Changes for the Better

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 10th August 2007

Characters: Ylisahn, Xara
Description: Ylisahn and Xara discuss Xara's non-Impression
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 8 of Turn 4

"You wanted to see me, Headwoman?" Xara asked, approaching the table where the Headwoman was having a late noon meal. "I'm - I don't mean to disturb you, but I have a busy afternoon ahead." She was nervous now, worried about disturbing the woman's one break of the day, but loathe to let the moment slip past.

"Ahh. Xara." Ylisahn nodded at the younger woman. "Would you mind if I kept eating? Have a seat."

"No I don't mind, as long as you don't feel I'm spoiling your meal." she smiled slightly, and pulled the chair opposite the Headwoman, from under the table. "I - I have some desserts to prepare this afternoon. Aveery has me on pastries at the moment."

"I was pleased to hear about that. Not the pastries, specifically; that you're finding your place here. You will be staying, I take it? Even if you don't Impress?"

"Oh, I'm not standing again." Xara shook her head, "I think by the time the next Hatching comes around I'll be too old, anyway. But - " she hesitated, her fingers swirling around in circles on the table top.
"I'd like to stay... if I may, that is?" she looked up from under her eyebrows, at the Headwoman, unsure if this was it, despite what others had told her.

"_Will_ you be too old?" Ylisahn tried to remember what her records said. Perhaps she had overlooked this one. "No matter. There's no doubt about you staying if you want to. You've been Searched, and that makes you the right sort of person to live here."

"So it doesn't matter, if my father comes back?" she hadn't seen him the day of the Hatching, but that wasn't to say he still wouldn't appear, looking for her. "I'd like to stay - very much." she answered, looking at her fingers, entwined in her lap.

"Nobody can take a person from the Weyr by force. If you think about it, it has had to be that way since the rest of the Southern Continent banned the women from crafts, and the Weyrs didn't. You're welcome to stay here, regardless of what other people tell you to do." The older woman looked at the kitchen worker. "Is there likely to be a problem with your father?"

"I'm...not sure," she answered slowly, a puzzled look covering her face, "He showed up at the first two Hatchings I Stood for, but he wasn't there for this last one."

"Are you going find out why?" Ylisahn asked. Some people were curious about what happened to their families; others completely cut old ties.

"Would it sound bad if I said no?"

"Not bad, no, though sometimes people change their minds about things like that. Perhaps don't regard it as a hard and fast decision." The headwoman left the subject, not wanting to prompt the young woman into statements she might one day regret. "The main things is that you have a place here. You're a lower caverns worker and a former candidate; both are valuable to the Weyr."

"I just wanted to make sure before accepting Aveery's offer of training, that I was permitted to stay." Xara nodded, "This is the first time in my life, that I can remember feeling useful _and_ appreciated."

"Well then I'm glad it's happened here. Is there anything else I can do for you? Accommodation?" Ylisahn set down her utensils and picked up her wine glass for a sip. "Though that's still not completely back to normal after the storm."

"Well, I've been staying in the candidate quarters, though I guess now, I should be moved to the lower caverns, quarters?"

"Indeed you should, though lower caverns is just a name, here. There are small rooms all over all the levels that are serviced by internal corridors."

"I'm fine with wherever I'm placed, as long as I'm permitted to stay here at the Weyr." Xara smiled widely, relieved with the outcome of the meeting with Ylisahn. "I still can't believe how much my life has changed in a few short turns." She wrapped her arms around herself and hugged tightly to contain her happiness.

"Changes for the better?" Ylisahn asked, though there was little doubt given the expression on the younger woman's face. She nodded at the table staff who were hovering as she got to her feet. "Let's go to my office and sort out that room for you, right away."

"For the better - yes! Definitely for the better." Xara rose and followed Ylisahn from the table. **Definitely for the better!** She thought to herself as she tried hard to keep the smile on her lips under control.

Last updated on the August 11th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Changes for the Better