Take A Moment

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 15th August 2024

Characters: R'lor, V'tian
Description: An important conversation is sort of had
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 11

R'lor

As soon as he got the rest of the Weyrlings settled, R'lor went to the infirmary to check on the _multiple_ injured Weyrlings. Shells, what a mess. The healers assured him that none of the new riders were in immediate danger. He took a moment to consider who he should see first, and settled on Vytian -- he hadn't had a chance to ask for his new name.

This was an infirmary, and there was a newly hatched dragonet to consider, so R'lor kept his voice quiet, but his anger was clear when he asked, "What in Faranth's name were you thinking?"

V'tian was stroking Indith slowly, almost absently, with his left hand; his right was bound up in a cast and sling, more bandages wound around his right side.

At R'lor's words and the clear tone of his voice, he flinched, and his gaze dropped away. "I thought... I thought if I just got his attention..."

The tip of Indith's tail twitched. }: But you didn't need his attention. You are Mine and I am Yours. :{ she told him, then twisted her neck around, supple, to regard the older man with a long look.

}: You do not need to scold him. My V'tian will be braver, now that I am with him. We will have many adventures.:{ Indith told R'lor.

V'tian winced again. "Indith-- don't tell people what to do."

The green only snorted.

R'lor was a little surprised to have the young dragon bespeak him. "V'tian's bravery isn't an issue. He put himself in danger, and my duty is to protect both of you." Then he said to V'tian. "How many times did I tell you to stay aware and move out of the way? You could have been . . ." He didn't want to say it in front of the hatchling. "It could have been much worse."

Indith curled a little more around her V'tian, pressed a little more into her rider's touch. }:You were hurt. You are hurt now.:{ She sounded mournful, and her eyes whirled with a tinge of yellow. }:Why did you want him when I am your dragon?:{

V'tian's expression faltered. "... But it wasn't." He said finally, flatly. "Indith is fine, and I'll have help taking care of her. Until I'm sent to the Weyrling Barracks at least." And it wasn't like he was ever going to be a class leader now. Not with--

Indith made an unhappy croon. }: Why do you want to be in charge? Adventures sound much more fun. :{

The Weyrlingmaster crossed his arms. "I'll be keeping an eye on you since it seems you can't follow directions." Some boys, particularly holdbred ones, got far too wrapped up in the idea of Impressing bronze. And that meant V'tian was likely to have other issues now that he was a greenrider.

"I did what I thought I had to." V'tian responded tightly. "It's the duty of a dragonrider, right? Doing what you must?" His expression was torn between stubbornness and an odd guilt. "It doesn't matter anyway. Indith chose me and now-"

He broke off. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Indith made another unhappy sound.

"Your duty was to get out of the way when that bronze showed no interest in you," R'lor said. "And it _does_ matter because even if you're too much of a dimglow to watch out for your own life, you've got Indith to worry about now."

}:Mine does not mean to upset you,:{ Kularth told Indith. }:But he needs to make yours understand that he must be safe, and he must obey.:{

"I'm not a dimglow!" V'tian snapped, reflexively. "I'm the smartest in my whole family."

Indith's head turned, from V'tian to R'lor and back again, pushing more of her body into her rider's, only to jerk back at the pulse of pain. }:I'm sorry, Mine.:{ she said miserably. To Kularth, she added, }:I want to go on adventures. If we listen, will adventure come?:{

}:You can have adventures and fun if you and yours do well in training,:{ Kularth said.

"Then start acting like it. You'll be flying Fall before you know it, and Thread is far less forgiving than I am."

V'tian glared, stung, and his shoulders hunched defensively. "Obviously I'm not going to get in the way of a bronze _now_." He pointed out. Let R'lor interpret that however he wanted.

Indith just drooped a little unhappily once more, and said nothing, only pressed closer still to her rider.

"Why did you want a bronze so badly that you ignored all the warnings I gave you?" R'lor asked.

"I-" V'tian started to respond, then trailed off. "It doesn't matter anymore. I have _Indith_ now." He glanced down at the green hide, looked away again nearly immediately. "Forget it. We'll be in class as soon as I'm healed. That's all anyone's going to really care about."

"_I_ care if your issues affect your bond with Indith." R'lor hoped they could deal with this problem quickly so V'tian could focus on training.

Indith made another unhappy sound, hunkering lower. }: I am sure once we can go on adventures and save the day things will be different!:{ she asserted to Kularth. }: Mine is only hurting right now, that's all...:{

"I don't have a _problem_." V'tian protested, and used his good arm to lever himself into even more a sitting position, wincing a little. "Indith picked me. And I... I'm a greenrider now."

"And is that disappointing?" R'lor asked.

"Having any dragon at all is better than not having any dragon." V'tian responded stiffly. "At least I don't have to farm *fingerroots* the rest of my life."

}: But I picked you! :{ Indith's head jerked up, and she stared at her rider, eyes whirling yellow. V'tian's gaze went to her as if on instinct. "You did pick me." He agreed. "And I'm a rider now, at least."

"There's nothing wrong with being bonded to a green dragon. It's true your options for rank are limited, but that's all," R'lor said. "Did you have dreams of being Weyrleader?"

**Easy for you to say**, V'tian thought, but didn't say.

"I was going to be the youngest Weyrleader _ever_." He said instead, finally. "And everyone--" he broke off. "... My family didn't even _stay_ after the Hatching. I bet they were headed out before the _Feast_ even started." He said, instead.

That first part was the bravado of youth, but the rest . . . "If you'd like to visit them once Indith is older, I can go with you and make it clear being a dragonrider is an _honor_."

V'tian just shook his head. "... There'd be no point, sir." He responded quietly. "I'm... I'm tired. Today was... Can I try and sleep now?"

As much as R'lor wanted to address the issue, V'tian did need to recuperate. "Yes, rest and heal up. We'll have another discussion later."

Last updated on the August 25th 2024

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Take A Moment