The Chill of Dreams

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 1st June 2026

Characters: Oriene
Description: Oriene wakes up to definitely being a dragonrider
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: By'ler, Tirraze, Saedyna, Cirina

Oriene

Notes:
~*~

Oriene was having the most wonderful dream.

She was flying, astride a dragon that had to be By’ler’s Reviath or maybe Tirraze’s Riamorth except that every time Oriene tried to look down at the hide, she couldn’t tell the color. But it was just her, on this dragon, with the wind in her hair, the clouds spread out beneath them, and the world just a wingflap away. She tilted her head back to enjoy the feel of the warm sun. Stretched her arms wide to relish the freedom.

It wasn’t until the sun dipped behind the clouds that Oriene felt the chill of being aloft. A shiver rippled through her. Then another. It was so cold. She looked down at her arms. To her surprise, she wasn’t wearing a jacket! Why was that? Maybe they should land. Or fly back into the path of the sun.

Oriene was dimly aware of something heavy draping across her body in her bed. Warmth began seeping back into her. By’ler. It had to be him. He was good about cuddling her in the middle of the night.

The flight resumed, if even the sun was still hidden. Warmed by that outside source, Oriene fell back into relishing the experience. This must be how every dragonrider felt every day! The sky was the limit. The clouds, their landscape. Infinite. Boundless. The ground could only hold them for so long! She felt like a piece to the puzzle of her life that had been missing for so long was finally in place, even in this dream.

A gnawing hunger started in her stomach, dragging her back towards wakefulness. Her protests went unheard as the dream dissipated like smoke, leaving her feeling empty, ravenous, and weighed down by gravity once again.

“By’lerrrr,” she mumbled, trying to shrug him off. It had been _such_ a good dream. She didn’t want to open her eyes but she did. Now she was being smothered by a…

Dragon?

Startled, Oriene sat up. Mostly. The weight of the green dragon slid, pooled, and two opalescent eyes blinked owlishly at her. }: I’m sorry, :{ Esperanth apologized. }: You were cold and I don’t know who By’ler is but they aren’t here. I am. :{

Elation that the dream wasn’t lost completely, that it would one day come true filled Oriene. Cupping the triangular head, she started laughing. “It wasn’t a dream! Well, it was. This time. But you’re here! You’re really here!” She was a dragonrider! The last of her friends group, she was finally among them!

But at Dragonsfall. Which explained the cold Oriene felt. She was absolutely not prepared for the change in altitude here. She’d only come with what she had worn to the Hatching, which was honestly overdressed for Dolphin Cove. How considerate of Esperanth then, to cover her up like a living blanket!

Oriene rubbed her nose against Esperanth’s snout. “You’re the best, keeping me warm like that.” Esperanth bobbed her head. “You’re hungry, aren’t you? That’s your hunger I’m feeling?” Oriene asked as she went to slide out of the bunk.

}: I tried to let you sleep as long as possible, :{ Esperanth said apologetically. Her stomach rumbled audibly.

Laughing at her luck, Oriene answered, “It’s okay! Okay, first order of business will be to get you fed and then find some warmer clothes and blankets for me. If I’m going to be living here for the next Turn, I’ll need to get a better wardrobe.” And send a message to Dolphin Hall about what had happened! Her parents were going to be so surprised!

Additional realization stopped Oriene in her tracks. She was a dragonrider now. She never had to go back to that doubt over her purpose, her path in life. Esperanth had found her. This was it. This would be her life now.

She threw her arms around Esperanth’s neck. “Thank you,” she burbled into the soft hide, feeling tears fill her eyes. Her head swam with gratitude and joy.

Esperanth nuzzled her rider’s blonde hair. }: I’m still vexed with you that you weren’t already on the Sands but at least you didn’t make me wait for _too_ long. :{ A pause, and then, }: I’d forgive you faster if you’d feed me breakfast though. :{

Oriene kissed Esperanth’s nose. “Anything for you.” She couldn’t wait to start their training. Even the mortal danger of Threadfall was a pale, faraway thought as her mind burbled with all of the adventure and love she could feel around her. It didn’t occur to her that she would have to move everything to her new Weyr. Or put her relationship with By’ler on hold. Or would it continue after Esperanth grew up? Or what to tell her parents? Or when she would see them again? What about Tirraze and Saedyna? Cirina? They were all spread out now! What about--

No, the only thing running happily through her mind was Esperanth. “I guess every dragonrider feels like this,” she said as she got dressed. “I always heard them talk about how it felt but feeling it so different!” Words just really couldn’t capture it all! What a fascinating thing!

}: Well, now you know, :{ Esperanth said as she watched her new rider. }: And we have our whole lives together to discover more. Though you’ll have to tell me who this By’ler person is. They fill your thoughts. :{

Oriene blushed. “He’s my…well, you know what, Esperanth? It can wait. I’ll explain all of it to you when you get older because it’s complicated and we have more important things to focus on first.” It could all wait. Her parents. By’ler. Her friends. Moving. All of it could wait.

Esperanth considered this. }: Fair enough. Food first, then a bath. And then something called ‘lessons’ for you. That should be interesting. :{

The hatchling took to leading her rider towards the feeding area, which was fine by Oriene because she was still staring at Esperanth with a feeling of dumbfounded luck. Wait until everyone found out that she now had a dragon!

Last updated on the June 4th 2026

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The Chill of Dreams