Kenver

Kenver had been at Ryslen for quite some time now. Two clutches had hatched and she had stood on the sands at both. She had done research, understood that dragons were kind and gentle but she had also spent too much time observing the proddy females at the weyrlake. Their somewhat violent tempers made her nervous and she still wasn't sure if she actually wanted to bond.

Still, another hatching approached and Kenver was forced to face another chance of walking away with the dragons. This clutch was an interesting one, two dragons, both bonded to the same rider, had participated in a duel flight and each taken two mates during the course of the flight. The curious part of Kenver wanted very much to see what sort of creatures hatched from these pairings.

Kenver lay on her bunk staring at the ceiling. She was not yet completely comfortable in this new world, but it was a distinct advantage to not worry about her magic. She had tested it once and the magic-master had been right, there was no magic in this world. She heaved another sigh of relief which caught in her throat as the bed began to vibrate beneath her. The first time that had happened she had been terrified, since she had learned what it meant. The dragons were humming; the eggs were hatching.

Suddenly feeling winded and not sure why, by now hatchings should not be a big deal, Kenver jumped up and headed to the sands. The eggs which had waited long to hatch were indeed rocking furiously and Kenver squeaked almost inaudibly as the first dragon broke her shell.

These were interesting dragons indeed! The first was a red with fiery black wingsails though with the typical Hathian build. Kenver watched as the hatchling made her choice and as the second, a yellow, did as well. The next to hatch was a lavendar-colored hatchling that made Kenver's breath catch in her throat. The hatchling's wingsails were absent and her typical Hathian spars and eyepieces burned with flames.

The onlookers began to mutter and Kenver could tell bets were being made as to whether the hatchling would fly. "But that's ridiculous, of course Xihiaruk will fly, doesn't her father fly without wingsails?"

Kenver gasped then and turned with wide eyes to stare at the lavendar hatchling now peering curiously at her.

How did I know her name was Xihiaruk? Kenver thought and was even more bewildered when she recieved an answer.

Why should you not know my name? We are one so it is in part your name as well.

The reassuring emotions swirling to her from the hatchling comforted Kenver and she hesitantly reached out to scratch the hatchling's head. Xihiaruk leaned into the caress, her flames pleasantly warm to Kenver's skin and Kenver found herself smiling. Then the hatchling's hunger invaded on their tranquil meeting and Kenver gasped involuntarily.

Are you really that hungry?

Xihiaruk just looked at her and Kenver obediently led the hatchling off the sands to where the food waited. As Xihiaruk's hunger was sated Kenver wondered how much of her mother's fire would reside inside the hatchling as her father's displayed so briliantly outside.