Only a Moment (2/3): The Kindest Thing
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: Devin, Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 5th July 2006
Series: Saving Each Other
Characters: U'kaiah, N'vanik, Talryne
Description: Despite the best effort of the Weyr's dragonhealers, Talryne's Ysanth disappear's /between/.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 3
"Stay still!" Tiraval snapped for the third time, cursing as Talryne fidgeted under her hands. "I _have_ to cut your shirt away and see how bad the damage is, and you are not going _anywhere_ until I'm finished!"
Talryne was seated at one of the makeshift triage stations in the Weyrbowl where most of the superficial injuries were dealt with and the more serious stabilized before they were brought to the infirmary. Tiraval had already tried to bustle her off to the infirmary once, but Talryne wasn't going anywhere but to her dragon's side.
}:It hurts, it hurts...:{
**I'll be there soon!**
"Are you sure you won't go into the infirmary?" Tiraval asked for the third time as she peeled the tunic off Talryne's shoulder and chest. "No," Talryne ground out, craning her head again. She couldn't see Ysanth, but the dragon's plaintive cries were calming. Maybe they'd _finally_ gotten some numbweed on her injuries.
"Talryne!" N'vanik said as he finally reached the injured rider. He stood watching the healer work on her, his face full of worry, not knowing what to say. **This is my fault.**
Talryne's eyes focused on him, and she shifted again, struggling to stand.
"N'vanik, tell her I'm fine! Tell her I can go see Ysanth!" It made no sense to assume the bronzerider would be able to tell Tiraval what to do, but Talryne couldn't think clearly enough to care. "I _have_ to see her!"
N'vanik looked from Talryne, to the healer, to Talryne and then to the healer again. **Oh, Faranth!** "Let her see her dragon!" It came out more as a plea than an order.
Tiraval spared N'vanik only a withering glare. "If you want to help her, make her stop moving. Otherwise stay out of my way or I'll have someone move you."
N'vanik returned the glare before grasping one of Talryne's hands. "Talryne, you have to stay still. The faster you get patched up, the sooner you can see your dragon."
Clutching at his hand, Talryne struggled to keep herself still as the healer removed the last of her tunic. Her eyes kept sliding to the side, though, as if she could get a glimpse of Ysanth. Her hand clenched around N'vanik's so tightly that her fingernails dug into his skin. "I need to know how bad it is," she whispered, eyes finding N'vanik's. "Can--can Loseth find out?"
The bronzerider's eyes grew distant as he asked his dragon. }:The Dragonhealer says it is very bad,:{ Loseth relayed sadly. N'vanik squeezed the greenrider's hand. "The dragonhealer is taking good care of her," he said, trying to force a reassuring smile. **Please let her be alright.**
U'kaiah had been with the weyrlings coming back from their firestone runs, just watching the skies for injured riders. _His_ riders. He had recognized Talryne's green right away. Talryne, the healers had assured him, would be fine. But then he saw Ysanth. The former wingrider didn't care that N'vanik was at her side. This was not the time for petty squabbles or disagreements. He side stepped the healers to allow them to continue their work as he walked up to the head of the bed. "Hey there, beautiful. Looks like you had a bit of a bad day," he said gently as he smoothed back her hair from her face.
N'vanik only glanced up at U'kaiah's arrival. He was actually glad the former Wingleader was there. U'kaiah would be able to deal with this better than he could.
Instead of calming her, though, U'kaiah's arrival brought another rebellious fit from Talryne as she struggled to sit up. "U'kaiah, tell the healer I can go see Ysanth, please. _Please_."
"_Stay still_," Tiraval said again, though the look in her eyes held all too much understanding. **Rasalanth, tell Loseth and Kalamath that their riders need to help me keep Ysanth's rider calm. She's going to make it even harder on Ysanth if she doesn't stop.**
"You heard the Healer, Talryne. Stay still," U'kaiah repeated, his voice gently commanding. "You will only hurt Ysanth more if you struggle and upset yourself. She needs you to stay calm and get the help you need _first_. Now just lie back and let the healers do their work."
"You'll see her soon," N'vanik said quietly, squeezing Talryne's hand again.
Talryne finally subsided, earning both bronzeriders an approving look from Tiraval as she rinsed the greenrider's wound and reached for the redwort.
"Just keep reassuring Ysanth," she said steadily as she swabbed the skin around Talryne's injury with redwort. "We'll get you over there as soon as we can." A pain-laced shriek cut across the Weyrbowl, a dragon's pained cry with Talryne's screamed denial so hard on its heels that it sounded like one noise. The girl threw off the healer and wrenched her hand from N'vanik, tumbling to the ground as her knees gave out on her first step. "Ysanth!"
}:Ysanth is gone!:{ Loseth cried as the dragons began their heart-rending chorus.
"No!" N'vanik said, staring at Talryne in shock. **Not again! This can't be happening!** "I'm sorry!" he choked on the words, his eyes blurring. "I'm sorry, Talryne! I'm sorry!"
U'kaiah had been expecting this ever since he saw the green's mangled body.
He wrapped himself around her, trying to block out the cries and the commotion around them and hold Talryne down lest she do a greater injury to herself. Not that it mattered at this point. She would want to die anyway.
And who could blame her. But she could do a lot of damage to others along the way. He had seen it before. "Stay with us just a little longer, Talryne," he whispered to her. The bronzerider was sure, though, that she would not hear him.
"Talryne..." Tiraval appeared in front of the greenrider with a cup. "Drink this, sweetheart... it will let you sleep." It was the kindest thing anyone could do for her now. The rules regarding a healer's interference after a dragon's death were strict, leaving Tiraval with nothing to offer but a few candlemarks sleep before she would have to make her own choices.
Talryne hardly noticed as Tiraval coaxed her to drink the drugged wine, more concerned with the gaping emptiness threatening to swallow her hole. Ysanth had filled most of that hole all by herself, leaving only a nagging feeling of loneliness that Talryne been able to fill with men. No man would be able to take Ysanth's place, and Talryne found herself wishing heartily that the fellis that was dragging her down into unconsciousness would be enough to keep her there. Hopefully forever.
Last updated on the July 5th 2006
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