Tamika bounces out of bed, today being a day that she's been waiting for, for a long time. Today someone was bringing a shipment of firelizard eggs from Talor Cliff Weyr. They were even supposed to hatch within the next 24 hours. Tamika, in her 15th turn couldn't help but bounce up and down with joy. Her father had told her she could have one of the little firelizards. She couldn't believe her luck. She dressed quickly in her usual outfit, leather pants, and a white tunic, and ran downstairs to breakfast.
"Good morning, love." Her mother smiled as she saw Tamika's excitment.
"'Morning Mother. Have they come?"
"Well...." Her mother dragged it out, seeing Tamika get more and more excited with every passing minute. "Your father is out getting them right now. And if you..." Her mother trailed off, it was pointless finishing the sentance, Tamika was already on her way outside.
Tamika didn't mean to sneak up on the two older men, but she didn't want to disturb them either. She walked over to her father and greeted him. "Good Moring Father."
Her father smiled, knowing very well why she had rushed out here so quick. "Good Morning Tamika." Tamika stood impatiently and her father laughed to himself. "I've got your egg, calm down, girl. You've got to learn some patience." Tamika whooped with joy.
Tamika spent all day with her eggs, sitting beside the fire. Her mother, father, friends and brother had all tried to distract her, but she wouldn't be moved. It was her egg, she was going to get a firelizard. To Tamika's disappointment, supper rolled around with no action from the egg. Tamika sighed, slightly bored and went down to dinner. Half-way through dinner they heard a shout. One of the other Hold member's firelizard had hatched. The entire family dropped what they were eating and ran to Tamika's room. Sure enough, the little egg was rocking. Tamika picked it up. Her brother, Damian pressed closer to see.
"Damian!" Tamika squeeled. "Get out of the way. I can't do this..." The egg cracked. Tamika fumbled for the food as she watched the creature hatched. She only turned her back for a minute to find the food, but that was enough. Her brother, in his excitement at seeing the creature, handed over the last bit of his supper to the creatue. It waddled over to him, the beautiful bronze creeling at him. Tamika stared at her brother. Her parents said nothing. Her brother laughed.
"I guess he likes'me better than you." He commented. Another creel was heard from downstairs, this one louder and more urgent.
"Oh," Her father commented, "The watch weyr must have hatched as well. Don't worry, I left some food down for it, they can take care of themselves."
Tamika burst into tears. She threw herself out of the room where Damian was being scolded and congratulated at the same time. It wasn't fair, that was her bronze, that was her firelizard. She was so mad. She tripped in the kitchen and didn't bother getting up. She lay on the kitchen floor crying until she realized she wasn't the only one crying. The blue watch weyr had fallen on his back and couldn't get to the food. Tamika stood up and walked over to it, still mad.
"You're pretty pathetic, aren't you? But then you don't have anyone dying to impress you, do you?" Tamika looked at the little hatchling, and suddenly felt very sorry for it. She picked up the bowl of food her father had left for it and turned the creature, right side up again.
When her parents came down they hoped that Tamika had cried herself out, and she was willing to take this like a grown-up. She was, after all, 15 turns. Instead of finding a sulking Tamika as they expected, they found Tamika and the little watch weyr hatchling curled up together, asleep by the fire. Her mother smiled, so everything worked out after all.
Back to Tamika's room