Falling Behind
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: Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 3rd July 2024
Characters: O'rosin, Cirina
Description: Cirina is happy to help in the aftermath of the hatching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: R'lor, Ç'pier, C'rand, B'lyes, Saedyna
O'rosin awoke sore. More than sore; the pain radiated, hot and sharp, from wounds he could only groggily remember. It came back, slowly, on the heels of a bad dream that was fading. A bad dream caused, most likely, by the numbweed losing its effect.
An equally sharp whine that seemed to reverberate in his head only made it worse, and it took him much longer to realize that it was the dragon sitting on the stone couch nearby that was making that noise. It was hard to parse out what was him, O'rosin, and what was the dragon. He felt the pain of the deep cuts into his chest and arms. It took another moment of deep thought to realize that the anxiety and low tide of panic was Aeoluth, despite how it made his stomach churn. Panic at the day before, at his rider being injured, at the pain that he caused and felt echoing through their new bond. Hunger, too, that gnawed at them both.
"Stop it." O'rosin said loudly and too forcefully. Aeoluth flinched, though the whining stopped. The movement was enough to jostle the brown firelizard waiting on Aeoluth's back. O'rosin frowned and tried to remember what Cirina had told him the night before. "Go. Get. Cirina." He said firmly to the firelizard as he carefully tried to picture the woman's face in his mind.
Digger hopped onto the edge of O'rosin’s bed, tilting his head to look at him for a moment before hopping into the air and disappearing.
When Digger appeared in the candidate barracks, Cirina was laying on her bunk, staring at the ceiling. The little brown sent a picture of Aeoluth and O'rosin, and a feeling of urgency. For a moment, Cirina didn’t move. She’d always dreamed about those first few days of dragon care. None of those dreams had involved it being a little brown that belonged to someone else.
But she’d done her crying and her wallowing the night before, and none of her sadness or disappointment was Aeoluth’s fault- he was just a hungry baby, and she could help. Rubbing the back of her hand over her eyes, she hopped out of her bunk.
It took a little time, and Cirina was slightly out of breath when she came into the Infirmary, but she pushed her hair back from her face and said cheerfully, “Is it breakfast time?” Digger landed on the bed again, puffing his little chest out proudly. “Aeoluth?” She flicked her eyes towards the little dragon, “you hungry?” She didn’t expect an answer, of course, but thought it was only polite. “Or did you need something, O'rosin?” Clearly she assumed the dragon took priority.
O'rosin was _mostly_ done with reapplying numbweed as the healer ordered. The gashes looked angry still, a little swollen from the stitches. Bruises colored his sun-worn skin. Any other time he might have been embarrassed about his state of undress, especially around a girl.
Aeoluth bobbed his head in a nod and made to move. He hesitated just a little, looking over at O'rosin.
"Yes, Aeoluth." O'rosin said with a dismissive wave. "Can you take him outside and get him started? R'lor said their breakfasts were gonna be ready for us today. I'll be right there." He couldn't do much for fear of ripping them out, but the Weyrlingstaff wanted him close to Aeoluth anyway. Once given permission, Aeoluth hopped down from the couch and gave Cirina an affectionate but too-rough headbutt.
Cirina stumbled a half step at the headbutt, scolding gently, “Careful, buddy. You’re a big, strong boy.” She softened even that gentle scold with a pat on the head. “Let’s go find you a big bucket of meat before I have to find out if your clumsy rider is wearing any pants.” She spoke in the same calm, cheerful tones she’d use with any uncertain child as she headed back out the door.
There were other weyrlings already working on dragon care, and Cirina tried not to look directly at them, focusing on Aeoluth instead. “Now remember, take this gently, please, because you’re going to show all your siblings how nice your manners are.” And she wanted to keep all her fingers as she offered him his breakfast.
Aeoluth, who had carefully followed just a half-step behind her, bobbed his head again in a nod. He was not, however, chill. He kept his shoulder pressed against her and watched her prepare his breakfast. He tried to be gentle, really, but still nipped a little too close to her fingertips in his desperation to get to the meat.
O'rosin appeared several minutes later, bandaged and appropriately dressed in a shirt and pants. "Thank you." He said. "I know this isn't how you wanted today to go."
Cirina hissed, “Watch it, those are my scratching fingers, no scratches for you.” The next piece was offered slower and more carefully.
She was smiling when she looked at O'rosin, but it was a little forced. “It's not. But it's nice to feel useful. And at least one dragon likes me.” None had liked her enough, but, again, not his fault.
“Besides, can you imagine who else they might have had helping you?”
A stern look from O'rosin had Aeoluth taking his next bite much more carefully, though he trembled like a leaf from the exertion.
O'rosin cast a furtive look around, just in case C'pier was nearby. "I was thinking about that last night. Corland and Blue AND Saedyna all Impressed, didn't they? How the f-," Another glance at the dragonet, "...frick…is that supposed to work?"
“Awkwardly. I expect you to keep me updated on _all_ the drama. And stop bullying Aeoluth, look at that poor boy tremble,” she cooed, as if it weren't her hand she was putting near his snapping jaws. “We’re doing fine.” The “fine” came out more firm than she really felt. “Honestly, of all the weyrling classes to miss, I'm probably better off missing this one. I feel so bad for Saedyna.”
"Bullying." O'rosin repeated. "He's trembling because he wants to launch himself at his breakfast. He wouldn't notice if he took your fingers." Aeoluth whined a small protest at that, but another sharp look cut it off. "You'll get all the details between me and Corland." He added, then paused. "C'land? ….B'lue?"
“Oh, you know, I don't know what Corland went with. I left the Feast early to go see if you still had all your fingers, after all.” She looked up, but he seemed busy with his own dragon, and her presence here was weird enough without intruding on other pairs. “Do you need anything else this morning after I clean up this mess? We got… most of the blood down Aeoluth’s gullet.” The rest he was wearing.
"You're gonna regret askin' that." O'rosin said grimly. "I can't move much, and he's gonna need a wash and oil. Healers don't even want me getting wet for a few days." He wrinkled his nose at that. The smell was the least of his problems right now, but he wasn't looking forward to it.
“Yeeeeah. I was sort of thinking he was part of ‘this mess’ that I needed to clean. But I'm just thinking of all the free rides you're going to owe me, and it's all worth it. I'll be the most well-traveled candidate on Pern,” Cirina said in a dramatic, dreamy voice.
"Anywhere you want. I'm in your debt." O'rosin agreed.
Last updated on the July 10th 2024