Lost In Time

Writers: Bree, Jane
Date Posted: 16th March 2007

Characters: Abrei, U'val, R'haran, Jynrek
Description: U'val wakes up, but seems to be a bit confused as to just when he went to sleep.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 4

Abrei

The greenrider checked his dragon when the pair of them landed in what passed for a Weyrbowl at River Bluff weyr. Evie's recovery from her near fatal scoring was complete and she could manage short flights -
even short flights carrying him - which was more than any of the dragonhealers had initially predicted. Her scoring had been the first any dragonhealer had seen in over a millennium, so if they had been horrified and cautious in their prognosis, he hadn't blamed them. He'd been horrified himself.

Everybody had underestimated the recuperative powers of dragons but nothing could repair the huge losses one of the pale green wings so Evie planned ahead more than many greens might, and flew with a crabbing style that nobody but her rider could admire. It was enough to get them into the air and clear enough of obstacles to go /between/, but very little more.

For this journey, that was all that was needed to respond to Abrei's message about U'val.

Evie assured him that she was fine and that she was going to the lake and he nodded, watching her take off on the short flight and assessing the truth of her assurances. Then he turned and walked toward the cliff
- the bluffs, he supposed, for which the Weyr was named - and the infirmary weyrs where Abrei and U'val would be waiting for him.

Abrei was pacing anxiously in front of one of the private rooms, one hand twirling a piece of her newly cut hair around one finger over and over again in a nervous gesture. Every time she reached the wall she stopped and cast furtive glances at the door before starting all over again.

R'haran barely had time to set foot over the threshold before she pounced on him, all but running him down in her haste to get to his side. "Jynrek says U'val is awake, but won't say much more except for that he keeps asking for you. He won't even let me in to see him yet."

R'haran supposed that annoyed her and he was surprised that Jynrek managed to keep her at bay. "But he will let me in? And how's Lyolth reacting?"

"Lyolth's better, from what I hear." Abrei crossed her arms over her chest to stop herself from fidgeting with her hair. "The dragonhealers were worried, but now they seem pleased. And Jynrek is waiting for you in there." She jerked her head in the direction of the door. "He said to just knock."

This seemed unusual. Abrei waiting outside? "All right," he said slowly, and then turned and knocked.

The door opened a crack, and Jynrek peered through to make sure his visitor wasn't Abrei. When he saw R'haran he opened the door the rest of the way and ushered the greenrider inside. "I need to talk to you for a moment before you see U'val," he said in a low whisper, not moving to pull back the curtain hiding the bed.

"All right." R'haran glanced back at the door. "Abrei -?" She was on the outside. Firmly put in her place. It was both novel and intriguing.

Jynrek shook his head as he closed the door. "It--would be best if she didn't come in here yet," he said softly. "U'val is awake, but he's...
confused. I'm not sure he's completely sure where he is. And he's asked for Abrei's mother twice. I believe you were acquainted with the family when she died at Dragonsfall Weyr over a decade ago."

"Yes." R'haran tried to still the rush of thoughts, trying to make sense of what the healer was telling him. He would just stay calm and deal with what he found in his old friend. "Is there anything I should or shouldn't say?"

"Let's not push him too hard," Jynrek said finally. "Just talk to him...
let him talk to you. I'm going to go try to calm Abrei down before she breaks the door down."

"Good luck with that," R'haran murmured as he stepped up to the curtain and peeped around the edge of it. "U'val?"

The bluerider's eyes opened up, and his face broke into a wide smile.
"R'haran. What took you so sharding long? I was starting to think you didn't like me anymore." His voice was groggy with disuse and his eyes slightly glazed, but his smile was alert enough. "Reianine won't even come and see me at all!"

"Ahh. Probably busy," he dismissed lightly as he crossed the room to the other man's bedside. "I was myself, you know, but nobody misses a greenrider for a few candlemarks. How are you feeling?"

"Tired." The bluerider lifted a hand to rub at the side of his face.
"How long have I been sick? That new fellow wouldn't tell me, but obviously it's been a while."

"Longer than a sevenday, less than a Turn," R'haran said casually.
"Lyolth's apparently not been too upset."

U'val chuckled wearily. "I wouldn't say that. He's been giving me quite firm instructions on not moving or blinking or doing anything that might make me ill again. I suppose I'm lucky that dragons don't remember things so clearly, or I'd be hearing about this for the next twenty turns."

R'haran hoped the man would be around that long. "You mean he doesn't nag? Maybe it's a female dragon thing. She might have a memory like a seive but she remembers her attitudes to certain things I do."

The bluerider's chuckle turned into a cough. He slumped back into the bed and closed his eyes. "Maybe I should let the healer drug me again.
I'm tired... but I wanted to wait for Reianine or Abentor to get here.
That Jynrek fellow won't tell me where they are. Abrei didn't get into another fight, did she?"

"Abrei?" R'haran hedged. "No, she's being good. I'll get the healer, shall I?"

U'val reached out to clasp R'haran's hand. "That would be nice, my friend. Just promise me you'll come back and see me again soon. Your weyr isn't so far from the infirmary that you have any excuse not to."

What could he say? His friend was obviously lost in time, and after all Evie could bring him to visit again. If there was another opportunity.
He gently squeezed the hand U'val had offered and nodded. "Of course.
I shall haunt the place until you're sick of the sight of me."

Last updated on the March 16th 2007

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Lost In Time