A Clean Break

Writers: Vanessa T Sommerfeld
Date Posted: 18th January 2008

Characters: Nasiria
Description: The friends discuss Sonesra's life change at the Hatching Feast
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 4

Nasiria proudly entered the Hatching Feast at U'kaiah's side. She didn't keep him long after they got inside, as she knew he was only being gracious in escorting her. As she left him, she approached Calirin beaming at the envy she saw on the faces around her. "How _do_ you do that?" Calirin asked incredulously.

She only chuckled, as if it were nothing, "Do what?"

"Manage to convince the most handsome bronze wingleader to walk you in here on his arm. What _did_ you say to him?"

Grinning at her triumph, she said, "I'm just good." She shrugged. "And I told him that if he treated me right, I just might let his bronze catch my gold someday." She winked. Calirin knew she was kidding and that the subject was closed. She wasn't about to give away her secrets, not even to her best friend. "Now, have you spotted any potential male company for the evening?"

Calirin was expecting the question, but was nervous nonetheless, never knowing if her choices would gain Nasiria's approval. "Well, there's one over there." She pointed.

"Mmm, no. Raise your standards, Calirin. How about those two?"

Calirin looked in the direction Nasiria indicated, but didn't see the men.
"There's Sonesra!" Calirin almost shouted. She started to walk in her direction, but stopped short when she noticed that Nasiria hadn't moved.
"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Nasiria said nonchalantly. "She's just. . . busy right now."

"So?"

"I'm not going over there while she's surrounded by people congratulating her." Nasiria sighed and tried to look bored.

"OK." Calirin wasn't sure what to do. Nasiria wasn't usually hesitant to approach a group. "I guess we can wait until she's alone."

Nasiria turned away from the sight of Sonesra and headed in the opposite direction. "She's not likely to be alone for a long time, Calirin. Face it.
Sonesra is a weyrling now. She'll have her dragon and her class of weyrling friends and she'll have no time for anything else-even us. Now, let's go find some company."

Calirin followed Nasiria as she always had, but stole one last glance over her shoulder at Sonesra, who still hadn't seen them.

~ * ~

"Hey! Nasiria! Calirin!" Sonesra hurried to catch up with the pair walking away from her. "Wait!" She reached for Calirin's tunic and managed to tug it before it slipped out of her hand. Calirin turned and grabbed Nasiria by the arm. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all night?" she asked, out of breath from her pursuit.

"Oh, we've been here." Nasiria put on a polite smile. "You've just been . .
..busy."

"Not too busy for you two!" She was almost glowing. "Did you see her? Did you see my Sholath?" she asked eagerly.

Calirin glanced at Nasiria. "I saw you Impress her, Sonesra! The look on your face was amazing!"

"It's so wonderful. You can't imagine." Sonesra's eyes were wet.

"No, I guess, we _can't_. Thanks for reminding us." Nasiria's voice dripped with sweet venom.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean."

"Right, I'm sure you didn't. You're just so overwhelmed with love for your new lifemate that you didn't think about the feelings of your friends."

Sonesra was flabbergasted. "I -"

"You. Yes. It'll all be about you now. You and your dragon. Never mind about anyone else who cares about you or needs you. Only you and your dragon matter." Her eyes challenged Sonesra to disagree.

"Nasiria, I'm not your father. I'll always be your fr-."

"Don't you _dare_ make this about my father, Sonesra. The point is, Calirin and I will no longer be your best friends. Your dragon will always come first, and then your weyrling classmates and your studies, and ultimately your fighting wing." She smiled. "Face it. You don't have time for us, so we'll be on our way. Come on, Calirin." She grabbed Calirin's wrist to make sure she obeyed.

After they made it an appropriate distance, Nasiria stopped. They turned in time to see Sonesra join a group of the newly Impressed.

Calirin finally said, "She looks upset. Why did you do that?"

Nasiria snorted. "Better to make a clean break so that she can start fresh with her _new_ friends. Trust me, this is better for everyone. Now, let's go talk to that handsome group over there, shall we?"

Calirin wasn't sure she agreed with Nasiria, but she did want to meet those riders, so she followed close behind.

~ * ~

"Um, we're ready to go," Calirin indicated her male companion.

"Go ahead. This guy is not worth my time." Nasiria told her friend. If she had to listen to one more story about how he had single-handedly saved his entire fighting wing from Threadscore, she was going to be ill.

"OK. Sorry. See you later." Calirin giggled and started to leave.

At that cue, the rider who had been bragging to Nasiria asked, "So, you want to go up to my weyr?"

"Gee, as exciting as that sounds? No." She could tell he was stunned as he made an excuse and left her at the table, but she couldn't care less.

Last updated on the January 19th 2008

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A Clean Break