Miarra stood on the beach next to Leoca and shivered. It was the middle of the day, but the cold wind coming off the lake made it quite chilly. And these robes aren't really made of the thickest material... She sighed, stomped her feet and rubbed her hands together. I can't believe Mala talked me into this...
She sighed and ran her fingers through her short red hair. She smoothed out the candidate robes around her, noticing, not for the first time, her wiry frame. She hated how skinny she was. Other girls said she was lucky, she couldn't gain weight if she tried, but Miarra never thought looking like a pole was a good thing. Her bright green eyes snapped up at the sound of an egg cracking. She breathed, Finally.
The first dragon to emerge was a green, it didn't choose anyone, it didn't even look. It was in pain, that was obvious. The tall girl wished that someone would do something for it. "Who does she want?" She cried, hoping that someone would step forward to help it. She held her breath as Maranni made her way to the green and they both left the sands. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and stepped back.
Leoca laughed and stepped beside Miarra. "Nervous?"
Miarra smiled at her friend. "A little." The two had become fast friends. They bonded over a common fear of heights. So now here they were, down by the water...
"Oh." Leoca made a small noise. "We're missing it." Both girls turned back to the hatching.
A green-blue dragon exploded from it's shell. It immediately moved towards the girls. It flopped down in front of Leoca and tapped her with it's long tail. Miarra watched as her new friend bonded to the dragon and they both left. She smiled and gave Leoca a quick thumbs-up, before turning back to the remaining eggs.
She took a deep breath. Okay, if Leoca can handle this, so can I. C'mon dragon, I'm ready. Almost as if the eggs had heard her, two began rocking at the same time. The two dragonets that came from the eggs were both greenish. One was obviously a flyer, but the other... Miarra looked closer at the bluish-green hatchling. She's most definately a swimmer, look at those flippers.
You will not have to fly again, at least not with me, chuckled a mental voice to Miarra. I do not think I would care to fly either. Tynith is my name. Could you help me with the food? I can see my brother is already hogging it.
Miarra looked to the feeding area where Leoca's dragonling was already on his second bowl of meat. Miarra laughed and hugged Tynith. "We can get more, and besides, you’ll like fish much better, I think." She picked up the small teal-green dragon to help her off the hot rocks.
Miarra laughed and stretched. The warm water washed over her as she woke up. "Did I fall asleep again, love?"
Tynith smiled. You did. Everytime we go swimming you seem to take a nap.
Miarra smiled. It was near sunset. The setting sun turned the water a beautiful golden color. It looked like Tynith was swimming through a sea of gold. "I can't help it love. The tides are so soothing."
Tynith sighed and Miarra laughed. "At least your here now love. I used to fall asleep just floating on the waves. Almost gave Mala a heart attack everytime she saw it. She kept thinking that I'd drowned."
Tynith smiled. Would have served you right. The water-dragon picked up speed. Miarra smiled and held on tight. The green/blue dragoness dipped beneath the water, then burst forth from it, gliding for a short distance like a flying fish. She kept her speed and continued to jump until Miarra fell off. Tynith laughed and returned to where she'd lost Miarra. The red-head was treading water and sputtering.
When Tynith came near she playfully slapped her lifemate on the nose. "I almost inhaled the entire ocean you silly green." She pulled herself back onto Tynith's back.
Tynith laughed. That's what I'll do if you fall asleep on me again. We don't get that much time to fool around in the water. You have too much stuff to do on land. The green pouted.
Miarra smiled. "Maybe I could switch with someone and get chores dealing with the shipfish."
The green pulled herself onto shore and let her rider off. Miarra watched her green get back into the water.
The green was really a sight to see in the water. She moved quickly and gracefully and could even soar out of the waves for a few seconds. Her wings made better flippers though. A long white ridge on her head made her look very majestic, to Miarra at least. The last time they'd checked, Tynith was 23 meters long. Not bad for a green, Miarra thought as she laid on the beach and watched Tynith catch her dinner.
Tynith returned, full and happy. The sun had set and stars were beginning to appear. "Shall we return to the Weyr, love? Mala's probably worried about us."
The green nodded and Miarra mounted. Instead of heading on to the shore, the green swam quickly out to sea. Miarra held on tight and braced herself for the cold of between. Tynith jumped twice and then, mid-air, disappeared.
Miarra entered the kitchen shivering. Mala smiled and waved to her friend. Miarra's teeth chattered, but she managed to smile back. The red-head sat down quickly at her table, still dripping wet. R'yle and T'ran smiled from across the table.
"That jump from water to between's a real kick in the pants isn't it?" T'ran smiled.
Both of the youths also rode water-bound dragons and fought Thread with her, from the safety of the ocean. R'yle grinned. "That's why you go between from the air."
T'ran knocked his friend in the arm. R'yle's dragon, Viharth, could fly for short distances, unlike T'ran's Oshianith who could barely move out of the water.
Miarra laughed. "Sure rub it in." The tall girl was immediately in a better mood as dinner was served.
R'yle raised a brow. "Would you rather fly?"
Miarra quickly shook her head. "Not on your life. Tynith's watery nature can be a problem sometimes, but I made a pact."
T'ran smiled between mouthfuls of meat. "What?"
"Never to fly again." Miarra grinned back. "Come hell or high water."
Read Miarra's candidate story!
Miarra impressed Tynith from Baeris Kshau's Healing Den.
Background from Jolie's Designs.
