Midnight Madness

Writers: Noli
Date Posted: 9th June 2025

Characters: Aynia
Description: Aynia seeks solace in the silence of the night
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentor Approved by Heather

Aynia

The deep velvety blackness of the sky was unmarred by clouds,
interrupted only by the tiny bright pinpoints of light from a million
stars winking at the sleeping world below them. Without the light of
the moons, it was impossible to see any features of the landscape
below. Other senses, however, were not inhibited. The smell of salt,
sharp and clean, was prevalent in the slight breeze. A faint, steady
roar, occasionally punctuated by a louder crash as water met rock in
age-old struggle, confirmed the location. The sea stretched out below,
vast and deep and immeasurable in its immensity. There were islands
below as well-- hundreds of them, in fact-- but they were
inconsequential in comparison to the waters in which they were
embedded. Like the stars above, they would be seen only as
pinpoints... were they able to be seen at all.

In the place between these two eternities, the dragon and her rider
flew, the steady beating of great green wings barely distinguishable
over the rush of the ocean far below. Their pace was leisurely; had
some restless insomniac with excellent night vision on one of the
islands been watching, the pair would likely have appeared to be
hanging motionless in the distance. But there were no watchers. It was
far enough from any Weyrs or Holds to ensure that not even a bored,
drowsy watchdragon could bear witness to this midnight flight. The
rider had ensured that.

Closing her eyes, Aynia pressed herself closer against Nalath's great
neck. She was cold, in more ways than one, and the dual warmth of her
dragon's body and mind was a comfort to which she desperately clung.

_She's going to rise soon._ The thought brought on familiar anxiety,
and Aynia hated herself for it. She was a logical person. She had
spent much of her life learning, planning, calculating the most
effective moves to reach her goals. For her now to be struggling with
something as inevitable and natural as her dragon's rising was
ludicrous. A year ago, Aynia would _never_ have been susceptible to
such a foolish waste of emotional energy. But that was _before_... and
this was _now_. Now, she felt a surge of panic when she noticed the
green's proddiness. Now, she had to repeat little mantras to herself
to keep herself focused on drills because her mind was constantly
trying to drown itself in memories of flight cots and dragonlust. Now,
she was unable to sleep and had to rouse her dragon on the day before
Threadfall for a midnight flight over the Windswept Islands just to
keep her sanity.

}: I am here for you. I will not let you lose yourself. You are mine,
and I will not let you go.{ Nalath's voice in her head helped. With
arms already wrapped around her love's neck, she squeezed tightly in
silent gratitude. Aynia wondered if she would ever be able to let go.

Last updated on the June 10th 2025

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Midnight Madness