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 Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:08 pm
It had been her first High Reaches Hatching since Felisath had graduated, and Kiri had mostly looked forward to it. On the one hand, it would be good to see familiar faces--perhaps she would see C'ryn to touch base with him, and the snow was always a surprising delight. Additionally, she was anxious to introduce Ky'ra to K'din, as well as her brother's weyrmate, Z'el. But for all she was eager to make introductions and catch up, she also felt a bit of reservation.
The last time she'd attended a hatching for High Reaches, she had stood with her brother Shinnikan--and it was the last time she'd seen him alive. Impressing Felisath had helped her move on from all that bundled up grief--but it had not been a cure-all. While it had helped her move on, helped assuage some of the pent up grief she'd bottled up after the death of her parents Turns prior--it did not take it fully away.
She had learned to cope with it... but like all grief, would never, truly go away.
The Hatching itself had begun delightfully--but there had been a moment that caught her off guard. She had expected Candidates to get clipped by wings, and had steeled herself over the fact that someone might well wind up at the Healers--Hatchings were by no means uneventful. But to witness a bronze shaking a boy within his jaws, and dropping him like a doll--quite possibly dead at his feet--was just too harsh a reminder. The girl who cried out and sobbed freely reminded her of herself Two Turns prior.
It had been, for Kiri at least, just too much.
She had gripped Ky'ra's hand, even as her brother had stifled a gasp and turned to bury himself in against his weyrmate's chest. Kiri had been unable to look away. All she could see was her brother in a crumpled heap--a stark reminder of his body swollen, still, and pale on an infirmary table.
She had been prepared for upset dragonets, but she hadn't thought to see a naer-repeat of what had befallen her brother.
The rest of the Hatching had passed in a blur. Felisath had immediately sent her nothing but anxious love, support, and need. The poor green had been entirely focused on easing Hers' pain--and quietly fretting about the wave of feelings that had welled up within Hers. The wave of calm had been shattered, but the little green sent her everything she could.
The little green had had reservations about the excursion, but had gone so Hers might be with family. As she adored her own sisters, so Felisath would not deny Kiri the joy of being reunited with her brother. She would have faced the snow, the strangers, and even all the foreign boys just to keep Hers content... But to feel that pain resurge, to know Hers was hurting in a way that Felisath could not heal.
It hurt.
Though she had remained buried beneath Yaguareth's wing, Felisath did her best not to let her own worries permeate. She would be strong this day, for her rider's sake, and for Yaguareth's. Her sister deserved to enjoy the Hatching, and Felisath did not wish to be a burden. So, she tried to keep her feelings buried--like rider, like dragon--and keep Hers supported.
By the time the Hatching finished, the small quartet was one of the last to leave. It was a time for revelry and celebration, but her heart was sore. "Fine company we make," she finally broke the uneasy silence, trying to force a smile. "I just... I didn't think--" her words caught in her throat.
"Do you know if he lives?" She asked softly, peeking up at Ky'ra, then the other two. It was possible one of Theirs had heard something Felisath had not.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:32 pm
A quick inquiry was all it had taken for Ky'ra to determine that the boy did, in fact, live. "He lives," she assured Kiri, for Zultoloth was familiar with some of the resident queens. The Western queen, though not in her home territory, was comfortable enough to ask her cousins for information that would surely prove vital to Hers... and by extension, Felisath's. Once they were all out of the Hatching Grounds, Ky'ra pulled Kiri into a tight hug, wrapping protective arms around her. She'd worn a heavy fur lined cloak, and it now served a second purpose - that of concealing her smaller weyrmate.
The beautiful, albeit heavily thread scarred, woman was conveniently tall enough to tuck Kiri under her chin. Hiding Kiri away from the world was only one way to help her mate through this difficult time, but for now... it would have to do. Her heart ached to see her lover in such a fraught state. Looking around, it was clear to her that none of the three who accompanied her were in a fit state to be in public.
"Should we go somewhere?" she asked, glancing at Z'el. The man shared a weyr with K'din, and a mutual scar on his heart. "Maybe to your weyr? I don't think this place is helping things... just now." With that visceral similarity to Shinnikan's death... well, it wouldn't be wise to linger where Kiri and K'din didn't feel comfortable dealing with their emotions. And Ky'ra was more than tired of witnessing Kiri struggle through it by bottling them.
... Even Z'el looked pale, come to think of it. Why, oh why, had it had to be another shaffing bronze repeating history like that? Thank Faranth the young man was still alive. But it was hard to see her family suffering like this. Ky'ra, who was used to spending her days frivolously, did not care for the sudden turn of events. Not that she didn't have boundless patience when it came to Kiri and Kiri's needs.
Biting his lip, Z'el nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, let's get out of here." There were a lot of people around, and K'din was anything but okay. The way his weyrmate trembled was enough to tell him precisely what was going through his mind. How could they avoid flashbacks? Trauma like that never truly faded away. Holding K'din protectively close, Z'el looked over his head to catch Ky'ra's eyes. "I was planning to invite you both up for drinks later, anyway."
If they ended up spending their time like this instead, well. He supposed it couldn't be helped. Even he was shaken by the day's events. Chances were they'd end up missing the Feast in its entirety, and he didn't mind. He could always get someone to send up some food, or fetch it himself, if need be.
Felisath, are you all right? Zultoloth asked, the queen's mental voice tinged with concern. It was clear to the gold at least that Felisath was not as okay as she was trying to be. Not when her color wasn't good... and there was grey in her eyes. It was very concerning. No one and nothing would stop Zultoloth from taking care of Felisath... even if it was not her place. The queen's eyes flickered with grey, though the feelings she projected to the green were only of fond concern.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:56 pm
Nobody would really miss them at the Feast. So long as Kiri and Felisath were there to help return Candidates back to Western Weyr, nobody would think twice about whether or not she'd make it to the Feast. Though she hated to be in such a state--it was probably best to return back to Z'el's weyr.
She hated to be so weak.
Don't think such things, Mine--having feelings is not weak. I know you miss him, and it is okay to be sad by the unpleasant memory. Felisath was not, perhaps, well-practiced in the art of reassurance--but she had been told as much from her beloved sisters and friends. Surely, the same was true for her rider.
Kiri sent Hers a wave of love and gratitude. She had thought her feelings were well handled--but the near-identical attack had thrown her back to that moment exactly. Oh, dear heart. I... I will be well. I just--it hurts, you know? I miss him. Perhaps she had taken her brother for granted all those Turns. She had never once thought that they wouldn't have time to see one another, or visit each other as their lives settled. She had always thought that maybe Thread would do one of them in--she had worried about K'din when Thread returned--but that would have been expected, in a way.
Shinnikan hadn't even managed to get that far before he'd been taken.
Surely, many grieved and suffered loss--but perhaps it was that regret that made it all the more potent. To see the poor Candidate torn down similarly--what would his family think or feel? Her heart went out to them all--and the girl who had sobbed on the Sands. Thankfully, he still lived. For now, at least. Who knew what his injuries he had suffered?
"I suppose it's for the best," she agreed, grateful for the suggestion, and Ky'ra's company. It was easier this way--and though she might be tucked against her, she at least had a moment to hide wet eyes, and try to recompose herself. If only she could shove the wound away... But there were some wounds that were impossible to heal.
K'din, who had always been a quiet soul, was certainly striving to keep his composure. He had always been the more sensitive of his siblings, and had been closest to Shinnikan, simply due to age and circumstance. But the repeat had ben hard... and a drink was well in order for them all. It would not do to make a scene, and upset anyone else who had come to celebrate--retiring to their weyr would be best for them all.
"I'm s-sorry," he spoke, squeezing Z'el, and trying hard to offer his weyrmate support all the same. Shinnikin wasn't the only one they were still mourning, after all. Hatchings were always emotional affairs--and while it had been wonderful to see the babies find Theirs, he just needed a little time to process the scene, away from prying eyes.
"S-shall we?" Feyeth was already on her way down from their ledge. The green could easily carry them for the short ride up. Her eyes whirled a patient blue--though yellow of worry did seep into the edges.
Felisath, for her part, remained quite attached to Yaguareth. Zultoloth's private query did surprise her--but she supposed she knew what was going on due to Ky'ra. She considered her response, huddled beneath Yaguareth's wing, and trying very had to do exactly as her rider did--bury it.
The quiet green was very good at keeping things close-to-the-vest and private--but it was also difficult to fully hide her feelings. They did wear their hearts in their multi-faceted eyes, after all. I... I shall be well. Mine was simply caught off-guard. Yes, yes that seemed like a reasonable thing to say. It was true enough, if not perhaps the full story.
She was having a rough time of it, and this was but the icing on the cake. She was in an uncomfortable environment within High Reaches and its politics; Hers was now upset; there were boys every-which-way she looked; she was meant to meet her sister's friend who was far more fierce and intimidating than Felisath would ever be; and she had witnessed more than a handful of bully boy babies--one which had taken down a Candidate completely!
No, she was not okay--but she was trying. She was trying for Yaguareth's sake, so as not to further burden her or distract from the celebration and joy a Hatching could bring. She had chosen to come, but... It was not turning out quite to plan.
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2020 1:59 pm
Zultoloth did not believe Felisath for a moment. The little green behaved as though her ledgemate did not know her inside and out... and did not know when she was falling apart at the seams. The queen exerted her command as she only really did during Threadfall, sending soothing power through her friend. She was not going to sit by and do nothing when Felisath was suffering. That would not do, and she couldn't endure witnessing the green's pain without acting.
"Thanks, Z'el," Ky'ra said, finding it a little surreal that they'd only just met and that she didn't really have time for pleasantries. Not yet, anyway. Scooping her weyrmate up, Ky'ra held her in her arms, and thanked the drills that kept her strong enough to hold Kiri. Of course, had Kiri been any taller, things might have been different, but Kiri was a diminutive woman. "Let's get out of here, then."
Frowning slightly at the fact that K'din still felt like he had to apologize to him for his feelings, Z'el nudged his weyrmate lightly. "Hey. You know you don't need to apologize. It's a lot to go through." His voice was soft, pitched so that only K'din could hear it. "I think there's no reason to stay, right now." In fact, he'd much rather they all spent some quiet time together. Leading the way toward where his own blue told him Feyeth would be waiting, Z'el held K'din's hand tightly and tried to maintain his calm.
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