A Good Friend

Writers: Len, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th July 2012

Characters: K'ale, G'wen
Description: K'ale and G'wen finally come to terms with what happened at their Blooding
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: J'darin, E'naer, Teseada

K'ale

G'wen leaned forward, feeling horrible. It was early evening, he was
supposed to be on duty watching over the Candidates, but he found the
act of moving almost beyond his powers. Reaching out to Neath, he
asked her to relay to J'darin's bronze that he just couldn't do it
tonight. He didn't want to bother E'naer with his new gold flit, so
struggling up to his Weyr was out, and he didn't see any sign of
Onnyth, which meant Tes was either out or busy. Sighing heavily, he
couldn't believe just how badly his body ached, with this relapse.

:}Stay right there, I'm coming to get you.:{.

Sensing where he was, Neath opened her wings and flew down to the bowl
of the Weyr, to where little G'wen leaned against the stone cliff that
made the Weyr. For such a short hop he didn't need the riding straps
and the green was careful not to jostle his body. When they landed on
their ledge, G'wen slipped off and gave Neath a grateful hug on her
neck. He managed to stumble into his bed, where he lay still fully
clothed.

Neath glanced at Ima, on his ledge next to hers, and asked, :}is
your's in? Mine is feeling terrible.:{

}:Neath thinks her's needs you.:{

Imalkyth was getting quite good at communicating and K'ale got his
meaning. G'wen probably hadn't asked for him specifically but Neath
knew he needed a friend right now. He put down the story he was
reading and picked up his pitcher of ale. Grabbing another cup he
walked out his door and knocked on the greenrider's.

"Hey G'wen," he called. "Wanna share some ale?"

A muffled 'come in' reached his ears. G'wen heard the door open and
tried weakly to take off his shoes. When he saw K'ale come into focus
he smiled wanly and said, "you know you're in trouble when you can't
even get your bloody shoes off."

K'ale put the pitcher and cups down on the table and walked over to
his friend and bent down to pull of the boots.. "Listen, you need to
be careful you don't push too hard."

"I know," he sighed. His shoes now off he gratefully crawled under
his furs and propped up against the headboard. Glancing at the ale,
he asked, "so what'd you bring us?"

"Just what I had, some ale. Interested?" He got up and walked back to
the table to retrieve the pitcher and cups.

"Yeah, go on." He took the cup that was offered and took a sip.
"Maybe this'll put me right to sleep and I won't have to worry about
this." He pointed with his chin to the annoying score on his back.
"You're so lucky you've not been scored yet."

Darkness shadowed the young brownrider's eyes. "Yes I am," he said.
"And at least you're still alive! You need to keep it that way."

"So everyone keeps telling me." G'wen gave his friend an exasperated
look. "How's F'tarn?" The last time he had seen the brown weyrling
he hadn't been looking too good.

"Doing better," K'ale half smiled. "I saw him yesterday. He's lucky
they pulled him through but he lost his left leg below the knee."
K'ale shook his head. That accident still gave him nightmares. I so
easily could have been him.

"What happened, exactly?" By the time F'tarn had been injured G'wen
had already had his own scoring and was busily ignoring it, and any
odd looks from the Weyrlingmasters. The severity of the brownrider's
injury is probably what kept their eyes off of him, to be honest.

"We were doing the blooding and the winds were whipping around pretty
badly. Even knocked Imalkyth and me around a little, but we
recovered." He looked down at his hands a moment. "I tried to tell him
but he ended up knocked right into a clump of thread."

"Yeah but that's just how it is, fighting thread. It's not your
fault, it's just the nature of the beast." G'wen reached over and
gave K'ale's hand a squeeze. "Mine was the same way. A thread just
came flat down by the wind and got me on the back. I didn't even
really know what had happened until Neath had us /between/. That's
something I haven't told anyone..she just went /between/ on her own,
she didn't stop to ask first." He gave a little shrug of his
shoulders and took a swallow of ale.

"I know that here," he said tapping his forehead. "But it doesn't feel
that way all the time." He felt silly talking about feelings like
that when G'wen had gone through so much more.

"It takes time, I suppose." G'wen put his empty glass down and lay
against the back of the bed. His eyes felt scratchy with tiredness.
"How's it feel to be in a wing? I can't wait..."

"Scares the crap out of you at first. But then you get used to being
scared and just work through it. Find the next clump and burn it." He
poured himself another drink. "How are things going with you? You look
bushed"

"I am, to be honest. This relapse is almost as bad as the infection
was. And to collapse at that Hold!". He turned a faint pink. "Those
holder people are so horrible," he added in a low tone. "They really
are as prejudice as we were told."

"Well, I should let you get some sleep then," he smiled. "I'm sure
E'naer wouldn't thank me if I keep you from your rest." At the second
comment he paused, "that's why we were warned. Just be careful and
don't let yourself get run down, okay?"

"Oh please, E'naer's little gold keeps me up so I'm sure he wouldn't
fuss over you doing the same as well.". As he talked he shed his
trousers and tunic and tucked himself further under the bed furs. "And
K'ale? Thanks, you're a good friend."

"You know it's different when it's _my_ fault than when it's his.
Besides, you really do need your rest." He got up and put a hand on
G'wen's head. "Get healthy, I don't want to lose another friend if it
can be helped."

"I'll see you tomorrow." he said and walked out to their common ledge
to get back to his own weyr.

Last updated on the July 17th 2012

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A Good Friend