Fun in the Sun
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, Heather
Date Posted: 15th February 2026
Characters: By'ler, R'vkal, Cidra, Oriene
Description: By'ler and R'vkal spend time with Cidra and Oriene at the Dolphin Hall
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 12
As one of their first outings post-graduation, By’ler and R’vkal decided to go visit Oriene at Dolphin Hall. “Wonder if we can convince her to come back with us,” R’vkal remarked to By’ler as they strapped up their bronzes.
“I think we'll have a better chance when there are more eggs on the Sands,” Byl’er said, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. Underneath his clothes the young bronzerider was wearing his swim trunks in the hopes that there would be some actual swimming with dolphins happening on this trip.
--
The weather at the Dolphin Hall was perfect. Too perfect to be wasting it on some good-for-nothing-boys from the Weyr, but, Cidra sighed, she unfortunately had nothing better to do.
“How do you know them again?” Cidra asked Oriene as they waited.
“They’re my friends!” Oriene answered, though honestly, R’vkal was just a friend and By’ler was…well, that was complicated. A _really_ good friend. “I figured that you’d like to meet R’vkal, at least. He’s nice. Sweet. You know. That nice guy type.”
“Do nice guys exist at the Weyr?” Cidra asked. For once, the question was scathing, but partly sincere.
Oriene thought about this for a moment. “I mean, most dragonriders are nice. At least, all of the ones I know.” And she knew a _lot_ of them. “I don’t think I met many that were mean.” And if she did, Oriene probably stayed away from them. She didn’t like giving mean people her time. “Oh, there they are!” She pointed and waved as two bronze dragons came winging into view.
Cidra fought against the blush on her cheeks as she followed Oriene’s pointing finger. _Bronzeriders_. She knew the type of reputation bronzeriders had. The sleep-with-anything type of reputation.
As soon as the dragons talons touched the ground, one of the bronzeriders was spilling off his dragon and rushing over to scoop Oriene into his arms.
“Oriene!” the dark-haired dragonrider bellowed.
“Hi By’ler,” Oriene greeted with a delighted giggle as she curled into his embrace. At the end, she kissed the corner of his mouth with bold shyness. “It’s good to see you. And R’vkal!”
The other bronzerider ducked his head in greeting. “Hi, Oriene. Good to see you too.” His eyes shifted to Cidra curiously.
“Ryv! This is my friend Cidra. You met her at the Hatching a few months ago, remember?” Oriene introduced as she slid from By’ler’s arms. “Cidra, this is R’vkal. And By’ler.” The second name was said with a different type of fondness.
Cidra thought this ‘By’ler’ boy looked just like all the horrible things she’d heard about dragonriding men. Handsome. Too handsome. Trouble handsome. Break your heart handsome. Her eyes flashed to the other dragonrider. He was good-looking, too, although he had a less brazen look about him.
Her eyes flicked to his hands. “Why are you wearing two rings?”
What kind of greeting was that?
R’vkal blushed a little. “I…uh…” He began to fiddle with one of them. “From my Ma,” he answered. The other one, though, he should probably…well, it felt weird still to think about removing it but that time of his life was gone. Indrath was his life now.
Cidra’s brows furrowed as she opened her mouth to ask about the one he hadn’t explained but By’ler cut her off.
“Why don’t we get down to the water?” By’ler said while clapping a hand on R’vkal’s shoulder and smiling at the girls.
Oriene grabbed By’ler’s hand to tug it. “Yes! Let me introduce you to some of the pod!”
Since By’ler and Oriene fell into step together, Cidra was left to walk beside R’vkal, the guy with rings he didn’t want to explain, apparently. Still, it would be awkward not to make _some_ form of conversation, she supposed.
“Were you from here before you Impressed?” she asked R’vkal.
“Green Valley Hold,” he answered easily. “Was a smith. In training at least. Figured I’d follow in my father’s craft. Didn’t think I’d Impress a dragon.” The last part was said with the ever-present quiet fondness that dragonriders had when talking about that miracle moment.
A smith? Cidra glanced casually at his biceps, supposing that he did look strong enough.
There were several dorsal fins in the water when they arrived at the pier. A few bottle-noses poked out of the lapping waters, looking for a treat.
“You can toss them a treat,” Cidra said to R’vkal, handing him a small fish.
The dolphins began squeeing in excitement as the treats appeared.
“Oh, wow, they’re loud,” By’ler laughed, wincing.
“Looouuuuuuuuuud!” one of them echoed back, which caused another chorus of squeeing that sounded a little like laughter.
“That’s Gar and Bit. Ena’s in the back there,” Oriene supplied helpfully as she pointed out each dolphin. Aka, quit hogging the fish!” The last was said to a younger dolphin, one just reaching his full length, who kept trying to butt other dolphins away. “You can talk to them, they know their names and everything.”
“Talk, talk!” Ena chirped.
By’ler stared down at the dolphins dumbfounded. What did one say to a giant fish? “So, er, how’s the water today?”
Cidra rolled her eyes at the question.
It was Gar who answered, splashing a bit of water their way. “Gooood! Come swim?”
“Come swim!” another one cried.
“I hope you didn’t intend to stay on the shore,” Oriene told the two riders with a conniving grin.
“Absolutely not, and besides, if R’vkal starts drowning Cidra can rescue him,” By’ler said, shooting an unrepentant grin at the other bronzerider.
R’vkal sputtered. “Wh-Wha? I can swim! I know how to swim!”
Oriene laughed. She pulled off her shirt, revealing a swim top underneath. It seemed like she always wore swim clothes under her other clothes nowadays. It was just easier that way since she never knew when she was getting into the water but there was a strong possibility every day that she was getting into it at least once. “Well, let’s not keep them waiting.”
“Didn’t tell me we were getting in the water _now_,” R’vkal muttered, thinking about the disastrous date he had had with Reyela.
“Are you scared?” Cidra challenged with an arched eyebrow. The dolphineer shrugged out of her swimsuit cover-up, letting the gauzy material pool onto the dock.
R’vkal eyed her cautiously but there was that glint of masculine appraisement underneath as he watched her disrobe. He caught himself and looked away. “No,” he muttered to her.
Oriene winked at By’ler flirtatiously as she dove into the water. “Last one in has to gut packtail!”
Last updated on the February 21st 2026