09.Sep.22, 06:21 PM
R’dare worried they had pushed Zelly to her limits for the moment and didn’t bother with a comeback about not being invited to visit in Igen. He knew she was joking and while it would have been fun to riff off each other a little more with pouting and teasing, he was content to hold her in silence for a while. Lazerat was still sleeping from whatever they gave him and A’tay hadn’t returned yet so playing a cuddle buddy or someone to hold light conversations with was fine by him. It helped ease some of his guilt as well. She may have been a target for a specific reason but she was still in his weyr and her blood was needed for the message on his wall. The mark on her neck would always be a reminder of that and it was only thanks to Shadow’s timely appearance that it wasn’t worse.
He was just starting to think Zelly had fallen asleep again when she startled him by speaking, picking up right where they left off. “I’ll still visit you even after you get your own dragon,” R’dare promised, a small smile appearing briefly. It was good to hear some more positivity. Despite everything that had happened in the past year, his friend wasn’t screaming as she ran back to a Hold or declaring that she never wanted a dragon. He wouldn’t have blamed her with the way dragonriders were dropping. Goldriders had especially been wearing a target on their backs and if he was a woman that hadn’t Impressed yet, R’dare had a feeling he might bow out for a while. But Zelly still spoke of getting a dragon.
“It’s inspiring how fearless you are. You don’t let anything get to you or hold you back. You’re going to be an amazing dragonrider, Zelly.” It was so easy to imagine her leading in some capacity and being a role model to young female Candidates no matter what colour she Impressed. Given her personality, R’dare hoped Zelana got green or blue as he didn’t want to see her caged. Wild spirits needed to be free and she could offer so much more on the lower colours.
After another little break in conversation, R’dare felt he should encourage Zelly to rest as he started to worry she was pushing to stay awake. “You can sleep, if you need to. I’ll stay until A’tay returns and then I’ll swap out with him. And I promise I’ll arrange for the best cuddlers on Pern to come. Healers can only do so much, after all.”
He was just starting to think Zelly had fallen asleep again when she startled him by speaking, picking up right where they left off. “I’ll still visit you even after you get your own dragon,” R’dare promised, a small smile appearing briefly. It was good to hear some more positivity. Despite everything that had happened in the past year, his friend wasn’t screaming as she ran back to a Hold or declaring that she never wanted a dragon. He wouldn’t have blamed her with the way dragonriders were dropping. Goldriders had especially been wearing a target on their backs and if he was a woman that hadn’t Impressed yet, R’dare had a feeling he might bow out for a while. But Zelly still spoke of getting a dragon.
“It’s inspiring how fearless you are. You don’t let anything get to you or hold you back. You’re going to be an amazing dragonrider, Zelly.” It was so easy to imagine her leading in some capacity and being a role model to young female Candidates no matter what colour she Impressed. Given her personality, R’dare hoped Zelana got green or blue as he didn’t want to see her caged. Wild spirits needed to be free and she could offer so much more on the lower colours.
After another little break in conversation, R’dare felt he should encourage Zelly to rest as he started to worry she was pushing to stay awake. “You can sleep, if you need to. I’ll stay until A’tay returns and then I’ll swap out with him. And I promise I’ll arrange for the best cuddlers on Pern to come. Healers can only do so much, after all.”