Falling to the Odds (OPEN)

[menta]

F'leyen swore under his breath. Caerunyth let out a light bellow and they struggled to even themselves out in the air. "Shard it." F'leyen whispered and then wished he hadn't even thought it, for he felt his blue's feelings of sadness and shame. He reached a comforting hand out to pat the Weyrling dragon. I'm sorry Cae. You are doing so much better. The crippled roared loudly. No I'm not! Don't baby me! The boy shook his head. Don't worry, we'll get it. Lets try again in a minute. Have a rest. The blue took them down slowly to the ground and F'leyen slid off and sat himself on a rock. He sent feelings of warmth to the blue, but his lifemate had shut himself off, and F'leyen did the same.

Now that he was on the ground he tried to hold back tears. It wasn't Caerunyth's fault. The blue didn't deserve what had happened to him when he had hatched. The twisted wing had caused the pair trouble since their class had begun flying. They had always been behind but worked hard to compensate. And yet with graduation coming up, they were running out of time and were still failing to master some of the more difficult maneuvers required of a fighting dragon. Cae was hard on himself for it and felt guilty for holding back F'leyen, and his rider, in turn felt frustrated that he couldn't make up for something that wasn't even his dragon's fault. They both however, refused to be held back. They wanted to prove they were just as capable as any other dragon, but that was proving difficult.

What was bothering F'leyen was Cae's attitude, the dragon who had always been so unflappably calm, was getting more and more frustrated with himself. Cae showed promise as a search dragon, but what was a life for a dragon who could never fly thread, or a green? F'leyen bit his lip as burning tears welled in his eyes. It just wasn't fair!

[hrsegrl]

The young blue is out. Sharieth remarked to her rider who had gotten word through the Master Dragonhealer that the boy and his dragon would not come forth about a possible injury. He had asked her to figure out a way to get the boy to admit that there was an issue or at least try to ascertain the truth. As Junior Weyrwoman she was charged with keeping the Weyr as fit as possible in order to fight thread.

Ruet mounted Sharieth, riding leathers on and straps meticulously placed. When they landed on the ground next to the young pair. Ruet dismounted quietly. She was always quiet on approaching people. They needed time to notice and react. She took off her riding helmet. Unlike some riders at teh Weyr she found helmets prevented head injuries and she had always been the cautious one.

"Weyrling F'leyen may I have a chat with you and may Sharieth speak with your Caerunyth?" She spoke softly and nonconfrontationally. She didn't want him to think he was in trouble. He wasn't, but it was clear they were stressing out. She knew that there was a chance she or someone else could help. H'var was so good with the youngsters that for him to ahve to write the healers was a suprise and it meant the two in question felt threatened by something. No duobt at their ages it was close to graduation. F'leyen was a bit young to graduate but if he showed enough maturity she wouldn't hold him back.

[menta]

F'leyen looked up and Caerunyth flew back to his rider, for on his own he was able enough, and they reopened the link between them. F'leyen hesitated, he guessed what they would be questioned about. What do you think Cae? It would be rude to refuse. True. Alright then. The young Weyrling decided. He nodded slightly. Good day Weyrwoman." He said, his youthful face bright with a fake smile. "We would be honored," He replied politely.

He stood up to his full height in front of the Weyrwoman, which wasn't anything substantial, but he wasn't to short. He crossed his arms over his chest defensively and Caerunyth puffed himself up a little bit since he was around Sharieth's. They didn't want to appear as weak or young as they were, although the chances of them fooling anyone was slim. They had brains and heart, not age and brawn.

[hrsegrl]

Ruet smiled brightly on them. "I'm glad to see you are out practicing on such a lovely day." She opened the conversation warmly. Not heading straight to the point as others may have done. She wanted them to get rid of this wall they had put up. "I can't believe how Caerunyth has grown." She remembered some hatchlings more than others.

Caerunyth had trouble getting out of his shell which was what had drawn her attention to him. "I remember when Sharieth hatched. She was so ill that the healers thought she would die. Then they told me she would never be normal. As she continued to improve with the help of myself and the dragon healers we became increasingly aware that she could become perfectly normal."

Caerunyth. You look pained. Are you feeling well? Sharieth asked. Nemenath was watching the eggs for her at this point but she knew that the young blue needed her help right now just as much as her clutch did. Perhaps more.

[menta]

F'leyen wasn't deterred by her soft tone. She would get to her point eventually. "Yes, it is a nice day." He replied defensively. He smiled inwardly at her compliment but remained stoic. "Yes, like all Weyrlings do," he replied. He frowned slightly at Sharieth's story. He was Weyrbred, but would have been too young to remember her hatching. He cursed the involuntary display of his thoughts and his face turned stony again. He was a generally happy, charming kid, but the stress of graduation was getting to him. He was overworked and feeling helpless, and he wasn't even in a wing yet.

He realized it might be nice to have someone to talk to, but was always afraid that if he shared his feelings with anyone besides Cae, they would hold him back. "But it's different...Cae is normal, he is fine!" F'leyen shot out, a little too forcefully to be convincing.

Caerunyth considered F'leyen's approach in responding to the Queen, but she was a Hold, and he couldn't do that. He was hesitant, I am alright now. We were working on a tricky roll and i strained myself. That is all, it is nothing. Just like F'leyen, he was hardly convincing.

[hrsegrl]

Ruet watched him carefully. She hated how distant she and Lyrai had to become to keep up with their work. Else the Weyrling might have known he could come to them about anything. The things they gave up. She wouldn't have this dragon injured and out of flying forever because he refused to get the proper healing. "He might be as you say. Personally I think that you're more concerned about advancing than the health of your dragon." Ruet said softly again. She always seemed so delicate to people.

"F'leyen this is my fault." Ruet looked him straight in the eyes. "I need you to do something for me. Close your eyes." She kept her voice calm and continued, " Now imagine that you are in say beta wing and thread is falling. Your in formation with Caerunyth. What happens when Caerunyth tried to avoid thread and instead, because he is injured he hit another dragon. This dragon betweens to his death. Now, tell me what is your pride worth? Is it worth the life of someone else and quite possibly your own?"

Sharieth was not to be lied to. Queens were not to be lied to. She fumed. There is no need for concealing the truth. It will be found out. young one, the truth is always the best path. Now I will ask you again. Where are you hurt and how long?

[menta]

F'leyen's eyes widened with horror and pain as he felt in his heart and imagiend in his head was Ruet was saying...she was right of course but he was stubborn. "I-I would never let Cae get hurt, or another dragon, "he chocked weakly and tried not to cry again.But it was hopeless, she was right, he was letting his pride get in the way. "I just- i just want to be normal, and serve my Weyr. And i know we can do it, we just.." He trailed off and his eyes blazed. "It's just not fair!" He spat out in a flicker of pubescent anger. "It's not his fault and he doesn't deserve it, so why?!" He realize he was yelling in front of the Weyrwoman and lowered his eyes and voice, embarrassed. He stood in silence after that outburst, not sure what else to say.

The blue shivered slightly nervously. He had to admit that even a "nice" gold like Sharieth terrified him. My wing, you know. When i was hatching i got tangle and it tore and twisted. Healers tried to fix it up but it was still twisted. Said the soft spoken blue. He couldn't remember the incidient, but he could remember the pain, and remember the sadness that His has felt. It was ok at first. Flying was hard, but i coudl do it. And then things got hard and i hurt myself again. I think i might have overworked it and made it worse. It hurts so much. he made sure the link between him and F'ley was currently blocked. I didn't tell mine. I just wanted to prove i could do what they could, for him, he wants to be like the others so badly. But i can't, Said the blue Weyrling shyly. He hadn't said all that to any dragon, but Sharieth was the right one to tell if he had to tell any.

[hrsegrl]

If anything Ruet was a better listener than a talker. As he began to be outraged by the entire event she understood him. "I'm being trained a little at Dragonhealing. How about I take a look at him now and if I think its not that bad I won't ask that you go to the master dragonhealer. However, if he needs serious attention from a healer we will need to make sure he gets it as soon as possible." She eyed the boy again. He was still so young and had plenty of growing up to do both mentally and physically. She really hoped he was emotionally mature enough to handle getting his dragon into the right form without pushing him too hard.

Sharieth meanwhile listened to the young blue. She was sad because it reminded her of her own Weyrlinghood. I nearly died you know. After I hatched. So for the longest time I had to sit back and watch Zhariath grow stronger, larger and have no difficulties flying. I was much clumsier and I was very ill for a long time. I even matured later. The point is that I kept doing as the healers wanted and now I am healthy with a good large clutch on the sands, able to fulfill my duty to the Weyr. You can do the same but you cannot do it alone. The healers may not know what exaclty is wrong but they will never give up on making you well. And when they do you can fly to your hearts content.

[menta]

F'leyen nodded slowly. It was the right thing to do of course, he had to make sure that Cae would be ok. He realized there were worse things then graduating a little behind the others. "I guess that would be ok." Cae, can you come here. The Weyrwoman wants to look at you.

Just a moment Caerunyth replied before acknowledging Sharieth. He could hardly imagine Queen before him having wants been sick and weak like he was. Weak, not sick. Besides his wing, he was perfectly healthy, but it hindered him greatly. What was a dragon without his wings? Yours wishes to look at me. He said, and flew to His and Ruet. He thought of Sharieth's history. If she could have doen so much, so could he, even with his disability.

The blue settled down next to his righter and watched Ruet with one eye. Will it hurt? He asked nervously. No silly, she just wants to look at you. F'leyen replied warmly. "Alright," F'leyen adressed Ruet, "You can check him now."

[hrsegrl]

Ruet approached the young blue and gently touched his wing. It was swollen for sure and warm. She looked at the underside breifly. He had reinjured himself, he said. That would be a likely explaination but it seemed the wing had never been able to fully heal. These two weren't very good at being patient. "Come here F'leyen, I want to show you what is wrong..."

She sighed heavily they would need some help from a dragon healer but Ruet wanted them to understand where she was coming from. It was not that she couldn't help heal it, but they required some medicinal plants to get the swelling down and rehabilitate the wing. She often became entirely consumed with healing that she lost track of time which Sharieth reminded her was running low. They still ahd to let her hunt and then relieve Nemenath of his post. The eggs would need Sharieth in a short amount of time.

Of course since the theft it took a lot for Shar to leave them. It was not only a strain on the dragon but on Ruet. Her own energy was drained from the last few days. "Now look how this part of his wing here looks bigger then the other wing. It's swollen and if you touch it very tender. He has either injured a ligament or some other sort of soft tissue. I wouldn't be suprised if he has put more strain on the injury than he should."

[menta]

F'leyen winced, now realizing the damage that his pride and impatience had caused. He walked over slowly and ran a hand along the dragons wing, feeling the swollen, injured hide. He bet that now Caerunyth would have to get dragonhealer care. It might mean they couldn't graduated with the others, but that didnt really matter to him now. Since he had seen the condition of the Blue's wing, all he could wish was that his dragon got better and was no longer in pain.

He put a hand flat on the Weyrling's side. Caerunyth met his gaze which was clearly say "sorry." "Will he be ok?" F'leyen asked Ruet. He didn't know if he could stand it if Caerunyth wasn't ok, knowing it was his fault.

[hrsegrl]

Heartened that the youth was beginning to understand the seriousness of the situation Ruet answered his question the best she knew how. "That depends on you and him. If you are willing to do the extra work and waiting I'm certain his wing will be fine. However you have a long way to go before then and he has been straining his injury unecessarily." She looked over at Sharieth who seemed anxious to be back with her eggs.

"I'm going to have a talk with the dragonhealers and if you and Caerunyth listen to their instructions everything will be just fine. Of course this means they will have to examine him more than I have. Probably moving the wing around and such. It might be a little painful."

[menta]

F'leyen nodded earnestly. "We are not afraid to work hard...and i promise i'll be more patient now." The Weyrling had let his guard down now. He seemed a pretty open, innocent kid, but he had been through a lot more than people thought. He had gotten used to, after his father died and he was left with his little brother, taking care of his own issues. He wasn't used to letting someone else help him.

F'leyen noticed the anxiousness the Weyrwoman had for her dragon and remembered Sharieth's clutch on the sand. He nodded slowly. He wasn't excited about people poking and prodding Caerunyth, but realized it was necessary. "Wh-who should i go see about that, about examining Caerunyth?" He asked, his voice shaking slightly. He just wanted to get started on making Caerunyth better.

[hrsegrl]

She nodded and smiled. "I know you will do great." Ruet knew he would not let this become a huge problem if he could help it. Now that he knew what was wrong. "While Sharieth feeds, I'll take you to the Dragonhealers. They can come examine him theirselves and make a decision. If for any reason you feel nervous about it, just have Caerunyth speak to Sharieth and I will try to come."

The weyrlings were the future and eventhough Caerunyth was not from Sharieth's clutch she felt a connection with him. The ones that started off with the most trouble interested her greatly. Hopefully there would be none of those in this clutch. Again she wished they had their eggs back. Once the Hatching was over Sharieth might go back to being a calm dragon but it was doubtful the Gold would be the same again.