Hatching Hopes

Writers: Devin, Cait
Date Posted: 18th January 2009

Characters: Cosani, Teiluka
Description: The two girls talk a little about their hopes for the Hatching.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 4

Cosani

Cosani sighed as she grabbed her broom. "Oh, well. At least it's not cleaning the dragon infirmary." She wrinkled her nose. She'd heard about how fun _that_ chore was.

Used to chores by now after Turns of being an apprentice, Teiluka was still a bit miffed to be sweeping. It wasn't disgusting but it wasn't sharding interesting at all either. Grabbing a broom, she moved to join the other candidate, a girl she hadn't met yet. There were lots of those, especially since the only things that Luka did with the others was chores and classes. Not to mention how many girls they had packed into the barracks now, with that gold egg waiting.

There was a lot of sweeping at Dolphin Cove, with all the sand. Cosani glanced over at the other girl while she worked. Shorter than her, but she looked older. "How long have you been Standing?"

Luka smiled ruefully. It seems like she was destined to get ribbed by everyone about her late candidacy. Not that she was sure that would be this girl's reaction, but she'd learned that few people weren't shocked by her lack of eagerness to be out on the Sands. "I actually just became a candidate, so this is my first time. What about you?"

"This is my second time," Cosani said. "Did you just get Searched?"

Luka shook her head. "I'm weyrbred, been here since the collapse of Thayan Peak Weyrhold. And I'm a dragonhealer apprentice, which means I have to Impress. Hopefully I didn't wait too long," she added.

Cosani paused and frowned. "Why did you wait?"

Luka shrugged. "I know it sounds weird, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be Standing. I mean, I went through all the trouble of Turns of leaning the dragonhealing, but I was...a little scared of going through the whole process and if I did get chosen by a dragon, then I would have to face Fall. I've seen the damage that can do, so that made me a little unsure. Dumb, I know, but I've never really felt all that sure that I'd Impress and walking away alone sounded terrible."

"It is," Cosani said, looking at the floor.

Luka immediately felt bad for mentioning it. "I'm sorry. I had someone else tell me that it wasn't that bad because it made you realize how amazing Impressing was, so you looked forward to it. Me, I'm just not that optimistic."

"Well, it won't happen again." Cosani resumed sweeping.

Luka frowned, confused. "You mean you won't walk away alone again? What makes you so sure?"

"There's a gold this time."

That stopped Luka cold. Oh dear, was she going to be one of those? She had such a hard time talking to the girls who were so convinced that gold was all that had value. She wasn't sure what to think of Cosani, but she hated that mentality. "Well, I guess I wish you luck then. I don't have any interest in the gold, so I suppose that'll be one less to compete with."

"Good." Cosani's smile was amused, but not smug.

Luka grinned. "You must have a lot of competition though, seems like the barracks is packed full of girls. I don't know how you all get along together, with so many different people crammed into one place."

Cosani snorted. "We don't."

That made Luka laugh. She'd suspected as much. "Not open warfare though, I hope?"

"Can't be that obvious," Cosani said. "I don't want the Headwoman involved."

Luka grinned. "Makes me glad I'm staying out of it, not having to be in the barracks. Are there girls there you do get along with?" She asked curiously. She'd imagine life would be rather awkward if you fought with everyone.

Cosani shrugged a shoulder. "Some of them are okay."

"That's good at least. That way you don't have to fight with everyone. I haven't met too many of the other girls, or other candidates for that matter." She added, blushing a little. Given she wasn't all that fond of being around strangers, she hadn't bothered to go out and get to know many of the others.

"Lucky." Cosani took a few steps over to get at the corner.

Luka frowned. Cosani must really not get along well with some of those other girls. Not that she was overly surprised. So many personalities jammed into such a small space guaranteed at least some fighting. Resuming her sweeping, she just hoped it wasn't too bad and felt a little guilty for feeling glad that she wasn't stuck in the barracks.

"But things will get better," Cosani said, "after the Hatching."

"I'd imagine they'll get crazier too, if you do end up Impressing the gold." Luka smiled. It was strange to meet someone so certain of something that offered zero guarantees.

Cosani nodded. "But it'll be worth it."

Luka grinned. "Most definitely it will be. Imagine, having your dragon, green or gold. I only want to Impress green and it would be worth everything if I managed to."

"I hope you Impress," Cosani said with a small smile. She liked this girl, at least a little.

Luka's smile broadened. "Thanks! I wish you the best with the gold, hopefully you'll get to be the lucky one."

"Thanks." Her smile widened a little as she turned back to her sweeping.

Last updated on the January 21st 2009

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Hatching Hopes