Some Questions About Stuff

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 15th December 2015

Characters: D'kere, Z'then
Description: Z'then gets some reassurance from D'kere on a sensitive issue.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 5 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: E'zar, Talwynn, W'ser, J'darin

After a few sevendays of worrying, Z'then had decided to speak to the
Weyrlingmaster's Second about his feelings. Some of the greens in the
class had risen. Juvath was beginning to eye them with interest. He
didn't know what happened if a brown chased a green and won when his
rider hadn't done anything...but...

So he waited until it was a break between classes and knocked on D'kere's
door.

"Come in." D'kere had just settled into his chair when the knock at
the door came.

"Z'then," he smiled at the brownrider and gestured for him to have a
seat. "What brings you to me?"

Z'then took a seat and fidgeted, picking at his nails. "I had some
questions about stuff and I don't feel comfortable talking to any of
my wingriders about it."

"Hey, I'm always here, whether you're a Weyrling or not. Tell me what's on
your mind." D'kere settled back in his chair.

"I wanted to talk to you about mating flights. Some of the greens in our
class rose already...and some of the other dragons are chasing."

D'kere's eyebrows furrowed, "Are you nervous about it?"

"Juvath is interested. But he hasn't chased yet. I think because I haven't,
you know..." He flushed. "Am I going to hurt him if I don't want him to?"

The Weyrlingmaster's Second was a little surprised by Z'then's confession,
mostly because of the way his twin had a different girl with him every time
D'kere saw him. "No, it won't hurt him. If you're hesitant or holding back
in a flight it might hinder his chances of winning, but it won't cause him
any physical harm."

"Is there a reason why you.. haven't?" he asked.

"So I can't lose him like I've heard happens to greens?" Horror stories
abounded although he thought it hadn't actually happened at Dragonsfall -
not while he was there... "I just haven't found anyone I really like, and
I didn't want the first time to just get it over with."

D'kere made a face and shook his head, "No, of course not. You aren't going
to be in any pain, after all, so there would be no reason for him to think
you're in any sort of danger. If anything he will just be annoyed at you
for hindering his flight."

"That's good. I would hate to do something very wrong," Z'then said. "I
think he's already exasperated at me. He doesn't understand why I don't
just like anyone that much."

It was a little more unusual for a boy to say that he was waiting until he
"found the right person" in D'kere's experiences most boys, whether
holdbred or weyrbred, were ready for a a night with a woman as soon as they
could manage it.

"Don't push yourself to do anything but you want to, he's half of your
soul, he'll get over it. Kenirath has to put up with all kinds of weird
things from me." There was a rumble of assent from the weyrcouch.

Z'then laughed. "It's hard to imagine a teacher having weird things."

D'kere grinned, "Oh, just ask Talwynn, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to
tell on me."

"I just assumed teachers were flawless with a perfect rider bond or
something," Z'then said. When he put it like that, into words he actually
spoke, it sounded really dumb.

The latter suggestion made him cough. The scarred greenrider was kind of
scary, and Z'then decided then and there he was never, ever going to ask
about that.

"Ah, I'm sorry to have ruined your illusion then about teachers. I'm afraid
we're just as flawed as everyone else." D'kere smiled.

The gentle humor made him realize he was lucky to have had D'kere as a
teacher, and not someone sterner. So he said it.

"Thanks for being a great teacher and letting us talk to you even after
we've graduated. I like being a wingrider, but sometimes I miss being a
weyrling."

It made D'kere feel good to think that he was making a difference with the
Weyrlings. He wasn't sure, not after they'd had a teacher like J'darin who
gave so much of himself.

"Thank you, Z'then, that means a lot. Feel free to come help out with the
Weyrlings whenever you have time."

"I'd like to do something like that. And apprentice to the dragonhealers,
for real. So many things." Z'then gave a smile back, a more confident one.

D'kere considered those ambitions ones of worth. "Do it. Talk to W'ser
about apprenticing."

"I'll make an appointment. After all, the Weyr can't have enough
dragonhealers, right?"

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

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Some Questions About Stuff