Of Names and Namedays (Tags Meira)

[Ember]

T'san swiped up a small blue thing as he examined his healing wrist and scratched futilely at the thick bandage over his skin. It itched something fierce but he just couldn't get at it properly. Dsoleth snorted on his weyrledge. Of course you can't itch it, T'sanmine. Jingth's wrapped it up well, didn't she? The brown had most definitely taken the side of the Gold and her rider. T'san had wanted to remove the bandage himself sooner when he realized it wasn't really hurting very much but the big brute had effectively pinned him with a huge forelimb. Even Spice betrayed him! The cub had curled up on his chest, sweetly purring. And so he'd been forced to keep it on until Meira had told him to have it looked at again. Traitorous beasts.

He looked at the thing he'd picked up and grinned. Spice had almost thought it real on a couple occasions. Keeping it from baby cub teeth and claws had been amusing. But now it was time to get it safely out of the cub's territory for good. Speaking of the furball, Spice was busy tying to chew on one of his leather boots. Tsk, bad cub. He was relatively good most of the time but something about leather...And the annoying nights when a paw batting at his eyes woke him up..."See ya later, Spice. Be good," he told the orange and white kitten with a deft stroke along his back. The kitten mewled and padded off almost as if he knew his humanthing was going out. The brownrider smiled again and wandered over to the brown. "I should just walk over to the infirmary and say hi to Jingth alone." The tease made the brown grumble. would go there alone and warn the most annoying Healer Jingth's could think of.

That was exactly why T'san hadn't gone back to the infirmary right away when he noticed the lack of pain. While he didn't mind Meira, he didn't want to run into another Healer who could, as Dsoleth said, be very annoying. With a sigh the man pulled himself up onto Dsoleth's back using one hand and smart foot work. Good thing dragonriders were an adaptable lot. The brown muttered something about taking too long but Dsoleth was relieved that His was able to get up with such ease. With a bit of a gleam in his eyes T'san told the brown to take off and suddenly- whoosh! They were going down very quickly, the rider's exuberant exclamation lost to the wind. Then Dsoleth beat his wing and used their momentum to pull up and angle towards the infirmary. Back at Fort they had carefully tested their limits and tested each others' courage with that stunt. Now grown, neither grew nervous or scared.

Look! Look T'sanmine, Jingth is there. Surely Hers will be there too, the brown commented as he caught sight of the small golden body sprawled out at the entrance. You're only pretending to care whether Meira is there or not, was T'san's dry reply. The brown rumbled amused agreement as he backwinged to land. Greetings Jingth. The brown allowed his rider to dismount and he hoped he hadn't caught the gold sleeping. Dragonets often slept a lot. T'san had his little blue thing in his good hand as he walked into the Infirmary. His nose crinkled at the smell but he called out for Meira before another Healer pounced on him. Hopefully she wouldn't be too busy. "Meira?"

[Avu]

LoveMine, if flu is contagious, shouldn’t you be more cautious about treating those with it? Jingth sounded undeniably nervous, though her relaxed position gave no indication of it: The gold hatchling was sprawled inelegantly right in the sunniest spot that she could find, eyes half-lidded. Her agitation was all inside; people had been getting sick and that meant more for the Infirmary – and Hers could get sick, too. And that would be bad – horrible. At first, Jingth had been anxious only for Hers, given that the illnesses meant spending more time in the Infirmary and less sleeping, but the idea of Hers being sick had the hatchling extremely agitated. That she was over seven months pregnant and any illness might take a toll on the clutch as well made Jingth even more upset, but Healers were needed, Hers had insisted, and Jingth had to agree. Not at her Rider’s expense, though. Bad thought. No, no, did not want. But if Hers went to the Infirmary, so too did Jingth; Corinth’s death, though the gold was not familiar with the bronze, had been stunning and the search parties had unearthed…nothing. Which, naturally, made Jingth cling to Hers more than was normal.

I /am/ careful, the goldweyrling replied patiently, crinkling her nose slightly. She was very much aware of the fact that Jingth looked like she was fully asleep (and had received quite the plethora of confused looks from patients), and very adeptly hiding her worry from the world at large. And that – made her worried. She wasn’t even working with any of the patients at the moment; she was tallying up the stores of what supplies the Infirmary had on hand. It was an easy job, one that didn’t involve maneuvering around and straining to the tops of cabinets – she vaguely suspected she’d been assigned to it on purpose due to her pregnancy. Bowing her head to scan the bottom shelf, she struck another few tallies onto the paper and clipboard (balanced neatly on the distension of her stomach; how fortunate) before she shuffled over a few feet to the next shelf, starting methodically from the top left and working her way right and down.

Jingth sighed, her eyes opening and whirling slowly for a moment as she inched sideways to put herself directly in the sun again (it ran away from her, it did. Bad sun. Very bad~) and then her head came entirely up at Dsoleth’s greeting, which came the same instant she caught sight of the brown. A low croon grew in her throat, and the gold raised her head, eyes whirling more rapidly, shades that were decidedly welcoming entering her eyes. Ah! Her brown. Number three, he was. Number one was Behruth; number two was Checkoth – not that Checkoth seemed to like being claimed very much – and Dsoleth was number three. There was no favoritism; they were all hers. Hello, Dsoleth. Yours has come to get the cast off? She crooned again, rolling to one side to give Dsoleth room. Won’t you come lie with me again? she added hopefully. A distraction would be so nice; then she wouldn’t have to fret about Hers and the flu. She didn’t want Hers to be sick…Yours is looking for Mine? I will call her, the gold added, tilting her head to glance at T’san.

MeiraLove, Dsoleth’s is here. I assume for the bandage to come off.
That’s – okay?
He’s calling for /you/, the gold emphasized. Can you come?
Um. Okay…

Sliding the clipboard between two bundles of dried herbs to show where she’d left off, Meira exited the supply room, dimming the glows and closing the door behind her before she set off for the main Infirmary. So awkward – unbalanced – walking was. It had been for some time, but it only frustrated her when she was in the Infirmary; so ungainly, so hard to get from Point A to Point B – and so easily tired, too. Definitely not a good thing seeing as she had to care of Jingth, too. Fortunately, the walk was a short one and she smiled in greeting to T’san, glancing at Dsoleth and Jingth as well. “Hi,” she offered simply, and then glanced at the brownrider. “Since you’re not dripping wet, I’ll assume it’s stopped hurting?” The words had a note of wryness to them; clearly Dsoleth had refrained from dropping T’san into any lakes, since none of the Healers had complained about a soaking-wet brownrider with a sprained wrist walking into the Infirmary.

[Ember]

Dsoleth watched as Jingth chased the sun from what he assumed was her old spot with amusement. Her indecorous sprawl was endearing, really. The speed of his whirling eyes matched hers. He has, the striped brown confirmed. She rolled over and he crooned at her invitation. The company while His was looked after and he pulled his little stunt would be appreciated. The brown felt a little troubled still from the disappearance of a bronze - he heard that the bronze's name had been Corinth - despite not knowing him...at all. His had recognized the name with some surprise. Corinth had been dragon to T'rid, one of Selenitas' ex-Weyrleaders. Shoving those thoughts out of mind he walked the little distance that remained. Certainly. Laying with you is more comfortable than standing over there while I wait. Mine intends to take more time today.

Dsoleth leaned his head down as if to whisper, though he knew well enough mindvoices could not be overheard by normal people and he was sure His was distracted by now.
Mine waited a couple days. He was reluctant to return in case he ended up getting someone other than Yours, he commented, tone deceptively mild. Mine likes Yours as a Healer. To the brown that was something important. He was somehow sure that Jingth's would become T'san's first friend in the new weyr. Or at least someone he wouldn't mind talking with on occasion. That was a good thing for the brown, since he was fond of Jingth.

T'san bit back a grin at the pregnancy waddle. He was genuinely glad men didn't have to go through such a thing. It would absolutely mortify him to have some kid growing in his stomach. He'd never understand how women didn't find it at all disturbing. He returned a more courteous smile and chuckled at her question. "I'm definitely not wet but the sooner this thing is off the better. You didn't warn me it would be ichy," he said, a slightly whiny note slipping in at the end. The sparkle in his eyes should be indication enough that he was mostly joking. "Oh, and yeah, no more pain." He had nearly forgot to actually confirm it didn't hurt. Silly him.

Before she could lead him to a room or even say another word he held out the blue thing in front of Meira that Spice had been so interested in. "Here, for the tyke," he said nonchalantly. Right, 'cause giving a pregnant woman he barely knew a stuffed blue firelizard for her unborn kid wasn't weird. "Gold seemed a bit redundant. Dsoleth wanted me to get brown but I managed to convince him otherwise. He refused a bronze so I was left with either a blue or a green. This blue was prettier." No wonder people occasionally called him weird. Then he grinned. "I remember one of my aunts gave me a green one when I was four or so. At least I can say I didn't know the gender. My aunt told me that the firelizard's birthday was the day that it was named. Since it was for my nameday and I named it then we ended up with the same nameday." The green toy in question was sitting on a high shelf overlooking his weyr.

[Avu]

Oh, good, he was joining her. Jingth crooned again, the first transparent eyelid sliding halfway down in a relaxed position as Dsoleth took his place next to her; her wings settled over her back and her head extended to nudge the brown’s shoulder in an undeniable show of affection – with undertones of possessiveness, which would probably go unnoticed, for the spoke at the same time in response to the brown’s comment. Perhaps you should tell Yours that Mine is on shift every day, the same times every day. The amusement in her tone was unmistakable, but she crooned nonetheless. She stays past her shift sometimes, too, Jingth added, a slight note of affectionate exasperation entering her tone. Silly LoveHers; didn’t she know she needn’t to work all the time, especially since she was pregnant – and a Weyrling to boot? Still, perhaps it was a good thing if Dsoleth’s or someone else wanted to find her – the chance that she was in the Infirmary as opposed to anywhere else was a good one, and since shift times were available if one asked or knew where to find them, it was much easier.

A low purr had started in her throat; Jingth liked company well, especially when it was with one of those that she had claimed. It was almost tempting to tell him that she was worried about LoveHers and the sickness that people were getting, but that was too personal. It made it worse that Dsoleth said that His liked LoveHers as a Healer, because avoiding the sickness more efficiently meant leaving the Infirmary. So many sick people around LoveHers. Not a good thing, not good…thus, her voice gave no indication of her fretting, and she dropped her head to rest lightly against the brown’s shoulder. Mmph, pillow. I am glad to hear it. And I am sure Mine will be as well, if she is permitted to know. She’d end up knowing anyway: Jingth hid very little from Meira. But it was polite to ask, especially since Dsoleth had said it in a confidential kind of whisper. Yours is a very good patient, too, she added thoughtfully. Some of them come in crying or very grumpy. Mostly the hatchlings, but sometimes older ones, too. MeiraHers hadn’t actively thought of it, but Jingth was sure she’d agree; honestly, some of the hatchlings could be very tiresome. Didn’t they know LoveHers and the rest made them feel better?

Was he whining? Meira bit back a grin, crinkling her nose slightly at the brownrider. Well, itchy or not, at least it had stopped hurting. He could…have fun scratching it once the cast was off? She’d just started to reply – and gesture to one of the empty rooms, the door slightly ajar (most of them were disturbingly full of recent) – when he produced something and stuck it out in front of him. Surprised, she looked down at it, and then back up at T’san, uncomprehending for a second, even as he spoke, even as she took the stuffed firelizard from him. Meira had never expected – or received – a present from a patient. Not for the baby, not for herself or for Jingth or for anyone; she and R’wign had dragged M’ta to Gather when they’d been trying to buy toys for the baby as well, but this was…completely a surprise, especially considering that T’san wasn’t close to her. Still, as he spoke, the smile, gratitude clear in her eyes, spread across her face; the goldweyrling bit her lip to keep herself from interrupting T’san as he went on about his own stuffed firelizard – albeit green, not blue.

“Thank you,” she said softly, once the brownrider fell silent. “I really – I didn’t expect this; it’s lovely – I’m sure the baby’ll love it…” And hopefully it would keep said baby from cling to Stumpy or Roxie or another of R’wign’s firelizards; they weren’t all patient – and certainly not as patient as a stuffed animal. “Thank you…” What else was there to say? Jingth’s curiosity passed over her and she silently told the gold she’d tell her later; Dsoleth ought to have her full attention now, after all. “I guess to thank you I should relieve your itching?” she added, belatedly recalling his cast; the stuffed firelizard was shifted to one arm and she indicated the empty room with her free hand. “The faster, the better,” she added, voice dropping slightly lower; she hated the thought of the sickness, but there was no getting around it. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there are…there are a lot of people sick. Flu, we think – it’s really contagious…” And the Infirmary was, naturally, where the people came when sick. Isolated, of course, but they’d passed through, definitely, likely as not coughed or possibly thrown up…

[Ember]

Dsoleth shifted slightly to get his forelimbs in a position he could use them as a pillow. He then rested his head on them, one large eye still able to see Jingth well enough. He didn't mind the touch at all as he visibly relaxed next to her. Comfy, he was. He rumbled deeply at her suggestion. Much as Dsoleth thoughts His would think it a good idea the brown would not pass on that information. It would be amusing to have his rider come in and discover another Healer. If His was really that adverse to another Healer he could easily find the shift time on his own. The brown heard the affection more than the exasperation in Jingth's tone and crooned. Humans are silly aren't they? They have to eat lots everyday and they rarely clutch more than one egg-child at one time, he mused. And of course, they do the strangest things.

The brown blinked in pleased surprise as she rested her head on him. Was he comfortable to rest on? Of course she is, he replied with amusement. But could you ask her note to mention it to Mine? He might become uncomfortable then. It is rare for him to meet a Healer person who does not make him feel foolish. His was grateful for a kindly Healer indeed. Fort Healers had been rather unpleasant. They didn't exactly mistreat their patients but they seemed to take some strange pleasure in annoying and being a pain. At the very least to His. Dsoleth was pleased to hear that Jingth considered his good. Yes, he was not grumpy at all, even on the inside. His had a habit of acting like he wasn't as annoyed as he was.

T'san noticed he had indeed effictively stopped her from showing him to a room with his gift. Amusing. He watched her reaction as she took it and gave him a rather confused look. The spreading smile brought an amused smile from him as well. And they say acts of kindness get you nowhere, he thought dryly. She waited until his little story was done before she spoke and when she did he tried not to grin. He gave a little courteous nod. "I tend to like being unpredictable," he offered. "The reactions I receive can be very interesting." And by interesting he meant entertaining. He chuckled when she remembered the reason he had come and nodded. "Yes, that would certainly be fair."

At mention of the spreading illness he winced slightly. He had heard a rumour or two but dismissed them as embellishment. T'san ought to have learned to believe what the drudges said. They knew more than most people thought. "So there are as many people ill as the rumours seemed to indicate," he commented thoughtfully. He was no Healer - he'd leave that to Meira - but if it spread as fast as it did then it seemed like a fairly dangerous illness. "So its like the flu? I'll be careful then." He headed towards the indicated room. If he seemed to be walking slightly faster than normal, who could blame him?

[Avu]

They do not eat as much as dragons do at a time, Jingth pointed out, eyes half-lidded contentedly. She liked the company of a male, she did – and though she definitely did like Dsoleth’s company, she was vain enough to be pleased by the contrast of brown against gold hide. The hatchling didn’t squirm at all; only her tail moved slightly, curling feline-like around her haunches as she yawned. Perhaps if they ate only once a week and ate as much as we did, they wouldn’t need to eat so much. I expect they would get hungry, though. Mine does. Get hungry, that was. She seemed to eat more than the other human-females did (less than the human-males as a whole, though) and said it was because of the clutch. And speaking of clutches…Hepaticath’s had two hatchlings at the same time, the gold said, and then crooned. If Hepaticath’s could clutch two at once, I am sure Mine can too. Reasoning? Hers was the best, of course. Hepaticath’s had nothing on LoveHers; she could clutch more and if she couldn’t, well, the one hatchling would be better than both of the ones that Hepaticath’s had clutched: Wait and see. Is it possible to clutch three at once for humans? she added curiously.

Another low croon pulsed in her throat as her head moved down in a rubbing motion along Dsoleth’s shoulder, and Jingth flipped her tail. I will tell her after Yours has gone, then, the gold decided. So she does not accidentally say anything. I don’t think she would, but just to be safe… The hatchling glanced up at Dsoleth before she added, May I ask you something? The question was quieter, slightly uneasy; worry was the prominent emotion, always foremost in her mind, by that point. So many bodies, there were; piling up – so many dragons going between. For Hers, the worry was strongest, of course. But she was a queen of Selenitas (age aside), and some of that worry was for the Weyr as well. And…there was something bothering her. Jingth didn’t pause for an answer before she inquired, Did you or Yours, by chance, know Kmarath or Hers? I do not think many people know about it, but she went /between/ and we could not find…the search parties…a body. Like Corinth’s.

Of course he liked being unpredictable. Meira smiled slightly, bowing her head – there was no other explanation for his having bought the toy, was there? They weren’t close friends – she’d only actually talked to him that once in the Infirmary, and otherwise only recognized his face vaguely as a Selenitas Rider – and he didn’t seem to be using it to – to bargain, or anything.

Tucking the stuffed firelizard between her upper arm and body, and crossing her arm across her abdomen, Meira followed T’san; any signs of delight had faded at the mention of the illness. She knew she shouldn’t be working there anymore. Not with the illness being spread as it was – as a general rule, the youngest, oldest, and the pregnant tended to be most susceptible to sickness. But she hadn’t yet, and Meira couldn’t just leave the Infirmary when so many people had gotten sick – and so many Healers, too. Linoth’s Sikowy had been the first to die, and she’d been a Healer…“Not entirely like the flu,” she replied soberly, “And there have been a lot of people sick with it, yes. I don’t know what the rumors are saying, though, so I’m afraid I can’t tell you whether or not they’re accurate…” No; she was too busy to listen to rumors. Jingth, lessons, Infirmary, pause to eat, and then right back to the Infirmary again – no time. “Initially, it’s almost exactly like the flu. I…we…thought it was, but then it started to change up and if there’s a cure we haven’t found one; the best we can do is treat the symptoms.”

And the best they could do was not good enough, it seemed.

The door was closed behind her, the stuffed firelizard set on the counter, before Meira turned to T’san and indicated his wrist. “It’s completely stopped hurting?” she questioned, picking up a small, flat knife from one of the cabinets and moving to his side; one hand caught his elbow to pull his arm upwards, the knife sliding neatly through the adhesive used to hold the bandage in place before she put the knife down again. “After I take this completely off, you’re going to need to move it around a little,” she added, releasing his elbow to start unwinding the bandage. “If it still hurts, I’ll put a brace on it, but it shouldn’t…” Unless he’d hurt himself more seriously somehow between the last time he was here and now, but she doubted it; nobody wanted to have a cast or brace on for longer than was necessary, did they? Fortunately, unwrapping his arm was a good deal quicker than wrapping it, and quite soon the bandage was off. Balling it up absently, Meira stepped back to put it into the trash can. “See how it feels…?”

[Ember]

Dsoleth shifted his head on his forelegs in a thoughtful nod. Yes that is true. The idea of His eating three or four large herdbeasts though...His didn't like plain old flesh and blood anyways, nevermind managing to fit all that in a human. I think Mine would complain about the lack of good meals more than being hungry. He does so like well-cooked food. He eats as much to get rid of the hunger as to enjoy what he eats. Dsoleth did like the taste of the weyr animals but he only ever ate if he was hungry. The talk of human hatchlings reminded Dsoleth that the gold was still young and liable to be confused about the subject. Well, he got confused about it time to time too. It is possible, he allowed, considering what he was going to say next, but uncommon in humans. Having humanlings can be dangerous for them sometimes. Having two can be even more so. I do not mean to alarm you when I say this. He honestly didn't want to worry the gold. He paused as his tail flicked slightly in agitation. If Yours is as active and able as she seems I'm sure she'll be fine.

The brown closed his eyes in pleasure at the rubbing. Her reply was reassuring. Humans could sometimes blurt things out without entirely meaning to. His head came up suddenly at the gold's tone, looking her over worriedly. He nodded slightly as she continued with her question and he realized why she was concerned. He came from a place where death was somewhat common so the disappearances bothered him a little less than Jingth. Not to say he didn't mind the disappearances because it did alarm him but it was a dulled feeling for him. He crooned comfortingly before he replied. I've heard the name Kmarath before but neither me or Mine knew them beyond that. These disappearances...they are alarming. Who? What? Why? I do not like not knowing these things.

T'san listened to what she said about the illness. So it differed slightly from the typical flu...but at least it vaguely resembled it? He could avoid the infected for the most part then. He'd be careful until it died down. He had a pretty killer immune system to aid him agaisnt getting it. He could just become a weyr hermit for a while if he really felt that necessary. Despite the grim topic he managed a small grin. Yes, she did seem busy. Following the rumours meant that they might track where it came from though. Ah well. Something for him to puzzle over, along with the strange cases of people going poof. Really, what was up with that? "Change?" he questioned curiously, mind making a quick transition back to the illness.

T'san let his arm be pulled closer to her and he made a small affirmative sound. In a moment he'd focus on what she was doing but he let his mind wander to the two current problems. He blinked as she started unravelling the bandage. She'd said...Oh right. He nodded understanding and forced himself to stop his drifting thoughts. Current events first, then mysteries. As the last of the restricting bandage was off he twisted and turned his wrist experimentally. "Seems good, a bit tingly though." He gave her a moment to comment or question him about that before turning back to the problem of the illness. "I suppose it is kind of early but, no one has recovered from it yet have they?"

[Avu]

I think that cooked meat can taste very nice, if it’s cooked right. LoveMine let me have a piece once because she didn’t want it, and sometimes she feeds the Stumpyflitter or the Roxieflitter cooked meat. I think humans could probably adapt to raw meat if they wanted to. Jingth’s logic seemed sound to her; if dragons and flits could eat cooked meat, why couldn’t humans eat raw meat? And they could even like cooked meat; so surely it was a two-way path? But, the gold added, I would not ask Mine to change. And she says she has to eat more now because of the clutch, so it is for a good reason, I think. A low croon pulsed in the queen’s throat again, a thoughtful noise, before she leaned her head against Dsoleth’s shoulder more firmly, eyes closing even as she spoke again. This time, however, her tone was sober, serious. Mine told me, she assured Dsoleth, keeping her eyes closed. She told me I might be frightened, that it would hurt. One gleaming eye slid open, Jingth working to keep her worry from showing – both about the clutching and about the epidemic. Thank you for your concern, Dsoleth.

The words were oddly mature for her small size and scant age; Jingth was quite intelligent and the concept of ‘hurt’ and ‘frightened’ and ‘lost’ registered better upon the gold than many other hatchlings of her age. Very tightly, was she and Hers Bonded, and she, like many others, had gone through the memories that Hers had. Very acutely, the loss of her wher had been felt; Jingth’s response to that particular memory had been to curl up very tightly around Hers. Fear was…common. Hurt had been felt, too. She knew.

Many of the search parties report to the Infirmary, Jingth murmured, her eyes closing again. They have not found…anything, save for signs of the dragons’ distress, and only occasionally. And some of the people…were not Riders. That was what baffled her the most, and she nosed at Dsoleth’s shoulder absently to soothe herself. She wouldn’t let Hers disappear. What little they had discovered was possibly meaningless – the dragon and Rider were never together when the former went between, so if she stayed with Hers, she wouldn’t disappear, would she? Mine does not want me to hear her thoughts sometimes, but I hear them, the hatchling went on, She thinks that the deaths must be very sudden…very unexpected, or the dragons would be distressed more. Corinth was not before he went…it was /very/ sudden. Her tail slid across the ground, the only outward display of her nervousness; otherwise, the hatchling’s tone was soft, emotionless, stating facts without emotion: Jingth had already decided. She was not loosing Hers.

“Umm, yes, change…” The reply was distracted at first as the Healer stepped back, eyeing the brownrider’s wrist critically even as she placed the small knife next to the sink – everyone was fussing about hygiene now, more than ever; though it was said that the disease traveled by air, nobody was sure and everybody was terrified. “Tingly from lack of use, probably. If there’s any pain you’ll have to come back…or you could have Dsoleth bespeak Jingth if you don’t want to come into the Infirmary again; I wouldn’t mind coming out…” The Infirmary was a downright depressing place, with the racking coughs, the soft delirious babbling that was becoming all too common, the retching – the sickness had turned the Infirmary into a living nightmare, disease every way you turned, and though a sense of duty kept her there, duty to R’wign and the firelizards as well as to the Infirmary as a whole, she wouldn’t mind an escape – fresh air would never have been more welcome, though otherwise she couldn’t make herself leave unless it was to take care of Jingth or to get oil and food for R’wign’s firelizards.

“There’s been…a girl,” she added hesitantly, to his question. “One out of innumerable patients – isn’t really good, but…it’s something.” And only a small portion of the patients had died. The others had simply…gotten worse. “She was about ten Turns, I think, but she was only sick four days before she got better…the third day…everyone thought she’d die. And – the symptoms change, yes.” She’d just realized she forgot to answer the question, and crinkled her nose slightly in apology. “There’s blood in cough, for one, which is the most obvious that it’s becoming worse…” And she didn’t want to think about it. “Continued flu-like symptoms, too.” It had to be absolutely miserable – coughing blood, throwing up because of nausea, delirious from headaches and fever, and unable to move because of the fatigue, and often wavering in and out of consciousness. “Okay,” she added softly. “I don’t think you want to stay here any longer than you have to, so…you’re done, unless any sudden pain manifested in your wrist…?”

[Ember]

Dsoleth couldn't honestly remember when he'd had cooked meat but he was certain His had fed it to him before to prove a point. He did remember winning that point. At least, in his mind he'd won. He considered the idea thoughtfully for a moment. he vaguely remembered liking the taste, but his raw meat was so much juicier and had a flavour that seemed to have been cooked out of the meat. He nodded at the fact she wouldn't ask Hers to change; he wouldn't ask that of His either. In the end, I think humans wanting to eat raw meat would be the deciding factor. He knew His had no desire to eat bleeding bodies, more's the pity. Dsoleth crooned in relief and pleasure as she closed her eyes and he listened to what she said. Good! He hated to be the bearer of bad news. Or...well the first bearer. Since his croon would suffice as response to her thanks he said nothing more of that subject.

She was an interesting little queen though. One that seemed older than her actual age. He'd watch over her, he would. His little queenling that seemed to be growing mentally much faster than he himself had. She was part of his living and moving hoarde, she was. Along with Spice and Zoriyath...though the latter was far, far away. He was fairly certain she still counted as alive and moving despite the distance. His was part of the hoarde too but he wouldn't admit that.

Dsoleth's tail flicked again at the topic of disappearances. It was not limited to the rider folk? That was puzzling. He quickly passed the information Jingth was giving him to His. T'san liked a good puzzle, though good didn't really apply....He blinked slightly as Jingth went on and crooned comfortingly. Sudden is better for both sides, though death is never pleasant at all. Without T'sanHis...No, he couldn't even think of that. It hadn't happened to him and His. It would not happen. Ever. Me and Mine will keep our senses open about the disappearances. Mine may not look it, but he can be good at putting strange pieces together. Perhaps if all the weyr is alert now whatever is taking the human bondeds will stop...or be caught.

T'san quirked a brow at her not-so-helpful reply but let it slide. The Healers all had to be distracted lately, what with al lthe dying people. At the reply to his tingly comment he frowned. Not so much at the thought of coming back but at her coming out of the infirmary. Was it just him or was there soemthing there? Something...What was a pregnant woman-child doing in an infirmary full of sick people anyways? "Mm, I'd probably have Dsoleth call Jingth. Hanging around infirmaries full of sick people generally doesn't become part of my plans,' he said, wincing slightly at the indelicate words.

Oh? A glimmer of hope, then. Could the cure lie with that little girl? He wasn't a Healer but at least one had recovered...that was good. But...the death rate was still worrying. Blood in the cough sounded absolutely dreadful and he defiantly refused to get sick. At all. Its bad enough without himself being sick. In truth, he didn't want to stay in the infirmary a moment longer but he had to do something to at least get Meira some fresh air. it was...almost cruel that she was chaining herself to the dreary Infirmary. "No sudden pain," he admitted quietly. Then he stood up and waggled a finger at her face. "But! If you think I'm going to let you stay in the Infirmary you're wrong. You need a break from the atmosphere, at the very least. Who knows, some fresh air might clear your head and you can think up some cure. And if you don't willingly come with me for a break I'm going to pick you up and carry you out. So?"

[Avu]

They would not think to if we did not suggest it, Jingth pointed out, a note of mischievousness plain her voice. A typical hatchling’s amusement – perhaps. That was not her goal, though. If she could honestly tell Hers that she had managed to get some human to actually, seriously consider denying all cooked foods thereon out and eating only raw meat, maybe it would make her laugh. She didn’t laugh enough, the queen had already decided. Occasionally, and it was a good laugh, so why didn’t she laugh more? She should laugh more, and Jingth had decided she had to make it so. This would be attempt one, it would. A thoughtful swirl of silver entered her eyes momentarily before fading again; Jingth squirmed more tightly against Dsoleth, rubbing her head against his shoulder. Decidedly like a domestic feline, Jingth could be; her grace was definitely reminiscent of such and the way her affections were bestowed – purring, rubbing, licking – also resembled that of a feline. She certainly didn’t notice it, of course, and Meira had never mentioned it.

A niggling question distracted her, and her soft purr became almost absentminded. If it hurt Hers to clutch, would it hurt her? Jingth well knew what queens did, how they differed from the others, the honor that came with it. Honor with pain…? It didn’t make sense, but it wasn’t a question that Dsoleth could answer, and Jingth knew better than to ask if she was certain there would be no forthcoming answer that would satisfy her. His words distracted her, and the hatchling tilted her head to one side to look up at the brown before she flipped her tail, and then stretched, crooning thoughtfully. She didn’t personally think a sudden death was good at all; one that was not meant you had warning, had the chance of evading it entirely, gave other people the chance to rescue you, but the hatchling had the sense to take it in the manner it was intended: Comfort. Still, she didn’t reply, because to do so would either be either to argue or to lie, and simply stated firmly, I am not going to let Mine disappear. There was an underlying fierceness that would have been comical in a gangly hatchling had the gleam of determination, the possessiveness, not been clear in Jingth’s eyes.

See to it that Yours does not vanish, Dsoleth; I cannot care for Yours or I would. I do not want you to go.

Heh. Yeah…funny how her plans often collided head on with her immediate safety, wasn’t it, without seeming like an innately dangerous chore. Her nose crinkled slightly before Meira shrugged one shoulder in acquiescence. She wouldn’t mind leaving the Infirmary, like she’d said, to attend to a patient; it was understandable that nobody wanted to come in and risk getting sick; she was honestly surprised anyone was still coming in after the illnesses started piling up. Just because the sick people were isolated didn’t mean that it still couldn’t spread – as it rapidly was. “Okay,” she agreed softly, so quietly it probably wasn’t audible, but the movement of her lips made it clear what that one small word was. She shuffled to the sink to wash her hands, an automatic gesture by now, before drying them and then moving over to pick up the stuffed firelizard again and smoothed the fabric of its back absently; she’d definitely be washing it before it got anywhere near the…as of yet unborn…baby: She refused to allow the epidemic to get within a dragonlength of her baby.

But – but – what? Her mouth opened in a protest that never completely formed; the look of shock and dismay on her face was comical as Meira spun to face T’san. “I can’t leave – I can’t,” she protested after a second, staring at him. “My shift isn’t over yet – I – two candlemarks; can’t fresh air wait – ?” Anyway, she doubted she’d think of a cure, to be quite honest – R’wign was sick; Kalierre and Asharra hadn’t thought of anything, and she was only an apprentice. Her head tilted, eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. He wouldn’t honestly carry her out, would he…? Before the baby, she’d weighed very, very little – now, she wasn’t exactly featherlight, courtesy of baby. “You can’t be serious; I can’t just leave the Infirmary before my shift’s over…”

[Ember]

Dsoleth rumbled with amusement. How true! T'san had not even given it a thought until Dsoleth mentioned how tasty his bloody herdbeasts were. His had replied with skepticism and had told the brown the wonders of cooked food. So many more tastes were cooked into things, how could it not be good? Dsoelth had not agreed with his rider's sentiments. The movements against his shoulder made him utter a low, content croon. She sometimes acted a little bit like his little Spice kitten he noted absently. He knew Spice wasn't really his alone but the orange and white feline wouldn't be with him and His without his prodding. T'san had needed a pet, in the brown's opinion. Dsoleth was plenty of company for His alone but having more could never hurt.

He was brought out of his thoughts by her possesive declaration as he looked at her. She meant what she said with all seriousness. Well of course, any dragon would think such a thing but what she said still took him by surprise. Perhaps more surprising was what sounded like an order for the little queen. Hah! Queen indeed. The last part of what she said made him croon again. Then his body tensed and a sort of protective and determined aura seemed to envelope him. No one could take Mine from me. They may try but, the brown revealed his teeth in a snarl at an imaginary enemy, I would stop them and make sure they could never try again. He absolutely would not let anyone take His from him. Then his form relaxed and he rumbled in slight amusement. Besides, Mine has a few tricks up his sleeve. It was almost scary how quickly Dsoleth reverted back to his usual easy-going manner, but such was the type of dragon he was.

T'san saw more than heard the agreement to the fact he would prefer not to come back to the Infirmary - at least not while it was crawling with people who were sick from an illness with a fairly high mortality rate. He covered a small smile as she picked up the blue toy. Getting amusing reactions out of people was all well and good but the warm fuzzies were better. When she whirled around to look at him again he chuckled despite the topic. Her expression was priceless, even if he hadn't been aiming for that. However at her refusal he sighed and shook his head. There was seriousness in his eyes as he quirked a brow. Her shift huh?

"Meira, you do Healers credit but what kind of example do you set when you refuse a short break?" His voice was light and coaxing...and maybe a hint amused at his idea. "I may not know much about pregnancy, and pardon my forwardness, but you look very far along. Surely you deserve some time off? Granted circumstances are weird..." He trailed off for a moment then shrugged. "A few minutes out in the fresh air can't hurt."

[Avu]

It was doubtful that Dsoleth understood the possessiveness that Jingth felt entirely. She was vain, though it very rarely showed – she was very much aware that no dragon wanted to serve a queen who thought only of herself, and she didn’t want to order them around; much easier if they wanted to do what she said, no? But vain she was, and Jingth felt she was Selenitas’s queen. Millieth was ex-Benden; she didn’t count as a Selentias queen. Hepaticath did, but Jingth thought she was better. She’d never admit it, of course; queens went in order of age, their rank – but she was, and that meant those that she claimed must be kept. She’d claimed them, and therefore she must not loose them; they had become her responsibility. After all, once she was in charge of the Weyr, she couldn’t loose those under her, could she? It was like training, pre-training, for her inevitable rise to power in the future. It would be a long time, and Jingth could wait, but she must not be incompetent, no matter what else happened. They were not regarded as friends, Dsoleth and Behruth and Checkoth. True, she enjoyed their company, but she didn’t love them. Not like she loved Hers; they simply belonged to her.

His reaction to her words was…pleasing. The young queen crooned at him, and then touched her nose lightly against the brown’s hide again. I am very glad to hear it, she said, and she meant it: Jingth would not take kindly to her property being stolen from her, and he was. But…the sickness steals people as well. Not all of them are Bondeds. The hatchlings are susceptible too. I think…I think Yours would do well to avoid people for awhile until it has passed. Behruth’s stays around the Infirmary but he has not caught it, but Checkoth’s did. Mine has not yet, and it is not a risk I am happy with her taking, and I do not want Yours to be at risk, too. Hers was the best. There was no better than Hers; LoveHers could do very little to displease Jingth – and her actions did not displease the queen so much as simply agitate her incredibly; couldn’t she see what she was doing was terrible for her, this risk? Jingth didn’t want to loose her but she was making it hard. Maybe she just didn’t get sick – like Behruth’s…but Jingth still didn’t want the risk.

Well – well – the reasons all flashed through her mind, and not a single one rose to her lips; Meira knew very well she should be resting. Over seven months pregnant – she should have taken maternity leave and been done with it, but while she did sometimes flail over the lack of time, she preferred having no time to think – a few minutes to eat, seven hours to sleep (something she only allowed because of her pregnancy; if she weren’t it would have likely been less) – no time to have nightmares, no time for idle thoughts that would turn into a waking nightmare. Her lips pressed together indecisively, and she wavered before she sighed, bowing her head. “Okay, fine,” she allowed, before she crinkled her nose slightly, pale bluish-gray eyes flickering cautiously up at T’san. He wouldn’t leave her, would he? M’ta was helping find herbal plants, if she remembered correctly, and with R’wign sick, that left nobody she could just talk to, keep her mind occupied and firmly away from the death that she could do nothing about.

This strategy, though…it was terrifying. It was subtle, carefully planned, with no loose ends at all. If the person was in Selenitas Weyr, they were exceptionally good actors; if they were not, they certainly must have had inside information – but it seemed so strange. Pointless. The actions were calculated, deadly, tortuous, but if they could pick off a bronze Wingleader, why would they bother with picking off Drudges? Why not – why not the Weyrwomen? Meira didn’t like the idea of either Kaegan or Savitri vanishing, but it seemed – wouldn’t that be their target, their aim? A Weyr was nothing without their goldriders…and that, she’d already realized, included her. Her head bowed slightly, the blue firelizard cradled in her arms without thought, and then Meira glanced sideways up at T’san again. “If you’ve got nothing else to do, could you at least keep me company?” she asked softly, hopefully. “I don’t want – um, to think…”

[Ember]

Dsoleth perhaps would have understood being owned but not necessarily the reasons behind it. He did own his own things after all. They were his no matter what anyone said and he was very possesive of them. So yes, owning things or beings was not a strange thought to the brown. He rested his head again on his forelimbs and checked in on his rider. He rumbled slightly with amsuement at what he discovered. What a funny person his rider was. He sure had a round about way of getting to know a person. He let his attention be stolen away by the little queen and let his tail twitch at the idea of His sick. That just wouldn't do. He recognized the irony though. A place where people were meant to go to get treated for hurts and sickness had become a hazardous place.

The brown responded to her words with a croon that held subtle amuesment. Mine recognizes the risk of being near others right now. He also has managed to convince Yours to take a small break from the Infirmary. While not a long term break until the ilness is passed it is a little something, he commented. Such a small break was no real big difference in the grand scheme but perhaps Jingth's could be persuaded to take a longer break? His would probably leave that up to Jingth or Jingth's' friends though.

T'san grinned rather smugly as she agreed but faded quickly at the expression in her eyes. Hmm? What was that about? He watched with curiosity as she bowed her head and looked at him. Ah, company? He didn't think he'd be the best company for her but he could try. His eyes softened at her admission. T'san could understand that well enough. There were times he wished he couldn't think at all about the past or even the future. "I don't see why not," he replied casually, "I really don't have anything better to do than bother goldriders." He gestured courteously for her to lead the way.

Now then...where to begin so it wouldn't be awkward? Baby? Nope. Where she was from? Still awkward. Ah-ha! "What made you decide to be a healer?" That was a pretty safe question. He couldn't see it leadign anywhere too dangerous. Then again, he's been known not too look al lthe way ahead. He sensed Dsoleth's amusement and sent feelings of embarrassed annoyance at the brown. Silly beast. He should pay more attention to his company and spare his rider for a while longer.

[Avu]

I know. I am grateful. Jingth replied simply, and she was: She could never argue with LoveHers for very long because she cared too much what Hers thought of her. When Meira was agitated, so too was Jingth – the queen’s well-being focused entirely upon how Hers felt, and Meira knew it; Jingth was aware of the fact that Meira tried to keep her life stable, carefully balanced, for her, tried to keep the most frightening emotions out of her mind for her sake. It didn’t work. Very, very tightly, they were Bonded, and Jingth felt everything. She likes the Infirmary very much. the hatchling said quietly, keeping the upset from her voice. I do not like to ask her to leave for a real break because I think it would hurt her. I don’t want… Her tail flipped. Anyone else Jingth would have shamelessly manipulated until they thought it was their idea to leave the Infirmary, but even if she could have Meira (being mentally connected took that ability away), she couldn’t have. Easier to let somebody else do it. It hurt less.

Was it wrong that she needed company so badly? When she had Jingth? Meira bit her lip slightly, gaze flicking for split second sideways towards the direction of hatchling and her ‘claimed’ brown, before returning to T’san uncertainly. She didn’t want to bother Jingth, definitely didn’t want the queen to know exactly how distressed she was – better to let the hatchling just keep company she liked that wouldn’t worry her unnecessarily and find something else to distract herself. Not as – selfish, she supposed, though asking T’san…was probably not the best way to go about that. His agreement made her smile softly, gratefully, but regardless of what he said – very likely he did have something better to do. But she wouldn’t push it: She was that grateful to have company, and it wouldn’t be too long anyway, just a quick break and then she could get back to the Infirmary and back to the work that distracted her more efficiently than anything else. Jingth – probably could, but the gold was more interested in actually easing the hurt than just distracting and denying it. Probably emotionally healthier, but also impossible.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, and there was no mistaking the honest thankfulness in her tone as she moved towards the door, shuffling into the hallway and then down towards the dragon entrance, almost automatically, before she checked herself and turned to go through the main entrance – almost always, she went to Jingth and the two of them left together. Not so this time…his question made her glance backwards at him (though he probably wasn’t too far behind; it wasn’t like she was moving too quickly: She wasn’t eager to take a break) before she considered the question seriously. How was she supposed to answer, exactly, without completely going into her past? “My mum – one of her friends was a Healer, and since she was too busy for much, I ended up hanging around the Infirmary a lot.” She shrugged, almost dismissively – it wasn’t really anything too dramatic or anything even worth a story, in her opinion. “Started helping out, and she started to teach me actual – Healing, not just getting this and putting that up…” And it had clicked, even though the training had been far from formal.

She’d left out the part that it was at Benden Weyr, not Selenitas. It wasn’t…important; not anymore. She was at Selentias now, wasn’t she? Permanently; she couldn’t imagine wanting to leave, especially with the baby on the way and Jingth. And speaking of the queen – Meira touched her mind lightly, questioningly, and was torn between amusement and annoyance that she’d already been keeping tabs on LoveHers and knew perfectly well what was going on. Would you like Dsoleth and me to join you? she inquired. I would not mind, especially if you are going out where there is sun. More sun, I mean… Jingth had already decided that the best place to lie was beside the river, where she could easily roll straight into the cool water if she got too hot, and it was just so nice there. If Weith still frequented her stretch of the River, Jingth did not know; certainly she had not seen that irritating bronze for awhile, and she much preferred it that way. I don’t know…we can go to the river, sure…? Please do. Dsoleth, would you like to accompany me to the River? Since Ours are no longer at the Infirmary, I see no reason for us to remain. It’s much nicer over there.

“Um – Jingth wants to go to the river; is that okay…?”

[Ember]

Dsoleth crooned very slightly at her comment, torn between listening to her and figuring out where His was going. It was important to know now more than ever, although he was hardly alone with Jingth's as company...Still, protective of His was the brown and the Jingth's helped heal His, T'san didn't feel protected by her. He never really had felt protected by someone, with exception to a person in T'san's distant memory. He always felt sadness when he touched upon that area of T'san's life so the dragon shied away from it. He didn't like to feel sadness from His. Oh, oops. He tried to remember what Jingth had just said. Hurt...Leave infirmary? Ah! But having her here hurts you, right? Or at least makes you uncomfortable? The brown nosed her gently. Ah never fear little Jingth. Yours will realize what is best for her and for you. Humans generally do. She may choose on her own to work less and take breaks but still not hurt. The brown stopped and probably obviously considered his words. Or perhaps I am just rambling, he added with amusement.

T'san followed but wasn't lagging behind by very much at all. He just didn't want to end up going the wrong way, not that Meira wouldn't correct him quick enough but...it might be a little embarassing seeming so lost in the weyr. As his question was answered he listened with genuine interest. From his own experience he knew everyone had some kind of motivation to choose certain paths, so he was curious as to what her motivation had been. "So a friend of the family huh? That's cool. I think I'd have problems being in an Infirmary for more than to get better. Too many strange smells that don't seem...natural? I don't know. I grew up around animals so my idea of normal smells is a bit skewed." He left out why he was near animals but the typical assumption was either Holder or Beastcrafter which were not quite right but close enough.

The striped dragon considered the prospect of the cool waters and the sun soaking and crooned. That sounds like a wonderful idea. Ooh, and now I can splash Mine again without too much worry, the brown said mischieviously. Just after Meira's question the brown interjected demandingly. You are to agree Mine. You would do well with some more sun and maybe some swimming. Hiding up in our weyr is only okay some of the time. Your goal will still be accomplished. T'san chuckled at the tone and turned a smile on Meira. "The brown brute doesn't seem to want to let me refuse. He is fond of the river," the man commented off-handedly. "So sure, the river it is."