RCW: Are You Sure?

Posted on Thu Nov 6th, 2025 @ 10:10pm by Gold Rider Lana & Bronze Rider Ni’hau

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove
Timeline: M3 D17

Lana looked around the bowl as the wings returned from threadfull. She hated not being involved in fall and being stuck at the Weyr but until she was healed she could not wear googles so could not use a flamethrower. She moved through the bowl and settled on Ni’hau as she saw him. “Are you good wingleader?” She demanded trying to see if he had any injuries.

“I’m all right,” he answered. “Shoulder’s a bit stiff, but I’m sure that’ll loosen up eventually. No, Zaijianth, my arm will not fall off,” he told his dragon, who like all dragons, worried altogether too much about his rider.

“Is it scored?” Lana demanded as she indicated a bench and the station she had. “Sit, let me look Wing leader.” She instructed firmly, already washing her hands in the redwort to clean them.

“I don’t think so,” Ni’hau said, now suddenly unsure. “I would have noticed that, wouldn’t I?”

“Sit.” Lana instructed, smiling a little with the sudden confusion. “You might be shocked but let me see.”

Ni’hau dutifully sat, mentally reassuring the fretting Zaijianth that he would be just fine. “I just figured I must have caught a firestone sack wrong,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the first time. Nor the last, I’d wager.”

“Well, let me be the judge of that.” Lana said gently as she pushed his jacket aside to look at his shoulder. “Not every day the Weyrwoman demands you take clothes off Ni’hau.” She said lightening the mood a little.

“Careful,” he said with a lopsided grin as he shrugged out of his jacket. “It might go to my head. I can’t remember the last time any woman demanded I take off my clothes.”

Lana laughed a little and looked at the man’s shoulder. He looked undamaged as she ran her hand over the muscle and frowned at the tension underneath her thumb. “Certainly done something to the muscle but no score.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” he replied, though he had been fairly certain he hadn’t gotten scored. “In a manner, anyway. An injured muscle doesn’t help anybody, but it heals faster than score.”

“No hauling fire sacks for a few days hmm?” The woman said, walking around in front of him. She crouched to look at the collection of things she had been provided. Dragonleaf was a broad, dark green plant used to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after a strenuous day of flying and would be perfect for him. “Make a tea when you finally relax with this.” She encouraged and handed the small pouch over. “You are old enough to manage this correct wingleader?” She challenged smiling still.

“I’m not sure,” he replied jokingly, scratching his head in mock confusion. “I suppose there’s a nice drudge in the lower caverns who could help, though. There’s always at least one willing to help a poor kid like me.”

Lana rolled her eyes as she picked up his shirt and lobbed it at him. “I am sure many of the women of the lower cavern would help you, Wingleader.” The weyrwoman commented grinning at the man.

Ni’hau grinned back as he pulled his shirt back over his head. Though he pretended to be a bit of a lothario, in reality, he was far more scrupulous than most in the Weyr. In fact, he had only been with women as the result of a won flight. But nobody needed to know that.

He winced as he moved his shoulder wrong. “Maybe I can bully Ouemi into going to The Reaches for some ice for me,” he commented.

“It would melt in a heartbeat but if you are feeling you need something try an icevine compress or swimming in the ocean for a few minutes. Cold enough early in the morning.” Lana said with experience of needing a compress like that. Her face had been painful last sevenday thanks to her googles shattering.

“Maybe a good float,” he agreed. “Gives me an excuse to go to the beach.”

“You have been here over a month and not ventured to the beach? Your wing could not have been that bad to warrant that lack of time?” Lana demanded as she packed away the things she had been doing to look at the Weyrlings returning with empty sacks.

“Of course I’ve been to the beach,” answered Ni’hau. “But I can always use an excuse to go more often.”

“Good. Had a moment of worry for you but you are fit and well other than straining muscles.” Lana said quietly. “What do you have planned for the rest of your day?”

“A bath, for sure, then hopefully do nothing,” he replied. “But first, check on my wing. I like to make sure everyone’s whole before disappearing.”

“I am sure that I’han has it in hand.” The Weyrwoman assured. She had no doubt the other bronze rider had it all in hand but she knew that her herself would want to check on her wing members.

“Probably,” agreed Ni’hau. “But I like to see first hand. Plus it keeps up moral if the wing knows the wingleader is concerned.”

“Sign of a good man and good wingleader.” The Weyrwoman approved. “Whilst you do that I’ll be checking over everyone. If there are any problems let me know.” She requested. She wanted to know if there were problems to sort them before bed.

“I certainly will, Weyrwoman,” he replied, lifting his hand in solute, but immediately regretting it as his shoulder twinged painfully. He lifted the other arm instead. “Have a good night,” he told her with a wry grin.

“Oh I am sure I will.” Lana said with her own grin as she spotted the Weyrleader walking towards her. It was the best sign that everyone was safe and back at the Weyr.