She jumped awake at the sound of lightning outside her room. Her breath came in bursts and her heartbeat was racing. She held her breath waiting to see what woke her. The lightning crashed again and she exhalled and cursed herself. 18 years old and I'm scared of a thunderstorm. She sighed and tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't know. The voices had returned. Little voices whispering things she wasn't supposed to hear. What if he says no? How am I supposed to do that? If only... why....where... They drowned out the thunder. She'd learned to ingnore them, she thought. Every now and then they'd return, stronger than ever. They weren't her thoughts, they were everyone else's.
She didn't try to hear them, it's not like she wanted to know every little problem everyone ran into. Until she moved to Adanuk, she'd kept it quiet that she could hear other people thinking. The first person she'd told was Weyrwoman Magika. Magika seemed to understand and had helped her control it a bit, but they always returned. She pulled the pillow up over her head and tried to shut her ears. The voices continued all night.
"Jeez Selena, you look terrible." Selena glared at Gildan. Her head pounding from lack of sleep.
"I don't remember asking your opinion." She replied in a smooth, cultured voice.
Gildan just smiled. "Testy too." Wow, could she get meaner? Someone ought to get her a personality. I was just being friendly
The fact that she could hear what he was thinking made her madder. She whirled and stormed off towards the Dining Hall.
Friend bring food. Come. Come!!! She sighed. Someone was feeding the firelizards. Little fiends!! Why do I put up with them. Correction, Media was feeding the firelizards.
Selena felt like crying. Why couldn't they get out of her head?
They like you.
Selena smiled and turned. "Hello Hyth. Nice to see you this morning." Selena did a little half-bow, respected the Sr. Queen of Adanuk.
Having a bad day? Don't worry it will pass.
"I hope so." HYTH!!! Where are you?!?!?! The gold gave Selena a sympathetic look and started to say something, but Selena cut her off. "I hear her. I hear her. Go."
We will talk soon. I wonder why Magika is so impatient today.
"The searchriders are coming." Hyth gave Selena a draconic smile and went to find her companion. Selena continued on to the Dining Hall.
"Headache?" It was Feena. Selena didn't even bother raising her head. She wasn't sure whether someone was really talking to her or if it was all in her head. "Hey! Selena! You okay?" Another voice, talking to her. So many voices all trying to talk to her. Selena realized to late that she'd lost control. The sounds of the weyr and the mind blended together. She lost her grasp of reality. Her mind, opposed to this situation, took refuge in unconsiousness.
Selena woke to an amazing headache. She moaned and rolled over, wishing for sleep to return. "Selena. You have to get up, kid. Wake up." It was Magika, only Magika. The others were quiet. Selena opened her eyes. She was outside the weyr, far outside. She was on the cliff overlooking the ocean, a good hour away from the weyr.
"Where are we?" She asked, although she had a general idea.
Magika smiled. "Thought you might like some quiet."
Selena attempted a smile. "Thanks."
Magika's worried expression let Selena know that there was more. This may have been the one time she ever wished that she could read Magika's mind. She never figured out why she couldn't and at first she'd been glad of it. One day curiousity had gotten the best of her and she tried. She'd never try again. "What?" She asked out loud.
"This is the fourth time this has happened this month Selena." Magika's voice was calm, patronizing. It gave Selena the shivers.
"I know." She muttered quietly. "But I'm getting better. Aren't I? You can't just give up, ship me off, just because I haven't learned yet. I'm learning! I really am!!"
Magika sighed. "I'm not going to get rid of you Selena, but..."
"But what?"
Magika gave Selena a small smile. "Every firelizard in the place went down with you. Not to mention Matthew's new hatchling and Hyth."
Selena felt horrible. "Oh."
After a moment of silence, Magika spoke. "I have an idea. My friend is coming today. She's got some power like yours. Maybe she could help you." Selena sighed. I'm getting passed around, like a disease.
.The two returned to the weyr later, just in time to save Media a heart attack, as she thought the Weyrwoman wouldn't be back in time for the searchriders. Magika calmly sent Media back to work and prepared herself. Selena slumped in the stables beside Terentia.
The horse whined compationatly for it's rider.
Selena sighed. "There's nothing you can do, Terentia. Just wait." The horse calmed down and took a nap. Selena decided to take her mount's advice and nodded off.
She was woken by the arrival of the first set of searchriders. She could hear the hopeful candidates voices and thoughts. They were doubtful, scared, anxious, excited, it hurt her head.
"There you are." Magika stated and helped Selena out of the hay. "My friend's here." Selena brushed herself off and greeted Magika's friend.
Selena had expected to see someone decked out in regal clothes, some powerful psychic, some well-known wizard, instead she saw a woman, about Magika's age, with rather plain clothes and a bright smile.
My name's Mystic. The controlled voice entering her mind surprised her. I am honoured to meet you.
"Umm.." Selena said. No one had ever talked to her purposefully. I'm Selena. She thought back. The older woman put her hand to her head and looked faint.
"Woah." She said out loud. "You're right Magika. She's a psychic, a strong one to." She turned back to Selena. "Selena did you say? You don't need to project like that, I'm two feet away." Selena blushed.
"Can you help her?" Magika asked.
"Probably. But not here. She'll blast ever dragon from here to Earth out of the skies." Mystic responded, still resting her head on her hand.
"Will I go back with you?" Selena asked in a quiet voice. She didn't want to leave Adanuk.
Magika smiled. "I have an idea." Magika smiled and Mystic looked nervous.
***
Selena picks up the story in the present tense. "Not a month later I moved here, just north of Adanuk, on the cliff where I'd come before. I went into training under Mystic as well. I was searched for a Hathian dragon when I went to Mystic Dragon's Forest. Mystic says I'm suited to the Hathians." Selena shrugs. "I guess we'll find out when they hatch."
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