It was the sound of hushed voices that roused Inalla, but she felt so groggy she didn't alert anyone to her waking, just lay back with her eyes closed, absently listening to what the people in her room were saying. It took her a moment to realise they were talking about her; Inalla's eyes flew open, but then she squeezed them shut again, listening more intently, her right hand clenching.

"... it's not like we can track her family - she only knows she has brothers, that's it!"

There was a sigh. "Surely the runner she was riding is some indication; not everyone has such a fine mount-"

"Sh, quiet," Someone ordered, and Inalla recognised it as Pola. "She may yet recover her memory - until then, we'll have to look after her. If you ask me, from what you both have said, she looked like she was running away from something. It's not much, but wherever she's from, hopefully we can assume she won't be missed!"

There was a pause. "Either that or she was delivering something, and now nobody knows where she is!" One of the people said wryly, and then gave a bitter laugh. "We should've known not to fly so low, even if it was rather far from the Hold. Hopefully the runner's retrieved; it looked like a mighty fine beast."

Inalla heard Pola sigh. "Well, we can't do anything about it. She'll just have to stay here... actually she should be waking by now, with the amount of fellis that was in her broth..." Footsteps came closer, and Inalla made a show of being startled as Pola tapped her on the shoulder, blinking blearily and hoping she looked like she'd just woken up. "Good evening, lass," Pola said kindly, offering Inalla another plateful of broth. "Here, have this."

The girl eyed it dubiously, glancing from Pola to the bowl. She took it, and gave a hesitant sniff, her eyes darting to the healer again.

Pola laughed lightly, waving a hand. "No, it's not laced this time: you've had enough sleep now. Feel better?"

Inalla gave a shrug of her shoulders, giving the broth a last sceptical look and then starting to spoon it into her mouth.

The healer watched with satisfaction, seating herself down on the edge of the cot. "Remember anything else?" Pola asked, and Inalla fancied there was a wist of hopefulness in her voice.

"No..." Inalla replied after a moment, her gaze dropping. "I can't remember anything... I can think of snatches of conversations, images of people, but I can't put names to faces. I can't piece them together." A tear trickled down her cheek, more from frustration and a feeling of uselessness. "I can... I can remember I had to do something. Go somewhere. But I don't know where!" It was said in a wail, her voice rising shrilly.

"Lass, don't worry, you'll get your memory back," Pola cupped her hand under Inalla's chin, tilting up upwards so the girl had to look into the healers earnest face. "It just might take a while. Things will come back to you." Pola gazed at her for a moment more, and then let Inalla's chin drop. "Now," She continued briskly, smiling slightly. "You'll have to stay here, until you can remember enough about your family so we can track them down. I know this might seem strange, but you can't really go around without a name - unless you want to wait until you remember your own, of course." Pola added hastily. "We don't want you to do anything you're uncomfortable with, ok?"

Inalla nodded slowly, her head lifting as she tried to gather her courage. She could see the sense in it, as much as she didn't really want to have a name that wasn't her own. If only she could remember! "I... I guess I should have a name, even if it isn't my own," Inalla said weakly, trying to smile. "I - I can't think of any though..."

"Well, are there any names you've liked? I mean, like?" Pola put her hand to her mouth at her slipup, grinning.

"Ah... not really." Inalla admitted, grinning back.

Pola shrugged. "Well, just keep it simple. Lassa?"

Inalla thought on it for a minute, her grin faltering. "That seems best," She agreed, though her face was sad. "I hope I can remember my real name, though. Soon."

The healer patted her on the shoulder. "You will, Lassa, don't worry. You will. For now, though, I believe these lovely pair of dragonriders wish to speak to you..." Pola winked, and peered around the corner, gesturing for the green and brownrider to come. "Here, she's awake!" With a last smile for Inalla, Pola hopped up and went around the corner, murmuring to the dragonriders the name Inalla had agreed on, and then going down to the Lower Caverns to inform the Headwoman.

A woman's head poked through the doorway, her smile widening as she saw Inalla. "Hi there!" The greenrider stepped through, grinning. "You decided on Lassa, right?" The dragonrider asked, but paused, and didn't wait for Inalla's reply. She skipped back through the door, and then entered again, dragging a man behind her. "Sorry. F'west didn't want to come to see you - no, don't try and deny it," The greenrider told him as he opened his mouth. Inalla gazed at the pair, bemused.

"I'm Serelae," The greenrider introduced herself. Inalla didn;t reply, just frowned, jealous that Serelae could remember her name and she couldn't.

There was an uncomfortable pause, until the greenrider jabbed F'west in the stomach. The brownrider winced, scowling at Serelae and then turned to Inalla.

"We came to apologise," F'west managed to say, sighing. "We are sorry - it's our fault you're here. So, yeah. That's what we came to do."

"And to see if you needed anything," Serelae added. "We've been trying to look for your runner, but we haven't found him yet..."

Inalla shrugged slightly. "You don't have to, that's okay," She told them both, trying not to feel bitter towards them. After all, it was their fault. "I don't remember him, so I can't really miss something I never had."

F'west winced at the reminder, but managed a shaky smile. "No, he was valuable, so if - when," He corrected with another wince as Serelae dug her elbow in his ribs again, "When you get your memory back, you'll want him."

"Do you need anything besides that?" Serelae asked earnestly, wanting to please. "Do you want to go outside, or anything? I'm sure Pola wouldn't mind if we gave you a tour of the Weyr... if you're up to it, that is."

Inalla was definitely tempted by the offer - she'd never been in a Weyr before. Then she blinked, and a wide smile broke across her face. "I remembered something!" She cried excitedly, beaming at the two dragonriders. "Not much, but I remembered it!"

Serelae beamed back, thumping F'west between the shoulderblades so hard he winced. The brownrider rolled his eyes at Serelae without her knowing, winking at Inalla. The girl giggled.

"That's great, lass!" The greenrider continued, oblivious. "What was it?"

Inalla thought a moment, and then gave a laugh. "I remembered I'd never been in a Weyr before!"

F'west laughed at that, and poked the greenrider. "Well, we'll have to show her around then, won't we?"

Serelae nodded energetically. "Yup! That alright with you, Lassa? You never know what could trigger a memory."

"I guess... I don't see why not..." Inalla said after a moment, the corner of her mouth quirking.

"Well, here, since Pola's not here, why don't you just see if you can get up?" Serelae suggested kindly. "We can support you if you collapse or anything; but you look like a strong girl, I don't think that will be a problem."

Spurred on by the greenrider's compliment, Inalla nodded, and braced her hands on the edge of her cot. She remembered when she'd tried to sit up the first time - she'd felt so faint. At least this time she was ready for it.

She took a deep breath, and leant forward so she sat up in the cot. Her eyes clouded for a moment, and she almost let go and collapsed back into the cot, but she just clung onto the sides of it grimly until her vision cleared. Inalla gulped, and glanced at Serelae, who nodded and smiled encouragingly. Taking another deep breath, Inalla ignored the throbbing in her head and swung a leg onto the floor. F'west stepped forward as she swung her other leg over to support her, but Serelae and Inalla both waved him back.

Inalla gathered up her strength and then rested weight on her feet. She was fine for a moment, until she straightened. She had a sharp, piercing pain in her head, and Inalla's legs buckled underneath her.

"Up, stay up dear..." Serelae's small but sturdy arms caught her before she hit the floor. "Don't worry, lass, you'll be right after a few sevendays or so." In Serelae's voice there was a tinge of guilt. "Do you still want to look around? F'west and I can help you."

Though all she wanted to do was go back to her cot and lie down, Inalla managed to nod. "I'd still like to go around, if that's alright," She replied in a quiet voice.

The greenrider nodded, glancing sternly towards F'west, who was starting to form protests. "That's fine, dear." Serelae said quickly, jerking her head at the brownrider to help support Inalla.

With F'west's arm around supporting her, Inalla was led first to the Lower Caverns, where Serelae insisted on bribing a bubbly pie from the drudges for Inalla, despite the girl's protests.

"No, it's the least I can do. Now, where would you like to go to first? Or would you like to go back to your cot; we can always do it later."

Inalla shook her head firmly. "No, I don't want to. Could I... could I go to the stables?" She asked on impulse.

Serelae grinned, and nodded. "Of course. I think there's a trading caravan there at the moment though, as long as you don't mind the people. They've picketted behind the stables."

When Inalla assured her that she didn't mind in the least, the odd-looking trio started towards the stables at a slow pace to compensate for Inalla. The girl couldn't help but notice people watching their slow progress, but she gritted her teeth and took it - who wouldn't not look?

"Here..." Serelae negotiated through a gathering of people, pushing them roughly out of the way as Inalla neared. They all muttered darkly at her, while F'west groaned and Inalla tried not to grin. They moved out of the way, however, when Inalla came through, though the girl would have preferred them not to: it made her feel even worse about her frail state.

Opening a door, Serelae gestured F'west and Inalla in. "Just in there, dear. There's stockades out the back, as well, if you wanted to look at the runners the traders are selling; they're having an auction, I believe. Should be interesting. F'west, would you mind staying with her?"

"I really should go and-"

"Thanks, F'west." Serelae grinned at the bemused Inalla, winking and then whisking out of the door, combing her hair with her fingers idly.

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