Ghosts

[gaylen]

Alabanth leaned hard into the feel of his weyrmate beside him, and looked with sparkling, hopeful eyes on her rider.

C'lyn-friend, he said directly to the man, sending emotions of deep fondness and gratitude, I am very glad to find you here.

Then, turning back to Greylith, he respectfully allowed her to relay in the more traditional way: We should not have flown that day, when she felt ill. Going Between caused a very bad brain-spell. It confused us all, like a great sea squall of thought, and we found ourselves back at our Weyr ... but it was a dead Weyr. Gaylen was very ill when we arrived, we had none of her medicine. Our little sister searched and searched in that time for dragons, but there were none on Pern. Then, it was my thought that she should search beyond that time. She would go out and come back, out and back, we were many turns alone in the deadtime. Little sister grew weaker, and Gaylen grew more ill. I believe the accident damaged her brain even further.

He reached to nuzzle his rider, who smiled weakly and stroked his soft grey nose.

Many turns, he said softly.

Gaylen was half distracted by Alabanth, but trying to make sense of C'lyn's words. "New Weyr?" her voice was barely a whisper, as she frowned and looked around her. She struggled her thoughts, brows furrowed, trying to remember something important. Then, "Ah. New Weyr. Have my grandchildren come, too?"

She attempted to sit, reaching for C'lyn to support her.

"I really must see them, to remind them to show respect to the new Weyrleaders before they settle in."

Alabanth, eyes shifting to yellow, spoke privately to Greylith, shielding Gaylen's heart from his thoughts. You must recall that the boy was killed many turns ago during a reckless flight, trying to fight the boredom. The girl was still at the Weyr when we ... left.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn was a touched surprised when Alabanth spoke to him, but he was careful not to let it show on his face. He looked up at the older blue and nodded, sending his own feelings of fondness back with deeper soothing thoughts which Greylith doubled.

Greylith listened carefully to Alabanth and crooned softly. She didn't know what to say so she simply nuzzled him. She had missed him greatly, but she was sure it had been hard on him with a rider who was ill.

C'lyn carefully helped Gaylen sit, positioning himself slightly behind her so that she could lean against him. He closed his eyes briefly when she asked about her grandchildern "No they have not come Gaylen," he said gently, kissing her temple.

Greylith nodded her head slightly before speaking privately with Alabanth I remember the passing of the boy and how badly it had hurt your Gaylen. I do not know about the girl. My C'lyn and I grieved longer then we should have, we nearly followed you between, but mine decided that we were needed to heal others.[/color]

[gaylen]

The fog around Gaylen began to clear ever so slightly as the seizure event receded into the past. She became aware that her body was shivering, despite being wrapped in soft blankets, and felt the muscle aches and nausea that often came after her episodes. She fought to bring herself forward, to think clearly, to force her mind under control. But one confusing detail, which should have vanished as her mind focused, stayed solid ... C'lyn was here.

Her clearing mind knew that Alabanth had brought her far into the future ... and yet C'lyn was here.

As Alabanth felt the spark of clarity, he quickly grabbed on to his rider's thoughts. Greylith and C'lyn are here, this is real, do not be afraid. They are really here, this is not delusion. I do not know how, but they are really here.

The aging bluerider clung to the sanity of her dragon as if his thoughts were a mast in a raging storm. Tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks as she looked into C'lyn's face. He had hardly changed at all, and yet she....

"How?" she asked in a whisper, then looked around at the strangers and ... and a young man she thought she recognized. But no, she thought, he was hardly a man when she last saw this one.

It is Tirenth's rider, bronze Tirenth. You remember Tirenth?

Yes, my heart ... yes, I think I do remember Tirenth and ... "M'kel?" she finished aloud.

The little firelizard, still clutched gently to her chest, twitched in her hands, drawing her attention. "Oh, Memory," she said softly, and caressed the dry, stretched hide. "Have you sacrificed yourself for me? Oh, what have I done?"

But then, the fading eyes began to swirl ever so slowly at the sound of her friend's worried voice, and the tiny queen raised her head to brush Gaylen's chin with her muzzle.

The old rider gasped, suddenly lucid, for just the moment, at least. "Does anyone have water?" Bright green eyes blazed, searching the faces of those gathered around her.

[C'lyn]

((I apologize for taking so long to post anything here. Life has been hectic at work and getting ready for my trip at the end of this month))

C'lyn shifted slightly to fumble for his small water pouch that wasn't there, a frown deepening on his face. Her looked up at someone held a flask out to him, he took it and smiled an apology to Journye who stepped back after he took the flask. He gingerly held the flask out to Gaylen as he thought of how to anser her question. He cradled her close for a long moment before finally speaking "As to how we are hear dear heart it is a bit of a long story which is better told in the comforts of a real bed and not sitting on the hard dirt in the middle of the weyr," he said softly, soothingly "Once we have you and little Memory somewhere comfortable I shall tell you all," he promised, kissing her temple once again.

Greylith nuzzled against Alabanth's neck They have many food beasts here. The little person who is in charge would not mind you eating, he would be mad if you did not. You surely are hungry are you not?[/color] She asked, eyeing his graying hide and how thin he looked.

[gaylen]

Gaylen whispered a hoarse "thank you" to the young woman who had handed the water to C'lyn. She drizzled a small amount in Memory's mouth, and the little grey-tinged gold sucked it down thirstily. After a few such drizzles, Memory actually raised her head, ready to drink a small amount on her own from Gaylen's palm. Her attention focused on the firelizard, it took a moment for C'lyn's words to sink in.

She looked around, growing confused, for she was, indeed, sitting on the hard ground in a Weyr bowl. People were gathered around her, most of whom she did not know, though there were a couple of familiar faces.

"Yes," she said softly, "A bed might be nice." She looked to M'kel, recalling that he was a bronzerider at least, wondering if he had rank in this Weyr. "Is there a spare bed?"

I am very hungry, Alabanth responded to Greylith as he leaned into the comfort of her familiar presence. But I believe I would like to wait to see my rider safely to a comfortable place. He glanced over at the milling herdbeasts. They did look most succulent.

Chirp! A weak agreement from Memory drew both Alabanth's and Gaylen's eyes to her.

"Are you hungry little love? You must be hungry, we'll get you some goodies from the hearth," Gaylen said, cradling her little friend, and attempting to stand. Her gaze had once again lost its focus, and she looked around, confused, wondering where exactly the hearth might be, as her legs refused to raise her from the ground. She scowled and looked down at them, as if they belonged to someone else.

[C'lyn]

Greylith nodded her understanding, for she would do the same, see to her riders comfort first and then her own. She gently rested her head along the back of his neck, inhaling his spicy scent.

C'lyn shifted so that he could help Gaylen stand once she was able to get her legs to cooperate. He knelt behind her with his hands gently but steadily holding her waist. He smiled gently as Memory stirred and complained of hunger. He was pretty sure they were all hungry and he would have to see to it that Gaylen ate properly. He looked up at M'kel awaiting his answer. He wanted to tell them they were more then welcome to stay, but he didn't want to anger the Weyrleader and in turn the Weyrwoman.

"She can always stay in my weyr," he offered in hopes of swaying M'kel. He knew that the weyr needed strong able riders, but he would fight for Gaylen. He had lost her once and now that he had found her again by some miracle he didn't want to lose her again.

[M'kel]

((TERRIBLY sorry about the lateness of this post; hope this makes up for it!))

The Weyrleader was taken aback by the startling multitude of events that had shattered the relative regularity of what had appeared to be a normal day. To see an ailing blue appear out of between had been a matter of concern, but most dragons were rather shaken up after the long trip from the past. The fact that the blue's rider was a woman long thought dead...was a matter of even more concern. And the fact that she was clearly out of sorts, unaware of where she was nor cognizant of events that had occurred before her disappearance, only heightened the bronzerider's shock.

The dragons Greylith and Alabanth were clearly sharing some sort of exchange, but Tirenth was left oblivious as to the news of the pair's extraordinary disappearance and reappearance. He could offer his rider nothing except a shared concern, and M'kel found strength through the lifebond to support him while watching the emotional meeting unfold.

When the old Weyrhealer spoke his name, the bronzerider could do nothing but open his mouth, then close it weakly. M'kel was at a complete loss for words, and it took him even longer to process the fact that C'lyn was gazing up at him, eyes imploring and overwhelming with emotion. Some request had been made of him, but the bronzerider couldn't fathom why. He wasn't a Healer! He didn't know what to do!

The realization struck him, and the bronzerider's eyes widened. He was Weyrleader. They were asking for his permission. For Gaylen to stay? M'kel's brows furrowed in surprise and confusion. How could he deny such a request? The woman was in no fit state to travel, and Araelen turned none away. "Of...of course," he choked, extending his hand slightly in case C'lyn needed his aid. "She can stay...wherever she likes....but I think you should stay with her," he added, for Gaylen obviously needed the young man's support.

[C'lyn]

((Its understand able, things get busy and hectic around the holidays.))

C'lyn couldn't have stopped the sigh of relief that escaped him if he had wanted to. He smiled up at the Weyrleader and clasped the man's hand for a moment before looking back to Gaylen "I wouldn't let her be anywhere but with me M'kel," he said in assurance. Now that he had this wonderful woman back he wasn't about to let her out of his sight again.

He put his hands back around Gaylen's waist to steady her when she was able to stand, nodding his thanks to M'kel as the bronze rider offered his hand as well "I knew that the Weyrleaders here were fair," he said, all but pledging his allegiance to M'kel and Sitareh right then and there.

[gaylen]

(Eek, a lot has happened in a short time! I may take a few days to catch up with new threads and new characters ... but will start by posting here in a thread I'm already familiar with. Nothing like playing it safe. ::grins:

Gaylen, legs weak and wobbly, stood cautiously with C'lyn's strong arm around her waist. For a moment, the Weyr spun around her, and she thought she might go down again. A strange wave at the pit of her stomach began to rise, as the world slowly stopped revolving. She recognized the feeling, fought it down, forced her head to clear for a moment and looked at C'lyn.

"Did you, did you bring any of my ... my medicine?" she whispered, her green eyes, as bright as ever, sparking with worry.

She turned back toward M'kel ... how he had grown and changed from the gangly weyrling whose cuts and burns she'd patched up back ... back ... how long had it been? Images of the past came to her now, fogging her vision, confusing her. Where had it been ... Desolate Weyr? No... No.... It must have been Artemis....

She shook her head, fighting the fog, clinging more tightly to the greenrider.

"M'kel," she said hoarsely, and tried to stand tall and straight. "Gaylen, rider of blue Alabanth, present and ready to serve ... serve...." The fog again, threatening, and she frowned, "... what Weyr is this again?"

The old blue behind her, who had inched forward to offer his strength and support both mentally and physically, gave a deep, worried rumble, and said to Greylith, Perhaps we should get her into a bed.

Memory, somewhat revived by the water, though still looking more pewter than gold, chirped weakly with an attempt at encouragement, and her stomach rumbled loudly in reply.

[M'kel]

M'kel returned C'lyn's firm grasp, attempting a reassuring smile to relieve the other man's obvious distress. He was somewhat surprised at the attachment the Weyrhealer was displaying for the former Weyrhealer of Artemis. After all, C'lyn had trained under Gaylen, but this seemed much more than affection for a mentor. The bronzerider wracked his memory for the answer, wondering if Alabanth would even have been able to catch Greylith if she rose. Of course, the blue did seem older than he had back at Artemis. Yet, how was that possible, for the same amount of time had passed for all of them, hadn' it?

I believe Gaylen and C'lyn were Weyrmates, Tirenth informed him, trying to aid in whatever way was possible. He stood hesitantly to the side, not wanting to interfere, but ready to leap into action if it was required. M'kel nodded slightly, for that would make sense. Of course, he wouldn't have picked up on such a thing at the time. As a candidate, and then as a young Weyrling, determined to be Weyrleader some day, the relationships of others would have seemed to be of little importance.

At C'lyn's praise of the Weyrleadership, the bronzerider was surprised at the slight flush that rose in his cheeks. After all, most days were carefree, and the title was merely a privilege rather than a chore. He reveled in his position without feeling the need to involve himself in tiresome tasks, and this was one of the few crises he had faced. Was he really doing a good job? The uncertainty gave M'kel pause, and his smile weakened as his eyes darkened in doubt.

As Gaylen attempted to present herself to him, although her weakness was glaringly apparent, M'kel gritted his teeth in fear that she would collapse again. "There's no need for that now, Gaylen," he murmured, trying to usher C'lyn to guide her away for rest. "Araelen Weyr is glad to have you, and I expect you will have some fascinating tales to tell when you are better. For now, you can serve us best by resting. You have had a harrowing journey." His stance said he wouldn't allow any digression in this matter, and his hazel eyes were firm.