How Are You?

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 18th July 2014

Characters: Harki, Paetri
Description: Harki checks on Paetri.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 16 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Rorela, P'nal, D'ret, J'kri, U'kaiah

After drills and a long, hot bath, Harki found herself with little to do and
a lack of desire to socialize with the majority of the people she knew. It
was the weather -- the snow and cold drove her inside. But maybe she was
also avoiding Rorela's machinations, and P'nal's complications. And she
missed U'kaiah. Instead she knocked on Paetri's door, after sending word of
her impending arrival through Cerillith.

Opening the door, Paetri looked out. Her face was drawn and there were dark
circles beneath her eyes as she limped backwards to allow Harki inside.
"Come in."

"Hey. You--" **Look like a pile of crap.** Harki swallowed the rest of that
sentence, and said brightly, "How's the leg?"

Paetri shrugged. "Its healing." Her eyes were puffy and red but she offered
Harki a glass of juice before sitting back down. "Camilth had it worse.
She's grounded for a few sevendays."

"True, but she'll fly again, even if it seems like the end of everything to
her now." The older greenrider smiled, remembering the first time she'd been
Threadscored. She let the smile fade, though. It had been an unusually tough
Blooding for the weyrlings. "Anything I can do for you in the meantime?"

She shook her head. "D'ret...one of my best friends...he didn't make it. How
do you handle it?" She rubbed at her eyes wearily. "How do you handle
knowing you might lose someone every time you fight Thread?"

Harki reached out to take Paetri's hand. She wasn't good at emotions or
knowing what to say to make the world right again, but losing Wingmates, or
consoling those left behind-- those she was achingly familiar with. "Because
we can't _not_ fly Thread. No one else can do it for us, if we falter. And
yeah, we die. I have lost so, so many people. But we also come back. Every
Threadfall, way more of us come back than not." Except for that first Fall.
The one that everyone tried to forget.

Paetri looked down at their joined hands. "D'ret loved J'kri and J'kri loved
him just as much. I try to be there for him, but it's not the same. And I
loved D'ret...as a good friend. It just hurts. What if one day J'kri never
comes back? I don't know if I could handle that."

"Sure you can." Harki smiled to take the sting out of her rebuke. "Because
what's the alternative-- never falling in love? Being alone all the time
just in case something bad happens? Some things are worth the risk. J'kri is
one of them. I know it's scary. Being a dragonrider _is_ scary. But you
can't let fear rule your life."

Paetri rubbed her eyes with her free hand and spoke softly. "I know." She
gave a little sniffle. "He is worth it. And I'll be going to the wings soon.
I just...I never thought about what could really happen until now and it
scares me."

"Aww." Harki gathered Paetri into a hug. "I know it is."

Paetri returned the hug and took a deep breath before pulling away.
"Were you ever badly injured?"

Harki shook her head. "I only have a couple small scars, but I've lost a few
jackets to Thread. And Cerillith's been grounded a few times."

Paetri nodded. "This isn't too bad, from what the healers said, I just have
to be careful for a bit. I guess my mind's been elsewhere." She pulled her
braid over her shoulder and stroked it. "How long does it take for the hurt
to go away?"

"Well... it doesn't, really." Harki nibbled her bottom lip, not
knowing what else to say to make it better. Losing someone never
really went away. They left holes that you got used to, eventually,
but they'd never heal. "It fades, eventually, but it takes a while.
Sometimes a long while. But it does get..." Better? Not really.
"Easier."

Paetri gave a watery smile. "I meant the pain from a thread score."

"Oh!" The older greenrider made a face. "Duh. Look at me, getting maudlin.
Threadscores like yours won't hurt for too long-- maybe a week or two? Then
it's just getting your leg strong again."

"Thank you for coming to check on me, though." She took a deep breath. "I've
not been a very good host, though. Did you want anything to drink?"

The older greenrider's gaze darted to the glass of juice on the table that
Paetri had pressed into her hand when she'd entered. "No thanks. I'm good."

Paetri followed her gaze and sighed, finally giving a more honest smile.
"Apparently my brain isn't working well." She gave a soft laugh. "Sorry."

Harki waved her hand. "Don't mention it. And hey-- let me know when Camilth
is good to fly again. Let's go on a holiday."

"A holiday...." Paetri sighed. "I'd love to go somewhere warm. Maybe
swimming." She closed her eyes at the thought of bathing in the sun. "I miss
the warmth."

"Sure. I know plenty of places. So heal up quick, okay?"

"I'll do that."

Last updated on the July 21st 2014

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