Another Perspective

Writers: Devin, Jane
Date Posted: 16th January 2007

Characters: O'rian, D'ren
Description: Odarian stops to talk with D'ren about dragons and choices.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 4

Not as hot as some evenings, Odarian thought as he wandered across the Bowl on his way to his room. Not so many people out on the beach, and just a few dragons getting scrubbed by their riders in the lake. When he reached the shore he paused and looked at the nearest pair.

The dragon was bronze, the man doing to scrubbing looked about his own age. Odarian couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be the young bronzerider spending an evening scrubbing clean the soft bronze hide of a lifemate.

He stepped further down toward the water. "D'ren, isn't it?"

The bronzerider looked around and smiled. "Yes." He recognized the young man, having seen him around the Weyr before, but they hadn't met. "I'm afraid I can't recall your name."

"No reason that you would. Odarian." He was wearing his knots, so his craft and rank went without saying. He nodded toward the dragon. "Is he enjoying his wash?"

"As usual," D'ren said with a fond smile.

"And do you have to wash him every day?" Odarian asked curiously.
Patients had to be washed every day, babies had to have their dirty parts kept clean, but dragons? Despite having grown up around them he wasn't sure how much he really knew. "_Have_ to? Or do you do it because he likes it?"

"A little of both. I've skipped days a few times, now that he's full grown. But he complains if I don't give him his bath."

}:I like to be clean,:{ Menanth snorted. }:You do, too.:{ "Does he smell bad if you skip days?" Dragons had a distinctive smell, musky, spicy, but he'd never noticed on smelling unpleasant. "Or is it just part of keeping his hide clean and oiled to prevent dryness?"

"No, he doesn't smell. At least, not that I've noticed," he chuckled.
"It's too keep the hide healthy, and dragons like to be clean, like we do."

"Do they get wrinkly hide if they stay in the water too long?" Odarian asked with a grin. It was one of those questions he'd always wanted to ask but never had the nerve to ask it of his father.

"He spends a lot of time in the water, and I haven't seen him get wrinkly yet!" D'ren patted the bronze's hide.

"Well, that's one huge advantage they have over us, then. As well as wings and the ability to flame Thread, both of which are pretty useful these days."

D'ren nodded. "What they were born to do." And he had been born to Impress one of these magnificent creatures. "Are you a Candidate?" he asked Odarian.

"No. No, I'm not," he said, feeling vaguely guilty as he spoke. Should he be? "I thought -" He shrugged. "Being a healer seemed important, too."

"It is," D'ren agreed. "I was just wondering. I've seen you around before, and you're asking questions about dragons." He shrugged.

"I'm Weyrbred. I could Stand, if I asked. My parents were both riders." He glanced at D'ren briefly. "Hard to know what's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do is what _you_ think is best. Not what anyone else thinks."

Odarian smiled. "I think a different thing every candlemark."

"That must be confusing," D'ren chuckled. "I've always wanted to be a dragonrider, so there wasn't any question when I was given the choice to Stand."

"Always? Even before Thread?"

The bronzerider nodded. "Ever since I knew what a dragonrider was."

"What did you think you'd be doing? When you wanted to be one and nobody knew about Thread?" It was one of the reasons he'd wanted to be a healer.

It had been a very different world before Thread. "Besides being a rider? I thought I'd be a harper, too," D'ren answered.

"A good combination," the healer apprentice agreed. "I wish I'd always wanted to be a dragonrider - then I'd know what to do now. Perhaps growing up at the Weyr made me take them for granted."

"You're about my age, aren't you?" The bronzerider asked. "Sixteen?"

"Yes. Seventeen in a couple of months."

"Then you still have some time to decide if you want to Stand."

}:I'm still dirty,:{ Menanth pointed out.

**Sorry!** D'ren picked up his brush. "He's reminding me that I still need to finish washing him. You can help if you'd like."

"I'd love to but study calls. I've -" he searched for the right word.
"-appreciated talking to you." Getting another perspective on his perennial problem.

"You're welcome," D'ren said, smiling. "Good luck with your decision, whatever it might be."

"Thanks." One day he might fly beside the young bronzerider - one day he might help him as a healer. Time would tell.

Last updated on the January 17th 2007

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