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Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 10th June 2025

Characters: Oriene, Thayde
Description: Oriene talks with Thayde about coming back to Dolphin Hall
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Tolna

Oriene

Thayde

She was back at Dolphin Hall and it felt both welcoming and weird at
the same time.

It was familiar in that not a lot had changed. People had grown a
little older but not much. She mostly noticed it in the kids, who were
now taller. Everyone seemed happy to see her again, returning as a
permanent resident, not just a visitor. That all felt welcoming. But
it wasn’t the Weyr, it wasn’t where she had slept for the last few
Turns, and people had moved on without her so she didn’t know who her
friends were anymore. That was the weird.

Oriene knocked on the Hallmaster’s door with the same staccato rhythm
but inwardly, she felt like a stranger in what had been her own home.

“Come in,” Thayde called, his eyes lighting with recognition as she
entered. “Oriene, welcome back.”

“Hi Hallmaster!” she greeted sunnily as she took a seat. “How’s Ada doing?”

“She is lovely. Just calved a new baby, actually.” It was always
special to see his dolphin partner when she brought a new baby up to
the Hall to show them off.

Oriene cooed and clapped her hands. “A baby! What did she name it?”

“Mikala. You should hear them pronouncing the ‘L’, it’s nothing but
trills.” Thayde sounded like a proud papa.

“That’s an adorable name. I can’t wait to meet her.” She clasped her
hands in front of her and resisted the urge to shift her feet
nervously. “So, I bet you can guess why I’m here,” she said.

The Hallmaster gave Oriene a sympathetic smile. “I’m assuming things
didn’t go so well for you at the last Hatching.”

Oriene shook her head. Her shoulders slumped. “I know it’s…not me.
Mostly. It’s up to the dragons. But…it’s really hard to watch people
who are Standing for the first time Impress when you keep getting
looked over.”

“I imagine that _is_ hard,” Thayde conceded. “You’re still young
enough to Stand more. Are you sure you’re ready to move back into your
dolphincraft studies?”

She wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure about anything. But she didn’t want
to watch another weyrling class go through their training without her.
She’d watch Tirraze and Saedyna do it. Now Ryvankal and Byllaver. Or
whatever they were called now. “I figure…in between clutches. At least
I can be working towards _something_. Just in case.”

The Hallmaster’s look was one of understanding. His own wife had gone
through the same. “I think it’s good to keep busy in the ‘just in
case’ times of life. We have a new cohort of apprentices starting if
you want to jump in.”

Oriene’s eyes immediately lit up. “That sounds perfect! Am I…am I the
oldest?” She giggled. “I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal but when
you are surrounded by a bunch of fourteen Turn olds…”

“You are not the oldest,” Thayde assured her. “Many are your age, a
couple might be older. We’re trying to group the younger apprentices
and the older apprentices separately.”

“Whew. That’s a relief. At least the Hall isn’t as big as the Weyr.
Those poor babies they pick up from the Holds on Search are just
_overwhelmed_ when they get to the Weyr. I can’t tell you how many
hands I had to hold, getting them settled. Like little lost canines!”

Thayde saw _most_ apprentices as little lost canines. “We’ve gotten a
new Master of Apprentices since you’ve away. Master Tolna. You’ll want
to check in with her and then she will get you settled in the
dormitory.”

“Oh, did she bring a new partner as well? I bet the pod is excited about that!”

“She did, a male, his name is Zan. I’m sure you’ll be meeting him
soon. The pod is always thrilled, of course, when a dolphin comes from
another pod. It gives them a chance to spread some gossip.”

She giggled. “They’re as bad as dragons sometimes. They really are.
Well, I look forward to meeting him soon. When do you want me to
start?”

“How does tomorrow sound?”

Last updated on the June 13th 2025

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