Disclaimer: Anne McCaffrey owns everything. I wish I could own Pern. But then again, Don't we all?
Author's note: MUST READ! Ok one or two out of cannon stuff for Pern. I know that no rider could ever be jealous because of the color of their dragon, and my characters are not by any means jealous of colors. The jealousy thing will be explained later with attention and status. And this is a none AVIS story. And girls can be impressed by greens. Ok? Enjoy! Oh, and criticism and any kind of review is always welcome.
Chapter two: Tara's turn
I never thought that I was better than Aira. She was my best friend after all. I knew that certain things I was better at. Like lessons. But I helped her pass all of them when she struggled. I thought that she sang far better then I did. The Harper didn't agree, but what had he known? Aira was just waiting for her time to shine. At least, that was what I had thought.
I had been angry at other people, jealous of other people. But never Aira. When we were little at least. She was always so supporting of me. Even when she beat me in a race or something, I never got upset. We protected each other from teasing by the other children. It was a perfect friendship.
But as we got older, I began to wonder. Why was she always better? Why did she constantly praise everything that everyone did? She was a ray of sunshine in everyone's life, even mine. But I tried to push these thoughts away. Why was I jealous of my best friend? Aira was...well there was no other way to explain it. Aira was innocent.
I wasn't innocent. I don't know how Aira kept her innocence, but she did. I envied her for that. I envied her for the look that guys gave her that she didn't see. Oh sure, I had guys interested in me as well. But I couldn't do what Aira could. She barley noticed the guys. I craved their attentions.
I did well suppressing my jealousy, till my family and Aira, who knew me best, couldn't see it. No one saw it for ten turns. I could still joke with Aira good humoredly, could still help my mother around the Hold and not have her seeing the burning within me. I was proud of myself.
Then came the day of Search. I was surprised when the Harper panted for us to follow him, surprised when they choose the boy from our Hold as a candidate. He had always been picked on. I was shocked when they didn't chose Keran, a boy from our Hold who had always dreamed of dragons.
When Aira was chosen as a candidate I thought I was going to die. I was happy for my friend, of course I was. But the jealousy that I had hidden for so long was back, and ready to choke me. I squelched it down. I must have gone pale, because Aira sent me a brilliant smile. One of her brilliant smiles. Luckily they pulled me forward as well.
As the rider announced us as the candidates for Fort Hold, my eyes scanned the crowd. Many people were looking at the three of us with happy smiling faces, one or two were jealous, but most were surprised. I still don't know why, but I suppose I never will.
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We had been at the Weyr for a week or so. Aira shined. She was radiant at the Weyr. We both did our chores well, and I suppose we even did them better then some of the other candidates. Dragon Healing was my favorite chore. Although, I couldn't call it a chore when it was so much fun.
I helped a dainty green the first time. Her name was Sarath. She was a brave little soul, who didn't cry out once, or flinch in pain. I found myself thinking as I dressed her wounds that a green was as brave as I had been told I was. Green's were valuable, and together we would fly through Pern. Heros.
The morning of the Hatching, I was asleep. The humming, to my ears sounded like a peaceful melody that a Harper would sing at a Gather, or a lullaby that my mother had sung when I was little. But I was awake upon thinking about the sound, and my first instinct was to go to Aira's alcove, next to mine and check with her. I knew she hadn't been sleeping very well this last week.
A nod of the head was all it took. I was dressing in my robe within minutes. The worn fabric made me wonder how many candidates had worn this garment to be let down. Or how many had become the Dragonriders that they longed to be.
Aria and I had raced to the Hatching Grounds together. The sands had been so hot underfoot, and one boy had complained about the heat. I had responded as best I could. After all, we were all cranky at this hour.
"Because the eggs need to be kept warm until they hatch I suppose." The boy seemed satisfied with this answer.
As the first egg cracked, I caught Aira's hand. My own hand was sweaty, and she gave it a gentle squeeze for comfort. I had needed that.
A bronze was the first to crack his shell, and impressed the boy from our Hold. Hope, rose. Maybe I could impress too. The colors paraded on. So many that I lost count of who and when they were chosen. Girls edged toward leftover green eggs and the gold egg. Jays! Don't choose them! I am still here! I had to impress.
The last green egg cracked, and a emerald green hatchling wobbled out. I stepped aside, figuring the magnificent creature wanted Aira. I was surprised when it headed for me. I took a step back, and fell in the warm sands.
Jeweled eyes met mine, and I sighed; content. How perfect my green Tarenth was. She was also happy with me. Tears of joy filled my eyes. I saw Aira leaving, totally defeated. I went to call out to her.
But she turned, as though someone already had. But all of our friends had either left throughly depressed, or left with their Hatchlings, to feed them and let them sleep. The golden Queen met my friend, and I knew that nothing would ever be the same. Something within me snapped. Tarenth could feel it, and worried over me until I too lead her off the sands; without waiting for my friend.
I thought she would call for me to wait, or call for my help. But she never even noticed I had left before her. Someone else had taken my place. It was a harsh blow.
And even now, as I sit here with my Tarenth, my beautiful dragon to call my own. I know that nothing will ever be the same. I can feel a rage, a burning jealousy boiling within me. It has been there my entire life, now just over flowing.
I could never envy Aira because she has the Queen dragon. I could care less. I have my Tarenth, and she is perfect. It is not color. It is everything the past few years. It is the way that even only a few hours after our hatching, when we have all asked for more meat, the other hatchlings and older riders look at her this incredibly weird way. With respect that I can never gain threw fighting thread.
For in impressing a Queen dragon, she has shown the strength that being a Queen rider takes. She has the status that I do not. How can I fix that? Somehow Tarenth and I will.
And so, my friendship was broken, and my jealousy was born.
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hey guys! What do you think? I tried to explain Tara in a way that wouldn't make everyone hate her. I don't know if I succeeded, but at least now she and Tarenth are their own voice in my head, just like Aira and Carmenth are. Please read and review and tell me where to go next! Aira's POV is the next chapter!
Kate