Tessia and Briaseth

Tessia heard the call to the Sands and took a deep breath. This is it. She thought. It's now or never. She took a deep breath and struggled to stand. "Ugh." She limped, slowly and akwardly over to the Sands, cursing all the way. "The stupid eggs would choose now to hatch. I'm all the way over on the other side of the Weyrbowl and they decide that now is the perfect time, well that's just great! Just great!" She watched as all the other candidates ran onto the Sands in front of her. "There's something to be said about being the last one to the Hatching, especially when you're one of the candidates." She'd remained rather secluded from the rest of the candidates as she learned to walk again before the hatching. As a result she'd picked up the habbit of talking to herself.

She limped onto the hot sands, watching Welaisa. She knew that the woman didn't think she should be here. The look she was giving her right now could probably kill. If the dragons hadn't stood up for me, I would be outta here. She realized and looked at the eggs with a new determination. I'll prove that I was meant to be here. I'm going to impress, today! With that thought firm in her mind she stood beside the other female candidates and watched the eggs rock.

Do they have to hum? The noise was beginning to get on her nerves. For shards' sake! I'm nervous enough. I don't need this 'music'. Seeing the look that she was getting from some of the dragons, she decided to shut up. She sighed, praying that this whole thing was over quickly. She was not accustomed to standing for so long and her legs were beginning to throb. She felt slightly faint and saw spots of colour begin to dance in front of her eyes. She stumbled slightly.

Like hell I'm going to pass out on the Sands! She shook her head to clear it and bit her lip. The pain gave her something to think about other than the ache in her legs and the dizziness in her head. She was so busy trying to remain conscious that she completely missed the first impression.

"What happened?" She turned to the girl beside her. The girl simply pointed and Tessia watched the bronze dragon leave with his new lifemate. "It was a bronze? That's good luck right?"

The girl shrugged.

Some help you are. Tessia turned her attention back to the rocking eggs. Her heart leapt everytime she saw a green dragon emerge, but none of them wanted her. She kept an eye out for the gold, and briefly looked at the blues. She began to shift from foot to foot, her legs really bothering her. She barely paid any attention to the brown that entered the world. Greens and golds. Girls get greens and golds. I just have to stay on my feet until one of them chooses...

So I'm forced to choose a male rider, even though I know that you would be perfect for me, Tessia? The brown hatchling was sitting calmly at her feet. He'd never even thought of moving towards the boys.

Tessia simply stared at it, amazed. A brown?

The dragon creeled and nudge her leg with it's head. My name is Briaseth and I think I take offence to that remark. I don't want a male rider.

Tessia let out a joyful noise and fell to her knees beside the hatchling, ignoring the pain that was pulsing through her lower body. She wouldn't have missed this for the world. "Oh, I know that you don’t want any boy, Briaseth." She put her arms around the dragons neck.

What is wrong, rider-mine? You are hurt. The hatchling's voice was full of so much concern for his new rider.

Tears came to Tessia's eyes. "Don’t worry, my legs will get better soon." She struggled to stand.

The brown hatchling helped her by lending her balance. I will help you walk, rider-mine. Don't worry. I will take care of you.

That's very philosophical for a hatchling, Bri-love. She already had a nick-name for her lifemate. But you're going to need my help. How 'bout we get you fed?

The little dragonet creeled. Of course. I meant after we've eaten.

Tessia laughed. She forgot about the pain in her legs as she talked to her dragonet. Everyone was still watching the hatching, the gold was still to come, and why would they watch a crippled girl being lead by her dragon off the sands? Tessia herself wasn't even watching what she was doing. As a result only Briaseth noticed that all the way to the Feeding Grounds, Tessia didn't stumble once.

Read Tessia's Candidate Story!
Tessia impressed Briaseth at Tarizal Weyr.
Tessia's picture from Caleah's Anime Avatars.
Background from Cosmati Web Design.