Congratulations

Writers: Avery, Bree
Date Posted: 19th May 2006

Characters: Riveenata, Abrei
Description: Riveenata asks Abrei for advice, and ends up getting a pleasant surprise in return.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 3

Abrei

Riveenata was finished with her Craft work for now, and didn't have any more Candidate work for the day. As such, she decided, it was a perfect time to approach Abrei and speak to her.

The night before, she had thought long and hard about her candidacy and her work as a healer, and had come to the conclusion that she didn't really know where to go with her life. Finally she had decided to speak to Abrei about it- the Master Healer could surely help her sort things out with regard to her Craft and to what she should do.

She didn't seem too busy right now, so Riveenata waited until Abrei was free before approaching her. "Master Abrei?" she asked.

Abrei looked up from washing her hands, smiling when she saw the apprentice.
"Riveenata. I've been meaning to get a moment to talk to you. What are you up to now?"

"You have?" Riveenata asked, slightly surprised. "I suppose it's a good thing I approached you, then. I'm not up to anything...not right now. I did, however, have something to discuss..."

Nodding towards her office Abrei picked up a towel to dry her hands off.
"Let's have a seat in my office and you can tell me what's on your mind."

Riveenata nodded and headed there, sitting down. She fiddled nervously with her hands, wondering what Abrei was going to say about this, how she was going to react.

Closing the door, Abrei settled down in her usual chair and leaned her arms on her desk. "So what's going on, Riveenata? Everything is all right, I hope."

"I'm not sure." the younger woman admitted. "You see, I've been thinking about being a candidate, and being a healer, and I'm wondering if I can continue to do both- or even if I should." she looked up at Abrei. "I'm not sure what to do, and I thought I'd come to you for advice."

"I'm certainly not unbiased," Abrei warned her, smiling. "I know we certainly need all the dragonriders we can get, but I think you're going to be a talented healer someday."

"No one can be unbiased." Riveenata admitted. "I'm too close, J'an would argue I stay a Candidate, and you'll argue I'll stay a Healer. By speaking to you both I can get a fair enough assessment, or so I hope."
She paused. "You really think I'm talented?" she asked softly.

"I do. In fact..." Abrei pulled open the drawer on her desk and hesitated, her smile growing. "Perhaps this is a bit of a manipulative time to do this, but I've been meaning to talk to you for a few days." Pulling her hand back out of her desk, she slid a set of journeyman healer knots across the desk.
"I'd wanted to present them to you with a little more ceremony, but I thought you should know before you make any choices."

Riveenata blinked in shock. "I...Master Abrei... but this is... those are journey knots!" she exclaimed in shock. Tears began to form in her eyes- she didn't know why. "I didn't- do I really deserve these?"

She took a moment to compose herself before looking up. "I don't know where I want to go with my life." she whispered softly. "It's just...
I..." She blinked again. "I want to be a dragonrider because I want to save lives. Just like I want to be a healer. It's just... I try and try to Impress and never succeed! At least when I'm healing, I can do something that has a visible effect saving people's lives, and... I don't know if I should keep hoping I can Impress and save a life that way, when I know I can save them as a Healer..."

"Now that you're a journeywoman, you can decide to spend most of your time working on your craft without giving up the chance to Stand," Abrei offered.
"There are a lot of advantages... your own quarters, no more candidate chores..."

Riven nodded. "That's true." she remarked. "I don't even know why I'm so conflicted... a few sevendays ago, I thought everything was so clear.
But memories of some things have changed that... the Threadfall accident at Dolphin Cove, for one. I remember assisting there and seeing how much pain there was, for everyone, and all I wanted to do was stop it. As a dragonrider, I might get scored that way, and could I really prevent my wingmates from being hurt?" She shook her head slightly. "I can do something now- I can't prevent the pain, but I can stop it from hurting or killing them."

She looked over at Abrei. "You never stood, Master." she said, realizing she might be treading into personal territory, but wanting to know. "Was it easy for you to decide healing was what you wanted to do?"

"Easy enough," Abrei replied, settling back in her chair. "My parents came to the Weyr shortly after I was born because they wanted me to be able to follow their craft if I wanted to. Practically everyone in my family has had healer training of some sort, so I suppose I was raised to think of it as my duty. Pern needs dragonriders, but dragonriders need healers. The best they can have, because they deserve it."

Riveenata nodded. Things were beginning to make sense. "They need them indeed." she replied. "I suppose we are lucky, then...to be women where we can craft, not stuck in a Hold." She laughed slightly. "I'd rather have this indecision then be married already, I guess." She paused, aware she might be being too informal. "I really appreciate your advice." she added.

"I'm not always good at advice." Abrei gave her a small smile. "But I'm always happy to talk to you about your future as a healer. I think you are going to be a very good one, Riveenata, and I'd like to see you reach your potential."

"Thank you." Riven said honestly. "I appreciate that you're willing to help me, Master- I do want to reach my goals, and I think I feel more clear about it now."

"Good." Abrei reached across the desk to offer her hand to her new journeywoman. "Congratulations, Journeywoman Riveenata."

"Thank you, ma'am!" Riven exclaimed, taking Abrei's hand. She was honored and grateful for this- her purpose solidified, as well.

Last updated on the May 19th 2006

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