Sobering Thought

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 4th September 2008

Characters: Ivane, Tey
Description: Tey and Ivane have a bit of conversation at the beach.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 26 of Turn 4

Tey grinned at the junior weyrling as she and Isleth waded out of the
lake and onto the beach. "Don't forget to appreciate that she's still
such a little spot to bathe and oil," she said, stopping to watch the
pair work. Isleth needed less oiling now that she had achieved her
full growth and Tey couldn't help but be glad.

"I'm finding it hard to imagine what it's going to be like when she's
full grown." Ivane turned to return a grin at the older weyrling,
pausing in her ministrations. "At least she's not a bronze, or a gold!
Talk about big!"

"That's why their hides are pretty and shiny and attract people," Tey
said dryly. "So they can always have helpers."

"Not as pretty as Jillith's!" Ivane patted her lifemate, "She'll be
having people begging her for a chance to scrub or oil her, I'm sure!"

"Well ... You have a weyrmate, don't you? Perhaps he'll help."

"Oh he has, and he does." Ivane explained as she moved to a different
section. "But he's a Smith, and sometimes I can't wait until he's
available."

"When they get a bit older it's easier to get into a routine where
washing them happens in the evenings," Tey said with a sly smile. "No
point in not taking advantage of willing helpers, is there?"

"Of course not." Ivane cheerfully slapped her dragon's hide with her
cloth. "The more the merrier. Besides, Jilith seems to like the
attention."

"That's good. Some don't. Dragons. My father's dragon never cared
particularly for most of us." She shrugged. "They're individuals."

"Really? Your own father's dragon didn't like you?" Ivane found that
hard to believe, but the girl had no reason to lie. "Well, Jilith
seems to like people."

"That's good. He doesn't dislike us, he's just not interested in us in
any way." Tey smiled. "Except my sister. She's also my father's
favourite, but since I Impressed I've been wondering if that's not so
much T'kanu as Ailinth."

"What do you mean?" Ivane frowned, straightening a bit.

Tey tried to articulate her new view of the influences a dragon had on
its rider. "If Isleth had a preference for one of my friends above the
others, then I might start feeling the same way, I suppose. Only I
didn't realise dragons influenced their riders that way, not before I
Impressed. Not outside of flights, anyway. But if my father's brown
liked only one of his children - though why Arateyka, I don't know -
then perhaps that's the reason she became my father's favourite. Not
because of his feelings toward her, but because of his dragon's."

"Oh." Ivane supposed that made sense, though she was trying to make
the connection. She didn't quite grasp what Tey was trying to
explain, but she'd let it mull about a bit and perhaps she'd
understand later. For the moment, the green weyrling decided to
change the subject, "Hey, how long until you graduate?"

"We're down to sevendays, now," Tey said, delighted that it was so.
"I'm really looking forward to getting into the fighting wings."

"Aren't you scared?" Ivane had to admit she was. The thought of
fighting Thread, the thing that gave her and others she knew nightmares
as children.

Tey shrugged. "It's life, isn't it? And death, of course, but the
only thing to fear is the bit in the middle - maiming. But I hope I
could deal with that as bravely as possible."

"Yes." Ivane shuddered to think about that possibility. Would she
die? Would she get hurt? So badly she'd never fly again? The thought
was a sobering one and Ivane didn't really relish reflecting on it.
"Well, I'm pretty much done here. I should probably get started on my
chores." Hopefully that would get her mind off of such morbid
thoughts.

Tey nodded, though her eyes were thoughtful as she studied the other
woman. Why did they come, the Holdbred ones who weren't ready to face
up to Thread? What did they think Impression was about during the
Pass? "Enjoy the rest of your day, Ivane. And don't let the weyrling
staff grind you down."

Ivane made a sound in disgust. "You mean M'galec? Don't remind me."
The younger woman shook her head. "Take care Tey. I'll see you
later."

Tey waved goodbye, amused that the other weyrling had had a run in with
the abrasive Weyrlingmaster Second. As much as anything else, _that_
seemed to be a tradition of weyrlinghood at River Bluff Weyr.

Last updated on the September 5th 2008

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Sobering Thought