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

When Oirana finally managed to pull herself from her nightmares and wake she found Eari in her usual spot, sitting on her chest, peering at her intently. Hanian was standing by the window. Her mother was pacing the room nervously and even her father was there, sitting in a chair by the door. Eari chirped, or at least Oirana felt that she chirped as everyone turned to look at the flit. Then the flit took flight as everyone’s emotions bombarded her at once and she flew about the room in agitation until Oirana managed to soothe her with calming thoughts.

Eari settled back down on Oirana’s lap as the young woman sat up and looked around. Her mother had tears in her eyes and looked as if she’d been crying again. Her father looked very worried and Hanian just looked as if he didn’t know what to do or say.

“I’m okay,” she told them, wishing all their gazes were not centered on her. “It was just the shock of it all. I’m really fine. I just don’t want to ever see another dragon again, that’s all.”

Eari sent indignant thoughts to her and she stroked the fire lizard’s head without really understanding their cause. Oirana’s mother looked to Hanian and Oirana could tell by the way his shoulders rose and fell that he merely sighed heavily. He turned to her small table and wrote and Oirana leaned forward, wanting to know what he wrote. He soon handed her the note and she read:

Oirana, your parents have decided to send you to the Weyr against your will if necessary. We all believe you will get over your fear in time and the dragonriders insist you will Impress and make a fine dragonrider. We hope you can agree to it, but you will be going to the Weyr as soon as you’ve regained enough strength to get down the stairs without exhausting yourself.


Oirana stared at the note, eyes wide in disbelief. They were sending her away! They didn’t want her here anymore, though who could blame them. Who would want a hideous scarred thing hanging about who couldn’t even hear a word you said to her? She frowned and read the letter again and again, each time growing more angry and indignant. Then she felt Eari’s thoughts intrude on her own and her eyes flew wide again as she felt the little queen’s anger. Eari didn’t understand why she was so against dragons. The blue one had explained things to her after she had calmed down and she agreed with him.

Unfortunately Oirana was not yet of a mood to listen to sense and she knocked the fire lizard off the bed and curled up, intent on never getting out of bed again. They couldn’t send her away if she never worked up the strength to walk down stairs. Very soon she felt the footsteps as all three of them left the room and she felt that Eari was outside sulking somewhere. Oirana just lay there until she drifted off to sleep again.

A few days later Oirana woke to the smell of her favorite dish and immediately looked around. There was no one in her rooms, not even Eari, but she still smelled the appetizing smell of herb-roasted wherry. She called out; hoping someone would hear her and bring some of the food to her. In the past few days she had refused to get out of her bed for any reason. When no one was watching though she would get out of bed and walk around. It was impossible for her to stay in bed all the time, her muscles cramped up if she tried. So she kept up the pretense of staying in bed and often used the night hours to stretch her legs and walk about her room.

She scowled as no one answered her calls, not even Eari. The fire lizard had been quite absent the past few days and Oirana was beginning to despair that the gold had left her entirely. But she didn’t dwell on such thoughts as the smell of the wherry became stronger and still no one came to bring her some.

Finally, not really thinking about it she threw the covers off her legs and got up. Throwing a robe on she headed down the stairs, following the smell. She soon found herself in the hall staring in wonder at three knowing smiles. She turned and looked up the stairs, not having realized she’d gone that far without over-exerting herself. She smiled sheepishly and was very happy when Eari flew up, landing on her shoulder and sending her happy thoughts as the queen rubbed her head against Oirana’s cheek.

Hanian pulled out a chair for her at the table and she sat down in front of a large plate piled high with the herb-roasted wherry and she smiled at her mother as she eagerly started eating. After she had finished every last bite Hanian put a piece of paper next to her plate and she picked it up, reading it curiously.

We have arranged for you to go to the Weyr by runner. We understand you would feel very apprehensive about going on dragonback, with good reason. But we still feel it necessary that you go to the Weyr, as it is the only way you will get over your fears.


Oirana looked up at her parents with fear in her eyes but they showed no signs of giving in to her. She swallowed hard and resolved herself to learn not to fear the large beasts and she felt Eari’s encouragement and support from the flit’s perch on her shoulder. She simply nodded her head as she looked down at her plate, trying to keep her courage up.

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