Try, Try and Try Again

Writers: Cait
Date Posted: 20th January 2009

Characters: Navan, Teiluka
Description: The two siblings face disappointed hopes at the Hatching.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 4

It was finally time! Teiluka pointlessly tried to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles in her white candidate robes, following Navan and the others out onto the hot Sands. Shards, she hadn't realized it would be _this_ hot! Stupid, she knew. After all, how many people had told her it would burn her feet, but still she was surprised. And the people! Of course, she'd been to countless Hatchings before, she wasn't some naive Holder. But never a crowd this big. Must be that queen egg, she thought.

She followed the girls as they slowly formed a half-circle around the queen egg, wary of the angry looking adult queen guarding it. As the dragon reluctantly moved back, Teiluka situated herself at the very back, closer to the boys and stood next to Navan. She wasn't meant for the gold egg. She knew it, the hatchling would know it and what point was there in looking at what she didn't want. Turning her back on the other girls, she looked over at the boys, giving a quick thumbs up to Navan. He grinned back, confident as always. Luka desperately wished she could be that confident. But truly...it wasn't _logical_. How many candidates were paraded out here and how many left alone? But at least the waiting would be over.

Seeing the look on his sister's face, Navan wanted to laugh but was too excited. Of course she'd be thinking logically, what other way did Luka think? Not that he blamed her, perhaps it dulled the disappointment. He was too much of a sensualist to not pay attention to his feelings, especially at a moment like this. He'd always loved Hatchings. Yes, there was the inevitable disappointment, but Faranth, you could feel the excitement in the air as deeply as the dragons' humming! There was nothing like standing here, not knowing if your life was going to change in the next few moments or if it'd be back to the grind of candidacy. But truly, it wasn't _that_ bad. A loud crack jerked Navan from his thoughts and he tore his gaze back to the eggs. One of the large ones had split down the center and out tumbled a bronze! Grinning at the good luck, his smile changed to a cheer as the hatchling chose his friend Railen. **That'll be R'len now,** he thought happily.

Hatchlings passed them, every color and so incredible. Even Teiluka was hard put not to be amazed and delighted, even when each passed over her with barely a look. It all was happening so _fast_, it amazed her that after Turns of studying dragons, this experience was still so new and incredible. A blue passed her and Impressed to a boy at the entrance. Catching the look of surprise on his face, Luka almost laughed even as her heart grew heavy. As each new dragonet passed, the fear of being left alone grew and she tried to force it down. Another green! And just like that gone, creeling madly for the one she was desperately aiming for. Luka smiled when she saw Cosani Impress. If anyone deserved that happiness, it was that girl.

Brother and sister watched, fascinated but with less and less hope as candidate after candidate Impressed. For Navan, this was nothing new. he'd done this multiple times already. But he knew he had little time left before he was too old and a sinking feeling in his stomach told him he'd experience the disappointment again.

Teiluka gasped and grabbed her brother's arm. "Look, Navan, the queen egg is hatching!" And it was. Rocking ever more and more violently, they watched the beautiful new queen emerge. And she was beautiful. For all that she'd said, Luka felt one split second of hope and then watched as she made her choice: Meledei. Brother and sister cheered loudly for their friend, jealousy forgotten in the excitement.

And then, moments later, just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over.
Teiluka stared blankly at all the empty, broken shells. She was sure if she was melodramatic she'd compare them to her broken dreams. But Luka was not melodramatic, never had been. If she was anything, Teiluka was logical and rational. She'd known this was a possibility. She had been right about one thing though, it hurt. Seeing that life-bond, the utter unimaginable joy and knowing that it was not for you. At least not this time. But she was far too stubborn to just give up. Another day, another try and maybe she'd get lucky. Looking up at Navan, she gave him a weak smile. "At least the feast will be fun."

Navan smiled down at his little sister and putting his arm around her shoulder, lead her off the Sands. "Yes, it will be." Glad she hadn't taken it too hard, he felt the bite of bitter disappointment, mingling with jealousy and at the same time, happiness for his friends. Many of them had Impressed and although he hadn't, it wasn't an outcome he'd been unprepared for. Back to his craft until the next clutch when he would try again. And keep trying until they wouldn't let him any more. That was his duty and, in an odd way, his pleasure for if he _ever_ Impressed, it would all be worth it.

Last updated on the January 21st 2009

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Try, Try and Try Again