Home, Sweet Home
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron
Date Posted: 9th December 2025
Characters: L'leb
Description: Leoleb Impresses unexpectedly at an unexpectedly homelike Hatching.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 12
The heat and humidity were oppressive, and the night had done nothing to change it. The Hatching Sands made it even worse. It was almost like Leoleb was back home on the island. At first, he had been a touch annoyed at having to go out in the dreary rain, but now that he was on the Sands at last, watching the Hatching unfold, he forgot how soggy he was.
And this was a lively one, too! He could not hide his smile as he watched the Hatching unfold from among the robed Candidates.
A Stands Impression! Delightful.
And then...
Was this bronze actually looking at him? His heart went from normal to racing in a matter of a split second. It could not be... could it?
Leoleb's wonder was cut short by an impressive amount of snot.
He remained still with surprise only for a brief moment before he burst into laughter. Of course, the dragon was never going to choose him. But it was amusing to learn that dragon snot had a consistency not terribly unlike the mucus on the snails at the bottom of the Leeward Lagoon. It reminded him all the more of home.
But what, then? Another blue going for the Stands? A woman pushed through the crowd and vaulted onto the Sands like a tumbler dressed for a Gather. And not just any woman.
It was Cirina.
Oh, how wonderful it was to see her again. And how wonderful this was for her! That she had found her way to this same place at this same time, too, was a shock in and of itself. But that she finally had the dragon she so truly deserved warmed his heart. He lifted his hand to wave to herâ€"
Only for another dragon to cover him in slime. He wondered for a moment if he had not managed to get something on his robe that irritated their noses...
But he had precious little time to consider it before the dragon grabbed hold of him and sent him tumbling into the sand.
Leoleb scrambled to his feet, lest the sand burn his hands, looking very much like a sugar-coated pastry now that the sand was clinging to the fine coat of ooze covering him.
}:Look at you go. Head over knees, is that how the saying goes? Your arms moved like big circles. Hilarious.:{
"Head over heels, I think," he said to the dragon, whom he assumed had been the one who had spoken to him. "But still pretty funny."
}:How poetic. You really thought no one would pick you, didn't you?:{
Something was warm, gentle, caressing about the way the dragon's voice seemed to wrap itself around Leoleb's mind. It was nearly impossible to describe, but the closest he could come was to say it was as though the scent of fresh baking had picked him up into the air and carried him to the oven.
"Well, of course. If a dragon were going to choose me, wouldn't he have already done it?"
}:My darling dear. Look me in the eye and say that again.:{
"Wouldn't he have... already..."
}:He already has.:{
L'leb knelt down... reached out his hand to touch the dragon... Aurelth...
The brown grabbed L'leb's sleeve and tossed him into the sand again.
L'leb burst into laughter and this time laid on the sands without pulling himself up. He could not stop. Aurelth plopped himself down next to L'leb and snuggled into his side with his chin resting atop his chest. His laughter tinkled through L'leb's mind like wind chimes. That was like home, too. It was almost as if this place had everything he loved about home... and more. He glanced around for Cirina again, but all he saw were two Healers quickly approaching with concerned expressions plastered on their faces.
"Ohhhh, skies. We'd better get up before someone thinks we're hurt. No, no, I'm all right. I can get up." L'leb waved them away. "No, he didn't hurt me, I'm fine. He's... he's mine."
Aurelth turned curious eyes onto the Healers, and L'leb could feel the wheels turning in his mind. He was giving serious thought to tossing _them_ onto the sand next. After all, it had been hilarious so far.
**Better not.**
}:I wasn't going to...:{
**Good.** "Come on. Let's get you fed."
The prospect of eating send jolts of new curiosity through Aurelth's mind. He had never had food before, and he was equal parts starving and intrigued now that L'leb had raised the possibility.
Well. Maybe three parts starving to one part intrigued.
Last updated on the December 21st 2025