Night's Embrace
This time, things were different. It seemed as if the sun would never set, and when it finally did, the young man watched it go with a horrible mix of sadness and relief. They said the night healed all things with its sleep, and after the things he'd seen today, he wanted that release more than anything else he'd ever longed for. And worse yet, he'd been spared the worst of it. He was a Weyrling for Sweet Faranth's sake! And above that, his beloved brown wasn't even ready to take his first trip skyward to carry 'Stone, much less Flame Thread.
It didn't matter though, for the cries he head today, the grim faces of the Healers as they went about their task, and that cry, that piercing note of anguish and of loss that brought Wingleaders to tears. He didn't think he could stand another time. How could a community take such loss and go on without but a second's pause? He sat there, watching the darkening sky, trying to find an answer, searching desperately for one that would bring a bit of peace into his mind.
His bond, his beautiful brown was asleep, that was something. Clinging to that fierce bit of love for his other half, he shivered, even though the air was oppressively hot still. Igen in the summer was a special kind of torture. So lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the footsteps behind him on the sand, and only when he realized that someone had sat down next to him did he register any kind of curiosity at all.
It was a girl, and for a moment he was at a loss, trying to place the face. Then realization hit him and he started. "My-my apologies goldrider. Can I help you?" If he remembered rightly, she was still a Weyrling too, though he'd no idea of her age. Sitting still for a long second, the goldrider didn't move, which only put him more and more on edge, wondering if he'd made some offense. Finally, she turned to look at him, and the expression in her eyes was one that mixed fatigue with the loss everyone felt.
"I'm, I'm not really sure, but you look as lost as I feel, so perhaps we can keep each other company for a while." He realized that she was shaking slightly, and hurriedly asked, "You are ok, right? Should I call a Healer?" Without realizing the codes of conduct he was breaking, he put his arm around the girl, half to support her, half to comfort her.
"I'll be ok. I'm not hurt. Just-just-" She couldn't finish the statement, whether from the lack of words or the emotion being restrained by a strength of will that had carried her through the day. Nodding, the Brown Weyrling took a breath, and finding himself slightly calmer with a purpose was able to reply, "Just relax. It's been a day and a half. Everyone's shaken up and scared, and sad. I am too." With those few words he felt some sort of wall come down and the young goldrider leaned against him, accepting the embrace. Together the two sat there for a good long while in the dark, not saying a thing.
Words really weren't needed though, for each understood what the other was feeling, felt it themselves, and when the two had finally exhausted any emotion they had left in the form of tears, the calm of night swept over the Weyr at long last and brought sleep. Sleep to the goldrider at the very least. He'd carried the Ranker back to her quarters in his arms, protectively. Though he'd stopped to ask for directions twice, no one had looked at him oddly. When he'd tucked her into the cot at the side of her sleeping gold and stood back up she opened her eyes for just a second, and whispered, "Thank You."
An odd feeling, torn between affection for the girl probably no older than himself, and a fierce sense of protectiveness swelled through his heart and he nodded, managing a kind smile before letting himself out. In the corridor outside he turned to leave and found himself face to face with the Weyrleader. Stunned, he stood there, wondering what excuse to give, what reason to state. The older man gently smiled, and asked, "Is she sleeping?"
He had enough wits to nod and to keep his mouth shut. The Weyrleader breathed a deep sigh. "Good, thank you. Whatever it was you did calmed her down. She held together long enough, but it tore her apart mentally. I am in your debt Rider." Shocked out of his silence, he managed to squeak out, "I'm- just a Weyrling sir." The Weyrleader smiled again. "I say otherwise. You have the heart of a Rider, and the honesty to back it up. I won't forget. Now, get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be just as long as today was, mores the pity."
With that, he took his leave of the Weyrleader, and walked back towards the Barracks, eyes now drooping with sleep that hadn't been there before. Curling up beside his brown, he sought sleep, and was given his just reward.