Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows

Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold

Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold

Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall

Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Vix
Date Posted: 30th October 2007

Characters: Tamaca
Description: Tamaca Impresses green Jorth.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 4

She almost had not come to the Hatching Grounds, almost had remained behind, reading the book from her brother. She had already read it cover to cover twice, carrying it in her pocket and turning to it during every moment she could spare. As she read, she had started to formulate a plan, a direction to her life.

She had decided that she would return to her craft, that she would become a harper.

Of course, she still had to muster the courage to talk to the Weyrharper, to approach him and ask his permission to return to the studies she had abandoned after her brothers had been scored. She needed to explain to him that she had been lost, that she had felt no enthusiasm for anything in life, but that she had now regained the desire to learn.

Perhaps he would accept her explanation and allow her to return to her studies, to resume her apprenticeship.

Perhaps he would deny her that opportunity.

Those thoughts had been with her as she attended final candidate classes. They had accompanied her as she had done her duties as a scribe. They had carried her through other routine chores. And they had kept her awake at night, as she lay in bed, the other candidates sleeping nearby.

She had finally discovered something she wanted to do, something that would make her life worthwhile and not the simple marking of time that had been her pattern of the past few turns.

However, before she could pursue that dream, she had first to ask permission to do so.

And she also had to face the Hatching, something that she still felt she owed to Tamdin . . . T'din. If her brother could give his life as a dragonrider, she could at least offer herself on the Sands this one last time.

Offering herself on the Sands. . . though she had professed not to care, she had always approached Hatchings with trepidation and yearning, a yearning that she had tried to bury, to hide from those around her. Each time she had entered those Hatching Grounds, she had done so with that slight hope - and exited with a part of her crying tears that she would reveal to no one, and rarely even to herself.

But this time was different. She was deep in thought and paid little attention to those around her, to those preparing themselves, donning their white robes and chattering happily, hopefully. It wasn't until all of them were almost ready that one of the other girls had poked at her, reminding her that she needed to hurry, to grab her robe and join them.

She entered behind the others, not really seeing the eggs, just going through the motions. Her head was full of thoughts, full of plans.

She could talk to the Weyrharper tonight, approach him at the Hatching feast.

**Why would you want to do that?**

The thought came to her, arguing her resolve, though almost echoing in her mind. She nodded in response to it as she idly watched an egg crack and one of the boys she recognized from her classes find his lifemate.

Of course, that did make sense - the Harper would be busy and if she went to him tonight, it would seem as if she simply was disappointed.

**Disappointed about what?**

Another of those intrusive thoughts, seeming to fill her head, over-riding her planning. Still, she would not be disappointed this time, would have another path to follow instead.

}:Does the path lead to food?:{ She blinked at this question, a part of her and yet separate - closer to her than before and yet. . .

The clump of girls in front of her parted, revealing beyond them a small dragon, a green, eyes whirring in hunger, eyes searching for her.

"Jorth?" Tamaca whispered the word, the name that came to her lips, the name that was a part of her and yet separate from her all at once. She took a step forward, repeating the name in a joyful shout. "Jorth!"

And then they were together, the green's soft hide beneath her fingertips, the eager snout butting at her, demanding of her.

She left the Sands with this wondrous new creature - not disappointed. Her path had changed, one dream set aside, traded for another.

Last updated on the November 3rd 2007