Finding One's Place

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 6th February 2026

Characters: Th'alin, K'thyr
Description: Th'alin and K'thyr catch up over an ale.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: R'vayn, Alyndra
Introducing some more of the DFW Legacy Riders. Takes place before K'valdran wins Chioneth's flight

}: Keth’s rider is asking if you’re done with work yet, :{ Eometh prompted K’thyr as he was jotting down some notes for the next dragonhealer shift. }: You’re not late just yet but you will be if you keep working. And Keth says we were supposed to go out tonight. :{

“The tavern, yes, I remember,” K’thyr answered with certainty though his focus remained on his notes. “Send him to me. I’m almost done.” Th’alin would understand. When K’thyr was focused on something, he was intensely set on it. He did not do multi-tasking.

In a few short minutes, the click of boot heels on the stone floor could be heard as the other dragonrider approached. “Serious one, tonight?” Th’alin asked K’thyr without preamble as he tossed himself down into one of the chairs in front of the dragonhealer’s desk.

“No, just a lot,” K’thyr answered without looking away. “When that cloud bank rolled in during Threadfall, it seems like a few of the new riders forgot how to fly through clouds for a bit there. Lots of wing injuries today.” Wing injuries, though, were preferable to worse kinds of injuries. “Just making sure the night shift knows to change bandages at midnight.” With a final flourish, K’thyr tossed down the quill and turned his attention to Th’alin. With a grin, he said, “Because I sure won’t. There’s ale calling my name.”

“Make sure you rib R’vayn. He didn’t get Cioreth scored, but he did get his own shoulder scored today. Must have forgotten how to fly in the clouds.” Th’alin was smirking a little. He tapped the front of his shirt pocket. “I brought the dragonpoker cards, so we’re all set to go.”

K’thyr laughed appreciatively. “Really? What a weyrling mistake to do. Did he forget that dragons can /between/?” It was a rhetorical question but the two of them chuckled about it while they went to board their waiting dragons. “I’d ask if R’vayn would want to come with us but he probably doesn’t want to fly with that shoulder just yet.”

“I’m sure he’ll get Alyndra to fuss over it for him,” Th’alin smirked in return before leaping up to Keth’s neckridge.

“Alyndra will fuss over any of us if we give her the chance,” K’thyr commented. He pumped his arm and the two dragons took off, winging in tandem above the Rim before disappearing /between/. “I wonder who’s working tonight,” K’thyr said after they had landed at their destination.

“Hopefully Omani. His mixed drinks are better than Pavalin’s.” Th’alin said as he thumped Keth’s flank. The brown lifted off to settle on a ridgeline behind the tavern.

“And a better conversationalist,” K’thyr agreed. “Though Nirian isn’t too bad.”

Once they were settled inside, and Th’alin was holding an ale (Pavalin was working), he asked, “How are the kids?”

“Tsaetherian is trying to figure out what he wants to do in life, which is par for the course for him,” K’thyr answered. He took a sip of his ale. “Last sevenday he wanted to be a harper. This sevenday it’s a smith. I think he’s worried that he won’t Impress and is trying to make backup plans. Which isn’t a bad idea but he’s still got Turns to Stand.”

Th’alin’s experience had been the opposite- thinking he was going to be a cook or drudge his entire life and then one day ending up with a dragon. He’d never had time for backup plans. “Based on his skills, what do you think he should do?”

“Honestly? I think smith,” K’thyr answered. He took another sip. “He says he wants to be a harper for gitar but you know how they learn all instruments, including voice. And Tsae’s voice is…rough. I’d push him towards the arbiter side of things but he doesn’t have much mind for rules.” A rogueish grin tweaked K’thyr’s mouth as he chuckled. “You’ve been a bad influence on him with that.”

Th’alin blinked once. Twice. Then, “_Me_? A bad influence? Explain.”

“Those cooking lessons you gave him a while back? Where he started pestering you with questions about the Charter and Weyr hierarchies? Since then, he’s been in this ‘question everything’ mode when it comes to authority. It’s like the terrible twos all over again but in a teenager.” K’thyr’s tone took on one of complaint. “‘Why, why, why?’ I don’t know, son, I just fix dragons!”

The other brownrider tried to stop the smug little grin growing on his face, but his attempts weren’t very successful. “It’s good for the younglings to ask questions. It’s how they find their place in the world.”

“Well, he is definitely trying to find that place,” K’thyr replied with a grumble that sounded dangerously close to being amused. “I just hope he does it before I start sprouting gray hairs.”

“I don’t know, a few gray hairs might make you look a little more distinguished.” Thalin winked.

“You think?” K’thyr asked. He ran one hand through his thick, dark hair and shot Th’alin a grin that would have made a few women quickly hot and bothered. “Not sure if silver is my color. You’re gonna have it easy with your hair color. You won’t be seeing gray blended into that blonde you’ve got. How’s Yrevali doing?”

“She’s all aflutter, ready for the next Hatching. She’s spent four Turns with the healers and has decided to Stand whenever they’re eggs on the sands again.” There was a fondness in the bronwrider’s voice. It was clear he was wrapped around his daughter’s finger. “Which by the looks of Chioneth, a flight might be soon.”

“Good. Give us a chance at a different Weyrleader.” K’thyr’s tone was dark. He rarely masked his dislike of their current Weyrleader with Th’alin. He felt I’serin was far too inexperienced to be leading the Weyr. “Did Yrevali get to visit that new Healer Hall they built? Out in Amber Hills? Seems right up her alley.”

Th’alin nodded as his drink was refilled. “Took her there myself. I just wanted to make sure she knew all of her options. I’m happy if she wants to put healing on the back burner for now and concentrate on Candidate studies and trying to Impress. As long as she’s thought it through.”

“See? Your kids are thinking things through. Start teaching mine that.” K’thyr took a big swig of ale. With a satisfied sound, he thumped his finger on the table a few times. “Alright, deal ‘em out. Let’s see how many marks I can rob you of tonight.”

Last updated on the February 8th 2026

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Finding One's Place