Last chance to fly (Open)

[laionii]

The dark haired youth felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he moved quickly through the Weyr. He contemplated very seriously what lay at his destination. Saharth had finally clutched. This thought brought concern to Danwyr’s mind as he ducked into another hallway. This would quite possibly be his last chance to impress a dragonet, his last chance to become a dragon rider defending Pern against the threat of thread. The last three years he had stood during impression, and each time not as much as a green looked his direction. He forcefully tucked these thoughts away as he entered the sands.

The sight of a clutch of dragon eggs never ceased to amaze him, the gleaming mottled shells placed carefully on the hot sands by the queen. Saharth lay curled about a particular grouping of eggs, and in fascination he recognized the golden shimmer of a queen egg, nestled in with several others of relatively large size.

"Congratulations Saharth." he whispered soft and approvingly.

It was a fantastic clutch, one of the best he had seen at any rate. He imagined Jenafa would be gleaming with pride in her weyrmate’s triumph. He scanned the sands compulsively for any sign of the Weyr woman. He had never before stolen a peek at a clutch before impression, but this clutch was his last chance.

He plopped down legs crossed a good distance away, or at least he hoped far enough away that the good queen wouldn’t decide to attempt to squash him or raise alarm. He studied the eggs wondering at the personalities of those inside, perhaps there would be a green or blue willing to call him their own. He dared even to hope for a brown or bronze, though truth be known if he impressed at all he would be content. He had stayed longer than he intended, and wasn’t the only person stealing a peek at the clutch.

[thedreamerlady]

Coming to see the eggs was something that every candidate did. Well, if they were Weyrbred. The Holder and Crafter boys only did it if someone let them in on the idea. It didn't happen every time, what with the Weyrbred not wanting to share, though it was inventible with those who'd been there for multiple hatchings.

This was his first hatching however, and he was going to see the eggs. What he hadn't expected was the other boy peering at the eggs from a safe distance away from the eggs. Athekere knew that with Saharth you could touch her smaller eggs without her getting crazy. And since he wanted the product of a smaller egg, he didn't mind at all. No one knew if touching the eggs made any difference, but Athekere doubted it hurt his chances. Thus, he would find his lifemate, and she would come to him at this clutch, instead of forcing him to wait.

"Hi." He said, looking at the other boy carefully. The young candidate was ready to run at the slightest aggressive move on the other boy's part. He knew better than to stand up for himself, and it wasn't like most boys were like Hierzet, who would at least tolerate Athekere's presence. And the other candidate might arrive at some point. Athekere liked to think it was because Hierzet wanted to make sure he was okay at his first clutch watch, but that probably wasn't the reason at all.

[hrsegrl]

Ugh. That was possibly the worst chore ever! All these punishments just because he had teased that girl. Well she had deserved it. All girls deserved it. They were nothing but breeders. He wondered what the other Candidates had had for chores. Certainly not what he had. One of these days someone higher up would see how his point of view was right. Until then he wasn't going to budge.

The perfect way to end this would be to go to the Clutch and hope against hope that his dragon was in there. After so many dissapointing Hatchings, he was still trying to find his life mate. Hiezet wouldn't lie and say he wanted to impress any color. His heart was set on a brown like his father and grandfather though he could potentially see himself with a blue. As long as he didn't get paired with a female dragon he would be fine. Greens were just like women, worthless.

Unfortunately when he reached the Hatching Sands there were two other boys there. He recognized Athekere but not the other boy. Shards and shells, why did he have to deal with that little kid today? The boy was annoying and he was a follower. At least he wouldn't have to deal with him alone. That other boy was stuck talking to him too.

"Athekere, are you finally old enough to stand?" He knew the boy wanted a dragon but paid little attention to what color he wanted. It didn't matter to him. No dragon would be as wonderful as his own so it didn't matter what anyone else wanted or impressed. The candidate was wearing his simple tan working pants and a shortsleeved white shirt. His shoes were worn in, almost old looking in appearance.

He looked the new boy over as if deciding whether the youth would be easy to bully or not. He preferred not to fight but rather to let people know he was in control of every situation he was in. "And who might you be?"

[laionii]

For a moment Danwyr regretted not getting to know the other candidates well enough. As he saw the smaller boy approach he struggled to recall his name. He couldn’t possibly have been any older than twelve or thirteen. He stretched out a bit, enjoying the warmth of the sand against his muscles. He grinned brightly, his smile comforting. It was likely that both boys had the same inclination and he didn’t seem like the type to want trouble. Not that Danwyr would have aided any this close to the eggs; there was no telling what kind of horrible imprint that might leave on the great and marvelous creatures who would soon emerge from the mottled shapes in the sand.

“Hello” He said the deeper tones of his voice warm and friendly. He gave a glance to the eggs which lay in neat groupings around him and smiled back at the boy. “What are you hoping for?”

The conversation was interrupted by yet another youth whom he only recognized by reputation and not by company. He had heard enough of the girls in the holds cry after being teased by Hierzet to have a firm dislike of the boy before ever meeting him formally. He felt a little anger at the comment directed to the younger male he now knew was called Athekere. The boy may have been young, but he had just as much right to be here as any of them. When the dark haired candidate turned to address him Danwyr collected his limbs gracefully rising to his feet.

“Danwyr searched of Telgar hold.” He responded evenly, his tone cold but calm. If he had come to bully someone he had picked the wrong target. However he suspected that he had come to sneak a peek, hoping that this time there would be a dragon for him somewhere among the eggs. Not that he thought any hatchling would have him, but these were thoughts he would keep to himself. Perhaps impressing might change the boy, though Danwyr doubted it severely.

---

[thedreamerlady]

Athekere might not have been the most observant of boys, not even on his best days, but the sense of tension was obvious even to him. He glanced at the two older boys, one as small as himself, and the other towering over both of them. If they did anything other than glare at each other, he'd remind of them of where they were. No one was stupid enough to get into a fight- even a verbal one, in front of a brooding Queen. Not unless they had a death wish. One that Queenrider Jenafa would answer swiftly. It seemed like a much better idea to answer this Holdboy's question. Danwyr as the boy's name was.

"I'm hoping for a blue or brown." He announced, attempting to be bright and cheerful. He supposed that was the best idea. "And I'm Athekere. Have you seen the freak dragons of Telgar?"

Tact? Not really. Athekere didn't mind though. And he wanted to know if this Danwyr had seen the Greenriding freaks from Telgar. he wondered what they were like. Did they pretend to be men? Did they have the mating sense of a Green? Where they even allowed outside of the Weyr?

It wasn't something he should really be asking about, but they were being secretive, so it didn't matter. His gaze turned longingly towards the eggs, but manners dictated he had to wait for Danwyr to speak before he could do that. So he waited. Patiently.

[laionii]

The younger boy chirped rather brightly, and Danwyr couldn’t help but smile at his first words. Danwyr wanted a brown, secretly hoped for a bronze, and would be satisfied with impressing at all. He raised an eyebrow at the question. Freaks? Danwyr had lived in Telgar and met some of the green riding women of Telgar Weyr. He chose his words carefully before speaking.

“I’ve seen them, but they look like ordinary people to me, some of them are rather attractive.” He said honestly enough. He had learned in his three years that women didn’t impress any dragon other than the queen. Greens were female as well, it made a certain kind of sense to Danwyr that females could ride them. He didn’t say this however but changed the subject.

“I am hoping for a brown or blue. Egg knows Id simply be happy to impress” he was quite as he said this. Contemplating the thought of being astride a great bronze. It was more than he dared hope for after it taking so long to impress.

[hrsegrl]

" I see." He added without any inflection or tone in his voice. He didn't much care for this tall boy but he wasn't going to start anything so close to the Hatching. He had to stay out of trouble long enough to Stand. Pompous bastard. If he had his will, he would impress and that giant boy would be left without. He didn't really care if the younger candidate impressed. Hierzet thought he was rather young to stand but then they were taking every Candidate they could get.

All these illnesses had an impact on the Weyr. No wonder they were allowing those two to stand! How standards had fallen. A Telgar Holdbrat and a twelve turn old, it was sad. Any dragon would rather have him over those two. They'd probably impress to some silly green dragons anyway. Females... eww.

Hierzet snorted, trying to cover his laughter, "Pretty? Women riding dragons are pretty? What in the world could possibly make you think that thats okay and natural? Men are meant to be on fighting dragons. Women on breeders. Its only natural and it makes logical sense." Hence those dragonriding women were freakish and wrong.

"Good luck with that. If the dragons leave you on the sands there is always next time." He said, in mock reassurance and walked farther away from the boys. He didn't like them and didn't want them to like him. If he needed to make friends he would. As it was his handful of trusted people were plenty.

[laionii]

Patience was a virtue that Danwyr had a great reserve of, but blatant ignorance and disrespect were things that never really set well with him. He eyed the boy coolly, his voice and manner as calm as the sea on a windless day. He was developing an even stronger distaste for this boy’s brand of pride and ignorance. Still he would not act in a way as to endanger the chances of standing. This year would be his last chance. He knew that he couldn’t endanger his chances.

“Says the boy who has never known a woman’s bed.” Danwyr quipped. He gave Athekere a curt nod. “Good luck to you both. At least one of you will need every ounce he can get” the words were well aimed at the bully. The tall youth strode out quickly. He hoped the best for Athekere but reserved very little good will to the other. He headed off to practice fencing. He needed a little venting.

[thedreamerlady]

Athekere peered into the gloom as both boys left. Well, at least they hadn't gotten into a fight. Ignoring any part of him that said to make friends with the new boy, or go see Hierzet, he stepped onto the sands, and selected three small eggs he hoped contained Greens.

Touching every one of them, and whispering words of encouragement to all of them, he was well aware of Saharth watching him benevolently, though he knew it could change at any moment. Finally finished with his exploring, and touching, he snuck back out of the sands.

Well. That had ended well.

End