More than Impression Gained

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 6th August 2019

Characters: D'ale, Aviday
Description: Aviday gets the next best thing to her hatchling.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 20 of Turn 9

D'ale

Aviday

Kobeth, her darling little Kobeth, was curled up on her new couch,
belly stuffed with meat and content to sleep. Aviday stroked a hand
over the smooth hide, already so in love with the little green that
she was loathe to leave her, even for the hatching feast. It had been
amazing, that sudden connection. She'd dreamed of it for as long as
she could remember and now, Kobeth was hers and she was Kobeth's.

Excited, she slipped on a fresh tunic and trousers, placing her new
knots proudly on her shoulders. She'd attended hatching feasts many
times, but _this_ time, she could attend as a weyrling! After quickly
running a brush through her short hair, she darted back out to the
festivities, waving to several of her friends as she made her way to
the celebration. The dancing would start soon, but she was _starving_.

D'ale had been waiting within range of the entry so when the girl came
in he spotted her immediately. "Hi," he smiled and handed her a plate
of food. "I imagine you're about as hungry as Kobeth was when she
hatched."

She took the plate, thanking him even as she stared at him in open
consideration. "Thanks." She tilted her head, studying him. " I am.
She's really pretty, isn't she? She's wonderful. Absolutely
wonderful." She popped a meatroll in her mouth, chewed while she was
thinking, then swallowed before speaking again. "Sorry my mama dragged
you around. She gets that way."

"Don't worry," he smiled. "I remember your mother."

Her brows quirked up in an almost familiar gesture and the grin she
gave offered deep dimples. "She chase you too, huh? Well, you're the
fifth man she's said was my Da, so...." She shrugged, hiding the inner
hurt well enough, but unable to hide the wistfulness in her voice.
"I'm used to it."

"Well, I'm not," he said softly. "And more especially when the young
woman involved looks a great deal like my mother and my son." He
tilted his head not to seem threatening. "It's worth exploring I
think. Don't you?"

Aviday stared at him, her eyes widening. "Wait...you think it might be
true? I might be...you might really be my Da?" Her hands trembled
against her plate. Could it be that the two things she wanted most
would happen on the very same day?

"Yes," he nodded then held out his hand. "Hi, I'm D'ale of brown
Torerath. Acting Wingleader from Dragonsfall Weyr." His eyes twinkled
as he formally introduced himself. "I think I really might be your
father."

Aviday's lower lip began to tremble and her eyes visibly moistened as
he offered his hand. A father? He thought he really was? None of the
others ever had, nor had they even made an effort to meet her more
than just in passing. Without thinking, she put her plate down and
flung herself at him, hugging him around the waist as tightly as she
could.

"Aviday," he said in his mellow baritone. "Welcome to the family. You
have a brownrider brother K'ale and another younger brother and
sister." He kissed the top of her head and held her against him.

The tears she wept were happy tears and the warmth she felt from the
embrace, so long wished for was a balm to the old wound that she had
carried for turns. And siblings! She had siblings! Brothers and a
sister! "Papa..." The word was soft. "Can I call you that? Can I call
you Papa?" Her words were muffled, but didn't conceal the teary hope.
"Can I meet them?"

"Yes," he said. "You can call me Papa," he said feeling a bit of a
constriction in his throat at her reaction. "I'll send K'ale to see
you and then I'll bring Dalora, Daley and my weyrmate Yanley to meet
you too. But you need to talk to your weyrling masters about when
would be a good time. Alright?"

She lifted her head to peer up at him, and wiped at wet cheeks. "I
always wanted a real Papa." Aviday sniffled and scrubbed at her eyes.
"And brothers and sisters. You'll come and visit and stuff? Do you
think they'll like me?" She tried to still her trembling lower lip.
"And...and you're proud of me? For Impressing? Kobeth is really pretty
and she's the best green ever and I'll make you proud, I promise. I'll
be the best fighting greenrider in my wing."

He was proud of every young person whom the dragons found fit to
Impress, but this wasn't the time to say that. Instead he
acknowledged. "Yes Aviday," he said. "I'm very proud of you and your
family at Dragonsfall will come visit you until you and Kobeth can
come and visit us. I think they'll like you very much."

"Good." She nodded and continued to wipe at her face. "Thank you...Papa."

"You're welcome," he said. Music began across the room and he smiled
and held out his hand. "Would you like to dance?"

With a glowing face, Aviday took D'ale's hand and nodded. "Yes, Papa.
I'd like that a lot."

Last updated on the August 19th 2019

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