You were the one I loved, the one thing that I tried to hold on to...'
He did notice when Amaya came, her face tear-streaked. Blaza, now full-grown, crooned from her shoulder, her eyes whirling.
"Amayaa?"
She looked at him through teary eyes. "Ciqala...I've come to say goodbye."
"Why?"
"The dragon that came earlier was searching. It chose me. I'm leaving for Abri Weyr tomorrow."
Ciqala squeeled worriedly. "Why now? Amayaa?"
She just smiled sadly. "Ciqala, I don't feel like I belong here anymore. You're practically my only friend. I don't think I'm cut out to be a dolphineer."
Ciqala stared sadly. He had noticed that she had slowly withdrawn from the other dolphineers, spending more and more of her time with the dolphins.
"Amayaa...Goodbye."
She reached down to hug him. "I'll come back, someday..."
She stood up and walked over to where the dragon and it's rider were waiting, and never looked back.