Threadfall

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 18th June 2024

Characters: Ketlyn
Description: Ketlyn starts figuring out what it means to be a dragonrider.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 11

Ketlyn sat with her back against a rock with Varinth's little head in her lap. The Weyr hummed around her but it was as meaningless as the waves on the lake or the wind in the trees. Varinth sighed in her sleep and curled a little tighter. Her freshly oiled hide glistened in the sun, an unblemished mossy green like the forest floor.

As happy as she was to have Impressed, Ketlyn was also very grateful that Varinth was asleep for the moment. Her eyes kept crossing as she caught glimpses of herself or the other weyrlings through her dragon's eyes. Varinth's rumbling stomach made her hungry, even if she'd just eaten. She heard every one of Varinth's thoughts as if they were her own and it was like having someone shout in your ear all morning. It had only been a day since the Hatching and her head was pounding already. Was being a dragonrider like this all the time?

She looked out over the lake, savoring the brief calm. Perhaps she'd ask one of the other new weyrlings if they felt the same... but after Varinth woke up. Having her dragon curled up against her thighs was the most content she'd felt since leaving home. For once, she felt like she _belonged_ here. Nobody could send her away now, even if she wasn't good enough. She _was_ good enough. She had a _dragon_.

As she watched, the Wings took to the skies in rainbow arcs. Ketlyn briefly frowned. **It's Threadfall today.** She'd forgotten.

Thread. Oh shards and shells, she was going to have to fight _Thread_.

The bottom dropped out of her stomach. Never mind being sent home, if she wasn't good enough then Thread would _eat_ her and Varinth alive. Tiny, gnashing silvery teeth that would bite and rend and--

}:What is that?:{ Varinth stirred and lifted her head from Ketlyn's lap. She pointed her nose at the sky as her gem-like eyes sparked with orange. }:What is there?:{

"Thread," Ketlyn said. She felt Varinth consider this.

}:I hate it,:{ the green dragon said after a moment. She flexed her talons, drawing tiny ruts in the pebbled ground. }:Are the big dragons going to Thread?:{

"They're going /between/ so they can flame it out of the sky before it can touch the ground and eat us up," Ketlyn said. She reached out to scratch Varinth's eye ridges with shaky fingers. **Deep breaths** she told herself. Bury her fear. Her Candidate training kicked in. Keep calm, don't stress her dragon. Varinth's safety and comfort was the most important thing. The only thing. "But we won't have to do that until you're much older."

}:I want to flame Thread out of the sky too!:{ Varinth declared.

Fear made her mouth taste like acid. Ketlyn smiled. "Maybe we will, but not until you're older and can fly and flame. You're too little for now. And maybe, if we're very lucky, the Pass will be over by then."

Varinth turned her head toward her rider and nudged her chin gently with her nose. }:I will protect you from Thread,:{ she said. }:I am not scared.:{

Ketlyn blinked. "Neither am I."

Varinth exhaled in a meaty sigh. }:You just said you were scared. You said 'deep breaths' and then thought about scaredness.:{

Tears pricked at her eyes. When was the last time anyone had noticed when she wasn't all right? "I'm supposed to be taking care of you," Ketlyn said weakly.

}:And I will take care of you too,:{ Varinth said. She curled a little tighter against Ketlyn's legs and watched with fierce intensity as the Wings blinked /between/. }:We will take care of each other.:{

It was so hard not to cry. Nobody took care of her. She was the one who took care of everyone else. Ketlyn rubbed her eyes with her thumbs. **I love you.** Speaking using her mind felt clumsy and forced, but she didn't want anyone else to hear. It felt too private to share with the rest of the weyrlings.

Varinth nestled a little closer and sent a wave of love back through their link. }:I'll take care of you,:{ she repeated. Her eyes were drifting closed again. }:But after I sleep again.:{

Her weyrling bit back a laugh and hoped that nobody would notice the tears on her cheeks. "Sleep well, little dragon. Dream of clear skies." And with any luck, clear skies were the only ones that she and Varinth would ever see.

Last updated on the June 21st 2024

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Threadfall