A New Beginning

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th February 2006

Characters: F'lin, Tsaera
Description: Felarin arrives at River Bluff Weyr and is greeted by his grandmother
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 3

Although he'd been there before, /between/ seemed much longer and colder than it had before. And then they were out and back in the hot air - and just beneath a cloud that spat grey rain. Felarin couldn't wipe the grin off his face as River Bluff Weyr stretched out below the blue dragon's wings - he was really going to do this!

The bluerider shouted something over his shoulder at him, but the wind whipped the words from his mouth and Felarin couldn't make out what he said. Then the blue dragon folded his wings and dove. The ground rushed up at them at a dizzying speed and he began to laugh for the joy of it. Herdbeasts scattered as their shadows crossed the paddocks and fields, and here and there small faces turned upwards to see who was in the sky. **And soon I'll Impress too, and I'll have a dragon of my own!**

After too short a time in the air the blue dragon came to rest on a wide ledge that Felarin knew from experience was the opening to the Sands. His heartbeat quickened as the bluerider swung around to face him. "The Weyrwoman wants you dropped off here. She says to tell you to come on in, and that your bags will be in the Candidate's quarters." He reached for the wet straps that held Felarin in place, but the young man was already undoing them. "Lucky for you. All the rest of the Candidates don't get to see the Eggs unless they're with the Weyrlingstaff."

Felarin shrugged. He supposed that he should feel sheepish for the honor accorded to him because of who his grandmother was, but he was too excited. "Thank you for the flight, bluerider. It was the smoothest I've had!"

The corners of the bluerider's eyes crinkled up as he smiled. "It's a lie, but it's kindly meant. Welcome to River Bluff."

"Thanks!" Felarin was already sliding off the blue dragon, and he didn't stick around to watch him go. He headed off down the cavern at a trot, partially to keep his sandaled feet off the Sands as much as possible but mostly just to get there faster. It seemed to go on forever, but then he turned a corner and Vilarth lay stretched out on the Sands before him. Her half-lidded, jewel-toned eyes watched him as he skidded to a stop. Her tail was coiled protectively around a group of speckled eggs. _Dragon_ eggs.

But so few...

"They're impressive, aren't they." Felarin whirled around to see Tsaera standing at the edge of the Stands. She was wearing a plain tunic embroidered with orange leaves, and she was smiling. "Grandma!" Felarin started towards her, then remembering his manners, stopped to bow to Vilarth. The queen nodded her head regally in reply and he jogged over to where Tsaera stood and hugged her. "I never thought I'd get here."

"Was it the rain, or Everlyin?"

Felarin nodded glumly. "She's pretty mad."

The Weyrwoman sighed. "She's not angry at you - she's angry with me.
She's _worried_ about you, and that's something else entirely. Come sit on the Stands with me. You'll burn your feet in those flimsy little sandals. You're lucky you didn't get frostbite going /between/ in them." She led them up a little ways and sat where there was a good view of the queen dragon and her eggs. "Give her some time, and she'll forget she was ever upset."

"I doubt that. Ma can hold a grudge," Felarin said sheepishly. "I'm sorry that I got her mad at you."

Tsaera smiled and took his hand. For the first time, he noticed how tired she looked. Huge smudges lurked under her eyes, almost theatrically dark. "That's all right. You did what you felt is right, and I'll support you in that. But being a dragonrider-"

"I know what it's like. I've got you, Neasale, and B'nartil to show me." He shrugged. "It's still my duty to Pern to try."

Tsaera was silent for a long moment, then she sighed and changed the subject. "I'd invite you to dinner, but I think it'd be best if you took your meals with the other candidates for the next little while and didn't see much of me."

"That's all right," he said, a little disappointed. Tsaera was much more interesting than his mother was. She was the family that he wished he was closer to, rather than his aunts and uncles on his father's side. They didn't understand.

"Vilarth won't mind if you sit and look at her eggs for a little while, but I wouldn't go up to see them closely." Tsaera smiled as Felarin's eyes lit up like glows. "But after that, you really ought to dry off and go check in with Solieira."

Felarin nodded, his attention already shifting back to the golden queen and her treasure on the Sands. "Why are there so few?"

The Weyrwoman sighed as she stood, and the stands creaked beneath her weight. "There were a few... problems with the flight. Lenala is sorting them out now. I'm sure that you'll hear a lot about it, and my- Lenala... but remember that it's her business and not anyone else's."

"I will." Felarin's curiosity was piqued, but he knew enough not to keep asking. Tsaera didn't like gossips. "Thank you," he said, and then stood to kiss his grandmother on the cheek before sitting back down again to stare hungrily at the dragon eggs.

Tsaera smiled as she descended and left the Sands. Felarin was tall and lithe and reminded her a lot of her son, B'nartil. They both had that same sense of unrestrained energy. }:He will be a good dragonrider,:{ Tabanirth said suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. }:He is kind, and he makes me think of _you_. He will be a good lifemate to a dragon.:{
**I hope so,** Tsaera replied, **Or maybe I hope that he won't become a dragonrider at all.**

Last updated on the February 6th 2006

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A New Beginning