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[G] [P] 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - Printable Version

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742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - B'kit - 13.Jun.21

Heart in his throat, B’kit climbed up and strapped himself in carefully. They had only tried gliding together once before, from much lower, since the healers had caught Erebuth trying alone a few weeks ago. After much horrified grumbling and checks to ensure he hadn’t strained anything, L’gan had encouraged the pair to train with weighted bags to strengthen his wing now they’d proven it could hold Erebuth’s own weight. They’d never be able to take off normally, but at least there was a chance they wouldn’t have to suffer the indignity of riding in a sling on a direct flight between Weyrs.

Ready? the blue was excited, having done a few practice glides while B’kit climbed and rested for a while. They’d need to pick a much higher weyr back at Ista to cut down on how high Kitt had to climb. Or get someone to ferry him up, but that rather defeated the feeling of independence they were finally regaining. Checking the straps one last time, he said, “let’s go before someone tells us not to after all.” Barely waiting for the response, Erebuth leapt and the pair let out a delighted cry as they finally felt the joy of soaring together again.

B’kit wasn’t sure exactly how long they glided, landing on another part of the bowl and free falling several times for the sheer fun of it. Then he felt the shudder and the way Erebuth adjusted to try to hide it, turning instead of gliding straight. Re, you need a break. Just drop me off on the ledge and we can try again this afternoon.

But the blue didn’t listen, turning again to correct his course. I bet we can do it. B’kit didn’t have a chance to ask what he meant before Erebuth had winked between and re-emerged a few feet away. Feeling sick, B’kit thumped the dragon’s good shoulder. “Ground. NOW.” His voice and it’s projected equivalent left no space for arguments and the blue dove down and landed clumsily in a wide clear space of the bowl.

He stood unnaturally still as Kitt fumbled with the straps and scrambled down, trying to calm his panicked breathing. B’kit? the gravelly voice was timid, but it helped to bring his rider back into focus. He was frantically checking Erebuth’s wing for signs of strain and silently admonishing the blue, and didn’t hear anyone approaching till Erebuth greeted the rider with a friendly rumble.


RE: 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - D'hys - 14.Jun.21

Erebuth is out gliding again. With his rider as well, Zeianth alerted D'hys from where he was lounging in the sun on his ledge. He intently watched the young pair. Like his rider, Zeianth was fond of the little clutch that continued to persevere despite the continued obstacles. Having two of the three now living in Fort made it easier to watch over them and D'hys' silent protection had a lot more sway when the man himself was always lurking around any corner.

They just did a short blink between, Zeianth's continued updates were appreciated as D'hys appeared on the ledge beside him. He had been in his kitchen, prepping vegetables to go in the stew he'd start building up soon. He came out just as that latest update arrived and D'hys frowned as he scanned the area for the pair.

B'kit isn't happy about it. I heard him yelling for them to land.

Hm. That wasn't good. The trip between was a bit risky in their current shape and if it rattled the rider so much, the dragon must have been determined to prove he could do it. That was the constant state of that clutch's life. Not many believed they would even live to see graduation and with the latest setback, D'hys supposed Erebuth would have a strong need to show he was fine and capable just like any other dragon. "Let's go check on them," D'hys didn't bother with finding a shirt or changing out of his comfortable pants he normally wore to exercise in as he climbed up Zeianth for the quick trip to the ground, landing not too far from the other blue pair.

Zeianth rumbled with a greeting of his own as his own gaze swept over Erebuth for any sign of injury. He didn't see anything extreme and Erebuth didn't seem to be in pain and that set him a bit more at ease.

"Good morning, Erebuth. Growing a bit restless, I take it? Zeianth mentioned you were out gliding again but I'm afraid I missed it. All is well with the both of you?" While he started out addressing Erebuth, D’hys knew the dragon was unlikely to speak to him without absolute necessity and added B’kit into the conversation by the end.


RE: 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - B'kit - 14.Jun.21

B’kit wasn’t sure if he was relieved or more worried that it wasn’t a healer who had come over to check up on them. At least D’hys had always been friendly to them, keeping an eye out for trouble. “Good morning, D’hys. Give me a moment to finish inspecting his wing.” His voice was steadier than he expected it to come out given how rattled he still felt. He hadn’t given Erebuth references for the trip between; they could have been lost, or worse, and his body and mind kept replaying what had happened the last time they betweened, causing bile to rise in the back of his throat.

The younger blue fidgeted under Zeianth and D’hys’s attention on the heels of B’kit’s admonishments, but replied quietly, It feels good to fly again with B’kit. It feels right. They had been training recently with some of the weyrling classes that were old enough for “pony rides” and gliding, and it was embarrassing being seen with the younger, healthier dragons. B’kit finished checking his wing and shoulder and the blue tucked his wing back stiffly and settled on his haunches, his eyes whirling glumly.

His rider sighed and turned to the others. “We’re well enough, I suppose. Definitely antsy for some new scenery, though.” He tugged off his helmet and gloves, hoping that the sweat from his panic could be mistaken for exercise. At least his hands weren’t trembling anymore. “Much as we like everyone at Fort, it’s become a bit of a cage lately.” Feeling a bit wobbly as the adrenaline wore off, he found a nearby rock to sit down on. “We’re hoping to be able to go to Iliyith’s hatching at Benden, then maybe move back to Ista in a month or two.”

The two looked healthy enough; their burns had healed well, and though they would both have the strange branching scars for the rest of their lives, most of B’kit’s were easy enough to hide under his riding clothes. He had lost some of the hearing in his right ear, but was generally able to hear as long as people weren’t whispering.


RE: 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - D'hys - 15.Jun.21

D'hys nodded at Erebuth's statement, agreeing with it entirely. "A dragon and a rider aren't much without the other. The best place to be is with each other but don't forget the best things that go with that are trust and communication." He gave first dragon and then rider a look that said he may not have seen everything but he knew enough. What was the point of looking out for them if they were going to be reckless and their worst enemy?

"I also won't take offence to Fort feeling like a cage. Any place that wasn't of your choosing can feel a bit stifling after a certain point." He wondered if the pair truly had to be left in Fort for so long or if the healers were taking advantage of the situation and keeping them longer than necessary so they could study them further. D'hys wasn't an expert for all of his snooping and asking questions but surely they could have started strengthening the wings sooner? On the other hand, caution was admirable in this regard and D'hys assumed the wait was to ensure further damage wouldn't be done.

D'hys thought for a moment about Iliyith and when her Hatching would be before nodding. It was about a month away from what he recalled of her Flight announcement. She also recently clutched if he wasn't mistaking her for another gold. Not that there were many gold dragons left. His temper flared for a moment but he stamped it back down. There was nothing he could do right then to stop the attacks and there certainly wasn't any way to save the golds that had already been slain. If his father truly did have a hand in it all and it wasn't just a diversion tactic by the real killer, D'ser was lucky he was already dead as D'hys would have made him suffer.

"Iliyith's Hatching is a good goal. Far enough away to get in practice but close enough that you won't continue to climb walls; figuratively or literally." D'hys cracked a small smile at Erebuth. That had been quite the sight to behold when he chanced upon the spectacle of the dragon slowly climbing up the Weyr wall not too long ago.

"Back to your caging... is there more I can do to help you? Do you need some more freedom or privacy? Any items you're in need of?" It wasn't the first time he offered to help, having done so a few weeks after it became clear the pair wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. D'hys also checked in from time to time but he'd gotten the sense the pair could be stubborn and proud and didn't always want to accept help. So he did what he could behind the scenes, a place where he did most of his work.


RE: 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - B'kit - 25.Jun.21

Erebuth ducked his head at the comment about trust and communication. He knew he had messed up, and it wasn’t a mistake he would make again. B’kit acknowledged it with a slight nod; that was why he’d been so upset earlier and clearly either D’hys or Zeianth had noticed.

B’kit laughed at the comment about climbing the walls. “He got a taste for my favorite pastime, I’m afraid. Besides singing, that is. He still can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” he teased the blue, who grumbled but didn’t disagree.

“I appreciate the offer, D’hys. Thank you. I think we’re okay though, unless you miraculously have Ista’s beaches hidden away somewhere here in Fort. Now that the Healers aren’t so busy it should be easier to get back on track.” It was an oblique way of referring to the spate of murders and poisonings that had rocked the Weyrs. L’gan had been too busy with what had happened to Sariel and then all the other tragedies, and Kitt had reluctantly agreed that a transfer might have been less safe with all the confusion. Besides, the weather had improved, so while Fort would never be as warm as Ista it was at least firmly into summer and bearable.


RE: 742.06.13 | Pained Perseverance - D'hys - 27.Jun.21

D’hys contemplated the pair for a long moment, gauging how much truth was in B’kit’s words. Despite everything happening in general within the Weyrs and on a personal level with feeling caged and not in their own home, it did seem like they were as well as they claimed to be. He finally relented in his pursuit to help them be more at ease with everything taking so long and gave a nod. “No beaches, I’m afraid, but Zeianth knows the best timing and location along the upper rim for spectacular sunsets and rises if you’re ever interested.” It wouldn’t be the same as watching the sun over the water but Fort’s view was still impressive and might help ease some of the stir-craziness that sitting inside so much would cause.

“And the offer is still there to reach out to me if you have any sort of issues.” A few comments had been made about the young blue duo early into their stay but they had still be confined to their borrowed weyr and D’hys made sure people didn’t repeat the mistake of talking again. But as much as he tried, he couldn’t be everywhere and hear everything and he had to put some trust into B’kit and even L’gan to keep him informed on anything he had the power to assist with.

And for companionship, Zeianth added to Erebuth. He had been stopping in for brief visits since it became known his young friend was healing and not in nearly as much pain but Erebuth still seemed too hesitant to ask for visits.