A Not So Happy Birthingday

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 20th February 2006

Characters: D'ren, D'cal
Description: D'ren keeps D'cal company for his birthday
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 3

"Happy birthingday!" D'ren said as he caught up with D'cal.

"Oh, hey D'ren," his friend said flatly, turning to give the bronzerider a rather fake smile.

D'ren frowned. "Is something wrong?" **I hope it's not Dyaera again.**

"Oh, I don't know," D'cal lied, "I guess I'm just tired from drills."

"Well, perk up, it's your birthingday!" D'ren clapped him on the back.
"We should do something special."

"I don't know, D'ren," the blue weyrling said with a small shake of his head, "I just don't feel up to it today."

"Oh, c'mon. We should do _something_," D'ren said. "Maybe a quiet evening of dragonpoker? Just us?"

His friend sighed. D'ren was just trying to be nice, and he knew he was acting ungrateful. "Dragonpoker sounds nice."

"Great! How about I come over in a candlemark?" "That's fine," his friend nodded. "I'll be there."

"Ok." The bronzerider gave his friend another pat on the back and headed off take a quick bath.

D'cal sighed as he watched the bronzerider go. He really wasn't in a celebratory mood. After everything with Dyaera, and now Zanie... But he would try for D'ren's sake.

A candlemark later, D'ren arrived at D'cal's weyr and knocked on the door. He had a small basket of treats he'd been able to talk one of the kitchen staff into giving him, and the smell of it was making him hungry.

The birthday boy opened the door and smiled when the smell washed over him. "I was just thinking I was getting hungry."

"I must have read your mind," D'ren said, smiling at his friend.

"Must have. Did you bring cards? I think I have some somewhere..."

"Yep." The bronzerider took a pack from his pocket as he entered the weyr.

"Perfect. What shall we play for?" D'cal asked as he took a seat next to the table.

D'ren set the basket down. "Sweets?" he suggested.

"Hmmmm," D'cal said looking into the basket. "That would work."

"At least until we eat them all." D'ren smiled and began to shuffle the cards.

"So how are things with Dysali? Did... everything work out? After I left?"

"Yes," he said with a sparkle in his eye. "And thank you again. It means a lot to me, to know I have someone I can talk to."

"Ah, well," D'cal said looking down at the cards as he shuffled, "I'm happy things worked out for you."

"And what about you? How are things with Zanie?"

"Well..." Shards... he opened himself up for that one... "She needs some time to figure a few things out."

That didn't sound good. "Figure things out? What do you mean?"

"I am not sure," D'cal said with a shake of his head. "But I am starting to get the feeling that there is a man in her life that means much more to her than I do."

"Oh, D'cal. No wonder you're not in a good mood." D'ren knew he would feel awful if he was in his friend's position.

The bluerider shrugged. "To be honest, I don't know if I'm more hurt or relieved. I care about Zanie. I really do. But sometimes... I think of Dyaera."

"I really wish you two could work things out."

D'cal snorted. "Yeah, so do I... I mean I _did_ wish... Shards... Is it my deal?"

D'ren looked down. "Um, I don't know. Sure, go ahead."

He quickly flicked the cards down in two neat piles. "Are you worried about our Blooding coming up?"

"Who isn't?" The bronzerider said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh, you'll do fine. I've see you on that fine bronze of yours," D'cal smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks," D'ren returned the smile. "I think you and Aosorath could fly circles around us, though."

"Only for short distances," the bluerider chuckled.

D'ren shrugged. "Still, you're good. I think we'll both do fine."

"Yeah, we just have to get through this and then... Off to the wings." It seemed like they had been waiting for that moment forever, and it was so close, and yet the hurdle ahead was so high...

"It's a little hard to imagine that we'll really be flying Fall." Some days D'ren was eager to graduate and take his place with the wingriders, but other days, he felt so young and unprepared.

"For the next forty-some-odd turns," D'cal added thoughtfully. "Possibly for the rest of our lives." The bronzerider sighed. "I wish Blooding was over with, so I wouldn't have to worry about it any more."

"It will be soon enough." Enough of this, D'cal decided. They could not know the future. There was no reason fretting over it now. "So which pastry should we play for first?"

"This one," D'ren said, selecting the largest.

The bluerider grinned. "That's a mighty big prize to start out with. All right, let's see what you've got, bronzerider."

Last updated on the February 20th 2006

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A Not So Happy Birthingday