< Sarilyn...day of Hatching >

> The girl left quietly, and Rhia sighed.  Poor child, to be so
> sensitive...  The coming trip to Eos would be hard for her...

  Sarilyn walked along, her mind filled with thoughts and worries.  All
that Rhia had said made sense, and she knew she shouldn't be so worried,
or so sensitive, but that was who she was.  Maybe if she talked to someone
that she trusted, like she did Rhia, and got another opinion, it would
help.

  She could only think of one person....H'lie.  She hadn't really
talked..*really* talked to him in a long time.  A smile appeared on her
face as she headed for the Searchling Barracks...knowing that was where he
was likely to be.

> <...>
> Suddenly, dragons began to bugle.  Rhia sat up, startled and worried.
> 
> < The eggs are hatching! >
> 
> << Are they? >>  Rhia smiled, full of brilliance.  << Wonderful... >>
> 
> "What is it?"
> 
> "The eggs are hatching!  Run and tell Z'ril will you...?"
> 
> Queri took her to the hatching cavern, and Rhia leaned into her
> dragon as she listened to the joyous cries of hatching dragons and
> newly-joined kids.

  Sarilyn stopped short, as Lunath began humming and bugling, not only in
her mind, but out loud!  The eggs!  She laughed, her mind flashing back to
when she'd joined with Lunath, and took off at a run for the Hatching
Grounds...waving at Rhia as she passed...then mentally stopping
herself...and calling out, "Rhia, hello!  I guess it's time, huh?  Do you
think that H'lie will need any help?  Do you think I could, maybe?"

< After the Hatching...at the party >

> "Hi.  I'm Nineve, the head healer.  I don't think we've met before...
> would you like some cider?  Z'ril has a real touch for it..."
> 
> "Umm... yes, I think."  The young woman took the cider.  "I'm
> Tryllis.  What am I supposed to do?"
> 
> "Well, it's a party... You're supposed to have fun... meet people..."
>  Nineve smiled.  "Come on -- let me introduce you to Ilara, the
> junior queenrider..."
> 
> Chattering lightly, she led the girl over to Ilara and Sarilyn and
> Billy and introduced the girl.

  Sarilyn had just given Ilara's hand a supportive squeeze, and was
totally enjoying herself....the worries gone for the moment of the trial
and anything pertaining to it.  She and Billy had laughed and chatted over
their own Joinings, and evne their dragons had gotten in on things.  She
stopped and listened as Nineve introduced what she just knew was a
newly-joined young girl.  A smile crossed her features as she
wondered...had she looked like that when she'd Joined?  It vanished
momentarily as she remembered her father and all that had happened.  Where
was he now, and was he all right, she wondered?

  But she turned quickly into the more open and smiling person she'd
become since being here.  She really *did* have to thank H'lie again for
helping her with her problems when she'd first arrived.

  "Hello, Tryllis, congratulations on your Joining.  Isn't it amazing?  It
just can't be described until you go through it for yourself.  As Nineve
said, I'm Sarilyn, and I ride Lunath.  Billy here rides Chai-Lynn.  And of
course Ilara our newest Queenrider, she rides Erkvinen.  Now we really do
have to get you some food, and something to drink...this is a party!
Let's have fun!  After all...when you start training, there won't be a lot
of time for parties.  Believe me, I know."

  She winked and hugged both Billy and Ilara close, and was so happy for
her friends....friends she never would have had if not for being here at
all.  And she sniffled softly...her life was so very different now, she
was happy.

[Tag:  James, Sam, Jill, did I miss anyone?  :) ]




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