A Gift For You

Writers: Steel, Estelle, Devin
Date Posted: 22nd May 2026

Characters: V'tian, Gilbek, Tr'vel
Description: Tr’vel gives Gilbek a gift
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 18 of Turn 13

Tr'vel

“Another surprise?” Gil teased as he climbed up behind Tr’vel on Eboroth’s back. He could get used to these little trips with his weyrmate, although unlike the last time, since they weren’t in warm flying gear or strapped in, they couldn’t be going far. He did have an inkling of what they might find at their destination, too, and he felt almost giddy with excitement at the thought.

“I might be spoiling you,” Tr’vel said warmly. Eboroth dropped from the ledge carefully and a few powerful wingbeats carried him to Indith’s weyr. He rumbled a warm greeting to the green as he landed.

"I'm getting quite used to it." Gil let go his tight grip around Tr'vel's waist - he still wasn't as relaxed about flying without straps as a dragonrider - and followed his weyrmate as he dismounted, sliding down into his arms. Safely on the ledge, he bowed his head politely to the green. She wasn't familiar to him; not one of the Lightning greens, nor Velaria's Arajeth.

Indith crooned softly, eyes whirling as she regarded the strangers. On her head perched a blue firelizard, chest puffed out as he chittered a greeting of his own.

After a moment, the green arched her neck and flicked her tail as she shifted aside. }:They may enter.:{ she told Eboroth loftily. }:Mine waits.:{

Tr’vel smiled as his dragon passed on the message. “The lady has graciously allowed us to enter.” He swept a slightly dramatic bow before stepping into the weyr.

}:Hello little cousin,:{ Eboroth told Sky before turning his attention to Indith. }:Maybe we can sun together while our riders are busy?:{

Sky chirped and chittered Importantly, spreading his wings and then excitedly took wing, flying eager loops around the two BigOnes.

Indith eyed the blue, considering him, before she settled down comfortably on her ledge. }:You may share my ledge.:{ She granted. }:It is warm.:{

V'tian looked up as the two entered, nodded a greeting. “This him?” He asked Tr’vel.

Beyond him, perched on the rim of a wide, shallow sand-filled bowl, Radiance fanned her own wings over her nest and let out an imperious warble.

“V’tian, this is my weyrmate, Gil.” Tr’vel couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice as he let Gil take in the queen and her clutch.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Greenrider." Gil just about had the presence of mind to make a polite response before his attention was fully given over to the gold firelizard and her clutch. He caught his breath. "Oh, she's glorious!"

“She _is_ beautiful, isn’t she?” V’tian said with a touch of pride, reaching out to stroke golden hide. Radiance crooned softly, her eyes whirling blue and green like gemstones. “And _nine_ eggs, right on her first flight. Beautiful Radiance, yes you are.”

Radiance warbled in her pride, arched her neck proudly.

“You’ve done very well,” Tr’vel told the firelizard. Then he said to Gil, “And one of them is yours.”

For all they'd talked about it, the idea that he would have a firelizard of his own hadn't seemed quite real to Gil. Not until this moment, when he saw the soft raised mounds of the eggs beneath the sand, and heard Tr'vel's words, and his heart soared.

"I'd be honored." He tore his gaze away from the clutch and looked to his weyrmate, eyes bright with awe and affection, then, remembering his manners, he turned back to the little queen. "If she'd approve of me?" He cleared his throat and addressed her directly, as Tr'vel had. "I promise I would take the very best care of your hatchling."

Radiance preened again, fanned her wings at being admired. People were _looking_ at her and if they were looking at her, they were admiring her. She chittered proudly.

“... Careful she doesn't nip.” V'tian advised. “Here-- give her a treat, and she'll let you pick an egg.” He added, and held out a leather pouch. “Then I'll move it and some sand into the egg pot for travel. Do _not_ take this egg between.” He added, with a glance at Tr'vel. “And it should hatch within a tenday. Do you know how to Impress a firelizard?” he added to Gil.

"I heard that you have to feed them?" Ever since they'd first talked about it, Gil had been recalling all he'd heard about firelizard hatchings, which wasn't much. "And to - well, think welcoming thoughts towards them, though I'm not sure I know how exactly." He glanced from V’tian to Tr'vel, wondering if it was something dragonriders understood.

“I haven’t Impressed a firelizard, but I know how it works,” Tr’vel said. “But maybe you should get a few tips from the expert here.” He nodded to V’tian.

“Stuff them.” V'tian said, with the faintest quirk of amusement. “The second they break that shell and open their mouth to squeal. Raw meat's best. Keep stuffing it, til it falls asleep. Don't let it look around much, or get distracted. You want it focusing on you.”

"All right. I think I can do that." Gil felt an anxious twist of nerves in his belly. What if he failed to Impress, and wasted Tr'vel's precious gift? All he could do was try to prepare as best he could.

He reached out and took a treat from V'tian's pouch, then took a cautious step closer to Radiance and her clutch. Slowly, holding his breath, he held out his hand with it resting on his upturned palm.

Radiance appeared to consider, for a long moment, tilting her head one way and then the other. And then, all at once, her head darted forward and she snapped up the treat quick as a striking tunnelsnake.

Only then did she croon, and stepped back just enough to reveal her eggs she'd been guarding.

“They’re lovely, Radiance,” Tr’vel said quietly. But privately, he thought the look on Gil’s face was even more beautiful than the eggs.

Hardly daring to move, Gil gazed at the eggs. Now he was closer and they weren't hidden by the protective wings of their mother, he could see that some had light scatterings of speckles or were mottled with larger patches, while others were banded with wavy lines as though they'd been decorated with a sweep of an artist's brush. He could see colors, too, hints of pale green and blue in the creamy texture of the shells. All were lovely, and he wavered, not wanting to try the queen's patience, but with no idea how he would choose.

Almost unconsciously, his gaze was drawn to an egg whose shell was patterned with an amber-brown whirl that reminded him of the color of Tr'vel's eyes, and of the shifting patterns in Eboroth's as his mood changed. Tentatively, he gestured towards it. "May I…that one?"

“That _is_ what you’re here for.” V’tian pointed out, but he was already in motion, nudged Radiance aside just _slightly_ in order to reach for the indicated egg. “This one, right?”

A smaller pot already awaited it, and V’tian scooped sand to fill it partway, before he placed the egg and added more sand around it.

Radiance watched the transfer with a whirling gaze, but did not hiss or grump.

“We’ll take very good care of your egg,” Tr’vel promised the little queen.

"We will." Gil took the egg pot from V'tian with exaggerated care, holding it with both hands wrapped around it like someone handling a fragile and precious ornament. "We have to keep it warm, right?"

“_Almost_ too hot.” V'tian agreed. “No taking it between, or anything like that. Oh and… have your dragon tell my Indith what colour hatches, when it does. I'm curious.”

“I’m sure Eboroth will be more than happy to tell anyone who’ll listen,” Tr’vel chuckled.

Last updated on the June 8th 2026

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A Gift For You