The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Writers: Duskdog, Steel
Date Posted: 8th April 2026

Characters: R'zen, K'resh
Description: R’zen and K’resh meet on their first morning as weyrlings.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 1 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: T’lonas, N'amsa

The night seemed as if it hadn’t lasted nearly long enough. One minute, K’resh was laying down on his new cot in the Weyrling Barracks, heart full and head still a little dazed, his hand wandering to touch Rorpinth’s hide as she slept. The next, T’lonas was shouting the new weyrlings awake, and Rorpinth’s hunger was cutting sharp and insistent -- almost overwhelming -- into his own stomach and mind, alike.

Despite feeling as if he hadn’t slept at all, the flood of joy as he remembered how his life had changed yesterday would have been enough to propel him to his feet even if Rorpinth’s hunger hadn’t. By the time they emerged from the barracks and made their way to the tables to start chopping meat, he was wide awake, Rorpinth beside him dancing from foot to foot impatiently as she waited for her breakfast.

“Don’t worry, it’s coming!” he promised, working as fast as he dared.

}:I know. But if I move a lot, I think about moving instead of eating,:{ she replied, as if that were the most reasonable explanation in the world.

He grinned from ear to ear. Everything about her was perfect -- perfectly herself - and she was _his_. He couldn’t help but want to share his happiness with someone (everyone) else.

“Hey!” he said to the weyrling nearest him. “How’s your battle-wounds? I saw your dragon take you down yesterday -- looked like it could have been nasty. My name’s K’resh.” He jerked his head down in his green’s direction. “And this is Rorpinth!”

“... Battle wounds. Huh. I like that.” R'zen responded, and eyed K'resh a moment, before he nodded greeting. “I'm R'zen. That's Ibranth.” he added, wielding the cutting knife a bit awkwardly with his left hand, jaw set in concentration. “I'm _fine_ though.” He continued immediately. “This bandage is just to keep from getting it _dirty_.” He lifted his bandaged right forearm a moment, then refocused on the cutting.

}:Hurry up!:{ Ibranth squealed, knocking into Rorpinth as he pressed forward. }:I'm _hungry_!:{

“I _know_.” R'zen assured. “Want me to just toss the thing in the bucket whole?”

“Yeah,” K’resh agreed easily, taking R’zen’s words at face value. Sure, if the guy said he was okay, then he was okay! “Did it scare your family? I bet it was wild for them, if they’ve never seen a Hatching before.”

Rorpinth gave a little squeak of surprise as Ibranth knocked into her, then whipped her head around and glared at him. }:Watch where you’re going, clumsy!:{

R'zen snorted. “My sisters thought I was in _danger_.” He scoffed, stroked Ibranth’s head when the blue pushed against him. “As _if_. Ibranth would never hurt me.” His ribs twinged. He ignored it, stroked his blue again before he went back to cutting. “Was your family scared or something?”

}:I am _not_ clumsy!:{ Ibranth declared, stamped a foot. }:You were in the way!:{ he added, affronted. }:What if _you_ are the clumsy one?:{

“What? No way. My family’s all Dragonsfall-born -- they know how it goes. I just figured, since you’re new here it would be new to your family, too… I mean, you are, right? I hadn’t seen you around before a couple of sevendays ago, so I figured you’d been Searched in.”

}:What if you’re stupid?:{ Rorpinth countered, turning around and drawing herself up to her full height. Which wasn’t much -- she was built strong, no dainty lady, but she was compact.

“So what if I was?” R'zen challenged. “Ibranth chose me fair and square, and I've got the stitches to prove it. I belong here.” He paused, then added, “... Just like Rorpinth chose you, apparently.”

Ibranth eyed Rorpinth, a moment, then snorted in draconic imitation of his rider. }:If I were stupid, I would not have chosen Mine. He is clearly the best.:{ He puffed his chest out. }:If you do not like it, that is too bad. Though… I do not think you are stupid. Not if you think we can wrestle.:{

“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that,” K’resh insisted. “I was just curious, is all. Even if you didn’t Impress, you’d still be welcome, as far as I’m concerned! But you _did_, and that’s even better. We’re gonna be the _best_ weyrling class this place has ever seen!”

}:We can wrestle,:{ Rorpinth said. }:But only after we eat. I’m so hungry! Deal?:{

“We _are_.” R'zen said, and grinned at K'resh for the first time. “At least, _I_ am. But anyone a dragon chose can't be completely hopeless. Except maybe that puny kid with the huge brown.”

}:Vhenasith.:{ Ibranth supplied. }:Hurry _up_, Mine!! I am starving and I must wrestle Rorpinth!:{

K’resh waved a hand. “Eh, he’s just a kid. I’m sure he’ll be fine once he grows up a little. We can help him out if he needs it ‘til then.”

}:Less talking, more feeding,:{ Rorpinth agreed, nudging her rider’s leg with her face, projecting the full force of her hunger on him insistently.

“Okay, okay!” K’resh sped up his chopping, finally filling up the appropriately green-sized bowl. “One piece at a time, okay? Just until you get bigger, and used to chewing instead of scarfing.”

“Tch.” R'zen scoffed, but finished his own chopping a few moments later, setting Ibranth’s food down.

The blue immediately stuck as much of his head into the bucket as he could and began to gobble.

R'zen watched him for a moment, then huffed again. “If that brat thought he was good enough to Stand for a dragon, let him figure it out on his own.” He said finally. “I'm not going to babysit.”

“‘That brat’ might be the one flaming Thread that’s headed towards your face someday,” K’resh pointed out, but he didn’t sound too fussed about R’zen’s estimation of the kid. “Anyway, I’m sure he’ll turn out fine either way. Nothing wrong with being young!”

Rorpinth was letting K’resh feed her one piece at a time, even though she wasn’t exactly being polite about taking it. Her eyes slid to Ibranth, gobbling his food straight from the bucket

}:You’re going to choke,:{ she said. }:Then you’ll be boring to wrestle with. Just a lump on the ground.:{

}:I am not a lump!:{ Ibranth protested. }:And anyway I am bigger than you, I think, so I would win anyways.:{ But he ate a little bit more slowly, especially once R'zen sank down onto his heels next to him.

“Slow down, Ibranth.” The blue weyrling muttered. “Just a little bit. You're no gorger.”

And then he glanced at K'resh, made a face. “Don't drag me into it. Our focus should be our own dragons, and getting stronger." He told the other weyrling. “I'm not planning on slacking off.”

“Hey, I’m not a slacker!” K’resh insisted, clearly insulted. “I’ve got enough in me to look after me _and_ other people! Taking care of our wingmates is the honorable thing to do. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but watch me -- I’ll keep up with you!”

“Babysitting them won't help them. They have to learn just like we do.” R'zen huffed. “But I guess if you're going to make sure they're not messing up, you could use a team up.” He allowed. “I can be the best _and_ do everything you do.”

}:Finished!!:{ Ibranth declared, snapped up his last bite. }:Rorpinth, let's wrestle, now!:{

K’resh grinned, holding his hand out in an offer to shake. “Yeah! Top of the class!”

Rorpinth took her last bite, too, gave a little burp, and turned to launch herself at him.

“Tch.” R'zen responded, but he took K'resh's hand and shook it. “Top of the class.”

Last updated on the May 1st 2026

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The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship