This Little Family
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: 15th October 2025
Characters: Hesbia, Haseba
Description: Oriveth meets Hesbia's sister
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes:
~*~
“I’ll help you wash him every day,” Haseba eagerly promised. “He’ll be the cleanest dragon in the Weyr! I’ll do all of my homework early so that I can help you.” Even though Hesbia was the one feeding Oriveth, it was clear that Haseba would have gladly taken the chance to feed the hatchling too. Part of Hesbia wanted to let her. But, for some inarticulate reason, feeding her own dragon was just…_amazing_ and she didn’t want to share it with anyone. Not yet.
“I know you will,” she replied. She had to have a goofy grin on her face, she was sure of it, but she just couldn’t stop smiling! This…this was _amazing_! Wait, she had just thought that about feeding him. Was everything going to be amazing?
“Can I touch him? I promise I’ll be gentle.”
“I mean, I guess so? What do you think, Ori?”
Oriveth swiveled his triangular head to look at Haseba first and then at his rider. }: Well, firstly, I’m not certain I’m keen on the nickname Ori. Unless I can call you Hes back. And secondly, she…can touch me but I hope she remembers that I’m _your_ dragon, not hers. Another dragon will have to pick her because I belong to you. :{
It was an astonishingly long sentence for such a young creature, Hesbia thought, even as she said, “He says yes but don’t you get too attached, okay? He’s mine.”
It wouldn’t be until much later that night when she realized that Oriveth had used the same nickname that her father used for her.
“I know, I know. He’s just so cute! And you can hear him in your head? Wow, that’s so cool. And a little weird. But more cool.” Haseba’s hands stroked along Oriveth’s back over and over. Hesbia felt a twinge of…was that guardedness? come from somewhere.
So she tried the thinking in her head thing to him. **Do you not like being touched?**
}: …she is very eager. And loud. And close. :{
“Okay, ease off, Has. He just hatched, give him space,” Hesbia told her sister with a shooing wave. Haseba pouted but did so. Hesbia felt the guardedness dissipate. “Here,” she said, handing a morsel to her sister, trying to make up for being sharp. “See if he’ll take that from you.”
Oriveth blinked twice before delicately taking the bite from Haseba. “He likes me!” Haseba screeched happily as she clapped her hands.
Maybe Oriveth was right. Haseba _was_ loud.
}: She means well, :{ the dragon said sheepishly as he relaxed from flinching at the volume.
Hesbia tried the thinking in her head thing again. **She does. She’s my only family so we’re going to have to work with her, okay? I don’t have anyone else. Except you. And I didn’t expect you.**
Oriveth’s head swiveled her way again. Those faceted eyes, the ones that always looked so weird on other dragons but somehow weren’t weird on him, were a rainbow of love. }: I expected you. :{
It was like being hit with a firestone sack.
“Sis, are you…are you crying?” Haseba asked quietly.
“No!” Hesbia said fiercely even though her throat was choked up in…in…wow, there was a lot of emotion in those three words and how she had never expected to need to hear that and here was all of this love bundled up into one tiny dragon that she hadn’t even really wanted before today.
Oriveth made a soothing crooning sound as he rested a paw on his rider’s knee. }: I’m here. And so is your sister. We’re family now. :{
“I love you,” Hesbia sobbed as she threw her arms around both sister and dragon.
“Okay, now you’re just being weird.”
Last updated on the October 19th 2025