[G] [C] 731.06.17 | Warning Bells [Talian]

It had been almost two sevendays since Nirinath’s most recent clutch had hatched. A large clutch with some lovely, strong Weyrlings (including two bronzes!) and one among them had been the joy and hope that they had been waiting for. A gold dragonet, the future of the Weyr (though many fingers were crossed that there would be still more before Nirinath grew old.) The celebration had been the largest that they had seen, and the wonder still hadn’t worn off. There was only one problem that marred their happiness, but it was still so early on no one was thinking too terribly serious about it, except, perhaps, the people most affected- the Weyrleaders and the bronze riders! Within the first 14 days of her life, it had become blatantly obvious that Krypth, while adoring humans, brown dragons and blue dragons alike, despised bronzes to the very core of her small being- and greens weren’t much far behind; which, logically and accurately, did not bode well in the eyes of some. Many, in fact, but optimism was typically considered a Katilan virtue due to all that they had survived. Regardless, they needed their gold to mate with bronze dragons, not browns and most certainly not with blues!

It was late in the evening and Jada and Krypth were in the barracks. One was asleep, flopped across her bonded’s bed lazily, head on the pillow, and the other was sitting at her desk, trying to write. Two sevendays after the Hatching, Jada’s arms were still bandaged. The scratches had been deep, the healers had said on the Sands, all of them more detracted by the life-threatening wounds of Indivara and Farlint, and so Jada thought nothing of the fact that they were still healing and still so sore. Some days were worse than others, to be sure, but that was normal. She washed them with every bath, but she had so much to do- feeding Krypth was still a by-hand activity, and keeping her oiled, and listening to lessons, and finding time (not that she actually had) to try and clean up her lessons for another Harper to take over her class until she was more settled in with her dragon. The bandages were always getting messy, covered in wherry goop and various other sundry, and so she had to switch them several times a day. Numbweed kept her going, something which the Weyrlings were offered to help with the bumps and bruises. She didn’t want to be a whiner, not when they’d told her there was nothing to worry about… so she was sticking it out.

It was kind of hard to focus tonight for her, however. The distressing part was that her hand would no longer close around her pen. The muscles cramped in her arms, the fingers swelling more than they had the last few days. The bandages were tight, to try and keep the swelling from being noticeable. she didn't want to be a bother, after all; Jada was very conscious of being an annoyance to other people. She’d been feeling feverish in the evenings for the last several days, and worried that she was coming down with a cold? During the day she felt fine, basking in the warm Katilan sun. Extraordinarily tired, perhaps, but Krypth would snooze close to her side, attentive and loving, and Jada would sink into the attentive veneer she had used when bored in her Harper lessons. But today she’d felt terrible all through the morning and afternoon, and her hands had been shaky. Her pallor had been noted by the Weyrlingmaster, who hadn’t seemed alarmed since Krypth was not acting particularly unusual. A cold, she had told him, and he’d taken it at face value.

She heard Krypth toss, and turned to look at the dragonet. She was thrashing in her sleep, and Jada could almost feel her thoughts, lurking under the surface. “Shhh.” She told the gold, reaching out to lay a hand on her soft nose. “Shhh.” the room spun as she leaned, and Krypth's multifaceted eyes spun a pale yellow as she opened them, looking at her bonded. She was concerned, and Jada wanted nothing more than to reassure the growing dragonet. Unfortunately, she couldn't quite get her mind to wrap around-

Jada? The Harper could feel her bonded's concern, and she wanted to- wanted to...

Krypth shrieked, the noise ringing through the Candidate barracks, and her mind reached out for others, her normally calm mental 'voice' reaching out as far as she could broadcast. Jada! Someone! Come quickly! Her shrieks were loud, the little hatchling unsure of what to do. She pawed at Jada, pushing the girl to the floor in her alarm. Her chosen simply made a dull noise as she hit the floor, twisted at an angle that looked distinctly uncomfortable and Krypth could see her face, pale, the sheen of sweat on her forehead. That couldn't be good. Jada was never that color. Come Now!

Kshhhh!

Talian's mug shattered on the floor of his office as the unfamiliar voice rang in his mind. At this rate, he would have to start keeping a mop on hand. He blinked, disoriented as he instinctively ran to the window.

"What the shards?" he asked under his breath. It was a dragon for sure, and a female. The only female dragons he knew were Larrikith and Grith, and that certainly wasn't either of them. One thing remained painfully certain, though...she was upset.

Jada. The voice had cried out about Jada.

Fortunately for Krypth, Talian never forgot a name or a face. Jada was the nice young lady who'd stayed at Indivara's side on the sands that terrible day. Talian swallowed hard and bolted from where he stood, quickly gathering his emergency supplies and taking off. It was late at night and there likely would be no other healers at the barracks.

Well, that's where he assumed he would find her. She was a weyrling and the evening meal was finished, that was the most logical place for her to be. He took off at a sprint, his bag clattering on his side as he ran. He wasn't in the best of shape and he had no dragon to carry him between, so he simply flung him feet in front of each other as quickly as he could, willing himself to move like the wind.

He arrived short of breath. "Healer!" he called out into the hallway as he moved into the barracks, pushing his way past the excited and nervous crowd that had assembled. It didn't take long for him to gather what had happened by the crowd's excited whispering. Jada, the new goldrider, had collapsed.

Tal was actually glad they hadn't moved her, though he didn't appreciate the rubbernecking. No one knew what was wrong with her, so it was best they just keep their hands off. What if she had broken bones?

When he burst into the room, he already imagined there were no broken bones. She wasn't laying at an odd angle or anything similar. Tal quickly ran to her side and knelt, reaching immeditly for her neck to check her pulse.

"Jada? Jada, wake up!"

Well, she was alive.

Ugh...what was that smell?!

He frowned and looked around. "Everyone back off! BACK!" he barked at the door as he started to look over Jada. He carefully rolled her onto her back and reached for the front of her shirt, gingerly but swiftly undoing the buttons and pulling it open. It didn't take long for him to find the problem...tight bandages around her arms.

He started to peel them off and groaned.

Keypth's eyes were white when the first person flung open the door, her small body covering Jada's protectively, creeling. She swayed from side to side, nervously, waiting. Someone would stop looking eventually, stop gawking at her and come help. What are you waiting for?! She cried after a moment. Come in and help her! She has fallen, and I cannot get her up! Jada always got up when Krypth tried to wake her, but all she did now was moan. The dragonet creeled, torn between hovering over her, protective, instinct driving her to try and defend a threat which she could not see; intelligence telling her that the floor was not a good place to be. Not at all! Her wings spread, neck stretching out as she continued her racket, not sure what to do. She needed to make sure her- her-

Shhhh. The command was gentle, but firm, and Krypth's mental blaring shut down in immediate response to the senior Queen's gentle instruction. Tell me. All Krypth could do was croon, sending the older Gold a picture of her woman crumpled on the floor, her own golden body wobbling side to side over the Harper's form. Silence, possibly while the other Gold digested the information, and then: Stay calm, Krypth. There is someone coming.

"Healer!" the dragonet could hear a voice from the hallway, and waited until a form came to the door, her body hunching, wings spread threateningly. Jada was hurt! It was her job to keep her safe! Her job to help! It galled the Gold to be pushed to the side by necessity, and she pressed her nose to Jada's hand as the male manipulated her rider into another position, reaching for her neck.

I've been trying to wake her up. Krypth's voice was a piteous moan, and she crooned against Jada's hand. Jada, Jada, wake up. The Harper's fingers twitched, and the gold's heart(s) leaped for her throat. but there wasn't much more of a reaction. People were moving back, obeying the Healer's bark; but one of them wasn't fast enough. Krypth's screech was loud, and that final step to get that ignoramus to obey his betters!

She watched the other human- she didn't remember his name- pull at Jada's shirt, and tug at the white bandages around her arms. Creeping closer, wings at her side, she was shocked by the smell that assaulted her nose as the bandages were pulled away. The bandages were sticky, and the ooze from the scratches was a brownish-red, and smelled gross. She couldn't stop the little gagging noise she made, and it was sheer willpower that put her back in contact with her rider, her head resting loyally on the girl's thigh. Can you fix her?

---

I had permission/approval to PP Nirinath for this!

The wounds were ghastly. Talian's nose wrinkled as he swiftly inspected them, so swollen and red. The smell was a strong indicator of what exactly was going on. Her torn flesh was badly infected and looked like it had been neglected for days, probably even sevendays.

Or since the hatching he thought grimly. He was irritated, but he slid that particular emotion aside and placed the back of his had against her forehead. She had a horrible fever. Yes, it was definitely an infection.

The wound needed to be cleaned and dressed, but that would have to wait until the immediate danger was over. He reached into his bag and pulled out a plugged waterskin, hoping to Faranth it would be cold enough to help cool her down a bit. He dumped it across her face and placed one thin hand under her head, discarding the waterskin before using his other hand to lightly pop her face.

"Jada! Wake up! Wake up!"

He recoiled a bit when the little dragon spoke to him. He still despised the creatures, though a little bit less so than he once had...but he couldn't fault the little beast for being worried.

"Yes...I can fix her," he said, heavily distracted and trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice. He was perfectly fine when it came to dealing with injured, possibly dying worlds-last-hope goldriders...but having dragons talk to him made his nerves fry. He bit his lip as he looked back at Jada, focusing his mind as he considered his options.

She needed to go to the infirmary, but he would give her just a few more moments to wake up. He started wrapping the old bandages around her wounds again, just enough to protect them until he got her to the healer hall. Then, he scooped her up into his arms.

"All right, Jada," he said soothingly, not knowing if she could hear. "We're going to fix you."

The splash of cold across her face made Jada stir, moaning. Amber eyes fluttered open, peering through dark lashes, eyes rolling. What was all the commotion? "'Mawake." she moaned. There was someone else in the room with her, but her eyes weren't focused. "Tired." she muttered. Her tongue felt thick, dry. It was like she had linen in her mouth, and she couldn't get her mouth wet. Her arms felt wet, and she could smell the pungent scent that had been hounding her for the last few days. What was it? The blackness was nice, but it was so cold. she raised her arm, trying to get to her face.

Krypth watched her bonded's hand twitch. Her tail thrashed as she watched Jada's eyes close again, and she pawed at her leg. What could she do to help? What could she- What if she-? Her eyes flashed white and she creeled loudly; a child of only two sevendays, even one like Krypth, was not equipped for this! She hopped, nervously, as Talian stared at her. Healer, what can I do? She reached out with her nose, touching it to Jada's leg. The Harper's limp hand, falling as the Masterhealer lifted her into his arms, was like a magnet; The Gold took her companion's limp fingers into her mouth, wrapping lips alone around them. No teeth, because if something went wrong...

Logic could have dictated that Krypth stick close in another way, but no. Jada moaned something else to Talian, turning in to him. She noticed her shirt. Krypth's crisp voice translated the mumbles of her Bonded. She is also very cold, and her fingers won't move. I know her arms are burning. terror was overwhelming, and it was only the heavy pressure of Nirinath's commands that kept said panic from broadcasting itself to everyone.

Not that the entire Weyr didn't know by now that the girl who had Impressed their last hope was (possibly) dying.

The last hope.

While Talian understood the gravity of the situation, he couldn't bring himself to care about the fate of the dragons. Jada, or more specifically her dragon, was their saving grace. The future of their kind. If she died, the entire Weyr would be distraught, their pain intensified by the harsh reversal of the past two weeks' joy. It would be a cruel joke of fate.

Talian just didn't care. To him, she was just a sick girl, a patient. That's what made her important to him, and it's a good thing; were he doing it for the dragons, he may well have let her slip away.

"There's nothing you can do," he said to the dragonet with carefully measured patience. He pushed his way through the crowd, leaving them to their whispered rumors as he carried Jada towards the infirmary. She would live, now that she was awake...but he needed to get that fever down.

As he walked, he tried to keep her attention. She needed to stay awake and alert. "Jada," he said softly, "This is Talian, from your old class. Are you feeling all right? Can you tell me how your arms were injured?" he asked as he continued to walk forward.

When the three of them stepped into the darkness of the night, Jada's fingers were secure in Krypth's mouth. How else could she hold her hand? The girl was unconscious, limp, mostly unresponsive. Jada's mind came and went, brushing across Krypth's like a butterfly. But it was there, which was the most important thing for the dragonet's instincts. To help, to stay with her Jada, to try and keep her here; that was an ability in the realm of the Healers, not Krypth, but in a way it was just as important. To Talian's purposes, the loss of the dragon would be a terrible blow to the spirit of an already-wounded physical body. "There's nothing you can do." the Healer told Krypth, and she crooned miserably, the nose muffled by the digits between her lips. There had to be something she could do; Krypth couldn't believe that she would be impotent in such an important matter!

Krypth. Krypth, come to me child. Nirinath stepped to the side as the three stepped out of the Weyrling Barracks. Dipping her head to the Healer, she spoke to the dragonet, whose eyes were white from worry and fear. Come, your girl will be fine, but the Healer will need to be able to move without accidentally stepping on you. I will keep you company until he says you can see her, which shouldn't be long at all.

But could she prove that it wouldn't be long? What if th- No! Krypth creeled, reluctantly letting Jada's fingers slip from between her lips, watching Talian move forward step-by-step without her. Jada! she cried after her bonded, but her body stayed where it was, wings outstretched, short and small next to her Senior. Jada was not aware or awake enough to try and countermand the quiet order.

If something happened to the Harper, Krypth would never forgive Nirinath for not letting her stay with Talian and Jada.

Then again, if something happened, Krypth would never have the chance to forgive her.

As Jada and Talian vanished into the darkness, Jada's eyelids fluttered. What had he said? Why was he talking? She was trying-

Each step was jarring for her, and she could feel-

"I kno oo rr." her response was very belated (and not at all as coherent when mumbled as she pieced together in her head.) "Nonjur." she mumbled a while later. "Jussa scrrrch." Consciousness was coming and going, and her limbs were on fire. "Assdnt. Sans."

"Hang on," Talian whispered to Jada as he continued to carry her. He kept his eyes on the sky, waiting for a dragonrider to swoop down at any moment and carry them off to the informary. For once, he would be thankful for it. He hated the beasts with all his heart, but the more he saw of Jada's condition, the more he feared her condition was worse than it first appeared.

His wish was granted. Dragons were screeching and bellowing all over the Weyr, distressed by the ranting pain of their little Queen. A shadow wheeled overhead before landing at Talian's side. He stopped short, his shoes sliding in the moist grass and his thin form clinging tightly to Jada to keep hr from slipping from his grip. He gasped.

"Help!" he cried out hoarsely.

The rider quickly took Jada into his arms and placed her on the dragon's neck. Tal scrambled up afterwards, his awkward motion aided by a shove from the rider. Talian took tight hold of Jada and whispered for the obviously nervous rider to fly them straight there, but not take her between. He'd learned enough about dragons to know that was a terrible idea.

And so they were off. The rider agreed in silence and quickly bore them to the infirmary, though the creeling and snarling of dragons followed them the entire way.