Oirana
:Story::Search::Candidate::Hatching::Weyrling::Adult:
:Dawn Sisters Weyr::Tripaldi Weyr:

Oirana was in the middle of one of her least favorite chores with Eari perched on her shoulder when the fire lizard began to vibrate. Oirana’s eyes widened as she craned her neck around to look at her fire lizard. Then she realized that the queen wasn’t just vibrating, she was humming! That could only mean one thing and Oirana dropped what she was doing, racing for the barracks where the rest of the candidates were already throwing on their white candidate robes. She quickly pulled her clothes off, pulling the white robe on over her head and rushing to the sands with the others.

Once on the sands Oirana’s nerves started to fail her. As long as she’d now been at the Weyr, she was still terrified of dragons and her reading had done very little to allay her fears. She looked up to see scores of dragons surrounding the Hatching Grounds. Her breath caught in her throat and she found it impossible to take another step. But one of the other girls in white pulled her forward onto the sands and she whimpered nervously as one of the eggs cracked open and a green hatchling tumbled out.

The green surprisingly turned out to be male and made a choice from among the boys. The next to hatch was a normal green and Oirana cringed away as the hatchling chose the girl standing beside her. Next was brown, then another male green, each pairing off with one of the two boys. Then it was just Oirana, another girl, and two rocking eggs. The next to hatch was a blue and he chose the other candidate.

Oirana stood there, almost cowering away from the hatching egg. It burst to reveal a blue, but this blue was female! Oirana watched the hatchling nervously, almost hoping it would find her unworthy and choose someone from the sands. But the regal blue female just nosed the air a bit before turning her gaze upon Oirana. Oirana cringed, fear evident in her face as the blue hatchling nosed her way forward, taking her time across the sands. Oirana knew she should stand tall, squelch her fear and yet she could not. She cringed in fear as the hatchling stopped close enough that all she need do is reach out her nose to touch her. Oirana was terrified, but then she heard the most wonderful sound!

Oirana? I am Tanith. What? You’re surprised to hear someone again?

Oh, Tanith! Your voice is so beautiful, and so are you! cried Oirana to the blue hatchling as she reached out her arms and hugged the dragon to her, a tear rolling down her cheek.

You're not scared of me, are you?

How could I be scared of you, Tanith?

Good, because I am hungry and I didn't want my eating to scare you away!

Oirana just laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She straightened and led Tanith from the sands, shocked and pleased, and appalled that she'd actually refused to come here. To think of spending her life without the beautiful Tanith in her mind and at her side! It wasn't worth considering and she gave it not another thought as she fed Tanith the meat from the bowl handed to her. The hatchling ate voraciously and a bit messily, but nothing could bother Oirana today, nothing at all. She could hear, even if it was only the sound of her dragon's voice, that was enough, and Tanith would indeed be her ears for her from now on.