12.Feb.21, 04:39 PM
Quilriana was relieved when the knock came and Gangleri told her the Hatching was starting. She had been quietly anxious, doing her best not to alert the brothers to her nerves, the last several days. She knew from all of the events in the past few years that the Hatching was roughly a week after the Touching but this one had gone days past that estimation. Now the moment was upon them and the nerves doubled and fear started to creep in.
Needing something to focus on, Quilriana took her time slipping into the dress Gangleri had bought for her. She’d tried her best to get him to return it, insisting she didn’t need anything and especially not something so lovely but he was stubborn when he wanted to be. She smoothed a hand down her front and then brushed out her hair, tying it at her neck to keep it free of her face and somewhat presentable.
As soon as she stepped out of the room and saw Gangleri all gussied up, she managed a smile and compliment for him before K’dar was whisking them off to the Weyr. They settled in and Quilriana laughed as she smacked his arm playfully. “Don’t you dare. You’ll embarrass, rules or not. But mostly you should keep quiet so you don’t startle the hatchlings.” They were already a bit unfocused and easily spooked. She didn’t want to think about what would happen with excess noise.
After Quinvalis finally glanced in their direction and Quilriana smiled and waved, mouthing she loved him and was proud of him, he looked away and she took a sobbing breath. “I’m scared, Gangleri. My baby nearly died a year ago and now he’s out there again.” She wouldn’t cry, however. Quinvalis needed her to be strong and she was determined to give him that.
Luckily, her son kept glancing toward someone and Quilriana tried her best to figure out which girl it was—because it was definitely a girl with that look. “Which girl do you think it is that has captured my son’s attention?” She was still worried but this mystery was a good distraction.
Needing something to focus on, Quilriana took her time slipping into the dress Gangleri had bought for her. She’d tried her best to get him to return it, insisting she didn’t need anything and especially not something so lovely but he was stubborn when he wanted to be. She smoothed a hand down her front and then brushed out her hair, tying it at her neck to keep it free of her face and somewhat presentable.
As soon as she stepped out of the room and saw Gangleri all gussied up, she managed a smile and compliment for him before K’dar was whisking them off to the Weyr. They settled in and Quilriana laughed as she smacked his arm playfully. “Don’t you dare. You’ll embarrass, rules or not. But mostly you should keep quiet so you don’t startle the hatchlings.” They were already a bit unfocused and easily spooked. She didn’t want to think about what would happen with excess noise.
After Quinvalis finally glanced in their direction and Quilriana smiled and waved, mouthing she loved him and was proud of him, he looked away and she took a sobbing breath. “I’m scared, Gangleri. My baby nearly died a year ago and now he’s out there again.” She wouldn’t cry, however. Quinvalis needed her to be strong and she was determined to give him that.
Luckily, her son kept glancing toward someone and Quilriana tried her best to figure out which girl it was—because it was definitely a girl with that look. “Which girl do you think it is that has captured my son’s attention?” She was still worried but this mystery was a good distraction.