Selena and Teranya

Selena laid back in the grass and listened to the noises of life surrounding her. She could hear everything that was happening and was about to happen. She could hear Terentia's content thoughts as she nibbled the grass, she could hear the dragon's of Adanuk Weyr somewhere beneath her, she could hear the animals scurrying around. But, over everything else, she could hear Teranya. The silver Hatian was happy to be out in the sun.

The silver stretched her wings and yawned. It is good to be out in the sun, isn't it rider-mine?

Selena nodded. All of creation seems to agree with you, my love. The animals are out in swarms and all talking.

Teranya had never really understood how Selena could hear the thoughts of all creatures, but she didn't question. Her rider was unique, and she knew it. Sometimes the dragon couldn't help but wish that Selena was more.....normal. The girl was very solitary and most of the Weyr's inhabitants thought she was crazy. Teranya was naturally noble and defensive of her rider. She tried to defend her rider from those acusations, but.... Teranya sighed. Maybe they are right. What kind of person talks to field animals? She stopped that thought before it could go any further. She looked to her rider. Selena smiled up knowingly at her dragon. Selena could be listening. Despite the warm sun, Teranya shivered. What do they tell you? She asked, hoping to disguise her previous thoughts with the seemingly innocent question.

Selena smiled. All sorts of things. Their problems, their joys, their discoveries...

Teranya walked to her rider. Sounds loud and boring. Let's fly.

Selena laughed. It used to be. Now I can somewhat control it, so it's not so bad. If we're going flying I better send Terentia home. The large runner realized that she was being talked about and walked over, curious. Selena rubbed the runner's nose.

"Go home, love. Terentia, go home." The runner got the idea and took off at full gallop for Adanuk. Selena smiled and turned to her dragon.

The silver dipped a wing so Selena could mount. The Hathian sprung to the air quickly and beat at it with her wings. She picked up speed and altitude. The silver than dipped down so she was flying close to the ground. The dragon pulled up beside Terentia. The runner's hooves pounded the ground, but they were no match for the silver's speed. The dragon easily out-distanced the runner. Selena laughed, mentally comforting Terentia.

Do you have to scare Terentia like that? Selena laughed.

Teranya rose in a spiral and swooped down, nearly hitting the ground. Selena put her hands to her head, voices filling her mind. Teranta rose again, fooling around. She dived and dipped, twirled and whirled to the ocean. Once there she dived under the water quickly. She stopped when she heard Selena screaming. Selena? Are you okay? The silver landed, worried about her rider. I didn't go too fast, did I? Does she hate water? What's wrong? Unasked questions filled Teranya's mind. Rider-mine? Selena? She asked in a soft tone.

Selena held her head between her hands. She was crying and sobbing hysterically. Teranya lowered her head so it was right beside her rider's. Are you okay?

Suddenly, Selena's voice filled Teranya's mind. The power with which she bespoke her dragon was amazing. Teranya! Don't do that again!

The dragon cringed under the harsh words. I am sorry, Selena. I won't. Did I scare you?

Selena looked up at her dragon. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you love. Forgive me."

Teranya smiled at her rider. It is my fault. I did not mean to scare you Selena.

Selena wiped her eyes and stood. She leaned against her dragon. "I wasn't scared Teranya. I like flying with you." The girl smiled brightly up at Teranya.

The silver was now completely confused. But rider-mine, you were crying...

Selena's smile faded a bit. "I know. I wasn't scared. They were."

Teranya didn't want to ask, but she couldn't help herself. They?

Selena shivered. "The animals. You scared them terribly when you swooped down near them. They thought you were going to hurt them." Selena's face darkened. "A mouse thought you were going to eat her. She had a heart attack. The fish, they panicked. They hurt each other. The bird couldn't deal with the wind your wings produced. He flew into a cliff and broke his neck." She started to cry quietly. "They died."

Teranya looked at her rider with a new understanding. She softly rubbed her head along Selena's frail body. She looked about the bright day. Selena's tears seemed out of place on such a beautiful afternoon, just as Selena herself seemed out of place in the Weyr. The world was too busy to notice the death of a bird, a mouse and some fish. It happily went on it's way. Selena was the only one who cared that those creatures had even lived. She alone, cried for their passing. She alone mourned their death.

Selena wiped her nose and stopped sobbing. She smiled at Teranya. "Let's go home." She started to climb onto Teranya's back.

Wait. Selena stopped. We can walk. Selena smiled, understanding, and headed down the trail towards the Weyr.

Geez, what's wrong with me? It will take us hours to walk back to Adanuk. We should just fly, we should.... Her thoughts were interupted when she saw Selena cringe. She froze and looked around for whatever might be wrong. Selena pointed at the ground beneath Teranya's foot. The silver dragoness lifted her foot to reveal a rabbit hole. Inside the hole, the rabbit and it's family cowered. Teranya had almost crushed them. She moved her foot. Selena smiled. Teranya shoke her head. I'm losing it. They're rabbits. No one would have noticed, no one would have cared. Teranya smiled as she watched Selena walk in front of her, warning all the little creatures that Teranya was coming through. Teranya smiled. No. She thought. Someone would have noticed. Selena would have noticed and cared. She cares about everything; every living thing. She's the only one.

Not the only one, love. But you're getting it. Selena didn't even turn around. Teranya wasn't sure that she'd even spoken.

What did you say rider-mine?

Selena turned and smiled. "Nothing, love. What did you hear?" The girl didn't wait for an answer. She simply turned and continued down the trail.

Yes, Teranya smiled as she thought. My rider is unique, and I know it. But I wouldn't have her any other way.

* * *
Read Selena's hatchling story!
Read Selena’s canidate story!
Selena bonded to Teranya at Mystic Dragon’s Forest.
Terentia is from Lasair Weyr.
Background from Myrror Images.