Next time

Writers: Vanessa T Sommerfeld
Date Posted: 7th January 2008

Characters: Nasiria
Description: Nasiria stands at another hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 4

Nasiria had been asleep for a couple of hours after having snuck out again to meet her latest lover. She was sleeping soundly at last and was about to be furious for being shouted awake. When she realized the reason for her abrupt arousal, she flew into action. **I wonder why dragon eggs seem to always hatch in the middle of the night?** Pushing back her blanket, she stepped onto the cold floor and reached for her gown. She slipped it over her head and grabbed her shoes. Running her fingers through her hair, she hurried to line up with the rest of the Candidates. Sonesra joined the line at the same time and flashed a nervous smile. Nasiria put her shoes on as she waited for the others. Calirin arrived looking sleepy and rumpled and took her place next to Nasiria.

"This is it," squeeled Calirin. "Today is the day," added Sonesra.

**Maybe today is the day,** Nasiria thought as they made their way onto the warm sands of the hatching ground. She would Impress. She was certain of that. Her only question was when. After the first few times she'd left the sands alone, she almost began to question her own confidence. But that was ridiculous. Both of her parents were riders. Their parents were riders and their parents' parents were riders. No, she would get her dragon. It was just a matter of time. The only question in Nasiria's mind was, what color?
She really couldn't see herself with any color except gold. Of course, her female relatives were all greenriders, but Nasiria was a queen at heart.
She was a leader. She was special. Yes, she was a goldrider, no question.
She knew there was no gold on the sands today, and she was almost torn between her desire to Impress and her desire for gold. **It doesn't matter,** she told herself. **A green dragon would be marvelous. And it would be the most perfect green of all, she was sure, if it picked her.**
But still, the idea of Impressing gold was a lingering dream she couldn't shake.

As they stood in line on the sand, the first egg to hatch produced a brown.
Nasiria watched as the beast make its way along the line of boys and then chose that grouchy boy who smelled. Why would a brown dragon choose him?
She shook her head and wondered at the unpredictable tastes of dragons.

The first green pushed her way out of her shell and looked around. Nasiria stood a little straighter, but the hatchling moved toward Trealeina and Impression was made, Nasiria's chance gone. There was little time to think about missed chances, though as another green was headed for them. She seemed to know exactly who she wanted, however, and passed her by as well.
Finally, young dragon stood before Nasiria and seemed to be deciding between her and Calirin. Nasiria's heart quickened. Hope blossomed inside her. She smiled and stood tall. The dragon would surely choose her over Calirin! But a tiny voice inside her mind said, **Only a green.** Just then, the young dragon turned and made Impression with a boy standing nearby. **Oh, no! Don't go. I didn't mean it!** Nasiria felt guilty for her thoughts and wondered if that was what made the dragon choose another.
Tears threatened, but she knew there were others to Impress, so she pushed the negative feelings out of her mind. Nasiria watched as Madelon Impressed brown but she did not see who the next brown chose as there was another green emerging. Nasiria thought proximity might help, so she took a small step forward to be nearer the dragon than any of the other girls. But it wasn't long before the hatchling had chosen someone else. She watched as a blue chose Badaral and a brown chose that dolt from the trader caravans.
Just then another bronze was hatched and moved toward Birgundi. Nasiria held her breath. She hoped he would Impress it. If anyone had the cunning and wit to be a bronzerider, it was Birigundi. But the little bronze made his way past the older candidate to a child barely old enough to stand.
Nasiria felt pity and a bit of indignation for Birigundi. It wasn't fair.
For Birigudi or for her. They both deserved dragons if anyone did. The last egg to hatch was a blue, but Nasiria knew somehow it would not choose Birigundi. His only hope was in a brown that had hatched earlier, but had not chosen yet. Nasiria couldn't help but steel a look to into the stands to see her mother's face. She fumed at the pity she saw there. Suddenly, the humming stopped and Nasiria's attention came abruptly back to the Hatching Grounds. A few boys were calling to the brown that had still not chosen a mate. Nasiria was sure this was Birigundi's chance. But T'mahl called out to them to be excused. The girls began to file toward the exits, but Nasiria hesitated. What were they doing? Why wouldn't they let someone try to Impress it? The poor thing was screeching in fear and confusion at having not found its lifemate. They should let the boys stand until someone could Impress it. But T'mahl excused them again, more forcefully this time.
He was pointing toward the exits and moving the candidates away from the dragonet. Nasiria was furious. How could they leave a dragon on the sands without Impressing. There were plenty of candidates left. He surely could find a lifemate among them. Why would they just let him cry like that? That was Birigundi's brown, and T'mahl had ruined it. Oh, how she hated that man!

As she made her way toward the exit, she looked around to find her friends and only Calirin remained. "Where's Sonesra?" she asked as Calirin hurried toward her.

"Oh, you didn't see? She Impressed, Nasiria! She Impressed!" Calirin had the impossible mixture of excitement for her friend and disappointment for herself on her face. Nasiria's breath caught. Only the other Candidates hurrying them to get off the Sands kept her from stopping in her tracks. How could that be? How could Sonesra Impress and not her? It just didn't make sense. Sonesra hardly spoke. She was just so.boring. How could a dragon find her interesting at all? She quickly reminded herself that there was no gold here today, so she was actually glad to have another chance. Maybe next time there would be a queen to Impress. Next time. When her perfect dragon hatches. Yes, she would show them all when she Impressed gold. Next time.

She took a deep breath and made her way, alone once again, off the sands of the Hatching Grounds.

Last updated on the January 12th 2008

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