Don't Worry Sebeth

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 29th April 2025

Characters: K'mai, I'serin
Description: A worried I'serin scolds K'mai for putting himself in danger.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 12
Notes: Follows "A Dangerous Rescue"

K'mai

I'serin

K'mai had stripped down to his underwear and was wrapped in blankets,
shivering in front of a fire in a large lean-to that had been set up
to protect the flames from the rain. He wanted to be home in front of
his fireplace but he couldn't go /between/ until he dried off. On the
bright side, he had several people to chat with while he waited.

He was talking to a holder family, a different one than the one he'd
rescued, about what it was like at the Weyr. "Dragons everywhere,
yeah." He turned to the little girl, around Sabia's age, who looked
like she was about to cry. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Getting to
see lots of pretty dragons? And you can pet them too!"

The little girl nodded, despite looking like she was near tears.
"Are...they...nice?" she asked in a tiny voice.

"They're very nice." K'mai said. "You can meet my dragon. Maybe you
can help wash him. Does that sound fun?"

The little girl gave him uncertain eyes. She opened her mouth to
answer but then her eyes went wider and she shrank back.

"What were you doing to give Sebeth such a fright?!" a usually
composed, familiar voice demanded to know. I'serin, storming up to
K'mai, stopping just a few feet away. His expression was hard, the
mask of Weyrleader in iron place, but if K'mai could read I'serin's
thoughts, he would see how scared the bronzerider was.

"I'serin." K'mai sat a little straighter, wondering if he was in
Weyrleader mode or worried as a friend. Maybe both. "We were rescuing
some people and the tunnel flooded before I could get the last one
out. There was a moment where . . . well, I had to hold my breath
longer than I thought, and the man was panicking, but I got him out
safe."

"Long enough to scare Sebeth," I'serin pointedly stated. His eyes took
in K'mai's undressed and bundled state, which would have normally
caused him to rapidly seek a way to escape the situation, and scowled.
"How long were you in the water?" he demanded to know. "Did a healer
see to you?" Shells and shards, if K'mai keeled over from hypothermia,
I'serin would strangle him.

"I was only underwater for . . . maybe a minute or two?" K'mai tugged
the blankets tighter and muttered, "The healers are busy. I'm fine."
He wasn't keen on being scolded by the Weyrleader, but having I'serin
fuss over him did feel . . . nice.

I'serin clenched his fists, trying to rein in his emotions. He barked
for a healer, adding a tight command of, "See to him. I will not risk
one of my riders any more than necessary," when one arrived. The
healer immediately knelt to look over K'mai's hands and feet, asking a
few questions of him about how he felt, while I'serin looked on.

}: He is worried for K'mai, :{ Aluneth supplied Sebeth. }: He does not
wish to lose him. :{

K'mai glanced up at him as the healer checked him over. }:He is sorry
for worrying yours.:{

"I know it was dangerous, Weyrleader," K'mai said. "But I couldn't
leave anyone behind."

For a long moment, I'serin was eerily still, watching K'mai. Debating
his words. What he could say and not say in the presence of others.
Until he said firmly, "You underestimate how vital you are."

To me.

The last two words could not be said, not here, but they could be seen
in I'serin's eyes briefly before he shut down his emotions again. "No
heroics, K'mai. Do not frighten Sebeth like that again," he added.

K'mai couldn't promise not to help people in need. "I'll be more
careful, sir." He could see those little cracks in the Weyrleader mask
and he wanted to kiss I'serin, to soothe and reassure him. K'mai
couldn't regret saving that family, but he was sorry for terrifying
his dragon and scaring I'serin.

I'serin stayed a moment longer, grounding himself, assuring himself
that K'mai was fine, before murmuring his thanks to the healer and
nodding at K'mai. He strode off, other crises to solve.

Last updated on the May 1st 2025

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Don't Worry Sebeth