Looking Forward

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 16th July 2007

Characters: Xara
Description: Xara Stands for Impression, but leaves the Sands happily empty handed.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 16 of Turn 4

"Xara! Come on, you're needed." a voice could be heard echoing through the kitchens and down into the stock room, which was slowly starting to take on the appearance of a larder again, after the floods.

Xara had been counting the preserves they had been sent from the Holds, enough to carry them through for another couple of sevenday, but probably no longer than that. She almost dropped the jar she was holding, when a drudge appeared in the doorway.

"You're being called, its the dragons, can't you hear them humming?" he asked, his eyes raising to the ceiling, as if they were to appear through the rock.

Placing the jar carefully back onto the shelf, she now became aware of a distant vibration. "Oh shards!" she cried as realisation hit her. "The Eggs!!"

The drudge flattened himself against the doorway as she sped past, yelling in a most unladylike way as she fled through the kitchens and into the main dining cavern.

* * *

She was almost out of breath by the time she had dressed and followed the rest of the candidates out of the candidate barracks and to the entrance to the Hatching grounds. She stood with the other candidates, waiting the order to proceed, and mesmerised by the people still arriving adragonback, and secretly hoping her father was not among the visitors.

She glanced around at the other candidates, all had that expectant flush of energy about them, called from all corners of the Weyr. She could feel the excitement building within, but this time it was different. It wasn't just the worry of her father being here to witness a possible Impression; it was, she knew, the fact that unlike other times when she walked the Sands, today she had no fears or worries about what she would do if she didn't Impress. It was a great stress reliever.

A heavy sigh escaped from the candidate in front of her, this one she actually recognised, "Oh no, don't do that, it seems as though you've lost all hope." she whispered loudly, ignoring the looks she received from the other candidates closest to her.

"It's okay for you," he gave a quick grin, "you don't really mind whether you Impress or not, do you? You have your life planned even if you're unsuccessful."

"It would be nice to have someone to always be with me, to share in my life achievements, and to care about me, but it's not necessary to my happiness any more." she answered evenly, admitting even to herself that it would be something she would love to happen, but if it didn't happen today, she wouldn't be heartbroken. "Though I have a touch of the nerves at the moment." her eyes darted back and forth among the people still entering the cavern on foot. "I'm really hoping my father isn't here."

"He won't be able to take you back Xara, so you really have no need to worry, even if he recognises you." Dargan gave her a wide smile, "I doubt he will know it's you, and he might just turn around and go home, thinking you've already left the Weyr."

"From your mouth to his ears." she laughed, "Though I don't hold out much hope -
uh oh, looks like we're going in. Good luck Dargan, though I'm sure we'll soon be calling you-"

"No! Don't say it. I don't want to get my hopes up again." he said quickly. She watched him as he eagerly followed the line of candidates into the cavern and across the hot Sands.

She followed more sedately behind, breathing evenly; glancing around the huge cavern as she walked across the burning Sands. Even if her father were here, she would never be able to pick him out from the enormous crowd.

The cavern looked more full today than it had on previous occasions; and then she remembered the extra candidates flown in from other Weyrs, and the curiosity value this Hatching had compared to the previous occasions. She, too, wondered just how badly the Eggs had been affected by the transfer /between/ to escape the floods. They all looked the same, it would be hard to determine just by looking.

She glanced up into the stands and saw the Weyrleaders up there, neither showed their concern, though Xara was sure they were worried about the eggs.

An expectant hush settled on those gathered as eyes darted from one egg to the other, waiting, even for the barest movement, from any of them. Nothing discernible was happening - were they all ruined from the trip /between/? But then the air was filled with the humming of the dragons, high up above the Weyr, and a cry rent the air as one of the eggs began to rock.

It was just like the previous times she had Stood, she watched as one egg after another cracked and Impression occurred, but just like previous times, she wasn't to be chosen. A small part of her mourned for the absence of a lifemate, but the greater part of her could now look forward, to the life she had planned
- the contingency she had held close for the past sevenday or more.

She gave D'gan a brief kiss on the cheek and congratulated him as she left the Sands. His new lifemate Velth was a healthy and hungry brown; she couldn't have been more pleased for D'gan, who like her had Stood more than a few times out on the Sands. Finally they had found each other.

She managed to slip away unnoticed by the support staff waiting to assist those who hadn't Impressed, and quickly made her way across to the Candidate barracks to change. If she didn't have to worry about feeding a hungry lifemate, she may as well make herself useful and help out with the celebrations.

Escaping the cavern before the majority of the crowd was able to leave was also in her mind, so much the better if her father was here, that she avoid him.

* * *

Changing quickly had been no problem, but slipping between the crowd in the dining cavern had been, but finally she had reached the kitchens to be greeted by surprised looks from all, and a grateful hug and welcome back from Aveery.

Donning her apron, she returned to the work she knew she was cut out for. The work she was happiest doing, in a place she loved and felt most comfortable in. There would be no returning to her fathers cot, never again. Humming happily to herself, she set about putting the finishing touches to the platter of sweetmeats in front of her, all thoughts of dragonets and Impressing; her father and the miserable life in his cot; gone from her mind, forever.

Last updated on the July 18th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Looking Forward