Babies and Eggs

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd October 2024

Characters: Ketlyn, Casmari
Description: Ketlyn gets another letter from home, which leads to an odd conversation with her dragon
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 12

Casmari

'Dearest Ketlyn,

I am pleased to tell you that you have a new baby sister, Aralyn. The Healers say that she is healthy and well, and so far she is a loud young lady. The birthing went well. I was in labour for just half a day and when Aralyn decided that it was time she arrived smoothly and without issue. There was barely any blood and I feel fine although I am very tired, and Aralyn keeps us all up most of the night with her cries. Tris needs your help here to take care of her, and us all since I am still recovering. Plus you must meet your sister. You will love her immediately. Your loving mother.'

Ketlyn set the letter aside with a sigh. She should tell the other girls in the Weyrling barracks that she had another sister, but it was late and she was tired and she didn't want to deal with their congratulations just yet, especially since she didn't know how she felt about it. She _was_ happy to have another sister, but she also felt... relief that she was at the Weyr and not stuck taking care of another baby or listening to her mother moan. **Poor Tris.**

}:Tris is your Clutchmate?:{ Viranth had been a quiet presence in her mind as she read.

**That's right. My sister, like Chordath and Bairelth and Selkirth are your sisters, except humans in the same family aren't born all at once.**

Varinth was quiet for a moment as she thought. }:How many eggs are in your family?:{

**People don't hatch. They're born.** Ketlyn nibbled her lip. Was it possible to share a memory with her dragon? She'd been there for her other little sister, Verraki's birth. It had to be-- dragonriders were supposed to send images of where they wanted to go with their dragons when they went /between/. To help, she closed her eyes and focused on visualizing what it had looked like when Verraki was born.

Immediately there was an upset bellow from the weyrling wallow. **THAT is how humans are born!?**

"Ketlyn!" Casmari's blue eyes were wide. "What did you just tell Varinth?"

Ketlyn grimaced. "Sorry. Varinth was asking how humans were born since we didn't hatch. I guess I was a little _too_ specific..."

"Oh," Casmari's look of concern turned into a smile. She had so many siblings and had been present at more than one birth. "That. Well, how do they think their eggs get from the queen to the sands?"

"I don't know." Ketlyn's eyes unfocused as she spoke with Varinth. "She says she thought they were always there."

Casmari suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh boy, Sebiath says he thought the golds spit them up, regurgitation style." Her face straightened a little, "Uh oh, he says I wasn't supposed to say that out loud."

Ketlyn covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her laughter. "Oh no. Well, you can tell him that I won't tell anyone."

"Sebiath says he thanks you for your discretion. He's getting quite loquacious as he listens in more and more of our Weyrling lessons." Casmari found Sebiath's know-it-all-ness quite endearing.

"Loquacious." Ketlyn smiled, then stifled a yawn. It sounded like a word that V'dryn would use. The weyrlings' habits seemed to be rubbing off on each other. She yawned again. "Oof, sorry for keeping you both up. I should probably finish reading these and go to sleep," she said waving the letter at Casmari.

"Trust me, it was worth it. Enjoy your letters," Casmari rolled over, pulling her blanket up to her chin as she did.

Ketlyn refolded the letter and stuck it under her pillow. Another sister... and poor Tris, taking care of everyone. **Don't worry,** she thought. **I'll come get you as soon as I can...**

Last updated on the October 28th 2024

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Babies and Eggs