Still Standing

Writers: Iluva, Len
Date Posted: 31st August 2026

Characters: Sylvian, Tiyo
Description: No lifemates at another of Chioneth's Hatchings, but at least there are friends
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 13

Tiyo

Notes:
Mentioned: Nosarre, Zaphare
****

"Aha. Thought I'd find you here." In one slow, sweeping motion, Tiyo leaned down to stare at Dansa in all her sweet, cozy, comfortable glory. Her feline, curled on the end of Sylvian's cot, let out a faint 'brrrow' without so much as opening her eyes. It was always quiet in the barracks after such a large Hatching, the feline's purr carrying far.

At least this time no one had accosted her at the feast and accused her of owing them marks.

Tiyo pet Dansa down a moment longer, paying particular attention to the soft grey tuft just beneath her chin, before sliding onto the corner next to her with a wax-paper bag of assorted items from the kitchens.

"Has she been in your way?" she asked Sylvian, tucking stray locks of dark hair back. Then she held the bag out and shook it invitingly, enticingly to her friend.

~*~ Flashback to m4 d2 t12 ~*~

With no particular direction in mind, simply eager to finally find a dry, quiet place to curl up for a candlemark, Tiyo swept across the common room barefoot and on tiptoe, a leather-embossed book under one arm and a Dansa tucked snuggly under the other.

It didn't actually matter what she was doing for the candlemark, just as long as she didn't have to look at another dragon again for a while. Shouldn't be too hard in here. And it wasn't, of course, now that the selection of seats was so open again.

Wide, wide open.

Many of the female candidates had either migrated into the Weyrling barracks with their new lifemates, or had returned to their holds and crafthalls as empty-handed as they had left them, and Tiyo had been trying to ignore that fact most of the time, if she could help it. The empty-handedness.

A long afternoon of scrubbing dragonhide had her upper back talking back as she finally settled into a comfy chair, Dansa allowing herself to be adjusted to one side. It was still odd not to find Nosarre scowling in cool venom nearby, or hear Zaphare talking over _everyone_ else, although it _was_ nice to have a comfortable level of quiet to read, to think. They had their own dragons to clean and care for, and the openness of the room was a little unnerving. Her shoulders ached all the more for it.

Tiyo looked down at 'Twice under the Blue Moons' in her lap -- a story of a male and female bluerider falling for each other despite their dragons' bitter rivalry, and the greenrider they keep finding between them. Compliments of the book dragon's newest and exciting delivery. It suddenly seemed less appealing than just the day before and she just chucked it aside, sighing, a fingertip delicately stroking Dansa's cheek.

It had been a long but productive day for Sylvian. Things were so much better since she had formally begun apprenticing for the Healers. True, it wasn’t herb work as much as she’d like, and was more assisting during Threadfall, but it was still her dream. So with a much lighter foot she all but skipped into the cosy common room. “Hiya,” she said as she spotted Tiyo and flopped down in the chair close to her. Peering at the book title, she added, “that one’s not very good. They both almost end up dying and then find themselves on a desert island after their dragons get hurt in threadfall. Then the greenrider finds them and saves the day, of course. Bit over the top, if you ask me.”

"Oh shells." Tiyo wrinkled her nose in mild disgust. "That's not really how it ends, is it? I was hoping they... I don't know what I was hoping for. Nice for the greenrider, I guess." Her expression smoothed then, "You seem like you're having a good day?"

“Yes! I got to assist journeywoman healer Zille with a few of the riders who had gotten hurt in that collision last ‘Fall. Fascinating stuff, she really knows her medicine and how to get bones to heal. I’ve learned so much, it’s like a dream come true!” Sylvian’s usual gruff manner was nowhere to be seen. In apprenticing she had forgotten that she was always cross. “How are you? You look…tired.” She almost said depressed. Sad. Disappointed. But that seemed cruel, it was always better to let the other girl explain.

"Tired?" Tiyo blinked, surprised that Sylvian had chosen that word and that it was so obvious. "Oh... I don't know. I'm just in a weird rut, or something since the Hatching." She admitted with a sigh, not unaware that in that space Sylvian had gladly found plenty to enjoy and occupy herself with and all Tiyo had really done that day was stew. A hand smoothed down Dansa's soft fur, distracting herself as the answering purr trembled against her legs. "I don't know... I had such high hopes. And it's terrible, because I _never_ get high hopes. I haven't had high hopes for a clutch since I was thirteen."

"Have you Stood a lot then?" Sylvian had to admit she didn't know a lot about the other girls who had stayed after the little queen had Impressed. There didn't seem to be a reason, as so many had left right after, collected by their disappointed families. She was just relieved that her parents had let her stay on, in case there was another gold egg on the Sands. She looked closer at the other girl, who she had to admit, was breathtakingly beautiful. Her eyes were just that right size to be doe-eyed, and her black hair was annoyingly straight, something Sylvian would never get her own wild mop to be. But still, she was always a nice person, unlike a lot of the other girls had been. Hoping to cheer her up, she said, "I bet you'll find your lifemate in the next Hatching. She--or he--would be a fool not to pick you."

An unusual line hit Tiyo's brow, the sincerity of Sylvian's words clearly surprising her.

She and Nosarre rarely, if ever, saw eye to eye. But growing up together had lent a certain familiarity to the other woman's presence that still felt closer to home than many parts of Dragonsfall. Now that the other woman was a Weyrling, Tiyo admittedly missed her in the same way she still missed her old home; a sour attitude could be overlooked when it still reminded her of that place, how things used to be.

Now Tiyo found herself smiling at the other candidate, planting her chin in her palm. "Shards, Sylvian. That's the sweetest thing someone could say, I... thank you." She added, feeling a rare wave of bashfulness about the praise. "Faranth, well, you better be in my class now that you've said that. But then, you did just start your craft..." And she was clearly enjoying it. "You're from the Vintner Hall, right?"

"I am." Sylvian wrinkled up her nose a bit. "Don't hold it against me but my da is one of the masters there. Sorry, but I just kinda hate saying that, going on how some of those candidates were who thought they were going to get the gold. I'm so glad they all left." She smiled at Tiyo. It'd be nice to make a new friend here.

"Ah, I see," Tiyo said diplomatically, but then snorted a bit, undignified, and shrugged. "Me, too. Some of them will be back for the next one, though." She shifted slightly in her seat, angling so they could speak more comfortably while Dansa mewed faintly, barely registering what was happening. "It's good you have a craft-- the waiting can get a little monotonous. Have you always wanted to be a healer?"

“I have. But my family was super focused on wine.” She wrinkled her nose. “How about you? Are you interested in Crafting?”

"Definitely," Tiyo nodded. "I'm pretty useless with a musical instrument, but thankfully no one ever seems to be in a crisis for music." She grinned. "Lately I've just been been needling my way into the archives and going through hides that are probably none of my business, but I honestly prefer that to--" her amber eyes bounced to the discarded book like it could (and should) be offended, then back to Sylvian's face, softening. Then, because she couldn't help nerding out a bit, "Did you know the Southern crafthalls are built from plans that go all the way back to the 9th Pass?"

"A little bit, but not too much. My da mentioned it once or twice." She wrinkled her nose and grinned. "Is she nice?" She held her hand out to the feline.

As if sensing the opportunity for more pats, Dansa's eyes briefly slid open, blinking blithely at the hand, then shut again. She pressed her head in hard, slowly rubbing her cheek along Sylvian's fingertips. Dansa's purr was almost as loud as a small motor now, and Tiyo smiled down at the lump of fluff.

"She's a sook, is what she is." she said, unabashed. "And she's great company. She sleeps most of the time, spoiled thing."

“Well, in this empty barracks she’ll be good company if she strays over.” Sylvian smiled at the other girl, thinking, and it’s nice to maybe have a friend here.

~*~ end Flashback ~*~

"Never, she's good company." Sylvian leaned over and took a piece of candy. Trust Dansa to be thoughtful like that. That first Hatching was an indifferent affair, but secretly she had to admit that it stung a bit to be left standing yet again. "One day, my friend, one day!"

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

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