Belonging

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 8th February 2026

Characters: L'keri, M'sar
Description: L'keri congratulates M'sar on his Impression
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'mai, Sybana, R'bharra

L'keri

As the harpers strummed the final chord of a lively, fast-paced tune, L'keri finally had to bow to his latest partner and concede defeat. His throat was parched, his head was spinning from capering around in a circle, hand in hand and back and forth, and he felt in need of a break. Snagging a glass of fruit juice from a serving table to refresh himself, he surveyed the dining hall.

The crowd was starting to thin out as holders departed for their homes and ranking riders for their beds, though there were plenty of weyrfolk still gamely filling the dance floor and drinking to the health of the new hatchlings. The brownrider sensed that he'd better keep a low profile for the moment, since he'd not exactly comported himself with the dignity befitting the rider of the clutch sire in his turn on the dance floor with K'mai. With any luck, by tomorrow, it would all be forgotten.

His idle gaze fell on one of the new weyrlings, standing alone. Now there was one he was interested to meet. He'd not had the chance earlier, not while he was escorting Sybana, but everyone deserved to be complimented on their Hatching day, no matter where they came from. He strolled over and raised his glass in greeting.

"Congratulations, brownrider!"

"Thanks." M'sar grinned, recognizing the rider of the clutch's sire. After watching him dance with K'mai, he was sure L'keri wasn't as stuck up and stuffy as Sybana. "Sure didn't expect that."

"I don't think anyone did," L'keri said, with an amused quirk of his mouth. "But now you're together, it seems like it should have been obvious all along. He's a fine hatchling - Nazoth, right?"

"Yeah." M'sar had the dazed, happy expression common to new weyrlings. "He's the biggest in the clutch. Bigger than the bronze, even."

"Is he? Then maybe one day, he'll follow in Rhalith's footsteps, and fly a queen of his own." Wouldn't the bronzeriders love _that_, L'keri thought in satisfaction.

M'sar started to laugh and then wrinkled his nose. "Eh, no. Not unless golds start Impressing boys."

"After this last turn, not even that would surprise me." Another girl riding a blue, half a weyrling class of holdless, not to mention the infamous dance of N'vanik at Dolphin Cove. Old traditions were being shaken up in the most intriguing manner. "So, not interested in girls at all? If you don't mind me asking," he added, remembering that not everyone was as comfortable sharing as weyrfolk.

M'sar shook his head. "No girls for me. That's why Nazoth was such a surprise. People always said brownriders don't like men, but here I am." The weyrling looked L'keri over curiously. "What about you? Saw you dancing all sexy with K'mai. You and him a thing?"

The brownrider burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink before he managed to control himself. "Hah - sorry, I can see how you might have thought that, but no. We've been friends since we were weyrbrats back at River Bluff, but we're not into each other that way. To tell the truth..." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "We were doing that to annoy the bronzeriders."

M'sar laughed. "The bronzeriders deserve it." This guy was definitely all right.

"Some of them do." L'keri remembered R'gal, and the others who'd sneered at him and Rhalith's clutch. He hoped they'd seen, and choked on their celebratory dinner. "At least you've only got one in your class. What's he like?"

The weyrling rolled his eyes. "Thinks he's better than everyone."

"Not exactly breaking the mold, then." L'keri snickered. "Well, I rely on you to do us brownriders proud and prove him wrong."

"Gonna prove a lot of people wrong. Have already." M'sar grinned. "Some told me I wasn't worthy of a dragon. Well they're eatin' shit now." The smug satisfaction was clear on his face, and then his expression eased as he looked back at L'keri. "Not everyone, though. Some of the folks here have been . . . real nice. Your friend K'mai didn't care a lick that I was holdless."

"K'mai's a good man," L'keri said. "Didn't say a word about how many eggs there were on the Sands, either, he was only glad for us that Rhalith would be a clutch father." He thought of all the times his friend had stood up for him, and a genuine smile came to his face. "Anyway, once you're in the Wings, no one cares where you came from as long as you've got their back, fighting Thread. You'll see."

M'sar had an odd feeling at the idea of actually belonging somewhere. "Been lookin' out for myself so long I don't know how I'm gonna handle all this team stuff."

"You'll figure it out. You've got Nazoth to look after now, for a start. And he'll need a lot of looking after in the early days." L'keri grinned, remembering his own weyrling days. "Training's tough, but you and your clutch will get through it together. And you've always got me and K'mai if you need."

And R'bharra. M'sar frowned slightly, wrestling with the thought of people wanting to support him. Then his expression brightened. "Wanna dance?"

"Why not?" L'keri tilted his head towards the dance floor, where he heard the harpers tuning up for a lively new number. His brief resolution to lie low was forgotten, and he offered a hand. "Let's show those other riders what a couple of brownriders can do, eh?"

M'sar's smile widened as he took L'keri's hand. "You're definitely fun."

Last updated on the February 21st 2026

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