On Confidence and Trust

Writers: Aaron, Francesca
Date Posted: 12th October 2024

Characters: Kamalia, Z'renh
Description: Kamalia and Zorenh are a little vulnerable over breakfast.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 2 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Arrilon

Kamalia was nervous. She and Alaudath had been cleared to fly
Threadfall, which would be in three days. Drills had been going
normally. They had only been out of commission for two sevendays; not
enough time for any training to fade. However, she was still dreading
'Fall. Alaudath, of course, was completely confident in their
abilities and excited to get back to doing what she was made for. She
was sure she would need to rely on her green a lot to stay grounded
and calm.

She grabbed a breakfast of eggs, bread, and fruit and a glass of juice
and sat down at the nearest table, not really paying attention to who
was there. Alaudath needed a bath and she wanted to check over her
riding straps for the umpteenth time, so breakfast would be fast.
However, after taking a big bite of egg, she realized she knew the
person sitting not far from her. She chewed and swallowed. "Hey
Zorenh. Good morning." He had helped wash Alaudath while Kamalia's leg
had been healing.

Zorenh, of course, presumed that Kamalia had sat with him
intentionally, which, of course, was a big boost to his ego. He smiled
his most handsome and winning smile.

"Good morning, Kamalia. My duty to your beautiful Alaudath, of course.
How's your leg feeling?"

Kamalia returned the smile. "It's basically healed, thanks. I'm not
even sure if it's going to scar. It might completely disappear. And
washing Alaudath isn't an issue any more; although if you see us in
one of the weyrlakes, you're always welcome to come help."

"Oh, I'd love to," said Zorenh. "Any time." It was hardly as much work
to was a green as it was a bronze, so he doubted she really needed his
help. Which meant she must have enjoyed his company.

And it was not as though he would be losing out on anything if he
spent his time washing Alaudath instead of some bronze. He had washed
more bronzes and browns than he could count and it had yet to do him
any good on the Sands.

Well, he was certainly eager. She remembered the excitement of being
able to get close to dragons when she was a Candidate. "Have you had a
chance to wash many dragons?"

"I've been washing dragons since I was knee high to a trundlebug."
Zorenh grinned. "But it's not as often I get to spend time with a
rider as lovely as you."

Was he flirting with her? Did he think she had been flirting with him?
She was reminded of herself as a Candidate, and then a young
dragonrider; flirting with bronzeriders and feeling very grown up. He
was young, but his blue eyes in contrast with his brown hair were
nice. "I could tell you had experience," she said, placing more
emphasis on the final word.

Zorenh's grin broadened into a smile. At least one person in this
sharding frozen weyr finally recognized him for who he was.

He downed a few swigs of his cooling klah.

"How are you settling back into drills?"

"Ok, I guess," she replied, more as a question than a statement. "We
weren't grounded for long at all, so all the muscle memory is still
there. But, have you ever had confidence that you could do something
and then lost that confidence? I don't know if I can trust myself in
'Fall anymore. I trust Alaudath, but I'll be glad when the next fall
is over." She really should not be confiding in a Candidate she barely
knew, but she could not help herself. Maybe she needed to make an
appointment with a mindhealer.

"Sorry to bring the mood down," she said with a small smile. "You were
probably hoping for a quiet breakfast."

"Not at all," said Zorenh. "I can't say I know _exactly_ how you feel.
But yes, I have lost a little bit of confidence lately." If she could
confide in him, perhaps she would appreciate a little vulnerability
from him. "I've been waiting a long time. And a lot of folks back at
Dolphin Cove were losing their faith in me, because my bronze hasn't
hatched yet. I came here for a fresh start, but... I didn't realize
just how hard that would be."

Kamalia was surprised to hear his admission. "Coming to a new place is
hard," she agreed. "I remember coming here when I was Searched and
finding it exciting but also overwhelming. I know transferring between
Weyrs as a Candidate is different though. You know, my brother went
from here to Dolphin Cove Turns ago to try his luck there as a
Candidate."

Realizing Arrilon's lack of Impression wouldn't be very useful to
mention, she quickly shifted gears. "At least there are new Candidates
coming all the time, so there are always potential new friends. And,
my opinion doesn't matter during a Hatching, but I'll be rooting for
you from the Stands."

Zorenh smiled again. The thought of a woman cheering for him was thrilling.

"I'll look for you in the crowd," he said.

Last updated on the October 18th 2024

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On Confidence and Trust