Can't Stay Sad
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: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 11th October 2009
Characters: T'kob, Shardon
Description: T'kob visits his cousin on the restday.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 7 of Turn 5
"I can't believe how big she's getting!" T'kob held the little baby girl, his newest second cousin, to him as he walked down the corridor with the girl's father. "I was just here not a month ago when she was born, and she's nearly doubled in size."
"Strange how they do that, eh?" Their third child and already she had changed so much. She was still tiny compared to his other children, but Shardon knew that wouldn't be the case for long. He would never admit it to his wife, but he did often miss the baby stage of children after they were older. "Just wait, you won't recognize her when you visit next."
T'kob believed it as he followed Shardon absent mindedly down the hall. He'd traveled these corridors for turns so he didn't need to think about where they were going, he could just focus his attention on the little hand with the vice grip on his pinky. "How's Vesta doing now that she's not the littlest one anymore?"
"She's sort of regressed a bit I fear." Shardon's mouth slipped into a one sided smile. "She's more insistent on getting attention and she's started trying to act like a baby sometimes. On the other hand, she adores her sister and loves to hold her.
He grinned, that little one was going to be a handful once she was older. "I bet she'll settle out and become like Verli, a little mother."
"Anything is possible." Shardon stated with a tone of amusement. The elder of his two children were quite different - it would be interesting to see how his third turned out. "So please, tell me how things are at Dolphin Cove. Anything new since your last visit?"
T'kob shrugged as he looked up from the baby. "First Jumps didn't go well. We lost two."
Shardon winced. He knew that was always hard and a Weyrlingmaster a few turns back at his own Weyr had resigned because of too many deaths. He had felt at fault, though no one had faulted him. That was another concern Shardon had about T'kob taking the position. "I'm sorry. I really am."
"Sometimes..." T'kob held no secrets from his cousin, they'd grown up like brothers or best friends. "Sometimes I wonder if it's my fault. I've never been in charge of so many before. I think sometimes that I shouldn't have tried for this position. Maybe tried for a Second position first somewhere to get more experience."
Shardon nodded slowly, his expression grim. "I don't blame you for feeling that way. But you've got a good head on your shoulders. I don't think you could have prevented it, more experience or not."
T'kob gave a slight shrug, "We'll never know. I just hope my inexperience doesn't cause more lives. Blooding isn't too far off."
"Do you blame yourself?" Shardon hoped he didn't. T'kob couldn't have control over everything.
"I try not to." T'kob said at first, searching within himself for the truth. "But sometimes I do. I try not to let it show, it wouldn't do any good to have a Weyrlingmaster second guessing everything he or those under him do. I've known good Weyrlingmasters who have lost weyrlings so part of me realizes that it can't be completely helped."
"You hold onto that thought, because it's absolutely true." Shardon hated seeing his cousin struggling, but there wasn't much he could do. "Remember your Weyrlingmaster? He was good and still some weyrlings were lost. It's no one's fault, it just happens."
T'kob didn't agree. "It's always _someone's_ fault. Death just doesn't happen." It was nice of Shardon to try and make him feel better. "I know I can't be responsible for some else's mistake, but one day, it'll be my fault someone dies."
"But that day hasn't come yet, so no point in blaming yourself." Shardon pointed out. If anyone was to blame, it was the weyrling, wasn't it? He wasn't really experienced when it came to that.
"You're right. I'll get out of my mood. It's hard to stay in it anyway what with this gorgeous girl peering up at me." He bent his head again towards his newest little cousin and cooed at her lovingly.
The child burped in his face and Shardon laughed. "Yes, you can't stay sad with a baby around. Come on, she's going to get hungry soon and neither of us are equipped to feed her properly."
Last updated on the October 12th 2009