Finding Happiness
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: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 29th June 2008
Characters: U'kaiah, Teseada
Description: U'kaiah and Teseada have a chat about the up-coming Clutching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 4
The bronzerider smiled warmly as he stepped up next to the goldrider at the Feeding Pen's fence. "She seems to be having a bit of trouble launching off the ground," he said as he propped his forearms up on the top rail. U'kaiah couldn't help but notice how much bigger the gold's belly had grown in the recent sevenday. He had noticed Egg-heavy queens before with passing interest. But these Eggs were specials. These Eggs were Kalamath's. "Shards, she's a beautiful sight."
"Oh, hello U'kaiah," replied Teseada after a moment. "I was just telling her not to over do it as those eggs are precious."
"I'm sure lugging around that extra weight really takes a lot of her. I know I'd probably be famished." The bronzerider wondered just how many Eggs were in there. Surely not the high number more experienced queens had been producing, but it was hard for him to tell just how high and fast she had flown on her first Flight. His mind had been elsewhere.
}:It was a perfect Flight,:{ his lifemate reminded him with a glowing hint of pride.
His rider would not argue with that. "So how is she adjusting to being full of Eggs? It must be a rather interesting time for both of you."
"She's moaning that she feels heavier, and bathing and oiling take a lot longer. Thank Faranth that there are plenty of eager candidates around to help," Teseada watched as Onnyth finally targeted a slower, fat herdbeast, taking it down with what seemed to be a minimum of effort.
"I'm thinking it isn't going to be too much longer before she tells me she's ready to clutch them."
"I would love to watch when she does, if she agrees to it." Queens could be rather temperamental, especially a young one.
"I'll ask her, I really don't know what she'll do when it happens."
"Of course not," he quickly nodded. It was a whole world of firsts for her rider too. "But I just want you to know that when the time comes, if you need anything at all, don't hestitate to call on me."
"I'll remember," she said. "I don't know if she'll want me there the whole time, or just close by. I tried asking her and didn't really get an answer."
"It's hard to say when you've never gone through it before, I should imagine." Teseada was probably in for a rough time. Even an experienced queen, like Trae's, could be rather demanding.
"She'll decide when she's ready."
"Now you get to pay for all the fun stuff," he said with a knowing wiggle of his eyebrows. It had been a very memorable Flight, for both of them, he was sure.
"And then there'll be some fun stuff for other people who Impress from their eggs."
"But not for a while," he said with a dramatic sigh. "The longest four months of my life."
"And maybe the longest few months for me and Onnyth, waiting to see who she thinks is worthy of her sons and daughters."
"Unfortunately she doesn't won't be the one making that choice, otherwise every candidate would cater to the queen rather than pet her Eggs," he said with an amused smile. Perhaps every mother felt that sense of protection for their children.
"There are some candidates who seem to have been standing for turns like"
I was. I think I'd like to see some of them on the sands waiting for her eggs to crack."
"'The dragon's know best'," U'kaiah repeated the age old saying, though he knew that was little comfort. "Teseada, not everyone is destined to be chosen, else everyone would fly. Don't wish being a dragonrider on all your friends," The bronzerider was already haunted by faces of classmates, wingmates and wingrider who would never see the end of the Pass. "Let them face what fate may come."
"It's just that I think some of them deserve one last chance to see if their dragons can hatch."
"They'll have their chance. If they're still of age, no one will be denied. Your loyalty is commendable, but don't feel responsible for them."
"I," she paused to think how best to but her thoughts into words. "It would just be nice to see some of them as happy as Onnyth and I are together."
He put an arm around her shoulder. "You're a good persona, Teseada.
Don't worry. Your friends will find their happiness."
She relaxed a little, no longer quite so wary of the bronzerider since the flight. "I hope they do."
Last updated on the June 29th 2008