Satisfied with the Outcome

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 24th July 2007

Characters: Xara, Dargan
Description: Xara helps D'gan finish oil-bathing Velth and makes a new friend
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 4

"D'gan!" Xara called out his name as she approached. The brownrider was intently cleaning his dragonet as she approached and she didn't want to startle either of them.

Turning, he shielded his eyes, as he glanced up across the sands towards the approaching figure. "Xara?" he called out and waved. "Come and join us!"

"Um, can I pass on that? It's a wee bit cold for me." she laughed, stopping short, just at the waters edge. "I'd just like to watch, if its all the same to you?"

"Sure, we're almost finished anyway, aren't we Velth?" he asked, splashing the last foamy suds from Velth deep brown hide.

}:We are?:{ The dragonet looked up and turned slightly towards the sandy bank. }:Who is that?:{ his curiosity getting the better of him, he started wading back into shallower waters in a curious hop-splash mode of swimming.

**That is Xara, she too was on the Sands waiting for a lifemate to appear.**

}:Her time isn't right - yet:{ Velth answered cryptically.

**You mean...** D'gan looked down at his lifemate, a puzzled expression on his face, **...do you mean she may still Impress?**

}:There is always a chance:{ Velth answered, finally attaining the bank, he jump-hopped closer to the girl standing on the shore. Closing in on her, he stopped and cocked his head to the side, one eye whirling intently on her.

"Hello Velth, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Xara met the dragonets gaze with her own, and bowed slightly.

Velth's mouth opened a little, splitting his muzzle into a wide smile, }:I like her:{ he intoned to D'gan. }:She will be my friend, as well?:{ With a laugh, D'gan relayed the question to Xara. **I'm sure she will."

"I would be honoured." the girl replied. "Thank you, Velth." Her eyes flicked from the dragons to his mates, "Can I help you with his oiling?" she asked.

"I guess so," D'gan replied, "It's always handy to have someone help, he's growing at an alarming rate - for me, anyway." he grinned, walking further up the bank to retrieve the stoppered vase of oil. "Here, hold out your hands."

Doing as she was bid, Xara felt the cool oil spread across her palms, and she quickly dropped to her knees in front of the brown. "If I'm rubbing too hard, he'll let me know?" she asked, glancing from D'gan to Velth.

She was amazed at how soft and warm the dragonets hide was. This was the closest she had been to one since her arrival at the Weyr, but her Search dragon had been scored in parts, so his hide had been rougher to the touch.

"We'll both let you know." D'gan smiled, as he too began to rub the oil over the dragonets body. "I've been doing this twice a day for the past two sevendays." he said, "Do you see how quickly he's grown, though, Xara?"

"He's huge compared to what he was when he hatched." she agreed, "I can't see you being able to carry him from the Sands at this size." she grinned, reminding D'gan of the wonderful day two sevendays ago, when they had first laid eyes on each other.

}:Is that a good thing?:{ Velth asked, turning to face his lifemate, }:Being huge?:{
**You will grow more over the next couple of turns. Huge won't describe your size, but for now it fits.** D'gan reassured Velth, his hands smoothing back and forth lovingly over his lifemate.

"Do you feel as though you missed out?" he asked turning his attention back to the girl. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend or upset you." he said, realising how abrupt that question had been.

"Missed out?" she considered his words, "No, not really." she shook her head. "Too many times I watched others walk off the Sands, and did feel as though I had been rejected, but this time? No. This time it was different for me. I knew that come what may, I had something to fall back on." she smiled widely, enjoying the sensation of giving Velth his oilbath. It was as soothing for her, after being on her feet all day cooking, as it must be for the dragonet.

"I'm a little envious of the relationship you both will have. But who knows, somewhere around here, there may actually be a mate for me. Not a lifemate, perhaps, but something close to it."

}:Or maybe just that - a lifemate:{ Velth's voice was quiet in D'gans head, but not quiet enough that the weyrling didn't hear. The brown rubbed his head against the girls shoulder, his musky scent flowing over her. }:She will make a good lifemate:{ he mused, }:she has good hands:{ his voice had become softer still and D'gan realised that the dragonet had begun to fall asleep.

"Shells!" he cried, and the dragonet startled back into wakefulness. "You _are_ too big for me to carry back to the barracks." he exclaimed aloud for both Velth and Xara's hearing. **Don't fall asleep here. At least walk halfway there for me.** he pleaded.

}:So sleepy:{ Velth yawned widely, his eyelids beginning to close over again.

"I'll help, if I can." Xara volunteered, though not quite sure how they would manage it.

"He'll manage it with us." D'gan shook his head, "It's not that far, and he needs to stay awake, he hasn't eaten yet." His eyes rested on his dragonet, and watched as slowly, one by one the eyelids peeled back again, at the mention of food.

}:I hadn't forgotten:{ Velth replied, turning his face up to D'gan his eye meeting the weyrlings and whirling faster, as his mouth opened in a grin again.

"Crafty..." Xara mused, a grin splitting her own face, as she looked from dragon to weyrling. "I didn't realise..."

"It doesn't take them long." D'gan replied, urging Velth up the warm sand towards the Weyrling Barracks. "I wouldn't be without him, but he can be a tad lazy sometimes. And if he thinks he can get away with it, he'll try anything once." The words may have sounded harsh, but Xara detected the rush of love that flowed from the weyrling to his mate as he guided him along.

"Hmm... I think I may be a little more grateful now - that I wasn't chosen." she grinned.

Velth stopped and looked up at the girl, his eyes meeting hers.

}:Really? We'll see:{ In the past two sevendays he had grown enough that he was no longer waist high to her, but his head was now level with her shoulders. He titled his head back and his muzzle rubbed against her chin. }:Goodbye for now, new friend:{ he said, and turned to jump-hop towards the barracks.

"Oh!" she was surprised by the tenderness the dragonet had shown her, and looked in askance to D'gan.

"I don't think he believed you about being relieved you don't have a dragon of your own." D'gan said, "And he said, 'Goodbye for now, new friend'. I think he wanted me to pass it on..." he smiled down softly at Xara.

"Oh..." she flushed a dull red, surprised at how easily she had been adopted as a friend. "Thank him for me, will you?" she asked.

"I will." D'gan nodded. "See you in the dining cavern later?"

"You will indeed. You have a dragonet, I had the stove. Perfect pairing." she grinned and turned towards the cavern. "And he's right you know," she called over her shoulder, "I'm not really grateful I wasn't chosen, but I'm satisfied with the outcome."

D'gan shook his head, "For now." he said quietly.

Last updated on the July 29th 2007

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Satisfied with the Outcome