Looking for Stormclouds
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: Sia
Date Posted: 11th May 2024
Characters: E'kavas
Description: E'kavas remembers the morning of the River Bluff earthquake
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 28 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Rivia (NPC, deceased), T'gyrlan
E'kavas hated the Infirmary.
He knew, logically, that it wasn't anyone's favorite place. No one goes on purpose. And this place didn't look like River Bluff, with its harsh edges and flickering hum of ancient wiring. But it _felt_ bone-jarringly familiar in a way that set his heart racing each time he stepped through the doors or sat in the waiting room. The time of turn didn't help, either; the feeling of dread deep in the pit of his stomach only got worse the closer they got to Turn's End.
~*~Flashback- month 12, day 20, turn 8~*~
"I'm okay." J'nico's voice was calm. Soothing. Despite the fact that it was _his_ leg in a splint, and he was the one that should be comforted, not the other way around. He stood with a crutch under one arm and the other wrapped around his poor blue's head, gently scritching Nolaith's eyeridges. "Nol looks rough, but the dragonhealer is optimistic."
Optimistic. Nolaith looked a _wreck_ to him. The blue's eyes were tinged with grey and he'd nearly pushed Nico off his feet when they'd neared, so intent for comfort from his rider.
"El." J'nico prompted. He nudged the brownrider gently. He reached for E'kavas' hand, intertwining their fingers and squeezing. "Stop worrying. We're safe. We're all right."
"But you're _not_." E'kavas protested, his voice low and quiet so as to not stress out Nolaith further, nor the other dragons and riders that rested nearby.
"We will be. The dragonhealers are doing their best, and the healers say I just need time. You and Riv have scheduled _someone_ with me for nearly every candlemark of every day. I just watched you trade off with T'gyrlan. Real subtle, by the way."
E'kavas ignored the jibe. "I should put in a request for a ground-level weyr. If the dragonhealers are so optimistic, we'll be ready when you two can be moved."
"Oh, Roquath would hate that."
"Roquath hates a lot of things."
"And what about Rivia?"
"She'd want the convenience too. She doesn't like the stairs either." She hardly minded them, especially when Roquath and Nolaith were well trained to keep an 'ear' out for her.
J'nico shook his head. "No way. Don't rush it. We don't need to uproot the kids if it turns out Nolaith is fine to fly." Whatever dragonhealer he was talking to was too optimistic, and E'kavas was going to have strong words with that man, "And the healers want me here still anyway, despite me being the picture of good health," He waggled his eyebrows before E'kavas could protest, teasing,"So it's not like I'm hopping up and down the stairs anyway." He grinned- his charming, disarming grin, despite the burns and the bruises and the battered blue.
E'kavas sighed. Frustration at J'nico's attitude mixed with guilt; he should be the one doing the comforting right now, but he was the one always searching for stormclouds on the horizon. "Fine, fine." He relented. He pressed a gentle kiss to J'nico's temple. "I'll wait. One step at a time, right?"
J'nico tilted his head towards the kiss, savoring the moment of affection before straightening up, determination etched into his features. "We've been through worse." He joked. "And Nolaith's a tough little blue. He'll bounce back in no time, you'll see." He squeezed E'kavas' hand again. "We'll take it slow, enjoy the extra attention, and before long, we'll be back in the skies where we belong."
~*~
Someone calling E'kavas' name snapped him back to reality. Peeve sat quietly in his lap, allowing himself to be aggressively petted and then roughly picked up as the brownrider stood. The healer with a clipboard gestured him over. "Final check-up before we release you back to the Wings." He said, "How are you feeling? How's Roquath?"
"Ready to be back in the skies." E'kavas said. "Right where we belong."
Last updated on the May 13th 2024