A/N: I really do feel bad about all of my procrastination

A/N: I really do feel bad about all of my procrastination... I really truly do... -sad face- Anyway... yeah... next chapter...

UPDATE: 9/30/2008: I realized that I made an error. Loan still does not have full use of her sight and I said that she could see clearly or something like that, which has been fixed.

Chapter Nine: Recovery and Strife

Mine? The voice softly prodded Kalin's mind. She was aware that she was leaning against something that smelled draconic, but it wasn't Faith. She slowly stirred from sleep, to see the grayish-golden hide that she was leaning against. She bolted up. Sunlight was streaming into the room she was in, which wasn't her weyr.

Faith? Kalin asked, then realized where she was. She looked up at Arestath and saw that her wing had been splinted and the membrane sewn together. She appeared to be sleeping as well.

"Green-rider! You're up!" Kalin looked over to where the voice came from. There a shorter, plumper woman with long gray hair braided tightly around her head, holding large rolls of gauze and balancing a pot of numbweed, all with a tray of food coming into the room.

"Lorleru?" Kalin asked, her head still fuzzy from the night's previous wine, festivities and terrors. Had she just become a dragonrider little less than a day ago?

"Why yes! Rentus bid me down to see that you got up and had some breakfast. I also need to tend to Arestath's wing. Eat up. Eat up, then go see your dragon. No doubt she is missing you."

Have you been missing me Faith? I am so sorry for leaving you all night love.

I do miss you, but I understand. Eat, then come and see me.

Kalin graciously accepted the food. There was some klah and a nice bowl of porridge. She murmured her thanks between scoops of the food and sips of the klah. By the time she had finished the food, Arestath's wing had been reapplied with numbweed and some of the smaller cuts had been patched with gauze. The queen was now awake and looking intently at Kalin.

Thank you, Kalin. You saved my rider's life.

I was only doing my duty to the Weyr, and to you, Arestath.

But you did more than was necessary and more than was expected of a green rider.

I thank you for your praise Arestath. And you do look more grey than gold at the moment. I can have someone bring food.

That would be greatly appreciated. Again, I, and my rider, thank you. Kalin felt the connection with the great queen break off. She looked around. Lorleru was gone. Kalin smiled and stood, stretching sore muscles. She really did need to see Faith. And bathe.

"Farewell Arestath. I shall return to see that you have been fed and that you are well."

Go well, Kalin. Kalin turned and walked out of the Weyrwoman's weyr, across the Hatching Grounds, and into the Weyrbowl, where she could see a green shape coming down to greet her.

Kalin ran towards her dragon and, when she had landed, threw her arms around Faith's neck and let out her long held in tears.

xxx

"Loan?"

Loan slowly became aware that the voice was not in her head, not a dream, and not her dragon. She slowly, groggily, opened her eyes. Two forms were there, appearing to be smiling, hold a tray of wonderful smelling things.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Ch'ser said, smiling. "We've been drafted, by Lorleru. She went to tend Kalin. D'ret got saddled with helping in the infirmary." Loan nodded, vaguely aware of what was happening.

Wake up! A little consciousness would do the trick here! Quanoth's voice rang in her head, making Loan blink her eyes rapidly and shake her head to try to clear it.

Thank you, dear heart. She said and looked at the boys again. "You say you have food?"

"Indeed. R'skel, show her the royal feast."

R'skel walked forward and laid a tray with a bowl of porridge and a cup of klah on the bed beside her. She had only begun to eat when D'ret walked in.

"Did I miss much?" he asked. "I just was shoved out of the infirmary. Too many people they said." He sighed and looked at Loan and waved. She shook her head at him and he grinned. "Does anyone know if Kalin is up yet?"

She is. She and Faith are together in the Weyrbowl. Turyth told his rider. Faith comforts her rider. D'ret nodded. He looked at the rest of them.

"I'm going to go see that Kalin gets here in one piece," he said and, with a wave to the rest of them, walked out of Loan's weyr. His hands in his pockets and whistling, he walked into the Weyrbowl to see a female form clinging to a green dragon that he well recognized. He walked up to Kalin and Faith.

Kalin looked up and saw him and, at once, wiped her eyes and sniffed. "IwasjusttalkingtoFaithIwasgoingtoberightupIswear!" She said in all one breath. D'ret shook his head. She sniffed again and put her arms around Faith's head again. D'ret put a hand on her shoulder.

"Kalin..." he said, not sure of what to say. She detached herself from Faith and threw her arms around D'ret, needing the comfort of a friend. He held her close as she cried again, until her tears ran out and she took long, shuddering breaths. She looked at him.

"I got your shirt wet..." she said, her voice hoarse. He laughed and kissed the top of her head, in a very brotherly like way. He saw Kalin's eyes go out of focus for a moment as she bespoke her dragon. However, her head suddenly whipped around.

"ORNAITH!" She cried with a terrible, heart-wrenching cry. D'ret looked up to see a brown shape go into the sky and, suddenly, disappear. A dreadful keen filled the Weyr. Kalin clung to D'ret as new sobs racked her body. "N'kret... why? Why?" She kept moaning.

Bring her to Loan's weyr. Quickly mine! Turyth said to his rider. D'ret nodded and scooped up Kalin, cradling her. He made his way to Loan's weyr and found the door open. He walked in and placed Kalin on the now empty bed, where Loan had been sitting. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"What happened?" D'ret gasped to Loan, who was sitting in a chair, looking stricken.

"We... don't know. Ch'ser and R'skel went to check on... N'kret..." She said, staring at the wall. "What happened to Kalin?"

"I think she... felt Ornaith go between..." He shuddered.

"Damn him!" came the shout from the hallway. D'ret recognized Ch'ser's voice. He looked out of the door in time to see Ch'ser punch a wall three times before sinking to the ground. "Damn him... the bastard..."

D'ret rushed to his friend's side. "What?"

"N'kret... cut his own throat... He killed his own dragon! He is a murderer! He... he..." He seemed unable to suppress his rage and again punched the wall. Bitter tears ran down his face. D'ret herd smaller footsteps and looked up in time to see R'skel stumble. He rushed forward and caught the younger boy before he fell.

"Why...why..." R'skel sobbed. Then Nysil rushed up.

"Ikith said-" but she stopped when she saw her brother. "R'skel!" She rushed forward and took her brother from D'ret.

"Take him into Loan's," D'ret said and moved toward Ch'ser. "Ch'ser, get up. Come to Loan's weyr. We are all there. Come on." He helped his friend up and into Loan's weyr. He sat Ch'ser down in a chair and surveyed the scene. Nysil and R'skel were crying together. Loan was still sitting, silent tears streaking down her face. Ch'ser had gotten up and was feebly punching the wall again. Kalin was still on the bed, immobile. Quanoth had flown out to the ledge and was meeting with Ikith, Faith, Verith, Kineth, and his own Turyth. D'ret let out a sigh that turned into a choked sob. He sat on the bed and put his head in his hands.

He felt a small hand rest on his knee and looked to see Kalin, her eyes red and puffy, tear-streaks running down her face, looking at him. Another tear ran down her cheek and he reached to brush it away. Then he took her own hand and they cried together. The six friends stayed together throughout the day and mourned together.

A while later, as the sun was high in the sky, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Loan called, her voice thick. The door opened and Rentus, assisted by Lorleru, walked in. Ch'ser got up at once, letting the Weyrwoman have her seat.

"Loan... I owe you an explanation..." Rentus started looking at her fellow queen-rider.

"No you don't." Loan said. "It's okay, mother."

"You have no idea how long I wished for you to say that..." Rentus said, and looked at the six mourning riders. "How is Kalin?" she asked.

"Not well..." D'ret said. He looked down. He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, Kalin's head in his lap. "She hasn't stopped crying since..." He trailed off and brushed a stray piece of hair off her face. "She felt Ornaith... leave." Rentus bowed her head.

"I am so sorry to have to put you all through this... you are all so young... and I should be asking about R'skel..." she turned to look at the youth, who was still clinging to his sister.

"I'll be all right... Weyrwoman..." R'skel said, his voice still choked. "I just keep thinking of Verith and... how I would never ever want to... lose him..." Nysil stroked his head. A thump was heard.

"That... complete..." Thump. "Total" Thump. "Sharding" Thump. "Bastard!" Ch'ser had started punching the wall again. Loan walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

Rentus stood. "I am a stranger here. Call if you have need..." She took one last look at them, and walked out of the room.

We are all here. We will never leave you. The draconic message was played again and again in the youths' heads by their dragons.

Maybe this is all a bad dream... D'ret thought.

This is no dream mine. The pain, the hurt, the sadness... it is all real. But I am not a dream either. I am here and I always will be. I will never leave you.

Turyth... D'ret looked at Kalin. Her face twitched as if she was reliving some painful experience. "Shh. It's all right Kalin. We're all here..." D'ret said, gently stroking her head.

"I know..." Came the whisper from Kalin. "But so is the pain..."

A/N: Sad... so sad... but also moving the plot forward, believe it or not... this is all going somewhere. I promise. Till next time!

Hopekills16: Thanks for your vote! And you will find out!

ginalee: Thanks for your vote too! :-)

OnyxDrake: Thanks for your criticism, really. It makes me a better writer in the end... I hope XD

--Signing out! Neko