Chapter Text
Nerathea and Felina both rushed into the room. The petite, dark-haired Weyrwoman carried a white robe draped over one arm. “Here, put this on, quickly,” she urged as Felina hustled Randin away.
Brennya’s side slightly ached as she slipped the robe over her head. “Don’t worry,” Nerathea assured, smiling and taking Brennya’s hand. “At least you recovered in time and are here at the Weyr. The Hatching started the moment I was Searched and, before I even had a chance to process what was happening, I was stumbling onto the hot Hatching Ground. But it was all worth it.” A dreamy look crossed her pretty face. Brennya knew instantly that she was touching minds with Zaylith. A longing for a dragon that she could share everything with filled her. Now was the time when she would discover if she, too, could be so lucky.
“I remember that,” Felina chuckled as the three of them hurried down a long, glow-lit passageway that Brennya was sure led to the Hatching Ground. Sudden nerves jiggled in her stomach. “You certainly were a mess that day, as I recall, all grubby and tousled.” Brennya couldn’t help but smile when she saw a bright flush creep across Nerathea’s freckled cheeks. Felina then turned to Brennya. “I know you’ve been to Hatchings before so you should know some of the rules, such as remembering to get out of the way of an uninterested dragonet. They don’t mean to hurt people but they are young and clumsy and sometimes can’t help it.”
“Yes, I know,” Brennya said rather faintly. She remembered one boy who had been injured at a Hatching over two Turns ago, when K’rin had Impressed Mireth.
Brennya’s legs felt suddenly limp as she entered the vast cavern of the Hatching Ground. She joined the other nervous, white-robed Candidates, including Renen.
“You picked a fine day to join us in the land of the living,” he quipped, giving her a friendly tap on her shoulder.
Nerathea embraced both Renen and Brennya, wishing them both luck before she left with Felina to join the others in the stands.
“Shards!” Brennya gasped, hopping from one foot to the other as the heat from the sands penetrated the soles of her bare feet. “I usually love going barefoot, but this is ridiculous. Do we all have to come out here without shoes?”
Renen grimaced and moved in a prancing motion himself. “That’s the tradition. I’ve been out here in my thickest boots and could still feel the heat. If I had a—”
He was interrupted by the weyrlingmaster who scattered the boys amongst the violently rocking eggs and instructed Brennya and five other girls to form a half circle around the queen egg. Brennya could see it, resting on its mound, guarded by the great, golden Zaylith. The other dragons perched around the cavern, their glossy hides forming a collage of color, their humming growing gradually louder until she could practically feel it vibrate through her. The spectator area was rapidly filling up. She spotted her father in the crowd, sitting next to Nerathea, J’rren, and Tera in the row closest to the sands.
She looked over at Renen, standing a few feet from her. He grinned nervously and gave her a thumbs-up.
One of the eggs broke apart, revealing a damp brown hatchling. A single gasp rose from the crowd. The little dragon squealed and began to clumsily move about through the group of boys. Another egg cracked, followed by another and another, the cries of the hatchlings forming an incongruous counterpoint to the more resonant dragon hums.
Yelps of joy instantly followed as some of the young dragons made their choices. Brennya watched in a daze as the new riders led their awkward new companions to the far end of the cavern where weyrfolk were handing out food bowls.
One little blue staggered away from the others and headed toward the stands, crooning shrilly, his eyes whirling a bright red. Brennya watched him, momentarily forgetting her nerves and nausea. The blue seemed to be calling to someone in the stands.
“Tera!” Nerathea shouted, pulling the girl to her feet. “He wants you.”
A blue? Brennya was puzzled. Ista Weyr had one girl greenrider, Remmi, but she didn’t know of any female blueriders. The blue was reaching toward Tera with his claws, keening urgently. Well, if I can be a Lady Holder, Brennya thought as a grin stretched across her face, then Tera can be a bluerider.
Tera shook her head. “He can’t, I’m not able. It isn’t right.”
“Tera, listen to me,” said J’rren, his hands on her shoulders, his eyes locked on hers. “The dragon decides and he’s chosen you. You must go to him.”
He held one of Tera’s arms, Nerathea the other, as they guided her down the steps to the sands. “Go on, Tera,” Nerathea urged gently as they released her. “He needs you.”
Tera stumbled forward a few paces and fell, right in front of the blue who nudged her with his snout. The girl began to sob. “You silly thing, you can’t want me.” She pulled the dragon into her arms and held him close. “Why me? There are so many more worthy Candidates, and boys at that.” She wept harder then looked up, her eyes shining. “He’s telling me his name is Selith!” Her joyous voice echoed through the cavern. Brennya swallowed in an attempt to loosen her tight throat. She felt sudden warm tears tickle her face.
Nerathea and J’rren moved to help Tera and Selith, but the girl shook her head. “Thank you, no, but we can manage.” Smiling, she pulled herself to her feet and, with an arm around her new companion, began slowly limping toward the other newly Impressed.
Brennya rubbed at her eyes and felt as if her heart would burst with happiness for Tera. She would certainly never be alone again.
The sound of Renen shouting, “His name is Keth!” instantly pulled Brennya from her reverie. He was staring into the whirling eyes of a small, sleek brown hatchling and grinning broadly. His cheeks were flushed even deeper than their usual ruddy shade. Nerathea and J’rren embraced and kissed, then hurried to their son’s side.
Brennya turned her eyes toward Randin in the stands, where he now sat, alone. I can’t leave him, she thought, feeling a dull pain start in her chest. I’m the only family he has left.
The entire cavern fell to breathless silence as the queen egg finally cracked. Brennya turned away, not wanting to look at the new hatchling. She could never be hers. No. Her fate lay with Crom, with her father. She’d congratulate Tera and Renen—now R’nen—who were both joyfully feeding their new dragons, then go home with Randin. She started trudging across the sands toward her father, away from the remaining Candidates and dragonets.
Brennya felt a sudden burst of hunger, along with an urgent voice in her head. Where are you going? I need you.
Randin hurried toward her, his boots hissing over the sands. “Brennya? What happened? Why are you leaving?”
Tears warmed her cheeks and her throat ached with an urge to cry. She looked up at him.
“I can’t . . . my duties are to Crom. Besides, I don’t think the queen would want me.”
Of course, I do, said the voice again. It sounded like hers, but somehow richer.
Strands of loose hair clung to her damp cheeks. Randin gently brushed them aside and pulled her into his arms.
“That is only one of your options,” he said. “You would make a wonderful leader, either in a Hold or a Weyr. It is your choice. If you decide to stay here and attend other Hatchings, I could choose another successor.”
Please don’t abandon me! The voice was stronger now, more urgent. I’m very, very hungry.
Brennya turned. The queen dragonet was staggering toward them, her eyes whirling carbuncle-red. She was a brilliant, pale gold, the shade of sun-shimmers against water, and her delicate wings looked as if they had been carved from the purest glass. She was the most beautiful dragon Brennya had ever seen, certainly the most beautiful on all of Pern! An intense euphoria filled her, warming her from the inside. She tore her eyes away from the magnificent hatchling and focused on her father. Tears streaked his wrinkle-webbed cheeks, but he was smiling. He squeezed her hands.
“She wants you, Brennya.” His voice shook with emotion. “Don’t ignore her.”
Brennya stumbled toward the small queen and fell to her knees, drawing her into her trembling arms. “Don’t worry, little one,” she whispered. The dragon’s hide felt softer than the finest cloth and held a pleasant spicy scent. “I’m here. I’ll never leave you; I promise.”
My name is Aylith, she said, her eyes shifting to a soothing blue. But please. I’m really hungry.
“I’m sorry. There is food just over here. We’re almost there.” Brennya rose to her feet and gently guided a staggering Aylith toward the others. Feeling as if she would burst with joy, she looked back at her beaming father and told him her new companion’s name.
The End