was work to be done, T'moran had insisted on keeping time free each day to visit those of his wingriders who were in the Infirmary. Some were only lightly injured, with minor scorings or strained limbs, and were relatively cheerful. Others were so swathed in bandages that it was left to the Weyrleader to imagine what had happened to them - and then there were the riders with missing limbs, or the one or two who seemed unhurt but lay staring blankly in the ceiling in shock.

They were the worst - those whose dragons had been injured past saving, who were now dragonless. Every time T'moran visited one of them, he found himself wishing he could take the previous Weyrleader and drop him /between/.

He pushed back the curtain that enclosed the bed of one of the greenriders, fixing his expression in a determinedly encouraging half-smile. "Dyaera - may I come in?"

The girl was stretched out on her stomach, and the sheet covering her couldn't hide the fact that the left side of her back was a mass of bandages from hip to shoulder. She lifted her head at T'moran's voice, but couldn't lift her head far enough to see him at the door. "Weyrleader?" she asked a little uncertainly.

"Yes - T'moran," the bronzerider replied, still not entirely comfortable with the reminders of his new rank. No matter how terrible O'dan had been as a Weyrleader, T'moran would still rather not have gained his rank in such tragic circumstances. He forced himself not to hiss or wince as he took in his former wingmate's injuries and instead took a seat beside the bed. "I came to find out how you are..." He immediately felt foolish - it should have been obvious how the girl was feeling - but what else could he say?

Dyaera looked at him with a hesitant smile, shifting a little and trying not to wince. "I'm feeling better... the healers have kept me pretty sleepy, so I don't feel much."

"Sleep is the best thing for you just now," T'moran said, feeling inadequate. "You'll need plenty of time to heal. We'll miss you in the Wings. The other Southern Weyrs are sending riders to help us out until we're up to full strength again, though, so all of those who were injured will have as much time as they need to recover completely."

"That's nice of them," Dyaera replied, her smile growing a little. "I wish I'd been quicker... I promise I will be if--when we get back in the air."

"It wasn't your fault," T'moran said, and shut his mouth before he could say any more on the subject of whose fault it _had_ been. "And you'll be back with the Wings before you know it. The healers are doing wonders, so you're in good hands."

"How is everyone else?" Dyaera had the feeling D'cal had been trying not to upset her.

"We had some losses," he admitted, "but the rest are doing well. The most lightly injured are returning to their Wings already. Is there...anyone in particular you wish to know about?" He hadn't thought Dyaera had a weyrmate, but he was hardly up to date with Weyr gossip.

"My friend Leshida..." Dyaera's voice sounded hesitent. "She was hurt pretty badly, I think. Someone told me that they had to remove her leg..."

"That's true," T'moran said gravely. "But her dragon is only lightly scored, and they are both recovering well. One day, with help, they'll be able to fly together again - though not in Fall - and when she's flying the loss of a leg will not hold her back. She is in good spirits, considering."

Dyaera sighed, almost forgetting that it was the _Weyrleader_ she was talking to... the man who she had been in such awe of when she'd first transferred. "I feel bad being upset when Leshida is hurt so much more badly and is still keeping her spirits up."

"Don't," T'moran said firmly. "You have _nothing_ to feel guilty about. Just try to rest and regain your strength - don't worry about anyone else." He got to his feet. "I must return to my duties, but I'll visit again. Is there anything you need? Anything I can have sent down for you?"

"Maybe something to read?" Dyaera asked hesitantly. "I don't sleep as much as I used to... and it can get pretty boring here."

"Certainly. Is there anything in particular you'd like?" He'd never read much for pleasure, and these days, after hours spent poring over Records and paperwork, he preferred to get away from the written word in his rare moments of free time. "Should I ask one of your friends in the Wing to find something you'd like, perhaps?"

Dyaera shook her head. "I've never done much reading... but anything is better than just _sitting_ here."

"I'll see what I can find in the Archives. For now, you concentrate on resting and getting well," T'moran said firmly, in his best imitation of the Weyr's healers. "I know I'll see you and Tilarth back in the Wings again before long."

"Thank you, T'moran." The girl smiled at him a little shyly. "I'd like to fly with you again."

"You will." The Weyrleader did his best to smile encouragingly, though her injury looked very serious to him. If the healers had said that she would recover eventually, he would trust them. "There'll always be a place in my Wing for you."

Last updated on the September 9th 2005

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A Place For You