Logs:A Weyrling's Letters

A Weyrling's Letters
RL Date: 18 March, 2008
Who: Leova
Involves: High Reaches Weyr
Type: Vignette
What: Newly-Impressed Leova attempts to write to family. (Prompt from week 1 of weyrlinghood.)
Where: HRW
When: Day 00, Month 9, Turn 15 (Interval 10)

Mentions: Niena/Mentions, E'dro/Mentions, Rhonda/Mentions




Attempt #5 The weyrling training room was cool and dimly lit, a welcome respite from the early autumn sun so bright to sensitive eyes. Leova had stayed slumped over her table for the last quarter of an hour, Vrianth curled partly on the bench beside her and partly on her lap, her tail swinging just shy of the ground like a ticking clock. Now Vrianth was losing patience, or maybe it was Leova herself, but what could she really say? "Dear Cousin." That made two words instead of one. Some improvement. And then Vrianth reached out, took the hide delicately between her teeth, and shook it like the tunnelsnake she had never seen. At least, Leova was pretty sure Vrianth had never seen a tunnelsnake. But if she had, its neck would be broken. Attempt #8 Despite the breeze kicking up, Vrianth had found the one patch of sun that cloudy morning and was sleeping in it. Leova had curled herself up next to her, using a slate and stylus instead of a hide and ink this time, since it had proved to be a waste of ink and she still hadn't gotten the stain out of her shirt. Except she couldn't think, really, even less than usual. Vrianth was sleeping. She should be able to write. Except this time, the letters were turning out backwards. Attempt #9 "Dear Cousin." Vrianth had been fed, Vrianth had been oiled, Vrianth had napped, and Vrianth was, Leova could feel it, playing. Probably with Masoth again. Or Rhonda's Ishawith. Leova was in the training room again. She stared at the words. They didn't change, so she added an "s". Attempt #11 Even E'dro had finished his letter. Leova was resolved to finish hers. Even with Vrianth wanting her, and her wanting Vrianth, and Vrianth whispering oil-promises down her wings in ways that tickled her shoulderblades beneath the rough cloth of her shirt. When it came time for drills, it was almost a relief. Attempt #12 "Dear Cousins. "Vrianth is beautiful. I can't look at her. I can't think. I can't not look at her. She is always looking at me. I can't sleep. I can't go back. I can't ever go back." If Leova could have torn hide, she would have. As it was, she laboriously scraped it clean before anyone saw. Attempt #13 The letter was passed from hand to hand, but only to the adults. The boy kept reaching for it, demanding his turn, but the adults kept saying that they would read Auntie Lee's letter to him. When they were done. It felt like forever. The boy started chasing his little sister around, flapping his arms, pretending to breathe fire at her. For a while it was fun but then she started wailing. Stupid five Turn olds. When you fall down you have to get up, that's what his father always says. Auntie Lee wasn't going to visit for Turns and Turns and Turns and Turns, but then she would come and take him away with her. And he would get a dragon too. And they would get to fly forever and ever. The end.

Logs:A Weyrling's Letters

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