Spring and Second Chances
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Corrin, Heather
Date Posted: 23rd April 2024
Characters: T'gyrlan, W'ser, Saibra
Description: Bronze Hanassath tests his wings after a life changing surgery.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 1 of Turn 11
Notes: Introducing T'gyrlan and Hanassath! Mentor approved
Spring had come. The winter snows were starting to melt, swelling the summerlake and setting the waterfall through the Weyr roaring once again. It was finally, finally time.
Six months ago the Weyrdragonhealer had hesitantly told T’gyrlan there might be a way Hanassath could fly again. Without pain. After almost four Turns grounded, T’gyrlan didn’t need to think about it. He knew the restless agony his bronze felt being ground-bound each Fall, being unable to fly and flame as he was born to do. T’gyrlan felt it too. It was like being half-dead. The chance they could return to the wings and redeem themselves after that fatal crash, well, it was worth any risk at this point. So they had gone forward with the strange new surgery, something T’gyrlan still didn’t quite understand. What he _did_ understand was that it was finally time to test and see if it worked.
Hanassath was cleared to fly, or at least try to.
He was cleared to fly solo. That would be trial enough after all this time. He didn’t need any extra weight. So there was nothing left for T’gyrlan to do but touch his lifemate one more time and wish-think him all his love and support, before stepping away to let the dragonhealers do one final once-over.
T’gyrlan moved off to the side, to where the weyrwoman and her gold waited. They might be needed, if things-- He didn’t want to think about that. “Thank you for coming,” he nodded to both of them. The dragonhealing queenrider had become a familiar sight after his Turns in and out of the infirmary. Not generally the way a bronzerider prefers to see a gold.
Saibra put a hand on T'gylarn's shoulder and gave it a supportive squeeze. "Of course." She thought back to the Turns of watching Hanassath slowly try to recover functionality. He'd spent many a day in the Weyrlake swimming to try and keep the wing muscles flexible and strong. She really hoped this worked.
W'ser felt a little nervous himself. The surgery on Hanassath had been experimental and something he'd decided on after several meetings with Dolphin Cove's Weyrdragonhealer, Y'gel. If this worked, if the bronze was able to fly stably with minimal-to-no pain? Then this was a surgical technique that could be used on dragons in the future to get more pairs off the ground and back into the skies.
Branth and Chioneth were perched on the bottom cliff near the practice fields, their wedge-shaped heads turned to watch Hanassath. If the bronze should falter, they would be there to help bring him down gently.
Once the all clear was given, it was down to Hanassath.
On the field the bronze stretched and furled and unfurled his great wings. He was feeling for the pain. It was recent enough, persistent enough, that he remembered it all too keenly. Nothing -- but they hadn’t taken his weight in the air yet. He crouched low, tail lashing.
T’gyrlan half crouched as well, all his focus with his lifemate.
With a thundering roar Hanassath leapt into the air, wings beating with a vengeance as he rose and-- a triumphant bugle burst from the bronze as he broadcast his wordless joy. To those on the ground it was clear to see: the sweep of his wings were smooth; his ascent was even. }:No pain!:{ he exulted, his mental voice booming with pleasure and relief.
“No pain!” T’gyrlan echoed, as much for himself as for those around him. He could feel the joy and freedom of flight pulsing in his dragon’s thoughts again.
Saibra forgot all of her Weyrwomanly-ness and instead jumped up and down with excitement, her hands clapping before she threw her arms around T'gyrlan's neck. "He did it! It worked! Oh, T'gyrlan, congratulations!"
W'ser, while just as joyous, had his head bowed, hands on his hips as he soaked it in. It had _worked_. His mind churned with this breakthrough. There were other dragons at Dragonsfall with similar injuries. What if it worked again on another dragon?
Chioneth and Branth both bugled, their brassy voices echoing around the cliffs of the Weyr.
}:You might even be healed enough for a gold flight,:{ Chioneth said slyly to Hanassath.
}:When the time comes, I will follow you into the skies,:{ vowed the bronze fervently.
T’gyrlan was jumping for joy himself and caught Saibra and swung her about before tightening to a fierce hug. “Thank you. Thank _you_.” His voice thickened with emotion and, when he pulled back, his eyes were bright with unshed tears. Happy ones. He was ebullient. “Wouldn’t be here without you.” Indeed, there were several times the gold’s authority had been instrumental in treatment" to say nothing of the initial disaster.
“And W’ser, sir!” T’gyrlan turned to shake the man by the hand. “We owe you our life.”
W'ser's face split into a smile as he shook T'gyrlan's hand while simultaneously clapping him on the shoulder with the other. "You and Hanassath have worked hard for this moment. I'm so glad to see him in the air. Now, if he can carry _you_ with the same results, we'll know he's ready for the Wings once again."
T'gyrlan would have liked nothing better than to fly right there and there, but they had been over this enough beforehand. Everything in its time. Today was for Hanassath to feel his wings and weight again. The bronze soared overhead, riding the winds until the healers judged he'd had enough and T'gyrlan called him back down.
That night, in their ground level weyr, T'gyrlan felt a peace he hadn't felt in a long time from Hanassath, as the bronze slipped into the deep sleep earned by honest exertion. So many nights had seen them both coiled with frustrated energy, fit to burst. Now... now they had a future again. He looked forward to tomorrow.
Last updated on the April 26th 2024