Conflicting Emotions

Writers: Francesca
Date Posted: 29th November 2008

Characters: Kamalia, Arrilon
Description: Kamalia and Arrilon speak after the Hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 5 of Turn 4

It seemed all of Pern had come to celebrate the Hatching. Arrilon looked
around, surprised at how few people he recognized. Although he did not
have many friends, he tended to remember a person if he saw them several
times. However, at this celebration he felt strangely isolated in the crowd.
His parents had not been able to come, and for the first time, his sister
wasn't at his side so they could cheer each other up. Now, she was a
dragonrider. He shook his head, unable to believe it. His younger sister,
still a child in many ways, had Impressed. And he had been left standing.
Angrily forcing back the tears that threatened to fall, Arrilon made his way
towards the tables piled with every kind of food imaginable.

"Ari!" Kamalia's excited voice pierced through the crowd. She soon
appeared, practically running to reach him. "Oh Ari!" She gripped him in
a big hug, eyes shining with a happiness Arrilon could only imagine.
"She's perfect. She's so beautiful. Come on, you have to see her!"

Arrilon couldn't help but smile at his sister's exuberance. Just because he
had not Impressed didn't mean he should bring her down. He did not
resist when Kamalia dragged him away from the feast, chattering away.
"She's the most beautiful color, a light green, and she's so tiny! I think
she's one of the smallest in the clutch, but who knows what will happen
when she's full-grown. Did you see her hatch? She was so loud, and I
wasn't sure if she would even come in my direction, but then she did.
And, oh! Hurry, I want you to see her!"

"She isn't going anywhere," Arrilon replied, but he knew she was hardly
even listening to him.

"She's sleeping now, I can feel it. Isn't that strange? I can't even see her,
but I know she's sleeping, and she's full. But they said she'll be up again
in a few candlemarks, wanting to eat. I can't believe she eats so much.
But, she does need to grow a lot, so I guess it makes sense. Ooh, here we
are!"

Kamalia finally stopped talking as they arrived at the weyrling barracks,
not wanting to awaken any of the dragonets. They stepped in carefully
and it took a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.

"She's over there," Kamalia whispered, pointing.

Arrilon tried to focus on his sister's happiness, but couldn't help thinking
that this could have been him, showing off his dragon to her. He pushed
the thought away.

They arrived at the wallow of a little green, her tail curled around her.
"Look, isn't she perfect?" Kamalia breathed.

Arrilon didn't see anything special about her. She looked healthy, and
was a nice, light, shade of green, but besides that… "Yes, she is." There
was no use angering Kamalia by disagreeing with her. "What's her
name?"

"Oh! I haven't said that yet? It's Alaudath. Isn't it amazing that she
knew her name from the moment she was born? And, it's such a perfect
name. It fits her so well." She rested her hand for a moment on the
green's head, as if unable to believe she was now a weyrling.

Arrilon watched this and, once again, fought back tears of jealousy and
anger. Why her? And, more importantly, Why not him? he couldn't help
thinking. Luckily, or not, Kamalia was oblivious to his thoughts.
Suddenly, he wanted to be as far away from Kamalia and Alaudath as
possible. He was happy for her, but seeing her so ecstatic after Impression
just made him feel worse, and then feel guilty for feeling bad.

"Well, I need to go," he said abruptly. Before she could ask any
questions, he quickly continued, "I just wanted to give you this." He
reached into his pocket and held out an object.

It was a piece of egg shell he had picked up from the Sands before going
to the Hatching feast. "Oh, Ari!" Kamalia gave him another big hug.
"This is wonderful. I'll keep it forever."

"I don't know if it's the egg Alaudath hatched from, but I got one from
that area of the Sands." Arrilon stood quickly. "Well, I'll see you later.
Congratulations." And with that, he walked away.

Kamalia wondered at his abrupt departure for a moment, but then she
looked back at the egg shard, and then at Alaudath, and soon forgot about
it. She would be able to speak with her brother later. For now though, life
was perfect.

Last updated on the December 12th 2008

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Conflicting Emotions