A Promenade on Crutches

Writers: Sia, Steel
Date Posted: 30th May 2026

Characters: Tavhei, I'thralos
Description: Tavhei and I'thralos take a loop around the infirmary
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 18 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Viane

I'thralos

When he’d learned that I’thralos had been hurt, Tavhei hadn’t known how to feel at first. He hadn’t even _spoken_ to I’thralos since just before the other had Impressed. But… they were friends. Or, they _had_ been. Maybe it was time to stop avoiding him, Tavhei thought, and headed toward the Infirmary to start looking for him.

At least I'thralos wasn't limited to the bed anymore.

He wished he was.

The splints were gone, at least, replaced by tight wrapping and a brace that ran along the outside of his leg, stiffening the knee and keeping everything aligned where they should be. The crutches took most of his weight as he made his way in a slow, uneven line along the Infirmary hall. His jaw was clenched hard enough to ache as he ignored the flare of pain that came with every movement.

}: You need to work harder.:{ Vorlogoth said, not for the first time.

**Shut up.** I'thralos grumbled.

He paused at the end of the hall, shuffling awkwardly to turn around and stretch the hunched muscles in his back, and that's when he noticed Tavhei searching the Infirmary.

"Hey, Tavhei. Everyone's coming out of the masonry now that I'm an invalid." He said with a cheeriness that sounded grating, even to him.

Tavhei studied him, a moment, and then let out a slow sigh. “Hey.” He greeted. “It's… been a while.” He added in agreement. “Do you… want to sit and catch up? I brought you some sketching supplies.” He continued. “If you want them.”

I'thralos looked puzzled for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm all right, but thank you. Anne left a bunch of her art supplies for when she visits. Do you mind shuffling with me up and down the hall? I'm supposed to be practicing with the crutches and keeping active, but at this point I'm only beating the uncle in cot twelve that's recovering from a heart attack."

“I don't mind at all.” Tavhei agreed, shifting to pace beside I'thralos. “Especially if it helps.” he added. “How many rounds are you thinking?”

"I'm on a sharding timer." I'thralos grumbled. "So until that runs out or I break the other leg, I suppose."

Tavhei winced. “... I suppose a timer isn't terrible?” He tried. “At least you've got company now. I _could_ just walk away.” He added dryly, with a raised brow.

"You _could_. It's not like I could chase after you." I'thralos deadpanned.

Tavhei snorted. “Wouldn't that be a sight.” He huffed, amused despite himself. “No, I think not. What a poor excuse for a visit that would be.”

"I'm sure the healers could use some entertainment. Quite dull, the infirmary." I'thralos said. He began the slow, awkward 'walk' back down the hall. "So. A dragon fell on me. My wife slept with another man. Etcetera. What's new with you?"

Tavhei winced. “At least you're in one piece.” He offered. “I got asked to do a few reference sketches for someone who's doing a weaving.” He added. “It's the _Weyr_. So of course the sketch is a dragon.”

"Oh, sure. Lots of those." I'thralos said. "Getting any submissions from the printers?"

“One or two.” Tavhei allowed. “I had to stand in for creche teaching semi recently too. It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it was going to be.” He offered. “But I'm not going to change my focus.”

The creche teaching perked I'thralos up somewhat. "Were you in Ithianne's class? She'll give you a run for your marks. She's having a hard time with her listening ears and likes to yell whatever she remembers of the teaching ballad at me."

“Yes, actually.” Tavhei responded. “Your daughter and her creche friends were very well behaved, actually. Though her teaching ballad delivery was…. Enthusiastic.”

"'Enthusiastic' is the nice way to say it." I'thralos said fondly, adjusting his grip on the crutch as they turned again, the brace creaking faintly with the motion. "My foster-mother says that about her too. She comes by it honestly. It's good she behaved for you. I haven't been able to see her as much since I Impressed, and she's had a lot of big feelings since."

“Big feelings are valid.” Tavhei responded, with a sidelong look at I'thralos. “But yes-- though in all fairness the creche minders keep it from becoming pure chaos, and most of the kids like lesson time, if it's kept interesting.”

"Interesting and quick." I'thralos said. "Lots of stuff to cram into thirty minutes at a time, isn't it? I'm not envious of the harpers or the creche staff. I was run off my feet with just one."

“And _that_ is why I won't pursue creche teaching beyond the requirements.” Tavhei said dryly. “I much prefer honing my own skill, as I'm sure most do.”

"Well, the folks with teaching as their speciality would consider it 'honing their skill', as it were." I'thralos said.

“True.” Tavhei conceded. “But it's not for me.”

I'thralos snorted softly in almost amusement, and shifted his grip again as they reached the end of the hall. The turn was always the worst part; several awkward half-step, half-hops to turn around and start moving again. Too much thinking about where everything had to go. Pain lanced up through his knee and thigh.

}: Push through it.:{ Vorlogoth said.

"**Shut up.**" I'thralos said back, not realizing he'd said it out loud until he saw Tavhei's expression. "Sorry. Vorlogoth thinks I should be healing faster."

Tavhei arched a brow. “Dragons tend to think more simply than we do.” He said carefully. “... Are you all right?”

I'thralos looked down at himself-- at the crutches, at the brace locking his leg in place from hip to ankle, then looked back up at Tavhei. "Do I _look_ all right?" He asked.

“No.” Tavhei said, blandly. “But then again, I wasn't certain who you were telling to ‘Shut up’.”

I'thralos made a face. "So no, I'm not all right. I haven't been all right since that sharding beast decided to pick from the Stands, and there's nothing to be done about it but do laps around his sharding hallway and listen to him gripe about how I should be working harder."

Tavhei winced internally, but kept his face outwardly neutral. “... My condolences.” He offered. “If it's any consolation. I can entirely understand being uninterested in Impression.” He added. “... Perhaps they'll let you return to Craftwork, once you're a little bit more healed?”

"Sure they will, as much as they allow any other dragonrider." I'thralos said. "I'd _like_ to go back to the printers once I can put weight on the leg, but we'll see what the physical therapy looks like to get us back in the air. I doubt I'll be placed in the Wings at the same time as the others."

“You _were_ the one hurt.” Tavhei pointed out in response. “It only makes sense that you'd need time to heal, I'thralos. If Craftwork is a motivation I don't see why they wouldn’t let you have time there.”

"Because it's a lot of time sitting and standing in one place. It'll help at the beginning while I'm putting weight back on the leg, but it's not going to make me fit enough to ride Vorlogoth through an entire Threadfall. There's a reason why all the dragonriders look like that."

“They have to be fit.” Tavhei agreed, evenly. “Though some of them do take it steps past standard training.”

I'thralos snorted. "They do, don't they?"

“At least you don't have to worry about it yet.” Tavhei huffed.

"Yet." I'thralos griped, nudged Tavhei awkwardly with a crutch, and started off again down the hallway.

Last updated on the June 8th 2026

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A Promenade on Crutches