QoP 4 – A Glorious Bond
Quira was feverish for a while. She vaguely remembered Brekke's kind voice and feeling cool hands on her forehead. Kick the covers off, have them put back on, tucked in tighter than a straight-jacket…. That was the drill. She finally woke up feeling tired, but better. She felt a soft, plushy pillow under her cheek and the warmest, softest sleeping fur she'd ever felt. I've died and gone to heaven, Quira thought peacefully, snuggling deeper into the furs. Suddenly, her eyes shot open as she remembered where she was… and why.
"Oh no!" Quira yelled, struggling out of bed. Her thin white night shirt fluttered around her knees as she struggled to make her way out towards the mouth of the cave she was in. Stumbling, she knocked over a pile of boxes with a loud crash. I'll never make it to the Hatching Grounds now, she thought, sinking into a forlorn heap on the ground. They've probably already Hatched and been Impressed. She didn't cry, just sat and thought about what she could do now.
Brekke comes, said a voice in her head. Do not despair, little one. Quira looked up blankly as a young woman rushed in, alerted by Canth about Quira's awakening.
"Oh, Quira! Did you hurt yourself?" the woman asked, kneeling beside her. Quira gave herself over to despair and buried her face in the woman's shirt.
"I missed the Hatching! Now I have to figure out what to do with the rest of my life!" Tears coursed down Quira's cheeks. Her thin body shook violently with sobs as she let out her years of pent up grief and rage. She was finally able to find release.
Brekke stroked her hair and spoke soothingly to her for a few minutes. Finally, she made Quira sit up and tilted her chin so they were eye-to-eye.
"You did not miss the Hatching," Brekke said with a smile.
Quira looked blankly at her.
"Really, you didn't miss it. The eggs are still hardening on the sands. They're very near to Hatching, though," Brekke said thoughtfully, glancing at the mouth of the cavern. She could faintly make out the opening to the Hatching Grounds across the bowl of the Weyr.
Quira sagged, so drained from her emotional release that relief could find almost no expression, other than a small sigh. Brekke patted her arm and gently helped Quira stand, steering her back towards her bed. Quira sank down gratefully into the still-warm furs and drifted off to sleep. Brekke woke her almost immediately to swallow some medicine and wash it down with warm klah. It was heaven to Quira.
She was vibrating… her very bones were shaking. Someone was shaking her awake … roughly.
"Quira!" Brekke moaned, shaking her shoulders, "you have to get up. You must get up!"
Quira sat up groggily, but was able to focus her vision for the first time in a few days. Malnutrition and sickness were losing their effects.
"Quick, the eggs are Hatching!" Brekke said, tossing the white candidate robes at Quira and twitching the curtain into place so Quira could change.
Brekke swiftly pulled the nightclothes off Quira and bundled her up into her robes with effortless ease. Quira realized that the vibrating wasn't originating from her, there was a deep, pervading hum filling the Weyr. Excitement and adrenaline began to kick in and her mind cleared. She was able to follow Brekke out of the Infirmary and saw the hundreds of dragons and people filling the Hatching Grounds.
"Come on!" Brekke said, pulling Quira along after her. They half ran, half stumbled across the bowl towards the opening to the Grounds. Quira could pick out other white-robed candidates among the crowd, their white robes stark against the colors.
"You must not be afraid," Brekke was saying, pulling Quira along, "The hatchling will be hungry and awkward, so make sure you stay out of the way of her claws." Brekke turned her head, scanning the flying dragons above her; Looking for F'nor, no doubt, Quira thought. She was beginning to tire from their short sprint towards the opening. Gratefully, she slowed down, breathing heavily as they found themselves in the press of people entering the grounds on foot. "Make way, make way for a Candidate!" Brekke yelled loudly, trying to make a hole for them to get through.
The humming rose just the slightest bit in intensity. The crowd sensed the change and parted quickly, allowing Brekke and Quira to pass through.
Suddenly, they were on the hot sands of the Ground, but Quira paid no attention. Her gaze was drawn to Ramoth, golden and majestic, half crouched over her eggs.
A clear, commanding voice raised above the hum of the dragons called out: "Ramoth! Let the candidates approach, dear one!"
Brekke pushed Quira, towards Ramoth she thought, and then disappeared into the crowd, waving encouragingly as she moved towards the stands. Quira noticed knots of candidates gathered around a large group of eggs
Quira glanced at the protective mother dragon as she headed for the knots of boys and girls. She locked eyes with Ramoth and the dragon furled and unfurled her wings in agitation. Quira could make out a large golden egg between her front legs. Suddenly, Ramoth rose and leapt into a corner, exposing her prize to the candidates and settling down beneath the ledge Lessa sat on. Quira saw four girls shyly approaching the large golden egg, but she didn't dare move from her circle around the 38 mottled, rocking eggs.
Suddenly, a large egg near her cracked open from top to bottom, gave two hard rocks and a hatchling tumbled into the sands. It was only about as tall as her waist, when the little bronze righted itself, glistening from amniotic fluid and crying piteously in anxiety. Her heart went out to the little one as it stumbled from candidate to candidate trying to find the one it wanted. Suddenly it stopped in front of a short, stubby boy with curly blond hair. Butting its head impatiently against the boy's knees, its cries changed to a hungry note. The boy's face lit up as he knelt next to the little bronze who wrapped his neck around the boy's, crooning gently and rubbing its head against the boy's cheek.
A swarm of hatchlings followed suit: blues, greens, browns and bronzes all waddled around trying to find partners. The dragons' hum increased to an almost unbearably intensity, focused on the rocking queen egg.
Quira was watching a little green dragon cock its head and waddle questioningly in her direction, chirping and crooning. Her heart leapt as the little one kept coming. As she reached out to embrace the little dragon, a blur of gold flashed by her. A large gold hatchling hissed and snapped at the little green, driving her off squeaking in fear. The gold dragon stood proudly and turned to face Quira, her multi-faceted eyes whirling from an angry red to the deepest, most brilliant blue.
You are mine, said a gentle voice in her head, and I am yours. The gold dragon, whose head was almost shoulder height, gently rubbed her head against Quira's arm, begging for attention. My name is Zenith.
A cheer rose up from the stands as the spectators realized the queen had Impressed. And what an Impression!
Awed, Quira reached out a tentative hand and scratched along the dragonet's neck ridges, up the neck and finally reached the eye ridges. Zenith's eyelids closed and her head swayed gently as she rumbled contentedly, a sound like a cat's purr, Quira noted. Nothing else mattered to her now but Zenith's health and happiness. She was barely aware of the candidates and their dragonets moving off the Grounds and out into the Weyr; soft dragon hides glistening like jewels in the late afternoon sun.
We must go now, Zenith said resignedly, wrapping her head around and underneath Quira's arm, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling mischievously in the shadows of her robe. But this will be a good day. I am hungry… can we eat now?
Quira's heart was full as she and Zenith headed out. "Of course, dear one… we'll get you something to eat as soon as possible," she said, giving the eye ridge another brief scratch. Zenith purred again as she nuzzled up next to Quira, leaning her large golden head delicately on Quira's shoulder and wuffing gently into her ear. Her breath was fresh and spicy, laden with the odor unique to dragons. Quira reveled in it as they joined the line of dragons and riders heading outside. A young bronze and his rider, the same boy Quira had seen, paused respectfully for Zenith and Quira to enter the line. Zenith acknowledge this show of respect with a graceful dip of her head and then continued on. Quira shot a quick smile at the boy, who blushed and returned it.
This is the best day, Zenith said, crooning with love and adoration as she nuzzled her head under Quira's arm, which rested companionably around the graceful golden neck.
The days ahead were bright with hope, but disappointment lurked also, unseen by those overwhelmed by excitement and love unfeigned.