Worries (open)

[summerrain]

The kid sat by the river that fed the lake within the Weyrbowl, knees pulled to her chest. Ever since the Gather at her home Hold, she'd been acting different. She was quieter, more easily startled. More likely to run away.

TeraMine, please cheer up, requested the Wood dragonet again. She was finally larger than the girl next to her, and beginning to get the hang of gliding. She still hated the idea of hunting the herdbeasts, and would prefer the vegetables and fruits of the forest.

"You make it sound so easy," Tera responded gloomily. "How do I know he's not mad at me? I told him off, then ran away. I'd be surprised if K'tar wasn't mad..." She put her forehead down on her knees again.

TeraMine, you're worrying me. I don't like seeing you this way...

"Sorry Picosith, but I can't help it," came the muffled reply. "How do I know if he'll want to talk to me again? The other Weyrlings are my only friends here. I want to stay friends with them." She sniffed, and her shoulders began shaking slightly. "I want to have good things to write mama and papa about," she whispered, her voice suddenly shaky.

They sat in silence, a girl and her dragon, while Tera cried silently. Picosith knew she couldn't do anything to comfort the child, but the longing to do so didn't fade. The dragonet snaked her head around the girl, looking at Tera's head with one large-ish eye. Her eyes swirled with grey tinges, her own feelings echoing those of the girl. She didn't even notice the approaching person.

[Nicole]

EvaineMine, Picosith's Mine looks sad.
Oh?

Evaine looked up, pixie short black hair shifting slightly around her head. She glanced up at where Tera sat, her knees huddled to her chest and a sad look on her face. Do we know why?

You could ask.

A smile flickered across Evaine's face as she looked up - up! - at Chatorth. Her hair and her dragon's Hide were nearly the same shade, though Evaine spent much more time into making Chatorth's Hide shiny and healthy. (Her hair was just hair and got in the way, for the most part. Plus, when they started Flying, keeping it short would make it even easier with helmets.)

In quiet agreement, the pair moved forward towards Tera and Evaine, for once not saying a word, simply sat down next to the girl and waited for her to calm down. Chatorth nudged the Wood with his nose before settling himself in a small circle next to his Mine.

[summerrain]

Picosith turned quickly, snapping out when Chatorth startled her. When she realized who it was, she relaxed. She curled up next to Hers, her eyes swirling grey.

TeraMine, Chatorth and His are here. I... I think His wants to speak with you.

Tera moved her face over her arms, then looked up. It was Evaine. She liked the girl, and Chatorth was a good dragon. Her face was red from the tears, but she moved closer to the older Weyrling.

"Evaine... I... I think I made K'tar mad during the Gather..." she confessed. "He made the runners panic, and Viarth was chasing them... I think I told him off, but I ran away after... I don't want him to be mad at me... The Weyrlings here are really my only friends within the Weyr..." She rested her chin on her knees and looked out over the lake. "I wasn't even supposed to Impress to Picosith... I was visiting mama's sister while papa was away at sea, and it happened to be the day of Archith's Hatching... Everyone thought Picosith would between that day... When she didn't Impress to one of the Candidates... Picosith Impressed me instead... At first, I didn't have any friends here... Then I met K'tar at the first lesson... Then everyone else... I... I don't want that feeling to go away." Tears began slipping down her cheeks again. "I don't wanna lose K'tar as a friend... I don't wanna lose anyone's friendship..."

[Nicole]

"I don't think anybody can blame you for Impressing Picosith, Tera." Evaine offered the girl the kindest smile she could give her, sending a mental warning to Chatorth to keep his - sometimes abrasive - mouth shut. "And you had a right to be mad at K'tar. He really shouldn't have made the runners panic."

As somebody who had a particular affinity for beasts of all kinds, Evaine had been irritated when she had heard about it. She couldn't blame Tera for getting angry.

"You're not going to lose anybody's friendship over one disagreement. And if you do, they're not worth being friends with anyway, right?"

Right.

Evaine glanced at her Black in surprise, but Chatorth just let his eyes swirl with compassion. Perhaps her Black was more compassionate than she thought.

Or maybe he was - for once - actually listening to her.