Coming to an Understanding

Writers: Len, Suzee
Date Posted: 11th August 2011

Characters: Y'gel, Jaylene
Description: Jaylene and Y'gel talk about what happened when Im're was injured
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 6

Y'gel

Jaylene

Seeing the familiar frame of the master Dragonhealer, Jaylene inwardly
groaned and turned back towards the food on offer in the Dinning Hall,
hoping he didn't see her. She hadn't forgiven him for his behaviour
towards her when Im're had been so badly Scored. He of all the people
here should have known what it would have meant if she hadn't helped
save the boy's life.

Y'gel went to the serving table and grabbed a plate. He made his
selections and as he moved through the line he noticed Jaylene a few
steps ahead. He got the feeling she still had issues with him but
she'd put herself and others in danger that any other dragonhealer
would have dreaded. An out of control dragon could kill you without
realizing what they'd done. They'd be very sorry after, but that
wouldn't matter to you if you were dead.

He hadn't had the time to make a nice pretty request and tie it all up
with a bow and she hadn't allowed him to explain since. He shook his
head and walked to a nearby table with his meal.

Jaylene breathed out a sigh of relief when he walked away, only to be
frustrated when she realised she had to walk straight past his table
to get to the one where her friends were. Well, there was nothing for
it, she had to just simply walk on by. And so she set out, head held
up high.

"Jaylene," he called softly realizing it wasn't going to get any
better unless it was addressed. He didn't need this continuing with
the wingthird. Not when they would come in constant contact at any
time there was a fresh injury.

She sighed heavily and just stopped and looked at him. "What?"

He put down his fork and straightened in his chair with a serious look
directly in her eyes. "We need to talk. Whether you really want to or
not. You're going to need me sooner or later and this _thing_ should
be resolved."

She just stood there with an eyebrow raised.

He shook his head. "Really?"

She snorted at that. "Hey, you started this."

"No," he said without passion. "You were stupid."

"Fine then." At that she brushed by him to get to her friends. "At
least Im're's still alive, and Gormth too."

"Jaylene," he kept his voice pitched low so other around wouldn't
hear. "There is no doubt what you did was heroic in saving them to get
them to the infirmary. But once they were on the ground. _That_ is
when you endangered other's lives. _That_ is when you acted stupidly."

"What, by talking to him so he didn't pass out?" She gave him an
incredulous look.

"No," he said. "And that is the point you haven't let me explain. Are
you willing to listen?"

"If you actually say something and don't just make statements at me
like 'you're stupid'."

"Well so far you haven't let me talk. I had to say _something_ to get
your attention." He indicated the chair across from him. People were
beginning to notice her standing there.

Jaylene sighed and looked over to her friends, before sitting down to
hear Y'gel out.

His eyes narrowed. He could tell she wasn't in most receptive mood. In
his experience though things like this had to be addressed. If he let
it fester it would only get worse.

"Would it be fair to say that you know a significant amount about
Thread fighting that I don't?" he asked.

She studied him before answering. "In a way, I suppose. But you know
thread fighting in a way that I don't, what with treating more Scores
than I'll--hopefully--ever see. So no, I wouldn't say that at all."
She gave him a rare smile and patted the back of his hand. "I'd say
we both know thread fighting, but in different ways."

"Alright, fair enough." He returned her smile. "Jaylene, when Gormth
was injured he was out of control. We needed to get him under control
before we approached or someone could have been killed by his
thrashing around.

"I didn't have the luxury of time to explain that to you when it
happened. But you put yourself and others in awful danger when you
rushed in. Orlaith was on her way and it would have been safe in only
a matter of moments." He shook his head. "Gormth would never of hurt
Im're but that doesn't extend to you or me. I'm sorry I yelled but...
I had to get you out of there. It could have been so much worse."

"Well..how was I supposed to know the Queen was on her way?" She
blinked back unexpected tears. "It was so like...like J'lan..."

"I know, I know," he said. This time it was his turn to pat her hand.
"Things happened so fast there was no time to tell you."

An unexpected well of emotion came up and she began to cry, thinking
of her baby brother and his lovely green, both killed two turns ago
because there was no one there to keep J'lan from passing out and
Ueith from panicking. Im're's accident was a mirror image of her
brother's. She put her head down on the table as she began sobbing in
earnest. What she wouldn't give to have her cute little J'lan back
again and see his cheeky smile.

He hadn't meant to bring that whole episode back so forcefully and
squeezed her hand "Jaylene I'm very sorry."

"Yeah well..." She tried to get herself under control and whipped her
face with the back of her hand. "Well I couldn't lose Im're, I'm
sorry."

"I know... I can't bear to lose _any_ of them Jaylene. But there is
something Master T'olsn told me many turns ago: There are two rules
to Threadfall. Number one: Riders and their lifemates die. Number Two:
Healers can't change rule number one."

The woman sighed at that and took a well needed drink of her beer.
"How is the boy?"

"He's recovering and so is his lifemate. They'll both be back flying
thread sooner than you think." He took a sip of his own drink. "You
did everything right up until you ran in on an out of control dragon.
You're brave my dear, I'll give you that!" He grinned.

Jaylene blushed at that. "You're just trying to butter me up now!"

Last updated on the November 6th 2011

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Coming to an Understanding