Those Left Behind
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: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 30th September 2025
Characters: Aydhara, Sareya
Description: Aydhara and Sareya commiserate over not Impressing, again.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 8, day 25 of Turn 12
“Well,” Sareya said as she flopped down on Aydhara’s bunk. “Guess it’s back to us again.” There were other girls who hadn’t Impressed but they were too new. Sareya was more interested in befriending those who had stood a few times, and those that came from dragonrider families. Seeing that Aydhara also came from a goldrider family, it made sense that they should be friends. Or something like that.
"Just us again." Aydhara agreed. She kicked her legs up to give Sareya some room, and pulled Slate unwillingly into her lap to stop him from trying to posture over his territory (the bunk). It was a little weird to think that she was technically dating one of Sareya's aunts, but with more of their friends Impressing ahead of them she couldn't exactly afford to be picky. It wasn't weirder than any other weyr-family configuration.
“What did Slate think about the Hatching?” Sareya asked, offering her hand to the firelizard. Maybe she should get a firelizard. It was a little like a dragon. It would give her practice. She wanted to be prepared, be ready for when she _did_ Impress.
"Oh he hated it." Aydhara said with a giggle. "But that's not new. He's going to be a problem when I finally Impress. He doesn't like sharing the attention." She did worry a little that Slate might decide to leave when she did Impress, or he would be forced to when the dragonet tried to put him in his place. But that was a problem for a future Aydhara, one that finally Impressed a dragon. "What did your parents think about the hatching? Are they disappointed?"
“I think they’re a little relieved, honestly. I know they _expect_ me to be a dragonrider, and I want to _be_ one, but every Hatching that passes and I don’t Impress is one more round when I’m safe on the ground. My dads are going to have a litter of kittens when I finally do.”
"Is having a litter of kittens a _happy_ thing, or…?" Aydhara asked, "I mean, I like kittens. But I don't think I'd like my mom to have them."
“I mean, they’ll be proud of me, I’m sure, but also probably really scared for me. So both kind of kittens I guess.”
Aydhara shrugged. "I guess that's everyone's experience, huh? Mom and Dad were so excited when N'kayden Impressed, and when he joined the Wings. I dunno if the last twelve turns made them sorta forget everything else. Not that I want to do anything else, or that they wouldn't support me. But they've never really been nervous about whether or not I Impress."
“At least we have supportive parents,” Sareya remarked. “I can’t imagine being a Candidate and having had to run away from home or something. I mean, I know my family is complicated but at least I _have_ a family. Some of the Candidates last season were told to never come back. Can you imagine that?”
"Some of the candidates _this_ season ran away. Have you heard Calonice talk about it?" Aydhara asked. The best she had been able to manage in response was to close her mouth and go 'uh, anyway…'. "Can't imagine letting a little bit of dragon-fueled sex muddle the fact that their loved one is going to go die in Threadfall. You'd think they'd be a bit more supportive."
Sareya giggled. “Holders really do focus on the silliest things. It’s not like we spend all day in mating flights or something.”
"Especially greenriders! A few times a turn is hardly scandalous." Aydhara said with an agreeing laugh, "They should be scandalized by all the blues and browns chasing greens whenever they want."
The other girl ran with the image. “‘Oh no! My blue is chasing a green. _Again_. Off I go to have sex!’” She giggled again. “I get that there’s a culture shock but it’s not _that_ bad. I feel if Holders just talked more about sex, they’d be less surprised by it. Especially when Holder families are having soooo many children. It’s obvious that they’re doing it.”
"Right? So weird." Aydhara wrinkled her nose but giggled. "No wonder everyone is trying to move here."
“It’s not so crowded at the Weyr. Well, from what I hear. And we eat way better. I figure the food alone is the reason why.” She spoke from the privilege of someone who had never gone to bed hungry. “I mean, besides the chance to get a dragon.”
"Speak for yourself. It got crowded real fast at 'Reaches. Maybe because of the caves and the cold. The food was still pretty good, though." Aydhara agreed.
“Oh, I guess that would make sense. I mean, we have seasons here but it’s not as cold as Dragonsfall. Have you been there? It seems like they always have snow there too.”
"I have. It's not as cold as High Reaches, but I wouldn't want to live there. I introduced myself to Kadira! She's so pretty, I thought I might die right there. But I got to introduce her to Zaphare while I was there, so my death would have been a worthy sacrifice."
“Kadira? Is that the girl who Impressed the first blue dragon?”
"Yesss." Aydhara said excitedly. "I know all of them now! Kadira, Zaphare, Tirraze, Casmari."
Sareya twirled a lock of her hair thoughtfully. “It seems like the dragons really _are_ choosing differently now. Like, with more variety. I wonder…how far that’ll go. Do you think a brown dragon will ever pick a woman?” She could hardly imagine a man on a gold. It was unthinkable! Golds were for girls!
"I sincerely hope so." Aydhara said. "The boy/girl Impression stuff doesn't make any sense. What can a guy do that I can't? Nothing."
The other Candidate instantly agreed. “Right! Who says that a girl can’t be a Wingleader or whatever. We’re just as smart and capable as guys. Sometimes even better than them. Especially -- you remember that Candidate, Dalvior, well D’vior -- and how he got that brown dragon and was just an _idiot_ when it came to class stuff? Especially riders like him. We’re way better than that.”
Aydhara made a face. She remembered several boys like that. "Ugh. And he might get to be Wingleader someday. _Please_."
Sareya mirrored Aydhara’s face as she said, “Yuck. I hope not. He’ll be insufferable. And probably get someone killed. Oops!” She slapped her hand over her mouth at the last statement. That was far more caustic than she normally was!
Aydhara brought out that energy in her friends and did not discourage it. "He's already insufferable. You and I are going to be _much_ better than that."
“Agreed!”
Last updated on the October 3rd 2025