The Long Road to Recovery (SEE BELOW) [28.12]

[kendrall]

((OOC - Dramatis Personae: Mordecai, Lorina, Kasimir, Healers, Mac, Shayna, M'riel))

He couldn't put into words how he felt. The last thing he remembered clearly was becoming deathly ill, and the skilled hands of the Healers trying to stabilize him as they prepared to evacuate their home and move to a new one. Mordecai had been sweating profusely and lost a significant amount of weight, but due to his condition he wasn't allowed to be present at the last Hatching. In fact, he had no idea that a certain Gold had gone Between, let alone Green Lluvaith being the one to watch over the great queen's final clutch. He also had no idea that Tsunath and Fraith had Risen at the same time, nor was he aware of Shayna becoming the new Weyrwoman and her Josiath being caught by a future Bronze named Oreath.

Mordecai also had no knowledge of thirteen Riders coming from two hundred Turns into the future, nor of their stolen Gold Egg hatching into Gold Sherath and a young girl named Siarie Impressing to her. The few times he was semi-conscious he thought he could see a fuzzy vision of Macira watching over him, applying a cool rag to his head; or at times the Candidate Master or her assistant keeping a steady vigil. Only once or twice he thought he saw an unfamiliar face, but because he was so out of it he slipped back into unconsciousness again. By the time he finally woke up, his eyes opened slowly and his sense of touch told him he was still covered in linen sheets and furs. Mordecai couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw the curtain being pulled back just enough for someone to come walking into the room.

((TAG: Either Lorina, Kasimir, Macira, Eodira, Mac, or Shayna can be the one coming in to check on our Candidate!))

[sorra]

Shayna had come down to the infirmary to see Eodira anyhow to make sure both herself and Sanyara were doing alright. She was able to get around a bit more if she was careful and that made her feel better. Once she had made sure that Sanyara was progressing in he growth like she should she decided to stop and see a certain candidate that had been sick for quite some time. She had meant to come see him sooner but with everything that had happened she just hadn't made it down. She had left Sanyara in the capable hands of one of the apprentice Healers just in case Mordecai was still contagious. She didn't want to chance her daughter catching it at such a young age.

The new Weyrwoman quietly stepped over to the bed he had occupied since they had come to Izuko, not wanting to disturb him if he was asleep. "Mordecai?" she asked softly enough that it wouldn't wake him. She knew how sick he had been and it was a miracle in itself that he was still alive. She knew Eodira would be coming to check on him before long, so she wouldn't stay long.

[kendrall]

Mordecai lifted his head slowly when he saw Lady Shayna come into the room, but still winced when he did so. Shards, that hurt, he thought to himself. It took him a few moments to be able to find the strength to speak, but when he did it was still raspy. "Lady Shayna?" he asked, recognizing the woman but was unsure about her knots. They definitely weren't the standard knots of a Weyrwoman's Second, he thought. He'd only seen them on Lady Taenia. "Wh..where am I? Did we make it from Igen? How long have I been here?" He couldn't help but keep mentally asking the questions, managing to eke out the ones he could form with his lips, vocalizing them with his raw and scratchy vocal cords.

[sorra]

Shayna cringed when she saw how pale he still looked. She found a seat and pulled it up by his bed, sitting down so that she would be closer to his level. He still looked awful to her. The illness had really zapped him. "Shh," she soothed, gently moving to wipe some sweat from his face with the cloth that was by his bed. "You're in the infirmary. You've been sick for quite some time. Yes, we made it. We're at Izuko Weyr now," she said gently, moving to grab the mug of water. "Here, would you like a drink?" she offered, not wanting to go into everything that had happened since he had been unconscious. It had been a lot and it was still a lot to take in without being sick on top of it.

[kendrall]

Mordecai was unable to grasp the concept of them actually making the trip from Igen to their new home, wherever it was. He closed his eyes briefly when Shayna wiped some of the sweat from his brow, then nodded as she offered him some water. The young man took a long sip from it, then handed it back to the Goldrider. "Thank you," he said weakly, then laid his head back down again but turned to face her. "I'm sorry that I've been such a burden on everyone, Lady Shayna," Mordecai apologized, tears coming to his eyes. "But I didn't know the water at Igen was tainted. If I'd only known..."

His voice trailed off as he again focused on Shayna's shoulder knots, then looked at the Rider sitting at his bedside. Weyrwoman. But why is she wearing the knots? "Wh...what happened to Lady Taenia?" He managed to find his voice again, but it was still a bit raspy. "Is...is she alright?"

[sorra]

Shayna helped him with the water as much as he would allow her. She hated how he still seemed so weak. To see a young man in their prime like he was brought down to having to rely on others was hard on her. "You're welcome. Do you need anything else?" she asked gently, setting the mug back on the small table. Shayna shook her head, her silvery eyes shining. "Nonsense. You're not a burden at all." She gently brushed a tear away with her thumb. "None of knew, Mordecai. There is no reason to apologize. You just continue to get stronger so you can be back out there on those Sands. There's two clutches soon to be on the Sands. In about a month," she told. "And a third on the way."

The Weyrwoman cringed when she noticed he had spotted her knots. Shards, he was still so sick he didn't need burdened by this too. "Taenia is alright," she assured him. She hesitated briefly. "Unfortunately we lost Authanth though. Mac is keeping Taenia grounded for the moment, but she is coming around."

[kendrall]

Mordecai gave the new Weyrwoman (he was still in shock that Shayna was wearing the Weyrwoman's knots, instead of Taenia) a weak but candid smile. It was good to hear that he wasn't a burden to anyone, and that she was encouraging him to get stronger. But what was this about *two* Clutches soon to be on the Sands...and a third? What was going on? What happened to everyone? Authanth...*lost*? But how...?

He tried to sit up, but had to settle for resting on his left elbow. "Lady Shayna," he said softly. "What happened to Authanth? And is M'cleod still our Weyrleader?"

[sorra]

Shayna could see the questions in his eyes and she sighed softly. She didn't really want him moving. It wouldn't do him any good. Not when he was only now strong enough to really wake up and talk. She nibbled on her lip, fearing what his next question would be. She started to protest to him moving, but he finally settled for just his elbow, so she let him.

"Authanth was lost while trying to separate Fraith and Tsunath during their maiden flights," she said softly. The idea of the great gold being gone still hurt. "No, M'riel of bronze Oreath is Weyrleader now. M'cleod is helping Taenia and that is taking most of his time."

[kendrall]

"N...No...th...that's not possible..." Mordecai tried to find the words to express his disbelief. "She was the Weyr's senior Queen. Authanth, gone..." It was a blow to the young man, as he had a great respect for the magnificent Gold and for her Rider. M'cleod was no longer the Weyrleader, some Rider he'd never heard of was the new Weyrleader. "Did...did Authanth have her clutch? How many did she have? Did any of her dragonets go Between?" Mordecai sincerely hoped that there was some legacy left behind by Authanth; he wasn't sure if he could handle the shock of any of her dragonets failing to Impress. It was bad enough he couldn't be there for the Hatching, effectively forcing him to repeat the Candidate class.

Still, the questions kept coming. "Lady Shayna...you also mentioned there were two Clutches soon to be on the Sands? Fraith's and Tsunath's? And a third one is on the way; is it Josiath's?" The young man tried to think clearly, but his head was slightly pounding. *Three* clutches total? And just who was this M'riel and his Bronze Oreath, anyway?

"Lady Shayna, please...I must know what happened."

[sorra]

Shayna gently lay Mordecai back on the cot. "Mordecai, relax. You're going to get yourself all worked up again. I'll answer what I can, but not if it keeps upsetting you. I wasn't sure about telling you about Authanth in the first place." She gently kept her hands on his shoulders. "Tae will be okay. Mac is with her and her twins are keeping her busy." At least she hoped so. She hadn't actually seen Taenia in a while. She had been worried about upsetting the former Weyrwoman more and didn't want to chance that. "Authanth did have a clutch. She has 9 eggs and all Impressed." At least that would be good news to the boy she hoped.

She nodded. "Yes, the two clutches due within the next month are Fraith's and Tsunath's and Jo will be clutching soon after that." That was going to be quite interesting. So many clutches so close together. She wasn't even going to go into the future riders yet. She shook her head. "A lot has happened, Mordecai. I don't think right now is a good time to tell you everything though. You're only just now able to talk to us."

[kendrall]

Mordecai struggled a little, but Shayna's hands on his shoulders kept him in place. He tried to comprehend this new information. Lady Taenia had twins recently, and it was a safe bet that M'cleod was the father. Authanth's final clutch - nine eggs total - all Hatched and the dragonets Impressed successfully. That was a bit of a relief to the young man. He didn't know just how Lady Taenia would take it if any of Authanth's dragonets failed to Impress, the last reminder of a legacy. But there was also some hope for the future as well - Tsunath and Fraith would soon have their clutches on the sands, while Josiath would have hers shortly thereafter.

Yet he still had to ask himself just whom this M'riel was...

((OOC - Bringing in R'en for a moment until Eodira, Macira, Lorina, or Kasimir steps in. Need to advance the plot a little. Sorry! ))

Just then, an unfamiliar face poked its head in through the curtain. Mordecai had no idea who the new person was; he could only presume it was one of the Healers. But it certainly wasn't anyone he'd ever seen before. "Forgive the interruption, Shayna," the man said softly, "But I heard one of our Candidates woke up from a rather long nap," he gave the young man a cheerful grin; Mordecai couldn't help but be in complete and total awe. Who was this guy? A jester or something?

"Macira and MasterHealer Eodira are a little busy at the moment," the man continued, finally stepping into the room and pulling the curtain drawn behind him. His knots indicated he was a Journeyman Healer, a field medic specialist. Yet he was a Greenrider? Mordecai wondered if the man's personality suggested that he was perhaps a little effeminate, but then again he'd never met him, so... "Mordecai, is it?" the field medic asked, earning a wary nod from the Candidate. "My name is R'en. I apologize if you've never seen me before, but I haven't been with the Weyr for very long."

"W...where did you come from, then? Did you join the others at Igen before coming here?" Mordecai looked a little confused. Was this man a transfer? R'en grimaced slightly, a little embarrassed. "Well, not quite. You see, ah..." He stopped short, knowing the Weyrwoman would probably caution him to not say anything, and the field medic simply cleared his throat. "I think it's best for now that you could say that I'm a transfer." It was bad enough R'en had to stretch the truth a little; he wasn't sure just how the younger man would react if it came to light that R'en and twelve others had come from the future. Mordecai, however, simply gave R'en a blank stare, unsure if the field medic was pulling his leg or if there was something he wasn't saying. R'en leaned down to whisper in Shayna's ear. "I just looked at his latest charts. He'll be weak for a while, and therefore will be on a light diet and minimal exercise until more of his strength comes back. He's lucky to be alive, Shayna, but I think your presence here is beneficial. He needs to see familiar faces, reacquaint himself with those he remembers before M'riel comes to see him."

[sorra]

Shayna was relieved once Mordecai stopped struggling to try to get up. She wouldn't have been able to hold him much longer as she wasn't up to par yet herself. At least once he settled though they could talk a bit easier. She turned her head when she heard the curtain move and smiled a bit when she saw R'en. Although one look at Mordecai told her the poor boy was totally confused. Perfect. This wasn't going to be good at all.

She nodded. "Just woke," she answered, not letting the worry leak into her voice. She sat back as R'en talked to Mordecai. She cringed as Mordecai asked just who he was and if he was a transfer. She gave a barely discernible shake of her head to caution R'en. No sense in confusing Mordecai even more. It was easy to see that he wasn't understanding everything as it was. She let herself relax when R'en just agreed that he was a transfer. Once Mordecai was back on his feet then they could explain more to him.

She listened quietly as R'en explained what he had found out. She cringed and nodded. "I knew he had been bad," she whispered. She just hadn't realized that bad. She glanced back at Mordecai. "Will he be okay now though?" she asked softly, touching Mordecai's hand. "And I'm not going anywhere. Eodira has me on light duty anyhow," she smiled at Mordecai. "So I can stay as long as you want company."

[kendrall]

R'en gave the Weyrwoman a warm smile. "He'll be fine, Shayna," he replied softly to her question. "He just needs to rest, but again, seeing familiar faces will definitely help with his healing process." He patted her on the shoulder, then gave the Candidate a nod as he pulled the curtain back and walked out, drawing the curtain closed. The field medic then sent a silent request to his Green. Love, tell Lorina that Mordecai's awake, will you? I'm sure she'll want to hear the good news. He heard Arieth forward the message on to Descanth, then the Healer headed towards Eodira's office to inform her of their patient's progress.

Mordecai watched R'en leave, then did his best to give a brave smile to Shayna as she touched his hand. "Thank you for staying with me, Lady Shayna," he said softly. "But may I ask a question? Why does the Master Healer have you on light duty?"

((TAG: Lorina, Eodira))

[sorra]

Shayna breathed a bit easier once R'en told her that Mordecai would be alright. They had all been worried about him as he hadn't shown much signs of getting better. "Thank you, R'en," she whispered as the Healer slipped back out.

She turned her attention back to Mordecai and smiled, figuring that Eodira would be there soon. "You're very welcome, Mordecai," she said softly with smile, brushing his hair away from his face. She nodded. "Oh, that. Well, I just gave birth to my daughter a couple sevendays ago, so Eodira doesn't want me doing too much yet."

[kendrall]

Mordecai's eyes widened in wonder when Shayna said she had recently given birth to a daughter. "Wow..." he said in awe. He vaguely recalled that she and R'bao were more or less "an item" prior to transferring to Izuko, but obviously they were no longer living together as weyrmates, especially with this new Weyrleader Shayna had mentioned. He also remembered that the Weyrwoman also had a son - Venteran - but the Candidate wanted to know more. "How did Venteran take the news that he was going to have a little sister?"

He also was semi-curious as to how R'bao was handling the sudden changes. Probably not very well, especially if the new Weyrleader had invoked the ancient custom of claiming Shayna as his weyrmate, and therefore was the only one who could rightfully share her bed (and by tradition, she was only to sleep with him.) Mordecai also supposed the Blue Rider was the natural father of the Weyrwoman's daughter, and wondered how R'bao was handling his new role as a father. But the Candidate was afraid to ask the questions, as he wasn't sure if the Weyrwoman might take offense at them.

Shards and shells. Just how much did he miss because of his being so sickened, he was practically asleep the whole time?