Stuck In The Mud [R’nd]

“I’m so sorry, love,” the greenrider’s voice was a hoarse whisper, regret and sorrow clearly written on his face. “It was so sudden, and the babies were so afraid, and I could barely hear anything over Larrikith screaming, and then G’komi…” B’jin’s voice broke and his hands fisted against R’nd’s chest as he shook his head slightly, banishing the images and the memories – for a moment. B’jin lifted his gaze back up to meet R’nd’s; “I lost six of them, not even a day old…” How could he be that terrible? He was responsible for keeping them safe, for preparing them for life. He had failed, failed to keep six of them safe, failed to bring them into the community as fully-fledged dragonriders – failed before he had even gotten a chance to start.

Then R’nd was pulling away, examining him, and B’jin stood still and patiently as he was looked over by his worried lover. Aside from the gash on his left arm, B’jin knew all his wounds were superficial and as over worked as Talian was bound to become – already was! – he knew and trusted the little Healer would not let anything bad happen to B’jin, and by proxy of his fretting, Indamor. Talian had already made sure B’jin’s wounds were cleaned and tended to, despite B’jin’s protests that there were others in far more need, before drugging him enough to knock him out for a couple of hours.

“I’m well enough,” B’jin promised, stepping forward again and kissing R’nd lightly on the lips, his features a perfect picture of exhaustion, warmed with loving affection. “Better than most,” he added softly, wrapping an arm around R’nd and looking towards where Indamor was lying in a drug induced sleep; Rhezalth had stirred, and was looking over at them, his oddly coloured head resting on Indamor’s stomach like one of T’ken’s canines.

“Indamor – he, he lost an arm.” B’jin’s chin dropped to his chest, the words thick with guilt; he didn’t say anything for a long while, unintentionally letting that piece of information sink in. In truth, he was afraid to tell R’nd why Indamor had wound up losing the arm… Another strike against his ability to keep the youngsters he was responsible for safe from harm. A second time he had failed to protect Indamor. “He went back for my guitar,” the greenrider whispered, turning his attention finally back up at R’nd, gaze desperate. He loved his guitar – it was one of his most prized possessions – but it was just that; it was just an item, and it certainly wasn’t worth Indamor risking his life, or losing a limb over. R’nd would know that, right?

He will be fine, the dragonet was clearly attempting to both whisper and reach out to both humans, two aspects he hadn’t nearly the experience to obtain – it resulted in his voice sounding gravelly and pitchy – and his eyes swirled with worry for his unconscious human. … Won’t he?

“Yes.” B’jin said firmly, meeting the dragonet’s gaze directly before turning his attention back to R’nd. “C’mon,” withdrawing the arm that had been around his lover, B’jin took his hand lightly and led him across the room to where there was a chair. Giving his lover a gentle push to make him sit, B’jin then dropped to the floor and curled up against R’nd’s legs, head resting on the bluerider’s thighs, as close as he could get without actually sitting on him – he was pretty sure the chair wouldn’t hold both their weight. Placing a soft butterfly kiss on R’nd’s muddy pant leg, B’jin pressed closer in a wave of desperation, clinging to his lover’s legs. “I love you.” The words were murmured, not really meant to be heard.

As were you, the green murmured softly, only flinching a little when Ayyonth’s enquiring muzzle brushed over a blooming bruise, her own attention more firmly focused on snuffling over his own hide, nosing sadly at the bits of blue that were broken up by trails of green ichor. Her poor, wonderful, beautiful blue – had she actually said that? Nuzzling his cheek, Larrikith pressed against him as much as she could without too badly interrupting his nursing of her wounds, while seeking out the worse of his own hurts to tend to herself.