Bloodied Sands (2/2)

Writers: Devin, Sia
Date Posted: 29th July 2024

Characters: R'lor, O'rosin
Description: R'lor checks in on O'rosin after the Hatching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 11

R'lor

O'rosin

R'lor stepped up to O'rosin's infirmary cot with gentle smile. "Hey there, lad. You gave us quite a scare."

"Sorry, sir. Got scared myself." O'rosin said. He was propped up on the cot the best he could. The bandages covered the worst of the damage and hid the stitches that tied him back up. "Healer says I'm lucky he didn't nick anything important." He gestured over to the hulking brown dozing in the alcove nearby, meant for a much larger dragon.

"Is he okay?" The brown looked all right, but injuring his lifemate like that must have been a shock.

"Took a bit to calm him down, I'm told, but I didn't hurt him when I tossed him." O'rosin said, though his tone sounded like he didn't think he _could_ have hurt him.

Aeoluth roused at the attention turned on him, blinking yellow eyes tinged with light purple. They were...weird, and fascinating, and seemed to match the undercurrent of stress that O'rosin knew wasn't entirely his.

}:Be calm, little one,:{ Kularth said gently. }:It was an accident, and yours will be okay.:{

"He seemed very determined to Impress you, and hatchlings can't fully control themselves." R'lor looked over at the brown. "Keep reassuring Aeoluth that you love him and that the healers are taking care of you."

Aeoluth bobbed his head in agreement. }: Yes.:{ He said softly. He set his head down between his front feet.

"Yeah, that's what it _felt_ like. Determined." O'rosin repeated. He looked over at the brown, uncertain. Of course he loved him, though he hadn't thought about it before. As necessary as breathing, but terrifying all the same.

The Weyrlingmaster studied him for a moment. "Something like this can put stress on your bond. I want to make sure you strengthen that bond as much as possible in these early days."

"Yes, sir." O'rosin said. "Been hard to do that, is all. Between the hatching and getting all these stitches. Healers want me to take it easy at least until the stitches come out." He looked over at Aeoluth, who shifted anxiously in his alcove. His brow knit a little in concentration as he tested their connection. **Stop that. I'm fine.**

}: You'll be fine. :{ Aeoluth agreed quietly.

"What time should I be down tomorrow? When he's ready to eat? Is there a set start time?"

"You'll be staying here until the healers clear you," R'lor said. "I'll send one of the Weyrlingstaff to help you feed him. You need to rest and take care of yourself."

"Yes, sir. I should be okay to walk around. Healers said. I don't want to be cooped up, either."

"Well, you can still have the privilege of sleeping in." R'lor smiled. "I'll check on you after the morning classes and we'll see how things go." O'rosin might get a little behind, but even before the injury R'lor knew he would need some extra help with training.

It took O'rosin time to process that, and at first it looked like he might protest. His mouth formed a reluctant line. "Okay." He said. "Can...one of the Weyrlingstaff bring me my reader and slate? It's at the bottom of my chest in the barracks." All he'd been doing since the hatching was alternate between staring at the bandages and Aeoluth, and trying not to think too hard about the hatching.

Aeoluth wiggled anxiously again, and a sharper than intended look from O'rosin stilled him. "I'm _fine_." He said out loud. "You need to go back to sleep."

}: I'm fine. :{ Aeoluth protested through a yawn that showed large, sharp teeth.

"A little less denial and a little more gentle assurance," R'lor said. "He's a baby, and he feels everything you feel. You're injured, of course he's worried. When you're both awake, try sharing things with him. Tell him what you like, tell him about your family and friends. See what he might be curious about. Everything is new to him. Help him understand the world. Help him understand you."

O'rosin frowned. He didn't really know how to do that, or how much Aeoluth would understand. His family had a feline at home that hunted tunnelsnakes and rodents, and runnerbeasts that pulled a cart, but they didn't really talk to them like that. Aeoluth was certainly smarter than them, but he didn't feel curiosity so much as worry and exhaustion. He remembered when his littlest siblings were babies, and they refused to nap even when they were bone-tired and upset. His Ma had said something about babies not knowing that sleeping would make them feel better.

He felt a strange pressure in his head that he instinctively knew was Aeoluth, almost like he was physically pawing through his head. He flinched without meaning to, and Aeoluth pulled back. **Careful, careful.**

Aeoluth yawned again. The yellow didn't leave his eyes, but the whirling slowed as he lowered the inner lids of his eyes.

O'rosin looked back up at R'lor, suddenly aware he hadn't said anything in a while. "Is that better?" He asked.

R'lor nodded. "Keep being gentle with him. I'll have someone bring your things, but make sure you're getting enough rest." Then he had a thought. "Do you have any small mementos from home?"

O'rosin gave R'lor a blank and confused look. "Uh. I didn't have much when I got here. I was out at the hold for market day when I was Searched. My belt knife, I guess? I had a corded bracelet one of my sisters made, but I cut it off before the Hatching."

"Not a belt knife, unless it's particularly important to you." This might be a little more difficult than R'lor had thought. "If you picture the bracelet and send Aeoluth the image, he'll be able to see it. You can talk about your sister, when she gave you the bracelet, the rest of your family. It's good practice for getting used to sharing things with him."

The belt knife was important, but it felt foolish to feel so attached to it. It felt even sillier to try and tell a dragon about it, though O'rosin knew the memory of his ma seemed to help settle Aeoluth down. He didn't particularly want to feel the brown pawing around his head like that. "I will." O'rosin said instead. "Once he's rested, too. He hasn't been really careful with feeling around my head, if that makes sense? It feels almost like a smack to the temple. It's probably from being so tired and worried, like you said."

"Remember he's a baby, and you've both been through a shock. I'm sure he doesn't mean to make you so uncomfortable, but it make take him some time to learn how to share your mind a little more gently," R'lor said. "We'll be going over how to adjust to your new bond in class. If you miss any due to your injury, I'll have one of the weyrlingstaff instruct you." Likely J'lor, as R'lor wanted the mindhealer check on the pair anyway.

"Yeah, I don't think he means it." O'rosin agreed. He glanced over again at the dozing Aeoluth, who hardly stirred this time. An improvement. "Yes, sir. I think I'll be needing it. Is it not supposed to feel like that?"

"Many people find it strange at first, even a little uncomfortable, but no, it's not supposed to feel rough like that." R'lor was definitely going to keep an eye on the pair.

"Oh, well." O'rosin looked down at his hands. "It's only the first day. It can only get better from here, right?"

"Right." R'lor smiled. "I'll let you get some rest. Let me know if you need anything." The Hatching had been rough, but thank Faranth they hadn't lost anyone.

Last updated on the July 31st 2024

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Bloodied Sands (2/2)