Waking Up Is Hard

Posted on Sat Nov 29th, 2025 @ 4:00pm by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Sr Journeyman Thalia & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M3 D22

He shivered a bit as he walked into the Dining Cavern. He was so tired of being cold. Why couldn't he seem to warm up? Of course the snow outside could explain that. Some porridge and klah would be great. He headed toward the food table.

“Hey Southern! We don't want you here!” A voice shouted, causing him to turn. A younger man stood in front of him, gripping a knife in his hand. “You heard me. If you don't leave I'll gladly make you leave,” he laughed.

K'ron woke with a near feral scream before curling up on his side, trembling. His shirt sleeve was still sliced and his shoulder was bandaged. Blood was seeping through different spots on the bandages. He couldn't stop shaking or even place where he was.

“You are okay K’ron.” V’ros stated firmly as he pulled the fire over the man. He knew this would happen with an open wound but he had not seen it happen quite like that for a while. Dragon riders did not normally daul like that. He glanced over at Nerlyn still unconscious on the cot thanks to fellis juice. How did he end up going from actively avoiding the pair to looking after them?

K'ron blinked wildly, trying to place where he was. He still shivered and pulled away a bit when V'ros pulled the fur up over him better. He was still locked in that dream and waiting for the pain he knew was coming. “where…” he started, looking up at V'ros.

“River Cove. You are home.” The man assured as Thalia came into the alcove silently and frowned as she took in the situation.

“You have been out for the day K’ron.”
She said firmly as she crouched by the cot to start checking him over.

“Home?” K'ron repeated, trying to get his head back in the present. The fog was slowly lifting but he was still very pale and his eyes showed fear. “the day?” He flinched away from Thalia without meaning too.

“You are home. I would not be caught in the north in the snow and ice.” Thalia said, smiling a little as his pulse steadied a little. “Yes, the whole day and night. You have been delirious with fever but it is great to see you awake.”

The bronze rider closed his eyes tightly as he worked to calm his breathing down. his eyes shot open quickly though. “Shards, I keep seeing…the knife,” he admitted. Fever? That would explain why he felt so awful. He tried to move a bit bit gasped in pain.

“Stop moving. My stitches are good but if you wriggle they won’t heal you.” Thalia instructed as she slowly pulled him back so he lay on his back again. “You will do with a fever. You have had a traumatic event.” Thalia wondered if he was coherent enough to drink some medicine.

“Should have pulled your own dagger out.”
V’ros commented quietly.

K'ron groaned but let Thalia push him onto his back again. His shoulder was throbbing horribly and he still had chills, with sweat rolling down his face. “I did,” he answered V'ros weakly. “Caught me…off guard when i…tried to help…Ria.”

“I am sure she appreciated the help.” Thalia said quietly, feeling awkward talking about V’lik’s ex mate. It was not her place to comment or even have an opinion on her when she had never met the woman and if she did she would thank the woman for letting the blue rider go. “Can you sit up so I can give you something to help the fever?” She demanded as Nerlyn startled awake and looked over at the trio and K’ron awake.

“Kiron…” she whispered staggering up.

Maybe he should have pulled his knife sooner, but he had hoped to be able to talk the other rider down without violence. Yeah that ended perfectly for him. He groaned a bit as he carefully sat up, cradling his arm tightly to his body. The bronze rider quickly looked toward his name. “Ner?” He asked, not realizing she had been there.

Nerlyn staggered to her feet and let V’ros offer a hand to get her there. She knelt in front of the cot watching him carefully assuring herself that he was awake, sweaty and wild looking but alive. “Keep taking to him.” Thalia told the bronze rider and Dolphineer.

“Hey?” She whispered looking pale as she ran a hand through his hair pushing it away from his face.

Normally K'ron would have been on his feet to help Nerlyn when he saw she was unsteady. that in itself showed how the fever and wound were affecting him. He flinched away from Nerlyn’s touch briefly before settling a bit again. “Hey,” he whispered, his gray eyes still wide.

Nerlyn had promised herself that she would not make a fuss when he was feverish and hurt but once he was healed she was going to be having a lot of words with him. “I am so glad to see you awake.” She whispered reaching for a damp cloth to see if that would help cool him down.

“Careful Nerlyn. You have only just woken up.” V’ros said lightly knowing she had only been given a little fellow but it had been enough to knock her out.

“Am I that…bad?” He asked, his voice hoarse and still sounding a bit scared. He knew Nerlyn wouldn't hurt him, but he just couldn't shake the dream and how the man had basically wanted to kill him.

“You were out awhile.” Nerlyn commented pressing the cloth to his forehead hopeful it might help a little as Thalia returned with a mug.

“Drink up.” She said watching as Nerlyn moved to sit behind him to support and help him drink it up.

He nodded, remembering Thalia telling him he had been out for a day. How had that happened? He leaned back against Nerlyn, feeling weak and sick. He hated this. “Alright,” he reluctantly agreed, his arm still held tightly against his chest with blood showing on the bandages.

“Borage and frostbite.” Thalia explained gently as Nerlyn took the mug and held it to his lips.

“Drink up K’ron.” Nerlyn soothed softly. She knew it would help. It was the usual concoction to relieve fevers, the only thing she thought could be different was the fellis and lavender to settle him back down.

The bronze rider hesitated, coughing a bit before slowly taking a sip. He continued to shake a bit from the fever and pain of his wound. He did try to obey Nerlyn and Thalia though as he finished the drink. “Lana?” He coughed. “Make it…back?”

“She has Neilla, K’vin and I’han there and has to be back by sunset. She has about six candlemarks to come back before A’ren goes berserk I think.” V’ros said gently. “But she is very safe. It’s been sorted out.” V’ros did bit know how but Kalaith had been reassuring his bronze.

He looked toward V'ros’ voice. “Good,” he whispered, gripping the fur close to himself with his good arm. “Thank you…V'ros.” He did remember the other bronze rider helping him get home. K'ron shifted against Nerlyn, trying to get comfortable before gasping in pain, tears starting in the corners of his eyes.

“You are welcome.” V’ros said before rising. “Now you are both awake I should go check on my family.” He commented rising and quickly left even as Nerlyn thanked him too. He glanced back and bowed his head with a sad smile.

“Lie down.” Nerlyn whispered shifting from behind him to let him lie down now he no longer needed medication. “Just rest.” She pleaded.

K'ron closed his eyes tightly. Shards, and he thought Thread scores hurt. His breathing was still a bit ragged as Nerlyn tried to help him lay back down. “Trying,” he promised through grit teeth.

“You are not allowed to die the moment we have a second child.” Nerlyn said firmly as she pulled the firs up over him and moved back to let Thalia close to look at the wound.

“Going to need to change the dressing and lather you up in numbweed and coagulants to get you healing.” The healer said talking away.

The bronze rider groaned. “Only wanted to get…breakfast for everyone,” he whispered. It certainly hadn't been his plan to try to die. “Really?” He asked Thalia. He wasn't sure moving that much would be a good thing. Of course he wasn't a healer.

“Really.” Thalia said gently as she set about working. “Just sleep it off. And by tomorrow you will feel better with just the wound to worry about. Why don’t you try and get some rest Nerlyn. I am sure your son would appreciate it.” She tempted quietly. Nerlyn sighed softly and nodded, the healer was right.

“I love you. And I will be back in a few candlemarks.” Nerlyn whispered pressing a kiss to his temple lightly.

K'ron managed a weak smile for his mate. “Give Raen lots of…hugs and kisses for…me.” He then slowly turned his head toward Thalia. “Alright,” he said. “Lets…get it done.” He knew it was going to hurt.