Gingerly Val lowered himself onto his cot in the Candidates barracks, with a wince he lay back and willed himself to relax. Lying now on his back he folded his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling accusingly. The dull gray annoyed him and infringed on his sense of style. What am I doing? Since when did I ever care about style or what a ceiling looked like, for that matter when did I ever care about a ceiling? Val sighed and closed his silver eyes, listened with limited interest to the conversations of the other boys.

                  This time they were discussing girls over a dice game, along with the firelizard eggs hardening under Seneca's supervision. At first Val had wondered who this Seneca was, he had assumed she was a person. That's a laugh, though she acts like a person. Seneca was in fact a winged wolf from a place called Marbethil. Upon meeting her the first time Val had been terrified, but that crafty lady soon had him laughing and liking her immediately. One of the few people in the Weyr I do like. She had told him she would save him an egg but he wasnt so sure about that. Sharding flits can be annoying. A few of the boys had them, and none too few of the girls, and Rodri had had a green named Pila.

       And that creature was the epitome of what a flit shouldnt be. Val had become fast friends with P'mir and his blue Siyeth, along with a talkative green weyrling named Vilyath. Most of the dragons liked him, but Val had few friends among the weyrfolk or Riders. Not for their lack of trying, I just cant stand being around all these people. As to the girls, Val blocked out that conversation quickly.

              When he had first come here, he had been chased practically all over the place, even now he always got the feeling he was a canary surrounded by hungry cats licking their teeth.. He groaned and rolled over onto his side and watched the game for a few more minutes. And I guarantee that if I got up everyone in the room would look up and see what I was going to do. Val was half tempted to do it, just to see their reactions, but he really didn't like attention. Nah, I like being a fly on the wall, tons of fun. Then a thought dawned on him.

             Maybe Seneca can direct me to the weyrhealer, I could really go for some numbweed. On cue his lower back screamed to him as he sat up. Yeah, numbweed would feel real good right now. He stood a little shakily and suppressed a grin when the game stopped and a few of the boys stared at him. They are way too predictable. With long ground eating (and pain filled) strides he left the barracks and went of in search of Seneca.

          Entering the Lower caverns he went immediately to the firelizard hearth and waved to the wolf. She looked up and waved her tail a little at his approach. "Brooding again are we?" she asked, noticing the indrawn look in his eyes. " Brooding about the pain I'm in from going here, doing that, scrubbing this, and fetching those." He said cheerfully. Seneca gave him a look and moved over so he could sit. " Do you want an egg now Val?" she asked carefully, he shook his head. "No, that's quite all right, I wanted to ask you were I could find the Weyrhealer?" She snorted. "Presiding over his kingdom of papers and patients. A cough has been going around so be careful when you go there." Val nodded and stood. Seneca gave him directions and what exactly to ask for besides numbweed.

       " You might want to ask him if he knows anyway to block out what your Empathy picks up. I know it's a nightmare for you around here, everyone is just so open." She said, a tinge of concern leaking through her shields. Val shrugged then nodded tiredly. "I think I will, he might be able to help, but I've dealt with this all my life Seneca, I can handle it." She snorted again and nosed a few eggs around. "You really should take one Val, I think you need a good friend." She said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. He stiffened then relaxed. " I have good friends. You, Vilyath, Siyeth, a few other dragons." She whirled around. " All non-human and not bonded to you. Val you need someone human, or someone who will love you unconditionally." She snapped. His eyes narrowed and he drew himself up. " I'm fine Seneca, I'll speak to the weyrhealer." He said coldly, a mask of indifference plastered on his handsome face.

                  The wolf sighed and turned away as he left. She had thought along with P'mir that he had stopped pretending after his first sevenday here. Obviously not. She noticed that a few people moved out of his way quickly once they got a good look at him. She knew no one really liked him, for that matter so did he. But what could be done about it? Nothing, he has to win them over himself. She told herself. She looked at the eggs and covered one with sand, one she had been saving for him especially. They would hatch in a month or two, perhaps by then he will come around. Sighing she lay back down next to the hearth, enjoying the warmth of the fire on her old bones.

           Shard it! Why does everyone I meet find that it is their sacred duty to make me happy? Why wont they just leave me alone! He noticed how other people scattered before him, he would have found it funny considering he was technically still a child and of low rank, but it wasn't funny now.

                  Of course I'm Projecting, even without that they could see I was angry. Gods, I must look like a demon from the underworld. He got to the corridor and went down it, looking for the clinic for people. A messenger child saw him and scooted up against the wall like he would strike her, inching by him, obviously hoping he wouldn't see her. What rumors have been going around about me? Shard it, I don't care anymore, I don't even know why I came to this Weyr. His back ached and threatened to bowel him over if he didn't do something with it. Ignoring the child he quickened his stride.

Vallendel rotated his shoulder blades on the Healers request and sighed in relief when he felt nothing but numbness.

A flash of gray, a raised whip, and searing cold.

              Val blinked and shook his head. He knew what that had been. The healer was rummaging around and Val decided to sit on one of the padded chairs littered about the office. No way, it cant be coming back.. The long scar on his back tinged and he winced. The healer turned just in time to notice that slight move. Shaking his head he told Val to get his tunic of again. " I gave you enough to numb a dragon, you shouldn't be in any pain." The Healer said reproachfully, then hissed in a breath when he actually saw why Val had winced. "Shard it boy, why didnt you mention that scar was new!" he moved away and rummaged around, coming upon a bottle of cream then moved back behind Val. " All right Vallendel, this will sting for only a moment." He applied a little to the scar and Val hissed through clenched teeth. Then all the pain was miraculously gone. He turned around and stared at the healer in wonder. "Thankyou sir, that has been aching for a long time." He said quietly, not truly believing that scar didnt ache and remind him of how he got it.

              Of course he had gotten a few others after it that helped him forget about it for a time. The healer smiled and gave him the bottle along with a jar of numbweed. " Apply it every time it hurts, and Vallendel, if anyone is overworking you, come and tell me." He said, patting Val on the shoulder. Val smiled weakly and stood, putting his tunic back on. " I thank you again sir. Nothing has ever helped that scar." Not even time, 5 years worth. The healer grinned. " Don't worry about it, and if you need to talk to someone I'm always here." Great, here's another would be saint. " Thats quite alright sir, I'll be fine." And as far as Seneca is concerned I spoke to the Healer about the Empathy problems. The healer didn't look convinced but led the way out opening the door to the corridor. Val started to go through and found a hand holding his arm. " I meant that Vallendel, I'm here all the time and I know many things that could help you." Great so now you can read my mind. Assuming a mask and grin of flippant arrogance Val shrugged him off. " Honestly sir, I'll be fine." The healer shrugged and withdrew, closing the door.