[Statistics] [Hydee] [Mossyth] [Discoveries] [Relative Love] [Of Babies] [Full Circle]

As the dimming sun begins to set, Hydee is silhouetted against the purple sky.She sits, alone on a log, looking out over the land that has been her home for 20 years.As a group of wild fire-lizards fly past the retreating sun, she remembers...

“Hydee. Honey, wake up. Your father and I have something to tell you.” Hydee’s mother’s voice seemed different this humid morning.

“What Mama? What’s happened?”

Sondra gently lifted the fragile three year old’s body out of her small bed. “Don’t talk sweetie. It’s alright.” Sondra stroked and patted Hydee’s back and made cooing noises, which was quite unnecessary, since the little girl didn’t have the faintest idea what was going on.She had guessed that something bad had happened because her golden haired mother had tear marks on her cheeks.

“Mama?” She asked in a very small voice, “What’s wrong Mama?”

Sondra didn’t answer, just held the youngest of her three children tightly to her breast and walked steadily out of the child’s room.As they entered the common room, Hydee was facing backwards, but she could clearly hear the sobbing of her father, her sister, Else who was only seven herself, and several others.But not her brother, Micael. He was such a family person, why wasn’t he mourning with the rest of them? - Hydee had guessed they were mourning, for so many people didn’t get together and cry for no reason.Her own eyes soon fogged up, and tears began to run down her chubby face.She wasn’t crying for any particular reason, just because everyone else was, and . . well, it just seemed the right thing to do.When Sondra finally sat down next to her despairing husband, Hydee saw what everyone was crying over.On the floor, covered with large purple bruises and bloody gashes, was her beloved brother.Her small brain turned off, her body froze and stared at the mutilated form.She sat unmoving, unthinking.All feeling had left her, all rational thinking was gone.“NOOOOOOOO! MICAEL!”She screamed suddenly, and scrambled out of her mother’s grasping arms.She moved as fast as her small legs permitted and flung herself dramatically on the still chest of the ten year old boy who was her hero, and her role model.

She sobbed that day harder than she had ever sobbed before, and her small mourning eyes were red and puffy for many a week after that.The pain eventually went away, but left behind a shattered little girl in it’s wake.

For an intelligent five year old girl, Hydee was somewhat quiet.She kept to herself a lot, had no real friends at her home in Soul's End Weyr.The only time she had been truly happy since her brother had been killed three years before, was when she was with Mysth - her father R’ber’s brown dragon.Mysth and his lifemate’s daughter had formed a remarkable friendship, and when she grew up, Hydee had decided she wanted to become a dragonrider with her parents.

One evening, a very hot and sticky evening, Hydee and Else, who was now old enough to look after her sister without supervision, went to the local pond in which to cool down.They had both been working hard all that day helping their father with a new cot, and agreed that a cooling swim would do them both good.

Else got in first.She climbed onto a rock overhang and prepared herself to make spash in the deep pool.“Here I go! Watch out!” the last word was said from the air and as soon as it had left her lips, she had hit the glassy surface of the water with a tremendous splash!Hydee laughed at her sister’s comical ‘dive’ although it more resembled a belly-flop, and waited for her to surface and give the “all clear” for herself to jump in.

She waited, grinning. She waited, confused.She waited, worried.

“Else?” she said in a small voice.“ELSE??” The tears came to her green eyes unbidden.The water had long since recovered from the intrusion, and was once again glassy.Nothing stirred.Not a fish, not a fly, not even a bird call broke the silence.Why had the world had frozen on this terrible instant?

Hydee sank down onto the damp moss beneath her and waited, her face wet with tears, for her sister to pop her head out of the water with the ever present grin on her beautiful face.

The glorious face of the sun had sunk below the rippling surface of the world long before.The darkness has only just begun, but soon morning will come.Still does Hydee sit, waiting...

Hydee, we must now return.It is late, and I must fly,Mysth was sincerely sorry that their fun must end.Although Hydee was not permitted to ride her father’s dragon, they often went down to the pond near New Star Weyr where they had lived since Else’s accident.Hydee had an amazing gift, she was not aware of. She could understand Mysth when he mind-spoke. She did not realise the importance of this until it was too late. When she Impressed Mossyth when she was older, that link she had with the bronze dragon broke suddenly. She can no longer speak to him, but they are still close.

Hydee solemnly walked back to her home, while Mysth circled overhead, slowing to his companion’s pace.

Mysth certainly is behaving strangely today, Hydee thought to herself. First bringing me all this way, sitting for only a quarter candlemark, then walking all the way back again.Hydee pondered this as they casually returned to the Weyr.

As they rounded a bend in the trail, Hydee felt warmth on her face and glanced up - to see many colourful lanterns, tables covered with food, and her family and few friends she had, yelling “SURPRISE” at the top of their lungs.

Hydee stood on the spot, not moving, not breathing. Sondra at first thought she was so happy she was in shock, but when Hydee suddenly, silently, ran inside, she changed her mind, and ran in after her.

“Hydee?” She asked when she had caught up with her at a corner. “Blossom, are you alright?” Hydee turned her back towards her mother’s affections and sobbed quietly.

“Oh, Mama.I don’t know what to do. I _so_ want to be dragonrider, but I’m 18 turns now and I still haven’t been Searched. I just don’t know what to do!”Hydee slowly turned to face her mother and looked hopeful. “Can you do something Mama? Can you fix it like you always do?” Sondra looked at her bare feet and sighed. Hydee knew what the answer had been before she’d asked the question.

“Now, Hydee darling, I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but-" Her face changed expression, and suddenly she was grinning with all her might. “-today the Search Dragon came to see me. You’ve been Searched sweetie! You’re gonna be dragonrider!” Hydee reacted exactly the same as when she saw the party that was secretly planned for her, and Sondra almost gave up. The young, dark haired girl slowly smiled, and her arms reached out to hug the woman who had given her a reason to live.

“I’m gonna be a dragonrider.” She repeated quietly to herself.

Hydee sits and stares into the void of darkness and somewhere out there, she sees a light. It radiates bright and strong, growing in intensity. Soon it will engulf the darkness it precedes...

It was the day of the hatching. She was so exited, yet at the same time a strange calm had come over her. She stood on the searing sands, watching the eggs wriggle and topple over each other. Soon, one by one, the eggs cracked. A tiny green, blue, brown or bronze dragon’s head popped out and it squeaked. It would then, on it’s newly born legs wobble over to a young man or woman and pause. Hydee assumed it was telling him or her it’s name. She wept openly. It was all so beautiful! All these people had now Impressed. There were now only three eggs left. One was not moving at all, one was just starting to crack, and the third... the third. Out of the third egg, which was covered in nasty looking cracks and crevices, poked a tiny green head. She was shiny-looking, and very beautiful. Her eyes were a vivid blue, and her hide was a smooth emerald green. She slowly made her way out of the shell, and walked over to where Hydee was standing. Hydee bent cautiously, not quite sure what to do.

The tiny dragon lifted her delicate snout and whispered inside Hydee’s head, I am Mossyth.

She had impressed. Hydee, grinning enthusiastically, glanced towards the other two eggs. One was still not moving, and she guessed that it would not. Poor thing, Hydee thought, Your chosen rider isn’t here is he? Now why would someone do that? The other egg had hatched and the little blue was walking towards a tall gentleman with blond hair and a rather handsome face. I wonder who he is, Hydee thought to herself idly. She once more turned her attention to her new friend and lifelong companion, who had been sidetracked by another green weyrling, not nearly as beautiful as herself, and was playfully batting it’s head. Hydee laughed out loud.

The light grows, smothering all in sight. Hydee turns towards it, and smiles...

As Hydee bent over Mossyth’s shining green neck, she became one with the wind. Her dark hair struck her face, and clung to the sweat on her body. It was hot, very hot, and Mossyth and her rider were going on a long, fast ride. As they rounded a bend, Hydee suddenly sat upright, almost falling off Mossyth’s muscled back doing so. She quickly re-attained her position, but swore she had heard something. Not loud, not even sound at all, she must have imagined it, for it seemed to come from inside her own head! She snorted, and urged Mossyth to keep going. About a quarter candlemark later, she could stand it no longer, and though they had long since passed the spot where the cry could be heard, she said MOSSYTH! STOP! The small emerald green dragon immediately stopped, almost snapping her riders neck in half in the action. Thankyou, she said sarcastically.

You heard it didn’t you? That ‘squeak’ noise?

Hydee looked sharply at the dragon, then smiled. Yes. Lets go check it out.

Mossyth’s head swung around. I thought you’d never say that! Later, as they arrived again at the cliff overhang where the duo had both heard the curious sound, Mossyth softly landed and offered her foreleg to her rider.Hydee ignored the leg, and jumped to the ground, grinning.

I’ll be right back, Mossy, she said, and ran off into the bush. Mossyth watched her wistfully, then sat back on her haunches and waited.

After a while, a red-faced and out-of-breath Hydee came racing out through the trees. Mossyth, who had dozed off, woke with a start and bellowed in a annoyance. Mossyth! Mossyth you won’t believe what I found! she said, ignoring her friend’s reaction. Come quickly! she puffed, and turned on her heel.

As Hydee climbed around a small tree, and over a rock, the small cause of all the fuss came into view.

Lying on a pile of soft leaves was a tiny fire-lizard. It must have been about sevenday old, and it was the darkest blue she had ever seen. His slender tail had a white tip. Perhaps only a fingerwidth, but white all the same. Very odd, yet nice.

Hydee bent slowly, as to not frighten the flitter, and lifted him in her arms. He wrapped his small wings around her neck and squeaked three times. To her amazement, he then sent:

Love, companionship, ownership.

Hydee jumped. This flitter wanted her to keep him! Was that possible? Was it allowed? Was she dreaming? She had always wanted a fire-lizard, but had given up on getting one. Now was her chance she grinned and hugged little... Torquin. Yes she liked that. Held Torquin tighter.

As Hydee turned to return to Mossyth, Mossyth came to her. You have been busy! she said, grinning.

Torquin unravelled from around Hydee’s neck, and disappeared. A moment later, he reappeared on Mossyth’s head, over her eyes and was looking very comfortable.

Oh dear. Mossyth sighed.

Hydee looked at Mossyth, then Torquin then back again. Laughing, she ran up to them both, pleased with the new addition to their little family.

Hydee stretched, yawned and slowly rose from the hard log. Rubbing her sore buttocks, she turned and looked at her home Weyr. Smiling, she turned her back on the rising sun and walked home.