Accidents happen (Open/Sim)

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

3076.02.04 | Evening | Hallway and Stairs

On the bright side, at least he wasn’t coughing up his lungs any more. Or at least, he wasn’t doing so as frequently. On the not-so-bright side, Chan was still here, getting the last few treatments for her burns. Sighing, K’tar walked along, lost in thought. Half a hall, down the stairs, and he’d be outside Chantrea’s door.

“Tell Chantrea hello.”

K’tar started to turn towards the voice. His attention was abruptly redirected when his leg hit something, and a person’s hand slammed into his back. Hard.

Screaming, he tumbled forward, only just barely managing to tuck his head so he didn’t smash his face on the stairs. He landed on his back in a heap at the foot of the stairs, his breath knocked out by the force with which he hit.

He glanced up, but there was no one there.

What the…

Shrugging slightly, he pushed himself up, catching himself on the door into Chantrea’s room.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. He had no intention of telling her anything about voices asking for her to be told hello.

[Simile]

Chantrea looked up at the voice. She was still suffering from the smoke inhalation and her burns were still bandaged. One arm would be severely damaged as it had not been kind to her. She was starting to be covered in scars - the ones on her face bothered her the most and sometimes she wondered how K'tar could stand to look at her. She swallowed, looking at him. "I'm okay..." she said, her voice scratchy as she pushed herself up slowly." She could hear Valhauth in the back of her mind telling her just how not okay she was. But she ignored her dragon.

"How are you?" she asked him, looking him over. "Were you the one I heard tumbling down the stairs...?" she asked him, looking concerned.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar grimaced slightly. She didn’t sound ok, not with that scratchy a voice. The grimace deepened for a moment as she continued, but it cleared quickly. If nothing else, K’tar had learned long ago how to pretend that nothing was wrong.

“I’m doing much better,” he answered, only a tiny hint of a rasp to his voice. He’d recovered quickly, though the Healers were still having to spread themselves thin and treat people only as much as was needed to insure that they recovered.

“Yeah, I tripped over my own feet,” he continued, realizing he’d fallen silent for perhaps a little too long. “You look like you’re healing up well. Have they told you when you’ll be ready to leave?” He didn’t want Chantrea here. Someone was here, and clearly making threats against her.

Of course, it’s not like the Weyr would be much safer, is it? his traitorous mind pointed out, complete with a vivid recollection of the Headwoman’s murdered face.

A Bronze firelizard popped into being right in front of K’tar and chattered at him.

“Xantos?” K’tar half-asked, already reaching for the message strapped to the firelizard’s leg. He opened it and read perhaps a couple lines, his face whitening by the word.

[Simile]

Valhauth made something of a chuffing noise as she looked around for Viarth. Where is the handsome purple? she asked, looking around for him even as she spoke to him, lifting her head from her paws and stretching, her wing. Her right leg and the edge of her wing had been badly burned, but they were healing nicely, though scars were already forming on her gray and pale yellow hide. The dragoness yawned. Must I tell him how very not okay you are, ChanMine? I'm sure he can tell. The dragoness chided.

Chantrea still ignored her, instead focusing on K'tar. She frowned. "Come here..." she said softly, watching his face. "Good. I'm glad. Stay with me awhile...?" she asked him, her voice scratchy. She didn't want him to go anywhere anytime soon. She wanted him right here with her. She smiled slightly. "Just a few more sevendays... then I can go home..." She smiled softly. "They said my voice should be mostly cleared up by then... they are trying to lessen the scars.... but they're going to be pretty bad..." she said, looking down at her arm and hand. She bit her lip. "My right hand is going to have limited mobility..." she said softly. She was going ot have to learn to right again.. it was going to be difficult. It wasn't useless... but it wasn't going to be of as great a use... she supposed it was good she knew how to wield a blade with her left already. At least somewhat. She sighed. She was less than happy and hopd that... more scars wouldn't deter him. She still felt embarrassed of those on her face.

She looked up at the appearance of the bronze firelizard, watching K'tar's face as he read the note. "Ktár... K'tar... what's wrong," Chantrea sat up, moving her legs over the edge of the bed and started to come to him.   

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Viarth lifted off, only to land once more at Valhauth’s side. I am here, where else would I be. You look better. He stretched his neck out, so that he could nose Valhauth’s side.

Concern. Fear. Viarth’s head shot up, his already yellow-orange eyes fixing in the direction to K’tar. K’tarMine, K’tarMine, what is happening? Why are you concerned-afraid-worried?

My father’s dead, and so is Chan’s mother. Lord Famoran thinks Gaveron is responsible for the first, the syndicate-thing for the second. If they went after her mother…

…than they might go after her too.

“It’s… your mother. Lord Famoran… She’s dead. It looks like the syndicate got to her…” his breath hitched slightly. “and… my father’s dead too. So far, the evidence is suggesting that my brother’s behind that one, but he must have had assistance…” Strangely, his voice sounded calmer towards the end. The death of Chan’s mother seemed a threat to her, the death of his father… It was disappointing, knowing that he would never, ever, now have his father’s approval, but, really, he had had almost no emotional relationship with the man, and could only call up a very distant grief. It was as if a stranger had died, rather than his own flesh and blood.

[Simile]

Chantrea could only stare in wide-eyed horror as K'tar told her what was wrong and she swallowed. She hadn't loved or hated her mother... but... she knew what this could mean and she instinctively reached out for K'tar. He, Viarth and Valhauth... were her family and friends more than any others. She couldn't bare the thought of anything happening to them. "They're... trying to send a message," she whispered, her hand reached out for him, her face grim, but not completely shocked. She needed to get back to the Weyr it would seem... at least there she would hopefully find a way to blend in. She would just tell the healers she needed to go now. She was looking at him though, waiting for him to say something, anything more.

Valhauth hissed irritably at the feelings hers had. She gave a small croon and tried to send comforting feelings at hers, but she had her own rage building up. Her own fear. She lookd to Viarth, crooning softly, asking for him to come curl up with her silently. To keep her safe. They will not touch us! the moonlight spat out in her typical fearless nature, her eyes whirling a mixture of concern and apprehension, despite her words.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

The silence was dragging. K’tar knew it was dragging, but he couldn’t think of anything. Couldn’t think of anything, that is, except the words on the page in front of him. He nodded numbly. He knew the message, same as Chantrea did, and he abruptly regretted that he’d never appreciated the courage Lord Famoran’s vengeance had actually required. They knew who Chantrea was, they probably knew who he was, and… what reason did they have to stop here? They could, demonstratably, get someone in the Aerie, they’d gotten someone into the Weyr.

“I think… would you mind if I stayed here, tonight?” K’tar sounded, almost calm, though a certain tenseness of stance revealed him to be far more afraid for Chantrea than he felt it acceptable to show.

Viarth stepped closer, wrapping his neck over Valhauth’s slightly longer one. She was almost three feet longer in the body than him now, and proportionately longer in the tail, neck, and head, but she was still smaller looking, not having even begun to fill out with adult muscle. Draping his tail over hers, he crooned.

[Simile]

Chantrea motioned for him to come over next to her, worry darkening her clear brown eyes. her hand had been licked by fire and there were places she couldn't feel anything... but it wasn't as bad as her leg and foot. "Please...?" she said quietly, wanting him to come over to her. She wanted to feel the comfort of having him close... even if it was just a hand to hold onto for the moment.

Chantrea watched him. He was tense. He was worried... about her. She felt bad for putting him through all of this. "No... I don't mind." She said it softly, her eyes on him. "Please... honestly tell me what you're thinking..." she whispered to him, her eyes imploring, pleading.

Valhauth pressed her body, having her own scars along one side and on her feet, reaching up along her neck, but her face was unmarred. Her other side, being painful, she shifted slightly, feeling a slight pain. Once she was comfortable, she crooned softly, curling up against him. She settled in against him, her eyes whirling with agitation at hte news and the apprehension her rider felt.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar swallowed. How was he to tell her what he was thinking, when he didn’t know for sure himself. He crossed over to her side, barely stopping himself from stooping to kiss her.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just, want to be here. Just in case.” Turning slightly, he shifted so he could watch the door.

Viarth crooned back to Valhauth, settling in to allow her to lie against him. The night would be long, but not as long as if they were apart.