Serri cringed as the thunder crashed in the sky above her. Tsuki chirped loudly and buried himself in Serri's hair. Even though she kept her hair short, the bronze firelizard always managed to entagle himself in it. She sighed and helped the creature free himself. He chirped happily, but Serri couldn't hear him over the roar of the thunder. They both cringed.
Serri sighed and went to the window. Glancing out she saw black clouds for as far as the eyes could see. "So much for star gazing tonight, eh Tsuki?" She said as she shut the window again. Turning around again she saw her flit hiding beneath her pillow. She smirked. "Scared of a little thunderstorm?" The thunder roared a response and Serri jumped into bed beside the creature, no longer smirking. "Me too."
From her vantage point under the covers, Serri heard someone pounding on the doors beside her. She peered out from under the sheets as the person pounded on hers. A loud voice called quickly, "Candidate, the eggs are rocking!"
"Now?" Serri offered weakly with another glance towards the lightning.
She could hear the laughter in the voice. "Now."
She crawled out of bed and into her candidate robes. She opened her door to be greeted with a burst of hot air. She immeadiatly began sweating. "C'mon Tsuki. Let's go."
The bronze slowly climbed out from under the pillow. Thunder rumbled in the distance and made the flit remember why he'd been under the pillow in the first place. He chirped and resumed cowering.
"Fine." Serri snickered. "Chicken." The thunder roared, Serri jumped and ran to catch up with the other candidates.
Almost 2 hours later, Serri was standing on the sands, cooking. She wiped sweat from her face using the sleave of her robes, but stopped when she received a stern look from the Weyrling Master. She sighed and watched the eggs continue to rock.
Weyrleader D'ten stood and made an announcement. "Being as it's so very hot in the Sands area, we're making an exception for this Hatching." The Weyrleader turned to look at the mass of candidates before him, "If you've clothes beneath your robes, go on and take them off. Tradition can be squelched this once." His normally stern features, almost an identical match of his brother, the Weyrling Master, turned into a smile and he winked saucily.
Serri sighed in relief and began to wriggle her way out of the robes. Half-way to freedom, she stoped, remembering that she was wearing nothing but a light silk nightgown under her robes. She paused in thought for a few minutes. I wonder what D'ten considers clothes. I mean the nightgown is a little short, but it covers everything. On the other hand, do I really want to impress in my pajamas?
Eventually the heat made up her mind. Serri removed the robes, folded them neatly, and resumed her place on the sands. She received many odd looks from the candidates and spectators alike. They were surprised to see the conservative Serri wearing so little. Serri went red from the tip of her toes to her head, and everyone could tell. A few of the girls giggled and a few of the boys stared. Serri prayed that the hatching would begin quickly.
Her prayers were answered as the first egg began to crack and a bronze nose forced itself out of the shell. Serri took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Nothing to do now but wait, and hope.
As soon as the hatching began, Serri watched the egg that she'd been drawn to during the candidate classes. Even though all around her people were impressing, she couldn't take her eyes off the little rocking egg. Her heart skipped seven or eight beats as 'her' egg cracked revealing, to her amazement and surprise, a tiny white dragon. Five other eggs had cracked at the same time, but Serri didn't even look in their direction. The white, on the other hand, appears distressed at their presence and squeeks angrily at them. She tries her hardest to race across the sands and reach the candidates before the rest of them. The larger dragonets hang back, letting the white go first. How odd... Serri couldn't help but think.
Not odd Serri. I'm Dayzujeith and they know that I've been waiting months to see you. The little white hatchling moved as quick as her legs would take her.
Serri was shocked. She stared at the dragon, her dragon, and felt tears come to her eyes. Months?
Yes. Ever since I first heard you tell me about the stars I knew you were for me. I must get to you before any of my siblings steal you away!
Serri laughed as she knelt to embrace Dayzujeith. Tears of gladness flowed freely down her cheeks and glistened on the white dragon's sparkling hide. "Yes, yes, you made it, Dayzujeith." She started to carry her lifemate off the sands, sniffling.
Serri, my rider, why are you crying? Did you want another dragon? Do you not want me?
Serri laughed through her tears. Never, my love, never. I'm crying because I'm so happy I don't know what else to do.
Dayzujeith smiled. Then I shall cry to! I'm very happy to finally meet you in person Serri! The young white dragon began wailing. Everyone on the Feeding Grounds turned and looked at them. Some because of the loud noise, still others because Serri's nightgown was white and now wet from the rain.
Serri knew that two hours ago she would have been embarassed beyond belief, but somehow, standing in the rain in a short white nightgown with a wailing white hatchling seemed perfectly normal to her now. She smiled at the odd looks she was receiving.
Dayzujeith quieted as she began eating. Serri, why are they all looking at us?
Tsuki appeared and landed on Serri's shoulder, glad to be out in the rain, now that the thunder had passed. He danced in the air, bronze hide shimmering with the rain. Below him Dayzujeith's white hide shimmered like the stars.
Serri could have explained human modesty, or proper behavior, but instead she laughed, stood up and twirled in the rain. "I have no idea." She knelt beside Dayzujeith. "And I don't care." She kissed the top of her lifemate's forehead.
The white hatchling's eyes whirled a multitude of colours, blissfully ignorant of the world and it's ways. Me neither.
Serri impressed Dayzujeith at Talor Cliff Weyr.
Tsuki's picture is from Honshu Weyr.
Serri’s picture from Caleah’s Anime Avatars.
Background from Jolie Joyau’s Web Designs.
