Surveying the Damage (Tags Sel'n)

[Rowana]

Roivao stood like a statue as he looked over the charred rubble that had, until recently, been the wherhandler apartments. His face was passive, almost emotionless, though his mind was in turmoil. He had finally found peace, he had had a home again, he had even made the beginnings of new friends. But the war had followed him even here. Bendan had taken away so many lives. Again, he had them to blame.

Roisk sat calmly next to his handler. His needed time, and he was willing to give it. The bronze's wing had been seen to by one of the dragonhealers. Had he been a dragon, it would have permanently affected his ability to fly, but as it was, he escaped with only a scar. Roi was unhurt, unlike so many others. Tiida was perched protectively on his shoulder, glaring at any who came near.

Being uninjured almost made Roi feel worse. He was so lucky, while so many others had lost their lives. He clenched his fist. He had helped dig through the rubble, looking in vain for survivors. The bodies of several whers and they're handlers had been found, each so badly burned it was nearly impossible to tell who they were. No one stuck inside had survived the fire. Even Whinny and Whisk had died, protecting the other wherlings from attack.

Roi cursed himself silently. He should have been with them. He should have been able to do more. Roisk brought his head closer in a caress. He understood the pain. He too wished he could have done more. He had wanted to see to all his fellows survival. But he was only one wher. At least they had managed to get the children to safety. That alone made the pain in his wing worth it.

[Rei]

Why had he decided to visit the wher handler’s apartments? Possibly because it was here the attack had started. The catalyst for the whole huge mess. Sel’n walked with a pronounced limp. His leg wound was healing rather slowly, a fact that bothered the brown rider more than he would admit.

Vanity rode on his shoulder her frill displaying at any shadow that crossed their path. The mandyr had been extremely clingy and jumpy since the attack. When he had fetched her from Ka’rys she had been quite frail and shaken up.

A seven day later the green was more her old self. In fact he had been more relieved than he would admit the first time she had insulted him. A fact that had Kaaoloth rolling in laughter. I find it amusing that you are glad the little sister insulted you. It is a shame you could not have seen the look on your face. Shut up.

Bad? Vanity queried as a figure came into view amongst the rubble. A bronze handler? Had not most of them died in the fire? Now willing to startle the man Sel’n stopped his approach. Instead he waited a respectful dragon length back. After the man left the brown rider could get a closer look.

Hot, Red leak. Vanity said softly from her perch on her bonded. Hurt mine. Flicking her tongue against the rider affectionately she watched the wher handler with nervous yellow eyes. Benden badbadbadbadbad.

[Rowana]

Roisk and Tiida noticed Sel'ns arrival at almost the same time. Roisk turned with a low growl that subsided as soon as he recognized the man was not an enemy. Tiida, on the other hand, directed all her attention on Vanity. Littlegreenrunner! she scolded. Tiida called both whers and salamandyr's "runners" because neither used their wings for flying. What she called actual runners was entirely different. Goplease. Gogogogogo! Tiida's words may have been polite, but her tone was far from it. She fanned her large wings and small frill in a way that was supposed to be threatening, but ended up more comical than anything.

Roivao turned and rested a hand on Roisk's shoulder. He hadn't seen Sel'n in some time. They had both become so busy that they kept missing each other. Roi felt a little guilty about that. He hadn't even thank him or T'rid for bringing him here. And for the opportunity to bond with Roisk. Even more worrisome were Sel'n's injuries. It reminded Roi even more how lucky he was to come out with so little harm. Roi looked his old friend over with a sad and distant look. "Are you alright?" he asked softly. It was a stupid question, but he had to know. He didn't want anything to happen to any of the few friends he had.

[Rei]

Sel’n paused before striding forward. He knew this man. Vanity tensed as her bonded approached the wherhandler. Hissing in agitation at Tiida, she bounced from her spot on Sel’n’s shoulder. No Go. You go. Ugly green uglyuglyuglybigwings. She flared her frill and hissed again. Mine. Not yours. You go. Mineminemineminemine.

The brown rider sighed and grabbed Vanity from his shoulder to deposit her in his sling. The mander clambered inside and poked her tiny head out to frill again, the attempt half hearted. Pushing his good hand through his hair he regarded the other man solemnly. “I’m fine. Healing a bit slower than I would have turns ago but I’ll survive.”

Sel’n regarded Roisk with a mixture of surprise and relief. “I see you have bonded a wher. How is the night life? Never been much for it myself.” He allowed a small smile to spread across his face as he felt Kaaoloth’s questioning prod. Sel’n bit back Kaaoloth’s hello not sure how it would be received. After all the man was still missing half his soul. Even if the wher helped it would never replace Iloth. Kaaoloth’s greeting might do more harm than good.

Perhaps Roisk could ease Roi’s loneliness but he could never fill the hole that man’s dragon had left behind. Nothing ever would. In a way Sel’n supposed Roivao was stronger than he could ever be. If Kaao died before him he would take his life. There was no doubt of that fact. “Seems even here Benden followed. Fort is no doubt rejoicing now. To tell you the truth it bothers me. The whole damn attack. I am afraid this may be only the tip of the iceberg. Benden’s leader may be gone but the whole way it went down still haunts me.” Sel’n’s voice contained a tiredness he was not used to feeling.

Sel’n rubbed his opposite shoulder in a unconscious gesture of discomfort. Prevention was now the way to go. He made a mental note to set up a meeting with K’roi. He wanted permission to conduct dragon fighting lessons for the weyrlings. Even if he was refused he planned to conduct the lessons under the table so to speak.

[Rowana]

Tiida hissed back at Vanity. Me Stay. Nicemine. She nuzzled Roivao affectionately before returning her glare to the other salamandyr. Yourmine youkeep. It was clear from her tone that Tiida could care less about Sel'n as long as Vanity stayed away from Roi. It was bad enough she had to let the big shiny one near.

Roi reached up a hand to calm his salamandyr. The little creature was taking time to get used to. He nodded in relief to hear Sel'n was healing. That was good. He didn't want to lose anymore friends to Bendan. He did manage a small smile at the mention of Roisk, though it failed to reach his sad eyes. He patted the wher fondly and Roisk purred in response. "It takes getting used to," he admitted. "But we're managing."

Roisk had been assessing Sel'n with calm and patients. He had decided he like the man. He was a friend of Roi's after all, and he seemed a worthy one at that. Though he didn't think he would ever like the little salamandyr. She made Tiida seem positively amiable by comparison.

Roi frowned. Sel'n's words troubled him. He rubbed the back of his neck in agitation. "It's not like them to just sit quietly," he agreed sadly. "Fort either, for that matter. Like or not, it seems the war has followed us here." Roi sighed deeply and looked longingly at the sky. Had it really only been a few days? A few days since he had thought he could put all that behind him? But death and destruction had followed him even here. He had the remains of his home to attest to that.

[Rei]

Vanity continued to hiss and frill in anger. Stupid Ugly. No want ugly yours. Her words where spoken in a harsh hateful voice with a hiss for punctuation. Ugly wingugly. Sel’n shook his head and poked his sling none to gently. “Don’t mind her. She’s worse than a broody queen in temperament.” QueenVanity good mine. Goodgood. She purred in response and nibbled affectionately on his injured arm. Not that the man could feel it.

Falling silent for a minute Sel’n surveyed the damage. “Do you know where the apartments will be rebuilt? I can’t imagine they would be in the same place anymore. For that matter where are you all staying now?” The brown rider wracked his mind for an answer. Surely it had to be someplace dark due to the whers photosensitive nature. He examined Roisk for a minute or two, noting his examination.

Sel’n rubbed is injured leg absently. You know you should go get more numbweed Selmine. I will once I finish up here. The brown gave a loving caress to his rider’s mind and withdrew quietly. Turning his attention to Roi again the brown rider smiled. “I am glad to see you are doing alright here. I do hope everyone is treating you well enough. You look good my friend. It’s amazing what southern living does for a person.”

Vanity had fallen silent by this time her head peaking slightly out of her bonded’s sling. The little green was growing tired it was night. Hers should be heading to bed instead of talking to the smallgroundwing and it‘s pet. Ignoring them all, she withdrew into the sling and curled into a tight ball.

[Rowana]

Roi glanced at Tiida, who seemed to have decided she was satisfied and gone back to curling on his shoulder. "Seems a lot of them are like that," he commented dryly. There were times he regretted the curiosity that had resulted in Tiida. She could be frustrating at times, particularly when she argued with Roisk. But her over protectiveness was endearing and at least she didn't have a bad mouth. Though that didn't stop her from insulting people when she felt like it.

"I don't know," he admitted sadly. "Right now we're staying in some of the empty weyrs on the ground level." He sighed to think about their temporary quarters. "We've hung as much cloth as we could find over the entrances, but light still gets through. Roisk and his clutch mates do alright, but most of the weyrbred ones have it rough."

"It is," he agreed, nodding. "And everyone is very kind." Well, almost everyone. There were exceptions, like Malara and Mask. But at this point, he was just glad the blue pair had survived. His face darkened slightly, to think of all the new friends he would not be seeing again. Shaking his head to clear the sad thoughts, he looked Sel'n over for a moment. "At least I'm not likely to get a tan," he remarked with a small smile.

[Rei]

Sel’n frowned at the mention of the living quarters they were currently subjected to. “You would think they could do better than that for the whers. After all you where the ones who sounded the attack. If the alarm had been given later it is quite likely we would have suffered even heavier casualties.” The brown rider scuffed his boot in the charcoal laden dirt.

Turning his face towards the dark sky Sel’n allowed a rare moment of peace to filter over his face. “Roivao I’m glad you are doing so well. I admit I was worried about you for awhile. I was afraid to interfere figuring it would be harder for you if I stuck my nose in your business. I am sorry if I came off as callous.” He turned back to the man a unreadable look on his face. It was the closest thing to an apology anyone had ever gotten from the brown rider.

Roi was from a past the brown rider sometimes wished he could erase, but he had been, and still, was an important person to the rider. Looking from the man towards the wher Sel’n stuck his hand out towards the beast. “Hello their Roisk. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He left enough space for the wher to accept or reject the affection. The rider was not one for forcing himself on anyone. Vanity shifted a bit inside Sel’n’s sling and mumbled. MinenoyoursMine.

Sel’n snorted before allowing affection and reassurance to wash over the mandyrs mind. The fact that she was combining her words in such a garbled slur was a testament to her exhaustion.

[Rowana]

Roivao shrugged. He was used to getting the short end of the stick. Though he would never regret impressing Iloth, the pair had never been treated very well by fellow riders. Sel'n and Kaaoloth had been one of the exceptions. So Roi was used to making do with what he was given. "With all that's happened, I'm sure they just haven't had time. And it's not like there area many places we can go right now."

Roi gave his friend a patient and reassuring look. "It's alright." He looked at the ground. "I needed some time," he admitted softly. He didn't mention the number of times he had thought about ending it. Only bonding to Roisk had finally convinced him not to. Though even now, it was sometimes hard not to consider the option. But he knew Iloth would never forgive him for abandoning his friends when they needed him.

Roisk sniffed Sel'n's hand for a moment. This man was a friend of Roi's and that seemed good enough and he rumbled his approval. He pushed his noise under the hand as an indication that Sel'n could pat him. He ignored Vanity. From his experience with Tiida, he had determined this was the best course. Roi patted the bronze's head fondly. "He likes you," he said with relief. Roisk usually liked people, but he could be overprotective at times, especially after recent events.

[Rei]

Sel’n listened in silence to Roi and nodded. Time everyone needed time and unfortunately it was something that no one had a lot of. As the bronze accepted his pat he smiled and scratched the wher’s eye ridges. Dragon’s liked it so why wouldn’t a wher? The brown rider gave a broad smile to his companion.

“Well hopefully things start coming together soon. If there is anything I can help with don’t be afraid to ask.” Sel’n murmured quietly as he looked up into the dark sky. A soft pressure on his mind caused him to smile. “Kaao won’t let up on me about getting more numbweed for my leg. He’s as bad as a woman I swear.” Immediately after he had made the statement he regretted it. However there was no hope for it now. He mentally kicked himself.

“Roisk is a strong looking wher. I’m glad he likes me. I would hate to be on the wrong end of those talons.” Indeed the bronze had a wicked set of claws and his body was packed with muscle. For a wher he was a fine looking beast. Vanity had finally fallen into slumber and so the night air was heavy with silence after the brown rider’s statement. He gave a sideways look at Roivao. Awkward silence was something Sel’n was well used to by now. But he had run out of things to speak about and Roivao was obviously not a conversationalist.

[Rowana]

Roi nodded, giving his wher a pat. "Several Bendan riders already regret that," he agreed. His eyes grew sad. He had had had to kill before, to defend his home, but he still didn't like it. What sane human would? At least his and Roisk's attacks had been swift and clean. It was more than could be said for the handlers and whers trapped in their rooms. They had been died horribly, either burned alive or suffocating on smoke. He was suddenly very glad Roisk liked Sel'n. He didn't want two of his closest friends fighting.

He looked up at his friend again. "You shouldn't keep Kaaoloth worried," he said softly. Roisk crooned briefly under the man's caress. "It's late. You should rest. I'll be fine." It was entirely true, but he didn't want Sel'n to be concerned. He had enough to worry about from what he had heard. The weyrlings had been through much and they needed their teacher's to be strong. It wasn't like he would be alone. He had Roisk and Tiida with him.

[Rei]

Sel’n smiled at Roi and clapped him on the shoulder, pulling him suddenly into an awkward half embrace. “Take care of yourself Roivao. If you ever need anything I’ll be around. Just have Roisk bespeak Kaaoloth or Vanity.” Stepping back he drew a hand through is hair before taking one last look at the blackened ash that carpeted the landscape.

“Perhaps in time Selenitas will come back even stronger. I’ll gladly stick around and help it happen. This place has become home and like it or not we have a responsibility to it. Goodnight Roivao. Stay safe.” Turing he started to stride away and then suddenly stopped and turned. “Good night to you as Well Roisk. I am sure you will keep your safe.”

The concussive sound of wing beats was heard as Kaaoloth dropped out of the rapidly darkening sky. The brown’s whirling green eyes fixed themselves on the humans and he crooned low to the wher and Roi. He looks good Selmine. Now please let us go to the infirmary. I refuse to let you walk any longer. You are pushing yourself to hard as it is.

Sel’n shook his head and hoisted himself up into the riding straps. Your worse than a broody queen you know that? Kaaoloth lifted his head an snorted. And you are worse than a errant hatchling. A pulsation of loving emotion was shared through the bond and Sel’n stroked the brown’s soft neck. Alright Kaao I’m ready. With a final croon as a farewell, Kaaoloth sprang into the night sky and set a course for the distant weyrs.

((Go ahead and finish it out Row <333)

[Rowana]

Roivao accepted Sel'n's embrace, offering his own awkward one in return. He was not embarrassed by such degrees of affection. For the moment, it was simply a relief to know he at least had one human friend who cared about him. One person who would miss him if he were gone. He didn't want Sel'n to be sad anymore than he wanted to leave Roisk. It was enough to help him hold on to the life he had. "You too," he said sincerely. He didn't want to lose one of the few friends he had.

Roisk stood proud and looked at Sel'n with confidence and approval. He would protect his bonded at any cost. As he would protect their home. He would not let evil men catch him off guard a second time. Next time, he would strike without mercy or hesitation. He would see that all were safe. No more tragic deaths like those in this building.

Roi glanced up at Kaaoloth with a brief flash of pained sorrow in his eyes. Even so, he was glad to see he was alive and well. That he brought memories of Iloth to Roi's mind was not his fault. Roisk's expression towards the dragon was impassive for the moment. Dragons made his Roi uncomfortable, but he would allow this one. The brown was tied to Sel'n. As long as it didn't not stay long, Roisk would permit him.

Roi gave a halfhearted wave and Sel'n and Kaaoloth were gone in the direction of the weyrs. He sighed and turned back to the wreckage. So much destruction and waste for so little gain. Part of him was glad Iloth was not with him. The horror would have distressed him greatly. Battle and death they had seen, but such carnage was more than Roi could bare. Not just the strong had died, but the weak and the helpless. Young candidates, old weyrfolk, injured men and women, even a few children were among the victims. Had it been worth it? Roi didn't think he would ever find the answer.

"Let's go," Roi murmured. Roisk rumbled in agreement. With Tiida on his shoulder and Roisk by his side, Roi turned away from the ruins. They had a home to rebuild.

((Closed ^_^))