Guarding Midnight

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 22nd October 2025

Characters: Hesbia, Haseba
Description: An expedition into the Dining Hall
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 12

Hesbia

When: m12 t21 t12
Notes:
~*~

“Isn’t he supposed to be flying? He’s a dragon. Don’t they fly?” Haseba was asking as she watched Oriveth plod along placidly as they walked towards the Dining Hall.

“Has, he just hatched like, five days ago. His wings aren’t big enough yet,” Hesbia answered. Oriveth bumped his snout against her hand again as they walked, which brought another smile to her face. It was like having the cutest canine follow her around except he could talk to her and she could _feel_ how much he loved her.

“When can he fly?” Haseba pressed. “I mean, I know he’s not big enough to carry us yet. Even though he’s big. Ish.” Hesbia understood what her sister meant. Freshly out of the shell, Oriveth was already longer than the both of them were tall. Hesbia wondered how big he’d be once he was done growing.

“I don’t know. Whenever the Weyrlingmasters say we can?”

“Why do they get to decide that? Why can’t he?”

Hesbia made an exasperated noise. “I don’t know, Has. This Weyr stuff is complicated and they have all of these rules about our training. There’s a lot that I’m learning really quickly so when I have the answers, I’ll tell you.” Or she’d Impress her own dragon and find out herself. Wouldn’t that be great though, if she did Impress? Then they could go anywhere on their dragons together!

By now they had reached the entrance to the Dining Hall but Oriveth stopped. }: It’s…loud. And very crowded, :{ he remarked. He was right. Hesbia had gotten used to the normal clamor of the Hall at dinner time but to Oriveth, it was overwhelming.

“Why’d he stop?” Haseba asked.

Hesbia held up her hand to quiet her sister while she talked to Oriveth. **It’s like this at meal time. It’s okay.** But Oriveth flattened his wings closer to his sleek body. “Do you…want to wait here while I get a quick bite?” she asked aloud so her sister could follow along.

}: No! :{ Oriveth creeled, taking a step forward to bump his rider’s hand for comfort. His eyes whirled a worried hue. He very obviously did not like the idea of being left behind.

“Guess that’s a ‘no’,” Haseba said quietly.

Hesbia thought about it for a moment. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I can’t make it quieter but we can make space. Has, you’re going to be on his left, and I’m going to be on his right. Like guards! We’ll be his personal guards so no one bumps into him. Will that work, Ori?”

The young dragon thought about this for a moment. As his eyes faded to a more relaxed shade, he answered, }: …yes. :{

“On it!” Haseba said happily once Hesbia gave her the cue. With one girl on each side, they marched into the Dining Hall, forcing everyone else to give them a wide berth. They found a spot along the wall, as quiet as they could make it, and Oriveth sheltered under the table at his rider’s feet. Mostly. His head stuck out so that he could see everything. “I’ll get the food!” Haseba volunteered as she dashed off.

**You good?** Hesbia asked.

There was a contemplative pause. }: I think so. There are a lot of people here. How many people live here? :{

**No clue. But yeah, there’s a lot. Don’t worry. They won’t bother you. And if they do, I’ll punch them.**

Another long pause as he processed the ferocity in her tone. }: I love you. :{

It didn’t quite bring tears to her eyes but it was close. **I love you too.** She could do this. She could do this whole big sister and big dragonrider thing. She’d carve out a little family of them somehow and make it all work.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2025

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Guarding Midnight