Kylia smiled at Kailin. "Don't worry, it's great having a dragon. Even a white one. K'ven said that unless you can talk to every dragon the bond isn't any more or less strong no matter what color you get. And if Trymmeth is the most wonderful sensation I've ever had, how could a green be any different?"
"But... but what if I don't Impress?" Kailin asked, her face paler than normal, which actually made it a strange blue color.
Kylia sighed. "I'm sure you'll Impress, Kailin. Remember, I almost didn't, either." Kailin's eyes widened and Kylia grinned. "I guess you weren't there. Well, the last egg that hatched was a brown. Everyone had paired up with a dragon except me, and there was one egg left. It didn't show any signs of hatching, so the people watching started leaving. The Weyrleader, M'ran, came up to comfort me, but I was the first to notice the egg had moved. By encouraging it, Trymmeth was able to hatch, and now, here she is!" Kailin stares at her, awe-struck. "So I know what it feels like to be left on the Sands, even if I did manage to Impress afterwards. It was a stroke of luck, though."
"But Jordin kept teasing you about Trymmeth being a runt... What if I get a white, too?" Real fear was reflected in Kailin's eyes.
"Trymmeth came from a dud egg, and there are very few duds. Besides, if he even tried to, I'd... I'd tie him to Trymmeth's tail in Threadfall and leave him there!" Kailin smiled faintly. "So don't worry, I won't let him. Now, you better go see R'att for more about what you should do during the Hatching." Kailin nodded and thanked her, leaving. Kylia smiled as she watched her go. Kailin would make an excellent rider, being so serious and dependable--if shy and sensitive. But, every rider had her--or his--faults. Including the girl who'd Impressed a white! Kylia smiled and walked into Trymmeth's weyr, the white weyrling's eyes spinning.
Are you done, Kylia? Trymmeth asked, shifting from foot to foot.
"Yes, dear heart. Kailin needed some encouragement about Impressing." Trymmeth's eyes turned slightly orange. "What's wrong, Trymmeth?"
The girl will not Impress. Trymmeth looked very sad, and Kylia's eyes widened. I am very sure she will not. But she would make such a good dragonrider.
Kylia sighed. "So I guess we should keep the truth from her, huh?" Trymmeth nodded, then brightened as Kylia stroked her soft neck. "Trymmeth, my love, you are already much larger than a Runnerbeast. Whatever Jordin and his cronies say, you might just make it to the size of green! That'll show him, won't it, lovey?" Trymmeth's eyes whirled in pleasure.
Yes. But if Jordin Impresses then he will not be able to make fun of us at all. And he will know what it is like to have a small dragon; he will Impress green or blue. Kylia laughed.
"You're the new searchrider, huh?" Trymmeth, all indignant, stepped off her dragon couch and headed towards the door. Suddenly, Kylia frowned. "Trymmeth... you know, if I hadn't been there and believed you would hatch," she said as she followed the weyrling, "what would have..."
Trymmeth knew exactly what to say. You were there. I was there. We are one and nothing will stop that. She crooned, nuzzling her rider, who patted her back.
"Yes, yes. Stupid question. Now let's get a move on or we'll be late for weyrling classes!"
As soon as she left her weyr, she was greeted immediatly by her fire-lizards. "Lady! Zippy! Rush! Zippy, calm them down. Oh, nevermind. Trymmeth?" Trymmeth nodded, and bespoke the anxious flits, who managed to calm down enough to perch on Kylia's shoulders and head.
Must you perch there? Trymmeth demanded at the flits. They answered her in unision, all smugly.
"Now, you three, apologize. Trymmeth's just worried about me," Kylia scolded.
~~Guilt. Forgiveness?~~ came three emotions in her mind.
"Of course, loveys."
~~Joy~~ All three flits suddenly disappeared when Trymmeth gave one of her disgruntled snorts.
"Oh, now dear heart, stop it. They're just jealous of your splendor, mm?" Trymmeth shuffled along, bobbing her head. Kylia was glad that they had decided to leave when they did; she only just made it to classes on time. Jordin and his cronies were nowhere to be seen, which made her equally happy. "Well, no one here who'd tease us!" K'ven waved at them and Kylia led Trymmeth over to settle down next to him.
R'att and his bronze Kith were up in front of the crowd of weyrlings. He nodded as Kylia leaned against Trymmeth, who could, for all her size, easily support her and herself. He began his lecture on flying, and Kylia felt her blood churn when he began talking about Thread injuries. Such a frightening lesson! Kylia said privately to Trymmeth.
It is kinder to teach them now what they might have to learn the hard way. Kylia blinked and looked at K'ven, but he didn't seem to notice anything. Kylia pretended as though nothing had happened, either, but her heart was pounding. That had not been Trymmeth! It was unmistakebly K'ven's Tirzath. But dragonriders only heard their dragons! Unless...
She shook her head and listened to the lecture, as she wrapped her arms around her white dragon, smiling.
