Making Your Way in the World (1/2)

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 23rd November 2024

Characters: A'ris, Meris, Imeryali, Drisveraen, Ameryalise
Description: A'ris has surprise visitors at the Hatching Feast
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 12

A'ris

A'ris wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the Dining Cavern for
the Hatching Feast. He'd made a detour to the bathing pool after
depositing Kyllavath in his box to sleep now that his belly was sated
with food. After the fiasco in the feeding rooms, a bath and a change
of clothing had been more than necessary.

The new brown Weyrling felt underdressed compared to the finery
everyone else was showcasing. Women in new dresses, men in their
Gather best. It felt strange being there without Kyllavath. They had
only bonded a scant hour ago, but already A'ris felt weird being
parted from his new lifemate.

But A'ris also didn't want to miss out on _any_ part of being a
dragonrider. He'd never dreamed that all of this could happen for
_him_ of all people. Now that it had, he wanted to experience every
part of being a dragonrider and savor it.

"Congratulations!"

"Great job, pal!"

"That was a beautiful brown you Impressed!"

He accepted the kind words and slaps on the backs with a smile and a
shy duck of his head. He noticed that some of the other newly
Impressed Weyrlings were being visited by their family members. The
thought of his family made his throat feel dry. He'd run away from
them, and when the Weyrlingstaff had offered to bring his parents here
to see him Stand, he'd turned down the offer.

It wasn't that he didn't want to see them. In fact, he missed his
family very much. However, he'd worried that if he hadn't Impressed,
his father and mother might have had enough sway over him to convince
him to return to the farm. Returning to the life of suffocation he'd
led there was simply not something that A'ris could let happen.

"Arie!" He heard his old nickname and froze.

"_Meris_?" He turned to see his youngest sister. She was standing
there with her long black hair and glowing bronze skin. He recognized
the burgundy dress she wore as the best one she owned. She only owned
three, as it were.

Behind Meris, Imeryali, and his parents stood.

Meris and Imeryali swarmed him immediately with hugs.

"You _did_ it! You're actually a _dragonrider_!" Imeryali whispered in
wonderment.

Pride swelled in A'ris. He'd never done anything to make his sisters
proud before. He was just the brother who couldn't read, or write, who
chopped all the wood, helped mend fences, and made sure the bovines
were fed everyday.

Now he was A'ris, the rider of brown Kyllavath.

He returned his sisters hugs, but his eyes were on his parents. His
mother was in her best homespun dress as well, looking quite out of
place among the finery of the other Weyr occupants. His father was in
his faded and worn work clothes, with boots that were still covered in
the mud from their farm.

"Ma. Pa," he greeted them both hesitantly.

"Oh, Aedris," his mother exhaled, tears in her eyes as she came over
and cupped his face in her hands. "Look at you. A man of the Weyr,
now. I was so worried when you left. Worried that I would never see
you again." She slapped his arm. "Shame on you for doing that to your
poor mother."

A'ris had the decency to look chagrined. "I'm sorry, Ma. It was
just... It was something I had to do."

"Well, from now on, I'd like to hear from you some, hm? Maybe once
that beautiful dragon of yours learns to fly you can visit?"

"Yes, ma'am," A'ris said with a smile.

Next, it was his father's turn.

Drisveraen's hands were shoved in his pockets, and his look was inscrutable.

"Pa?" A'ris questioned hesitantly.

"Sure have missed your help on the farm," his father said gruffly.
"But, I reckon' I sure am proud to have a Dragonrider for a son."

A'ris found himself in a rough hug, but it was the best hug he'd ever
received. "Thank you, Pa. I'm sorry for how I left, I just... I had to
go."

There was moisture in Drisveraen's eyes as he backed up and waved off
A'ris's apology. "Naw, don't apologize. Every man's gotta leave some
time and make his way in the world. And that's what you did. You made
your way."

Last updated on the December 10th 2024

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Making Your Way in the World (1/2)