I'm Feeling Some Kind Of Way

Writers: Len, Steel
Date Posted: 23rd August 2024

Characters: V'tian, Sh'del
Description: Sh'del checks in on V'tian in the infirmary
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 11

All the Weyrlings were settled for the day and J'lor and R'lor were well in charge of them so Sh'del took the moment of peace to slip out of his office and walk across the large bowl. Trouble circled around his head as he walked. It wouldn't take too long to see how V'tian was doing.

As his eyes adjusted to the dark of the infirmary, after the furious Southern sun, Sh'del spotted the weyrling he wanted to talk to. With her bright green hide, little Indith was easy to spot. A healer had told him already what injuries the boy had suffered.

Sh'del came to the lad's bed, sighing inwardly. No matter how many turns he had been a part of the Weyrlingmaster's staff, he'd never get used to seeing hurt weyrlings, particularly one so young.

"V'tian," he said in a quiet voice, "How are you doing?" As he took an offered seat given by one of the healers close to the bed, Trouble landed softly by the little green and crooned gently at Indith.

V'tian made a face, gingerly, but used his good arm to try and prop himself up, just a bit more. "... Sir." he greeted, carefully polite. Everyone outranked him now, after all.

}:Not for long.:{ Indith protested, but it was quiet, and the green dragonet only turned her head to give the firelizard a sniff, before sinking back down as well. }: You are my rider. I chose you. :{

V'tian breathed out deeply. "I've... been better, sir." He admitted. "The Healers said I'm going to be in here a while."

“Yeah, I bet. You up to telling me why you chose to ignore everything R’lor and J’lor have been teaching you?” There was no doubt the lad had stepped twice in the way of a dragon who did not choose him. Even though the words may have seemed harsh, Sh’del was careful to say them in a quiet tone.

V'tian's expression tightened. "Does it matter anymore, sir?" he asked, after a moment, his better shoulder hunched slightly at an expected scolding. "I impressed Indith. We won't get in the way of any bronzes again."

Sh’del chuckled gently at those words. “Sadly, that may not be true. You ride green now, you’re going to have to deal with a lot of bronzes. But that’s a lesson for another day, R’lor will teach you well for that.” He looked over to Indith. “She’s a lovely one, lad. Since you can’t get to the first lessons for a bit, what I’d like you to do is just strengthen your bond with her. Try to talk to her a lot, tell her things about your life, let her tell you about the things that she observes. Being bedbound doesn’t mean you can’t take this time to learn about one another.”

"She's _already_ in my head." V'tian responded, and almost looked her way before he resisted. "Talking, or looking-- it's like she's copying me." He took a deep breath, another. "I can't tune her out. She's there, and she's in my head."

Indith let out a sigh of her own, and laid her head down on her paws instead of shuffling closer. Hers was feeling so much. What was she supposed to do?

Sh’del sat back and was silent for a moment. The lad sounded frustrated and unhappy. He suspected the reason, for it was an evergreen reason with some of these Holder lads for whom only bronze would do. He looked down at the beautiful little green, who didn’t look happy either. “You seem frustrated, son. More than being injured. If you want to talk about it, I’m here, and J’lor is also a mindhealer.”

Privately Sh’del wasn’t going to wait for the boy to reach out to J’lor, he’d have a quick chat with the bluerider before the evening was over. Maybe he’d just get the ‘lor’s some food and they could go over everything that had happened after he was finished with V’tian.

"I'll be fine." V'tian responded. "... The Healers give me enough so nothing hurts too much. And the-- my dragon gets fed and washed, so they're fine too. And then when I'm healed I guess we'll rejoin the others in classes."

Indith made another low sound. }: I am not hungry right now.:{ she said, and lifted her head again, leaned forward with a hopeful air. Not _too_ hungry, at least...

V'tian flinched, still, only able to glance at Indith a moment before he looked away again. "... I'm not broken."

“We look forward to having you in class,” Sh’del said, his voice soft. Already he was worried, very worried. The boy could barely look at his lifemate, and the poor thing looked miserable for it.

}:I think she feels hungry.:{

**I agree**

Sh’del stood up and gave the tiny green a gentle rub on her headknobs. “I’ll send someone over with some extra food for her.” Already he was making plans to speak to the ‘lor’s as soon as he could.

Indith warbled softly, bunted her head into the touch, even though she vastly preferred when Hers stroked her soft neck.

V'tian swallowed dryly, pushing back just a little on the mix of emotions, though he couldn't bring himself to ignore the green. "I... Indith says... thank you. Sir."

Last updated on the August 25th 2024

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I'm Feeling Some Kind Of Way