[7.15.2707] Say Goodnight (Keravon)

[Jazzeh]

Lyrensa and the other healers had tried to make the thin boy comfortable in the infirmary. They had given him several pillows and kept the glowlights dim so that he could sleep. They had also made an effort to bring him his favorite foods, one of which was wherry cooked just a special way. She had never tried to boil the birds before cooking them, but the way the meat had separated from the bone suggested it was quite tender. All of this was in preparation for the worst. He had Cloudlung and it had advanced quickly to the second stage where it had ravaged the young teenager's body.

Unfortunately, his body was too weak to keep fighting. His immune system was not enough to beat off the disease and he seemed to expend what little energy he had coughing. And at some point, a minor illness, one which would not have been hard on a healthy person's system, had entered his body, completely eradicating any chance he had. It was time to say good-bye.

Lyrensa peeled off the mask as she walked down the hallway towards the waiting area, tucking it into a metal container hanging on the wall. Those had been installed in the infirmary in an effort to contain the disease and it seemed to actually work, much to her relief. The last thing she wanted was to catch Cloudlung and be unable to stand at Aylinth's clutch. And though they only had the one case now, it was still a risk an done that she'd rather not take.

Slowly and deliberately she turned away and resumed her walk towards the waiting area where two twin boys looked up expectantly at her. Even despite them dunking her at the dragon-washing lesson, she didn't mean them any harm, especially not like this. "I don't know how to say this," she began, trying her best to keep her voice level though she couldn't completely keep away the waver. She never got any further than that because one of the boys' eyes immediately welled with tears and he looked away, covering his face with a hand.

[Kendrall]

C'olt never felt so exhausted in his six-plus-turns as a Journeyman Healer. Never mind the fact he was a Senior Weyrling and therefore still had obligations to fulfill to a certain Green named Aromath. Never mind the fact he had to eschew his normal outlandish and preposterous clothing for something more conservative this time around. No, this was far more demanding of his time and of his skills he had acquired to become a field medic. It was never pretty to be witness to people literally atrophy and die in a painful fashion from cloudlung at Ryuu Hold, and now he was seeing it all over again. Only this time, it was a Candidate whom succumbed to the disease.

Normally he would be his usual obnoxious self dressed in flamboyant clothing. But this time he settled for a coral-colored long-sleeved tunic that hardly revealed an inch of bare skin along with dark-colored breeches and boots. His honey-blonde hair was tied back, and the normal laugh lines on his face were now creased with worry and exhaustion. C'olt was one of the last ones to leave the patient's room, the victim's breathing shallow and labored, his skin ashen and pale. Never seen anything this bad before, he mused to himself.

Aromath's gentle nature cut through his thoughts. Did we lose someone?[/color]

Taking in a deep breath and letting out slowly, he discarded the mask and gloves into the metal container shortly after his fellow Healer, Lyrensa, discarded hers safely. I'm afraid so, love. This sharding cloudlung has claimed another one. A Candidate, nonetheless. Lyrensa's heading to see the family members in the waiting room, and I for one wish someone else would have to be the bearer of bad news.

But will you be alright?[/color] Aromath's penchant for being protective of her bonded was well-known throughout the Weyr, and she was worried just how badly this would affect him.

I'll be fine, Aromath. I'd better be there with the family for emotional support.

He came in on the tail end of Lyrensa's news, and watched one of the boys turn away, his eyes welling with tears and covering his face. He sat down next to him and put an arm around the boy's shoulder, consoling the young man. C'olt didn't have to say anything, but knew what he had to do.

[Kit]

Keravon sat with Ferahar in the Infirmary, his stomach roiling with dread. Even at fourteen, he knew the reality of death, all weyrbred childred did. And he had known for months that Terahar would not recover, no one recovered from Cloudlung when it got that bad. But when the Healer came out, the truth hit him like a ton of bricks. Ferahar was crying, and another Healer, one he normally couldn't stand, was comforting his brother. Part of him wanted to tell him to go away, that this was a private thing, but he could only sit in mute shock. It wasn't supposed to be like this! They were all going to Impress together, and be dragonriders like their father and mother...but now they would always be one brother shy. His throat felt tight, but no tears came, until their father F'von appeared in the doorway.

Of all the boys, Keravon had been closest to their father, but it was only right for him to be here. The brownrider looked stricken. He had never expected to outlive his weyrmate, and now one of his sons was lost too. He came and sat beside Keravon, gripping his shoulder silently as the Candidate sobbed. After a few moments, F'von looked up at Lyrensa. "Can we see him?"

[Jazzeh]

When the news was delivered, Ferahar's stomach fell and his eyes swam with tears. He had tried so hard to be optimistic for his brother, but in reality, he had known from the moment the diagnosis was first given that his brother would not live to tell the tale. And now, with the Hatching expected at any given moment, the time had come. Terahar would not stand at the Hatching beside his brothers. Terahar would not Impress a dragon. Terahar would not rise to meet Thread with his brothers and father.

He felt an arm come around his shoulder and a shuddering sob racked his boyish frame. He knew the healer-weyrling only by the brief encounters he and his brothers had had with him while C'olt was still a Candidate and the three brothers were just weyrbrats. He didn't have quite the strong dislike of the man as Keravon did, but he still did not particularly care for him. But right now, with everything going badly, Ferahar couldn't have cared about a petty thing such as that. His brother was dying! And there was nothing he could do but say good-bye.

Lyrensa glanced between the two boys as grief overtook them. While one cried, the other one had gone still, barely moving. Her heart ached for them. She didn't know what it was like to lose a sibling, but she had had her experience with loss. It was never enjoyable. It felt like you were being torn apart from the inside out. She watched as C'olt went to comfort Ferahar, seizing her lip between her teeth, a habit that normally only bothered her when she was frustrated. But then again, perhaps she was frustrated. She was frustrated that she couldn't do anything for the dying boy and she was frustrated that she couldn't do anything to erase the pain his brothers felt.

Another figure appeared in the doorway and the tall blond opened her mouth to tell him the news. But he seemed to know already, by the look on his face. Again she clamped down on her lower lip and looked away respectfully. She never liked to watch another's grief. It was too personal and she felt like an intruder every time. She kept her eyes averted as the browrider sat beside the other boy, who was now sobbing as well. When he asked her if they could see him, she nodded. "We've got masks for you to wear when you go in." She decided not to add 'so you don't get Cloudlung, too,' feeling that the words sounded insensitive. Here was a family stricken by grief and she did not want to make it worse by offending them in any way. Her brown eyes sought out C'olt's, a pained look on her face.

[Kendrall]

C'olt looked up when he heard F'von come in, the Brownrider's facial expression suggesting he was in utter shock at the loss of one of his sons. He watched as the older man came and sat down next to Keravon, comforting his son and wanting to know if they could see Terahar. C'olt let go of Ferahar, then rose to his feet. Shaking his head at Lyrensa then nodding at her, he indicated there wasn't much time left for their patient, but it was best to make sure no one else caught the disease. Quietly, he left and headed into one of the rooms off to the side, then returned a few moments later carrying some masks for F'von and his two sons. In his other hand he held a mask and a pair of gloves for Lyrensa. "I'll get another mask and gloves for myself shortly," he said softly to his fellow Healer. "Go ahead and take them to see Terahar."

[Jazzeh]

Lyrensa nodded, following C'olt's progress with her gaze before turning it back onto the grieving family. She tried not to look at them, feeling intensely uncomfortable. When her fellow healer returned with a mask and a pair of gloves for her, she mouthed a thank you and took them, not quite putting them on yet. She nodded again. That was exactly what she had planned to do. She took the masks for the family and distributed them. "If you'll just put those on, we can go to see them." When everyone was properly masked, she put her own on and then gestured for them to follow her, walking the corridor until she came to the dying boy's room. "I want to warn you that he's not doing very well. He's having a hard time breathing and his fever is very high. There's a possibility that he'll be too delirious to recognize you," she said softly, avoiding direct eye contact. She stood by the doorway and allowed them to enter first.

[Kit]

Keravon looked up at the healers as they discussed seeing Terahar with F'von. There was a small part of him that didn't want to see his brother, wasted away as he was. But he knew this would be the last time he would ever see him, and that was more powerful than the wish to be spared his triplet's disease-wracked body.

F'von squeezed is shoulders. "I know this is hard boys, but we have to be strong for Terahar. If he sees us upset, he might be afraid," the brownrider said as he took a mask and put it over his face. Keravon nodded, wiping away the tears in his eyes and putting the mask over his face. He stood, and grasped Ferahar's hand for comfort as they followed Lyrensa into the room. He didn't want to believe that his brother wouldn't recognize him, but he swallowed and nodded at the Healer's words.

They entered the room, F'von first. Terahar was small, and pale, and very still in the bed, but the rasp of his breathing seemed loud in the quiet room. Keravon tried to be strong as he stood beside the bed watching his sibling's labored breathing, but he couldn't help the quiet tear that slid town his cheek. F'von stood on the other side of the bed, holding a bony little hand. "Son," he said quietly, "Your brothers and I have come to see you." No one was sure that Terahar would answer but they hoped he could at least hear them. It seemed he could as his eyes flickered open, though they seemed somewhat glazed with pain and fever.

[Kendrall]

C'olt nodded at Lyrensa, then turned and headed back into the side room to grab a mask and gloves for himself. Donning them, he followed the family from several paces, waiting for them to enter into the room first. He noted with satisfaction they'd heeded the precaution and put their own masks on, then as soon as F'von and his two sons entered C'olt walked in behind them, but kept a respectful distance, hovering near the back wall. It hurt him to watch this, and his heart ached for the family. Thankfully the mask hid his mouth and nose, as his lips parted in surprise as F'von held Terahar's hand. Normally the Journeyman Healer would advise against such an action, but he hoped Lyrensa caught it and would recommend all three visitors sterilize their hands afterwards with redwort. No one liked having the red stain on their hands from the plant, but C'olt didn't want to risk spreading the infection any further.

[Jazzeh]

Ferahar had stopped crying now and was wiping furiously at his eyes and sniffling. He didn't want to be a big baby, but shards! It was his brother! They'd been together all their life and now...even his brain choked on the thought. He nodded up at his father and sniffled one last time before arranging the thick mask over his mouth and nose. He looked over at Keravon as he felt his hand being grasped and he squeezed his brother's fingers tightly.

The sight of Terahar just lying on the bed like that was enough for his eyes to sting with tears again. But like Keravon, he tried very hard to keep himself from crying. He didn't want Terahar to get scared. When F'von spoke, Ferahar swallowed hard. "Yeah, Ter, we're here to see you," he said through the mask, his voice rough with emotion. The triplet's breath was loud and raspy and made him all too aware of his own breathing, filling the mask with hot air before the cloth was sucked back against his face as he inhaled.

[Kit]

At first, no emotion seemed to register on the teenagers face. He seemed to stare into nothingness. F'von looked worried. Tears fell faster down Keravon's cheeks. Then after a moment, it was as if a light came on behind Terahar's eyes, and he smiled feebly through cracked lips. "You're here," he said raspily. "Are you really this time? Sometimes I can't tell if I'm dreaming or awake anymore." He coughed, shaking his whole body. "Earlier I thought I heard the dragons humming, but the healers said no. I must've dreamed that too."

Keravon swallowed his tears, and nodded. "We're really here now. The Hatching hasn't happened yet," he said through a tight throat. It was better that it hadn't happened yet, Keravon thought. It would be worse for Terahar if he knew he had missed the Hatching, and this way, he'd never feel that loss. But it didn't make it any easier for his older brothers.

"I don't think I'll make it to the Hatching this time," Terahar said, and then he closed his eyes as if tired. Everyone looked alarmed for a moment, but his breathing could still be heard.

[Jazzeh]

Ferahar swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat, but was unable to stop the sob that rose in his throat as he saw his brother give them a small smile. His voice was gone...rendered into little more than a rasp. He wanted to reach out to his brother and show him he wasn't dreaming, but even though F'von dared to do so, he wasn't that courageous. He didn't know if Terahar was contagious and even though he had the mask and they said that it was strictly an airborne disease, he still worried about somehow catching it even just from touching him.

Keravon spoke, though, reassuring their triplet and telling him the Hatching hadn't occurred yet. He didn't even want to think about the Hatching right now. Everyone would be so happy when they Impressed, but he didn't know if he could be. Terahar should be there and now he wouldn't be. He wouldn't Impress, he'd never fly with their family. Tears poured down the eldest triplet's face as Terahar made his grim announcement. He squeezed Keravon's hand again, gulping hard. Terahar's eyes slipped shut then and he wasn't sure if he was asleep or just had his eyes closed.

Lyrensa decided it might be best to step in then. She wasn't sure when the boy would actually meet his demise, but it probably would be better for the family if they didn't see it. Knowing someone was going to die was one thing, while actually witnessing it was quite another. She cleared her throat gently. "It's probably a good idea to let him sleep," she said softly, hoping they would understand. If they kept him awake, his last few moments would be painful, but if he slept, he'd have a bit of peace. "We can, um," she cleared her throat again, finding her voice suddenly tight, "We can give him some fellis so he stays asleep. He won't feel any pain."

[Kit]

Keravon squeezed his brother's hand back, knowing that for the most part, they would have to support each other through this. F'von meant well, but he wasn't a demonstrative father, and he was still unsteady from the loss of his weyrmate. He listened to the Healer say that they could ease his pain. He knew that Terahar would just slip away, fall asleep and never wake up. A small part of him rebelled against this, wanting to have his brother as long as he could, but the greater part of him knew that there was no way to save him, and the quicker the end came, the more merciful it would be. That body in the bed barely seemed like the brother he knew anyway. The real Terahar was already gone.

F'voon nodded, suddenly unable to speak. The brownrider took one last look at his youngest son, suppressing the urge to brush the stray locks of hair from his face. Then he stood and motioned to the two other boys, proud of them for how they had behaved through this painful time. They would make good riders someday.

"Come on boys," he said thickly. "Tell your brother goodbye, and we'll let the Healers do their work."

Keravon nodded and swallowed. "Goodbye, Ter," he whispered, and then quickly turned away, the tears flowing again with abandon. He had to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape.

[Jazzeh]

Another sob rose in Ferahar's throat as Lyrensa spoke. He didn't want Terahar to feel any pain, but he also wanted to be with him until the very end. That's what brothers were for, after all. To stick by each other through every trouble. And now he was abandoning him when he needed him the most. But F'von was standing and motioning to the still healthy boys and Ferahar knew that this was it. This would be the last time he saw his brother. He nodded at his father, swallowing his tears and sniffling hard beneath the cloth mask. He heard his brother's whisper and he added his own, "We'll miss you." Before he could completely break down, he left the room, tears flowing down his cheeks like a dam had just burst.

Lyrensa found her throat tight at the scene before her. A father and his sons saying their last good-bye. She knew it wasn't the first time such a thing had occurred, nor would it be the last. But she felt the loss, too. She escorted the family out of the room and back into the waiting area, taking their masks and disposing of them. When they had left, she went back to tend to the boy, mixing a fellis mixture. If it was perhaps a little too strong, she didn't care. He couldn't be saved and if she could hasten his peace, so be it.

[Kendrall]

C'olt watched as the family said their good-byes. It was difficult for him at best to watch something like this, and he could only pray he himself wouldn't have to deal with this particular situation anytime soon. He nodded as Lyrensa went to fix the fellis mixture, then followed the family out of the room. Collecting their masks, he looked at F'von and gently spoke to the older gentleman.

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you and your sons to sterilize your hands using redwort, sir," he said, practically frowning as if apologetic. "Protocol." C'olt didn't have to say anything further, but he hoped F'von and his sons would understand that he really didn't want to risk spreading cloudlung to the rest of the Weyr. The last thing the Healers needed, or anyone else for that matter, was an epidemic to sweep through, essentially crippling the Weyr's ability to fight Thread.