One of Those People
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 22nd July 2025
Characters: T'erin, Teigan
Description: Temrin hopes to earn his father's approval by surprising him
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 12
After settling his things into his bunk and showing Kedolin to the Headwoman's office, Temrin stopped a drudge in the corridor of the lower caverns and asked for directions to the infirmary.
It was probably a bad idea, surprising his father, but Temrin had been afraid that if he told Teigan he planned on coming to Barrier Lake as a Candidate, his father might talk him out of it.
And if he tried to talk him out of it... did it just mean that his father didn't want him? At Barrier Lake, or even at all?
There was much about the new construction around Barrier Lake to admire, Temrin found. There was something about the earthy tones of the lakeside Weyr that made the atmosphere cozy. Having never been to a Weyr before, Temrin could not imagine how any other could be as beautiful.
Nerves, like fluttery vtols swirling in his stomach, assaulted him as he made his first step into the pristinely clean infirmary. His healer training kicked in as he admired the polished floors, the electric lighting, and the sense of newness that pervaded the air. It was quite different than the very worn and aged infirmary at Jade Harbor.
"Can I help you, apprentice?"
Temrin, who realized he was gawking like some backwater dimglow, closed his mouth and offered the woman behind the desk a smile. "Yes, actually, if you could point me in the direction of Master Teigan's office?"
"Of course," the woman said, sounding unimpressed as she pointed with her writing utensil over her shoulder. "Down this hall, third door on the left. If you hurry, you'll catch him. He's at the end of shift."
"Thank you."
When he arrived outside the door of his father's office, he found himself frozen in place. Paralyzed by uncertainty. Once he walked through that door, he would have to face the outcome of his decision to leave Jade Harbor. Either he would open that door and his father's face would light with happiness on seeing his one and only son, or, and this was the possibility that scared him most, he would open the door and see _that look_ on his father's face. The one that said his presence was an inconvenience. The look that said he wished Temrin had never come to Barrier Lake.
As long as he waited outside in the hallway, his heart was safe from the crushing blow that the latter look would deal him.
The woman's voice called down the hallway from her desk, "Go on, dear, he doesn't bite."
Fearing that his father would hear the woman and suddenly jerk the door open, Temrin gathered his courage and knocked firmly.
"Come in," the voice of his childhood called.
His fingers curled around the cold metal of the doorknob. He twisted and pushed.
The door swung open, and there was his dad, looking right at home behind his desk with medical books lining the shelf behind him. He was in his healer's tunic and pants with his stethoscope still hanging around his neck.
Surprise lit the healer's eyes, but Temrin could not tell if it was good or bad.
"Temrin?"
"Hi, Dad."
That was it? 'Hi, Dad'? He had imagined his reunion with his father for months, and that was all he could come up with?
Still, his father didn't look disappointed... yet.
"What are you... When... No, _why_ are you here?" Teigan couldn't fathom that he hadn't been sent a note to expect the arrival of his son. Had something happened at home? Was his mother ill?
"I just got here. Today. I accepted Search." This was said with a note of pride in his voice.
"You did _WHAT_?"
Oh. Was that... anger? Disappointment he had anticipated, but, anger?
"I'm going to be in the next Candidate class." Temrin was still standing awkwardly by the door, waiting for the invitation to sit down. Or better yet, waiting for his father to greet him with a hug?
Teigan was having a difficult time gathering his thoughts. The normally calm healer appeared flustered and caught off guard.
"But... but why, son? Why would you _waste_ your talent as a healer by doing something as foolish as possibly Impressing a dragon?"
Temrin's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You think having a dragon is foolish? But... your parents and siblings are dragonriders." The volume of his voice increased. "You _left_ me at Jade Harbor to move to _the Weyr_ to take care of _dragonriders_, remember, Dad? You came _here_ following a _dragonrider_!" Had he somehow miscalculated? Wasn't this the thing that would make his father proud of him?
Teigan stood, pulling Temrin further into the office by his elbow as he closed the door. Probably everyone nearby had heard the end of his son's tirade.
"That's not what I meant," he clarified. "There's nothing wrong with dragonriders, loving them or healing them, but what I care about is how _you_ fit into this. I don't want my son throwing away the promise of saving lives as a healer to become threadfodder! Have you ever actually _seen_ a Threadfall up close or what Thread does to human flesh?"
Temrin shook his head.
"It's a gruesome sight and I don't want that to be you."
The apprentice healer, now Candidate, studied his father. He couldn't tell whether his father cared about his well-being or if his presence at the Weyr now inconvenienced his relationship with "the Weyrwoman".
"I'm eighteen. I can make my own decision. I don't want to be _just_ a healer, Dad. I want to be more."
The master healer's eyebrows rose. "Is there something wrong with being 'just a healer'?"
"There is if it's not what I want."
Teigan studied his son in silence. How many nights had he stared at that face as it slept peacefully? Innumerable. How many hours had he walked the floor, holding his son with his head lolling on his shoulder until he was finally swayed to sleep? Countless. To have that precious boy marred by Thread, or worse, killed by it. The thought of it gutted him.
Temrin waited in heavy silence, uncertain what his father would say next. One of Teigan's hands reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "I understand. I had this same conversation when I left Dragonsfall to live at Jade Harbor. My parents didn't understand my decision, either."
The two words "I understand" were all Temrin had wanted to hear. The other four words, "I'm proud of you," were too much to hope for.
"It's what I want to do, Dad."
Teigan pulled Temrin in for a strong hug. "Then you've got my support." Although there was still one hope, Teigan thought. Maybe Temrin wouldn't impress. Then he could return to focusing on his healercraft and forget this dragonrider nonsense. This was the entire reason Teigan hadn't brought Temrin to the Weyr with him four Turns ago.
Temrin wrapped his arms around his father. It wasn't exactly the glowing vote of confidence he'd hoped for, but neither was it the complete rejection he'd feared. Temrin had looked up to his father for as long as he could remember. His adoration of the man had driven him to become a healer.
When his father had left for the Weyr, it was clear to Temrin there must be something incredibly alluring about the place and the people. Surely there was something extra special about dragonriders to convince his father to abandon him, right?
If he could become one of those people, maybe he could have his dad back again.
Last updated on the August 1st 2025