I Want To Help

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 15th June 2026

Characters: Tavhei, Talryne, Vheira
Description: Talryne remembers the first time she met Tavhei and his mother.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 1 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Talryne

"You can set it over there, please. Thank you," Talryne told the drudge carrying a tray of refreshments. Everything was ready, and the others would be arriving soon. The support group had been meeting for Turns -- not a mindhealer session with someone who was deeply sympathetic yet could never fully understand, but a private gathering only for those who shared the same loss.

It was a familiar part of Talryne's life, leading this group who would always carry the shadow of profound grief. It was terrible each time they got a new member, seeing the raw pain in their eyes. But it was hopeful, powerful, to show them there was a path out of the deepest darkness, that life could still hold meaning, and love, and happiness.

It had all started with Vheira.

~*~Flashback~*~

Talryne tried to calm her racing heart as she stood in front of the door. She could do this. Instinctively, she reached out to Loseth.

}:I am here,:{ he said gently, sending her comfort and reassurance.

It wasn't the same. It would never be the same, but having Loseth speak to her was far better than the endless silence in her head. After nearly two Turns, she almost took his presence in her mind for granted -- though it was only a pale imitation of the bond she'd lost.

Loseth's support was one of the reasons she was still alive. And not just surviving, but living a life that still had joy and purpose.

**Thank you, so much.** She put all her gratitude into those words. Talryne had made it through the worst of her grief because she had support, and even though she was more than a little afraid -- terrified, really -- she wanted to help others.

Vheira had lost her dragon, and she'd decided to try living. The healers had just released her from the infirmary, and Talryne had summoned the courage to go talk to her. No one would understand what Vheira was going through better than another dragonless rider.

Before she could lose her nerve, Talryne knocked.

There was a beat of silence, and then a younger male voice responded, almost warily. "Come in!" Tavhei called. "No, sit, I've got it." He added, when Vheira started to get up.

She smiled at him, but obliged.

The unexpected voice was almost enough to make Talryne change her mind. Was a healer with her? But no, that voice was too young, wasn't it? An apprentice? She made herself open the door and saw a boy with Vheira. If he was a healer apprentice, he looked to be barely old enough. "Um, hi. I can . . . is this a bad time?"

"Who are you?" Tavhei started to challenge, before Vheira shook her head at him, and he retreated. "... Right. Water. I was getting us water." He muttered.

"Hello." Vheira greeted quietly. "I apologize for my son. How can we help you?" She paused, then added, "It's not a bad time."

Oh shards. That haunted look in Vheira's eyes. Talryne had seen that look often enough in the mirror. "I'm Talryne. I . . ." How did she even say it? But if she couldn't make herself talk about it, how was she supposed to help anybody else? "I lost my Ysanth two Turns ago."

Vheira, despite herself, flinched. Just a little bit. **Oh, Helviath...**

Tavhei immediately straightened, his mismatched eyes narrowed. "We _don't_ talk about dragons." He stated, even as he abandoned the water jug and sidled back closer to his mother. "... Mom?"

"It's all right." Vheira reassured, reached up to pat her son on the head. "Why don't you pour all three of us some juice, instead?"

Tavhei's shoulders hunched. "... okay." He responded. "You're welcome to join us." He recited.

The boy's protectiveness brought a faint smile to Talryne's face. It reminded her of the way N'vanik was so defensive of her. "Thank you," she told Tavhei before turning to Vheira. "I want to help, if I can."

Tavhei eyed the newcomer a moment longer, but turned away finally to fetch the juice and pour it.

Vheira tried a smile she wasn't sure she felt. "Thank you." She said, quietly sincere. "I suppose... I suppose it wouldn't hurt, to find... _something_ to do."

That faint, hollow smile was achingly familiar too. "It's hard to do anything at first but sleep and drift from day to day," Talryne said. "At least, it was for me. But after a few months, I took up a craft." She pointed to her weaver knots.

Tavhei set Talryne's cup down in front of her, a bit more forceful than truly necessary, before offering his mother the next cup. "... Here, Mama. Redfruit, your favourite." he told her, and held it out until Vheira took it.

Only then did he face Talryne, mismatched eyes still narrowed. "Would Mom taking up a craft really help?" He not quite demanded. "Because I'm not budging without her, and she doesn't-- she doesn't want to leave, either. So you can't kick either of us out."

Talryne blinked. "Why would I want to kick you out? And as long as you want to stay, N'vanik would never make you leave." It was hard to imagine the Weyrwoman would do anything like that either, but even if she did, Talryne was sure N'vanik would fight for Vheira and her son.

"This is our home." Vheira said, simply, blinked at her son as well.

Tavhei's shoulders hunched, and his face coloured. "_Because_." He muttered, and retreated from the conversation by taking a long drink.

Talryne looked at him curiously for a moment, but returned her attention to Vheira. "A craft helped me. It gave me something to focus on, and made me feel like I was contributing to the Weyr. But don't feel like you need to push yourself into anything. It's something to consider for the future, when and if you're ready."

"The Weyr is very kind." Vheira said, quiet. "As are you. Talryne, was it?"

Tavhei puffed up in his chair, opened his mouth. But a single look from his mother, and the boy deflated just as swiftly. "... Thank you, Talryne." He recited.

"Yes, Talryne," she confirmed. "And you're welcome. You're Vheira's son?"

Tavhei nodded, and lifted his chin just slightly. "I'm Tavhei." He confirmed with some regathered dignity.

"... My sweet boy." Vheira murmurs, and reaches up again to tousle her son's hair.

"_Mom_." Tavhei protested, ducked away from her.

Talryne tried to cover her laugh and only partly succeeded. The poor boy was trying to act so tough and older than he was. "It's good that she has you to look out for her. N'vanik was there to take care of me, and I don't think I would've made it without him."

"Of _course_ I'm going to look after her!" Tavhei said immediately. "She's my _mom_!!" He squared his shoulders. "Besides-- she _needs_ me!" It was just the two of them, now.

"I'm not implying anything," Talryne said. The boy sure was prickly, but this had to be hard on him, too. His mother was never going to be the same, and the dragon he'd likely known from birth was gone.

"Tav." Vheira chides, gently, refocusing. "I'm... he means no harm." She added to Talryne.

Tavhei swallowed then looked at Talryne as well. "... Sorry." He said, quieter. "I just. She's my _mom_. I have to take care of her now."

"But you don't have to do it alone." Shards, he was so _young_ and he was trying to do what N'vanik had struggled with as a full-grown adult. "I'm here for you, both of you. And so is N'vanik." She felt a bit guilty for volunteering him, but she couldn't imagine him saying no to this.

Tavhei hesitated, then tried very hard not to sniffle. "You... You'd help us?" He asked. "I mean, I _can_ take care of my mom, I'm not a _baby_. But... but maybe getting a little bit of help is... okay."

"Of course we'll help. That's why I'm here," Talryne said. Then she turned to Vheira. "You'll never be the same. But you can grow into someone new, and reclaim parts of yourself you thought were lost forever. I'm proof that we can be more than living shadows. If you need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, or just a distraction from the silence in your head, I'm here for you."

Vheira took a slow, shuddering breath, and then she nodded, offered Talryne another uncertain smile. "Thank you." She said, quietly. "I... We're grateful."

Tavhei nodded vigorously, when his mother nudged him.

Talryne took a sip of her juice to hide her smile and then set the cup down. "I'll leave you two alone. Interacting with new people was very draining for me, early on, so I imagine it's similar for you."

"We'll be in touch." Tavhei promised, if reluctantly softening. Someone... someone else willing to help his mother too could only be a good thing.

Last updated on the July 8th 2026

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

I Want To Help