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

Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall

Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 3rd January 2008

Characters: M'delon
Description: Madelon stands for the first time and is chosen by Valinth
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 4

It had been another restless night for Madelon. Every time he closed his eyes he saw nothing but eggs rocking, hatching, and leaving nothing but shells for him to mourn over. He looked up to the ceiling, his eyes following the imperfections, trying to stay awake. When he felt sleep trying to come again, he saw nothing but the eggs. Shards! He sat up in bed, and ran his fingers through his hair. Was it always going to be like this?

"Everyone up," the door swung open nearly slamming into the wall while lights flickered on "and into your whites _now_!"

The announcement startled Enrad, Raset, and Nicalos awake. Even Madelon jolted from the Weyrlingmaster, but before he could ask anything T'mahl was moving to the next room. Then the humming started.

"The eggs!" Nicalos announced as he leaped out of bed. "The eggs! The eggs are hatching!"

The boys quickly hurried as the slipped their white gowns on over their heads. It was the first time that Madelon and put on the robe, and he found it awkward, but it did not matter. The eggs were hatching!

The hall had filled with the candidates as they all got in line for the hatching grounds. There were so many of them, he reminded himself, which reminded him bitterly of his odds. Would he be worthy enough to Impress? He was going to find out very shortly, making his stomach to churn nervously. He looked around nervously, and spotted several of the other candidates just as nervous as he was, quaking in their shoes...

His shoes! He forgot his shoes! But it was too late and they were making their way to the burning sands. Would everything go wrong today?

It seemed like he was dancing onto the sands. Shards the sands burned, he thought in agony. It was like he was walking across a hot stove.
But the sensation quickly disappeared when he saw an egg he walked pass rock. All that mattered now were the eggs. He did not even bother to look into the stands to see if his family was watching. He already knew they were. All that mattered were the eggs. A blue? A bronze? A brown?
He had to know what would take him, if any of the dragons would take him at all.

Then he heard it. The snapping of an egg hatching open echoed loud and clear through the candidates' ears. A small brown fell from his shell into the sands before he stood on his feet and began to make his way to a candidate with haste. He knew who he wanted, and when Madelon saw the beast make his way to Larazew he felt the old sensation of envy. But he was happy for L'rew, and could only hope he was just as lucky to Impress himself.

He dared to glance at Nicalos, Raset, and Enrad. They looked just as nervous as he did, but their attention seemed to shift as a green dragon approached them.

"Baseneth?" Nicalos asked with confusion, but a look of content and love quickly over came his feelings. "She says her name is Baseneth!"
He crumbled to the ground and embraced his new companion with tears streaming down his cheeks.

The boys cheered quickly for Nicalos, and laughed happily for their friend. Then they turned their attention back to the sands.

Good for Nicalos, but would he be as fortunate?

A blue stumbled passed their group. He glanced at Madelon, his eyes still whirling distressed and he turned around and walked away. The rejection stung at Madelon. Would a dragon choose him?

Another dragon walked passed them. It was a young bronze that glanced at Raset and then Enrad before it turned around and creeled for someone else. Raset seemed disappointed along with Enrad.

Another green walked passed them, but was already making her way to another group, not even glancing at the boys. It was heading strait for Nasiria? No the other girl!

Then he heard it. His attention diverted from the newly Impressed to a brown that made his way quickly to their circle. Madelon felt his heart float to his throat. He was such a handsome brown, still glistening from the oils left from his shell. His hide was a smooth medium brown with dark browns of freshly churned soil lacing through his wings. His large eyes, to big for his head, whirled from yellow to soft greens and blues. And he was so big for his hue!

"Valinth?" Madelon knew the name as if he knew his own.

}:Yes:{ the brown replied, his words echoing with a tone so similar to his own. }:My name is Valinth:{ Madelon felt his knees buckle from under him, completely overwhelmed from the sensation of Impression. Valinth! His name was Valinth! Tears streamed down his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around his new companion's neck.

The brown dragon crooned to the projections of acceptance and love from his new rider before he helped him back to his feet. Not one without the other, but together, the two carried each other off the sands.

Last updated on the January 4th 2008