Embrace the world in grey (M'ta)

[Rei]

Er’ani was worried. Immensely so and the source of that worry was hanging almost limply in his arms as he made his way to the infirmary. Lketh wasn’t growing as well as his siblings. Wasn’t as boisterous as them, playful, alert. At first the weyrling had just figured it was stress, then perhaps it was just his dragon’s personality that made him appear so blank. But something was wrong. He could sense it and it scared him. Maybe that young healer had missed something when she had checked the hatching on the hatching grounds? But that had been two full months ago now. If she had missed something wouldn’t he be worse than just lethargic? The blue was growing, it was just at a rate distinctly slower than that of his siblings. Something had to be amiss. The boy just wasn’t sure what.

Er’ani didn’t want to go to the infirmary. Didn’t want it getting around that the albino was possibly sick. He already slept with one eye open and a knife under his pillow fearing they’d try to take the little dragon away again. They had been to the infirmary only once before for a bout of sunburn. Before the weyrling had realized that Lketh couldn’t sun like the others did. The lack of any pigment in his hide made such a thing to dangerous. So he had to protect the hatching from the sun. Luckily it was winter. He also had been given a sun balm to help protect the blue. That was running out to. Maybe he could get someone to tell him how to make it?

Entering the infirmary the teen shuffled around for a bit readjusting his dragon before being directed to the dragon half of the infirmary to wait. Entering the area Er’ani took a nervous look around. It was mostly empty. Except for a dragon that was familiar in a way that twisted his heart and sent a irrational bolt of guilt coursing through him. Behruth was his name. He’d learned it after the fact. Settling the little blue down he ran a hand through his tousled dark hair and slowly approached the beast. The weyrling had time before someone could get a free moment to look at Lketh anyway.

Running an appraising eye over the brown Er’ani swallowed. The dragon looked to be asleep and he didn’t want to awaken him. He needed sleep to heal right? Lketh raised his head from his position on the floor having just sprawled out when his bonded set his down. A tiny croon emerged from his throat. There is a man to your left Ermine. You almost stepped on him.

[Requiem]

Both rider and dragon were indeed asleep, though it was early for that. (Not terribly early, mind you. The shadows were lengthening. Early enough to be a bit odd if you weren't in an infirmary, though.) The brown was curled tightly, his wings finally resting against his sides, but even in that position it was easy to see that the thin membrane was healing oddly in some places and not at all in others.

The man was similarly curled near him. He must have been there awhile, because someone had draped a blanket over the man and few people thought to curl up on the floor to take a nap. His fingers twitched against his palm near his face when the weyrling stepped so close, but the brownrider didn't awaken. It didn't take much perception to note the sunken cast to the man's face; he didn't seem entirely well himself.

No, what did awaken the man was the crooning nearby. Dark eyes snapped open. M'ta saw only the figure standing nearly on top of him, so close to Behruth, and he stood without a moment's thought. The brownrider whipped the blanket over the teenager's head and tackled him to the ground, pinning the weyrlings arms to his sides with his knees. Only then did he pull the blanket free enough to get a good look at the boy's face, his dirk at Er'ani's throat. "What are you doing?" M'ta demanded a touch hoarsely.

Behruth too had awakened at the surge of emotion from His, a certain weariness gleaming in his eyes as he took in the scene. No one is going to hurt me, Mine, Behruth commented tiredly, his tone making it clear it was an oft-repeated statement. He didn't bother to keep it private, though the broadcast was quiet enough not to extend past the room. Everything I did means nothing if you kill Lketh's. You remember the little brother, don't you? He crooned lightly to Lketh, pressing reassurance against the baby's mind. His wouldn't really hurt the blue's future rider. M'taHis was just...scared. And half-awake.

Blinking, the brownrider pulled back, his knifehand dropping. He glanced over at the albino hatchling. With a frown and a slightly dazed look to his eyes, M'ta shook his head and coiled his legs beneath him, sitting beside the boy he'd tackled. "Sorry, kid." He'd forgotten his name. The brownrider pushed one of the strands that had escaped his long braid from his face. Then he squinted slightly. "You look familiar. I haven't seen you before?"

[Rei]

Almost as soon as Lketh’s words brushed across his mind Er’ani found himself under assault. Instinctually he yelped and then tried to fight against his attacker. But it was pointless and the boy found himself driven to the floor, the wind knocked out of him. Trapped. Pinned. With something over his face that was making it harder to catch the breath her had lost. Pure adrenaline laced fear and desperation flashed across his face as the blanket was finally pulled back and he felt cold steel at his throat. Shards. What now? Answer his question. Lketh offered in a tone that betrayed little, only simple curiosity. It was that calmness that Er’ani clung to as he gave a breathless answer to his rough sounding captor. “I was just looking at Behruth.” There the simple truth. He had merely wanted to see the brown. The extent of his injuries. That was all.

The sound of a dragon’s voice, that was definitely not Lketh’s, caused the blueweyrling to almost start. Surprised. Lketh didn’t talk all that much for one. For two the boy hadn’t heard more than a handful of dragons in his entire life. Er’ani was however thankful that the brown was interceding on his behalf. Yeah. He’d rather avoid dying if it could be helped. Lketh in turn tilted his head and rose to his feet to pad closer to the humans and larger dragon. Offering Behruth a return croon he sat back on his haunches and merely stared at the small man that had gone after his. There was no sense of fear about the little hatching. Merely a sort of detached curiosity as he witnessed the proceedings. His pink eyes whirled slowly as he looked from one human to the other and then back to Behruth.

Er’ani was grateful for the release of pressure as M’ta got off him. Pushing himself up into a sitting position as well he gave a nervous smile. “It’s okay. Should know better than to wake slumbering people.” Reaching out he placed a hand on Lketh’s neck, the touch meant to be reassuring although from the looks of it his blue hardly needed reassurance. No the hatchling was just curious. Giving the brownrider a slightly worried look the teen gave a lopsided grin. “Guess I can’t blame you for not remembering me considering the events. Name’s Er’ani. I haven’t been at Selenitas for long. Just a few sevendays before the hatching. Maybe you remember me from there?”

Well this was kind of awkward. “Sorry for scaring you.” And he was. Mostly because it was probably going to give him a nice bruise later. For being so small the guy had a lot of power.

[Requiem]

Looking at Behruth? Why would the kid want to do that? Morbid curiosity? M'ta glanced at Ruth himself. The brown at least had most of the lustre of his hide still, that polished redwood quality that distinguished him from other browns...that and his small build anyway. The rider had been taking as good care of him as he could. Even with his wings tucked, though, it was clear that they weren't healing properly.

M'ta waved aside Er'ani's words. "No. I was paying no attention to you or anyone else at that hatching." The reason why should be obvious. No one was likely to memorize faces of weyrlings when their own dragon was in pieces on the Sands. "You look like someone else. Just can't place who right now." The weird part was that the brownrider knew that this person was someone he knew very well. If only he could make the connection...

A slight wince was in evidence on his face. "Yeah. Don't worry about it. Just on edge." M'ta didn't much like admitting to being afraid but it couldn't really hurt in this context. Sure, rationally he knew that Ruth should be fine. Left alone. There was R'wign's relationship to him and Ruth's being loved by most native Selenitas riders to protect him. But M'ta still didn't trust it, couldn't shake the fear that they'd get rid of his brown as soon as they found out he couldn't fly. It was looking a lot like he wouldn't ever really be able to again. Not well enough to be on a wing.

M'ta shivered slightly and drew the blanket nearby up and about his shoulders. "Is Lketh sick?" There was genuine concern in his tone for the little one. Behruth uncoiled his tail enough to curl it around the people and the little baby, setting his snout down near Lketh. I am glad you are still here, little brother.

[Rei]

Er’ani rubbed at the back of his neck as he drew his legs up underneath him so he could sit more comfortably. Well yeah he kind of figured that. Your own dragon lying broken upon the sand was probably more important than anything else. Including newly impressed weyrlings trying to protect little albino hatchlings from death with a quite angry queen charging at their back. A shudder ran through his frame at the memory. The promise of death that rider had represented for his Lketh. Almost unconsciously his fingertips pressed into the blue’s hide and the little dragon gave a soft croon, head bumping against his rider’s chest affectionately. The teen tilted his head. “I look like someone else?” Hmm well how could that be? He was him, who else could look like him? It made him curious actually.

Giving that small goofy lopsided smile Er’ani scratched at Lketh’s pale ridges. “I can understand that. Lots of people seem to be on edge. You have better reason than most what with Behruth still healing I’ll bet.” The weyrling’s gaze snagged on Behruth, examining the small brown. Behruth’s wings looked bad. Even after two full months of healing. That couldn’t be a good thing. Maybe the brownrider was worried they wouldn’t heal? Guy probably was on edge because of his dragon, which the teen could understand. Er’ani likewise hadn’t really gotten a good night’s sleep since the hatching. He hadn’t slept at all hatching night. Every night after that was spent with Lketh in his bed snuggled to his side his other hand on the hilt of the knife under his pillow. Every sound, any tiny movement brought the boy into immediate wakefulness. Especially now. The albino wasn’t like his siblings. He had issues the others didn’t and wouldn’t have.

The weyrling was still having a hard time believing they’d leave Lketh alone. The dragon was still young, the bond still new, and if it got around that he wasn’t completely healthy? A shiver ran down his frame. With a bit of nervous apprehension he watched M’ta adjust the blanket. Then a bolt of cold fear washed over him as the man voiced his question. Er’ani swallowed against a suddenly dry throat. What should he say? He could lie. But…Behruth had been one of the dragons that had tried to protect them hadn’t he? Almost died for Lketh in a way. The weyrling watched as the brown readjusted himself, curling himself around the little group, his head resting near his little blue. Watched as Lketh in turn stretched his pale muzzle out towards the larger dragon and nuzzled him. I like you Behruth. He said simply, resting his tiny pale head on the much larger male.

Swallowing again Er’ani finally found his voice. “He’s…he’s got his issues. His hide’s sensitive. He can’t be out in the sun for long. If it’s really bright his eyes hurt too. I try to keep him out of the light as much as I can without it being suspicious. The healers gave me sun balm for him though.” The weyrling fidgeted and reached out to lay a hand on the albino’s back. “But…I think something else is wrong.” The words where almost a whisper. “He’s always been subdued in personality. Doesn’t talk much. But it’s different lately. He’s not growing as fast as the others, doesn’t have as much energy, he’s lethargic, sleeps far to much. I’m scared there’s something wrong with him. Maybe inside. One of the dragonhealers checked him over immediately after impression but…I don’t know if she missed something.”

That had been two months ago. Er’ani was at a loss. Catching M’ta’s gaze his tone turned imploring. “Please don’t tell anyone. They’ll…They’ll take him away I know they will. They can’t know he’s sick. Please…” It felt so weird spilling this all to some guy he hardly knew. A guy who’s name he still hadn’t gotten. But his dragon had already saved Lketh once. Got his injuries because of it. Surely they wouldn’t just stand by and let him just die now? “I’m sorry about Behruth. Really sorry. We never meant for any of it to happen.”

Er’ani inwardly winced at himself. Apparently fear made him babble. Lketh in turn just half lidded his pink eyes and gave another soft croon. The albino blue seemed entirely unperturbed, despite being the obvious topic of conversation.

[Requiem]

M'ta merely nodded at Er'ani's question. Yes, he definitely looked like...someone. It was actually bothering the brownrider a good deal that he couldn't seem to remember who. It wasn't as if he'd forgotten them, of course. The connection was simply eluding him. Probably due to lack of sleep. This accidental nap he'd just taken had been the first time he'd slept in over twenty candlemarks. And he couldn't have been out for more than two before this weyrlingpair woke him.

The small man followed Er'ani's gaze to Behruth. There was no mistaking the anxiety behind his dark eyes. "I don't know what they'll do with him if his wings don't heal enough," M'ta murmured. Loud enough to be heard, yes, but it was almost as if saying it any louder would make it more real. "It doesn't matter that I know they'd be stupid to hurt him, what with most of the Selenitas dragons loving him and my relationship to the Weyrhealer. People often do stupid things. And the thought of..." He didn't finish it. He doubted he needed to, considering Er'ani had almost lost Lketh at the same time.

Behruth wasn't paying much attention to what the two riders were saying. He knew the worries of his rider's mind. 'Ruth was able to calm the paranoia of M'taHis to some extent, keeping him from doing anything too rash or becoming so on edge that he was a danger to everyone around him, but even the brown couldn't dispel it completely. What the man was saying certainly wasn't new to him. I like you, too, the brown returned with a weary rumble. You are special like CheckbrotherMine. Have you seen my brother with the two tails? He is very sweet.

The brownrider listened to the entirety of the weyrling's words in silence, his gaze turned inward, though he played idly with the end of his braid during the interim. Obviously considering. The apology caused M'ta to blink. He smiled wryly and waved the words aside. "Behruth makes his own decisions. You two had nothing to do with the decision the Wastelanders made. Ruth dove in the hopes of stopping them before they could hurt any of the hatchlings, but...there's really no place for regrets. Not when nothing can be done for it."

The man dropped the end of his braid back into his lap. "If you want I can ask my weyrmate discreetly. If you want my guess, though...when I was a kid we were kept indoors all the time." For reasons that Er'ani didn't really need to know about. "Some of us got sick, and they'd take those ones to the roof every day for awhile. They usually got better after that. There might be something that the suns do that your dragon isn't benefitting from. If that's the case, R'wign should be able to find plants that will help Lketh get what he needs."

M'ta wasn't a healer, of course, but helping out in the infirmary six candlemarks a day for two turns meant that he had at least basic knowledge of a variety of things. "Even if that's not what it is, I could get him to come see you privately so they don't know Lketh's here. If you can pry him from 'Ruth, that is."

[Rei]

Lketh gave a small chirp, lids slipping further over his pink eyes. Moving his head to a more comfortable spot on Behruth’s he have a contented sigh. Special like a Checkbrother. He repeated thoughtfully. I do not remember a Checkbrother with two tails. Briefly he skimmed through the memories of his before yawning widely. No nothing with two tails it seemed. I would like to meet him. Is he nice like you? In truth even had the albino met Checkoth before he would most definitely have had trouble remembering him. Lketh’s memory for people and dragons was horribly short. If he did not see them on a daily basis they simply slipped his mind. Although the mental signature might still taste familiar a name always escaped him. That’s why he had started to rely on his to supply the names. The albino didn’t mean to offend with his short memory but sometimes it happened. Like when he forgot his siblings. Curling up on himself, head still neatly laid on Behruth, the pale blue slipped into a doze tail tip slowly ticking back and forth.

Er’ani let his gaze travel to Behruth as M’ta spoke of the brown’s wings and his fears. The man didn’t need to elaborate on his fears and feelings. The blueweyrling had much the same ones. It was…almost comforting to know there was another who shared in that fear. Even if the situations where a little different the end result would be the same for both of them. It was surely something neither of them wanted to be reminded of. Or wanted to happen. The teen's gaze traveled back to M’ta and he gave faint smile as he waved off the apology. Yes it wasn’t really their fault but all the same Er’ani felt better for at least voicing an apology. Whether it was Behruth’s choice or not he still felt bad for the brown and he hoped somehow things worked out for the brown pair. Just as he hoped they would work out for Lketh and himself.

Speaking of the blue. The weyrling gently stroked along the hatching's back as M’ta spoke. The man’s possible explanation for Lketh’s current problems was actually quite feasible. The albino couldn’t be in the sun like the others because it was dangerous for him. He had no protection from the rays besides what special balms could provide, no pigment in the blue’s hide to lessen the impact of the sun’s rays. So Er’ani had no choice but to limit the hatchling’s sun exposure. But the small man was right. The sun was good for people wasn’t it? And Lketh couldn’t be in the sun, so he could be missing something. It made perfect sense now that he thought of it. But… could they really replicate what the blue was missing with plants? The boy fervently hoped so.

Er’ani’s eyes widened slightly at the man’s offer. He still didn’t know the guy’s name or anything and he was being so…nice. Why? It was hard not to feel like the guy had some other motive. But the blueweyrling didn’t let himself think to much on that. The boy may be distrustful by nature but something about the small brownrider was genuine. “Really? You mean it? He’d see Lketh in private?” Then no one would have to know and maybe the dragon could get healthy before they found out he was sick at all. Leaning forward Er’ani threw his arms around M’ta in a sudden hug, squeezing the rider in a fit of grateful emotion. “I’m sure I could pry him away long enough for a quick examination. Thank you. Thank you so much.” The words were uttered with a slight tremble to the tone. The weyrling had been worried about it for so long. It was a huge relief to finally maybe have something go his way. For once.

[Requiem]

Behruth didn't answer Lketh, but it had a lot more to do with the sleepy nature of the little blue's question than anything else. The brown merely crooned and allowed his extra lids to settle into place. He was at least as tired as the little one, after all, having been awoken from his sleep by the young bluepair and the flare of panic from His. Not that he usually paid too much attention when M'ta came awake like that - even after all these turns, the brownrider was still in the habit of waking in attack mode.

M'ta, for his part, stilled in shock when the weyrling suddenly hugged him. One hand planted on the floor beside him to keep his balance. Er'ani was larger than him, after all. An awkward expression crossed the brownrider's face. He patted Er'ani's back awkwardly. "You can let go now. R'wign will see him if I ask him to, but my husband has a jealous streak a mile wide." Oh yes, deliberate word-choice there. If Er'ani was like most guys he'd be backing away at speed. Which suited M'ta just fine. Never terribly comfortable with contact like this from anyone not counted amongst his intimates, he was even more uncomfortable when the offender was male. At least the impulse to stab people for things this innocent had faded over time.

"Actually, I can see if he has a moment now. Then you won't have to wake Lketh." The blue seemed exhausted, and Behruth's curling closed off all of them from the view of anyone entering. M'ta didn't wait for a response from Er'ani; he just might be eager to escape, in fact. The brownrider was free of the weyrling and clambering over Behruth's tail in a moment, trailing the blanket that had been spread over him behind him.

It was a few minutes before he returned with his weyrmate, the two already arguing over the usual unimportant things. This time it was falling asleep on the floor. (Though M'ta had to at least give R'wign credit for making sure he was okay before starting in on the nagging.) The Weyrhealer didn't say much to Er'ani, beyond asking a few quick questions in between the barbs the joined couple were sending back and forth. He left and returned with several jars of various things, salves and herbs already separated into dosages, and gave Er'ani quick instructions.

R'wign was busy, though, and only wasted time on one more teasing comment before returning to his work on the human side of the infirmary. M'ta raised a brow when he was again alone with Er'ani. "That should work for you. You can contact me through Ruth or just ask for M'ta later if you run out or he doesn't get better, and I'll pass the word to R'wign. I don't mind if you stay with Lketh." Here the brownrider shifted awkwardly. What now?

[Rei]

If Behruth’s lack of an answer bothered Lketh the little blue didn’t show it. Instead he merely fully lidded his eyes and gave a great sigh. Within minutes the albino was in a deep sleep, his little sides rising and falling with each breath he took. Er’ani hadn’t seemed to have noticed that his dragon had again fallen asleep. Instead he was busy blinking at M’ta. Whoops. With a sheepish expression he drew back not really hearing the words the smaller man offered at first. Nope the retreat was entirely in response to the awkwardness he felt from the small rider. It was only after he had released the man and was watching him clamber over Behruth’s tail that the words sunk in. Husband? Oh….well that was…different. Growing up in Benden had given the teen clear views on the subject of male and male relations. It was…hard to break that stereotype. The only thing that kept Er’ani from outright looking down on such things was that he had on occasion found a male or two attractive. Maybe. Kind of. He’d rather not rationalize that.

In the quiet following the brownrider’s leave the weyrling found himself studying both Behruth and Lketh. It was dangerous to let his mind wander too much. It came up with things he would stress a ridiculous amount about later. Still…he couldn’t help but wonder. Would Lketh make it to adulthood, and if he did would he ever have a decent life with all these issues? And Behruth. What would it be like to fly and then suddenly have that ripped away from you. What if…he was torn from his thoughts by voices. Arguing voices. Eyes widening he moved closer to Lketh putting a hand on the albino even as his fingers twitched near his hidden blade. The suspicion faded somewhat when he saw who it was. It didn’t fade completely but Er’ani could manage.

He treated R’wign with just as much formality and briskness as he himself was treated with. Inwardly Er'ani bristled a little at it, but outwardly he forced a calm appearance. It was awkward to be between these two he noted. It almost felt as if he was intruding on something he shouldn’t be. Thankfully Lketh stayed blissfully asleep and unaware throughout the entire examination. When the healer returned with the medicines and instructions the weyrling thanked him sincerely and set them aside his eyes fixing on the albino until R’wign departed. Smoothing a hand over the small dragon he started when he was addressed. With a small slightly awkward smile he raised his head to look at the smaller brownrider.

“Thanks for your help M’ta. I really appreciate it.” Looking back down at Lketh Er'ani smoothed his hand over pale hide. At least he had the man’s name now. Was easier to be thankful to someone with a concrete name. He could move the blue if he wanted. Just carry him. The little dragon was still small enough but he did look really comfortable moving him would disturb that. M'ta did say he could stay. In the end Er’ani left the blue and turned back to his companion.

“Sorry if this is awkward for you. Sorry if I got you into trouble with your er…husband or anything. I didn’t mean to cause any problems.” He never did. Problems just seemed to find him. “We won’t be in your hair long hopefully. He just slept before coming here. I‘m actually surprised he drifted off again.”

[Requiem]

Oh. Seemed that the kid's mind was elsewhere. M'ta hadn't meant to startle him, but neither was he the sort to feel guilty about something that trivial. He had no control over whether Er'ani was paying attention or not, after all. When the boy started speaking, though, M'ta didn't respond immediately. The expression his face was a cross between surprise and perplexion. And perhaps just a little amusement at the awkward hesitation before the word 'husband.'

"Oh, I don't really care. Ruth's asleep. You're someone to talk to." M'ta shrugged dismissively. He was a good deal more social than he'd been when he first got here. Though some would argue that was his natural personality, considering he'd been plenty social as a boy, too. It seemed that circumstances couldn't completely erase everything. The brownrider wrinkled his nose slightly, then.

"R'wign was nagging me about finding me asleep on the floor. Had nothing to do with you. He likes to pick, I'm not into backing off, so it degenerates into pick wars. That's just how we are." He smiled lopsidedly at Er'ani. "If you think he was mad at you because of how brisk he was, R'wign's just busy right now. Believe me, if he had a few moments he'd jabber at you till your ears fell off."

M'ta tugged at his long braid for a moment, then began undoing it. Perhaps just something for his hands to do without pulling a knife. M'ta wasn't known for being good at sitting still. He combed his fingers through the dark curls then refastened it at the nape of his neck. Tended to hurt his scalp a little, leaving hair that tight for so long. The brownrider then set his back against the curve of Ruth's tail and huddled beneath the blanket that R'wign had apparently draped over him earlier.

Then M'ta blinked. "I know who you remind me of." His eyes searched Er'ani's face curiously. "You have no issue touching, people, though. Do you come from Benden Weyr...or somewhere close to it?" Then, because he didn't want the blueweyrling thinking he was judging him for it, the man's lips turned up in a half-smile. "I'm from Bitra myself. Kind of a long story."

[Rei]

Er’ani gave a brief nod to M’ta’s statement. “Alright then.” Someone to talk to. Sure. The blueweyrling wasn’t a very open sort really but he could hold a conversation well enough. As long as it didn’t start delving into personal things, then he tended to back off fast. Scooting back so that he was beside Lketh, but only a few inches from actually touching the albino, he drew his legs up to his chest wrapping his arms around them as he watched the brownrider with faint interest. Hmm.

Giving a quirky half smile he shrugged. “Yeah healers are normally a busy sort in general. I try to bother the ones who don’t look like they’d bite my head off normally.” Which normally meant Erilena. She was always nice. “He’s a healer so I guess it’s kind of normal for him to nag you. Besides the hold husband thing makes him worry too. I can understand that. Especially since sleeping on the floor isn’t good for you supposedly.” Er’ani wasn’t really sure about that. He’d slept on the ground plenty of times and never really felt like it harmed him in any way. Healers just liked to pick he decided. “I have to admit though it’s almost kind of intimidating being between you two.” Not that the teen thought they’d turn on him or anything. Certainly not it was intimidating because of the intimacy included in the action. Made him feel well, sort of like a third wheel he guessed.

As M’ta began to make himself comfortable Er’ani just slowly uncurled and stretched his legs out in front of him. Shifting he curled his legs back so he could sit indian style, his right knee just barely touching the pale hatchling next to him. His gaze traveled back to the brownrider when he caught movement but, when he saw the man was only playing with his hair, he turned his attention back to Lketh. Perhaps some people would find the silence awkward and uncomfortable. Er’ani just found it nice. For a few moments he busied himself by counting the hatchling’s breaths, trying to remember what they had told him was a normal breathing rate for a dragon. Paranoia thy name is Er’ani.

When M’ta again spoke the weyrling reluctantly turned his eyes away from Lketh and back towards the now blanketed rider. Blinking in surprise he gave a guarded smile. He knew who he reminded him of now? Issues with touching? Well to be honest Er’ani did have some issues with touching. He just hid it rather well. “I came from Benden weyr yes. Was born there actually.” Nervously his glance flicked from M’ta to his hands, as if his palms were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world. Then he had been taken in the dead of night from the candidate barracks at Benden to Selenitas for the hatching. It was strange how things you grew up witnessing and never really judging suddenly became so different when you were on the other side. Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment he managed a nervous smile for M’ta.

“Brita? Kind of a bad place. Although I suppose Benden’s not been so great either depending on the circumstances. My mom used to say it’s all in what you make of it.”

[Requiem]

M'ta glanced sidelong at Er'ani. 'The hold husband thing'? The brownrider amused himself with the speculation that the weyrling probably hadn't meant to say that. Hadn't even noticed the slip. Anything that meant he wasn't likely to get any more random hugs from strangers left M'ta decidedly pleased. It was rather an icky feeling, after all, that awkwardness and the tiny part of himself that still retreated in revulsion and whispered of retaliation.

"Intimidating. I haven't heard that terribly often." There was a note of curiosity behind the words, but it didn't quite rise to the level of questioning. Most people didn't find a pair of men, one tiny and the other decidedly girly in disposition, to be intimidating. R'wign could be overwhelming though. Feminine he might be in ways, but he more resembled women like Kalierre who plowed you over with her sharp tongue before you even realized you'd gained her attention. Maybe it was a trait of extremely intelligent people. Or healers trained at Healer Hall.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, though?"

The rest of the conversation was decidedly more interesting for the short man huddled in his blanket. Yes, it was possible that they were related. Their names were close, too. "I wouldn't say all. But attitude does have an effect." His eyes drifted to 'Ruth, the male's presence a quiet strength even while he slept. "It's not a place I miss. Not the desperation. Or the hunger. Some of the people, perhaps, but going back would not reunite me with them."

M'ta wasn't so closed-off as he'd been. Bitra still wasn't a name he spoke often, but he was no longer so paranoid as to worry about the consequences of the word leaving his lips. Fugitive though he might technically be, the Lordholder didn't have a far enough reach to touch him. (And probably had forgotten. The man had so many enemies, after all, and that was what? Eight turns ago give or take?)

"E'rro. Brownrider from Benden Weyr, he came here as a weyrling. Earned Ka'rys' favor and ended up being my wingsecond on Ka'rys' wing. Your names are as similar as your looks." This time, the questioning behind tone and eyes was more than clear as he focused on the weyrling.

[Rei]

Er’ani rubbed at the back of his neck giving another lopsided smile? “Really? Well you guys are. Kind of. It’s not really a bad thing. ” Then again the teen was also a bit of a nervous sort at times. Especially around intimacy between two people. It just made him feel awkward for some reason. M’ta’s apology made him blink. “Oh...no, no. It’s quite alright there really isn’t a need to apologize?” Er’ani did his best to just wave the apology off as he again feel quiet. He had decided to try and drop the subject. Not really something he wanted to get into a philosophical decision over at any rate.

“Yeah that’s true enough. Not all, but it does help.” His mother had been a wonder. A very uplifting person. A source of comfort in all things. He missed her. A lot. “I’d like to say I miss people from Benden. But most of my friends are no longer the same. And my family is pretty much non existent now. Only my father remains alive. I can’t go back now. Just wouldn‘t be worth it even if I could.” Er’ani missed his father though. Terribly. He was actually found himself regretting his rash decision to jump on that shady rider’s offer at times. But then he wouldn’t have Lketh then would he? Even with the blue’s sometimes difficult and numerous health issues he really couldn’t bring himself to regret impressing. No the little quirky blue had completely stolen his heart, wrapped it up with his own, and then proceeded to swallow it. Er’ani found himself in the position of predominantly living in a way that enabled Lketh to continue and thrive. It was a little odd. Living completely for a different creature.

It grew silent again for a moment and the boy found himself wishing he had brought a book to read. When M’ta finally spoke up again, Er’ani’s eyes widened to a perhaps startling size. “Did you….did you just say E’rro?” His voice trembled slightly on the name. “You must be mistaken. They told us my brother died.” Ka’rys’ wing. A wingsecond. His brother? It wasn’t impossible no. Of course not, but all the same. Was it true. And if so why hadn’t E’rro come to see him hen he impressed if he was here? Unless he wasn’t? Had something happened? Did this man really know E’rro? All these questions and more cycled through the weyrling’s head but for the moment his shock rendered him unable to speak. His brother….was alive?

[Requiem]

Er'ani's response put M'ta in a somewhat awkward position. The name matching up...it all seemed to be rather too many commonalities to be a coincidence. But he'd feel terrible if he told Er'ani that his brother was alive after all only to discover later that he'd been mistaken. It would be like burying his family all over again. Nevertheless, the door had already been opened now.

M'ta elected to just tell the truth without any of the frills. "It's possible that's what they thought. The weyrlingmaster at the time captured a brownweyrling with that name when his wing attacked Selenitas." Describing E'rro for Er'ani might be helpful, or it might be not at all. How much of what M'ta remembered had changed from the brother Er'ani knew? If they were the same at all?

"He's a healer, so he was stuck in the infirmary with Ka'rys during the siege. That's when Ka'rys decided he wanted to keep him as his wingsecond. I know all the healers here. And Ka'rys. Before Selenitas was taken over, I was always on Ka'rys' wing. E'rro hates touching skin-to-skin? Outlines his eyes in a little kohl." M'ta shrugged. Those were really the only things he could think of that might have been true before.

"My whole wing evacuated, including E'rro. I'm sorry...I wish I could tell you with more certainty that he was your brother and is okay. I know they got out fine and that they're attacking tithe trains. My sister's with him." Not that Jazheera really knew E'rro, or hadn't at the time, but it was all M'ta could offer Er'ani. Thought of his sister made him sober. If they both survived to meet again she was going to let him have it, he was sure.

[Rei]

Er’ani fixed M’ta with an almost unreadable expression. Part disbelief part, perhaps irrational, hope. E’rro alive? It felt like an impossibility. He remembered the finality of it all. The sorrow. To think that it was untrue. That Benden had lied to him. To his family… Was it wrong that he wanted this short brownrider to be right? When the man again started to speak the weyrling forced himself to stay silent. To actually painstakingly listen to all that was said. Captured. Wing attacked Selenitas. It certainly sounded possible. Probable. But what would that mean?

The weyrling swallowed as M’ta continued, his hands making fists against the fabric of his pants. Hated touching skin-to-skin, even if that had never applied to family. Kohl. Brownweyrling. It all sounded so probable. But his mind was still stubbornly coming up with ways it could be wrong. He wanted to believe, but what if he was wrong and this person the small brownrider knew wasn’t really his brother? A hand reached out for Lketh then, smoothing over the slumbering hatchling’s hide, as he sought what little comfort the action brought him.

There were so many questions. So many that Er’ani didn’t have answers to and might never get. But one thing would tell him if it was really his brother who had been here. Who had been forced to evacuate due to Wasteland. “I’m sorry about your sister. I know what it’s like to lose family….” He’d lost quite a few. “But at least they are in a group? It’s better than being alone.” The weyrling’s gaze fell back to Lketh. “I do have one more question. The dragon’s name. The brown this man rode. What was it?”

Er'ani remembered Ismaroth clearly. As if it had only been yesterday that he was cheering his brother on and meeting the uniquely marked brown for the first time. If the name matched. Well then how could he possibly deny that his brother was still alive. But…even if it was true what could he do with that information? Certainly nothing right now. Perhaps later…when Lketh was older.