Chapter 37
From that point on, the flights continued each day as long as the weather permitted. Excursions were kept short at first. Tristan learned that this was to allow adjustment time for both the rider and the skybax. The rider had to stay alert at all times and get used to his skybax partner's movements and habits. The skybax had to adjust to the extra weight he wasn't used to carrying around and adjust take off and landing techniques. Some skybaxes had an easier time with this than others. Jamin's skybax was a wonderful adjuster and he took the least tumbles out of all the cadets. Fortunate for Tristan, Twilight was naturally graceful as well, making the rides over all smoother than the other cadets' experiences at first. All of these adjustments took time. They each had to develop methods of communication and learn to be sensitive to each other's emotions. Tristan was so exhausted when evening arrived that he often went to bed early without spending any extra time on his sketchbook. Often his dreams were filled with flying and sometimes ended in falling. He always woke up before hitting a cliff ledge or plunging into the Amu River.
Work in the infirmary continued on top of Tristan's other studies. Since the glider racing incident at skybax camp, his work time at the infirmary had been increased to three times in a week instead of once every seven days. Though his heart was in the airspace with Twilight and he searched for Dark Wing in his dreams, Tristan learned more about herbal cures and how to prepare them. He learned to be an assistant too when someone came in, doing or fetching whatever Sabra, Elora, or Twig, or any of the other infirmary workers needed. Tristan learned that he was not a naturally gentle or sensitive person when it came to sick or hurt folks and Elora tried to help him to learn how to soften up.
True to Sabra's word, cadets started trickling into the infirmary. Fira came in once having sprained her wrist during training. Then Taddeo came in looking for something to soothe the motion sickness gained after longer flights. Even Mathias dared to come by in spite of knowing that Tristan was working there. He was seeking something to relieve some bruised ribs after experiencing an unfortunate tumble. Even Jamin dropped in asking for his favorite mix of herbal tea. On these occasions, Jamin and Elora chatted like they were good friends and Tristan noticed that Jamin never took very many portions worth of tea, giving him a good reason to come back sooner than later. On the occasions when Jamin was there, Tristan was careful to keep to himself and appear busy, which seemed to please Jamin. An Apprentice rider came in with a cut on his knee that needed stitched and once a small pyroraptor came in with scratches that needed tended to—aftermath of a fight with another of its kind. An elderly man came in to get herbs to make a tea to ease his achy joints, and a worried mother brought in a toddler with burned fingers.
After seeing everyone come in and out, Tristan started to feel a little proud to be the only one managing to avoid treatment. However, he always made sure to take some arnica oil back with him to use for the many bruises he acquired during training with Twilight. And he still had peppermint and lavender oil left that Elora had given him back at skybax camp which he rubbed into his neck and shoulders when they felt sore from the long hours spent in the saddle.
It wasn't just the Beginner riders who showed up at the infirmary. Occasionally an Apprentice level rider came too. In fact, it seemed like they were in and out more than the Beginner riders. Sabra said this was because the Apprentice riders had a tendency to be over confident, getting involved in more daring flight activities. Usually most of the Apprentice riders came in with fairly minor injuries, but one day someone was brought in, unconscious and causing a buzz of activity. Tristan was helping Twig at the time with folding clean bandages and restocking the supply cupboards. When the emergency workers wheeled the patient by, he overheard the words, 'Apprentice Rider,' and 'bad accident.' Tristan craned his neck and managed to catch a glimpse of the Rider's face as they passed. Among the dirt, blood, and makeshift bandages, Tristan recognized Uncle Drake's face, eyes closed and very pale.
Tristan's eyes widened in disbelief and he left the table he was working at, pursuing after the group of infirmary nurses. His heart pounded and he hardly heard Twig's warning to not get in the way. But Tristan ignored the oviraptor. He had to get a second look. Maybe in that quick glimpse he'd been mistaken. Maybe it wasn't really Uncle Drake.
Just before he could reach them, the nurses wheeled the patient into the critical care ward, the double doors slamming in Tristan's face. He was about to push through them, when someone grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Whoa, what are you doing?" Elora said. "They'll call you in there if you're needed."
"But I have to see again. I—I have to know."
Elora was prepared to scold him about leaving his post and getting in the way of an emergency when she noticed his anxious expression and how he was standing rigidly, as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
Her tone immediately softened. "Hey, hey, now." She said soothingly as she tugged him away from the doors in case anyone came bursting through. "Breathe deep, remember? Try to calm down. Tell me what's wrong."
"Th—that's, I mean, I think it was…Uncle Drake, they took in there." He stammered. Then he shook his head, frowning. "No. No, it can't be—I mean, will he…will he be ok?"
Elora's smooth brow wrinkled slightly. "The man looked bad, but we'll be able to find out more details after awhile. I'm sorry, Tristan. Only time will tell." She wrapped her arms around him with the intention of giving him a comforting hug, but Tristan hardly noticed, feeling emotionally numb.
As Elora hugged him, she could feel the rapid beating of his heart in his chest and she realized that her friend was deeply upset, though he wasn't saying much.
"Thanks, Elora." He finally managed.
When Tristan returned to the front room, he saw the two Apprentice Riders who'd apparently brought Drake in. They were anxiously pacing back and forth in the waiting room. Tristan confronted them about what happened and they said that Drake and Sunfire had flown right into an unfamiliar canyon zone where another band of skybaxes chased them out. During the attack, Drake had fallen from Sunfire's back and had fortunately landed on a small ledge jutting out from a canyon wall, rather than plunging long and far down to the Amu River below. Tristan pressed for more details about the skybaxes who'd attacked and the Apprentice Riders explained that skybax clans can be very territorial and apparently Drake and Sunfire flew into a territory of very unfriendly skybaxes. Tristan swallowed hard, realizing that these rough skybaxes sounded like they could be part of the one that Dark Wing belonged to. He carefully kept these thoughts to himself though.
Later, Tristan found out that his uncle had a concussion and several broken ribs due to the fall. The concern was whether he could pull out of the coma and if so, would his brain be damaged and would he ever be able to return to flying with his skybax partner again.
Tristan's thoughts flashed back to the last couple of times he'd seen Uncle Drake, which was back at Skybax Camp. He was the Air Jousting champion, laughing, and triumphant. Then he'd returned to Skybax Camp and delivered the bundle of letters to Tristan personally. Uncle Drake's blue eyes had a spark of fun and joy for life and he'd teased Tristan hard about becoming a wayward cadet who looked more like he belonged to the Dolphin Bay Drifters. So quickly life could change. If Uncle Drake got well, would he be able to fly again? What would happen to Sunfire? It would be horrible to be separated from your skybax partner, both alive, but never able to fly together again. It would be even worse to be separated in death. Tristan shuddered. Uncle Drake would have to live and be ok and he planned to tell him that just as soon as he was allowed to go see him.
In the meantime, Tristan decided that he would hire a messenger dimorphodon and send a message to his family back home in Sauropolis, letting them know what happened. Uncle Drake had never settled down enough to marry, so there was no wife or children to contact. Tristan's dad, Cedric, was Drake's brother, and Tristan trusted that his father would find a way to contact his parents. Cedric and Drake's parents often traveled with a shipping company so it was difficult at times to determine their location.
After leaving the infirmary that evening, Tristan heard the distressed cries of a skybax flying in the air above the infirmary and he immediately knew that it was Uncle Drake's companion, Sunfire. Tristan felt an ache rise in his chest as he watched the skybax and he wished there was something he could do to comfort the creature. He wished he could at least assure the skybax that his rider would be alright and would join him in flight once again someday, but he could not offer this promise.
Elora quietly stepped outside and stood next to Tristan. He looked down at her, unaware of how distraught his expression was.
"It's one of the tougher sides to healer work." She said quietly. "We do our best, but nature has its own way at times and we just can't always understand it."
Tristan shook his head. "The separation of the rider and skybax is bad enough. The fact that they may never be united again is—is…" His words trailed off as he struggled to say the difficult words.
You don't have to say it." Elora said, gently pressing her hand against his chest over his heart. "You feel it right here, and that's what matters."
Tristan stepped back, the girl's touch and her kind words making him feel too close to breaking.
"It is okay to feel emotions." She said. "And it is okay to show them too. It won't make me think less of you. In fact, it tells me that you do have a kind heart behind that steely front you so often put up."
"He's my uncle. I've always looked up to him. He's the one who inspired me to become a skybax rider. I just feel so helpless." Tristan said. "I want to make things right for them." He said, gesturing toward the skybax. "I want do something to bring them together again."
"But don't you see?" Elora said. "You have already. You truly care and that's the largest part of it. You are helping with what you can in the infirmary and you being a rider with a special connection to the skybaxes can find a way to reach out to your uncle's skybax companion too."
"But how? I can't touch him. I'm not his rider."
Elora smiled. "You'll figure it out, I'm sure."
Tristan watched as the girl walked away from the infirmary. "Where are you going?"
"I'm off work for now." She said, turning slightly, the wind blowing stray charcoal curls across her face. "And going to supper."
"Supper?" Tristan asked. "The rest of the cadets…and I…will be eating at the diner along Windy street."
Elora smiled. "I'll be there. Jamin asked me to come."
"Oh. Of course." Tristan tried to fake a smile, but it didn't work too well, ending up more like a grimace instead. "See you later then."
After the girl disappeared down the dusty street, Tristan looked to the sky again, aching for the skybax still making long and lonely circles above the infirmary. Tristan closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. "I care." He thought, willing the feelings toward the skybax. "I care about what happens to both you and your rider. I don't do the important stuff in there, but I'm trying to help."
A moment later, the skybax landed close by and Tristan scrambled backwards in surprise. Instead of using angry screams, the creature just cried in soft, forlorn tones. Tristan whistled in the soothing pitches that he'd learned from Twilight.
The skybax pushed something on the ground toward Tristan. Looking down he saw that it was simply a small wooden box. As he knelt down and cautiously picked it up he discovered that it was small enough to rest in the palm of his hand. He immediately noticed that the smooth wooden lid was marred with a small crack and a tiny beam of light seeped through it. Tristan's eyes widened. Only one other thing he knew of had the capability of shining like that. He lifted a startled gaze up to the skybax, but Sunfire just stared back, waiting. Tristan undid the tiny clasp and lifted the lid.
Immediately, he threw a hand up to shield his eyes from the beam of light that shot forward. He squinted down, in awe of the familiar light of another sunstone. He realized then that this must've belonged to Uncle Drake and he'd lost it during the fall. Sunfire probably went back and retrieved it and wanted Uncle Drake to have it back. Tristan closed the lid and looked up at the skybax again, searching for an explanation.
Sunfire looked toward the infirmary doors, then back at the boy. Tristan stood slowly and nodded, understanding that the skybax wanted him to give it to Uncle Drake.
"I will." Tristan whispered, thinking it more than saying it.
The skybax did not fly away while Tristan walked back into the infirmary and closed the door behind him.
He passed through the doorway leading to the sick bay, but before he could reach Uncle Drake, Twig stopped him.
"What are you doing here, cadet? You have already done your work here for the day."
Tristan showed the dinosaur the small box, keeping his hand strategically over the cracked surface. "I'm just doing a favor for one of Uncle Drake's friends." He said. "I will go after this."
Twig nodded his head and allowed the boy to continue on his way.
When Tristan approached the man, he still remained unresponsive. A nurse stayed close by, keeping watch over him. She nodded toward Tristan and he stepped close. "You have one choice." He said, almost choking on his words. "You're going to pull out of this and get well. Sunfire is waiting for you." He reached into his pocket and withdrew the little box. He placed it into Uncle Drake's calloused hand and pushed his fingers gently closed around it. "I think you'll know who this is from." He said quietly. "I mean it now. Don't let go."
Tristan managed to nod respectfully to the nurse, then fled, for fear anyone would see the telltale tear that broke free though he'd clenched his teeth and fought hard to keep it back.
Once outside again, the wind cooled his face and he felt as if he could breathe better. He heard an anxious trilling sound and turned, seeing that the skybax was still there. He stood near the building, head down, wings folded, waiting. Being careful not to step too close, Tristan showed the creature his empty hands.
Sunfire seemed somewhat appeased then, and looking toward the setting sun, he launched into the air, heading toward the nesting grounds up at Pteros for the night. Tristan knew the creature would be right back again in the morning, waiting by the infirmary door, or circling the air above.