KH: Lost and Found

Posted on Fri Aug 8th, 2025 @ 7:22pm by Theeressa & Master Craftman Cohan

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M3 D5

Theresa was nervous taking the Kassa out by herself but a walk around the hold would do her some good after the gather and exhausting herself so soon after giving birth. She knew better but still did it to prove to herself that she could after her first pregnancy had left her traumatised and on bed rest for sevendays before she had given birth.

Riklan was sound asleep after the night shift and Laressa was at her harper lessons so it left her with the newborn and not sure what to do with herself. She did not often leave the cottage unless it was for something in particular just having time to do something with Kassa was unusual.

Cohan, covered in muck and some sort of oozy fluid that may or may not have been mixed with blood, turned a corner and very nearly collided with the young woman. “Sorry!” he exclaimed, automatically reaching out a hand to steady her, but then remembering the muck and instead opting to leap back. “Are you all right? I didn’t get any of this on you, did I?” he added, gesturing to his own smelly and filthy clothing.

Theeressa yelped as she stepped back her arms going to cover the sling that Kassa was lying contented in against her chest. She looked down at her hands and clothing and shook her head quickly. “No… I mean… no master crafter.” She said politely as she recognised the knots at his shoulder even if it was covered in something that she vaguely remembered Mari once being covered in.

Cohan grinned, a disarming sort of grin coming from one so large. “Please, dispense with the formalities,” he requested, his accent an odd mixture of Southern and Fort, with just a hint of Keronian. “Call me Cohan. And I am glad I didn’t transfer any of this to you or your child. I don’t like being covered in it myself, but the reward is a healthy calf added to the barns, so I suppose it is worth a little discomfort.”

“My husband comes home in similar conditions but his are human related.” She laughed a little as she took another step back as Kassa fussed a little at the sudden change in motion. “Though I fear if I am close to the barns I’ve strayed a lot further than I wanted.” She admitted glancing around to reorientate herself.

“Closer to the baths, actually,” replied Cohan. “I tried wiping myself clean, but it was not working, so I decided to wash properly. But,” he added, suddenly thinking of something important, “I seem to have forgotten to get a change of clothes.”

“That’s unfortunate.” The woman laughed a little as she could instantly see that the man was like this all the time. “Shhh… it’s okay.” Theeressa soothed the baby as she swayed a little bit to make some motion for the baby.

Of course Cohan had noticed the bundle almost instantly, but the conversation had not allowed for him to ask after her until now. “How old is she?” he asked, eyes on the little one. “Or he, as the case may be.”

“She.” Theeressa laughed. It was hard at that stage to work out what gender a baby was by facial features. “Just under a month. This is our first proper adventure out and about properly.” She admitted.

“A month!” exclaimed Cohan. “I’m not sure I’ve ever actually seen a baby that young before. Excepting, of course, the non-human variety.”

“Not a father then.” She said softly, smiling a little as it was something she noticed recently the lack of male crafters without families. Even her own husband had thought it was never going to happen for him.

“No, never got around to it,” said Cohan. “There’s still time, I suppose. Just have to find a mate first.” He grinned wryly. “Details,” he added as if that one was unimportant.

“A mate? How dragon rider of you.” She teased a little as the rocking motion settled Kassa down and she just settled for closing her eyes and snuggling against Theressa.

“I would say wife, but not all women prefer to marry,” he explained. “And I’m not fussed either way. Wife or life-mate is fine with me.”

Theeressa smiled. “I do not believe I have ever met a man outside of the Weyr other than my husband who has those views.” Theeressa laughed. Had she just found Riklan a friend by accident?

Cohan chuckled. “My parents were not married,” he explained. “They were together for almost 40 turns, though. Ma is gone, but da’s still kicking.”

“Even so.” Theeressa smiled. “We live in the south but not everyone is quite as open especially after the troubles over the last couple of turns.” She said sadly knowing she was one of the people that had once upon a time been unlucky enough to be held at dragon hold until she escaped and found Riklan.

“Aye,” said Cohan sadly. “The hold lost a good man. I expect many aren’t likely to forget that.” Left unspoken was the reason for the Lord Holder’s death and the role his own daughter had played in it. “Still, it seems a poor excuse to become hide-bound,” he added. “I tried telling folks, but they all think I’m strange. I am strange, but that’s beside the point.” He grinned.

“You would like my husband Riklan. You have the same mentality.” Theeressa admitted with a laugh before she sobered. “Sophida certainly caused a lot of trouble.” She had no fear of the situation after the woman had flung her down the hold steps many turns ago.

“She certainly did,” agreed Cohan darkly. “But that is all behind us now. And hopefully it will never come back to bother us again.”

“No, the other Lord Holders stepped up instead of it just being the Weyr defending us.” She would always be thankful to the Weyrleader and the folks that had defended her and kept her safe. “I was affected personally. I um… it was complicated but I am so called it’s all over with.”

“I can only imagine,” he replied. Personally affected made him think she was one of the prisoners. Or hostages. Whatever they would be called. He had no idea what that would be like. “And maybe not even that,” he confessed.

“Not worth imagining.” She assured quickly. The woman felt her mask slip for a second before she shifted her gaze away from the man to look at her fussing baby.

Sensing her discomfort, Cohan gave the child a warm smile. “Well, I suppose I should let you go,” he said. “Babies don’t like standing still. At least that’s what my mother always said. And I’m sure she must think I smell a fright.”

“Well it was a pleasure to meet you master crafter Cohan.” Theeressa said, inclining her head a little to him. “I am sure she had smelt worse.” She assured softly. “But I think I might need directions back to healer hall.” She admitted blushing at how lost she had gotten.

“Oh, uh…” trailed off Cohan, thinking. “I think it’s just back that way, sort of towards the left. I don’t go there much, but I pass it at least once a sevenday.”

The woman smiled as she glanced at the direction she was trying to head. “Thank you Master Cohan.” Theeressa started in the direction. “If you see a healer called Riklan around the place you should talk to him.” She said as an after thought.

Something told him she didn’t mean professionally, so he grinned and nodded. “I’ll do that!” he promised, raising a hand in farewell. Now he needed that bath. But first, a change of clothes.