Family Advice

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 22nd February 2021

Characters: Reyela, Meredel
Description: Reyela runs into her uncle on her way back from the beach
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 10

Reyela hummed tunelessly as she walked back up the path from the beach, her
towel over her shoulder and her hair in sandy knots. The
candidate nodded at the people she passed she didn't know and stopped to
exchange a few words with those she did, until she caught sight of a
familiar figure up ahead. "Uncle Meredel!" Reyela called with a wave.

"Hello there!" The harper turned round with a big smile when he realised his
niece was calling out to him. "Sunbathing again?"

She hurried to catch up and gave him a hug as soon as he was within reach.
"That, and some waterball with my friend Tish. How are you today?"

"Better for seeing you squirt," he said ruffling her hair. "Anything is
better than another afternoon in with the archives."

"Squirt. I'm nearly taller than you." Reyela fell into step beside him.
"What brought you out this way?"

"That big bright thing in the sky. see it?" He pointed in the direction of
Rukbat. "I don't see nearly enough of that, or my niece."

"Ooof, you plan to see the sunshine, but I'm just an unplanned meeting in
the gardens!?" Reyela said, laughing. "I'm not sure how I feel about that!"

"I wouldn't worry about that too much, I mean haven't you go other things on
your mind? Like what's going to happen when you put that fancy white robe on
next time?"

She sighed. "Likely the same thing that happened the last time I put on a
white robe, and the time before that, and the time before that..."

"Just because your dragon hasn't arrived yet doesn't mean anything," he
reassured her.

That's what they all said, Turn after Turn. Reyela shrugged. "Maybe. I think
I'm going to ask to apply for my Journeyman's knots after the Hatching,
though. I think I'm ready."

"Unless you impress this time and go dragonhealer?" That was always an
option for candidates who were trained in healing or beasthealing. They'd
have the basics, so would be ahead of anyone who started from scratch.

"Maybe. I'm tired of waiting for something to happen. I want to _make_
something happen."

"Don't plan too hard, those dragons will surprise you." Meredel told her. "I
never wanted to stand, I knew that being a Harper was the right thing for
me. But you, you have options, don't think you have to stand just because
of Dad, or your Dad. Find out who you want to be and what you want to do
with your life."

Reyela sighed. "How would you recommend I figure that out?"

"Talk to people, try things out. If something isn't working for you, then
change it."

"So how did _you_ know?" Reyela asked.

"I tried things, can you imagine me as a healer? I lasted not quite two
sevendays," joked Meredel.

Reyela grinned. "I can't imagine you as a healer. Sorry uncle, but you just
don't strike me as the type to deal with all the blood, the vomit... the
squishy insides of creatures..." She'd dealt with her share of all of it in
her Craft.

"Exactly, and all that gooey stuff involved in being a tanner too. I'm
guessing you have your father's stomach. I'd rather use my brain, than some
creatures brains to get some good leather."

"Can't say I'd enjoy that craft," she said, wrinkling her nose. The
tanneries were located far away from people's homes for a good reason. "I do
enjoy what I do, uncle. It's just frustrating when Impressing and
dragonriding aren't something that I can influence. It's completely out of
my control."

"Take a deep breath on the day of the hatching," he advised. "Remember that
you can change your mind up until you get onto the sands. If you think at
that moment it's not for you, nobody will blame you for dropping out."

**Dad might,** she thought. And her uncles and aunts, and all the rest of
them. But instead of voicing it, she shrugged. "I'll Stand, don't worry. I'm
not a quitter."

"And if your dragon is there, she'll make herself known, and if she isn't
then I'll support you when you go for your assessment to walk the tables."

"Careful what you promise, uncle. I'll make you quiz me to help prepare!"

"I'm a harper, I'm meant to be good at teaching!"

She smiled. "Good. If I don't earn my knots then it'll be because of you."

Last updated on the February 24th 2021

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