Stretched Too Thin (7): Something is Wrong!

Writers: Eimi, Dana
Date Posted: 5th September 2005

Characters: U'kaiah, Traelyn
Description: Trae hears of U'kaiah's fall from her dragon
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 17 of Turn 3

}:You feel better now, Trae. That is good,:{ Nyith commented as Traelyn walked down one of the corridors that lead to N'vanik's weyr.

The goldrider gave a sigh and smiled a little. **I do feel better. The bath helped. But I am tired, dear heart.**

}:It has been a trying day. Fall wasn't as routine as it usually is.:{

Traelyn rubbed the side of her neck. **That's part of it.** She hoped that N'vanik had a good bottle of wine on hand this evening. Faranth knew she needed to drink something strong and sweet.

}:U'kaiah! He's not listening to me Nyith! He won't wake up!:{ Kalamath called to the gold.

}:Kalamath!:{ Nyith's tone demanded obedience. It would not do to have the Weyr in an uproar if more than half the dragons would overhear this conversation. _Especially_ after the Fall they had just flown. }:Kalamath,:{ her golden voice was softer this time, but still firm, }:settle your thoughts.:{

}:They say he's alive, but I can't hear him! I can't get him to wake up! He's never done this before!:{ The bronze's thoughts were still filled with fear and distress as he responded to the gold.

}:Kalamath! Listen to me - you cannot possibly help the situation by reacting the way you are!:{

Trae paused sharply in midstep, her eyes growing distant. She had felt her queen's rousing emotions. She reached for Nyith's mind. **Nyith?**

No answer.

}:_Settle your thoughts_, Kalamath. Listen. Listen to me... Listen.:{ The queen's mind reached out to the bronze's in an attempt to soothe him.

}: I don't know what happened, :{ Kalamath said, the edge of panic had left him, but not the fear. However, the queen was having a more calming effect on him. }:I could hear him, and then suddenly I knew something was wrong. Something is _wrong_, Nyith. :{

**Nyith? Nyith, answer me!**

}:Kalamath cannot hear his rider.:{

Silence. Then, "_What_?"

}:He cannot hear his rider. Something is wrong, Trae. I'm trying to calm him, but his distress will not be soothed.:{ A pause. }:He fears for his rider, Trae.:{ There was real concern in Nyith's tone. A concern Traelyn had never heard in her before.

Shaking herself - and refusing to believe the worst - she turned on her heel and all but sprinted back down the corridor, her wine and her company quite forgotten now. Kalamath couldn't hear U'kaiah... **I should never have let him fly that _sharding_ Fall!**

But she couldn't have those kinds of feelings now. Not now. Shoving them aside, Traelyn asked her dragon, **Where is he?**

Kalamath responded to the relayed question. }: He is with the Weyrwoman. I can't get to him! :{

~~

Traelyn didn't remember getting to the Infirmiry, and yet, here she was, standing before one of the healers, waiting for him to answer her.
**Surely he was brought in...**

"Wingleader U'kaiah? Yes, I believe he was just brought in. Just a moment please." The healer walked away and began whispering to a fellow healer, pointing towards the goldrider.

The second healer walk back to Trae. "Goldrider," he nodded politely. "You were asking about Wingleader U'kaiah? I'm afraid there isn't much I can tell you as of yet."

Traelyn nodded, trying to mask her feelings behind a smooth face. But she couldn't veil the emotion in her eyes. Trying not to fold her arms over her chest or clench her jaw, she asked quietly, "When can I see him?"

"I really couldn't say. They are still working on him now, goldrider." The healer said gently. He could see the fear and concern in her eyes. "We still are not sure exactly _why_ the wingleader collapsed. It maybe be a few candlemarks yet."

**A few _candlemarks_? Shards...** She nodded again. That was such a long time... "Thank you." Her eyes went from the healer's face to behind him, where the curtain was. "I'll come back a later time then."

"We should know more in the morning," he said gently. "Perhaps after a good night's sleep..."

Her gaze drifted back to his and she gave him a half-smile. "Perhaps."

~~

Guilt plagued her. And she was furious with herself for it. **I never should've let him fly that Fall. I _knew_ he wasn't well enough. I _knew_ he wasn't! And I let him fly anyway... I should've grounded him...** she berrated herself as she crossed U'kaiah's weyr, making for the ledge where Kalamath and Nyith were.

**It will not do to dwell on what you could have done, Trae. What's done is done,** Nyith told her without breaking her low crooning to Kalamath.

Traelyn gazed at U'kaiah's bronze. His usually bright hide was dulled considerably, and his eyes still whirled with the colors of anxiety.

Kalamath stretched his bronze neck until his nose touched Traelyn's side. He knew she was concerned for his rider too. U'kaiah had often been comforted by Nyith's rider. Now the bronze took comfort from them both.

Taken-aback by Kalamath's sudden affection towards her, Trae reached out to gently caress his soft nose in turn. He'd be all right. That's what she needed to keep telling herself.

He'd be all right.

Last updated on the October 1st 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Stretched Too Thin (7): Something is Wrong!