This is Abby as she looks today:
And if you've ever wanted to get closer to a dragon...
Sela and Abby underwent a rigorous training schedule, one designed to strengthen wing muscles and prepare the weyrling pair for entry into a fighting wing, a fully fledged rider for the weyr. The training at first seemed harsh, as the pair, like so many others, wanted to be up in the air. But prudent weyrlingmasters kept them down until they were both ready. In addition to flight training there came a raft of new experiences, and seeming freedom, as weyrlings were encouraged to do short jaunts to neighbouring holds, and familiarise themselves with landmarks for transfer *Between* As a reward for the weyrlings finishing this training, the weyr hosted a graduation party, and each pair was presented with a ring, crafted by Verita, to denote their new status. At a sight the ring denoted colour, and indicated each member of the unique dragon-rider partnership, as well as the Weyr they belonged to.
Sela's graduation ring
Once Selandra had graduated from weyrlinghood, along with members of the rest of her 'class', she was invited to join a fighting wing. In Sela's case it was D'ris that approached her, then wingleader of Firefall. As a firefall wingmember, she acquired another piece of jewellery:
Sela's 'wing' ring:
First Flight...
Abrieth decided to rise very suddenly one day, leaving Selandra in that
awkard position of a rider who's green is rising for the first time. The
flight was long and hard, with Abrieth looking a clear winner for quite
a while. In the end, it was the unlikely winner in the form of M'tew's
brown Lyath that decided the outcome. M'tew and Sela remained close
friends for some time, despite their attatchment to different weyrs.
However as needs must, Abrieth rose again and was flown by J'dar's blue
Brenneth. With Selandra's surprise at waking up to this new bedmate and
J'dar having a regular weyrmate though, they were quite happy to let the
event ride.
Later still Abrieth would rise again and this time the flight was won
by blue Kyruth, riden by D'ru. Much to Selandra's surprise this one seemed
to work a charm on the aging rider - she was left with the much wanted
pregnancy that had never chanced beforehand. D'ru moved his belongings
in to take care of the new mother to be, and Selandra had acquired a weyrmate.
Kept Quiet!
For some reason Abrieth quite smugly decided to keep news of her riders impending 'clutching' quiet. So it was not until late in the fifth month that Sela even realised she was about to have littles. Her ever increasing appetite, and the fact that twins ran in Sela's family kept the whole weyr, not to mention healer Bazel, guessing that she would have twins.
Another Hatching... or two... or even.
By this time Fort was in the middle of another frantic search phase. Riannon, a woodcrafter who stood unsuccessfully at the previous hatching, was mobbed by Abrieth as she emerged from viewing the eggs, and became the first candidate searched. Happily she would go on to impress blue Mezzuth, much to her searchers delight, and that of her friends at the weyr - including V'han, Malloriths rider. But as Abrieth's rider was grounded due to the pregnancy this would prove to be the only search the pair were able to conduct at the time. Still with two very hungry bellies to fill, and the excitement of more eggs on the sands it wasn't too much of a problem.
Hatch-day came though, and Selandra was at near the end of her pregnancy too - Swollen up worse than a clutching gold after a long flight - and the consensus was still for twins. D'ru and Sela watched from the stands, and only the trained eyes could have picked out that she was very near to her time. As the last weyrling pair struggled from the sands, an anguished Selandra finally mentioned that perhaps now would be a good time to get to the infirmiary. B'ael was on hand to deliver first a darling daughter whom they called Soranda, quickly followed by her sister Rulana. As D'ru rushed out to tell the whole weyr he was a father again Sela quietly gave birth to a third child - ths time their son Delan.
As the Weyr Turns
After Rhyana elected to step down from the position of Wingleader, Deannus,
brown Kiryath's rider took up the position. Later still she would step
down to be replaced by Jerissa, green Amrieth's rider.
And yet another wingchange would follow - Jerissa following her beloved
T'vor to Telgar weyr this time, as Vivian was joined by F'ren as the Weyrleaders.
Polina, rider of brown Valorith would go on to take up the reins of the
wing, seconded by D'ru. But these were just some of the many changes that
have occured over time as frequently happens in a fighting weyr. And not
just wing commissions, but also leadership changes, as queenriders such
as Anlin and her beloved Chaluth would go between, leaving the weyr grieving,
and a relative newcomer Leah - lifemated to Jinieth - would take on the
reins of the flagging weyr as Vivian stepped down to spend time with her
weyrmate W'tan.
Sela and Abby continue to fly loyally with the Firefall crew to this day.
As Needs Must
As the triplets grew older and more independent, D'ru returned more to his roving ways. Though he and Sela remain as close friends, the weyrmating was dissolved amicably and D'ru settled in with a new weyrmate. The triplets were fostered out to Nabol for a short while.
It would be several turns before a chance hatching would find two old friends re-united. Sela in rather a jovial mood impressed a green firelizard which she ended up calling 'Aroha', and after winging back home V'han and Sela were as good as weyrmated. More than that, Sela and V'han both professed to a deep love that they had been repressing for turns. 9 months later and the arrival of Savaughna caused a little concern for the aging greenriders. V'han was thrilled to be a father again, and Selandra likewise. If Sava seemed a little spoiled, with two doting weyrparents it wouldn't be that unusual a thing.
All Grown Up
By the time the Selandra's older children reached adulthood, Sava was joined by a few more siblings. Myklan, Elahan and young Dorellan brought up the final tally of Sela's bearing days. Several more key events happened as her children grew older. Nabbed by bluerider Lyse, of Igen, Rulana would go on to impress green Gherith at the Desert Weyr. Later still Savaughna, little sausage, impressed green Kirath at High Reaches Weyr - the weyr to which her mother's family were originally beholden - and more importantly the first of Selandra's grandchildren arrived in the form of a darling little girl called Ryklana. As D'ru was adding more progeny to his bloodline at the time, it probably wasn't as much of a shock to grandsire as it might have been, but the new granddam was utterly delighted. Even if she does worry about Rulana's choice of weyrmate. Still as long as her children are happy, she is happy.