The Benefits of Friends (4/4)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 13th June 2025
Characters: Ketlyn, N'kayden
Description: N'kayden checks on Ketlyn after her injury
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'lvin, V'dryn, J'cello, Kailis, Aydhara
Notes: Follows 'Blooded'.
**I need more fellis,** Ketlyn thought miserably. Her head pounded and her nose felt like it was the size of a melon. She missed having someone to sit with her now that J'cello had left. All she had were cookie crumbs from Kailis.
}:I miss you,:{ Varinth moaned softly. Somewhere deep within the dragon Infirmary the dragon was half-curled in a wallow, her wings tucked uncomfortably along her injured back. }:Come sit with me.:{
**As soon as I can,** Ketlyn promised. Speaking to her dragon made her head hurt worse, and she flopped back down on the bed with a sigh. The healers would have to let her go soon, wouldn't they? She was dying for a bath and to brush her teeth, and her own bed...
N'kayden had wanted to go and see Ketlyn as soon as he and Aberath landed, but a bit of ash burn, and two overprotective parents, had held him up. It was fortunate for him, however, because in the interim he'd had the good sense to go and take a dunk in the bathing pools and get cleaned up before traipsing into the infirmary.
"Ketlyn?" he called uncertainly, since _every_ bed in the infirmary had a curtain drawn around it. Should he just start peeking his hands into random curtains until he found her?
"In here." Speaking loudly hurt. Everything hurt. Her nose, her head, her ego... she put a hand to her nose and tried not to be too envious of Varinth, who by now was covered in numbweed and soundly asleep.
The brownrider's head appeared inside Ketlyn's curtain, although with a shot of his charming smile. "There you are." He slipped inside, lest a healer catch him and tell him visiting hours were over. His smile became more sympathetic as he drew up beside Ketlyn's bed. "I heard it was rough," he said, gingerly placing the tips of his fingers on her bicep as he studied her face.
She shrugged miserably. "The 'Scoring Varinth got, or me throwing up on K'lvin?"
"Both, although I think we've all secretly wished to throw up on K'lvin at some point or another." N'kayden's words were a soft tease, hoping to ease any embarrassment that Ketlyn might feel. After all, he'd caused her enough embarrassment to last a lifetime already.
She managed a half-smile. "At least you're all not too embarrassed to visit me after that. V'dryn, Kailis and J'cello have all been by. And now you. I'm really glad you're okay."
N'kayden thought of the 'lessons' he'd been having with Lynavia and how she'd been harping on him to have actual conversations and actually get to know people.
"Embarrassed? I'm intimately acquainted with embarrassment. We're old friends, me and embarrassment." He grinned, the one that tugged at the corner of his mouth, tipping it until a slight dimple appeared in his cheek. "Now you've got a great story for the next Weyrling group. You'll be a grizzled veteran by then."
"Did you just call me old?" Ketlyn's retort lacked any heat. She _felt_ grizzled.
"I would never comment on a lady's age," N'kayden said with a wink.
"You better not," she muttered. "What did K'lvin say to the class at the end of the 'Fall?"
"He congratulated us on surviving. Told us he was proud of what we had accomplished. And then told us there would only be light chores and duties until graduation. So basically," he smiled, "we're done. We made it."
Graduation meant joining a fighting Wing. Ketlyn shivered. It was probably nothing to N'kayden, who'd grown up surrounded by dragonriders. She was just beginning to realize just how out of her depth she was. "I'm sorry I missed it."
"Well, when you're all healed up, we'll take you out for drinks and re-enact it for you," N'kayden offered.
She managed a small smile, then winced. "I'd like that."
Noticing her wince, N’kayden stood. “I should go. You need rest.”
"Thanks for visiting. I..." Ketlyn trailed off. Perhaps it was the fellis, or perhaps it was the fact that N'kayden had taken time out of a day when he should be celebrating with his family to visit her, but the memory of their bad decision didn't seem quite so bad anymore. She hadn't expected _any_ visitors and now she'd had four. "I appreciate it."
He reached out and gently squeeze her foot through the blanket. "Of course." And then he was gone, leaving the privacy curtain fluttering in his wake as he whistled some unknown, fanciful tune.
Last updated on the June 22nd 2025