Getting Used to It

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 24th December 2008

Characters: Sorsha, Ri'len, Meledei, Aylla, Ralthum
Description: Railen and Sorsha eat with some of the candidates.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 4

The dining hall was absolutely enormous. Even in his visits to the Hold, Railen hadn't seen such a big place. Of course, he had been to the Weyr before and in the Dining Hall, but to be honest, he had forgotten exactly how big it was. He hadn't forgotten, however, the sensation of feeling rather lost among all the tables and chairs and people that mingled about, chatted, and got their food. Railen stayed close to Sorsha, not because he was afraid, but he simply didn't want to lose her. Besides, any excuse to be close to her was a good one.

A grin spread over Railen's face. He had teased so many of his friends about how they gushed over their loved ones and there he was, right smack dab in the same situation. It gave him a bit more understanding over their feelings. He glanced over at his love and lazily placed his arm around her shoulders. "I forgot just how big this place was."

"Do you want to sit with some of the candidates over there?" She motioned to a group she thought she recognized from some of her classes, "Or do you want to sit by ourselves?"

"We can sit with the candidates." While Railen wanted to stay with Sorsha, he didn't want to deny her the companionship of others. "Do you know any of them?" After all, Sorsha hadn't impressed last time, surely some others hadn't and had returned for the next one.

Sorsha gave a half shrug as they neared the group. "Not really, just a few familiar faces." When they reached the table she asked, "Mind if we sit here?"

A brown haired brown eyed boy looked up at the two and motioned for the empty seats, "Have at them. You sat next to me this morning didn't you?"

"Yes, I'm Sorsha, and this is Railen." She set down her bowl of stew and gave a quick wave to another girl she recognized at the table as well.

The girl waved back, flashing a smile in return. "Hey, I remember you!" She stated after a moment. "You stood at the last hatching." Her gaze flickered over to Railen and her smile became a bit more coy. "But I don't remember you. I'm Aylla."

"Uh...hello." Railen nodded politely but didn't hold Aylla's gaze.

Sorsha linked her arm through Railen's, "He's not a candidate, we're betrothed. If I don't Impress, we're going to get married at Turn's End."

"Ah, I see." Aylla didn't stop making eyes at Railen though and she continued to flash her little smile at him.

It was then that another candidate joined them. She smiled brightly when she saw who was sitting at the table. "Sorsha!" Mel cried out cheerfully. "Long time no see! Where have you been?"

Sorsha tore her annoyed gaze away from Aylla and gave Mel a warm smile. "I went back home for awhile, got engaged, and now I'm back. This is Railen." She pointed out again. She didn't want him to feel left out.

"You know you can't get married when you're a dragonrider." Ralthum, the brown eyed boy, announced. He was getting annoyed with all this marriage talk. Before they'd joined the table, he was talking about him... his favorite subject.

"I know." Railen assured the candidate. "But we'll be weyrmates then." It was better than nothing and even if people said they weren't married...well, Railen's heart knew better.

"Things change." Aylla stated matter of factly, fluttering her eyelashes. "You might change your mind."

Sorsha stiffened, she didn't like this Aylla person one bit, but turned her gaze back to Mel, "So are you Standing again?"

"Haven't given up yet." Meledei stated with a half grin. She shrugged and dug into her food. "We'll see what happens. It's good to see you back, though."

"So you both have been here awhile? I just arrived from River Bluff, so maybe one of you could give me the grand tour sometime." Ralthum explained, trying to draw the attention back to himself.

"I can show you around." Mel suggested glancing over at the young man who had spoken. "But it will have to wait until after dinner. I have to get back to work after lunch."

"What brings you here all the way from River Bluff?" Sorsha asked, interested.

Ralthum smiled, this was more like it. "You hadn't heard? Dolphin Cove opened it's doors to older candidates from some of the other Weyrs."

"There's a big need for riders." Meledei explained after swallowing her bite of food. "Dolphin Cove is very low and they're hoping to get older candidates to stand and impress so they can go right into fighting wings after they get out of weyrling training."

"I hadn't realized there was a shortage of riders." Railen stated in his surprise.

Aylla nodded. "Oh yes. In fact, the last Weyrleader lowered the fighting age to fifteen in an effort to get more riders into the fighting ranks."

"The new Weyrleader has rescinded that decision." Mel's words were punctuated with a sigh. "Which is both good and bad I guess, though I don't see much difference between fifteen and sixteen." She shrugged. "But it does mean that much fewer riders will be going into the wings unless older candidates impress."

"Which is _why_" Ralthum interjected before those talkative girls could start babbling again, "I and over a dozen other candidates have come here to try our luck. They need grown capable men and women up in the sky, not scared children."

Sorsha thought about this new information, she was sixteen, that was old enough to put her in the fighting wings, but Lenlee was only fourteen. "Are they going to stop the younger candidates from Standing too, with all the older ones from the other Weyrs coming in?"

"I don't think so." Meledei shook her head. "I think right now they're just encouraging older candidates from other weyrs to come and stand. At least, that's what's been going around."

Railen glanced over at Sorsha, his expression thoughtful. For a moment it looked as if he might say something, but instead he looked down at his plate and silently began to eat.

"Those that don't Impress get to go back to River Bluff and Stand for their next Hatching too." He'd take as many opportunities to Stand as he could. He only had another two turns left before he was too old and the idea of spending the rest of his life mending clothes and making dresses for fat herdbeasts was just _boring_!

"Well, maybe you'll Impress." Meledei stated in encouragement. "It's nice to have the opportunity to go to other Weyrs. More of a chance that way."

"All this talk is absolutely fascinating." Aylla broke in suddenly as she pushed her chair out from the table. "But I have things I must do." She fluttered her eyelashes at Railen once more. "It was _very_ nice meeting you. I hope to see you again soon."

Railen nodded politely but didn't think that the girl was the type of person he really wanted to spend time with. Aylla turned and waltzed from the dining hall. Meledei shook her head, then turned to Railen. "Just ignore her. She flirts with every boy that breathes."

Sorsha nearly growled, "I can't believe her. She knows Railen and I are together and she did it right in _front_ of me!

Ralthum chuckled at Sorsha's reaction, she just radiated 'holder'. "Get used to it, you're in a Weyr now girl!"

Last updated on the December 24th 2008

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Getting Used to It