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Berath raised her head, lifting a giggling weyrbrat up into the air. She still wasn't sure of where she stood with the breeding female, but the voice sounded friendly enough.

said the voice of her inner cynic, aka Bereck.

Berath ignored him for the time being and lowered her head again, before the creche worker had a fit. Half covered in children of various ages the green felt good, and being able to help another - even one she knew she had not always seen eye to eye with - would make her feel even better. she asked, simultaneously playing a wrestling game with three separate children using her forefeet and tail.

In the middle of a lecture Bereck paused and pursed his lips. Alina or Aleck would give him a Look (of different flavours) if they knew he was using a rest break to work but there was just so much work that he couldn't avoid it.

J'nes was, at that moment, not in the hut he shared with J'len. She had been demanding bubbly pies, so he went off to the kitchen to see if he could get some. Unfortunately, there were none in the kitchen and they refused to make some, so he was returning with berries, biscuits and jam, and hoping J'len wouldn't fuss too much about the substitution. Or throw up again.

He was on his way back when Hyweth called him. I know she's not well, and I've been trying to get her to see a healer about it, but she doesn't like seeing them, he said to Hatteth to tell Hyweth. Still, if Bereck was coming, maybe J'len would consent to be examined. He picked up his pace, figuring it would be best to get there before the healer.

Soon after he entered the hut, expecting J'len to be there. She was generally either there or the latrines lately. "J'len? They didn't have any bubbly pies, but I brought you berries, biscuits and jam instead."

She has gained weight, Hyweth said at last. It was one of the only symptoms the crimson had not yet given Berath. And I do not know why. She gains, but does not eat well. She gets angry easily. She cries easily. I do not know what to do, Berath! She gets upset when I do not do as asked. The crimson paused, placated--for the moment, with the fact that Bereck was not worried. Yours does not fret? Thank you, Berath, Hyweth added, warmly. Thank you for helping. And sending yours. You are a good friend.

The crimson immediately turned her attention to J'nes. The warm tone all but vanished, leaving a testy Hyweth in its place. You have not done enough. Mine is ill, and you did not think to have Hatteth call for a healer. If she does not get better, I will be very angry.

J'len seemed to share her dragon's displeasure. She had sprawled on her cot, and looked up only briefly. "No pies?" she asked. "Shards, J'nes. I said pies. Never you mind. I'm not hungry."

Berath said to Hyweth, It was not time he should be working, but in a way the both felt a debt to the crimson pair that went even beyond their natural compassion.

For the first time in her life Berath was truly, deeply happy and at peace with her life. An ache that had been with them both since Berath had first understood her own nature had eased... which was good because there were new aches to contend with.

Physical pain wasn't any more enjoyable than emotional.


It was some time later when the knock on the door came.

It had taken some time and effort to get there.

Bereck lent heavily on his cane, and though there were dark circles under his eyes those eyes were as bright a blue and as alert as one could ask. He hurt and he was worn but he was here and that more than food and drink was what kept him alive. He needed to be needed, and so it was not entirely altruism that drove him to go to people who asked for him outside of working hours. He'd eat some other time, some time when there was not a chance to be of value.

J'nes took J'len's hand in both of his, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand in a simple gesture of comfort while he waited for the healer.

When Bereck did arrive, Hyweth didn't have to ask him twice. He paid her hard words little mind, knowing she was just as worried as he was. He made his way quickly to the door and opened it with a smile. "Welcome! Thank you for coming," he told Bereck, standing back to hold the door and gesturing for the healer to enter. Seeing how the man was leaning on his cane, he offered, "Please have a seat if you like," indicating the chair that was pulled up to the bedside.

J'len was not as pleased to see Bereck as Hyweth, nor J'nes, but to her credit, she did offer the man a small smile when he sat. "My stomach," she said at once, when he asked for symptoms. "I've never been sick like this. I try to eat, most things have a foul taste to them," she was struggling to describe her symptoms. What if J'nes became upset? "I feel as if I've swallowed a live firelizard. It was worse last sevenday, the stomach sickness." The crimson rider hesitated, glancing to J'nes. She didn't want him to worry--and yet. What if it was what she suspected? What would they do if it was?

"I didn't mean to worry anyone," she said. "I'm sure it's nothing. Is there a bug going around?"

Bereck looked from one rider to the other and back again. Were they ignorant, stupid, oblivious or some combination of the above? Well he was ninety nine percent sure what was going on here but he liked to be thorough and planned to ask a couple more questions first.

"I see," he said neutrally. "Any other symptoms J'len? Frequent urination? Any changes to your monthly courses?..." He supposed he wasn't one to talk about not noticing, but in all fairness Alina had been very early on when they had parted and he had been rather distracted with work; it wasn't as though he had missed blatantly obvious cravings and morning sickness.