If Only, One More Night of Sleep

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 14th December 2007

Characters: M'delon
Description: With the upon coming hatching approaching, the stress of the hatching is starting to keep Madelon up at night.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 12 of Turn 4

The springs of the bed seemed to dig deep into Madelon's flesh, no matter which position he shifted to. The pillow did not give him enough support in his neck, so his muscles began to cramp in his shoulders. Sleeping on his belly was not effective, nor was sleeping on his back. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, sleep mocked him, evading his eyes, and laughed. What time was it? he wondered. He peered around the dark room, his eyes burning, begging to close. Three'o'clock. Madelon felt the groan of frustration escape his lips.

Why could he not sleep? He sat up in bed and slumped, while his mouth frowned in result from his miserable night. He never had problems before, until the recent few days, especially after that meeting with Weyrwoman Kapera. There were so many candidates, he recalled. How was he supposed to impress with only forty-two eggs and all of them standing? As soon as that question floated into his thoughts Madelon realized it was not the comfort of the bed keeping him awake, it was the stress of the hatching.

"Can't sleep?" Enrad whispered to him, trying to keep his voice low so he would not wake the others.

"Nope," Madelon admitted. Was Enrad having sleeping troubles too? "How 'bout you?"

Madelon could see the silhouette of Enrad shift in under his sheets. "No. Every time I close my eyes I see those eggs hatching," Enrad replied with some frustration. "I keep on thinking I'll be left standing like Birigundi, or Chemalis."

"I was think about that back at the meeting a few days ago."

"Yeah." Enrad paused for a moment as he buried himself further under the sheets. "Do you think you'll impress?"

"I don't know." That thought of uncertainty was what upset Madelon the most.

"I'll impress," a third voice cut into the conversation. It was Nicalos. "A bronze too. You'll see."

Enrad and Madelon let out a scoffing laugh. "I wish I could share your confidence," Madelon muttered. Madelon did not dare raise his hopes up about impressing a bronze. He did not even know if he would impress.

"Watch him impress a green," Raset added half asleep.

Enrad and Madelon laughed knowing the truth behind Raset's comment. If any of them impressed a green it _would_ be Nicalos.

Nicalos muttered an insult back, but it was muffled as he shifted in his bed.

"You're awake too?" Madelon asked Raset.

"No, I was sleeping, but you guys woke me up." He was more irritated now.

"Yeah, same here," Nicalos spoke bitterly. "So how 'bout we get some shut eye and call it a night."

"Yeah," they all agreed, though Madelon wanted to stay up.

They all curled back under their warm sheets, followed quickly by the snores from Nicalos and Raset as they fell back to sleep. Would he impress? the question floated back into his thoughts again. "Maybe," Madelon whispered an answer of hope to himself, and found himself finally drift off.

Last updated on the December 16th 2007

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If Only, One More Night of Sleep