Stuck In The Mud [R’nd]

R’nd was on autopilot, acting similarly to how he was under flight lust. He staggered as he dragged his feet one step after the other and had a nearly vacant expression on his face. He had seen so much that he knew he could never forget, had done so much he wished he could have avoided, and the keening simply wouldn’t stop. He thought by now he would have blocked it out considering how truly nonstop it had been when the landslide hit the Weyr. Now, with each death growing more apart than the last, it was still a shock and caused his heart to stop beating as he waited to hear who it was. The tears had stopped for the time being, however, and only an emptiness remained as he mourned for the fallen and was made to go rest for a bit.

He had been constantly on his feet helping since being reassured by Ayyonth and then several Weyrlings and weyrfolk that B’jin was alive. He hadn’t truly been able to catch up with the greenrider to check B’jin over from head to toe and back again but it had been enough to know his lover was alive and as dedicated to helping everyone as he was. R’nd had kept himself busy moving rocks and digging through mud and everything else that had once symbolized a thriving community of life. Ayyonth helped him and a small group that slowly joined him over the day find survivors as well as those too broken for recovery whether mentally or physically and his brave blue handled that end of the tasks.

Once his little team realized he would work until he literally dropped into a coma of his own making, R’nd was sent to find a bite to eat and to rest. He couldn’t do either though. He hadn’t the stomach for more than water and even that had been tricky to keep down with the keening and the sight of the injured being rushed by or even the blood that he didn’t think was his on his hands. Sleep? R’nd didn’t think he’d ever have that again. What he needed was B’jin. He needed to hold the greenrider and make sure he was okay and give Ayyonth some downtime with Larrikith.

As soon as he opened the door and saw B’jin, a bit of life returned to his eyes and R’nd even managed to smile, even if it was only a small one. He held onto to B’jin as tightly as he was clung to and R’nd wondered if he would be able to let go when asked. Normally his hold was always gentle and loose, having figured out early on that B’jin needed the ability to move as he wanted and when he wanted. N’mall had done a number on the greenrider and R’nd had silently vowed to never put B’jin in any position he didn’t feel comfortable in. Now, however, that vow was forgotten as R’nd pulled B’jin close again and clung to his lover as if he was the last lifeline he had.

“Okay? I suppose so, but so much better now,” R’nd spoke softly partly from the yelling for assistance and reassuring the trapped all day having stolen much of his voice but also because his vacant gaze had drifted across the room and saw a human and a dragonet in bed. If people could find sleep, they didn’t deserve a bluerider making excessive noise. “I was so worried, love. When it happened, Ayyonth… he couldn’t… I thought…” R’nd stopped, unable to finish that thought. The heartbreak that he felt in that moment when he believed he had lost the greenrider forever had lingered with him all day, even with seeing B’jin in glimpses. He never wanted to experience that again.

“Are you okay?” R’nd finally, reluctantly, released his hold on B’jin so he could examine the man. He really rather preferred to cling a while longer but he couldn’t be that selfish. If B’jin was injured or even tired and needed to sit, he’d make sure he was looked after. R’nd was naturally numbed to any pain he may have felt earlier, having focused solely on search and rescue and now was no different. B’jin and his other closest friends always came first.

Ayyonth didn’t waste as much time as R’nd did in examining his mate as he nuzzled and examined Larrikith’s mossy green hide that was in need of a bath as badly as his own. That wasn’t an issue though; the cuts he could see on that beautiful hide were. You were wonderful today. He complimented with another nuzzle and then turned his attention to licking at some of the smaller cuts to clean them. The little green had been brave and assisted where she could as much as the largest bronzes and Ayyonth was proud to be mated to such a creature. He always knew she was a spitfire full of energy but she was fueled by so much more as well.