22.Mar.18, 10:43 PM
That afternoon had been cleared of any chores or obligations, so Tala had wrapped Ryvala up in a shawl, tied it around her chest to carry her easier, and set out from the creche into the Weyr bowl. She intended to take a leisurely walk down to the lake and back, give Ryvala some sun and air. The weather had been warm and clear of rain for the past week, and the day looked to be no different, so Tala had no worries about getting herself and her baby rained on.
Within twenty minutes Ryvala had fallen asleep, rocked by the movement of Tala walking and the warmth of the sun. Tala smiled fondly at her and continued walking. She hadn't been planning on Ryvala, and had been a bit disappointed at having to step down as a Candidate for a while, but ultimately she was worth it. And, with any luck, Tala wouldn't be in the Candidate barracks for much longer and her daughter could move in with her instead of living in the creche full time. Well, after she graduated from being a weyrling, but still. The sooner she Impressed, the sooner she could keep Ryvala with her.
After a while she reached the lakeside. Sitting down on the sand a few feet from the water Tala carefully unwrapped the shawl holding Ryvala against her and sat the girl down on her lap. Thankfully, she'd managed to keep from waking her. Tala gazed out over the water, twirling a lock of hair around a finger in thought. It would be much easier to reach the lake on dragonback, but Tala in many ways preferred walking; She was pretty sure she'd always have to fly there once she had a dragon, but maybe whoever she Impressed would be amenable to her walking. Or not. Tala smiled, thinking of all the dragons she knew. Delorianth would have put up with it but snarked and complained constantly. Most of the others would have outright refused. Maybe she'd get lucky, and whatever hatchling that was destined for her would understand why she liked walking so much. Or maybe she'd fall in love with flying. Who knew?
Lost in thought about her future dragon, Tala sat by the lake idly stroking her daughter's hair for a good hour before she was finally interrupted.
Within twenty minutes Ryvala had fallen asleep, rocked by the movement of Tala walking and the warmth of the sun. Tala smiled fondly at her and continued walking. She hadn't been planning on Ryvala, and had been a bit disappointed at having to step down as a Candidate for a while, but ultimately she was worth it. And, with any luck, Tala wouldn't be in the Candidate barracks for much longer and her daughter could move in with her instead of living in the creche full time. Well, after she graduated from being a weyrling, but still. The sooner she Impressed, the sooner she could keep Ryvala with her.
After a while she reached the lakeside. Sitting down on the sand a few feet from the water Tala carefully unwrapped the shawl holding Ryvala against her and sat the girl down on her lap. Thankfully, she'd managed to keep from waking her. Tala gazed out over the water, twirling a lock of hair around a finger in thought. It would be much easier to reach the lake on dragonback, but Tala in many ways preferred walking; She was pretty sure she'd always have to fly there once she had a dragon, but maybe whoever she Impressed would be amenable to her walking. Or not. Tala smiled, thinking of all the dragons she knew. Delorianth would have put up with it but snarked and complained constantly. Most of the others would have outright refused. Maybe she'd get lucky, and whatever hatchling that was destined for her would understand why she liked walking so much. Or maybe she'd fall in love with flying. Who knew?
Lost in thought about her future dragon, Tala sat by the lake idly stroking her daughter's hair for a good hour before she was finally interrupted.