Dragonrider's Blood
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: Paula
Date Posted: 21st September 2006
Characters: Aivorn, Aishara
Description: Aivorn's daughter surprising everyone by Impressing.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 3
Aivorn had decided that little break from ordinary life was needed and the hatching of Dolphin Cove Weyr was as good opportunity as any. Arranging it was easy: he sent a word to his mother who sent one of his nephews to pick them up when the time came.
After the greetings and exchange of news, Aivorn, his daughter Aishara, his mother Aiele and bunch of his other weyr-relatives found good seats from the Hatching cavern. They were lucky, they got seats from third row and had good view of the clutch and the golden Queen. The eggs were rocking and dragon's humming filled the air.
"Isn't that bit of a small clutch?" Aishara asked. She had been in hatchings before.
"A bit. It was sired by a young brown," master beastcrafter Aiele said to her grand daughter. She was a white haired lady in her eighties, already retired from active duties.
"Shush, the candidates are coming in, my son is among them," Aivorn's younger half brother said, lifting the little girl in his lap higher so she could see.
"I can see Kalevai. Hi Kalevai!" the little girl yelled.
"Which one is cousin Kalevai?" Aishara asked with low murmur.
"That one, with broad shoulders and hair falling to his eyes," Aivorn pointed.
"Oh, yes, his hair really needs trimming," Aishara said.
The candidates formed a half circle around the eggs and kind of hushed silence fell into the audience. Everyone seemed to hold breath when the first egg started to crack.
Aivorn was suddenly caught by a memory. How many times he had, as a teenager, stood there. How many times he had left the sands alone, swallowing tears, filled with bitter disappointments? Watching friends and siblings impress? Finally it had become too much and he had left the weyrhold to pursue a beastcrafter's career somewhere else. He ended up to Emerald Falls hold, met the love of his life, lost her but got a beautiful daughter instead. A daughter that was joy of his life.
The daughter that now cheered when the first impression was made. The master beastcrafter smiled at her excitement, and didn't really watch what was happening down on the Sands.
"Is that blue heading for Kalevai? No, he passed him. What's that little green doing?" Aishara's words returned him back to the present.
"Looking for the right candidate," Aivorn suggested. The green in question had wandered off from other hatchlings. Her head was twisting this way and that, her whole body a picture of forlorn desperation. Few candidates of both genders approached her but she screamed at them and pushed past them.
"None of the sands seem to interest her," Aiele remarked.
"Well, sometimes they do impress from the Stands," Kalevai's father replied.
"Better that than having her die because someone isn't here," Aiele said.
The little green was approaching the Stands now, her keening getting more urgent. She was the last one still not impressed.
Aishara jumped up suddenly, her face pale. "I have to go, she needs me, she calls me!" She started to push thru the crowd towards the sands. Towads the dragonet.
"Aish!" Aivorn called.
The little dragonet tried to climb up to the stands, Aishara tried to get to her but the people were blocking her way. The curious lookers crowded closer to the hatchling. Aishara turned to look her father. "Daddy, help. I know she's looking for me. Please, we are running out of time!" Tears were staining her face. Aivorn didn't hesitate, even if he felt like his heart was breaking. He came to her and then used his bulk to clear a path for her thru the throng of people.
"Make way for the weyrling!" His voice was loud and clear.
People moved a side and Aishara rushed to the dragonet. She kneeled to take the hatchlings head to her arms. "Her name is Ayumith!" she called.
Aivorn watched the enraptured expression on her face. His emotions were in conflict. A part of him rejoiced of her happiness, of the honour bestowed on her. The other part grieved and worried, grieved because he just lost his little girl, she was now a dragonrider and worried, cause he knew exactly how dangerous being dragonrider was.
"'Well, I shouldn't be surprised, she is dragonrider's Blood after all", a droll voice said next to him. Aivorn turned to look at his mother. "How are you, my son?" she asked kindly.
Aivorn suppressed a sniff. "Will you look after her?" he asked, his voice suspiciously hoarse.
"Of course I will. As will all your siblings and nephews and nieces and cousins. She's family," Aiele promised matter-of-factly.
They both turned to watch how the happy new rider led her lifemate to be fed.
Last updated on the September 26th 2006