Never Gets Easier

Writers: Devin
Date Posted: 30th August 2010

Characters: Talryne, N'vanik
Description: Talryne knows how to comfort N'vanik after another death in Threadfall.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 1 of Turn 5

Talryne

N'vanik

He could swear he still felt the keening in his bones. All he wanted
was to get back to his weyr and shut the world away, shut his
responsibility away, just for a little while. But first he had to take
care of Loseth. The first few times they'd lost riders and dragons to
Threadfall, Loseth assured him that his bath could wait. N'vanik soon
realized that they couldn't keep putting off the dragon's bath for
candlemarks every time someone died. It was a depressingly common
occurrence, although the death rate seemed to be a bit below average
compared to other Weyrs.

N'vanik finished scrubbing the last bit of hide. "Okay, time to rinse."

The bronze turned grey-tinged eyes to him. }:I can dry on the ledge. I
want to go home.:{

**Me, too. But make sure you rinse well.** Loseth made his way into
deeper water, and soon they were on their way up to the weyr.

Talryne was waiting for him when he walked in. "Loseth told me. I'm
sorry." Talryne's relief that he'd made it through another Fall was
dampened by knowing he was hurt by the loss of the pair.

N'vanik knew that nothing he did would make his riders or their
dragons invincible, and he knew not to blame himself, but he couldn't
help dwelling on each loss. "They were barely out of Weyrlinghood.
W'yin and Coridith."

She leaned up to give him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Come on."
Loseth was scrubbed clean, but N'vanik still carried the scents of
crackdust and firestone. She led him into the bathing chamber. He
needed to soak in the water and relax more than he needed to get
clean.

He let her lead him, shedding his clothes on the way. He still needed
to make his visit to the infirmary, but that could wait. Slipping into
the water, he let out a sigh. He leaned back against the side of the
bath and closed his eyes, trying not to think about the young
dragonpair and failing. Talryne slid in beside him, offering wordless
comfort. "It doesn't get any easier," he said.

"Do you want it too?"

He hardly had to think about it. "No. They're mine, and it should hurt
when they die." N'vanik reached over to tangle a finger in her hair.

"Just don't let it hurt too much, okay?" She knew there was a danger
of the losses weighing him down and sending him into a depression.
Whether her desire for him to stay stable was selfish or not, she
didn't want to see him broken again. She'd seen what guilt could do to
him.

He met her eyes, understanding what she meant. "I won't."

Talryne smiled. "Now turn around so I can scrub your back."

N'vanik complied with a chuckle. "You spoil me."

"I know. Just make sure you spoil me back." She grabbed a handful of sweetsand.

He leaned into her touch, thankful as he had been countless times
before, that Talryne was in his life. He didn't think he could have
handled this job without her.

Last updated on the September 22nd 2010

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Never Gets Easier