Don't Push Too Far

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd February 2006

Characters: D'cal, Dyaera
Description: D'cal tries to encourage a hurting Dyaera, but not all pain is physical
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 3

D'cal peeked his head around the corner. "Are you ready, Dyaera?"

Dyaera was seated on the couch fully dressed, having discarded her pride and begged one of the apprentice healers for help. "I think so. The healers said I could go out for a few candlemarks as long as I don't overdo it." "Well, we're just going swimming." He offered her a hand to help her up from the couch.

"To you it's just swimming," she retorted, doing her best not to cling to his hand as she got to her feet. "I've spent almost all of my time bedridden for two and a half months. Swimming seems like a pretty big deal right now."

D'cal shrugged. "I suppose it would. Have you been swimming much yet?"

"A few times." Walking was easier with D'cal's arm to lean on, though she had the feeling she'd be plenty tired and sore by the time they got to the beach. It was worth it though... she'd do _anything_ to get out of her weyr.

"Well, you're walking beautifully," he said reassuringly. "I'm sure you're your old graceful self in the water, eh?"

Dyaera laughed. "Oh yes. That's me."

"Will Tilarth be joining us? Or is she off flirting with some handsome creature?"

"Tilarth will meet us down at the water," Dyaera replied, most of her concentration going into walking. She'd never thought that walking would make her so happy until she'd thought she might not be able to do it again. "She'll hover over me the whole time and start screaming for every healer with a dragon the minute she thinks I'm tired."

Tilarth interrupted the conversation rather smugly. }: I will tell Aosorath instead. His rider will take care of you. :{ }:Tilarth says you should watch Hers carefully. She gets tired easily.:{ the little blue passed along.

D'cal chuckled. "She's telling on you, you know."

Dyaera scowled. "I'm fine now. I promise I'll tell you if I need help.
She doesn't have to tattle."

He smiled. "Well, I think when not fighting Thread or flirting, tattling on us is their favorite way to pass the time."

They reached the first set of stairs, and Dyaera paused at the top and studied them with a determined expression. ** No tattling, ** she told Tilarth sternly as she took the first one, feeling the sharp pain in her back. Her fingers tightened on D'cal's arm, but she did her best to keep her face even. "I might not be so fast on the stairs."

"That's all right," he reassured her. "It will get easier the more practice you get."

She made it down the first set of stairs and two more, but as she looked tiredly at the final set that would lead them to the Weyr's main exit, Tilarth's voice came clearly. }: No more. You are too tired. :{
** One more set, and don't you dare tell on me.**

"Can you move your hip enough that I could carry you on my back?" D'cal asked after Aosorath passed along the information to his rider.

Dyaera scowled at the stairs. "I really wanted to get all the way down on my own two feet," she said a little petulantly. "What good is being able to go out if by the time I _get_ out I'm too tired to do anything?
Maybe I should just go back to my weyr..." But the thought of going up all of those stairs she'd just come down made her feel even worse. "It will come with time, Dyaera," D'cal said gently. "Your muscles need the exercise is all. Here. Do you want to set down on the stair for a moment?"

She didn't really, but there wasn't much choice. She sank down on the top stair with a sigh, the muscles in her legs feeling so tired she could feel them trembling. The thought of how easily she'd once run up and down these stairs made her self-pity even worse. "I hate this so much, D'cal. I hate it." "I know you do," he said softly as he put his arm around her. It seemed the natural thing to do. "It won't last forever. And you're getting better day by day. Shards, I can remember when you couldn't even sit up without screaming. This is a far cry better than that."

She curled into him, hiding her face in his shoulder as she struggled against tears. "I'm just so tired. I wish something could be easy..."

"I know," he whispered as he brought his hand up to caress her hair as he rested his chin against her forehead. "You've been so very brave, Dyaera. It's just a bit longer."

Dyaera looked up at him, everything in her wanting to bridge the space between them. And finally, for the first time, she understood why people found it so hard to tell someone else how they felt. She had never wanted anything the way she wanted to feel D'cal's arms around her... to feel his lips on hers. And she couldn't tell him, because she was terrified of feeling him pull away again. Now she knew what rejection felt like, and it was worse than she ever could have imagined. He tried to smile down at her reassuringly, but there was something deeper in her eyes that he just couldn't understand. It was something more than the physical pain, and he wished she could talk to him.
But they had pretty much said too much the last time, and all it did was hurt each other. He kissed her forehead gently and whispered, "It will be all right, Dyaera."

Dyaera pulled back, setting her jaw against the pain as she pushed herself back to her feet. "Come on. I'm going to make it to the beach." "All right," he said threading his arms through hers to steady her. "Just don't push it too far."

Last updated on the February 3rd 2006

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Don't Push Too Far