The Prickly Older Brother
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
Writers: Beth, Eimi
Date Posted: 22nd August 2005
Characters: Birigundi, Denala, F'lik
Description: Birigundi and Denala meet for the first time, and Felarik grumpily joins them
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 3
Birigundi looked around the dining cavern. He had arrived early so he could get a good space, but even so, seats were starting to fill quickly. In the middle of the room he noticed a girl who was, amazingly, sitting alone with several seats around. He recognized her as one of the new Candidates. Where was she from again? Oh well, it didn't matter. She was a little young, but she had seats open next to her. Time to meet someone new.
"Excuse me, may I sit across from you?" Birigundi asked as he smiled down at the dark-haired girl.
"Yes, of course," Denala smiled back. He looked nice enough, and she was enjoying meeting new people each day here. Each person at the Weyr seemed to have such an interesting story. She wondered what his might be.
"Thank you," he said as he sat down, sighing with dramatic exhaustion. "You're a new Candidate, are you not? How do you find the food here?"
She smiled at his feigned lassitude. "A bit tired are you?" Looking down at her plate, still mostly full, though she'd been picking at it, and replied, "The food is fine. I'm just not a big eater."
"But you are a growing girl!" He said with a shocked grin. "Surely you must eat! The food here isn't that bad, you know. I've had worse. Much worse."
Felarik made his way towards his sister. As he approached, he saw a dark young man talking to her. His flirty grin put Felarik on the alert, and he was more annoyed when he recognized him. He'd met Birigundi once, but he'd heard quite enough about him to have decided that he didn't want him going anywhere near Denala.
He slipped in and sat down next to Denala as she was talking.
"It's not a problem with the food at all. And I'm not growing that much anymore, anyway--Oh, hi Felarik."
"Felarik," Birigundi gave the other candidate a nod in greeting. "We were just discussing the quality of the food and it's effect on growing bodies."
"Intriguing," Felarik said, mirthlessly, loading his own plate.
"So anyway, I see the family resemblance," Birigundi said between bites. "I have met Felarik, but I don't think I caught your name."
"Oh! I'm sorry," Denala hadn't realized that she'd skipped that detail. "I'm Denala, and, come to think of it, I didn't get your name either."
"Birigundi," he replied, stretching out his hand to her. "Denala, that's a very pretty name."
"Thank you." Denala smiled.
Felarik reached across Denala for a roll, cutting off Birigundi's access. He said, "Excuse me," though he hardly sounded gracious. He struggled to keep from glaring at Birigundi.
"So how old are you Denala?" Birigundi asked as if he didn't notice Felarik's rudeness. He found it almost amusing.
"I'm 15," she replied, glancing at Felarik. To the casual observer, he would appear quite calm, but Denala could tell that he was becoming quite upset. Thinking a change in conversation might do him good, she cast around for a new topic. "How long have you been here, Birigundi? Are you Weyrbred?" As she asked it, she thought, **That could explain the attitude.**
"Oh no," he replied with an amused smile. "I'm a runner. But I have been a candidate here for two turns."
"And how have you found your turns here?" Felarik asked. He wasn't sure how he would feel after two turns of standing without finding a lifemate.
"I've enjoyed it, actually. I suppose I would have enjoyed it more if I had Impressed by now. But then again, have you seen how hard the weyrlings work?" Not to mention how hard he would find a celibate life for months on end...
"They do what they must for their dragons," Felarik said, a bit stiffly still. In his annoyance, he was finding it all too easy to fault everthing Birigundi said. "It would be an honor if I could do the same someday."
Denala looked down at her plate and started shifting her food around again. She still wasn't hungry, but she was a bit embarassed by Felarik's childish behavior.
"It is indeed an honor, Felarik," Birigundi said with a sweet smile, "and work that I would be happy to take on, or else I would not have been here for two turns. How about you, Denala? Are you ready?"
"Of course," she replied, mildly. "Though I did not realize it before, this is my place, beside my brother. He has known it all along, and it is his certainty that showed me that I am meant to be here, too." Denala smiled at Felarik, hoping to make him feel better.
He smiled back, acknowledging and appreciating her effort.
"Well then, I wish you both the best of luck in the Hatching. I'm sure there will be a pretty green waiting for you, Denala. And you too, Felarik... A dragon, that is." He quickly added with a smile.
"Thank you," Felarik and Denala responded simultaneously. Denala spoke with heartfelt gratitude, while Felarik sounded a bit annoyed again. Trying to make the best of it, Felarik continued, "And for you as well, Birigundi. It's been nice eating with you, but I believe I've finished and I have business elsewhere. If you would excuse me, please." He turned to Denala expecting her to do the same.
Seeing his look, Denala spoke up. "I've been finished for a while. I'll go with you Felarik." She'd been glad to meet someone new, but she wanted to ask Felarik about his opinion of him. He obviously had some dislike for him, and she wanted to know why.
"Thank you both for the company. And it was very nice to meet you, Denala," Birigundi said with a genuine smile. "And good to see you again Felarik. I expect
I will see you both in Candidate classes."
"Of course," Denala replied, happily as she stood. "Have a good day." She turned to Felarik, and he took her arm, escorting her out of the dining cavern.
Last updated on the August 27th 2005