We Are Family

Writers: Leigh M-F., Mirren
Date Posted: 2nd December 2015

Characters: A'kua, Jurilu, H'pran, G'tyn, Feena, L'rille
Description: Downtime, idle chatter, and scarves. Yes, scarves.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 16 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: F'nix, Saibra, weyrlingstaff, Lissath.

The little wood crate was plopped down on the table where a few weyrlings
were playing a friendly evening game of dragonpoker. "Dig in," said the
male green weyrling who had been carrying the box. "Mother went on a
knitting spree and sent me a scarf. She sent me several, actually, with a
note saying to pick my favorite. But since there are so many, I thought you
all should have a chance at some too, as the weather is only going to get
worse."

Jurilu -the girl who, weeks before, had complained her name was too long
before shortening it- put her cards face-down on the table and started
riffling through the soft, fuzzy contents. "Are there any in green?" she
asked hopefully. "I want to match Emridith."

Feera stood back and toyed with the end of her blonde plait. "That one is
close." She pointed. "A'kua, are you getting one?"

The bronze weyrling said absently, "Don't need one, thanks. I have a
shawl," and went back to practicing winding scraps of cloth around
Zeiranth's right foreleg for the basic first aid the class was covering.

Jurilu took the scarf Feera had pointed out and touched it to her cheek
experimentally. "It's not scratchy. Your mother chose some nice yarn for
this, H'parn."

"Thank you," the gifter replied.

"But this would match your eyes." Feera reached for one and held it out to
A'kua. "See?" Her cheeks flushed lightly.

The tall weyrling glanced over his shoulder at the offering and shook his
head. "Try F'nix. He might like- sorry, Zei," he interrupted himself as his
dragon pulled his paw away.

One of the brown weyrlings at the card table frowned at Feera, silently
asking what she thought she was doing.

She frowned at him. She was just trying to be nice. "It wouldn't suit
F'nix." She tossed the scarf back and stalked off to her green, a
full-blown pout on her lips.

The brownrider, G'tyn, gave A'kua's back a disgusted look. "Would it have
killed you to take the bloody scarf?"

A'kua looked over his shoulder again to give his classmate a fanged grin.
"Jealousy doesn't suit you."

G'tyn turned red and looked back to the scarves, grabbing one in an
attractive russet shade.

"Feera, do you still want to play?" Jurilu asked cautiously. "Or should
H'parn take over?"

"I don't care," Feera called over her shoulder. "I'm tired of playing
games." What that really meant was anyone's guess.

H'parn sat as more of the scarves were picked over and lifted Feera's
abandoned hand. "I fold," he said immediately. "So, anyone else hear from
their folks lately?"

"Mine said don't write to them again," L'rille said lightly. The young
greenrider shrugged, but there was sadness in his eyes.

Jurilu folded as well, leaving just G'tyn, L'rille, and one of the blue
weyrlings playing. "My father said the same thing, but Mother and my
favorite cousin still sneak me letters sometimes. Having Emridith makes me
feel better about that."

"Mine said I could come back _any_ time," Feena said, returning to stand
beside the table. "But I'm not sure they meant it."

G'tyn hastily spoke up. "Well, then- then ask a friend or relative you know
is unbiased if it's true. That way you'll get a straight answer."

"Yeah, maybe." She shrugged. "I have Vaenth, maybe that's all I need."

L'rille nodded. "My dragon is my family now."

"The entire Weyr is our family now," H'parn stated, giving everyone at the
table a warm smile. "That's a good thing. I don't mind being someone's
cousin." He plucked a scarf from the box without looking; it was a
checkered pattern of warm yellow, soft orange, and pale brown. "Ohh, nice.
I'll keep this one."

"Who are the Ma and Da?" L'rille asked. At fourteen turns, he felt to young
to be away from his.

G'tyn hesitated. He didn't have an answer. Neither did Jurilu or H'pran.

"The Weyrlin'masters."

Heads turned to A'kua, who was looking at them once more. "The
Weyrlin'masters," he repeated. "They're the parental figures." He shrugged
and turned his attention back to Zeiranth. "Hold still, I need to set this
clip. Yes, I know you're bored, but I'm almost done."

"But they're not Ma." L'rille swiped a tear away from his cheek. "You need
a Ma and Da to make a family. Or…"

Feera patted his shoulder. "We're all family. Maybe the Weyrwoman is Ma."

A'kua choked on nothing at that sentiment. (Well, that and the memory of
how smooth Saibra's skin had been when he had rubbed suntan oil on her
back.) He couldn't imagine Saibra being motherly. Lissath was more
maternally inclined. Zeiranth gave him a suspicious look, but didn't
comment.

"As long as I'm not Ma," Feera remarked,"I'm too young."

L'rille smiled wanly.

H'parn smiled at him encouragingly, and picked up the box of scarves. "I'm
going to see if any others want some of these. Feera, the spot's yours
again if you want it. Chin up, L'rille. You can do this."

"Yeah, I'm going to be all right." L'rille nodded.

Feera slipped back into a chair and picked up the cards. "Whose in?"

"Whoever's playin', don't trust G'tyn. He's bluffin'," A'kua stated.

"Why you little-!"

Last updated on the December 10th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

We Are Family