Sweet Silence

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 18th November 2024

Characters: A'ris, Ki'ben, C'rin
Description: Aedris impresses.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Ekirim, Zorenh, Zaphare

A'ris

Ki'ben

C'rin

For months since arriving at Dragonsfall Weyr, Aedris had been working
tirelessly on his ability to hear dragons. Or rather, he'd been
working on _not_ hearing all the dragons, at least not all the time
anyway. With so many dragons in the Weyr, the sheer number of voices
and conversations could be maddening if not properly controlled.

He _thought_ he had everything properly controlled. Until the humming
started. The humming of every dragon in the Weyr was accompanied by
the strongest emotions he'd felt since his arrival.

}:Do you need help focusing, Aedris?:{

He was able to recognize this dragon's voice because it sounded
remarkably like K'yne's voice.

**Yes, thank you Arinoth.**

}:You should go to the barracks and put on your Candidate robes. The
Weyrlingmasters will be gathering the rest of the group to take you to
the Hatching Sands.:{ The brown's voice was gentle and reassuring, a
buoy in an otherwise tumultuous sea of emotion.

The Candidate Barracks was a chaotic scene, but that was practically
normal to Aedris by this point. He quickly pulled on the white robe
that had been folded and waiting in his trunk since the day he
arrived.

}:Are you dressed yet? What's taking so long? Get here _now_:{ This
strident voice he heard even around Arinoth, and he recognized the
elegant hiss as belonging to the Weyrwoman's gold, Chioneth.

Even though the Hatching Sands had been hot a few days ago when they'd
been allowed to briefly touch the eggs, they seemed to be scalding
now, even through the thick soles of Aedris' shoes. The other major
difference was the sheer noise in the Hatching Cavern. Things had been
eerily quiet on the day they'd touched the eggs - well, silent except
for Chioneth's growls - but now with dragons and spectators filling
the cavern, the din made hearing anything nearly impossible.

}:Alright, Dasveth, I'll take you up on your bet. The first egg
hatched will absolutely be a bronze.:{

}:And if it's a brown, like I _know_ it will be, you'll owe me three
fresh, plump herdbeasts. Not the ones here in the feeding pens,
either.:{ Dasveth returned smugly.

}:Oh, I'll remember that when you're trying to poach some fresh ones
for me off a nearby cothold.:{ Setoth, the young bronze, and the brown
Dasveth, were perched side-by-side higher up in the cavern.

A'ris smiled at the conversation that came to him faintly around
Arinoth's presence in his mind. He wondered which dragon would win the
bet.

}:Are you steady now? If so, I'll withdraw a bit so you can listen for
your lifemate.:{ It was Arinoth, speaking as if he were right in
Aedris' ear.

**Yes, I think I've got it now. Thank you.** Aedris exhaled a slow,
long breath as the humming suddenly quieted and a hush fell across the
sands.

The bronze that the first egg emitted - }:In your face, Dasveth!:{ -
was beautiful, Aedris thought, but he could hear immediately that the
bronze was not headed to him but to Zorenh.

**Of course a bronzerider's son would impress a bronze.** Aedris's
heart sank a little. What would a farmer's son impress? **_Will_ a
farmer's son impress?** he wondered.

When Zaphare's blue Zollarth ran over Ekirim, Aedris winced and
recoiled so as not to get in the blue's way. He certainly didn't want
to end up with a gash like the other boy had.

}:Excuse me. Oh, pardon me. If you'll just _slide_ out of the way
there. Oh? You're screaming. I'm sorry, really I-I didn't mean to step
on your hair. Wow, you have a lot of hair. Is that common? You _fell_
right in front of me. I tried to step over you. Honestly.:{

Aedris' head swiveled at the firmly gentle voice. He didn't recognize
it as one of the adult dragons he'd heard before, so he knew he had to
be overhearing one of the dragonets. He caught sight of an umber brown
dragon, who was trying to squeeze between two Candidates, but ended up
knocking them both to the ground in his attempt.

}:Oh, sorry, my wings are longer than I realized. I guess I should..
put them.. on my.. back..:{ he grunted a little as he walked and tried
to fold his wings against his spine at the same time.

Aedris couldn't help but laugh at the clumsy brown.

}:Hey, who are you laughing at? You're the one in a white dress.:{ The
brown huffed, stopping in front of Aedris and exhaling so hard that
the white Candidate robes flattened against his legs.

**Oh! I'm sorry. I wasn't laughing at _you_, just... at the wake of
destruction you left behind you.**

The brown craned his head around on his long neck to see the
Candidates still lying on the ground from where he'd knocked them
over.

}:I said excuse me,:{ he said with the equivalent of a mental shrug.
}:Now, can we go get something to eat?:{

**We?** Aedris locked eyes with the brown dragon for the first time
and as he did his stomach flipped and a euphoric wave washed over him
while Kyllavath's presence settled into his brain. Gone was Arinoth
from before, a hush fell across his mind, leaving all of the other
dragon conversation a very dull wave in the furthest corner of his
mind.

}:There. That's better. Trust me. You'll only have the mental capacity
to listen to me for a while. Come, A'ris. Let's get food.:{ Kyllavath
began leading the way, except his tail caught the back of Aedris' legs
and nearly swept them from under his new rider.

**Let me help,** Aedris thought with laughter as he hooked an arm
around his dragon's neck. _His_ dragon. A rare smile lit Aedris' face,
lighting his dark eyes with a glow of pure happiness.

}:Let's go find a nice quiet corner to eat.:{ Kyllavath was saying as
they made their way down to the feeding room....

Last updated on the December 10th 2024

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Sweet Silence