And The World Falls Apart... (R'gar)

[Lady Smara]

Helping her father, Harper Arlin, with the younger children was sometimes a joy and sometimes a headache for Prontin. There were often days where the children would listen and work with her while there were other days the children preferred to simply tease her for being unable to see. It was always her father who would sort the children into groups, taking most of the more troubling children with himself while leaving only the best behaved with Prontin.

Having been taken outside a few times in the recent months, Prontin was actually beginning to grow a little braver in the idea of wandering out into the sunlight. Once she had even had her younger brother teach her how to find her way to a bench just outside one of the lower cavern entrances. It had taken her several tries with her brother nearby until she learned the steps she needed to take to get from the entrance to the bench only a few feet away, but it was a big accomplishment and she silently thanked her bravery to the Healer and Rider, R’gar.

So it was that when the four children she had been practicing the teaching ballads with asked to practice in the sun outside, she agreed that it might be a good idea. After all, she would have the children with her and if they stayed within reach of the bench, she could find her way back to the door. Having two children carry a blanket while the others took her hands, they made their way outside. Her step count was off due to walking with much smaller legs, but they lead her straight to a bench and she silently hoped it would be the one she had been taught to get to.

Setting up the blanket three steps in front of the bench, she sat upon it and hand the children join her. It was not long before they were laughing and singing in the fresh air. Blind to the world, however, Prontin did not notice the storm clouds moving in and it was not until the breeze took on a much colder feel that she thought to ask the children if the sun was in fact still out. A thunderclap broke out overhead drowning out the child’s answer and before Prontin’s mind returned from the shock of the loud noise the children had scattered and the rain had begun to fall.

Rolling onto her knees, Prontin stood up quickly and backed up, tripping over the blanket. All around her she could hear the rain fall fast and heavy, thuds of all varieties drowned out any sort of direction she might have been able to receive from the sounds of the bowl. Sitting up much more carefully, she reached around her, hoping she had backed up within reach of the bench. By the time she realized that it was not in reach, she was already soaked by not only the rain, but the dreaded feeling that this had not been such a good idea after all.

[Marnark]

Apollath had been sunning on the bowl floor, dreamily soaking up the rays through the day as he waited for His to re-emerge from the Infirmary where he seemed to spend so much time. He understood the feeling His had, though. Where the South had held to tradition, and had probably saved a goodly chunk of Pern in doing it, the North had abandoned tradition and made leaps forward in knowledge. These Southern Healers had a slightly barbaric method to their madness, and R'gar aimed to fix that. Teach them what he knew. Teach them the better methods, the better remedies.

But at the sudden and loud clap of thunder, Apollath started to an upright position again, head coming up and blinking in surprise. Mine? The weather is completely uncooperative today. I think we're fixing to get drenched. Are you near done yet?

R'gar looked up from what he was doing, and then stepped over to a window to peer out and up at the dark sky. "Yeah, I guess so." He answered, before going back to his table. Clearing everything away and putting things where they went, he quickly stepped outside, sprinting the last half dozen steps to vault to Apollath's neck. The dragon rose from his spot, and leapt into the air, beating his wings fast and hard even as the first drops fell.

The wind was hard to combat, but Apollath was a sturdy brown. A few times he had to adjust his course, but they still didn't make it to R'gar's ledge before they were both completely drenched. Landing, R'gar slipped off and stepped inside, wringing his shirt out. "Bleck."

Apollath continued to pour rain off his sides and he turned about on the ledge. Getting inside the weyr wouldn't benifit him anything different if it was now or ten minutes from now. He was soaked, and had no clothing on. Yay dragonhide and oil! He peered out at the rain in the bowl, watching as people and dragons alike scurried for cover. Another thunderclap had him ducking his head in surprise, though.

[Lady Smara]

Prontin had to struggle to keep the panic from rising within her stomach, a struggle she eventually lost. Rational thinking told her that the bowl of the weyr was exactly that - a bowl. It would have four sides which meant a wall in any direction she chose to travel. No matter which way she chose she would eventually find something to follow... right?

Using that logic she turned in a slow circle - or perhaps it was several circles? Maybe it was a partial circle? Any sense of direction was lost on the blind woman as the rain robbed her of her sense of sound just as her eyes robbed her of her sense of sight.

Deciding to chose a direction before the bile in her throat rose any higher, Prontin began walking forward, both bare arms stretched forward with her fingers splayed. Please let me find stone... solid stone... was all that her mind pleaded for as her world fell around her.

Her path was not a straight one as she had no point available to her upon which to focus. Instead her hesitant and clumsy steps wandered first in one direction then another. Further she moved away from the door she sought and further into the darkness the bowl was becoming, even to those who still had the gift of sight.

Eventually she gave up hope, falling to her knees on the rough stone floor of the bowl. How could she hope to rescue herself? She was lost and she had nothing to guide her. No sight, no sound and the smell of rain and herdbeasts were unfamiliar to her...

[Marnark]

Apollath leaned out into the open air filled with rain, eyes swirling a little faster as his gaze locked on a meandering shape down on the bowl floor. What was that?? Mine? There's something in the bowl.

"Yeah. A shitton of rain." R'gar answered, peeling his shirt off entirely before twisting it firmly to wring the water out of it. A rush of air had him turning in curiosity toward the ledge. But his dragon was no longer upon it. "Apollath?" He asked, picking up a towel as he walked toward the ledge. He didn't cross onto it, however, as it was completely drenched in rain.

Apollath swooped down into the bowl, splashing down into a landing in the growing water puddles. Padding after the blurry shape in the rain, Apollath tried to sneak up behind it despite how he had long ago more or less announced himself with his loud, wet landing. Creeping up on the figure, it didn't take Apollath long to realize that it was that blind female that His had been looking after. Hello?? Why are you out here? He asked softly, walking up closer to her and spreading one wing to shade the rain off of her drenched, clearly lost form.

Snaking his head around, Apollath interjected his snout into her path to stop her and give her something to hang onto. Where are you going? he inquired, breathing hot warm air all over her wet form, if by complete happenstance rather than design.

Mine? The gimpy one is down here, meandering in the rain. What should I do? I think she's lost. Apollath commented, wanting guidance on what he should do.

"What?" R'gar started, instantly knowing exactly of whom his dragon was referring to. Dropping the towel where he stood, he walked out into the rain and onto the ledge, to the very edge to look down. But the rain was too heavy to see even his giant dragon down there. "Get her inside. She'll drown out there!" He issued, slicking his loose, sopping hair back out of his face with one hand as the rain continued to pour down over his shoulders. Standing this close to the edge probably wasn't wise, especially considering how much dragonoil ledges saw. Stepping back from the ledge, he still tried to peer through the drenching downpour.

Okay. Apollath agreed, before turning his voice on the girl again. Mine says to get you inside. Do you want to go inside? Apollath asked.

[Lady Smara]

A splash and a heavy thud seemed to underline the constant roar of the rain falling all around her. Moments passed and the world continued in the confusion that had her so lost in the darkness. The cold… the wet… the noise and the darkness. It all continued and she remained upon her knees, clutching at her stomach as she shivered and her world continued to fall all around her.

It was the change in the sound of the rain falling that caught her attention first, pulling her out of her near hysteria. The heavy wet drops that had been pelting her sensitive skin stopped and became muffled to her ears. Slowly she lifted her face skyward and while she could hear that the rain continued, it no longer fell upon her face.

The voice that broke through the pounding in her ears and the torrents of rain caught Prontin’s breath. Holding as still as a shivering figure could, Prontin closed her eyes out of habit as she attempted to focus on which direction the voice had come from. Was it behind her or in front of her? She wanted desperately to reach out toward that voice, that object within the world of chaos, but she did not know which way to reach.

“Please…” she whispered, suddenly realizing how shaky and soft her voice had become in her fear. Wetting her lips, she called out a little louder. “Please… I can’t find my way alone…” It was the warm breath that kissed her cold skin that made her plea for help cut short. There was too much air in that breeze… so much warm air in the middle of so much cold and rain…

The warm, soft hide that pushed against her made Prontin’s mouth fall open and her breath be caught again. Realization that what had found her was not human, Prontin began to wonder if she was dreaming or had truly gone crazy to think that this… whatever it was… had spoken to her. Fear continued to grip the blind woman and cold shook her body, but the solidity of something real within this new world of chaos left even this frightful woman keeping a hand upon the creature.

The voice came again and while she did not understand the reference to what was his, she recognized the offer to take her inside. Beneath the stone where she would be dry and where she could find her way again. An escape to the confusion that the world had become. She wanted desperately for something solid to hold onto and if this… this thing…. This creature could offer that to her, even in her madness; She was going to accept.

“Inside. Please. Inside the Weyr.” She said, her mind so confused that even her words and thoughts were becoming as broken as her senses. Reaching out a second hand, she did not even search the creature to learn what it was, but simply clung to the heat even its wet hide offered.

[Marnark]

((Apollath does have his own unique voice. I believe it is Liam Neeson ))

I will get you inside. Hold on a moment. Apollath answered her, trying to think. There really was only one place inside where he could fit. His own weyr. So destination was not an issue ... except that it was so very high up. How to get her there? He didn't want to ask her to try and climb his shoulder... his shoulder was rather slick, and she couldn't see. Soo .. carry her maybe? It was really awkward to do. The only time he had carried anything in his feet before, it had been a dead animal carcass that he didn't care if it got abused before he ate it.

Shifting his weight back onto his hind feet, Apollath eyed the mud on his front feet. Not the nicest thing, but what else did he have. She was clinging to his nostrils like there was no tomorrow, like there was nothing else to the world. He inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly over her, having already figured out she was in need of the warmth.

This is going to get you muddy, and for that I apologize. But I have no other way of moving you. He apologized, before shifting forward and reaching to envelop her in both front feet. Tucked against his breast, she was safe from the wind and the rain. Leaping into the air, he swept his wings downward, battling against the weight of the rain and the buffeting wind. But he held her close and secure until he managed to fight the whole way back to his ledge. It was a very good thing that he knew where it was, because he sure couldn't see it until he was on top of it. Lookout! He warned, sending R'gar rolling back toward the weyr as he almost crashed onto the ledge.

Apollath slipped, releasing Prontin with one front foot to steady himself without squishing her, his hind feet digging talons into stone to stop the slide. Once he was steady, he gently set the girl down while extending a wing again.

You fool! I didn't say bring her HERE! R'gar protested, hurrying back onto the ledge now that the danger of getting squashed by his own buffoon was nil. "Prontin?!" He asked, taking her by an elbow to keep her from walking right off the ledge. "This way." He guided, taking her inside, off of and away from the ledge. Where it was dry, and warm.

But Faranth have mercy! She was muddy. Apollath shook, not that it helped him much, and followed them inside out of the rain, dribbling water all over the place. Where else could I take her? he queried, before flopping down on his couch.

R'gar scooped up the dropped towel and drapped it around Prontin's shoulders, rubbing her arms with it in an effort to dry her off, warm her up. If not clean her off. "You are a real sight." He mentioned. "Why were you in the bowl, though?" R'gar asked, guiding her to a place to sit before he went to fetch more towels and a blanket.

He was soaked, too ... but he had started out that way. He also had enough bulk to not really be affected by it much. He was just wet. Not freezing. Coming back with the new items, he shook out another towel and draped that around her after removing the sopping one.

He was grateful that Apollath had seen her, rescued her. But why did the silly brown have to bring her here? Logically he could understand why. Not only was this where Apollath could fit, but R'gar was also a Healer. Just in case. But ...

He sighed.

He would see to it she got home safe. Regardless.

[Lady Smara]

The sensation of even more of that giant creature wrapping around her had Prontin’s heart skipping a few beats. Warm hide that she had previously been feeling was now mixed with slimy wet and heavy substance. Feeling it press against her as she was swept off her feet, it took the confused woman to register that the slim must have been the mud that the creature spoke of.

Even as she felt him all around her, she could not register which way his head was to her position. It baffled her and she wanted desperately to know where it was to know which direction she should be speaking. She wanted to tell him it was okay, she just wanted to be safe again but uncertainty of where to speak to kept her words beneath her tongue. Why could she not find his face?

As carefully enveloped as she was, neatly surrounded on all sides by that warm hide, there was still a jolt and a jerk as he lifted off the ground. The feeling of the creature moving left Prontin with a much closer realization to the size of the beast. Another shiver ran through her uncontrolibly and she briefly wondered what she was doing. ’Why did I ever let the children take me outside?’ she wanted to cry out.

The world jolted again and before Prontin could find any sense of orientation, she found herself put back upon her own unsteady feet. Her dark world threatened to dismiss the rest of her senses and she fought to stay standing upright even as a hand caught her elbow. She closed her eyes, though it did not change the view, and swallowed as she gripped at whatever had caught her. She heard words, but it was different than the voice that had been talking to her previously – they sounded far away.

A material was put around her and she got the impression that the world was moving at a faster pace than her mind was keeping up with. A loud thud could be heard in the distance, another clap of thunder and then she was being shaken and not by her own bodies shivers. That voice spoke up again, even as the material continued to rub her arms. Rubbing… not shaking. She was so unsteady on her feet after the sudden trip and she was still disoriented enough that even the light rubbing on her arms seemed to be tossing her off balance. She had never been so thankful to find something pushing up against the back of her legs signaling her to sit down.

Putting her hands on the object she sat on, simply glad it was not moving, she swallowed again as that far off voice spoke to her again. She never had to focus so hard to make out the words, but when she did, she also finally registered a familiar voice as well; R’gar. Another involuntary shiver swept through her body, though she would not have been able to tell him if it was from the cold or from her own abused senses.

“The children…” she began, stopping when she heard how shaky her own voice was. ’…lessons outside… I shouldn’t have gone outside.’ she couldn’t finish her sentence, however, as she let her head hang and she continued to fight for control over her own body and mind.

[Marnark]

At first, R'gar had thought her disorientation and reluctance to move was due simply to being blind and lost. But even as she continued on with it even as he talked to her, R'gar began to realize the problem was a bit bigger than that. Taking her face in his hands, he peered at here eyes for a moment, sightless as they were. They could still tell him things.

"You're in shock." R'gar said. Wow. Being out in a storm was all it took to put her in shock? Or had it been being snatched up by a dragon and flown away with? R'gar wasn't sure. But she was definitely in shock. There was little he could do for her in his own weyr, though. The herbal teas he could have given her to drink to help calm her down were not here. Klah would be a bad idea ... she was already over stimulated. There was only a few things he could do at all, really. Peeling the soaked towel off of her, he shook out the blanket and started to wrap it around her but paused. Setting it down again, R'gar proceeded in the way only a Healer with a Healer's mind set could.

He stripped her of her clothes, soaked and muddy as they were. Purely and simply because he needed to change her environment to snap her out of shock. Wet, cold, and muddy was something hard to change without doing just that. Furthermore, he didn't want her getting sick from it. She wasn't the most robust or exposed person in the world. Once her filthy, sopping garments were off and piled on the floor, he picked up the blanket again and wrapped that around her securely. To keep her warm and dry. That and the cocoon effect should have a calming effect on her. Lots and lots of contact, comforting contact. R'gar was pretty sure she wouldn't have a claustrophobia problem, mostly because she was blind. The same reason why she had the opposite problem. Agoraphobia was certainly to be expected in someone who's world was only as far as they could reach.

R'gar picked her up from the chair and carried her across the weyr to the bed. He laid her down there, and draped a pair of furs over her blanket-wrapped form. Warm, dry, and consistance was the best he could offer her right now.

But the one thing she did say caught his attention. "Children?" He asked, straightening to look to Apollath. Without even being asked, the Brown was on his feet again and hurrying out to the ledge. From there, he couldn't see anything. Soon he was gone again, down to scour the bowl for any more lost people. R'gar had to trust that Apollath would take care of it; chances were good even he would get lost in that downpour.

Picking up the last towel he had, he started drying his own self off. He dried his hair and changed his clothes into something clean and dry. Coming across her heap of encrusted clothes, he looked at them thoughtfully before picking the up and carrying them to the bath.

Traumatized the way she was, and cocooned in the blanket under more furs, R'gar trusted Prontin wouldn't stray too far. Especially given she was somewhere she'd not been before. He knelt by the bath, and proceeded to wash the mud out of her clothes until the water ran clear. Once they were clean, he wrung them out and draped them over various things to dry. Soon, she would have clean dry clothing to wear again.

Walking back to where he'd left Prontin, he leaned down to touch her face, testing her skin for excess heat or flushing. "How are you feeling?" R'gar asked. "Apollath is looking for the children, don't worry. If they're out there, he'll find them."

[Lady Smara]

Prontin would later be thankful that she had been so confused and disoriented as the brown rider so deftly undressed her. It had been a long time since her mother had needed to help her to undress or dress beyond picking out colors that matched. If her mind had been focused in the least she would have been embarrassed at needing the help. For now, however, she let her senses slowly reorganize themselves as the blankets had the desired, calming effect on her mind.

The restrictions the blanket put on her movements and on her body did make her feel secure and soon she was laying upon the bed with her eyes closed, listening to the new sounds. She may have fallen asleep for a few moments, her sense of time was so off that she couldn’t be sure. There was an echo of rain that bounced off the walls so she knew there was an entrance somewhere nearby, though she was warm enough to not be bothered by it.

With R’gar out of the room, it was quiet and listening to what sounds did echo, Prontin could tell that the room was a small one unlike the WeyrHall. Maybe closer to the size of her parent’s common room or even the Weyr’s classroom. She could not tell if there was light in the room or not, or any colors that were within but she could paint another picture with the various smells that drifted through the air. Most noticeably was that of which the rider’s smelled so much of; dragons and dragonoil. It was sort of a spice smell to it that tickled her nose, but it was not terrible or unpleasant.

Footfalls echoing on the stone floor offered Prontin warning before that warm, large and calloused hand rested lightly on her cheek. Forgetting that her eyes were closed, Prontin did not bother opening them as she answered his question. “I am warm now, thank you.” Turning her face toward his voice, she thought about his other statement before speaking.

“The children will be inside, they ran when the rain started.” It was a fact she was certain of, the thunder had probably startled them and the first thing they would have done was run for cover; forgetting that Prontin would not have been able to keep up in their innocence. “Apollath is your friend who found the river in the jungle, you mentioned him before. He will not get… Nevermind.” She had been about ready to ask if he was in danger of getting lost in the rain, but realization came to her that it was very likely she was the only one who would have ever gotten lost in the bowl of the Weyr in such an open space.

[Marnark]

She was warm, good. And not too warm, either. Her face was a good temperature, betraying no traces of any sort of fever. "You're welcome." R'gar answered, helping himself to a seat on the edge of the bed, propping his feet up on the edge and resting his elbows on knees. "I washed your clothes out, they'll be dry soon." She was lucid again, at least so her speech seemed to indicate. That was good. She was also aware of her surroundings again. Also good. Though her eyes stayed shut, he could see the thoughtful, listening expression. Having her eyes shut meant little - she was blind after all. It was somewhat amazing that they stayed open at all.

"Okay, good. I'll let Apollath know they're not out there." R'gar answered, before listening to what else she had to say. And then he laughed softly. "Apollath is more than my friend. He is my dragon. He and I usually go together places. Usually. Anywhere he can fit, anyway." R'gar clarified. Obviously, the halls built for humans, the infirmary, places such as that were exceptions. "We were together when we found the river." Random information, but it was something to say.

"Do you need anything? A drink? Something to eat?" R'gar asked, watching the rain fall down out on the ledge. Soon, the rain was interrupted briefly by Apollath's return. The Brown shuffled inside again, creating new puddles all over again. Going over to the shaped stone that was his couch, he flopped down and flicked his tail around his haunches.

How is she? Apollath asked, resting his head on his front feet.

Recovering. R'gar answered, clinically. "Apollath is back." He said, for Prontin's benefit.

[Lady Smara]

Listening to his words, she had to stop and consider the idea that she might have even been undressed. Wrapped so snuggly in the blankets and being a person who tended to sleep in little, she had not realized she was no longer wearing any clothes. “Oh, thank you…” she said softly, “You didn’t have to do that.”

Hearing that Apollath was his dragon had Prontin’s eyebrows raising which reminded her that her eyes were not in fact open. Opening them, she gave a soft ‘oh’ as comprehension dawned on her. Thinking back to the voice she had heard in the rain and the giant creature that had found her, she began to put pieces together. “Apollath was the one who found me?” she asked curiously. “I knew the creature was larger than any I have known, but I did not realize it was a dragon.”

The other puzzle came to her mind and she attempted to sit up in the blankets, finding it hard to do with her arms wrapped against her. “Then it was Apollath who spoke to me? I thought dragon’s only spoke to their riders.” At the mention of something to drink, Prontin realized that despite the rain outside her throat did hurt a little from the tension of the situation earlier. “A drink would be wonderful.”

The announcement that Apollath was back had her thin lips tugging in a frown. “I… Did I not hear you leave to tell him the children were not outside?”

[Marnark]

She said he didn't have to do what he'd done ... apparently she didn't realize just how bad off she had been just a candlemark ago. "It's alright. Had to make sure you were dry and warm ... and would have something to wear later." R'gar answered, simply. Though some part of him was surprised that she hadn't outright protested that. Especially now that she had her wits back. He was a Healer, he'd seen more nude bodies than anyone could count. It was just part of the job. However, that didn't stop said bodies from protesting such events right and left. She didn't, and that mystified him a little.

R'gar looked over at her again. "Yeah. That was a dragon." He agreed. "Apollath spotted you shortly after getting me here. I hardly realized what he was talking about before he was off and gone to go get you." He admitted. "He's a good dragon."

But then she was moving, apparently trying to get up. R'gar was not sure if that was a good idea, but given how lucid she was didn't really have a foot to stand on so far as stopping her went. He reached over to tug on the blanket, loosening it for her before rising and crossing the room again. He tested her clothes, but found they were still sopping wet. But then - drying anything in this weather was going to be a feat in and of itself. Pulling open a drawer, he fished out one of his own shirts, shaking it out before taking it back to her. "Here." He offered, placing it in her hands. She might as well pretend at being decent if she was going to get up. "You can put this on. Yours are still wet."

"Yes, Apollath isn't quite so greedy with his words. It's not easy for a dragon to talk to someone that isn't their rider, so most don't. Or at least so I'm told." He told her, crossing the weyr again to pick up a pitcher and pour a full cup. It was still klah, but it was warm, and vaguely sweet. Perfect for this weather even if not perfect for someone fresh out of shock. Carrying that back to her, he waited until her hands were free before giving it to her. "Here. It's klah. Sip it, don't guzzle."

R'gar chuckled just a bit. "No, I never left. I don't have to be with Apollath to speak to him. Most of the communication between rider and dragon is silent." he explained. "So he can easily be on the far side of the Weyr and I can talk to him like I am to you."

[Lady Smara]

Feeling the blanket loosen, Prontin sat up and held the blanket wrapped around her, not out of worry about her decency, but for the warmth it offered. The little bit of movement had let cooler air into the covers and she had been perfectly content in the warmth. No need to lose it just yet.

“That was very nice of Apollath, will you tell him thank you for me?” Hearing movement around the room, she paused in her own movements to listen. The sound of wood running against wood and then the quick snap of cloth. Tilting her head to the left, she figured out what was going on as the material that had snapped was placed in her hand.

Holding it for a moment, she considered if she wanted to remove the blanket to put on whatever it was that he had handed her. Eventually she decided to listen rather than protest, she let the blanket fall around her waist as she fumbled with the cloth. The air was a bit cooler outside the blankets and she felt the little bumps run up and down her arms as she eventually found a way inside the cloth. Feeling the kiss of the air upon her own breasts, she took a moment to feel inside the cloth looking for other holes. One, two, three others. Four holes meant it was a shirt, three would have been a pair of slacks and two was always a skirt.

Finally putting two of her long, pale arms into the smaller of the four holes, she pulled the cloth over her head and down around her torso. It felt huge, almost like a blanket to her and she lifted her hands to pull her hair out of the cloth as well. Letting her hands and fingers slide searchingly over the shirt now on her, she followed it down her collarbone and across her chest and stomach, smoothing it out. It was a soft cotton she decided, and even though it had a clean scent to it, it still held an underlying sent of R’gar. Then again everything here did.

Finding a warm cup in her hands, she lifted it slowly to her nose and sniffed it to confirm his words that it was Klah before taking a small sip. Klah always had a strong flavor and while she preferred juice or water, she was not going to say no to the warm liquid. Listening to his words about Apollath, her sightless eyes opened wide. “When he spoke to me, I couldn’t tell where he was speaking from. I couldn’t find his head or his face. That was because he was not speaking with sounds, wasn’t it?”

[Marnark]

Apollath rumbled softly, eyes swirling in amused colors. R'gar chuckled, too. "I don't have to - you just did. Dragons have ears." He explained, watching as she donned the shirt. It was absolutely a tent on her. But at least she was covered now. It was big enough on her that it might as well be a sacky dress. A short one, but it would still cover her.

He had many reasons why he watched her dress, though he would only admit to the most clinical of them. Like noting the meticulous way she went about figuring out what it was he'd given her before donning it. And how she donned it, and felt of it afterward. Exploring her world as a sightless individual. She not only was able to figure out what it was but use it without any help. Prontin was very self sufficient, given her condition. A very interesting person to watch and learn from. Aside from the obvious things she simply couldn't do, she didn't seem to let being blind slow her down much.

And then there was always the factor where he kept finding himself awkwardly attracted. That she was a pretty young lady ... more or less nude in his furs. Though putting it that way made it sound a whole lot like something was going on while it most certainly was not. She was just a temporary patient from time to time ... he was just a Healer. Even if he kept having to remind himself of that little detail. Somehow, he had to think that Queenflights must have much longer kickbacks than he was told about.

"That's right. Dragons speak with their minds, inside your own mind. You don't hear anything at all when they speak." R'gar clarified, beginning to think that maybe he ought to take her back to her folks now that she was okay again.

She seems nice enough. Why can't you like her? Apollath asked, watching the two of them and fully aware of the war going on inside His, when it came to this particular girl.

She's a patient. It isn't done. R'gar answered.

[Lady Smara]

Hearing the soft rumble had made Prontin jump slightly as she turned her head in the direction of the dragon’s couch. Pausing for a long moment to listen, she had a soft smile on her lips when she finally turned back to R’gar. “I’ve never been so close to a dragon before.” Letting out an almost wistful sigh, she turned back toward the direction where the rumble had been. “How silly is that? Having lived in the Weyr my whole life and even after twenty-three turns this is my first time meeting one.”

“R’gar introduced me to a runner several days ago… May I meet you the same way, Apollath? So I may finally see how magnificent the dragons I live with truly are? You have so many songs about you and the brave things you do. I would like to have a picture to go with the songs…”

It was true, so many of the teaching ballads she had learned and taught to the younger children were woven around the creatures known as Dragons. She had lived her whole life learning these songs but never had she known what the creatures looked like until she meet Imp. Even so, after feeling and meeting Imp had only left her more curious about the real Dragons. She had always thought it would be rude to ask a rider to meet his dragon… but Apollath had spoken to her and could understand her as well. Would it be as rude to ask the dragon if she could meet him?

She hoped not and she was all but ready to stumble her way off the bed she sat upon and find her way toward that rumbling if he only said it was okay.