DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Winds of Change - Dragonriders of Pern RP
HTML https://windsofchangerp.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: One-Shots
*****************************************************
#Post#: 268--------------------------------------------------
Sesstria's Word Crimes
By: Sesstria Date: August 13, 2022, 10:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
1. Wake-Up Call (Cora, day of Haloneth's maiden flight)
#Post#: 269--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sesstria's Stories
By: Sesstria Date: August 13, 2022, 10:26 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wake-Up Call[/center]
The warm sunlight streamed in through a gap in the curtains,
spreading across Cora’s sleeping face. She grumbled slightly
and tugged the blankets tighter, curling them over her face to
block the light.
Haloneth rises! I should like to pursue her! The voice of
Astralath wove itself into her sleeping mind, but she did not
stir. Astralath turned and followed his instinct towards the
golden dragon.
Cora slumbered on, the sun rising further, her dreams were
fitful and she curled up tightly into a ball. When nobody could
find her after Astralath took wing, and with Haurchefant’s
simultaneous disappearance the Weyrfolk nodded their heads in
understanding. The Weyrwoman and the new Weyrleader together,
this was simply how things worked. So the sun climbed higher
and the hours passed until Haurchefant reappeared, alone. When
questioned he denied being with Cora, and while not unheard of,
it was entirely possibly that someone else had fallen prey to
her baser desires during the flight. But none of the Weyrfolk
could recall seeing her with anyone, or in fact, anywhere in
particular. It was decided, to the disappointment of the weyr
gossips, that this was a mystery meant to be left unsolved, and
whomever Cora had sequestered herself with would not admit to
their dalliance.
Away from prying eyes and wagging tongues, Cora slept unbothered
in her room, her dreams were strange and remarkably vivid. She
was the night sky, and flew on wings of stars faster than she’d
ever flown before. She soared through dark blue swirls and
silver twinkling lights while far, far off in the distance,
something gold glimmered. She flew towards it with great
urgency, she didn’t know why but she needed to reach it.
As she drew closer, the golden light took shape, it was the
dawn, radiant and beautiful. It took her breath away for a
moment and her wings almost faltered. The dawning sun was
rising before her, soft, pale pink and glimmering gold swirled
together. She beat her wings harder, flying even swifter than
before, all to reach the glorious light.
She collided with the light, and everything spun around her.
Dark rich blue, and pale shimmering pink swirled around
twinkling silver stars and glimmering golden dust. Everything
was light and color and emotions that she couldn’t place. She
twisted in her sleep, squirming in her bed until, THUD, she
awoke on the floor, dizzy and disoriented.
As her world slid into focus, she could see by the light
filtering through the curtains that she had overslept, by a lot.
Hissing curses under her breath she struggled to get up from
the floor, only to realize she had wrapped herself in a twisted
mess of blankets and sweat.
Astralath! She called in her mind. Astralath why didn’t you
wake me?
Cora worked to unwind the sweat soaked blankets, muttering to
herself about Astralath’s behavior. He was probably playing a
trick on her, she surmised. Trying to teach her the importance
of responsibility. There was a small knock at her door and she
froze, halfway out of the blankets.
“I’m coming!” She called towards the door. Struggling upright
she staggered over to a pile of clothing laying sprawled on the
floor. She quickly fished a pair of dark gray pants and a
rumpled maroon shirt from the pile and pulled them on. Glancing
in the mirror, she saw that the sweat and her thrashing had
caused her short hair to be ruffled into a serious case of
bed-head. Cora ran her fingers through her hair hopelessly
trying to salvage it.
The knock at the door came again. Cora’s head snapped around.
“I know! I know! I’m late!” She yelled as she grabbed a pair of
socks and jammed them onto her feet. Snagging a boot she yanked
it onto her foot before scooping up the other and hopping one
footed towards her door. Cora pulled the other boot on as she
opened the door and was greeted by a woman about her age,
perhaps a couple summers younger, with long dark hair peering
owlishly at her.
“Oh! Um, hello there.” Cora waved awkwardly with one hand.
“You, uh, you need something?” She wasn’t expecting to see this
mousey looking girl here. Cora was somewhat certain she’d seen
this person lurking around the gardens, trying to keep an
apparent low profile. “Cecelia?”
“Ah, j-just Celia.” The girl replied nervously. “I’m um, I’m
to deliver a message.” Celia averted her eyes and rubbed her
right hand up and down her left arm.
As Celia tried to find her words there was a rush of wingbeats
and a loud THUD as Astralath landed nearby.
Astralath! She hissed mentally. Where have you been! You were
supposed to wake me up!
“So, um, C-cora, r-r-right?” Celia continued. “I have a message
to deliver, and um, it’s, it’s about your dragon, Astralath.”
“Oh?” Cora tried to sound nonchalant, but internally she was
already aiming her thoughts towards her dragon.
Astralath, what did you do?
Astralath’s response was self satisfied rumble.
“Well, you see, today was Haloneth’s maiden flight, and well,
you see…” Celia sort of trailed off, fidgeting her hands and
looking off to the side.
Astralath. What. Did. You. Do?!
Celia was still rambling without noticing Cora’s distraction,
she screwed her eyes shut and blurted, “Haloneth picked
Astralath to be her mate and he caught her and now you are the
new Weyrleader!”
Cora stood in shock, her mind reeling from the news. She dimly
heard Celia wrapping up her speech and returned to reality.
“A-a-anyways I was asked to deliver this message and now you
really should go and talk to the Weyrwoman before he gets
impatient and comes to talk to you himself!” She bowed
awkwardly before turning and dashing away.
Surprise! Astralath leaned down and snorted a puff of warm air
at Cora.
*****************************************************