The Last Egg

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 17th December 2009

Characters: Im're
Description: Imarre Impresses and faces his father's bias.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 5

Forty four eggs, and their number were dwindling fast when hatchling after hatchling found his or her lifemate. Thirty, twenty, ten eggs left. When it was down to four, Imarre was so certain that he would walk out alone, again. Like at the Dragonsfall Weyr. He was bracing himself against the disappointment, when it happened. The last egg burst open, revealing a wet, little blue hatchling.

}: Whoo! So bright!:{ the voice rung clearly in Im're's mind, full of amazement. It was followed by pitiful: }:Where are you? I'm so hungry!:{ The blue head turned this way and that.

"Here, Gormth!" Im're called out and pushed his way over to the blue, wrapping his arms around him. His face shone with happiness. He seemed to know the dragonet's name without being told. That Gormth was blue was no surprise to him, not after Maret.

~ ~ ~ bit later ~ ~ ~

Gormth was devouring the meat as quickly as Im're could hand it out to him. "Chew, do not choke at it," he warned, as he had been instructed during the candidate classes. It had felt rather silly and pointless back then, but now he saw the reason. Gormth was so hungry he wanted to swallow the meat whole. At the pace he was eating, he just migh choke on too big piece of meat. **And wouldn't that be sorry end for dragonrider's career. I let my dragon choke to death when he was five minutes old!** Im're chuckled at the thought. He was feeling jubilant and happy, all past worries swept away by Gormth's presence in his mind. He was now complete.

"Imarre! Congratulations, son", a familiar voice called out.

"Dad! You made it here! And it's Im're now," the orange-red haired boy turned to look equally orange-red haired man. Imal was just an older version of Im're.

"How did you end up Impressing dragon here instead of Dragonsfall?" the woodsmith wondered and gave his son a hug.

"It's a long story, dad." Im're grinned, filled with pride. "Have you seen my dragon? His name is Gormth." He gestured towards the hatchling and Gormth stopped eating long enough to give Imal a look.

Imal looked the dragonet for a long, silent moment. "He's just a blue. I was expecting bronze for you, or at least brown." Disappointment coloured his voice.

It was amazing how those two sentences just crashed Im're's jubilant mood. He watched his father's face, speechless.

"At least he is not a green, that would be even worse," he continued with slightly brighter tone. Im're's heart sank even lower. "I mean, the stuff you hear about male greenriders! They are weirdos. Not that the stories about blueriders are much better," Imal frowned, not noticing how his son's expression, darkened. "But you'll just chase those greens who have female riders, right son?"

"Right,dad," Im're said with heavy heart, like he could decide that! He wanted to yell at him, tell him that there was nothing wrong in Gormth, nothing wrong in blueriders or greenriders. But seeing the look in his father's eyes, he realized it was futile. His father would only see the 'weirdos'. He also realized something else... his troubles accepting what he was, accepting his love for Maret, it all stemmed from him. He remembered now all those snippets from conversations, snide remarks, belittling jokes, that degraded and besmirched people who were somehow different. If a man didn't fit to Imal's image of manhood, he was tainted. And Im're didn't fit that image, his dragon had a wrong colour. And he was trying to be lenient about it, instead of disowning his son. He thought himself being open-minded! If he only knew about Maret! But Im're could never told him about Maret. He wanted what ever love he could get from his father, he didn't want to disappoint him more. His heart felt like it had been twisted and torn to half.

}: I don't like him. I don't like what he makes you feel :{ Gormth suddenly said, the colours in his eyes turning darker. He had finished eating and burped. }: I'm also full and sleepy. :{

"Look, I have to take care of Gormth and take him to the Weyrling Barracks. Catch up with you latter, okay, at the Hatching feast?" Im're said, glad that there was escape from this situation. He managed a smile although what he really wanted was to cry.

"Of course," Imal said and patted his shoulder bit clumsily. "But you should have chosen a better colour than blue." Like Im're were the one who chose!

Blinking away the tears, Im're stumbled towards the Barracks, arm wrapped around burping, sky-blue dragon's neck.

Last updated on the December 20th 2009

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The Last Egg