Left Standing (1/2)

Writers: Nicole
Date Posted: 10th April 2006

Characters: Saralorn
Description: He Stands at Vilarth's Hatching, and doesn't Impress.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 8 of Turn 3

As soon as the dragons began to hum, it was a mad rush for the barracks.

Robes were thrown on and bodies raced into line. Saralorn spun around,
looking desperately for Jerric, Illiana, or someone he knew closely to share
what might be the last few moments of their Candidacy. But, they were lost
somewhere in the crowds, and he settled into line beside less well-known
faces.

The line moved onto the Sands and he followed, giving his bow to Zylarth and
Vilarth as he passed. The small clutch they circled around was a reminder of
how many would be disappointed today.

Saralorn cast a glance up to Lenala in the Stands. He could only imagine how
she felt right now with all the whispers and strange looks. He felt some
sympathy for the goldrider, but her scenario was oddly reassuring. It
assured that even the highest ranking of dragonriders wasn't perfect, unlike
what the stories of his youth had told him. He felt somehow more likely to
Impress knowing that one of Pern's most perfect creatures could accept and
love even his imperfections.

Then, the first egg cracked, and his heart stopped in his chest. A green
nose poked through, and he let out the breath he'd unconsciously been
holding. The dragonet quickly shed the rest of her shell and made her way
across the Sands to a cluster of Candidates. He could see Illiana standing
with them. Was the green headed to her?

Sure enough, she locked eyes with the little green and screamed out "Her
name is Arianath!"
Saralorn screamed and cheered like an idiot for her, and did so so
animatedly that he almost missed Herimos' Impression to a brown. He clapped
for him, watching as they walked off the Sands.

All of a sudden, it was as if eggs were cracking rapid-fire and he watched
as Oniya exited the Sands with green Sarlenth, and then a blue made his way
to Sherevair. He yelled out to him across the Sands, doubting he heard him,
and clapped loudly, still cheering as they exited the Sands.

It didn't surprise him, really, he could have pegged Sherevair as bisexual
if he'd taken much time to think about it.
In the meantime, he began to notice the distinct lack of bronzes and looked
around at the eggs for any that might hold one. They all seemed...very
small, and they were rapidly narrowing down on the last eggs.

A brown broke its shell and headed towards that first cluster of Candidates,
stopping at the feet of Jerric. Saralorn cheered at him, yelling his
congratulations across the open space, but his cheering quickly changed
directions as Eira Impressed a lovely green. Shy little Eira. Maybe this
would bring her out of her shell.

Three eggs remained, and one of them cracked into a green. He didn't watch
where she went. His eyes were fixed on the little blue that was headed his
direction. His heart pounded in his chest and each breath felt forced.

The little dragonet looked up at him, and Saralorn felt himself reach
forward. But, the dragonet turned and Impressed to the boy he had found
sleeping in his bed a short while ago. He clapped Bedan on the shoulder as
he went by.

"Good job, man," he said, smiling at him and clapping as they moved off the
Sands.

He watched as the last egg began to crack, and as if in some display of
group mind, the entire circle of Candidates encroached on it. He watched as
a brown snout poked up, wings flailed out of the shell and legs found their
footing in the middle of the rubble. He watched as the brown moved towards
him. Their eyes met, and the tension of anticipation built within him again.

Just when he was so sure this one would be his, the brown stopped and butted
the boy he was standing by instead.

Saralorn stood watching as they left the Sands together. The eggs were all
accounted for, and he'd been left Standing. There were obvious looks of
disappointment on the faces around him, and some of the girls had tears in
their eyes. Saralorn gave a disappointed sigh to the eggshells in front of
him and moved off the Sands to change.

Last updated on the April 22nd 2006

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Left Standing (1/2)