Talk of Healing and Dragons

Writers: Cait, Jane
Date Posted: 16th January 2009

Characters: Navan, O'rian
Description: Navan chats with O'rian after Threadfall.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 15 of Turn 4

O'rian left the infirmary and paused at the door out into the Weyrbowl to breath deeply of the fresh air of early evening. There was a residual whiff of firestone, he thought (or imagined) but otherwise it was over for another ...

He frowned. It was only another six days until Thread fell again. Twice in a sevenday. It was nearly always balanced out by longer between the next few Threadfalls but twice in a sevenday struck him as an imposition - something Threadfall did to be more than usually difficult.

There was a flurry of wing beats and a scatter of the ashy sand that comprised the floor of the Weyrbowl and then Taoth was there, having dropped down from the caldera rim to inspect his rider.

}:Will you hunt?:{

Hunt, eat - what did the terminology matter. He never misunderstood Taoth and Taoth never misunderstood him. **Yes, then an early night, I think.**

}:I will wait, then.:{

O'rian's lips formed into a smile. **So kind of you,** he commented, knowing he would be stuck without his dragon for the weyr they had chosen last month was as high as it could be and completely without internal access.

Sighing in relief that it was over, at least for a little while, Navan nearly ran into a dragonrider as he left the infirmary. The dragonrider part wasn't exactly hard to guess, not the least because he had that glazed eye look that they always got when speaking to their dragons. Navan was sure they could tune the whole world out that way, and felt the slightly bitter twist of envy. He wanted that. The young man didn't look injured, maybe he was a healer as well. Mentally shrugging, he smiled and moved to step past, assuming the dragonrider likely didn't even see him.

"Sorry, Navan," O'rian said, recognising the healer and moving away from the doorway. "I got distracted," he said, nodding toward the young dragon out in front of them. "How did it go, today?" Navan had probably been working in the same area as he had but that was no guarantee that their paths would cross during the busyness of 'Fall and its aftermath.

Navan smiled, "Don't worry about it, I'd be distracted too." For some reason, he couldn't think of the dragonrider's name. He knew he was a weyrling, he'd been in the infirmary, shards, why couldn't he remember it? "Not bad, we got lucky. No life threatening injuries, just some minor Threadscores."

"Yes ... I hope they're not using up all these 'good' 'Falls now," he said wryly. "I'll need some when Taoth and I graduate."

Navan laughed. "No kidding. I'll start wishing you luck now," he added, grinning. "How long do you two have now before graduation?" Taoth...that sounded familiar. Ahhhh...it all clicked. He had to be O'rian, the previous Weyrleader's son. He'd heard about him and his hesitation to Stand but at least he'd ended up with a fine looking bronze.

"Late in month two." He rolled his eyes. "If we don't make a complete mess of anything."

Navan grinned. "I can't imagine you'd do anything before then to mess it up. I just hope your first 'Fall is another one of these good ones."

"You can't be hoping it more than I am," the weyrling bronzerider said fervently. "I don't think having been a healer helps _at_ _all_ with a weyrlings nerves about flying in the fighting wings. Talk about ignorance being bliss."

Navan laughed. "I would imagine so. At least if you're not a healer, you're not constantly being reminded of the consequences if something goes wrong, or you're a hair off of where you should be. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. With any luck, I'll be in your situation someday."

"With any luck it'll be _this_ time," O'rian said politely. "You can sneak off with your lifemate while the crowd is oh-ing and ah-ing over the new weyrwoman."

Navan grinned. "Oh, I imagine there'll be a huge crowd this time with the queen egg and all. My family's all here, so I'm sure I'll see them and but I'll admit I'll be happy to escape the crowd, especially if I'm not lucky this time."

"I hope you intend to come back and eat plenty, Impress or not?"

Navan laughed. "If I don't Impress, it'll be the third time I've dealt with the disappointment, so I will most assuredly be there, for the company of friends if nothing else."

"I'll see you again then, whichever way it goes, then," the weyrling bronzerider said with a nod. "Have a good evening, Navan."

"It was a pleasure, O'rian, have a good evening." Navan waved and smiled, walking off to go find his sister.

Last updated on the January 19th 2009

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Talk of Healing and Dragons