From Z to Z

Writers: Duskdog, Shawna
Date Posted: 21st May 2024

Characters: Zaphare, Zariah
Description: Zaphare explores her new home and gets acquainted with Zariah
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 16 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Raleri (NPC)

Zaphare

Truth be told, Impressing a dragon had not actually been on Zaphare’s list of priorities when coming to the Weyr. It isn’t something she had given a lot of thought to before, beyond the vague childhood fantasies that many of her peers had shared -- fantasies that had faded several turns ago, when other, more tangible things (like the so-close-yet-so-far-away bodies of those same peers) had diverted her attention. Dragons were far-away shadows in the sky most of the time. Dragonriders were occasional visitors who had nothing to say to _her_ and always seemed on their way either to or from someplace else. She had no idea what Pern looked like from above, and she hadn’t ever been any farther from home than the neighboring cothold. It was as if they existed in an entirely different space than she did -- a world parallel to her own, but which never actually crossed in any meaningful way. What were dragon-dreams to a girl like her, who hadn’t the time to waste on such flights of fancy if she actually wanted to wring as much enjoyment as she could out of things that were practical, _real_?

The Weyr was only really a means to an end, a convenient happenstance, not something she had dreamed of or planned for beyond the short-term. Yet here she was, Searched (-ish), and here were the dragons right in front of her face, at _least_ equally as interesting as their riders, who all seemed impossibly healthy and impossibly _hot_.

It was hard not to stare. (At both.) She found herself pausing to admire a large green, eyes lingering on the smooth flex of her neck muscles, and the vivid grass-green of her hide -- more beautiful up close than she had really anticipated.

“_Nice_,” she breathed, not really expecting the dragon to notice or care that eyes were roaming over her.

Relsath had very good hearing, especially when it came to flattery or praise, and her head whipped around to look at the girl.

There was a chuckle from the other side of the dragon, and Zariah ducked to look under the green's neck. Looked like a candidate, or maybe a visitor. “You can come closer if you like. This is about as pretty as she gets.” And about as messy as Zariah got, having just finished giving the green a good oiling. She tried to tossle her hair into some semblance of order, but all she managed to do was make it a little oily.

The sudden movement -- as well as the realization that she’d been caught staring -- was enough to make Zaphare’s heart catch in her throat momentarily. Heat rose in her cheeks, first from embarrassment, and then anger at herself for letting the dragon and rider startle her so obviously in the first place.

“You’re slopping up your hair,” she pointed out bluntly, but her eyes now were back on the dragon. She approached, pointedly, to prove to herself that she wasn’t afraid if nothing else. “What’s her name?”

That made the smile on Zariah’s face falter a little, but she recovered after a moment with a casual, “Always happens. It'll be shiny after I wash it at least. Her name is Relsath. I'm Zariah. And you are?”

“Zaphare.” No harm in sharing her name, she supposed. It occurred to her suddenly that nobody here knew her at all, really -- she could have changed her name if she’d really wanted to, or made up a whole new background, become a whole new person. It didn’t matter if she didn’t choose to do that -- the very fact that she _could_ was incredibly freeing.

She glanced back to Zariah to get a better look at the rider, too. Shards, lady greenriders were the _best_. Just walking around in their trousers and wherhide jackets with their hair in the breeze and their nice strong biceps just out there _existing_ like that’s a thing that’s even fair.

“I hope she didn’t mind me staring,” Zaphare continued. “I haven’t been here long, and haven’t really gotten to see many dragons close up until now. The power in those thighs, _shells_.”

“Nah, Rel here isn’t as vain as some of them, but she still likes being admired.” Even as Zariah said that, the green was arching her neck in a way that made the light shine on her in a particularly flattering way. “I haven’t seen you around,” and while Zariah didn’t know everyone, she’d been born and raised here. She knew most, “are you a new candidate?”

“Barely a sevenday off the Searchdragon,” Zaphare confirmed. “I hope it’s not _super_ obvious. I’d rather stand out in a _good_ way. Or at least blend in.” She cocked her hip and looked down at one leg. “See, I’ve even got the trousers. First time. Very excited. Recommending it to all my friends.”

All zero of them.

Zariah laughed at that, “So, definitely holdbred, I'm guessing. Glad you're liking the Weyr uniform.” She waved a hand dismissively, “It’s only a little obvious because I was born here and I'm very nosey. And don't worry about it- being a new candidate isn’t a bad kind of standing out. So you're liking it here? Not planning to head home at the first chance to flee?”

“Oh shells, no! You couldn’t _pay_ me to go back home.” As true as that was, Zaphare was surprised at the little flare of guilt and loyalty that rose in her chest. “Not that it was awful, I mean. It’s a good place, my family are good people. But for me, it’s… eh.” One shoulder rose and fell in a vague shrug. “I think the Weyr suits me better. Or it does so far, anyway. I’m ready to have the full experience. Go wild, disgrace my name -- you know, all the important stuff.”

“Oh, come on. How could being a dragonrider disgrace your name. We're heroes!” Zariah emphasized the last word, but she couldn't entirely keep her face straight, and her lips threatened to twitch into a smile. She knew what holders said about greenriders. “Did you fly here? When you were Searched? And did you like it?”

“Yes and yes! Got to ride on a really handsome blue. My first and only time on a dragon, and I hope not my last. Flying is amazing.” Zaphare reasoned that she wasn’t exactly lying. The flying part _had_ been amazing. The results of /betweening/ had been less pleasant for a few days, but ultimately a great relief nonetheless. “Heroes, huh? Yeah, that’s true enough. Can’t say I ever really thought of myself as hero material, but may as well shoot for the moons, huh?” She shrugged again. “What’s your favorite part about being a dragonrider? I mean, I’m assuming you enjoy it. You seem like you do.”

“Oh, the flying. It's definitely the flying,” Zariah said enthusiastically. “That's what I was going for- if you're ever getting lip from some holder, just kind of let your eyes unfocus and think about the flying, and remember, their boots are stuck on the ground.”

Of course, that assumed the girl Impressed, but Zariah thought it was best to assume the best.

“Who has the nerve to give you lip with a dragon standing over your shoulder?” Zaphare couldn’t help but ask, honestly surprised. “Here I was thinking the second-best part of dragonriding would be people having to shut their yap-traps or else.”

“Oh, most do, but that means the ones that don't are the extra dumb ones, and it's hard to wander around a Gather with a dragon looming over you,” Zariah was grinning in earnest now, although she did make sure to add, “But it’s really not that bad. I don't get much sass at all these days.”

“Huh.” Zaphare considered this. She hadn’t come here with the intent of Impressing. In fact, she didn’t expect to, given the circumstances of her Search, but… well. A lifetime of not being pushed around sounded fantastic. “Is it worth it? Even with Thread?”

“I think so. I couldn’t imagine a life where I couldn’t fly, and I wouldn’t trade it away for safety… but I’ve never been really seriously hurt, so…” Zariah shrugged. “But any swaggering rider who tells you it’s not scary is lying to try to get those new pants off you,” she warned.

“Ha! He’d have to do better than that to get these pants off. I want to see some effort. I want a whole song and dance. Gifts don’t hurt, either. Though… I imagine the guys are less desperate here at the Weyr? Lots of willing girls to choose from,” Zaphare mused.

Zariah laughed, “Maybe? I’m weyrborn and bred, so we’ll have to touch base in a few months and you let me know what you thought of the differences. Maybe you’ll find the weyrboys more charming, though, since there’s so much competition.”

“They seem to be better-looking, at least,” Zaphare said. “I can’t really put my finger on why, though. Maybe I’m just sick of looking at the same old faces back home, and anybody else would look good to me right now. Or maybe it’s just because they’re actually really truly _available_ to me now. Had to be sneaky back home, and I’m so over that. I’ve been looking. Can’t wait to touch.” She laughed. “My mother would have had a heart attack on the spot if she’d heard me say that. Is it true that parents are less uptight here?”

“Well, my children are a little young, my daughter’s thirteen but I like to think I’m not uptight,” Zariah said dryly. “Where were you from?” The apparent holder girl unleashed was amusing, at least.

“Out in Amber Hills,” Zaphare answered vaguely, gesturing off in a direction that may or may not have actually been the Hold. “We’ve a beasthold. It’s nice enough, if you like herdbeasts and _rules_. Is your daughter a Candidate? Maybe I’ll meet her.”

“Amber Hills is more that way,” Zariah pointed in a slightly different direction helpfully, “don’t worry, you’ll get your bearings, especially when you’ve seen the Weyr from above a few more times. Yeah, Raleri is a candidate. About this tall,” the greenrider gestured, “also prone to slopping up her hair.”

“I’ll have to keep an eye out for her. Doesn’t hurt to have more friends in a new place, I guess, even if they’re a little younger.” Zephare crossed her arms, cocking her head thoughtfully. “Hrm, thanks for being so… nice. Not that anybody here has been mean or anything, I just didn’t really expect anybody to care much beyond basic courtesy.”

“Just start out by telling them all their dragon is pretty,” which was not what the candidate had said, but close enough. “Most of the weyrfolk are friendly. Relari can give you some tips on the friendlier faces, I’m sure, if you do make friends. I’ll make sure not to suggest it, I wouldn’t want my daughter to think you came parent recommended.”

Zaphare smirked. “Ha, yeah, you _get_ it. My parents approving of something would have been the quickest way to send me in the other direction. And I’ll take your advice on the pretty dragon thing. I’ve noticed you all _do_ seem to have a thing for that. Thanks, Zariah. And Relsath,” she added.

“You’re welcome. Come find me if you need anything.Rel is usually up on our ledge over there, the one with the blue curtains, and she’s got pretty good hearing if you can’t find a weyrling to give you a lift.” Her weyr was technically reachable from the interior hallways, but “the blue curtains” was a lot easier to describe than the winding interior path. She waved a cheery goodbye.

Last updated on the May 24th 2024

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