Hot!! HOT!!!!! That was the only thought pulsing through Azalea's head as she looked around her surroundings. She saw the sand, the people, the other candidates, the eggs. It was all too overwelming for her. She forced herself to slow down, stop and think. The sands....why would she be on the sands? The other candidates, the people....why were they looking at her? The eggs....She suddenly remembered. She looked around again and realized where she was. She was on the Stunt Sands at the Healing Den. The eggs were about to hatch. She could hear the dragon's talking, excited. She searched for Dulath, the Weyrwoman's dragon.
Dulath? Are you here? I'm confused.
Her voice sounded sad to the green/gold dragon. You're supposed to be happy Azalea. Dulath told the youth. Don't worry. Everything will work out.
Azalea heard the dragons humming, and the whole arena seemed to vibrate. She felt dizzy, and hot. In her confusion she missed the first hatching. She looked around completely disoriented. Everything was happening too fast. She couldn't stop and think.
She heard the sounds made by the first dragons. One or two even offered her a greeting, but none of them wanted her as a rider.
The other candidates pushed past her in their excitement. She was left in the back, unnoticed. She watched in a stuper as the eggs hatched, as the others left, happy. What really took a while felt like seconds to Azalea. She could only see one egg left. A big one, but three girls were surrounding it.
Azalea wasn't good at math, but even she understood that their were more candidates than eggs. Her breathing became laboured as the egg started to crack. The three others moved closer, leaving her behind. It's all a trick like Magika said. It's a horrible trick. I'm not going to impress. I'm not supposed to be here.
"I....I.....all....trick....I....leave..I...go." She ran crying from the sands, waiting to hear the new dragon meet it's rider. When she did hear it, she was surprised by it's strength.
Out of my way!!!
Azalea continued to sob. Her hopes crashing. The gold was about to impress to someone, not her.
Where are you? I know you are here!!
Azalea raised her head, her eyes full of tears, feeling an odd twinge in her stomach. Like she was supposed to be somewhere else, doing something important, but what?
"She wants you! You must come back inside!" Baeris said, rushing to her side. "Come on! It’s you!"
Azalea looked up at the Weyrwoman, not understanding. Then she heard a voice, a voice that only she could hear. It is no trick, the oil-and-gold dragonet bespoke, carefully, in a soft, loving tone. I am yours. I will try to help you, my dearest friend. I have felt you ever since I woke in my shell. I am Noisenth, will you have me?
Azalea looked up at Noisenth, her tear-streaked face searched the gold-black's. It took a second for the dragon's words to sink in. She stood up and ran to the hatchling. She threw her arms around Noisenth's neck and cried. "I will. I will..."
* * *
Azalea woke up and quickly sat up. She saw the gigantic weyr, the dragon couch, and Noisenth. She smiled and lay back down relieved. The gold-black giant smiled.
You do that every morning, love. I promise I won't disappear in the night.
Azalea walked over to her dragon and lay down beside the queen. "I'm...I'm just scared I dreamed it all." She smiled.
Noisenth yawned and stretched. And how long before you believe I'm real?
Azalea hugged the gold-black's leg. Never. This is too wonderful. I never want to go to sleep, I'm scared I'll wake up and realize I dreamed all this.
Noisenth nuzzled her rider. Her head almost knocked the small girl over. The massive dragon was 39 feet long, plus tail. She had horns on her head, and small but powerful wings. She was an impressive sight and her power to speak to anyone made her all the more impressive. Although the golden-black queen was known to have a bad temper, she was as gentle as a kitten with her beloved rider.
Azalea swung herself up onto Noisenth's back as the black queen left their weyr and entered the Weyrbowl. Noisenth trumpetted and demanded the respect of every dragon present. She shook her head and glanced threatningly at everyone, daring someone to try something.
Azalea remembered the first time Noisenth had come to Adanuk Weyr. She was rather surprised to still have a dragon after what happened...
* * *
Noisenth burst from between in the skies above Adanuk Weyr. Is that it?
Yes Azalea told her life-mate. Noisenth was 3 turns old now, and full grown. Azalea had decided she wanted to return to her home and took Noisenth with her.
Noisenth buggled loudly her arrival and desended upon the weyr like a lightning bolt. She landed rather gracefully in the Weyrbowl and shook her head at the people who were staring at her.
The Sr. Queen, Hyth, approached with Weyrwoman Magika to see what the commotion was about.
Magika descended and tried to see who was riding the gold-black, but she couldn't. "Hello?" she called. "Who goes there."
Everyone present, including the Weyrwoman, jumped out of their skins at the answer. Azalea and Noisenth. Noisenth replied cooly.
"Wha...Who?" the crowd muttered in confusion.
Noisenth simply stood taller, rather proud of herself. Everyone could see that Noisenth stood a good ten feet taller than Hyth. Hyth not to be outdone, reared slightly and growled at the younger queen. Noisenth smirked at the smaller dragon.
Noisenth..... Azalea tried to warn her dragon.
Hyth took the smirk as an insult and lunged at the bigger dragon. The lunge was a playful one, not really meaning to hurt the black-gold, but meaning to show her who was boss. Noisenth, never having been lunged at before, took this as an open invitation to fight....
* * *
Noisenth broke into Azalea's memories. And I could have taken the wherry too, if you didn't stop me.
Azalea sighed. You're just lucky Magika didn't throw us out. What would we have done?
Noisenth make a purring sound deep in her throat. I'd have protected you, Azalea, love.
Azalea hugged the massive gold-black back. I know
* * *
Feena sighed. "For the last time. You're not helping her by telling her the answers Noisenth. She won't learn them for herself."
Noisenth snorted at the young girl. She hated these 'lessons' Azalea took. The only thing they did, as far as the dragon could see, was make Azalea feel stupid. I'm helping. Besides if we're ever in trouble and desperatly need to know how many sides on an octagon, I'll tell her anyways. As an aside to Azalea she added, And why would anyone want to know that anyways?
Azalea smiled. Her lessons had become a lot easier since Noisenth was with her. She seemed to think better around her dragon. I don't know, but Feena seems to think it's really important. Noisenth snorted and the lesson continued.
Feena shuffled through a set of cards. Each card had a shape on it. Azalea was supposed to count the sides and tell Feena the number of sides and the name of the shape. Feena pulled out a pentagon. Azalea stumbled. "O..one, T...two, Th..three," She put her hand on Noisenth's flank to steady her. "Four, five. Five sides." Feena raised an eyebrow, wondering if the queen was interfering again. The dragon tossed it's head to dismiss the question and Feena focused back on Azalea. "Five sides is a pentagon."
"Correct." Feena said. "Let's call it a day."
Azalea smiled. "O...Okay."
Noisenth got up and stretched. The giant dragon insisted on being present at the lessons, so they had to be moved to somewhere with enough room. Lately they'd been leaving the weyr, since the near-by field made a good classroom.
Feena packed the cards and started back towards the Weyr. Azalea and Noisenth were following when Noisenth stopped and smiled.
"Wh...what?" Azalea asked.
Hyth's back. Noisenth smiled. Feena continued walking, pretending not to hear.
"N..no you..you don't." Azalea commanded, sternly.
C'mon, Noisenth prodded. Let's have fun.
The black-gold picked up her rider and popped between and then reappeared right under Hyth's nose, startling the other dragon. Hyth reared and Magika fell to the ground. She looked up to see a blushing Azalea and a proud Noisenth.
Sorry about that. Noisenth bespoke to all present, showing off again.
Azalea sighed, but smiled. Let's go back to our weyr. She suggested.
Noisenth, having had her fun embarassing the Sr. Queen, agreed. Okay, love.
* * *
I don't see why I put up with that..that... Hyth looked for words in her anger.
Magika smiled and calmed her gold. "Because. She's a member of this weyr, she's a fellow dragon..." Hyth snorted, not convinced. "And," Magika added, "She makes Azalea happy. I don't think I've ever seen that girl smile so much."
Well Noisenth didn't learn any manners what-so-ever. Hyth continued. Why does she insist on constintly playing tricks on us? And embarassing us?
Magika sighed. "Payback." Hyth gave her rider a questioning look. Magika smiled. Magika explained the trick she'd played on Azalea when she was searched.
After Magika related the story Hyth snorted agian, but a smile was concelled behind it. So you mean I have you to blame?
Magika laughed. "I guess. Still going to tear Noisenth limb from limb?"
Hyth watched Azalea and Noisenth in the center of the Weyrbowl. Azalea was trying to give Noisenth a bath, trying being the key word. Noisenth felt that if she was going to get wet, so was Azalea. They were soaking everything in a 50 foot radius with their play. Compared to Noisenth, Azalea was so small. But the giant queen was so careful with her, so gentle. Hyth smiled. I guess not.
Magika followed her dragon's gaze to the two playing. "What changed your mind?"
They belong together. Hyth smiled as Noisenth let Azalea win.
Azalea impressed Noisenth at Baeirs Kshau's Healing Den.
Read Azalea's candidate story!
