Surprises and Disappointments
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 13th May 2025
Characters: R'vkal, J'lyas, Oriene
Description: The trio of Candidates Impress...or don't
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned Palixan, Aicha, Cirina
"What is that _sound_?" Juvelyas demanded to know from his bunk. He had been trying to do some last minute re-stitching of his Candidate robe -- his tailoring craft just wouldn't let him go out there without getting the hem just right -- but now there was this reverberating sound that just would not let him concentrate.
"The Hatching!" one of the other Candidates cried gleefully. The Barracks became alive with activity. Juvelyas scowled but inwardly he was nervous. This was why he was here, right? Well, one of the reasons. He exhaled forcefully. Hem or not, he was going out there it seemed.
Ryvankal was shrugging into his robe easily enough. He gave it a tug, fingering the fabric after. Was this the time? Maybe. Hopefully? The more he hung around the Weyr, the more doors open up for him, making him realize that even if he didn't Impress, he didn't necessarily have to go back to his home Hold. He might not be totally suited for Weyrlife but at least those opportunities were there.
Oriene winked at him as the Candidates gathered to file in. Always sunny, her. Nothing ever getting her down. He saw her shoot some winks and smiles to others, encouraging them. "Ready?" he asked of the scrawny rude kid that had given her grief for being so upbeat.
Juvelyas blinked owlishly at the taller lout of a Candidate. "Yeah. Let's get this show on the road," he growled, covering his nerves with defensiveness. The Sands were hot and he wondered how long they'd be out there. Eggs hatched quick, right? Hopefully.
Even though Oriene wore a face of optimism, inwardly, she wondered if this was going to end in another disappointment. And on the heels of that thought came the question of how many of those disappointments she was willing to endure. No, she shouldn't get her hopes already down. It would work out. Somehow.
She had front row seats to see Byllaver Impress his bronze. Just like he had hoped. She cheered for him. And for Aicha.
Juvelyas didn't hear her cheering for him when a beautiful oceanic blue walked over to him and said, }: I'm Braxialth, :{ but she did. The heat of the Sands now centered in the middle of his chest. All of the defensiveness that made him stiff washed away as he knelt to touch the warm, damp hide.
"Braxialth?" he repeated. The hatchling nodded. Nodded! It heard him! Answered him!
}: That's because I'm yours, J'lyas. I'll always hear you and answer you. :{
Juve--no, J'lyas grunted. "Huh. How about that? Cool."
Ryvankal saw the rude kid Impress a blue. Watched as a brown dragon stepped around them. A brown dragon would be good for him. Solid size, could be Wingseconds if he wanted to dream that high. Ryvankal shifted his feet, hoping to catch the hatchling's eye.
Something knocked him to his knees. Hard.
}: Sorry, :{ someone said. }: Not used to walking yet. Didn't hurt you, did I? :{
When Ryvankal managed to get his bearings, he was staring into the kaleidoscopic eyes of a burnished bronze dragon. "You...said that?"
The hatchling bobbed his head. }: Took a tumble. Sorry about that. I'm Indrath. :{
Ryv -- R'vkal? R'nkal? He was going to have to make a choice on that -- burst out into incredulous laughter. "Indrath, huh? I like it."
Oriene cheered for Ryvankal as he walked off the Sands with his dragon. Her attention turned in time to see little Palixan Impress a brown. That was adorable! She cheered for him loudly. She craned her neck to see if she could find Cirina in the remaining Candidates but lost her in the commotion.
But as more pairings happened, Oriene had the growing sense that this was going to end in disappointment again. So, when the last hatchling picked their new rider and she wasn't the one, she exhaled slowly, shot a weary smile at one of the other remaining Candidates, and left the Sands to go cry by herself somewhere.
Last updated on the May 26th 2025