Somber Aftermaths
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
Date Posted: 1st September 2024
Characters: J'hael
Description: J’hael reacts to the loss of a wingmate
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 5 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I’lon
The wings had returned, the Thread defeated for another day, and the lake was crowded with bathing dragons and somber riders. There was always a serious air to the Weyr after Threadfall, moreso after one with casualties. The keening had ended, but the echo of the sorrow hung in the air like a fog, along with the smell of ash and burned firestone. This casualty had been harsher than others, considering the circumstances, with it not being Thread that had caused the death, at least not directly.
J’hael was taking his time washing Serolth. The wing would be gathering for drinks, he assumed, to talk and share stories about their fallen companions. He’d join them, of course, but not quite yet. For now, he wanted a little more quiet time, just him and his dragon. They’d been flying until the end of the ‘Fall, so the dragon care gave him a good excuse to wait before joining the others. There were Candidates and weyrbrats around, but he’d politely shooed them off to help other pairs, wanting to take care of this task alone.
Serolth dipped his shoulder, drawing his rider’s attention towards a smear of soot on his dark shoulder. It was hard to see the soot sometimes on the blue’s dark hide, but the blue rumbled appreciatively as his rider scrubbed away the itchy mess. The blue was subdued, a sadness radiating from him that was almost as harsh as the keening had been.
Serolth always got attached to his wingmates, considering them, if not friends, some affectionate combination of teammate and rival, the other blues especially. He’d miss Napeth in the formations, would be surly about whatever new blue was going to join their ranks (that would pass, quickly, of course). “Did I miss anything?” When the blue didn’t respond, J’hael made a final circle around him, running a cloth over the dark midnight blue hide as much to maintain contact as to keep cleaning.
“Alright, buddy, my turn. Let’s go get me changed.” The blue obediently dropped a shoulder to let his rider on, making the short little flight to their weyr easily, despite his tired wings.
In the time it took J’hael to change out of his own dirty leathers and try to tame his unruly light brown hair, however, the blue had decided he was going to wallow on his ledge instead of taking his rider to join their wingmates. “No, buddy, we’re not going to do that,” J’hael had fetched a wine bottle from his own private stash and tucked it under his arm, “We’re going to spend some time with our wingmates. Surely at least some of them are gathered, and they’ll be through the first round already and looking for more. You’ll feel better with the company, anyway.” Serolth grunted disagreement.
“You sure?” The blue let out a full body sigh. “Alright. I guess I’ll stay and drink here with you.” With a grunt, J’hael lowered himself to the blue’s side on their ledge, pulling the cork out of his wine bottle. “Cheers, then, I guess,” he toasted in the direction of the blue’s nose.
Last updated on the September 5th 2024