So Determined

Writers: KC Free
Date Posted: 13th March 2011

Characters: T'aesh
Description: Thoughts on the future.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 6

Taeshin left the Dining Hall Cavern, his stomach full of food and his mind
full of thoughts. By all accounts, there would be eggs on the sands of the
Hatching Grounds soon. For everyone else in the Weyr, and on all of Pern
for that matter, a new clutch of eggs was a happy occasion. For Taeshin the event brought about different emotions; the main one being worry.

Taeshin was an Apprentice Dragonhealer; and to advance any further in his
Craft, he must also be a Rider. Unfortunately Taeshin had failed to Impress at every other Hatching he stood at. As a child of the Weyr, he had the right to stand at every Hatching as a Candidate; and as a Dragonhealer he had to stand if he ever wanted to really practice and learn the Craft. His past failures to Impress however were beginning to effect the future Taeshin had planned for himself. Taeshin was becoming older, and eventually he wouldn't be allowed to stand as a Candidate anymore.

As Hatchings came and went, his Master began doubting that he would Impress; and so he tried to steer Taeshin towards other Crafts, before he became to old to be an apprentice. Taeshin however could not see himself as anything other than a Dragonhealer, and lately a Rider, and wouldn't accept an apprenticeship in any other Craft. Therein lied a serious problem, because the Weyr had no time or room for someone who would not, and could not, provide some service to the upkeep and running of the Weyr; and Taeshin would never be a drudge.

Lost in his thoughts, Taeshin found himself passing the entrance to the
enormous cave that housed the Hatching Grounds. He looked in the cavern
with its warm sands, and imagined a golden Queen dragon, guarding her eggs
as the heated sands hardened the shells that the housed dragonets within
them. He saw himself in Candidate white, once again, standing nervously on the sands, hoping to be chosen by one of Pern's new born dragons. This
time, however, he resolved that he would do everything he could to leave
those sands with a new dragon partner.

**If everyone else can do it, so can I** he thought to himself, the jealousy that had been growing in him over the past few seven days continuing to rear its ugly head. Ever since an old friend had Impressed the jealousy had taken a tight grip to Taeshin, and it wouldn't let go until Taeshin himself had Impressed. **I come from Rider parents, it's in my Blood. I will be a Rider**

Taeshin continued looking into the opening of the Hatching Sands, he closed
his eyes and imagined himself, a beautiful newly hatched dragon clambering
by his side; the joyous look of a person who has just experienced the bond
of Impression for the first time on his face.

**I will Impress this time!** he thought, his face set with determination as he walked away from the Hatching Grounds entrance towards the Apprentice
quarters.

Last updated on the March 20th 2011

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So Determined