Asatira woke up to the deep humming of dragons all around the Weyr. She was going to be late for the Hatching! She stood up in a hurry and found that Jiranika had laid out the white clothing meant for her to wear for the Hatching at the end of her bed. She changed quickly, wondering why no one had awoken her, and began to run through the Weyr to the Hatching Sands.
She found her way into the throng of other girl Candidates sitting around the very large golden egg. The Weyrleader watched Asatira take her place, and the girl was well aware of his eyes on her. Was he watching her because she was late, or was there another reason? Asatira didn't have time to dwell on that thought because the gold egg had begun to tremble.
Instinctively, Asatira looked around to find Jiranika. She didn't see her friend among the girls. She felt a sudden burst of fear. Jiranika was not there!
The eggs on the Sands began to crack, and the largest egg in the group shattered, revealing a stunningly large brown dragonet. He raised his head from the shells, and immediately made his way to a slender, somewhat feminine looking boy standing among the other Candidates. The brown never faltered as Impression was made. This boy was his, there was no question. Asatira could see the dragonets determination.
All the other eggs seemed to start hatching at once, even the gold egg began to crack. Asatira couldn't stay here. Her mind was spinning, and she was fearful about Impressing a gold and not being able to live as a weyrwoman. Slipping away from the girls, Asatira found her way through the cracking eggs hoping to be unseen in the commotion of Impressions happening everywhere.
Turning to look behind her one last time at the golden egg, and saying goodbye to her future as a dragonrider, Asatira tripped and fell backwards over one of the eggs.
It hurt to be tripped over, Asatira was told by a little stream of consciousness in her mind. Looking around, Asatira realized she had tripped over a little green dragonet that was absolutely beautiful, and the most wonderful dragon on Pern.
Tanith said that her wing hurt, being stuck where Asatira had tripped over it. How did she know the little one's name?
Tanith repeated that her wing hurt, said that she was hungry, and wondered if Asatira was going to continue sitting there, or if she was going to help her.
"Did I Impress you?" Asatira whispered a bit to herself, but also to the dragon.
You are mine, and I am your Tanith, Tanith said clearly in Asatira's mind. With a sudden flood of joy, Asatira reached forward to stroke the soft hide of her new lifemate.
The other Weyrlings were leaving the Sands with their dragons, and those that did not Impress were making their way out in a different direction. It was time for the gold egg to hatch.
Asatira looked over to the gold, and watched as a large dragonet burst from the shell. The golden beauty took a long look at the Candidates offered to her, and then one brave girl stepped forward and hugged the little dragon, and Impression was made.
Tanith nudged Asatira's legs. She was still sitting on the hot Sands. With a jolt, Asatira prepared to stand. She was the last weyrling on the Sands, and Tanith was awfully hungry.
"What have you done?" A shrieking voice called from behind her. Asatira turned to see Weyrwoman Filia pointing a finger at her and looking very distraught.
Instinctively, Asatira put her arms protectively around Tanith and looked defiantly at the Weyrwoman.
"Weyrwoman, it is clear that Asatira has Impressed green..." Weyrleader L'szlo intervened and waited to hear the dragon's name.
"Tanith," Asatira said.
"Green Tanith," L'szlo said to the Weyrwoman. Asatira was not really watching their interaction. She was too occupied by the thought that Weyrleader L'szlo remembered her name!
"That isn't possible," Filia said. The stands were almost clear by now, no one was really paying attention to what was happening on the Sands below. They were hungry, and eager to see the weyrlings.
"It appears to be," The Weyrleader said. "And it was several Passes ago."
"How, I don't..." The Weyrwoman was very upset.
"Go and attend to Sadia and Okoth," The Weyrleader said referring to the new junior weyrwoman. His tone was quiet, but firm enough that Filia offered no resistance.
L'szlo turned to Asatira and the young green.
"Tanith looks healthy," He said examining the dragonet. "She is a bit small, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with her." L'szlo extended an arm to help Asatira to her feet. The girl took his offered hand and he pulled her up.
Asatira looked at the Weyrleader and felt herself blush. Tanith bumped her legs, with caused her to fall forward into the Weyrleader.
"My apologies," Asatira said as the Weyrleader steadied her.
"I think it is time for you and young Tanith to join the other Weyrlings," L'szlo said with a warm smile before lightly touching Asatira's cheek. Maybe she wasn't imagining how he treated her, or perhaps he was just a kind man!
Jiranika was standing in a stunning dress next to a young boy with the very large brown hatchling at his feet. Asatira couldn't see why Jiranika was so happy, she had missed the Hatching! Making her way over with Tanith, Asatira waved to get Jiranika's attention.
"Asatira, isn't this wonderful?" She asked running forward and embracing her friend. "I see you have done very well for yourself, with a young green at your side," She said.
"Jiranika, you missed the Hatching!" Asatira said still confused.
"You didn't recognize me?" She asked.
"What did you do?" Asatira asked suddenly mortified.
"I didn't do anything," Jiranika said sharply. "Seth wanted me, and he would have come to me whether I was standing with the girls or not."
"Seth? He?" Asatira looked around and saw the large brown looking up at Jiranika with adoration in his eyes.
"Yes, I Impressed a brown, and he is the largest dragon born of our clutch, since no bronzes hatched," She said with a sly grin.
"Weyrwoman Filia threw a fit when she found out I Impressed a green, and women used to ride greens at one point in history. How will she react to this?" Asatira thought aloud.
"It doesn't matter. Impression cannot be undone, and Seth knew that I was the one he wanted from the start," Jiranika said. Asatira could not deny how determined the brown dragon had seemed to get to that boy, or Jiranika disguised as a boy, on the Sands.
"Asatira," A deep yet soft voice called. "How is Tanith fairing?" The Weyrleader asked as he approached the girls.
"She is quite well, now that she is fed," Asatira responded, looking up at the Weyrleader with complete happiness.
"Good, Japheth informs me that she will prosper and be great," L'szlo said. Asatira grinned, she couldn't help it.
"Thank you Weyrleader," She said.
"Do not bother with silly titles while we are not in formal settings," L'szlo said returning her grin, and then softening his eyes to a strange look that Asatira did not recognize, but she felt warm under it.
"Jiranika!" a male voice called. M'kya was on his way towards her and the large brown.
"M'kya!" Jiranika called throwing herself into his arms and hugging him. "Did you see me? Did you see Seth?" She asked.
"Yes, I saw everything," M'kya said releasing the girl quickly since they were in the presence of the Weyrleader. He looked at Jiranika with a sort of possessive pride.
"Weyrleader, my duty to bronze Japheth," He said turning back to formalities.
"Gwyneth is well?" L'szlo asked.
"Yes, very," M'kya said.
"Now, about this," L'szlo said motioning between the impressive brown dragonet and Jiranika. "Am I to understand that you Impressed this wonderful, healthy, rather large brown?" He asked.
Jiranika looked at the Weyrleader defiantly.
"I did," She said. The Weyrleader nodded.
"I see," He said slowly. He was thinking hard. "Seth you said?"
"Yes, his name is Seth," Jiranika confirmed.
"He did seem to know what he was doing on the Sands," L'szlo said. "Japheth says not to worry and that Seth will do great things," He said. Jiranika smiled and beamed at M'kya.
"Still, I will be keeping a close watch on you, both of you," The Weyrleader warned. "And I expect the both of you to excel in your classes and training. If you were able to Impress fighting dragons, you could potentially hold an important rank in the Weyr."
"Of course, Weyrleader," Jiranika said with a respectful nod. The Weyrleader began to move away, but he turned to Asatira to give her a final, tender smile. Asatira blushed and averted her eyes to look at Tanith.
"I will make the arrangements for the two of you to share a weyr instead of rooming with the male weyrlings," He said as a final word before disappearing into a throng of people.
The girls exchanged a look of excitement.