Wish Upon a Shell
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: Devin, KC
Date Posted: 14th May 2025
Characters: K'daen, R'lor
Description: Kaedin and R'lor have a chat
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 12
R'lor looked up as the tall young man walked into his office. "Kaedin,
please have a seat. How have your Dragonhealing studies been going?"
Kaedin stepped into the office with his usual composed gait, but there
was a slight shift in his shoulders when R’lor addressed him by name.
He offered a respectful nod, then sat where indicated, back straight,
hands resting on his thighs, not quite at ease, but not stiff either.
“They’ve been going well, sir,” he answered. “I’ve been shadowing
Journeyman Tilaran more closely during wound triage. She says I’ve got
a steady hand and a good instinct for spotting infection early. We
treated a young brown with strain in his left wing last seven, managed
to catch it before it worsened.”
He allowed himself a small flicker of pride at that, though his gaze
stayed level. “I’m hoping to be cleared for limited solo work soon.
Mostly minor injuries, salve applications, that sort of thing. I’ve
also been reading through old notes on dragonhide density and the
older methods for threadscore prevention.” He paused, then added with
a faint smirk, “They’re outdated, but still interesting. Some of those
early formulas were one wrong mix away from setting your own boots on
fire.”
He let the humor sit for a breath before the air shifted slightly,
the way it always did when he was in a room with someone who’d seen
him walk off the Hatching Sands empty-handed.
Kaedin didn’t bring it up, but his tone softened. “I’ve been keeping
busy. Trying to be useful in the ways I can.” His amber gaze met
R’lor’s directly, steady but shadowed.
The Weyrlingmaster nodded. "Some Stand for many Turns before they find
their lifemate." He could only imagine how difficult it must be to
have such drive but be unable to advance based on something outside of
one's control.
Kaedin let the silence stretch just a moment before exhaling softly
through his nose. He glanced down at his hands, then back up to meet
R’lor’s eyes.
“If I’m being honest, sir… I’m reaching the point where to really
advance in Dragonhealing, I need more than just skill.” His voice was
steady, but quieter now, laced with something deeper than frustration.
“There’s only so far I can go without a dragon of my own.”
He shifted in his seat, not out of discomfort, but to ease the weight
behind his next words. “Some wounds, the serious ones, they’re not
just physical. A dragon in pain won’t always let a healer close. And
when you don’t have your own dragon beside you to help ground or calm
them, it’s harder. Sometimes impossible.”
He paused, jaw tightening slightly before he let the mask slip just
enough to show the truth behind the words.
“And beyond that... I just...” he shook his head lightly, looking past
R’lor’s shoulder for a second, voice low. “I love them. All of them.
Even the cranky ones who lash their tails and snap at the air. I’ve
wanted to be around dragons since I was old enough to walk. And
standing on those Sands, again and again, giving every part of myself,
hoping; and walking off alone each time...” His mouth twisted into a
half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s starting to feel like the
Weyr’s answering a question I didn’t want to ask.”
He pulled in a breath and sat straighter again, the composure
returning like a second skin. “But I’m still here. Still studying.
Still showing up. Because I believe there’s a place for me in this
work. I just… hope I haven’t already walked past the moment where I
was supposed to find it.”
"If passion and dedication were enough to Impress, you surely would
have by now," R'lor said. "I could give you all the platitudes about
your dragon not being hatched yet, but I'm sure you don't want to hear
them." It was easier after the first Hatching or two to tell a
youngster that the right dragon for them would come along, but after
Standing several times the Weyrlingmaster was sure they sounded like
empty words. They'd felt hollow back when he was a Candidate, too.
Kaedin’s mouth twitched, something between a smirk and a sigh. “No,
sir,” he said after a moment. “I’ve heard them all. Kind, well-meaning
words. But they don’t sit the same once you've washed the sand off
your boots that many times.”
His gaze dropped for a breath, his fingers curling loosely against the
edge of his trousers. “I used to repeat them to myself. He’s just not
hatched yet. It’ll happen when it’s meant to.” He looked back up, the
fire behind his amber eyes burning low but steady. “But after a while,
you start wondering if maybe your lifemate was hatched. And just
didn’t choose you.”
He let the silence hang, not for pity but honesty. Then, more gently:
“I’m not giving up. I wouldn’t still be Standing if I was. And I know
I’ve got a place here, even without a dragon. But every time I see a
new Weyrling pair come in bright-eyed, not even knowing how to oil a
hide properly, and I watch them bond, feel that bond…” His voice
caught for just a moment, then steadied. “It’s hard not to wonder
what’s wrong with me that it hasn’t happened.”
Kaedin exhaled again, then offered a tired but sincere smile. “But I
keep showing up. Because I still believe in them. In the dragons. In
the work. And maybe... maybe that’ll be enough. Eventually.”
He shrugged one shoulder and added with the faintest edge of humor,
“And in the meantime, at least I’m good with salve mixes and cranky
bronzes. That’s got to count for something, right?”
"It certainly does," R'lor said with a small smile. "I hope your
dragon finds you soon, truly I do. Maybe I'll try whispering a little
encouragement to the eggs next time."
Kaedin let out a soft breath " half a laugh, half something else more
tired than amused. “If it helps, sir, try whispering that I’m not
*entirely* hopeless at singing lullabies and I don’t step on tails.”
He met R’lor’s gaze again, and this time the look was steadier,
touched with a quiet gratitude that didn’t need to be overstated.
“Thank you. For saying that. And for not brushing this off like it’s
just nerves or some bruised pride. It… means more than you probably
think.”
He shifted, preparing to rise, the weight he’d carried in with him
feeling just a little lighter now. “If nothing else, I’ll be here;
mixing salves, fetching bandages, talking cranky dragons down off
ledges. And if one of those eggs decides I’m finally worth the
trouble…” A faint, crooked smile curved his mouth. “Well. I’ll be
ready.”
Kaedin stood and offered a respectful nod. “Clear skies,
Weyrlingmaster. And… thank you again.”
"You're welcome, Kaedin. My door is always open if you ever need to
talk. Or vent." R'lor thought there were few Candidates more ready
than the young dragonhealer.
Last updated on the May 26th 2025