Balance

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 1st July 2025

Characters: W'ser, S'yen
Description: S'yen survives Threadfall, just to remember his dragonhealer duties still exist.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 12

W'ser

S'yen

Jenith landed with a thump in the Weyrbowl, his wings tired but his
head held high. S’yen let out a victorious whoop as he freed himself
of his helmet. “We did it!” Shells, that had been the most harrowing
rush of adrenaline ever. Was that how every Threadfall was going to
feel, somewhere between a panic attack and a cliff dive? S’yen wasn’t
sure how he felt about that but for now, he was alive! “Jenith, you
good?” he asked of his dragon, because he knew that Jenith hadn’t
taken a single hit during the fight. Uncaring if anyone saw his grin,
S’yen beamed proudly.

}: A little tired from so much flying but I’m okay! :{ the dragon
declared as he looked over his wings. S’yen began unstrapping himself,
already looking forward to a bath and sex. Maybe he could meet up with
that greenrider tonight, the one with that good a-- }: We have work
to do still, right? :{ Jenith asked, interrupting S’yen’s thoughts.

They did? “Right! Shells, you’re right. Dragonhealer time,” S’yen
answered. Shells, he’d have to think about getting laid later. A quick
hop across the Weyrbowl and they were at the Infirmary, where dragons
were already crowding for care. “W’ser! Put us to work!” S’yen shouted
as he began hunting for redwort.

“Come on then,” W’ser called back. The Weyrdragonhealer was sitting on
a stool, shoulders hunched, head bent over the extended wing of a
brown dragon. “Working on wing repair,” he said over his shoulder.

“Easy stuff,” S’yen said to himself as he doused his hands in redwort.
Jenith took up a place near the entrance, on the lookout for others
that might need support. “He’s eager to get to helping,” S’yen
remarked to W’ser.

The Weyrdragonhealer dropped his shoulders and rolled his head from
side to side, trying to loosen up the knotted muscles in his neck and
shoulders. “The green in bay three is waiting for a reapplication of
numbweed. Think you can handle that?”

“On it,” S’yen said. W’ser could obviously hear the shift in S’yen’s
tone nowadays. He wasn’t so defensive or caustic. He still could be,
at the drop of a hat, but when it came to Jenith, the dragon had
definitely altered a lot about his rider. “Hey, Jenith, talk to her
while I get her numbed up,” S’yen called.

}: Hello Pelianth, I know it hurts but my rider will get you better in
just a moment, don’t fret, :{ Jenith assured the green dragon
soothingly.

“Shells, that looks like it hurts,” S’yen muttered as he checked out
the flank scoring. **Jenith, have her say when she feels better,
okay?** He realized, with surprise, why having a dragon was crucial to
advancing in the craft. And almost regretted his earlier resentment
about being held back.

Leaving his work in the hands of an experienced journeywoman, W’ser
meandered down to bay three to see how S’yen was doing. He was pleased
to see the tender care the bluerider showed Pelianth. There had been a
lot of pent up anger and resentment in S’yen when they had first met,
but W’ser had felt strongly that the craft would help center the boy.
It would seem Jenith had been a very positive influence as well.

“Looks good,” W’ser said, coming to stand over S’yen’s shoulder as he
watched the final bandage being smoothed into place.

}: She says that feels _much_ better, :{ Jenith reported. His eyes
whirled happily, glad to be of use. }: Who’s next? :{

“Who’s next?” S’yen echoed to W’ser.

W’ser’s lips twitched at S’yen’s enthusiasm. “This way,” he said,
leading them down to the first bay, the largest of the wallows, where
a bronze dragon was snoozing. “This is Aerosath. His tail caught the
wrong end of a patch of thread.” The Weyrdragonhealer led S’yen to
where the tip was bandaged in many layers. “The dressing just needs
changing. He might even sleep the entire time.”

“Surprised he kept the tail,” S’yen muttered. Jenith followed at a
distance behind. S’yen began to work as carefully as he could, trying
not to disturb the dragon. He felt Jenith both listening and watching.

}: This…could be me one day? :{ the young blue questioned with
something akin to morbid curiosity.

**Don’t you worry, Jenith. You’re way faster than this big bronze
lunk,** S’yen immediately assured him. But it did nag at S’yen’s mind.
“Hey, W’ser, Branth’s been injured before, right?”

“Yes, more than once.” There were old telltale signs crisscrossed
against the brown’s hide to prove it.

“How’d you handle that? Like, you felt him hurting too? How’d you…I
don’t know, keep calm or whatever.”

“Yes, you can feel him hurting, too, but you just have to remind
yourself that you’re in your body, not his. Reassure yourself of what
your own body is actually feeling. But most importantly, you’ve got to
remember here,” he pointed to his temple, “that your dragon is
counting on you.”

S’yen’s expression said that he was thinking deeply about this as he
worked. He had been counting so much on Jenith, waiting for a dragon
to breathe life into his meaningless world. Now, W’ser was saying that
Jenith would count on him sometimes. Doubt pressed against S’yen’s
ribs. Could he do it?

}: I believe in you, :{ Jenith said, unfazed. }: You won’t let me get
hurt that bad. :{

**I’ll do my best, buddy, I promise,** S’yen thought back fiercely. He
finished up with Aerosath’s tail and straightened. “Who’s next?” he
asked W’ser, as he tried not to think about how Jenith might be one of
the ones in those bays one day.

Last updated on the July 15th 2025

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