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Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 14th August 2015

Characters: G'dori, Sh'dori, A'dori, Balidora
Description: G'dori gets help to cope with the loss of a Clutch-mate.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 8
Notes: Notes: Follows "The Final Test"

Mentioned: Satai

G'dori had slumped against Naryath's side. His helmet was still wobbling on
the ground where he had tossed it. He had covered his face with his hands.
"We failed, I failed her," Ged cried. "We were too slow." He was blaming
himself over Satai's death.

}: We tried, we did our best, :{ Naryath said, crooning comfortingly. She
was tired and in dire need of bath, she still had her straps on, with
half-empty firestone sack hanging from them. But right now her rider's
grief came first.

"It wasn't enough!" Ged said angrily and dropped his hands, curling them to
fists.

}: Zinzikerth, my rider lost a friend, :{ Naryath reached out to an older
green belonging to one she had come to now as being part of her rider's
Clutch. There were lot of those. Zinzikerth had finished her half of Fall
like Naryath.

}: Mine is coming,:{ the older green assured her.

A few moments later a hand touched Ged's shoulder and a voice said: "here
boy, you look like you need this." A flask was offered.

"Uncle A'dori," Ged acknowledged him with strained voice and took the
flask. Unsuspecting, he took a large gulp. It was like swallowing liquid
fire. The drink burned it's way down and set a bonfire to his belly.
"Shards and shells, what was that? Acid?" Ged swore, coughing and
sputtering.

"Just something a technician friend of mine cooks up when he gets tired of
fiddling with gadgets," A'dori replied with a grin which then faded to look
of sympathy.

"You sure he didn't mix it up with Agenothree?" Ged asked, still
sputtering.

"Shame on you, A'dori, for giving the boy moonshine," a matronly voice
scolded.

"Hi mom," A'dori grinned, utterly shameless.

"Granny!" Ged bursted out and straightened. He was soon engulfed by
Balidora's round, soft arms to a tight embrace.

"Are you alright, dear?" Balidora asked. "No injuries on you or Naryath?"

"We're fine. One of our class got killed," Ged replied with muffled voice.
The others were also drifting in. Shanelle looked like she had just landed,
covered with crackdust. Weyrbrats, Ged's half-siblings were suddenly
everywhere.

Balidora took the charge of the site with long experience of matron of
large clan of dragonriders. "Let's move inside before they complain about
us blocking the Weyr bowl. You, young ones. Take off Naryath's straps and
give her a good bath."

~*~

When the Fall ended, Sh'dori found his family from the dining cavern. They
had pushed two table together to form a larger one. He had heard that one
of the senior weyrlings had been killed during the Fall and wanted to check
his son. The two of them weren't close but Ged was still his son and he did
care if he lived or not.

"Ged, I'm glad to see you're alive and well," Sh'dori said with relief when
he found him sitting middle of relatives.

"Hey, father, likewise," G'dori replied. Someone had placed a baby to his
lap and he was entertaining his young niece. Holding the baby reminded him
that life did go on. "My friend got hit," he continued with sombre voice.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. It always hurts, badly," Sh'dori replied with
compassion and understanding. He had experienced the loss of loved ones.
They all had. It helped them to help each other to cope such losses. They
were large, close knit family and supported each other when one of them
experienced grief or other hardships. Somebody gave Sh'dori a klah mug and
made room for him to sit around the table. They were each other's support
network.

Their chatter filled the air, Balidora brought more food and klah to the
table. G'dori leaned his chin against the baby's head and felt comforted.
Comforted by the presence of all these people. His family.

Last updated on the August 20th 2015

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