World of Pern
[G] [C] 742.02.28 | What's in a Name? - Printable Version

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742.02.28 | What's in a Name? - A'ryn - 28.Feb.21

The sun had already sank below the rim of the Weyr bowl, and stars were stubbornly trying to shine outside, becoming more and more visible from the window above Aederyn’s cot, bathing the new rider in a faint light. Around her, a few of the other new weyrling class dozed, their dragons curled neatly in the wallows at each bed, some of them already seeming to have visibly grown, even in the two short weeks since they’d hatched. Jenath breathed slowly beside her and blinked a blue-green whirling eye open. You are awake.

“Yes, Jen, I am.” Aederyn whispered, watching to see if others woke at her green’s words. Jenath still had no sense of volume control, but at this point in the evening, nobody seemed to care enough to take much notice, most too tired to bother.

Her precious dragonet lifted her head and peered at her rider. Why?

“I’ve heard something interesting, is all.” She hoped that bit of information might satisfy the curious green, but she should have known better by then that it would only pique the creature’s curiosity more.

Always interested in the thoughts, stories, and opinions… Jenath wouldn’t rest until she had learned all she could. Oh? Do share…

With a small huff of a laugh, the redhead swung her feet over the edge of her cot, padding to the chest at the end. Picking up the pale green robe her brother had given her, she wrapped it around herself and gestured for Jenath to follow. “If we’re going to talk, it’s going to be outside where we won’t disturb others. At least, won’t disturb them as much.” With as little fanfare as they could manage, they made their way outside, stopping a few yards from the door where they wouldn’t bother others and could, hopefully, have a moment or two to themselves.

Jenath yawned and stretched, arching her back and fluttering her wings, a shiver rippling down her spine and to the end of her tail. She would grow into a pretty thing, for certain. Now, she looked a bit like a young runnerbeast, all limbs and little body, seeming as though, if her current trend kept up, she would grow in her height well before she began to build any substance onto her gangly frame. She tottered ahead, barely beginning to develop any sense of control over her disproportionately long legs and wings, stopping after a moment to stare back at her girl.

Well? What troubles you? What keeps my precious girl awake? The green peered at the redhead, eyes tinged with mild concern. She could tell that her girl’s thoughts flustered her, but it was the why of it that she didn’t understand. Unsure why such a simple thing could cause any kind of anxiety, Jenath waited for the explanation instead of trying to sort it for herself.

Aederyn nodding to the assistant on duty to let them know they weren’t wandering far, and stopped to sit on a large stone that some of the others used as a bench on occasion. A smile played at her lips, and her eyes sparkled with a mixture of joy and disbelief. “Well, I’d heard that, women, on blues and greens, are able to take dragonrider names again. They—we—were not permitted that before.” Until she’d heard about the announcement that came from another Weyr, it hadn’t really occurred to her how much a simple name meant, and when the word of female riders being offered name changes, the very idea brought her more joy than she would have thought to give to such a thing, and over the past few days, she finally figured out why.

She’d been told she was ‘less than’ for her entire life… She hadn’t been able to advance in her craft due to her sex. She’d been seen as a thing to barter with and barter for, being offered in trade to a holder in order to create some meaningless connection. Her thoughts and opinions, and even her innate talent and skill, had been brushed aside because she was female. She’d only begun to find herself and see her worth after joining the Weyr, and then even more so after Impressing a fighter, who would someday carry her through the skies, fighting Thread, same as the men on their own magnificent creatures. But, there was one thing that had still not set quite right…all of the other new riders on fighting colors had taken on shortened versions of their names.

All of them except her.

She hadn’t given it much thought, though. She was just overjoyed simply to have Impressed a dragon at all, if she was being honest. And, in the hustle and bustle that followed, taking care of Jenath, oiling her, bathing her, feeding her, a thing so simple as a name hadn’t really come up. But still, it was there. All of the young men who’d Impressed had shortened versions of their name, and hers remained…the same. It remained in its original, longer form, as a reminder of her gender. As a reminder of being…less than. Less than the young men. Less than adequate. Less than deserving. Less than worthy.

Unable to ignore such feelings coming from her girl, Jenath butted her head against the redhead possessively, chin practically in the girl’s lap. Don’t be ridiculous, you’re more than all of that, and better, too! You are mine. Her eyes whirled with red and orange. How dare anyone make her girl feel less than amazing!

With a soothing sound and a scratch at her eye ridges, the redhead calmed her dragonet. “Shhh, yes, Jen. I am yours. And I couldn’t be more proud of that. Now, shush, we don’t want to bother the others.”

Somewhat mollified, the green settled, sniffing in what the newly bonded was sure was a draconic pout. Well, I am glad of that. But what bothers you if that silly rule is no more?

She nodded. “No bother, luv. None at all. Now, while I don’t entirely understand why they were taken away to begin with, now that they are permitted again…I get to chose one.” A smile spread across her face as she contemplated the thought. How might she shorten her name?

The dragonet chirruped at her, eyes whirling green and blue. But, my girl, you’ve always been my A’ryn…

“I—What?” She wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly, staring at her precious lifemate, waiting for her to clarify.

It had never come up before. She nosed her girl once more before cocking her head, looking for all of Pern as the oh-so-clever one. You’re my A’ryn. Always have been. But I don’t call you by name, I just call you mine. She said by way of simple explanation.

A small, disbelieving laugh escaped the girl’s throat. “You…you called me that?”

The dragonet sat primly, arching her neck and preening in pride. Well, yes. To myself, at least. Though, if it pleases you, I’ll be pleased to use it with others, too. She crooned and warbled, incredibly satisfied with herself.

A’ryn blinked at the green, scarcely believing the creature, then slid from her seat on the stone to crawl over next to the dragonet. Tears finally spilling, she wrapped her arms around the lanky, delicate creature in the best approximation of a hug that she could, hiccuping somewhere between a sob and a giddy laugh.

A’ryn…