(09.18.2761) Dark Days & Fresh Starts attn: I'zaj / A'ryk

[mike hornsby]

The cold of between felt oddly comforting this time around. A'ryk held tightly to Malyth's neck, trying to force all recent memories from his mind. He was alone now, save for his dragon, and everything familiar or comfortable had been forcibly removed from his life.

((I'll never leave you,)) the browns voice echoed in his mind. That at least was the one solid thing he could hold on to as they burst out of the cold nothingness into a bright, warm world that was totally foreign to them. ((Please don't be sad.))

The words were faint with worry and Malyth's hide was an odd color. The death of A'ryk's father, or rather the nature of his death, weighed heavily on the young man and his distress had likewise taken a toll on his dragon. Truth be told he could see the wisdom of sending them both away from High Reaches for their own good. He felt horribly guilty for the distress he had put poor Malyth through and hoped the fresh start would help them both. Something had to be done or his grief would kill his brown, who was the only thing he now had left.

It was silent for a moment as they reoriented themselves. A large bronze, the dragon of one of the assistant Weyrling Masters from High Reaches, soared a bit above and to their left. They had been the ones who gave Malyth the image for where to between to. It had also been the assistant who had come up with the idea for their transfer. While A'ryk could see the wisdom of it the whole thing still just made him feel very sad and more alone then ever. He needed now to focus himself, for both their sakes, and try to make the most o this new start.

((Argoth's rider says that we are to find Subalth's rider. He will help get us settled in...and he says good luck.))

Glancing up he could see the man give them a thumbs up sign as both dragon and rider gained altitude and vanished back between. Now they really were alone...at least for the moment. Below them he could see the foreign sight of a tropical Weyr. It would be a lot different from their cold, mountainous home but at least here A'ryk had some hope of finishing his training away from all the reminders of his personal tragedy.

((Subalth has given me directions. We are to meet his rider now.))

A'ryk didn't speak. He just nodded his understanding and Malyth understood his intent. The two dove down towards the Weyr proper and their meeting with their new Weyrling Master.

[Rachel]

I'zaj was in a good mood, so he decided to be nice for once. The new weyrling hadn't done anything to earn his ire (yet), and they didn't get transfers very often. A'ryk was only the third in several turns, if he recalled.

Subalth gave Malyth directions, and I'zaj waved from the ground. His bald head was like a shiny beacon. He kept it that way for a reason, even if he occasionally worried about weyrling revenge via projectile.

((Welcome.)) Subalth said to Malyth. ((We look forward to working with you.))

[mike hornsby]

 He made his way over towards his new Weyrling Master, trying not to let the embarrasment and discomfort show too clearly on his face. By now the man would have read the files they no doubt sent from High Reaches. This I'zaj would know everything about him....about his father...everything that had happened. It made the young brownrider want to just crawl in a hole and hide from sight. Fortunately the steady influence of Malyth was there in A'ryk's mind to keep his courage up.

 

"Thank you for taking me in sir," he said once he had made his way to the older man's side. Standing stiffly at attention he continued. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience."

[Rachel]

"Hah." I'zaj scoffed at that. "You're not some holdless bum I'm adopting. You're a Weyrling, about the age as one of our classes, and you've got a new start. Chin up and relax some." But not too much. I'zaj was watching. He pointed to the barracks entrance. "We're going right in there to discuss some logistics. Place is plenty big, so Malyth is welcome to follow along or wait out here. Subalth is lurking... somewhere."

Subalth waved a shiny wing from the lakeside, within the area cordoned for Weyrling use. It was sunshine time before the babies arrived, damn it. Two out of three classes had left the nest, and it was wonderful. ((You are welcome to join me as well.))

"Let's walk." I'zaj began striding through the sand, forcing A'ryk to keep up with him. "And you can tell me all about why you're here, what you expect and want, and any transitional worries you've got. We'll have a nice long talk about climate, too. It's all in your file, but I want to hear your side of it. Don't worry, I'm not judging. I've already got the official facts."

On Thu, Oct 17, 2013 at 5:37 PM, mike hornsby <keph...@gmail.com> wrote:

 He made his way over towards his new Weyrling Master, trying not to let the embarrasment and discomfort show too clearly on his face. By now the man would have read the files they no doubt sent from High Reaches. This I'zaj would know everything about him....about his father...everything that had happened. It made the young brownrider want to just crawl in a hole and hide from sight. Fortunately the steady influence of Malyth was there in A'ryk's mind to keep his courage up.

 

"Thank you for taking me in sir," he said once he had made his way to the older man's side. Standing stiffly at attention he continued. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience."

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[mike hornsby]

 ((I should follow,)) Malyth said privately to his rider. A'ryk wanted him to but also understood that he was quite safe here....even if it was all a bit uncomfortable to him. [[I'll be fine. You should go meet Subalth.]]

With that he tried to match I'zaj's long strides and did his best to keep up with the older man. Once he fell into step he  concentrated on what was being said.

"Why I'm here sir? My father....he killed a rider in a drunken fit of anger."

He tried to keep any venom from the words. A'ryk understood the reasons it had to be done. That didn't make it hurt less of course but he realized that he had to make peace with it somehow or another.

"I had always tried to help him you see...he felt he had lost me to Malyth like he had my mother. In the end I couldn't protect him from himself."

The rest was a lot harder to say and it shamed him some to admit it but this too needed to be said.

"I couldn't help how I felt about it though and it endangered Malyth. High Reaches thought it best that I get away to another Weyr so that the memories wouldn't be so fresh."

What was implied, at least to A'ryk's way of thinking, was that he had failed to keep his emotions in check. In the end he couldn't help his father who wasn't a bad man really. Just a weak one. In his own weakness A'ryk had endangered his lifemate who was really the only thing he had left. Such thinking wasn't going to help him now though. He would have to try and put aside his over whelming sense of responsibility and get his life back in order.

"As for what I want....just a chance to get my life back sir."

Meanwhile, outside, Malyth had made his way over to join Subalth. He gave the older dragon a curious glance and settled in to wait.

((Mine is still grieving,)) he finally said. ((I worry about him.))

[Rachel]

I'zaj nodded amiably along as they entered the cooler shadows of the Weyr. He lead A'ryk into his office, indicating for the weyrling to take a seat and make himself comfortable. "Well. Are you your father?" That was a ridiculous question and quite rhetorical, so he continued. "There's no shame, A'ryk--you're not responsible for him or his actions. You couldn't have saved or stopped him and you weren't supposed to. Your only responsibility is for Malyth, and it seems that you're doing a damn fine job of that, given the great sacrifices in uprooting and moving down here that you've made on his behalf. Everyone has strong emotions. It's part of life. Even dragons do.

"Part of the Weyrling isolation is to provide an environment that lacks the stimuli that incite those strong emotions." He explained. "It keeps everyone safe. Your environment failed you. You did not fail Malyth. I'm not blaming High Reaches. They can't control your father either. He's a grown man. Sometimes... well, shit happens. The most we can do is keep living and thriving in spite of it, and I intend to see that you and Malyth do that." Really, they didn't have a choice. I'zaj raised a challenging eyebrow. "That's what I want of you. Release the guilt and shame and become the rider Malyth deserves. He chose you. When you release all of that baggage, that is when you get your life back."

Given the sheer amount of tragedy in the barracks lately, that was practically brightly colored poster on the wall. Maybe he should commission some harpers.

Subalth peeked at Malyth and then shut his eyes again, basking in the sun. ((Grief does that,)) he said to Malyth. ((But then it fades. The more you love him, the faster it will fade.))

[mike hornsby]

 "It doesn't feel like I'm doing a fine job," A'ryk began. "It feels....I don't know....I just can't put words to it."

In the back of his mind though he could feel the love and support of his dragon. Malyth had faith in him even if A'ryk had none in himself yet. It was perhaps the hardest thing he head ever done but the young brownrider kept his chin up and his gaze steady on his new Weyrlingmaster.

"I don't know how to release the baggage sir...but I will try. What do I need to do next?"