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

Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall

Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Bree, Emma
Date Posted: 20th July 2006

Characters: J'an, Abrei
Description: J'an stops by Abrei's weyr to comfort her in the wake of Talryne's loss.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3

Abrei

"Come in!" Abrei usually answered knocks on the door herself, but the traveling back and forth between Dragonsfall in the past few days had left her drained both physically and emotionally. She was half hoping that the person on the other side of the door would change their mind and go away--especially if it was an emergency in the infirmary. **No more tragedies this week, please...**

The door opened slightly. "Abrei? Can I come in?" asked the Weyrlingmaster.

Abrei opened her eyes, her worried expression fading somewhat when she recognized J'an. "Of course you can. I'm just glad it's you and not some emergency."

"I had to come and see if you were okay," he began. "I know you probably don't want company, and I'll go if you want me to. But if you need someone to talk to..."

Patting the couch next to her, she gave him a sad smile. "It would be nice to have someone to talk to." Someone nice and friendly and safe--someone who _wasn't_ M'galec. Or U'kaiah.

The weyrlingmaster came in and sat down. "I'm so sorry to hear about Talryne. She's a lovely girl," he began. Words felt inadequate, there was nothing to describe the shock and horror that she must be experiencing. It had taken her a while to settle down as a dragonrider, and by all accounts was beginning to settle at Dragonsfall, and then this...

"Thank you," Abrei replied quietly, squeezing J'an's hand lightly. "You probably knew her better than I did, though... shards, I wish I'd kept a closer eye on her while she was here."

"She was a wild one as a weyrling, but she had a lot of promise. I could easily have seen her as a wingthird one day." It was a sad smile that crossed his face as he remembered the look on Talryne's face after she and Ysanth had flown together for the first time.

"She's still--she hasn't made any choices yet. About what she's going to do." It had been clear enough to those without healing experience that Talryne was still deeply in shock, though. How long it would take the truth to sink in was debatable.

"I hope she's got friends around her, as well as people like you." J'an knew those words were only that, words, just hoping his presence was enough to help.

"Her father went to see her..." Abrei sighed and shook her head. "I don't know how to help him, either. He was always the one who comforted me when we were growing up. My parents would go to the Hall to visit, and I wasn't supposed to talk about crafting there. But he never cared if I did... he'd talk to me for candlemarks on end about anything I wanted to know."

"You can just be there for them, that's about all anyone can do."

Abrei closed her eyes and rubbed at the side of her face. "I wish I thought it were enough."

"And nobody will know that until she decides what to do."

The truth of his words struck her hard enough to start the tears again.
"Shards, I'm so tired of crying!"

J'an took her in his arms, just holding her close. It was for comfort, just comfort as he muttered soothing words that she probably wouldn't hear.

"I don't know how much more I can take," she whispered against his shoulder, unsure if she was talking to him or herself. "Why did everything start going so wrong?"

"It's been a rough few months that's all, but it will get better. I promise." He stroked her hair as he held her. "Nothing worse will happen."

"I hope not," she replied, relaxing the tiniest bit. J'an had never been someone that she spilled her heart to, but he'd always been comforting and safe. Right now, comfortable and safe was perfect. "I think I might go a little crazy if it doesn't get better soon."

"It won't happen," he said, trying to sound confident. "Whatever you imagine, life will go on as normal."

"Normal." She gave a shaky laugh and sighed. She wasn't sure she could remember normal. The last turn had been exciting and painful and new, but it had been anything but normal.

"You'll see, it'll settle down again."

Last updated on the July 23rd 2006