One Last Time

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 1st April 2019
Series: The Wingleader's Surgery

Characters: D'hol
Description: D'hol and Yumath rise to fight
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 24 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, Jeyme, Kapera, Timassa, Dheymin (NPC), Kielya, N'vanik

D'hol

--

Yumath stood, crouched on the heights as D'hol secured the final bag
of firestone. His whirling eyes took in the afternoon activities
before Rukbat set, eyes finding the golden hide of his mate, Riyanth
as she retired for the evening to her own ledge. The whirling eyes
then went to the Hatching Sands, where Panitath now lay huddled around
her newest clutch of eggs. The dragon didn't know regret, except what
his rider felt, but there was a wistful tug at his draconic heart for
both of the golds, one who had been his mate in the dim past and the
other who still remained his.

The bronze waited patiently as D'hol finished, then looked down at his
rider, eyes slowly whirling. D'hol gave him a slow pat on the side.
"One last time, old man." He too, looked over the Weyr that had been
his home for turns, his eyes going to the Sands and then another
smaller weyr, then turned away, resting his brow against the warm
hide, closing his eyes. The light dose of fellis had been enough to
curb the worsening pain and it was just enough to allow him to have
his last day.

He had left the list of replacements on N'vanik's desk without comment
just that morning; he had known what it meant. D'hol had spent his
remaining time with Dheymin and Kielya, pulling one from Harper
classes and the other from his fostermother to allow both of them to
play by Yumath at the lake. It had been a happy afternoon, both of
them getting soaked as they climbed merrily all over the bronze;
Yumath hadn't complained once, like his rider, his eyes never left the
children. When it was time for them to return to their fostermothers,
he had kissed both of their brows, told them to be good, and had had
to walk away, both his belly and chest tight and painful.

Letters he had written afterwards, leaving them to be delivered when
Yumath and he left: letters saying a final farewell to Cyradis,
Kapera, Timassa, Jeyme, Wylra, and a final one thanking N'vanik for
his understanding and aid. He hoped it would be enough.

}: One last time.:{ The bronze solemnly agreed, bending further than
he normally did to allow D'hol to mount without pain. }: I am ready.
We are ready. :{

D'hol mounted, buckled himself into the straps and took a deep breath
before slipping his helmet on and securing it. **Lets go, Yumath. It's
time. Thread falls.**

Yumath leaped into the air, circling the Weyr with slow steady beats
of his wings, but sent his own private farewells to two golds and two
greens. }: I had good mates and companions here. Farewell, lovelies, I
go to Fight. Fly well. :{ Over the Star Stones, Yumath blinked
/between/.

The pair appeared over the ocean, and immediately saw the silver
strands ahead, falling into the water with sharp hisses that could be
heard even through the sound of the wind. Yumath bellowed in challenge
and threw his head back in demand. D'hol set his shoulders, staring
ahead and tossed firestone into the waiting maw as they drew closer to
the Fall.

Last updated on the April 12th 2019

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One Last Time