Abandoned

Writers: Devin, Len
Date Posted: 23rd October 2026

Characters: Z'kim, Sh'del
Description: Z'kim remembers when N'vanik abandoned him -- and Sh'del.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Z'kim

It was already dark at Dolphin Cove when Z'kim arrived, time zones being what they were. As they circled over the Bowl, he caught sight of some of the new weyrlings near the barracks and the much larger form of Loranth. He certainly didn't envy Sh'del having his hands full with hormonal teens and baby dragons, and the thought made Z'kim chuckle.

Maybe when Sh'del was less busy, Z'kim would stop by for a drink. They were friends through N'vanik, not particularly close themselves, but Z'kim did like the brownrider well enough. They'd maintained a friendship even after N'vanik had been transferred out of Dream's End. **Abandoned me,** came the bitter thought.

Leaving hadn't been the bronzerider's choice, but not contacting Z'kim for so long had been. The memory of it still stung, and his only consolation at the time was that he wasn't the only friend N'vanik had left behind.

~*~Flashback to M11 T3~*~

It had been five months. Five sharding months, and not one word. Not a visit, not an invitation to visit him, not so much as a sharding _letter_. At first Z'kim figured N'vanik just needed some time. Obviously, he'd be sulking about the forced transfer, still stewing in his anger over H'lib, and continuing to do a poor job of dealing with his grief over V'surin.

But a month went by, and then another, and another. Nothing. They'd seen each other every day for Turns, shared feelings and secrets late into the night, and Z'kim had let him closer than anyone outside his family.

And now it was like N'vanik had forgotten he existed.

Z'kim would be scorched if he'd go to Dragonsfall and beg N'vanik to pay attention to him, but he couldn't resist trying to find out a little information. N'vanik didn't have many friends, but there was another one of those rare people here at Dream's End.

"Loranth said you were at home," Z'kim said as he entered Sh'del's weyr. "How are you?"

Sh’del looked up from the pile of papers scattered across his table, blinking his sky blue eyes slowly like a man coming back to consciousness. They settled on the familiar face of Z’kim and he smiled sheepishly. “I’m not sure what my wing leader was thinking, promoting me to wingsecond.” He glanced down at the papers, trying not to look terrified.

"He should pay a visit to the mindhealer," the greenrider said dryly. He waited a beat and then asked, as casually as he could, "Have you heard from Nik lately?"

“Considering he thought Nik had Weyrleader potential than you may be right,” Sh’del quipped, staring down at the papers wide eyed before looking back up at his friend. “No, to be honest, I haven’t heard from him in ages.” He frowned, lost in his thoughts for a moment. “Bit odd, to be honest. I take it you haven’t heard from him either?”

"Not a peep." Z'kim sighed as he slid into a nearby chair. In a twisted way, it made him feel better that N'vanik wasn't talking to Sh'del either. "I know he's taking V'surin's death hard and the whole punching incident with H'lib made it worse, but he's been at Dragonsfall for _months_ . . ."

“True…but this is N’vanik we’re talking about. He’s not the most open guy even when things are going his way.” Sh’del tried to keep his tone light but inside he felt a stab of worry. Not that he expected N’vanik to speak to himself every day but to blank Z’kim…? “You thought of paying him a visit, see if he’s okay?”

Z'kim's jaw clenched. "If he wants to talk to me he can sharding well come see me." N'vanik had been open with _him_, at least more open than he'd been with anyone else. Z'kim had thought he _mattered_. There was a burning, painful ache in his chest and he sharding hated it.

“I understand.” Sh’del gave him a solemn look. Being with someone for turns and then just blanking him went against his morals. It was selfish.

"He's being such a wherry's ass. I know it's been hard on him, but he really can't be bothered to visit m-- us?" Z'kim crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. He missed talking with him, laughing with him. And shards, the flights . . .

Sh’del looked at his friend, helpless. It hurt to see the older man, a person he liked and admired, rejected like this. “I’m sure it’s nothing…” His voice trailed off. Of course it would be nothing. “It’s just N’vanik being a thoughtless prick, what’s new?” Oh course he would be the type to forget about his lover. “Bronzeriders, eh?” He voiced out loud.

"Bronzeriders are the _worst_. I hope he's freezing his balls off over there."

At that Sh'del laughed. "That's more like it." He stood up and pushed his papers to one corner of his desk. Let's go get some dinner before it gets too late."

"And drinks." Maybe if Z'kim had enough alcohol it would wash away the terrible neglected feeling gnawing inside him.

Sh’del clapped him on the shoulder and led him out. What his old friend needed now was to forget N’vanik for a bit. He would come back when he was ready, he always did.

Last updated on the October 27th 2026

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Abandoned