A/n: The usual: I don't own DoP, or SDH, or Thread's End Weyr, or Wyth, or Bendeth, or blah blah woof woof. I do however, own an incredibly cute stuffed dragon, but he doesn't have wings, and he stares at me from the top of my desktop computer, and he's red, and I haven't found a name for him yet. I think I'll call him Marcel. Or not. Hmm…
Impression Day
Kendra fingered her white robe nervously. Today was supposed to be Hatching Day and her stomach was a bundle of knots. More like one giant knot. She told herself to take deep breaths, the kind that Gavin had taught her to do for defense training.
Block out fear, doubt and uncertainty. The voice of the wingsecond in charge of the candidates rang in her head over and over and helped ease some of the tightness in her stomach. But then the thought that today she might become a dragonrider sent her heart leaping out of rhythm all over again.
"Okay, Kendra Ulric, this is not helping at all. Clear your mind." She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, only to be interrupted.
"Kendra! Today is Hatching Day!" In the three months since her 15th birthday that Kendra had been in the Weyr, every day she had been greeted by that same voice. Only this time the perky girl was a hundred times more excited and bouncier.
Shauna came flouncing in the room that served as Kendra's, her waist length honey-blond hair a startling contrast to Kendra's own short black hair.
Vivid sapphire eyes sparkled with excitement and met with amused pale blue ones.
"Yes, I know today is Hatching Day," Kendra repeated calmly, as always, amazed at the energy her friend and roommate exuded. The two girls were so much the opposite of each other that it was like watching light and dark, day and night. In the scant three months the girls knew each other, it still amazed even the Weyrleaders how close the two had become.
When Kendra had felt all alone, feeling adrift without her family when she was Searched to be taken to the strange new life in the Weyr, the energetic Shauna, who was weyrbred, had taken the quiet Kendra under her wing. Some of Shauna's social energy was transferred to Kendra, who became more open and less reclusive, and surprised Thread's End Weyr delightfully with moments of spontaneous humor.
Now, Kendra didn't feel so good, for today was Hatching Day, and possibly the day she would Impress.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll Impress. What dragon wouldn't want you?" Shauna bubbled, as always considerate of her friend's feelings.
"One that already Impressed?" Kendra retorted dryly as she stood in the mirror and for the umpteenth time smoothed imaginary wrinkles out of her robe. The white robe looked good upon Kendra's golden tan, the result of sitting countless hours on her families' merchant wagons.
Shauna laughed in delight. It was so rare that Kendra made a joke consciously. Shauna had found that Kendra was often humorous if she didn't really think about it. It was one of the things that made Shauna enjoy being with her.
"Here, let me help you with your hair."
"What hair? It's so short all's I need to do is to comb the top and I'm done."
"True, and I like playing with your hair for precisely that reason. I don't have to worry about messing it up." Both girls laughed at their longstanding joke and Kendra could feel herself relaxing. Trust Shauna to know how and when.
"All right, but then I get to mess with yours."
"Deal."
The two girls messed with themselves until the headwoman of the Weyr told them breakfast was ready.
"C'mon, Kendra, get out of the robe and into this dress."
The robes were only worn when the candidate actually went onto the Grounds. Meanwhile, Kendra just tossed on a green sheath-like dress and her black wherhide boots. Then they headed out across the Bowl and to the kitchens. Most meals were served buffet style so the girls grabbed a plate and loaded it up with food. Well, almost loaded it up with food. Kendra grabbed some fruit and porridge, while Shauna attacked the bacon, eggs, toast, and ham.
Kendra eyed Shauna's plate, and Shauna eyed Kendra's. Almost at once they burst out, "How can you eat so much?" and "Why don't you eat more?"
Laughter brought them up short to see a couple of bronze riders grinning at them. Affecting her haughtiest pose, Shauna lifted her chin in the air and marched past them, an amused Kendra trailing after her, copying her movements and pose exactly.
"What do you mean 'How can you eat so much?'" Shauna demanded as they sat down. Kendra began to nibble at a melon.
"What do you mean 'Why don't you eat more?'" she shot back, eyeing her friend.
Shauna's grin came out and in a voice like a mother scolding her child, replied, "You'll never grow tall and strong if you don't eat properly."
Kendra just shook her head at her friends reasoning.
"I think the reason you are so short is because you don't eat enough," Shauna mused as they continued eating. She waved the piece of bacon around in the air to emphasize her point.
"Really? Is that the reason I'm only five foot one?"
"Really." Shauna paused in her eating and looked around them.
"What?" Kendra asked, noticing her friend's perusal.
"I forgot to get myself a drink."
"Oh. While you're up get me one as well."
"Your wish is my command."
When Shauna got up, Kendra waited until she was sure Shauna wouldn't see her before snatching a piece of bacon off her plate.
"I saw that." Kendra looked up quickly to see Ethan, a male candidate and another good friend, approach with his plate piled with everything from the fruit to the ham.
An embarrassed flush spread across Kendra's face, noticeable even under her tan. But instead of returning the bacon, she bit into it defiantly.
Ethan's dark brown eyes twinkled merrily with the challenge and sat down across the table by Shauna's plate. His wavy black hair looked slightly ruffled as if he just got up and there was a small red mark on his cheek where his head laid on the pillow.
"She's going to blame you for taking the bacon," Kendra remarked idly as she finished off her friend's bacon, keeping a watch for Shauna's return.
"Sure she is." Ethan's tone doubted and Kendra's eyes sparkled in suppressed laughter. "By the way, good morning."
"Good morning."
Then Shauna was back and greetings were once again exchanged as Shauna sat down and Kendra took a drink of her klah.
"Who took my bacon? Ethan! You took my bacon!"
The outrage in Shauna's voice and expression caused Kendra to choke on the klah at the surprised look on Ethan's face.
"It wasn't me! Honest!"
Kendra couldn't contain her glee and she shouted with laughter. Shauna looked at her in confusion at first and then it dawned on her.
"Kendra, you took it."
Kendra didn't know which was more satisfying, Shauna's surprise or Ethan's.
"I told you she'd blame you," she told Ethan.
She laughed yet again at Ethan's wounded look, which, she suspected, was only because Kendra was proven right.
"I stand corrected."
"You took my bacon," Shauna repeated mournfully as she stared at her plate.
"I told you that you needed to eat less. Besides, Ethan has more than enough bacon to feed the entire Weyr."
Ethan and Shauna just shook their heads and breakfast was finished in high humor. For the next few hours, the three helped out in the kitchens for the feast later that day and also went over everything the wingsecond taught them, trying to still their nerves.
Candy, the headwoman of the weyr, sent them off to clean themselves up. No sooner had the three friends moved to cross the Bowl when a loud wail pierced the air.
"What was that?" Kendra asked, startled. Shauna and Ethan became very excited. Ethan darted away in the direction of his room.
"It's happening!"
Kendra was grabbed by the hand and dragged to their room. Shauna grabbed both of their robes off the racks they were hanging on.
"What?" Frantically Kendra ripped out of her dress and put on the white robe. Shauna was doing the same thing.
"The eggs are going to hatch!"
A loud humming echoed throughout the entire Weyr, the stones literally resounding from the thrum from hundreds of dragon's throats. With new inspiration both girls hurried and were out of the room in record time where the wingsecond had instructed them.
By now, the entire Weyr was in a state of chaotic excitement and weyrfolk were rushing to the Hatching Grounds. Even now, there were dragons flying in, many carrying the parents and relatives of the candidates now assembled excitedly. Ethan, Kendra, and Shauna stayed together crossing their fingers at each other.
Once again, Kendra's nerves made her stomach tighten up but this time she pushed it away and listened as the wingsecond gave them their last instructions.
"All right now, let's go!"
Anticipation nearly choking her, Kendra followed everyone into the Hatching Grounds. She tried to stay next to Ethan and Shauna but was jostled around toward the back of the group. Then they entered the Hatching grounds.
The first thing Kendra was aware of was the incredible heat of the ground, noticeable even under her thick wherhide boots. Next was the humming from the dragons. Third was of all the people watching from the tiers.
Fourth was the great bulk of Wyth, the golden queen dragon whose clutch was now preparing to hatch. She was hovering protectively in the background, her humming almost the loudest of the dragons. Her mate, Bendeth, was in the tier nearest to her with the other bronzes, the thrumming also emanating from them. Then the eggs came into view and nothing else mattered.
I'm actually on the Hatching Sands and I might Impress! Kendra's thoughts ran rampant before she calmed herself, willing her beating heart return to its normal rate. Dimly, one part of Kendra wondered if she might Impress the dragon from the egg she usually concentrated on.
The humming increased in volume and she could feel it vibrate in her very soul. A new feeling swept over her and suddenly she knew she must get out. She must be free. The dark, warm place was now claustrophobic and an insatiable hunger now gnawed in the pit of her stomach. So hungry; must get out. I have to get out! And the humming beckoned her on.
The first egg started rocking and the humming nearly skyrocketed. Then they were quiet. All humans fell quiet with a gasp, all eyes centered on the candidates and the rocking eggs. The egg gave a mighty heave and then split open top to bottom. A wriggling mass of wings and neck stumbled out onto the warm sands and gave a low squawk.
A bronze! The first hatched was a bronze! The golden Wyth crooned and trilled encouragement and as if on que, two more egg started to rock. The little bronze made his way shakily to the group of boys surrounding him and fell at the feet of one tall, gangly boy who automatically helped it up. And got caught up in Impression, staring at the whirling eyes of the little bronze.
The watching dragons, all colors, hummed their approval. The next two split simultaneously and a brown and blue emerged. Two more boys made Impression.
What was that? A loud roar. I must get out, I MUST GET OUT!
Kendra anxiously waited for her turn.
Banish all fear, doubt, and insecurity. You'll never Impress with those feelings. Dragonets want to feel love, support, and acceptance, Kendra repeated over and over. A kind of peace flooded over her and she waited, her thoughts thinking of love, support, and acceptance.
A feeling of love suffused her and suddenly her hunger didn't matter. She must get to that love before she satisfied the hunger. She must get free. What if I bite at this barrier? I have to remove it. It's in the way.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kendra saw the egg she had concentrated on start to rock. Then the other eggs around it started to rock and all at once four or five little dragons broke out. There were bronze, brown, blue, and green dragons popping out. The candidates didn't know what to do.
Why is everyone bumping into me? I'll just wait here where I won't get stepped on.
So many dragonets, they didn't know which to go to. Then the rest of the clutch started rocking and hatching and Impressing no one noticed one tiny green dragon hiding under the ruins of her shell.
Kendra felt disappointment so intense it was like a knife in her side. She didn't Impress. The feeling of rejection was so strong she felt she would choke on it. It didn't make matters any better to know Shauna and Ethan had each Impressed: Ethan a brown and Shauna a green.
She was all alone. And her family was there to watch her fail.
In the tiers, above the Grounds, Gavin Ulric watched as his little sister bowed her head in defeat. An ache so powerful it felt physical welled up in him for her, the girl he felt deserved a dragon to Impress. The desire to comfort her was very strong but he held back.
It wouldn't be right, when so many other candidates were disappointed just like her. He reminded himself that Kendra was still young enough to attend several more Hatchings and that many dragonriders didn't Impress the first time around. Next to him, his father, Nikkos, was repeating the same thing in his mind.
What are you moping around for! You didn't fail. Not all candidates Impress the first time. Chin up, shoulders back. Be proud. Don't let a minor setback put you in tears. There will always be a place for you in the Weyr. Now turn around and walk with your head up.
With that little pep talk, Kendra straightened up, and turned around to walk out.
Where is she going? Stop, STOP!
STOP! Kendra halted as the command resounded in her mind. Where did that come from? Just then a sharp pain shot up leg and something slammed into her.
"Uh," she grunted as she hit the sand. Then a pressure on her chest told her someone, and someone heavy, was on top of her.
You can't go. You can't leave me. I won't allow it.
Kendra whipped her head up to see whom would speak to her in such a manner…
Nikkos and Gavin couldn't believe it. A little green dragon, smaller than some of the blues they had seen just hatch, had just raked Kendra's leg and was sitting on top of her.
Rainbow eyes swirling from red to yellow, to white, to blue was all Kendra could see. Never had she felt such love and understanding from anyone before. The little green dragon was such a wonderful sight and Kendra couldn't believe it chose her.
Don't leave me ever.
Whether that was Kendra's thought or Terranth's, neither of them knew, and neither cared. They had found each other. Neither paid attention to the blues and greens who swooped down from the tiers to escort the candidates who didn't Impress back to their rooms. They were so caught up in each other.
"Kendra!" At the sound of her name, Kendra reluctantly dragged her gaze away from that of the little dragonet and turned to see who called. It was Ethan. His little brown was leaning against his leg and his eyes were whirling the red of hunger. At the thought of hunger, Terranth reacted.
I am hungry also. Very hungry.
Okay, I'll get you out of here so we can get you something, Kendra thought back to her dragon.
She rose up and pain lanced up from where Terranth had raked her thigh to shin. She gave a hiss and managed to stay on her feet. There was some blood from the wound and some sand was irritating where it had gotten in. Other than that, Kendra was fine. Worry from someone other than herself came across her mind and sorrow.
I'm sorry, Kendra. I have caused you pain. The little dragon's eyes whirled yellow with her anxiety and sadness.
It's all right Terranth. It's a good pain.
Kendra didn't bother to explain but instead said, "Let's get you something to eat." Limping across the Grounds to Ethan and Shauna with their dragons, and petite little Terranth walking by for support, Kendra walked out of the Hatching Grounds a dragonrider.