What We Can't Change

Writers: Estelle, Halyonix
Date Posted: 23rd October 2025

Characters: R'ayl, V'dryn
Description: V'dryn pays a return visit to R'ayl at Dolphin Cove
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 12

Notes:
~*~

"Zee, did you want to see what Delorth is doing today? Maybe we can return them the favor of a visit at Dolphin Cove," V'dryn suggested as he searched for a shirt in his weyr.

}: I like that idea, :{ Zhomoth agreed. His head tilted into a listening angle as he sought out his fellow blue. }: Hello Delorth! We would like to come see you and yours today if you have time. :{

There was a short delay before the reply came. }: Yes, do come! We would both be happy to see you. :{ It was later in the day at Dolphin Cove, and the young blue pair had finished their duties for the day, assisting with the weyrlings from Panitath's latest clutch. }: My rider says that he can show yours our Weyr, and we can swim if you like. :{

}: Either of those things sound perfect, :{ Zhomoth replied. He watched V'dryn dress, then waited patiently while his rider tugged the riding straps into place. }: Can you show me where to go please? :{ he asked Delorth when they were ready to depart.

}: Of course. :{ Delorth shared the familiar image of his home Weyr from above, the half-circle of the Weyr's cliffs curving around to enclose the sandy bowl and the deep blue jewel of the lake. }: This is where we live. It's beautiful, isn't it? :{

}: It is, :{ Zhomoth agreed as he launched into the sky. When they appeared over their destination, the blue dragon rumbled appreciatively. He made a slow circle so that V'dryn could enjoy the view as well before heading towards Delorth.

"Good to see you again!" V'dryn greeted brightly once he saw R'ayl.

"Hi, V'dryn!" R'ayl came running over once Zhomoth had settled, followed at a slower pace by Delorth. They would be his very first visitors from outside the Weyr and he was bursting with excitement. "Welcome to Dolphin Cove. Oh, Zhomoth, you've grown! You're as big as Delorth now."

Zhomoth looked at Delorth and then shifted closer so that they could compare shoulder heights. Finding some sort of approval in both of their builds, Zhomoth bobbed his head. V'dryn chuckled. "I still remember when he was small enough to carry," he remarked to R'ayl.

"Me, too. No chance of that now." R'ayl tilted his head back to look up at the dragons. "Now they could pick _us_ up if they wanted... So, would you like to have a look around the Weyr? Jossenth has eggs on the sands now so we can't go right into the Hatching Grounds, but we could peek from the entrance. Or we could go to the dining cavern if you want something to drink?"

"Let's start with a drink. It's a lot hotter here than I expected. But you do have that breeze coming off the ocean, which is nice."

"Yes, though it's best on the beach or the heights. The Bowl is baking once the sun gets over the cliffs. It's hard being a weyrling until you can fly," R'ayl remembered, with a faint grimace. "Having to practice marching and tossing firestone in the heat. When I first got here it nearly made me ill once. Luckily the dining cavern's cooled by fans," he explained, as they stepped through the archway and into the shade, feeling the stirring of warm air on their faces.

V'dryn quietly agreed that the fans inside the cavern made a load of difference. "From what I understand, Dolphin Cove is modeled more after the traditional Weyrs that were founded. Barrier Lake only has half of a caldera to work with."

"Yes, that's right. It was an old Weyrhold from way back," R'ayl explained, recalling his history classes as a candidate, "but they opened it up again after the earthquake at Thayan Peak, and I suppose by then they were starting to prepare for Thread to return so they followed the designs from the old times. Here's the dining cavern," he said as they entered a spacious natural cave. At the moment, with most of the weyrfolk outdoors or at work, only a few of the long tables were occupied, and they showed the signs of being scrubbed clean by candidates or weyrlings on cleaning duty. "Only the Hatching Grounds are bigger! The kitchens are over here, and we can get drinks any time. Would you like klah, or something cold?"

"Cold," V'dryn quietly answered as his gaze swept upward to take in the cavern. It was quite different from what they had at Barrier Lake but there was a certain...beauty to its design. Taking a natural space and transforming it into a liveable area like this. "Imagine what the architects had in mind with this," he mused.

"Some of the older riders say it was a scramble, with everyone moving in a hurry from the old Weyr. People were camping out in the main caverns and even the weyrbowl, while the masons and miners hurried to open up weyrs and living quarters. Like the holdless people at Dragonsfall, except at least it would have been warm." R'ayl stopped at a table just outside the cooler storage caverns to pour out some juice for both of them. "But they still took time to make this cavern welcoming, smoothing away the rough edges, adding the lights. I suppose it's the place everyone shares - dragonriders, crafters, staff, weyrbrats - more so than the hatching grounds, even." He thought for a moment. "Do you mind if I ask, were you a Crafter before you Impressed? It seems like you have an eye for the structure of this place." His own craft, weaving, was on a smaller scale, but he recognized the affinity for it.

"Not exactly," V'dryn answered with the absent tone of one still trying to piece together one's thoughts. "My father was --is a Steward. I learned a great deal of project and Hold management from him, which was why I applied to work on Barrier Lake when it was being constructed." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I would have liked to see the drafts for this place. I wonder how long it took them." His expression lost its distant musings as he looked back to R'ayl. "Sorry. Sometimes it's all just fascinating, what other people had in mind to see happen."

"Perhaps they're still in the archives. Anything from as far back as the founding would be long gone, I expect, but there should be plans from the re-opening. One of the other weyrlings in my class was a harper, and she said they've even got old diaries from people who worked on it, though they can be quite technical. We could go and have a look, if you like." R'ayl took a seat at the end of one of the free tables. "It's too bad we can't actually go back to that time and ask people, like they do in books sometimes."

Going to the archives sounded like a good plan, though perhaps boring and V'dryn didn't want to waste R'ayl's time with research. He did, however, quietly agree with the young bluerider about how interesting it would be to hear the tales from the source. "Maybe a quick peek into the archives," he compromised. "Dusty books aren't the idea of fun for everyone and I didn't plan on coming here to do research today. I came to see you."

"You did?" R'ayl looked up, the sudden smile lighting up his face like an opened glowbasket. The thought that anyone would come to visit _him_ above all, even more than to see the grandeur of the Weyr or enjoy its lovely beaches, was new and unexpected to him. "Oh, well, I can show you where it is, and I'm sure you'd be welcome to come back. The archivists are really helpful, they always seem pleased when someone wants to look things up or study." He sipped his drink, suddenly feeling warm inside. "I guess you were around books and records a lot growing up, with your father's work?"

Seeing that smile softened the expression on V'dryn's face for a moment before the thought of his strict father sobered it. "I was, yes. I do still love those things but it's hard to separate the memories of them from him. He wasn't pleased that I stayed at the Weyr. Or that I Impressed Zhomoth."

"Oh, I'm sorry." R'ayl wished he hadn't said anything, since it seemed he'd upset his new friend. "I mean, that something you love reminds you of difficult times." He hesitated, wondering if he should say what was in his mind. Although he knew there was talk about his family background at Dolphin Cove, he wasn't sure if it had got to other Weyrs, and he didn't know how V'dryn would react to knowing what his father and brother had done - but nor did he think it was honest to hide it.

"I don't think my father would have liked me Impressing Delorth, either," he said quietly. "I'm glad we both did, though."

That returned some of the smile, though it showed more in his dark eyes. "As am I. I would never change that. About either of us." He downed the rest of his drink. "Come. Show me around and to the archives. Let's not waste the day on people we can't change."

"All right." The young bluerider relaxed as he scrambled to his feet. He liked that thought. There was nothing he could ever do now to change his father's opinion of him or of the Weyr, but he didn't have to let those memories spoil his life here with Delorth. "And once we've been there, we can go and join the dragons on the beach?"

"Perfect. Zhomoth will love seeing the dolphins."

Last updated on the October 28th 2025

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What We Can't Change