I'm Not Dead

Writers: Aaron, Sia
Date Posted: 27th April 2025

Characters: E'kirim, Z'renh
Description: Z’renh is not dead. He thinks E’kirim should know.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 10 of Turn 12

Z’renh was still breathing a bit heavily when he joined the class just before it began. It had been ten days since the incident. The Incident. It sounded so official. Perhaps he should go with “accident”. He supposed it was not all that important what he called it.

It felt in his body like it had been longer than ten days. He felt like he had barely moved a muscle for a Turn. Fate willing, he would recover more quickly than it would have taken if that were true.

“Hey. I’m not dead,” he greeted E’kirim.

"Good. I don't have the constitution to be the only bronzerider in the class." E'kirim said lightly. "What happened, anyway? I just heard that Adamanth got you."

“Yeah, he… got mad at Alzaryth for kicking over the bucket of soap we shared for bath time,” said Z’renh. “I don’t know what he thought he was going to do to him. But he wasn’t paying attention to where I was when I tried to cut him off.

“It had to have been an accident. But Adamanth thinks everything is an intentional personal affront. Especially after I talked him into displaying the slightest hint of magnanimity.”

E'kirim let out a low whistle, then winced in sympathy. "He must've really got you, huh?" He hadn't really thought about it when he roughhoused with Norrianth, even though the bronzes were a little larger than a fully-grown green now. He always just assumed that Norrianth would know his own strength and what he was doing. "You'd make a great invalid, though. We could get you a little bell."

Z’renh laughed. “Oh, get stuffed,” he said. “I’m all done with that-- for the rest of my life, I hope. Did you ever do C’uren’s… whatever his little stretches and poses are? I guess it’s how they stayed in shape at sea?”

"Pff, no." E'kirim laughed and shook his head. "C'uren's making stuff up. There's stretches we'd do back in Amber Hills before we started work so we didn't pull any muscles. And mimicking those when Norrianth has to practice has been helping him actually _do_ it, but I guess we don't need that as much now that he's actually flying around. Why, did the healers recommend you do that?"

“No, they told me to take it easy for at least two sevendays. Not even supposed to lift anything over twenty pounds. But C’uren had me give it a shot just now before class, since I can't run to stay in shape.” Z’renh had actually really enjoyed it, though he was not sure whether that was because he enjoyed the workout itself, or he just liked spending time with C’uren, or something else. “If he was making it up, it still worked.”

"Oh good. As long as it helps keep you in shape, I guess. We'll be flying before too long and I bet that's like, runner-riding exhausting." He winced thinking about the strain on his thighs once they were practicing formations in the air. "How is C'uren as an instructor? Did you tell him that pain is actually your stitches leaving the body?"

Z’renh stifled a laugh.

“No, he was really great, actually.” There was just something about that sort of cheerful, encouraging, but gentle instruction that made his heart happy. Maybe it reminded him of an old creche mother or something. “I think he’s just a genuinely nice person. He didn't have to take the time to do that with me.”

"I'm not saying he's not nice. I do wonder where he gets all his energy." E'kirim said with a shrug, then grinned again. "Do you think he's like that in bed?"

Z’renh chuckled.

“Wouldn’t it be weird if he wasn’t? Shells, I can just hear him. ‘Do you like that, my friend? Oh, you are doing splendidly.’ I dunno, I actually think I might like it.” Not necessarily from C’uren… Z’renh was pretty sure he did not like men at all. Pretty sure.

E'kirim barked out a laugh, nearly too loud for the quiet murmur of the gathering class. "Splendid! Keep doing that!" He echoed, half choking, then pretended to fan himself. "I can't handle that. It'd be like running a race at a gather. I'm glad he has you doing some kind of workout, at least. Hopefully the rest won't have knocked you back too far."

“Yeah… Hopefully. I’m going to catch up, and I’ll be in the wings with you,” said Z’renh. “And I’ll probably owe C’uren a drink if he keeps me in shape for it.”

"Nah, you'll catch up quick. You've grown up with this stuff. Gives the rest of us hold kids a chance to get the hang of it." He nudged Z'renh as M'thos cleared his throat to get the class's attention. "Anyway. Glad you're back, buddy."

“Thanks, man. Glad to be back.”

Last updated on the May 1st 2025

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I'm Not Dead