As Soon As Possible

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 3rd November 2024

Characters: Tirraze, Oriene
Description: Tirraze and Oriene catch up in weyrling training
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 12

Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~

"He's getting so big!" Oriene remarked as she approached the pair. Riamorth was easily large enough to ride now. Oriene wondered how much larger he was going to get.

"There's more of him to wash every day, it seems!" Tirraze laughed. "I can't wait until we can just ride down to the shore and see the dolphins or just... go anywhere. I never thought I'd get so tired of just being stuck here all day, every day."

Riamorth wiggled from foot to foot when he saw Oriene, but he did his best not to get so excited that she would be afraid he was going to hurt her. It was a lot to contain.

"Riam likes the idea, too."

"Are you flying /between/ yet?" Oriene asked. She offered her hands for Riamorth to sniff. The blue happily sniffed Oriene's hand and nuzzled it as gently as he could manage.

"Yeah," said Tirraze. "As of the end of last month. It was... It's hard to describe. But when we went up, I feel like I finally let go of whatever's been holding me back. All that stuff that's been making me, you know. Weird. But it's still new. /Between/, I mean. Still feels a little... dangerous going somewhere we haven't been a thousand times." She chuckled-- and the nerves were finally gone. It was her real laugh again.

"But we can do it. Maybe next time we get a rest day we really could go. But I'd rather fly the long way, really. The warm way. Unless you'd prefer /between/?"

Oriene scritched all over Riamorth's ridges and knobs. "I don't mind taking a long flight," she answered. It was still a little weird, thinking of her best friend as a bluerider, but Oriene was determined to move past it because Tirraze _was_ her best friend and she wanted her friend to be happy! "I can't believe you'll be graduating soon too. And then you'll be in a Wing and...up there." She tapped Riamorth's nose sharply. "You better take care of her up there during Threadfall," she told the dragon. "Or you'll get an earful from me."

Riamorth licked Oriene's finger.

}:I will be safe,:{ promised Riamorth to Tirraze.

"He says he'll be safe," Tirraze relayed. "That feels scary, too. Thread. But I know he'll always bring me home."

Oriene kissed Riamorth's nose and whispered, "Thank you." She sat there rubbing him for a moment in thought before asking, "You said 'whatever's been holding you back.' Making you weird. Did you...figure out what that was?"

"It's like I was still holding onto this other life... this dead future for me where I was going to be the Headwoman someday," said Tirraze. "I finally just... fully decided to live this life. Where I'm Riamorth's rider."

Riamorth's eyes whirled deep blue for Oriene's kiss.

"I think..." Oriene said thoughtfully. "That being Riamorth's rider is way better than being the Headwoman." She gave her friend an understanding smile but then exhaled. "I know what you mean. And I'm still trying to let it go that we didn't Impress together. But I guess...I guess when I _do_ Impress, you'll be able to give me all of the pointers so that I'm not too far behind."

"We'll have your back a hundred percent!" Tirraze assured her. Of course, life as Riamorth's rider was better, but for whatever reason, that had not made it easier to let go of that other extinguished future. "And you'll see just how much your dragon is worth waiting for, too."

"Hopefully she doesn't make me wait too long," Oriene replied thoughtfully. Changing the subject, she asked, "So where are you two going to go on your first real free outing once you graduate? We always came up with a list of places we'd thought we'd never see."

"We can go anywhere," said Tirraze. "As long as someone has an image we can use. And we're brave enough to use it." She chuckled. That might have been a big if, but she would have to get used to it eventually. "I'll try it out before we go, so you know it's safe."

"I trust you," Oriene said, because she did, even though a part of her was scared. "You've never been reckless and I doubt Riamorth is, since he's like you. So you pick a place and we'll go!"

"Well..." Tirraze pondered. "I'll have to think about where would be best, then!" And then she smiled. "I trust you, too."

That seemed to set Oriene at ease, hearing her friend say that again. "I have to get over to class now," she said but she wrapped Tirraze into a hug. "See you soon?"

"As soon as possible!"

Last updated on the November 4th 2024

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As Soon As Possible