Thirza laid her head on Ronan's shoulder and watched the sunset. Ronan smiled and put his arm around her. "In a good mood?"
Thirza smiled and snuggled closer to her friend. "Every day since we left that Hold."
Ronan laughed and the two sat in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. Ronan could tell that there was something buging Thirza, but he didn't know what and he knew she didn't want to talk about it. Oh well, He sighed mentally. She'll talk when she wants to talk. He put his head on her head and they watched the sunset.
A call began to reverbarate through the Weyr. Although Thirza and Ronan couldn't hear the exact words, they both grabbed the meaning. The eggs were hatching. Ronan's heart began to beat faster. He jumped to his feet, dragging a reluctant Thirza with him. The taller youth took off at a run for his bunk, leaving the smaller girl behind.
"Ronan!!" Thirza yelled.
"What?!?" He whipped around mid-run and saw his best friend still standing there. The fading sun behind her left her face in shadows, but Ronan could see right through her. He walked up to her, anxiously looking at the Weyr, wondering if this would make them miss the hatching. All of those thoughts were pushed out of his head when he approached his friend however. "Thirza." He ran to her and lifted her into his arms. "What's wrong?"
The thin girl was crying. "Where do we go after this?"
Ronan smiled at her. "The feeding grounds, with our new hatchlings." He started walking towards the Bunks with her in his arms.
His joke hadn't effected her. "That's not what I meant and you know it. We'll be sent to different Weyrs, we'll go to different weyrling classes. I won't see you as much anymore..."
Ronan let Thirza rant. He knew that she was really nervous about impressing. What surprised him was he reason. He watched her talk as he carried her to her room. Would she really rather not impress? Is she that worried? He opened her door and set her on her bed. Then he sat down next to her.
Thirza sighed and looked at him. "What?" She saw the resolve in his face.
"What do you want to do know?" He asked playfully, like it was just another night. She looked at him oddly.
"Well I figured you were going to get ready for the hatching..." She murmured.
Ronan tilted Thirza's head so she looked right at him. "If you don't want to do this, I don't want to do this." Thirza stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Wha...?" Thirza was befuddled.
Ronan continued. "If you are so worried that this will split us up then we won't do it."
Thirza smiled. Ronan stared at her, she didn't smile often. The tiny girl reached over and kissed the bigger youth. Ronan sat, stunned. "Shards' sake Ronan go get ready. We'll be late!"
Ronan looked at her, now he was befuddled. "But you said..."
Thirza was still smiling. This must be a record for her. "I could never live with myself if you went through life with that somber look on your face. Let's do this, before I change my mind again." Ronan fully agreed and showed his consent by running out of her room and down the hall to his.
Thirza stood on the sands, wishing Ronan was near her. Instead they were seperated into two groups, guy and girls. She stood nervously, looking at the ground. Please, She called silently to whatever force guarded her and Ronan. Just let everything work out...
Ronan stood anxiously with the other young men. He watched Thirza and noticed how nervous she was. He was worried about her. Please He prayed to whoever was listening. Just let everything work out...
Both their thoughts were interupted by the loud crack of an egg spliting. They both watching in silent awe as the first impression occured. Ronan smiled as the young boy left the sands. He most definately met his match... Once again Ronan's thought were interupted by the cracking of eggs. Four eggs exploded at once and a brown, blue and two green tumbled out. The only dragonet out of the group that headed for the guys was the brown. Ronan watched the tiny creature with interest. It paced back and forth, as if trying to decide who to bond to. Ronan smiled as the little brown passed him again. Looking for the perfect rider, eh?
The little brown turned and walked back to Ronan. It sat at his feet and gazed lovingly into his eyes. Not any more! I'm Amorth. You're my perfect rider, even if I'm not the perfect dragon.
R'nan laughed and rubbed the small brown. "Oh Amorth, you're perfect." R'nan gave Thirza one last smile before leaving the hatching grounds with Amorth.
Amorth's voice entered R'nan's mind again. You are worried about her? R'nan just nodded. Amorth rubbed his head along R'nan's leg. Don't worry. I know everything will work out.
R'nan sighed. I hope so, Amorth. The dragon just smiled.
Thirza almost stopped breathing when Ronan impressed. Oh Ronan... She thought, so happy to see his dreams come true. She was snapped coldly back to reality when she realized that there were only two girls left on the sands. She began to breathe heavier, getting nervous. The queen egg began to rock. Thirza held her breath, but exhalled it quickly as soon as she saw the tiny queen. It was the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen. She stared open-mouthed at the hatchling. The tiny queen started over towards Thirza and the other girl. Thirza shut her eyes tightly, needing to know what came next, but not wanting to at the same time. She opened them when a small voice entered her mind. Thirza? I'm Bellezath. Will you open your eyes to look at me? The young queen trilled and Thirza opened her eyes quickly.
Thirza's eyes filled with tears. "Oh Bellezath! You're the most beautiful dragon in the world." She turned proudly to the crowd and called out loudly. "She says her name is Bellezath!"
The young dragonet lifted her head in the air and tried to look dignified. Thirza smiled and excorted her lifemate off the sands.
When R'nan saw Thirza with her queen he ran to her, picked her up and swung her around. She was laughing and smiling. R'nan had never seen her this happy. "Congratulations!"
Thirza beamed up at him. "You too. Meet Bellezath." Thirza dropped to her knees and watched her golden lifemate eat. Amorth came over to R'nan and began eating next to the queen, so R'nan could sit with Thirza.
R'nan scratched Amorth's eye ridges as he ate. "This is Amorth." The two best friends sat watching their dragons for a very long time.
After Bellezath and Amorth were in bed, Thirza and R'nan decided to take a walk. They walked outside the Weyr, along the beach. Thirza watched the sky. The stars twinkled in the night sky, the moons shone brightly. Thirza smiled. Thank-you Her heart sang to whoever had answered her prayer. Thank-you for Bellezath and, most importantly, thank-you for R'nan. She leaned her head against R'nan chest.
R'nan smiled. He watched the ocean as they walked along. Thank-you, He told whatever force had listened to him. Thank-you for Amorth and, more importantly, thank-you for Thirza.
As the two best friends walked in silence on the beach, they could both hear a voice return to them. It was a soft whisper, barely audible, and therefore they didn't mention it to each other. The quiet words reached them both though, an answer to the unspoken thanks. Nature itself seemed to be smiling down on them. You're welcome.
Read Thirza and R'nan's candidate story!
R'nan and Thirza impressed Amorth and Bellezath at Andromeda Weyr.
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