A New Path

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 14th May 2025

Characters: Tirraze, Oriene
Description: Oriene tells Tirraze her plans
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 28 of Turn 12

Oriene

Notes:
~*~

Oriene realized that there were a few events that had led to this decision. As she cataloged each of them in her mind, taking the steps up to Tirraze's weyr, she felt more and more like she had taken a wrong turn somewhere and just couldn't figure out where.

Outwardly, she was still sunny Oriene. Inwardly, she was troubled. And not Impressing this round made her even more so. So she was going home. Well, her other home. The Hall. To figure herself out. But first, she had to have a conversation with Tirraze because...

Well, because Tirraze was her best friend but even that friendship had taken a wrong turn somewhere and Oriene couldn't figure out where either.

"Hi Riamorth," she greeted the blue as she made it to their ledge.

Riamorth wiggled with excitement, but it was clear he had been practicing not getting too dangerous now that he was big. He carefully scooted closer and gently touched Oriene with his nose.

Tirraze ran out, then, too, smiling brightly. She was as excited as Riamorth to see Oriene-- it felt like it had been forever since they had the opportunity to spend time together just the two of them, and for her to be the one to come up was a huge reassurance for Tirraze. She had been fairly certain that she had done something to upset Oriene.

"Hey! Come in, come in, how are you?" Riamorth certainly was rubbing off on her.

"Um, o---" Oriene started to answer as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. But then said, "Not really okay, I'll be honest. Can um...can we talk?"

Tirraze's face fell immediately. This was it. Oriene was going to break up with her, or whatever the friend equivalent of that was...

"Of course," she said. "Always, any time. What's on your mind? You want some tea?"

"Sure," Oriene said to the tea. She took a seat while Tirraze got it. Her chest felt heavy, like she was going to cry, but she didn't know why crying in front of Tirraze, who had seen her cry before, now bothered her.

She really did look distraught. Maybe it was not about Tirraze after all. Maybe something else had happened?

"Did something happen? Is everyone all right?" Tirraze set the tea down and scooted her chair close to put her arm around Oriene.

"I mean, I didn't Impress," Oriene answered, holding back some watery bubble of a sob. "That's what didn't happen. And I...I...I feel like everyone is moving on without me. And I'm....I'm just waiting. And it's all weird and I don't like it and I just...want things to be normal and they aren't anymore. Not between us, not with me. Not...not anywhere."

"You still have time," said Tirraze. How strange it always was to talk about being upset with not Impressing. She had always assumed she never would, but then she did. And so many others believed they would and then never did. "And I haven't gone anywhere. I'm right here. I know we don't live as close as we used to, but you're always welcome to stay the night. It can be just like when I was still in the lower caverns, except now we can go flying whenever we want."

But it wasn't the same. Even the novelty of being able to go wherever they wanted to wasn't enough to balance the fact that Tirraze had a dragon and even though Oriene loved Riamorth for all of his goofiness, she still felt like there was gulf between them somehow. "I know I still have time," she said, focusing on that rather than her other feelings, "but it just...feels like everyone is on some better journey, some big adventure. And I'm not. Even Byllaver, and the new kid Juvelyas, they both Impressed! So why not me? I don't _want_ to be left behind anymore."

"But... I'm right here. We're together. Now that training is done, we don't have to leave you behind anymore," said Tirraze. Except, of course, when they were fighting Thread. But there was no real need to bring that up... "You can come with us anywhere we go."

"I know, I appreciate the offer, but don't you see, Tirraze? Riamorth is _your_ dragon, not mine. I don't have one. I keep..." Oriene inhaled quickly to cut off a sob. "I'm just...I've decided that I'm going to go back to the Hall. Dolphin Hall. Work on my knots for a bit. Clear my head."

The Hall had never felt so far away. But had Tirraze not just been telling Oriene they could go anywhere? But what if she did not want her to go there?

"I can still come see you... right?"

Oriene nodded. "Of course," she answered quietly. She sniffled. "I...might be back for the next Hatching. I don't know. Maybe I'm supposed to be a dolphineer. I guess...I'll figure that out."

Tirraze was visibly relieved. She hugged Oriene.

"The Hall is barely a separate place. Even if that's where you're supposed to be, we're going to be there with you," she said. "And if that's where you end up, I hope your dolphin partner likes me as much as Riamorth likes you. I just want you to be happy again."

The blue made an absolutely silly noise at them to remind them how much he liked Oriene. That earned him a watery laugh.

"Thanks," Oriene whispered into Tirraze's shoulder. It felt good to hug her friend and she really hoped that her time away cleared her head of other things that were bothering her as well. She let out another huff of laughter. "I don't suppose you want to be my ride there?"

"I'd be honored. Any time, any place," said Tirraze.

"Thanks, Tir," Oriene said. Hopefully this time away would work out for her.

Last updated on the May 26th 2025

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