On The Importance Of Names

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 18th June 2024

Characters: O'dyn
Description: A Hatching!
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 11

Today! It was happening today! Today was the day that the eggs were Hatching, they said. Everyone said. The Candidate Barrack was in a rush! Everyone was in motion. There was so much activity. He hadn't even been at the Weyr for two sevendays and already a Hatching! How often did Hatchings happen? He'd forgotten to ask! It didn't seem like often but everyone was making a huge fuss about and there was a lot going on and--

"Okay, breathe, Cari, breathe," he told himself, using the nickname that his sister had given him. He hated it when she used it because she made it sound like she was making fun of him but when he used it on himself, he didn't mind. Breathing only helped a little. Ocaridyn just couldn't...couldn't settle down! He didn't want to miss a thing!

It was _ages_ before the Weyrlingmaster brought them out onto the hot, hot sands. And the _noise_! There were dragons humming _everywhere_! Ocaridyn almost covered his ears, they were all so loud, but he didn't. Did they hum the entire time? Didn't they have to breathe too? Oh no, it was getting louder. Why was it getting louder?

One egg toppled over. Cracked. A green! And was that, was that a bronze poking his head out? It was hard to tell. Ocaridyn was too short to see over the shoulders of the Candidate who was blocking his view.

He heard a shout. Distressed cries. Oh, no, what was happening? Was that...did someone get hurt? Oh no! That wasn't supposed to happen! "Oh, this is bad. Bad, bad," he muttered to himself, wringing his hands. His wide eyes scanned every dragon hatching, making sure that he _wasn't_ in anyone's way. Green, green, green -- deep green, sea green, jade green -- so many shades of green! Could a whole clutch be green? Oh, no, that wasn't right, there was that first bronze, and there was dark blue hatchling, and oh, there was a brown. Browns were nice. But that one went to to...oh shard it, what was that Candidate's name? Ocaridyn couldn't remember.

A blue of sky blue caught Ocaridyn's eye and then... }: Is there food here? :{

Food? Was there food? "I don't...I don't know. You're...you're talking me? You're talking to me! Are you my dragon?" Something like hope fluttered within Ocaridyn. No, it was more than hope. It was...it was... oh shard it, he didn't know the word for it! But it was wonderful and fuzzy and warm sunlight and it made him very happy! Was that...was that what Impression felt like?

}: Of course, I'm your dragon! I'm Genireth! There _has_ to be food somewhere, right? I'm starving, :{ the sky blue dragon said.

"Genireth," Ocaridyn repeated. And again. And again. A new word, a new name, a new taste on his tongue. His dragon! His dragon's name was Genireth!

The hatchling cocked his head to the side. Creeled. }: You keep saying my name but you aren't saying where the food is. :{

"Oh! Food! Yes, hatchlings are very hungry when they Hatch and need to eat and the Weyrlingmasters keep food outside of the--" He looked around. Where was the exit? "Oh, this way! Food's this way!" Genireth shuffled after him. "Genireth," the youngster said again, amazed.

}: Yes, my name is Genireth. You've got that down. But I'm still hungry and--oof! :{ Ocaridyn had stopped abruptly, causing Genireth to run into him. The hatchling made a confused sound.

"If your name is Genireth, then...that means I get to change my name," Ocaridyn said. "Because I'm a dragonrider now! I get a new name!"

}: A new one? But you already have one? :{

"Yes, but whenever a Candidate Impresses, they get a new name. It's a tradition going back centuries, to when the--"

Genireth butted his rider's legs. }: It's a tradition you can tell me about over _food_, :{ he insisted. They started walking again. }: And then we can decide your name. What a silly tradition. You should already know your name like I do. It's _your_ name. :{

"I guess I can't be Ocaridyn anymore," the boy said. "Oh, here's food, Gen."

}: Genireth. :{ The dragon opened his maw. }: _You_ may be confused about your name but I'm not. I'm Genireth. :{

"So then what should I call myself?" he asked. "O'cryn? O'ridyn? I could even take my nickname and go C'dyn--oh that sounds bad, I don't like that one. What about O'dyn?"

Genireth chewed and looked up at his rider. }: I like that one. I won't forget that one. :{

"I'm your rider now. I would hope that you wouldn't forget my name," O'dyn said with a tinge of indignance. Could a dragon do that? He knew that dragon memories were bad but...were they that bad?

}: I don't know. You seemed to forget just a moment ago that mine was Genireth by calling me Gen. Is this name problem thing going to be a daily issue? We may need to work something out. :{ Genireth paused in his feeding to stretch his head up and press his cheek against his rider's. }: I still love you though. Just don't forget my name is Genireth, okay? And food. More food. :{

Last updated on the June 23rd 2024

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On The Importance Of Names