Someone Else is Always First

Writers: Devin, Clancey, Eimi
Date Posted: 26th January 2006

Characters: D'ren, D'cal, Dysali
Description: D'cal comes to check on D'ren after Lillyth rises.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 3

D'cal walked into D'ren's room from the ledge. It was over and Dysali's Lillyth had been caught by a brownrider. The same brownrider, as it so happened, that he has interrupted when he walked in on him and Dyaera together. The bluerider held no ill feelings towards the man, but he found that fact peculiarly ironic. The flight had been over for some time now, and so far, neither had emerged from the flightroom. He wasn't sure D'ren knew the outcome of the flight, or even if he wanted to know, but D'cal was sure he friend could use a little company.

}: Aosorath's is here,:{ Menanth told his rider. D'ren sighed and uncurled himself from his dragon's arms. The rain had kept him inside, otherwise he would have been down at the beach. The rain seemed appropriate, though. "Hi, D'cal."

"Hey there, D'ren. How are you doing?" The bluerider gave him an understanding half smile.

D'ren almost said he was okay, but D'cal was someone he could talk to, maybe the only one he could talk to. "I know this sounds selfish, but it . . . it hurts that someone else is always there first."

"I know how that feels." D'cal almost snorted outloud, but he held it in as he squeezed his friends shoulder reassuringly. "But you are the only one she cares about. That might not seem like much of a reassurance, but in the end, D'ren, that's everything."

"I know. But that doesn't keep me from feeling like this, and knowing that this shouldn't bother me makes me feel worse. Menanth didn't understand why I was upset. I didn't know how to explain it to him. He's just too young to chase," D'ren shook his head. If it had only happened a few sevendays later . . .

"And when he is old enough to chase then it will be Dysali waiting for you," D'cal said gently. "Menanth will rise to chase more often than Lillyth will rise to mate. We will all have to come to terms with that."

"I've thought about that. I wonder how Dysali will take it when I win someone else's flight," D'ren said. "She's sensitive, which makes me worry. But she's also strong, and she knows what being a rider means."

'What being a rider means...' D'cal was still trying to figure out exactly what being a bluerider meant. "They say that the flightlust doesn't go away when the flight is over. Sometimes... things happen."

D'ren frowned. "What if she does stay? What if he's . . . better than me? Practically everyone around here has more experience than I do."
His voice dropped, "What if I'm not good enough?"

"If you weren't good enough, she'd know that by now," D'cal reassured him. "She loves you, D'ren. Flight induced lust wouldn't change that."
Although if the bluerider was honest with himself, he would have to wonder ihis friend didn't have a point. Still he wanted to save the bronzerider the fear and doubt.

"I hope you're right," D'ren said with a sigh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lillyth crooned reassuringly at her rider as Dysali fled the flight room. She wasn't running, precisely, but she was walking fast. She couldn't hear her physically, as she was curled up with Girifith on her ledge. _They_ didn't seem to want to move. }: You should stay with him. I do not understand why you go. :{ was Lillyth's sleepy comment.
*** I want Menanth's rider, Lillyth.. *** But she could tell already Lillyth didn't understand. Unable to concentrate on anything but D'ren, she gave up the explanation with a sending full of love for Lillyth and happiness that she'd found pleasure in the flight. }: So did you. :{ Well maybe she had.. but there was nothing compared to D'ren. Nothing.
The tears started up again. Why couldn't he have been first!? She was at the door on the inside of D'ren's Weyr before she knew it.
Even the long climb had not made the tears stop, and when she knocked, it was with a great deal of hesitation. Had he found company? Shards, what if he wasn't alone?

D'ren turned at the sound of knocking. "Who could that be?" he wondered aloud. The bronzerider went to the door and opened it. "Dysali?!" he exclaimed, more than a little surprised to see her. Surprise instantly gave way to concern when he saw that she was crying. "Dysali, what's wrong?"

"D'ren.." Her voice shook and she blushed as she noticed D'cal standing nearby. But she didn't care, she had to tell him. "He w-w-wanted me to stay, but I only wanted you! I think I was mean or wrong or.. I don't know." Her voice shrank to a tiny sound, barely heard. "I just wanted you." She didn't care that D'cal was there and witnessing her confession; after all, he was D'ren's closest friend and it was better than finding him in bed with a woman.

D'cal, however, understood their need to be alone. "I'll leave you two to talk. We can catch up later." "Thank you, D'cal," D'ren said, hoping his friend understood how much he meant it. Turning back to Dysali, he kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. "It's okay, Dysali."

Last updated on the January 26th 2006

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Someone Else is Always First