We're Dragonriders Now (1/2)

Writers: Francesca
Date Posted: 20th July 2024

Characters: J'nic, A'lin, L'rin
Description: L'rin and A'lin feed their dragonets, with support from J'nic, and talk.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 11

J'nic

A'lin

L'rin

"Congratulations," J'nic said warmly as L'rin and Yasanth entered the feeding room, handing the new weyrling a bucket full of meat that had been chopped into small chunks. "Make sure your brown chews each piece well before swallowing, and don't give him the next piece until his mouth is empty."

L'rin had to hold the bucket up to stop Yasanth's attempt at sticking his head in it in his eagerness to eat. Ignoring everyone else, he gave the brown the first piece. And then another.

In the meantime, J'nic gave the dragonet a quick visual examination, satisfied that he seemed to be healthy. A dragonhealer would take a more thorough look later to make sure. "What should I call you now?" he asked.

}:The man is talking to you:{ Yasanth said, still eating at a good pace but apparently more aware of what was going on around him. }:He wants to know your name.:{

"Oh." It was very disconcerting to have a voice in his head, so L'rin remained silent for a few more moments. Then, he looked at J'nic and gave a dreamy smile. "I'm L'rin now. And this is Yasanth."

J'nic nodded and made note of both names on his clipboard. "He's a fine brown. Once he's done eating, get him to an empty wallow and, after he's asleep, you can go celebrate. I assume your family is very proud."

At the mention of family, L'rin got excited. "They're going to love him." Yasanth pushed his leg with his snout and he quickly gave him another chunk of meat. "The Hatching isn't over yet, is it?" He didn't have a good sense of how much time had passed, and hadn't been keeping track of the number of new weyrlings in the room. "I hope Arlin Impresses."

And then there Arlin was, looking as dazed as he felt. "Arlin!" And then he saw the dragonet that was behind him; clearly a blue. L'rin wasn't sure what to say or think. He had gone into the Hatching assuming he would Impress bronze and his brother a bronze or brown, but a blue?

"I'm A'lin now." The new bluerider's voice was soft but steady. "This is Oberlith."

}:Is something wrong?:{ Yasanth didn't understand the emotions he was feeling from L'rin.

**I don't know,** L'rin replied. Why would he Impress a blue? It didn't make any sense. Although, he had heard of that blue at another Weyr who had chosen a girl. Maybe blues were sometimes confused.

}:Yasanth is feeling anxious.{ Raileth's voice cut in. She was monitoring all the dragonets.

"Control your emotions," J'nic said softly but firmly to L'rin. "We can talk things through later, when he's sleeping, but Yasanth needs you calm now." Then, to A'lin, "Congratulations!" He handed over a bucket and repeated his directions, before stepping back. However, he kept an eye on the brothers.

L'rin focused on his brown while A'lin fed his blue. After a few minutes, he said, "I thought you would be A'rin if you Impressed. I'm L'rin, and my brown is Yasanth."

A'lin looked over at his brother, not sure what L'rin was feeling. At least he was talking to him though. That had to mean something, right? "I thought I might be too. Oberlith chose though."

They were silent again, not knowing what to say. Yasanth had slowed down in his eating and L'rin could feel his fatigue. "Well, I need to get him to sleep." And with a small smile, L'rin and his brown headed to the next room, leaving A'lin with Oberlith and his own thoughts.

"Are you ok?" J'nic asked softly, coming to stand next to the bluerider.

A'lin shrugged. "I think so? I knew I would Impress blue or green." There. He'd finally said it. It felt good. "My brother didn't know though. My family won't be very happy, but I don't think they'll make a scene. I kind of hoped my brother would Impress before me, so we wouldn't be weyrlings together. Oberlith is perfect though."

Well, at least A'lin wasn't surprised or disappointed. "It will take some time, but I think your brother will get used to it. All dragonriders do, at least to some extent. I can't make any promises about other family members though. I'll go talk to him later, and you can always ask Oberlith to speak to Raileth if I can help with anything. For now, just focus on Oberlith and everything else will settle into place."

A'lin smiled. "I will." He finished feeding his blue, then headed to the next room, where they would spend their first days as weyrlings. The wallows were over half filled and he looked around the room, wondering where to go.

"Arlin. I mean... A'lin," L'rin called. There was an empty spot next to him.

Oberlith immediately settled in and curled himself in a ball, closing his eyes. A'lin sat down, a hand on the blue's side. He wasn't sure what to do or say. Finally, "So, a brown?"

"Yes, he's perfect," L'rin said, a little defensively. Sure, he wasn't a bronze, but he couldn't imagine a better dragon. And browns could grow to be as large as a bronze. "So, a blue?" he echoed back, more tentatively.

"Yes, he's perfect," A'lin repeated. "I don't know if I should go to the hatching feast though. Or, I can wait until our family heads back home. Can you tell them I'm tired or something?" It wasn't quite a lie, since Oberlith sleeping made him feel like he could curl up right next to him and sleep through the night.

"We can go together," L'rin said firmly. "They saw the Hatching so they know what happened. And, we're dragonriders now, so that's all that matters." He didn't mean the words as he said them, but it was true that there was no hiding what had happened. They just had to move forward.

A'lin was silent for a few moments, thinking. "Ok," he finally said. **Let's get this over with.**

Last updated on the July 27th 2024

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We're Dragonriders Now (1/2)