A Drowning Man
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 24th February 2021
Characters: R'nar
Description: R'nar returns to an empty weyr.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Ranni
}:I am here.:{ Iorath said comfortingly, crouched in the weyrcouch that he had shared with Sukiith just that morning.
R'nar stood in his dragon's couch, staring at the portal that would lead him into the weyr he shared with Ranni. Knowing that he would go in and find her things just as she'd left them...
He released a watery exhale and steeled himself for what he knew he had to do.
The metal heel of his boot echoed in the empty weyr as he took the first step inside. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he did a slow sweep over the living area. Her blanket was draped over the back of the couch. Even in the warmth of Dolphin Cove, she always enjoyed a blanket over her legs when she sat on the couch.
The cup of klah she'd had before Threadfall, still half full, sat cold on the table beside the couch.
Numbly, his feet led him through the weyr to their bedchamber. His throat threatened to close on him as he stepped into the room and inhaled the faintly sweet scent that was exclusively hers.
Underneath the bed her everyday sandals were tucked, toes pointed under the bed, ready for her dainty feet to step in after she took off her riding boots. On her bedside table, the book she'd been reading still lay face up, forever resting on the last page that she had read.
It felt as if at any moment her head would poke around the corner, she'd smile and say, "Hey, wherrybrains, what are you doing? Let's grab something to eat before all of the good fish is gone."
On his hands and knees, R'nar crawled onto their bed and buried his face into her pillow. Inhaling her scent, he clung to the pillow like a drowning man to a buoy. Sobs wracked him as he closed his eyes and wallowed in the lingering scent of Ranni, knowing that it too would disappear, leaving him with only a memory.
Ranni was tough and plucky, she wasn't the type that was supposed to die in Threadfall. She had survived so much already.
Faranth, how was he supposed to go on? How did people do this? He knew losing someone from Threadfall wasn't uncommon, it happened to other dragonriders all the time, but still, some part of him had never expected it to happen to _him_.
How would he ever put one foot in front of the other without thinking of her? How would he ever sleep without the warmth of her in his arms?
His thoughts went to Eranar, their son, whom he had visited before coming to the weyr. The boy mostly looked like him, but he had his mother's serious eyes. How would he ever look into those eyes and not think of the spirited-woman who had lied and manipulated to get pregnant in the first place?
A dry chuckle escaped him as the taste of tears reached the corners of his mouth. He knew that Ranni would roll her eyes if she could see him now. She had never been the emotional type. She would tell him to 'get over it' and to 'get on with it.'
R'nar had no idea how to do that. All he knew at that moment was that it hurt to breathe or live in a world without her.
Last updated on the February 24th 2021