RCW: Waking Up

Posted on Sun Dec 21st, 2025 @ 10:51pm by Jr Journeyman Nerlyn & Sr Journeyman Thalia & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: M3 D22

K'ron groaned softly as he faintly made out a voice he thought he knew. He worked to force his eyes open but gasped in pain when he shifted wrong.

“Shards,” he mumbled, curling up a bit. His arm and shoulder hurt so badly.

Nerlyn had been knelt beside him reading out things that she was studying as a way to distract herself and reassure him that she was there. She gasped as she saw him shift and then utter something. “Do not move.” She whispered awkwardly turning from where she was to yelled for Nikolaia and Thalia. The pair came in quicker than expected with Nikolai helping the Dolphineer up from the floor.

“Welcome back Bronze Rider.” Thalia greeted.

“can't anyhow,” K'ron mumbled. Trying to move had put him in pain in the first place. He forced his eyes open again and looked toward the voices. “Infirmary?” He asked softly, only remembering parts of things.

“Infirmary at River Cove. V’ros brought you back here which gave you a chill.” Nikolai said relieved to see the man awake and speaks with his normal alert voice then the sleepy and confused voice from the last 48 candlemarks.

K'ron closed his eyes briefly trying to remember everything. “Don't remember that,” he admitted quietly. “Last I remember was Koda….screeching.”

“For the best.” Nikolai said quietly as he smiled, touching the man’s wrist checking his pulse. He nodded at Thalia as she moved in to start checking over the wound on his shoulder without him fighting her constantly.

“It is?” K'ron asked, wincing as Thalia started to his shoulder. “ouch,” he hissed, trying not to pull away. Shards did it hurt.

“Stay still.” Thalia commented gently. Nerlyn slowly set by his head and crouched by kissing his forehead gently.

“It is… it was horrible when you came back.” Nelyn whispered softly.

“I'm trying,” he grumbled through grit teeth. How was he supposed to hold still when it hurt? K'ron tried for Nerlyn though. “Shards. Didn't realize.”

“Sorry Bronze Rider.” Thalia soothed as she finished her inspection and covered it in numbweed to allow him to relax a little more and take away some of the pain. “But positive there seems to be no growing infection so at least the fool had a clean knife.” She commuted with a roll of his eyes. He would live.

“But you are here and you are alive.” Nerlyn commented quietly to him.

“It's okay,” he said quietly. He knew Thalia was doing her best. He didn't even know what his shoulder looked like. All he had been able to see were bandages with blood spots. “Oh yay, one…Good thing,” he sighed before trying to smile for Nerlyn’s sake.

“You do not need to fake anything with me Kiron.” She whispered softly as stroked his stubble and pressed her forehead to his. “I thought you were gone.” She whispered still trying to keep him awake for a little bit.

He knew he didn't need to hide anything but he still didn't want her worrying. K'ron closed his eyes briefly, still feeling weak and in pain. “I'm…sorry. I had just…gone to get…food,” he said softly, remembering that part.

“I know.” She assured. “V’ros and Lana have explained it all.” She glanced to Thalia seeing how in pain the man looked. She hated seeing him in so much pain. He did not deserve that at all when he was perfect in her eyes.

K'ron nodded. He didn't know how much she had been told. Not that he remembered a whole lot. “I tried… to stay out of trouble,” he said softly.

“I do not doubt you Kiron. Everything will be okay.” Nerlyn assured quickly cutting off his argument around it all. It would be impossible to know how different it could be with a different choice.

He closed his eyes, feeling tired and a bit nauseous. “And I thought….Thread was bad,” he whispered. How had this all happened? What a mess.

Nerlyn looked at Thalia and looked worried. She was feeling the worry in the pit of her stomach. “Is there anything you can do to help?” Nerlyn demanded. She

“Not at this stage but it should settle down a little bit once the numbweed.” Thalia assured softly.

K'ron barely heard the words as he struggled not to move and just lay still. Moving sent instant pain through his shoulder and he hated it. Sharding bronze rider anyhow.

Nerlyn looked frustrated but said nothing. “I am here K’ron.” Nerlyn soothed hopeful that it was helping.

“I am sorry Nerlyn. We have to be careful when he has just woken up.” Thalia said squeezing her shoulder but Nerlyn brushed it off. She did not need the comfort, she wanted

He slowly forced his eyes open again, pain still visible written in his features. “thanks for…trying,” he whispered to Thalia as he shakily moved a hand to grip Nerlyn’s.

“Give it a candlemark.” Thalia promised, a little hurt by Nerlyn’s reaction but Nikolai pulled her out gently before she commented. Nerlyn watched them leave annoyed before the touch on her hand distracted her and brought her back.

“They’re trying,” K'ron said softly. There was only so much the healers could do and he knew Thalia and Nikolai would do everything possible. He squeezed her hand weakly.

Nerlyn said nothing, just rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand and smiled at him for a moment before she changed the subject. “V’ros stayed with you all night. Are you 2 friends now?” She teased lightly trying to lighten the mood and make him feel better.

K'ron wished he could do more to put her at ease. Right now though just staying conscious was hard. “He did?” K'ron asked in surprise. “Guess so.”

“Wonders will never cease.” She sighed before looking at him and pressed a kiss to his temple as she watched him look more and more sleepy as seconds ticked away. “Sleep.” She told him gently. “I’ll be here when you wake up.” She promised knowing that there was no where else she was going to go.

He gave her a crooked smile. Yeah he was okay with V'ros now. K'ron blinked a bit, trying not to fall back into the void of darkness. “sorry I'm so…tired.”

“Please do not be sorry. Rest.” She prompted kissing his temple again before she moved from the floor and sat on the chair. She smiled happy to see that he was now at least awake and coherent enough to speak and to remember things.

He slowly nodded, feeling exhausted. K'ron wanted to get up and move around but his body was saying there was no chance of that. “Okay,” he said softly, closing his eyes at her gentle kiss.