Saved (Shoki, Moo, Shifty)

[summerrain]

75.10.26, late evening

What was going on...? So many voices... None of them registered, none beyond the song. But it wasn't the song of a LifeWing, not at all. It was her mother's lullaby, a figment of a memory. It comforted her, calmed her down. And the voices faded again.

The voices came back, softer, quieter, less busy. But she distinctly heard the words save them both.The only thing she thought of just then was her baby. She opened her eyes slowly, seeing quite a few people around her bed. But she moved her arm up and placed her hand on her stomach. She felt Ayleneth flood her mind, the Aurora dragoness quite relieved that her rider had been saved, that Yuki had awoken. Yuki looked up at the LifeWing rider before her.

"Thank you," she whispered. She knew she'd lost a lot of blood. It was a miracle that her child had been saved. Now if only she could tell R'niaan about it...

Grace, who had been flying in circles over Yuki since the healers had finished working, now settled on the pillow beside the woman's head. The Silver-Gold flit crooned softly, nuzzling Yuki's neck. She laughed softly. "Sorry I worried you," she told Grace. "I didn't mean to, you know..."

Ayleneth's voice was suddenly heard by everyone in the room. Yuki, I am sorry... I just wanted to get you away from the situation... I didn't think...

It's alright Ayleneth. I know you didn't do it on purpose. She smiled, closing her eyes again. Oh, she was so tired... But...

Her stomach picked that moment to voice its opinion on her position, and rather loudly. Her cheeks reddened. Well, it wasn't surprising that she was hungry. She hadn't actually eaten much since early that afternoon. And someone else was hungry as well, it seemed. "Could you bring something for Grace as well?" she asked. "I meant to feed her after the party..."

[Shoki]

It had been a rough couple of hours. Cr’wean had helped as much as he felt he could, and got out of the way when he couldn’t. He was more or less dead on his feet now, between Kiyosh’s song an all the work. However, once things had calmed down and it was clear things were going to pull out alright, he didn’t leave. Part of it was that Kiyosh was also dead tired, with her head tucked in her wing outside. He was not going to be going back to the Aerie for a while. So he helped out as he could. When the rider finally came around, Cr’wean was quietly relieved. He was too tired to be very grumpy, lucky for everyone around him. He did however look somewhat embarrassed, what with the thanks he was given.

“You’re welcome.” Half worth it, getting a grateful patient. Better than all the folks who brought up excuses for why they broke their legs. He watched the firelizards finally descend from her worried hover, and having a proper reunion. Riders always seemed to get on well with firelizards which was good he supposed. A moment later he heard a draconic voice and apparently the rest of the healers did too, as a few paused from work. While not entirely uncommon, most of the healers were not used to such communications while they were working. The Lifewing riders didn’t flinch though. Cr’wean frowned a little bit but shook it off and stepped away from the bed. He was intending to give Yuki some rest before, well, it was made clear that other things were required. Food huh? He could do that, he still had working feet, after all.

“Alright then, I’ll see what I can get for you both. They might have stew available.” He stepped toward the door, running his hands through his curly hair. Maybe he could nab a roll for himself in the meantime. Still he wanted to get her fed right quick so that she could get a good honest sleep in. Sleep could work wonders for a body, and in her state she could use all the sleep she could get.

[Moo]

Mosiliath had been in a right state of mind ever since Ayleneth had ushered Yuki in from the North. He was glad he had eaten earlier - it gave his upset stomach something to gnaw on as he waited for news. Currently, he paced around in the Bowl, torn between snarling at everyone who approached and curling up to them for comfort. And it wasn't even his clutch in danger! This was Yuki's other hatchling, the little one she was having with that Crimson Rider. But that didn't matter, not really. She had been a nice girl.

His eyes whirled a melancholic green as he scooted closer to Ayleneth. She was upset, and he did care for her - she was a good dragon, after all - so he would try to comfort her as best as he could. Neither them or their Riders were anything anymore, but that did not mean they had to be cruel and ignore their friends.

Once the Lifewing and healers had taken Yuki away, Mosiliath reached out to his Rider.

Mine, I-I need you! Ayleneth betweened here and Yuki is losing her hatchling. There was so much blood. The scent is stuck in my nose, it was horrible. I don't know what's happening in there, the Lifewing has finally stopped singing. I think they're done, but Yuki needs someone familiar to see. Please.

D'gan left his weyr without hesitation, following the directions Mosiliath had sent him after his plea. This was not the way he had wanted to see Yuki again. He had been watching Yura - from afar, mind you - and he had wanted to report to Yuki how well she had been doing, how he was still watching out for her, to not worry while she was still up at Ice Stone. Though he usually hesitated in seeing her, she and him had been through enough on their own, and he could only imagine what she was going through.

A handful of minutes later, he arrived where Mosiliath had told him the healers had her sequestered away. After he spoke briefly to one of the staff and had been granted access, he slipped through the door, passing by the Lifewing rider. Cr'wean, his memory told him. He offered him a quick smile and thanks, and then headed over to the bed.

Mosiliath had been right - the room was hot, and smelled of sweat and blood. He kept a brave face as he passed a bundle of stained cloth, but he couldn't keep from feeling a pang of guilt. He had had relations with other Riders when he had been younger, and they were all used to going Between to prevent pregnancies. But he had never seen one go wrong before, and he was entirely out of his element. Threadscore he could handle, but a miscarriage - or what looked like a miscarriage? The sight left a sour taste in his mouth.

D'gan minded the Grace as he maneuvered around the bed to a better spot. He had remembered her from that night in the Bowl. But he had not come here to see a little firelizard, and he focused his attentions next on Yuki. Bending down to her side, he rest his arms on the side of the bed and cleared his throat. He spoke quietly, not certain how aware of her surroundings she was.

"Yuki…Mosiliath told me what happened. Are you alright? What can I do for you?"

[summerrain]

Yuki turned her head when she heard the door open. She smiled slightly at the man who came through the door. She was just glad to see a familiar face, one that wasn't angry or frustrated.

"I am fine now," she told him, her voice stronger than it had been. "Both of us are still alive... It's a miracle, but I'm not questioning it. All I wish now is that I could apologize to R'niaan for the things I said..." She sighed quietly. "I shouldn't have said what I did... I got selfish... I should've realized..." She sighed again and reached for her Silver-Gold Queenlet. "Thankfully my brother didn't have to see me like this." Even in her present state, she was still worried about her little brother. But she had gone through so much pain... She didn't want him to have to suffer the way she had.

[Moo]

A relieved smile flitted across his face as soon as she admitted she was fine; weak, but hopefully no worse for wear. That was certainly a good sign. He had begun to relax and settle in - Mosiliath hadn't told him how long he needed to be here, so he assumed as long as it took - when she mentioned that Crimson Rider, R'niaan. He made a slight noise in his throat to acknowledge what she was saying (she needed to apologize? What for? Sounded like he needed to apologize for all of this), then nodded as he replayed her words over in his head.

"I see," he replied, knowing full well he had no idea what she was talking about. But if it was enough for Ayleneth to forget not to Between, then it must have been quite a fight.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for her, even more so now that he was beginning to understand the story. Or at least, her side of the story. She hadn't asked for this, no woman would, even if she knew she would have another child and knew the precautions she needed to take. And when she trailed off to talk about her brother - he was the one who made her that necklace, he remembered - D'gan held back the question he wanted to ask. Even in his head, it sounded rude. Crass, even. And she had just recovered, so why stir up even more trouble?

To bide himself some time to think, he stood up and pulled a chair over to Yuki's bed. He positioned it as close to her side as he could, and after he sat down and all was said and done, he knew he had to ask her. As a friend, if he could call himself that, he had to ask, especially knowing her history. If there was anyone, surely, who she would talk to again about those things, she might not be so upset about it when he broached the subject.

D'gan cleared his throat again; the words were already stuck in his throat. But he had to ask. He needed to.

"Yuki, I…I just have to ask, and I'm sorry to ask this, but…did R'niaan…has R'niaan ever hurt you? What happened with you and him that made Ayleneth forget not to Between?" He leaned forward, his hands resting on the side of the bed. "I know I might not be the person you want to talk to, considering everything between us, but I hope you know that you can trust me, Yuki."

[summerrain]

Yuki's eyes widened with surprise. "No, of course not!" she insisted, sitting up slowly. She felt Ayleneth's thoughts from the moment. "Ayleneth thought he was drunk, that he might do something without thinking... She wanted to get me away before anything happened." She sighed quietly as Grace settled in her lap. "He's just more of a flirt than I'd like... I shouldn't have said anything... But I guess I'm not the strong woman I wish I was..." She placed her hands on her stomach. "I want to be stronger... For myself, for Yura, and for my unborn child... And for R'niaan." She smiled sadly.

"I need to apologize for the things I said to him..." she admitted finally. "If I had never said the things I did... If I had just remembered how many other people in the Weyr need him on a day-to-day basis..." She shook her head sadly. "And I do trust you, but things are different now D'gan. You made your opinions very clear that night..."

Ayleneth's eyes whirled a relieved green when she turned to Mosiliath. She nodded and turned her head toward the sky. Surely Bamath wouldn't have let R'niaan leave things the way they were... But if the CrimsonRider really was drunk, then maybe it was a good thing they hadn't arrived yet. Give R'niaan some time to sober up before he came here. That would be the best for them all.

[Shoki]

As Cr’wean headed out, D’gan was heading in. He nodded back toward the Tigerrider, getting a quick flashback as to a more, memorable interaction. That’s right, it had been at the hatching feast for his dragon and Yuki’s dragon’s clutch. He wasn’t privy to what relationship they might have, but it didn’t seem to be a bad one considering this visit. He considered this as he went to fetch food. Being a healer had one advantage, at least in the meal department. He could get food when he liked and there were zero questions. At least he was pretty sure it was a healer thing, and not an ‘appease the grumpy man’ thing. That was also a thing he ran into fairly frequently, though he didn’t realize it most of the time.

Soon enough he was heading back, a bowl of a wonderfully thick and delicious smelling stew in one hand and a bowl of meat in the other. He had gotten himself a roll and eaten it nearly dry the moment he got it, getting a swig of K’lah to help it go down before leaving the kitchens. So he was good until he was allowed to pass out in his bed. He entered the room once again, and noted Yuki and D’gan talking. However, there was plenty of time to make himself noted first, so he didn’t feel like he was going to be eavesdropping on something private. Interrupting? Yeah, but he wasn’t really thinking about that. He would very well interrupt if he felt he was doing the best for a patient.

“Stew for the patient and meat for the gilded flitter.” He was pleased to see that she was already sitting up, which was good for this particular meal. He gauged their expressions with a quick glance, and accepted the current conversations as acceptable. Always had to be careful on that. Didn’t want her to get too riled up, not with what she’d been through. He moved to the table next to the bed and put the bowl of meat down before offering Yuki the stew.

“I can feed her if she’ll accept that.” Cr’wean motioned toward Grace as he spoke. He didn’t have a firelizard, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t fed a flitter before. It happened from time to time.

[shapeshifter]

He crept quietly to the Infirmary, appearing in the door facing after the Healer. His Crimson had come in unnoticed from Ice Stone, trying to keep from causing a stir. He cleared his throat, gazing at D'gan and Yuki. "Well, we meet again, D'gan." He walked slowly into the room, "Look, I told you my side and I'm sorry for everything..." R'niaan said to Yuki as he walked to the other side of the bed, ignoring the fact D'gan was there. R'niaan leaned down and kissed her gingerly, "I will learn to control my actions, but you must realize that I am highly demanded." He sighed, "However, like I said...I want this child just as much as I do. Little Yura needs someone to grow up with..." He smiled at the thought of the little girl that in such a short time had grown on him in his last visit. Suddenly, Royal fluttered in, chittering away at R'niaan. "Shush you!" R'niaan hissed at the flit, "Oh...and we have a new pain. Meet Royal." he said to Yuki.

Bamath had finally appeared above the Bowl, drifting down to the Aurora and the Tiger.

[summerrain]

Ayleneth's eyes lit up when she saw Bamath's bright red form. She nuzzled his hide when he landed next to her. {Thank goodness...} she said to him. {I wasn't sure whether you'd come today or if you would wait until tomorrow... I'm glad you're here...} She shared with the Crimson what had happened in the candlemarks since they'd left the party.

Yuki took the bowl from the healer. "Thank you," she said with a small smile. "Grace is old enough to feed herself, but you are welcome to do so if you wish." She took the spoon and started to eat slowly. The rich taste filled her mouth. Then she saw him.

"R'niaan... I understand now," Yuki said quietly. "I was being selfish, and for that I must apologize." Then a flit started chittering at them both, and Yuki laughed. "Have you fed her yet? She must be very young, as you hadn't Impressed a flitter before we left. You need to feed her, you know." She motioned to the bowl of meat Cr'wean had brought out for Grace. "Help yourself. There is more in the kitchen that we can send for if we need it."

[Moo]

Mosiliath didn't miss the large, incoming King - how could anyone, really? He rumbled an acknowledgement, but it was calcitrant and cold. Well met, Crimson, he said in a way that was anything but. He had upset Ayleneth, his dear friend, and that was enough to upset him.

Nevertheless, once the distressed Aurora returned to the Crimson's side, he backed up and away from her, as was polite. He would not do her the dishonor of being overly rude, even if he did find it odd that she had forgiven him so quickly. 

And once R'niaan had entered, D'gan knew it was over - that Yuki would be looked after, that he and Mosiliath could return to their weyr, that her child was saved and that she and her dragon weren't in hysterics any more. He stepped aside as the visiting Weyrling Master moved on over to Yuki's bedside, but instead of leaving, he found himself…lingering behind?

"Indeed we do," he replied with a less-than-enthusiastic tone of voice. Yuki might've liked him, but that didn't mean he had to as well.

He stayed to listen, he supposed, and blamed it on his misguided sense of loyalty and the fact that he hadn't said his goodbyes, and not an overwhelming desire to eavesdrop. Just as Mosiliath considered Ayleneth a friend, he considered Yuki as…well, something similar. He knew she didn't think the same, but that was alright.

D'gan rolled his eyes as he heard the younger man's excuse. "Highly demanded," he repeated under his breath, and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything else. The younger Rider had some nerve to barge in and say the things he did, making the conversation entirely about him. He hadn't even asked her about her child.

Not like his own opinion mattered  - and Yuki was right, he felt, for the most part. They weren't Weyrmates (and would never be), and they hadn't parted in the best of ways…He knew he shouldn't care so much. What Yuki did with her own life, in her own time, was her business and hers alone. But he did care, in his own way, and that was the most confusing part of all. 

But R'niaan was here now, and he would see her through the night. Better him than an ex-lover, anyway. So he cleared his throat, if only to get Yuki's attention, before he nodded in her general direction. 

"I'll be going now…Glad to see you're doing better, Yuki."

And with that, he murmured his thanks to the Lifewing Rider before leaving the room.

When he met up with Mosiliath once more (after the Tiger had quickly wished Ayleneth a good night), instead of flying up to their weyr, the two of them decided to walk side-by-side through the Bowl. Not long after they began, however, he felt his dragon's thoughts turn to him.

I do not understand you, Mine. You don't care for her, but you care about her? You are curiously confusing.
He shrugged once and yawned. I don't understand it, either. But I'm too tired to talk about it tonight. It's not what you think, though. It's not like that anymore.
I won't push you…I'm just curious.
Me too, Mosiliath. Me, too.