To Swim With Dolphin's or Fly With Dragons

Writers: Rebecca, Rylie
Date Posted: 8th March 2006

Characters: Shauni, O'ran
Description: Shauni and Orlan get acquainted and discuss future ambitions
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 21 of Turn 3

Shauni was a bit uncertain what to do with her first restday since arriving at the hall. She had actually been at the hall for over a sevenday, but settling in had taken a fair amount of time and the first restday had been threadfall. After her morning meal she headed down to the docks, partially out of habit. Noting a dark-haired apprentice dangling his feet in the water, she headed in his direction. Orlan looked up and smiled to see the apprentice. He was glad that this was a craft that allowed women. He mother had been a harper in the north.

"Hi," she offered returning the boys smile. "I'm Shauni. I think we might be in some of the same classes." "Orlan, your the new girl, which dolphin passed you in?" he asked.

"Well, I interviewed with Mal and Kibb. But Kibb was really the test. I will never forget that ride!"

Orlan smiled. "Same for me. Not sure it was too fair, my father's the hallmaster, so I couldn't see the dolphin's saying no."

Shauni'eyes widened "Wow, Master Mosley is your father? So have you lived here all your life?"

"It's not that big of a deal, he just got he promotion. We're from up north, we moved here because my mother died and father decided he couldn't handle staying."

"Oh," she answered not sure what she should say. "I lost my mom, too. When I was three. I sure don't see _my_ Da ever moving North, though."

"Doesn't like the cold huh? Or is it this crazy ideas about women?"

"Hates the cold!" she answered with a grin. So do you like it here, or do you miss the North?"

"It's not so bad, the water's warmer. I like the weyr being so close. Have you meet a dragon yet?" Shauni gave him a big smile, "My brother's a brownrider. I've even got to fly on one!"

"Really?" his face lit up. "What was it like?"

"Exciting of course, but scary. It's so high. I love the feel of dragon hide. Have you ever met a dragon?"

"No, but I want too. Sometimes there's this blue who comes by but I've never said anything too him."

"D'aun keeps pretty busy with thread falling an' all, but I expect he'll come down and visit me now that I'm so close. If he does, you can meet Zyeanuth!"

"Really?! That would be really neat. What Weyr does your brother belong to?"

"He's right here at Dolphin Cove Weyr," she answered brightly. "He didn't come home too often, but I know he'll come here an visit me. An' he loves to show off Zyeanuth. He is once of the best looking browns I've ever seen." She scrunched up her face a bit and then chuckled, "Not that I've seen more than him close up." "At least you know a dragon. I heard my father asked the Weyrwoman not to search from the hall. He says that's not true, but I heard it from a journeyman."

"But why would he do that?"

"We don't have very many apprentices. I think its because he doesn't want me to go the weyr."

Shauni's brow furrowed at this news. She had been raised in the South and though many had been displeased with the weyr in turns past, since threadfall had started, she thought everyone realized just how important dragonriders were. "Well, even if he did ask, the weyrleaders would never agree," she said with the confidence of a girl of thirteen turns who believes she knows most things. "That's what I heard, guess that's why he's in such a bad mood."

"Well, I haven't been here long, but it sounds like there has been alot going on here at the Dolphin Hall. I think there might be a few reasons he might be in a bad mood," the girl reasoned and then looked quickly at her new friend, "Not that I would really know. I don't know your father at all other than just having met him. He seemed nice to me..."

"He is, to everyone else. Well, he's not mean to me, we just can't seem to get along."

"That's too bad. I got along well enough with my Da, but then with six sons to see to, he barely seemed to know that I existed."

"That changed?"

"Well, kind of, he seemed more interested in me after I said I wanted to apprentice to a craft, he even came with me himself to interview. He's really big on crafting."

"Well, obviously my father's pretty big on it too, being a hallmaster. I'm just not sure it's what I want. I like the dolphins, their a lot of fun and taught me to swim, but..."

"Yeah?" Shauni sidled closer, wondering what it was that her new friend really wanted to do. "I think I'd like to impress. Or at least try. When we came to the Weyr, their so beautiful."

"Well, living so close, you should definitely have the opportunity."

"I don't know that he'd let me. My father I mean. He's pretty set on me being a dolphineer like him."

Shauni didn't quite know what to say. Her own father had been proud to see his son go to the weyr, but then he'd had other sons to follow him in his craft. "Well, you're plenty young, there's loads of time to figure a way to make it happen. When we see D'aun, we should ask him about the best way to meet with a searchrider. It would have to help if a search dragon recommended you to the weyr wouldn't it?"

"I don't think he would turn down a rider face to face. Not after what I head about him and the Weyrwoman."

"I'm sure he wouldn't. You shouldn't worry about it. Now, what types of fun are there around here for a kid on restday?" the girl asked with a lightening speed topic change not uncharacteristic of her. "Swim and get to know the dolphins. It's one of the only kinds of fun that won't get you into trouble."

"So are you up for a swim?" she asked deciding it was far too soon to consider getting into trouble. "Sure, want to see if any of the dolpins want to come with us?"

"Absolutely!"

Last updated on the March 8th 2006

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To Swim With Dolphin's or Fly With Dragons