Andra's Stories

This can't be happening to me, Andra thought as she saw the storm approaching just to the south. They were too far away from the Hold to get back before the storm broke, so they would have to find shelter. Their tent certainly wasn't strong enough. Nadan, her brown firelizard, chattered in her ear, his tail tightening around her neck. She adjusted the tent on her shoulder and turned back to Jonna and Kassidy, raising her eyebrows and grimacing.

"Now what?" Jonna asked, putting her hands on her hips. She jiggled her shoulders, too, to relieve some of the weight of her pack. "Do you know any caves near here?"

Andra shook her head helplessly. "I haven't been here much, remember. This was our exploration trip." She gave them both a wry grin, some exploration! She took Nadan onto her arm and looked him in the eyes. "Caves?" she asked him, and he cocked his head at her. "Cave? Is there a cave here somewhere?" Nadan sagged and crooned sadly. Andra sighed, he didn't know! She let him back onto her shoulder, but he flew off instead, hovering over them.

She picked up her duffle and walked towards the other two, away from the long drop down. They were standing on a ledge, which protruded quite a way from the mountain they had been climbing. She felt quite hot in her furs, but knew that if she opened some of the buttons, the cold mountain air would cool her chest too much. "We'll just have to keep going. There'll be caves further up, won't there? Where the mountain gets more rocky?"

"Perhaps," Jonna said, not sounding too sure, but not finding any better solution.

"If worse comes to worse, we can just wrap ourselves in the tent canvas. Not as warm or dry as a cave, but it'll be better than nothing. Don't panic, we'll find something," Kassidy put in, and Andra glared at him.

"I wasn't panicking," she said, jerking her chin up at him.

"Come on you two," Jonna said before Kassidy could answer. "Stop bickering and let's move on." The dark haired girl turned back to the trail and resumed their hike, assuming the other two would follow. Andra poked her tongue out at her brother and turned on her heel so she wouldn't see that he had poked his tongue back out at her. They all kept a close watch on the weather, but they were eventually making their way around to the northern side of the mountain, and it wasn't long until they could no longer see the approaching storm.

"When was the last time we had a storm like that one?" Jonna asked, breathing hard.

Andra swallowed and inhaled deeply before she answered. "Quite a while. I remember one when I was little, but I can't remember how old." The idle chatter was to distract them. They still hadn't found a cave, and they could feel the wind getting stronger.

"Humf," Kassidy said from behind them. "I felt a drop on my nose!" As one, they all looked up. The sky was grey and seemed to be getting darker as they watched. More droplets fell. As if by some silent cue, they all looked back to the path kept going, faster than before. Suddenly, it poured, and Nadan returned to Andra's shoulder, trying to burrow under her hair.

"Great!" Jonna cried, then laughed. "Actually, it could be quite fun!"

Andra grinned at her friend. "I love getting soaked in the rain, but only if there is the promise of a hot bath at the end, thank you." She pulled the collar of her thick jacket up, hoping the oiling she had so laboriously given it would hold up to such a torrent of rain. She could hear Kassidy grumbling to himself behind her as she watched Jonna dancing in the rain. Their only fixed direction was upwards in whichever way they could manage. The sky lit up and a few seconds later came the boom of thunder.

"Keep going up, keep going up, find a cave. Avoid any tall trees!" Kassidy said from the back of their little group, and Jonna angled up further. They scrambled through bush and trees, until Jonna hit some rock.

"Over here," she said, turning and beckoning to the other two before disappearing from Andra's sight. She felt her way around and found the entrance to the cave, which went into the rock at an angle to the surface and hooked around almost immediately. She pulled her taller brother in after her, but he ended up having to take his pack off to get through. Inside, the cave didn't open up all that much, but there was enough room for them all to sit without being in each other's laps. The first thing they all did was dump their packs and remove their jackets. Nadan protested at having to give up his perch, chattering angrily at her from his new spot up on a small ledge.

Andra batted at her jacket, trying to get all the water off the surface before any more could seep through. She looked up to see Jonna cheerfully wringing out her hair.

"That was great fun! I wonder how long it'll last? We've only got food for two more nights," Jonna said. She had a lot of hair to wring out, and watching her, Andra was glad she kept hers just below her shoulders.

Andra shrugged and sat down, putting her jacket under her for padding. She cocked her head and listened to the wind howling past the narrow entrance to the cave. "Well, Kassidy is young and tender," she said, with a smirk at her brother who looked less than impressed.

"But I'm bigger and stronger than you," he warned, smirking back.

"All the more to eat," she countered with a big grin at him. "You wouldn't get much out of me."

Jonna sat over the other side of the small cave and shook her head in amusement. She moved to the entrance of the cave, just out of site of the other two, and called back, "I just remembered. What about Thread? It falls in three days. If we stay here until this storm finishes, which will be over night," her voice got clearer as she came back towards them, and Andra could see she was worried, "we won't be able to get back in time."

She was right. They had planned on getting to the lookout and having lunch, then going back down the mountain and setting up camp back a fair bit.

"Well, alright. It's only half a day's hike to our last camp from where we were at the lookout, perhaps another half hour from where we are now to the lookout, going downhill. If we walk at a reasonable pace, and don't stop until quite late and get up very early and walk all day tomorrow, we might make it back. If not, I'll send Nadan to the Hold and they might be able to get a dragonrider to come and get us." That last option didn't sound too good; they would get in a lot of trouble if they had to use the services of a dragonrider, especially since the Weyr would be getting ready for Threadfall. She could see it in the faces of the others, too. They really didn't want to resort to the second choice, which means they would be determined to walk fast.

They settled their packs and jackets in a grim silence and all crowded together at the back of the cave for warmth. Andra hadn't noticed after walking so long uphill, but the cave must have gone upwards into the hillside because no water from the torrent of rain outside seeped into their little haven. The occupants of the cave stared at the one source of light and listened to the downpour. It went into the evening without any sign of relenting, and they cuddled close together as they ate their evening rations.

Andra didn't remember falling asleep, but she fell to her side when Kassidy moved, snorting awake, and waking up Jonna who had been leaning on her. "You could have moved gently," she complained to her brother.

"And spoil my fun? It's still raining. We're going to have to hike back in the rain," he said, sounding less than keen. Jonna, however perked up a bit.

"Do you remember when we were little and we used to go out in the rain and have big mud-fights?" she asked, eyes lit up and grinning from ear to ear.

Andra laughed as she got up and joined her brother at the entrance, standing behind him and peering under his arm. "Yes, and father and mother were never impressed. I always thought we looked rather artistic, like little mud-monsters. It's not raining too hard. Come on, the faster we get started the better chance we have of getting home before Thread." For some reason, she'd never been particularly afraid of the thought of Thread, but then, she'd never seen it either.

She turned around to see Jonna putting on her jacket and went to pick up hers. Nadan held onto it and squawked at her. "Well I'm sorry if I disturb your bed, but I'm putting this on!" she told him sternly, and he grumbled and walked off, sat on the rock and proceeded to groom himself. She picked up her jacket and put it on, then picked up Kassidy's jacket and threw it at him. "Come on, Kassidy! Don't dawdle!"

They got themselves set and filed out into the rain again, Kassidy cringing, Andra determined, and Jonna grinning. After about ten mintues of silent walking, Nadan gave up trying to hide under Andra's now-soaked hair, and simply sat up on her shoulder, inner eyelid closed against the rain.

They made good time that day, but the weather never let up. Jonna fell down a muddy bank once and scraped the side of her leg, but she insisted it wasn't anything serious and powered on with the other two, covering her limp. Andra kept a close eye on her, but knew that Jonna wouldn't slow down the group no matter what, and they couldn't afford to slow down. By the time the sun went down they had made it a good hike past their campsite. Exhausted, muddy, hungry and very wet, they set up the tent and crawled in. No one even bothered to remove their clothes. We're going to smell, Andra thought, as she drifted off to sleep.

She woke to Nadan picking at her ear. It felt like she hadn't slept, surely she'd only just put her head down. She groaned and rolled over to hit Kassidy, and then shake Jonna awake. In a kind of daze, and moving more like wooden toys than humans, they broke camp. Breakfast was brief to the point of finishing it while walking. The rain had stopped, but there was mud everywhere and they kept slipping. By noon that day they were all covered in mud.

"Why bother," Jonna said, plunking herself right down in the nearest mud-puddle. She gathered up some mud in her hands and threw it at Andra, who was too slow to move.

"Why you little..." she said, dumping her bag and duffle and picking up some mud, throwing it right back at Jonna who struggled to get up and get away in time, failing. When Jonna and Andra were finished throwing mud at each other, laughing hysterically, they turned on Kassidy with the most evil grins.

Kassidy backed away. "Hey, I'm just an innocent bystander!" he protested, holding up his hands. He was fast enough to duck away from the mud thrown at him, and fast enough to outrun the other two, much to their frustration.

"Alright!" Kassidy called from further down the valley. "You've had your fun, now can we keep moving?"

Andra and Jonna exchanged glances, considering continuing their game. Andra sighed. "I guess we'd better move," she said.

Jonna heaved herself up and made a vain attempt to brush herself off. "This is going to take ages to clean!" she said with a groan. "I wish I was younger again, I didn't think of these things, even afterwards."

Andra laughed and picked up her pack and duffle. "Well, we're going to be in a lot of trouble when we get back! I can just see the look on mother's face..."

"I'm going to leave without you, you know!" Kassidy called, and the two girls grinned at each other and made their way down the valley.

"I'm so sorry, I really don't know where they could have got to. They should be home by now, I mean, there's Thread tomorrow and everything, and they should have been back before dark. Are you sure I can't get you anything?

F'nel tried not to roll his eyes and exchanged a knowing glance with Jassin. This woman was humorous but he hoped that the girl didn't talk quite as much. "Perhaps I can come back some other time? The eggs aren't hatching too soon, I can come back the day after tomorrow..."

His words were cut off by the appearance of a dirty brown firelizard out of between. Nadan chattered and settled on the table, but Sahren immediately shooed him off. "Don't get your dirty mess all over my good table," she scolded, and the firelizard took refuge on the dragonrider's lap instead. "That means she's close," Sahren explained, still looking at the firelizard. "And by the state of him..."

The door opened, almost apologetically, and a grubby face peeked in. "Mother, there's a dragon... oh. Hello," the boy said.

F'nel covered a smile and nodded at the young man.

"Mother," the boy continued, "do you have some clean towels we can wrap ourselves in? Actually, dirty towels will do just fine." He gave his mother a sheepish grin, and she glared at him. His father simply raised an eyebrow at the boy's state, a smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

"Kassidy, what have you been doing? I dread to think what your sister looks like!" Sahren said, almost tsk-tsking. She bustled over to a cupboard and F'nel couldn't see what she was doing. She turned around with some large, and somewhat well-used looking, bathing cloths in her arms, which she handed to the boy at the door. He gave F'nel one last cheeky smile before disappearing again. Did he dare ask?

"That was Kassidy, my son. Nadan," she said, indicating the brown flit, which had made itself comfortable on F'nel's lap, "belongs to Andrastea."

"Well, in that case, I'm sure if she agreed to come she'd..." The door opening interrupted again, and Kassidy strolled in, towelling off his face and hands as best he could. He had obviously stripped himself of his jacket and boots before entering, and F'nel could only imagine the state of them from looking at the boys lower legs covered in mud. A short girl with long dark hair followed him more slowly. F'nel assumed it was dark, anyway. It was so covered in mud it was hard to tell. He wondered if that was Andrastea. She certainly looked surprised to see him, and Sahren looked very surprised at her condition.

Picking up Nadan he stood and made a small bow to her. "Andrastea?" he asked, and was answered from behind instead.

"Yes?"

F'nel turned to see another very dirty girl standing in the doorway. She came in and closed the door. Her attempts at cleaning her face only succeeded in smearing the dirt around. He could see bits of lighter hair through the mud. What had they been doing? He could see the same question plastered, in a more demanding tone, clearly on Sahren's face. Jassin merely covered his laughing face with his hand and shook his head.

F'nel bowed to her, too, and she curtsied back. "So you are Andrastea?" he asked, just to be sure.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure I answered that question," Andra said, and Sahren hissed at her to be respectful.

"I'm F'nel from North Ranges Weyr," he said. "G'mer, our Searchrider, spotted you at the Hold on his last visit. You obviously made enough of an impression that he talked to your master. We didn't have a clutch on the Sands then, but we do now, and we would be honoured if you would stand for Impression." He hated the formalities, but was told in no uncertain terms that he must stick by them.

She stopped wiping her face, looking dumbstruck. "You've been Searched, Andra!" Kassidy cried, coming over to embrace his sister happily. "Well, say something..."

"I... huh." She shook her head. "But I'm a mess!" she protested.

F'nel grinned and handed over her firelizard, which she took automatically. "I'm not about to whisk you away tonight, and I'm sure there is a person under all that grime somewhere. I've already told your parents that I can come back for you, if you would like me to?"

Andra nodded, grinning. "If it's alright with you, mother, father?"

"Go on, girl," Jassin rumbled, a smile plastered across his face. Sahren nodded to her daughter and Kassidy oh-so-subtly pushed her towards F'nel.

"Yes, alright, I get the hint," Andra said. "You all want to get rid of me."

"And in the fastest possible way, a-dragonback," Kassidy teased.

The girl seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts, looking a bit bemused still. Then she grinned. "Want to get rid of me?" Andra asked, going to the door. She opened it and looked at everyone in the room. "Then race me to the lake!" she said and took off, Kassidy a step behind. Jonna followed at a slower pace and carefully closed the door behind her.

It took all of F'nel's control to keep from laughing.

"That girl! She'll learn manners one day!" Sahren huffed, and F'nel glanced at Jassin, who shook his head slowly, grinning.

"Most greenriders don't," F'nel told them with a wink.

Andra arrived at M'don's weyr early. He liked her to be on time, and it saved on bickering later, although she was reasonably sure that he bickered so he could make it up to her later, she thought with a slight smile. She tugged at her grey-green dress, the one that matched her eyes perfectly, and pulled the small fur coat closer around her and started towards the sleeping chamber.

"Is that you, Andra?" M'don called before she got to the curtain.

"Yes, it is," she said, pulling the curtain to one side and walking in. He had his back to the entrance, facing his mirror, and was fussing with his collar. She stopped for a moment to admire the way he looked dressed up, even from behind, then walked up and helped him with his collar, folding the back down so it sat in place.

"Thank you," he said, and turned around, a smile on his face. His smile widened when he saw her dressed up and her hair arranged neatly. "You look beautiful, as always," he said, giving her a quick kiss.

His compliment made her blush, and she smiled. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself," she teased, getting a laugh out of him. He was certainly in a good mood tonight, she thought.

He walked over to the table and put his comb down, turning to her again. "I'm ready!" he said, walking to her and snaking an arm around her waist. "Let's dance!" He leaned over and gave her another kiss, leaving Andra somewhat light-headed, and then led her out onto the ledge. Then went down on Maranth, with M'don holding her firmly in front of him, and joined the festivities.

"About time you two arrived," came a voice from the left of them, and Eseyra pushed herself out from the crowd, followed closely by L'mal. "Oh, you look gorgeous!" she cried when she saw Andra, and embraced her friend.

"What about you?" Andra pointed out, blushing with the compliment. Eseyra was wearing a dress that Andra wished she could pull off, but she wouldn't have enough shape, or even the right colouring, being much paler than her dark-featured friend, to look good in that dress. She admired the delicate beadwork on the deep green dress, wishing hers were at least a little bit decorated... with anything! She wondered how Eseyra could have such nice curves on such an otherwise skinny body.

"Will you do me the favour of a dance later, Andra?" L'mal asked formally, bowing over her hand.

Andra turned a deeper red and nodded. "You may," she said, trying at a smile.

"But for now..." M'don said, smiling and pulling her close again.

Eseyra gave M'don a strange look which Andra couldn't quite interpret, then smiled at Andra again. "Come join us at our table, Andra, M'don. We've just been lying in wait for you two to arrive."

Smiling briefly at M'don, as if for permission, the four made their way into the crowd and to the table Eseyra and L'mal had been sitting at. While they were walking Andra kept an eye out for Kasi but didn't see her. She'd be stuck dancing with an endless line of bronze riders, she was sure, and hating every moment of it, the poor girl. She made a mental note to layway her friend later on in the evening, if she could ever track her down.

They sat down and M'don sat close so he could keep his arm around her waist. He was being awfully proprietary tonight! But Andra let herself relax in his company and the company of her friends, listening to the music and getting a little tipsy on the wine. It wasn't top notch Benden stuff, but it was to her taste, a little on the sweetish side. Partway through the night she removed her coat, it was warming up with all the bodies in here. The Harpers were starting to strike up more lively tunes, and M'don tugged on her waist to get her attention.

"Let's dance," he suggested, and she smiled. He stood up and gave her his hand, which she took and stood up next to him so he could lead her out onto the floor. The dance wasn't too complicated, and afterwards Andra felt pleasantly flushed but not puffed. M'don smiled contentedly down at her and they stayed up for another dance, one that she was not quite as familiar with as the first one.

At one stage she accidentally stepped on his foot when she thought they were meant to move in one direction but moved in the other. M'don frowned and pulled her roughly around, leading more forcefully through the rest of the dance. Andra bit her lip and hoped she hadn't ruined their evening. He didn't ask her for another, but led them off the floor, talking to her on the way. "I'm leading, remember, and you went the wrong way. Try not to be so absent minded."

Andra nodded, not wanting to say anything. She had been in the wrong. They sat down again and Eseyra and L'mal joined them, looking happy. Eseyra's expression changed briefly, just a flicker, when she saw the two of them; M'don looking a little less cheerful than before and Andra looking a little ashamed at her mistake. The smile back on her face, Eseyra sat down and didn't ask about the dance. They just talked idly, and Andra could see M'don cheering up again, so let herself relax once more.

The Harpers took a break and M'don, L'mel and M'len used this opportunity to have a drinking contest, much to the amusement of Andra and Eseyra. Andra watched M'len, he'd Impressed in the same batch as her, and he saw her watching and winked at her with that half-smile that made him so attractive. Andra shot a glance at M'don, but he didn't appear to have seen.

By the time the Harpers came back, the men were in a much more jovial mood, and looking a bit flushed. So far, it was a tie. With an elegant flourish, M'don stood up and invited Andra out for another dance.

"Oh, I do believe I requested one, earlier. Please, M'don, before you drink me under the table," L'mel laughed, and M'don bowed to him.

"If my lady so wishes!" he said, the corners of his mouth tugging up, and Andra nodded at L'mel.

"And how is your evening?" L'mel asked casually as they got out to the dance floor, giving her a flourishing spin to start the dance.

"Oh, I'm having a very good time!" she replied when she had her sense of direction back. "The music is great."

"And M'don?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and looking up only briefly to see that they weren't going to run into anyone.

"He seems to be having a good time. You're certainly not going to let him drink you under the table, though, are you? I'm sure you could beat him," she replied, laughing.

He frowned for a moment, then put the smile back on. "You know that isn't what I meant."

"But that is all that is your business to know," she pointed out, smiling too.

For a moment he didn't reply, just watched where they were dancing. Andra's feet seemed to know exactly where to go when she was dancing with L'mel. "You're right, Andra," he said eventually. "So we'll just continue to enjoy the evening."

"That sounds like a good plan," Andra said, and they finished the dance with only a little idle chatter, each avoiding anything more serious. She spotted Kasi briefly during the dance, looking particularly bored with her dance partner, a fake smile plastered onto her face. Once again she reminded herself to go over and say hello and fend off bronze riders even if only for a few minutes. They bowed and curtsied on the finishing chord, and she thanked L'mal for the dance.

Andra smiled at M'don when they returned to the table, and he stood up and whisked her away to the dance floor again. He was smiling and bowed to her with a flourish before the dance, straightening up and quickly running a finger down her neck before taking her hand and waist.

"My dear Andra," he said, moving with the first bar. "You really do look beautiful tonight."

"You've already mentioned," she said with a little laugh. She was concentrating on keeping her feet right.

"I don't think I can tell you enough," he replied with a wide smile. She could see the look in his eyes and felt warmth spread in her stomach. When he looked at her like that it meant only one thing. She lost the concentration on her footing and blundered again.

M'don's expression changed in an instant to one of exasperation. He threw his hands up in the air. "You're unteachable!" he exclaimed, and walked off, shaking his head.

Andra stood there watching him disappear, feeling like the only one on the dance floor. Her arms hung limply by her side as her brain tried to catch up. She felt so lost for a moment, then suddenly anger flared up in her and she clenched her fists so hard she felt her fingernails digging into her palm. How dare he treat her like that? With a final glare in the direction that he'd gone in she stalked out of the Lower Caverns. Let him explain why she hadn't returned to the table to get her coat.

Andra, come on. I am outside, waiting. Come on out and I will take you to our weyr. Come on, Andra, I am outside...

Andra ignored Lysiabith, lying curled up on her side on the bed staring into space and holding her cheek. Her mind was going in loops. What had she done wrong? What had she done this time? What had she said? Why had he done that? He hadn't been gentle, but then he never was, but it was worse this time. He'd gone a little too far, but she was too much in shock to do anything than just lie there.

Andra, please come out. You need to be in our weyr. Andra, I'm outside, I'll take you to our weyr and you can sleep there. Please, Andra, Lysiabith said, sounding worried.

Eventually, the continuous coaxing of her dragon got through to her. Wincing, she swung her legs out of bed. He'd been quite rough this time, more than usual, and it didn't help that she hadn't been particularly willing. They didn't call it rape when it was your own weyrmate, she thought bitterly.

Good good, now get dressed and come out to me, I'm here, Lysia said, sounding a bit more hopeful.

You're always there, Andra said gratefully, searching for her clothes, which were scattered about the room. At one point she couldn't find a sock and simply sat down in the middle of the floor and cried. I'm crying over a sock, she chided herself, and spotted it in a corner. She went and got it, but the tears didn't stop.

What had she done, what had she said? She knew she sometimes talked before her brain kicked in, but she didn't recall saying anything. Had it been because she'd resisted? She couldn't figure it out.

He is not good for you. Come on, just your boots now, I'm here, Lysia said.

When Andra walked out onto the ledge she saw Lysia crouched there, not quite willing to come into the weyr itself but straining to get close to her rider. Her eyes were grey and her hide was looking a bit paler, too. A little blue came into the dragon's eyes when her rider approached. Lysia nuzzled Andra gently, wordlessly, then crouched to let her mount.

When she sat down she couldn't help wincing again. She wouldn't feel comfortable astride a dragon for a few days, she knew.

I will be gentle, Lysia said and ambled to the edge of the ledge and slowly dropped over the edge, gaining height again in a slow arc.

What did I do, Lysia? Do you know what I did? she asked, holding blindly on to the straps, not seeing anything, and only aware that they had landed at her ledge when she felt herself jarred painfully again.

I'm sorry about the landing. I tried... and you didn't do anything wrong. Maranth's rider is not good for you, he will not catch me again, Lysia assured her as she dismounted. You will not go back to him this time.

Still crying Andra hugged her dragon's head, unable to answer. Lysia was always unconditionally there.

Go sleep, rest. You can clean later, you need to be here for now, Lysia ordered and Andra obediently staggered into her weyr.

She made her way over to the table and picked up her looking-glass, holding it against her chest for a moment, unwilling to see what he had done. Slowly, she raised it and stared at her reflexion. New tears ran down her face and she reached up to touch the bruise, which was slowly swelling around her right eye. Putting the mirror down again, she looked around the room that was hers and only hers.

She removed her clothes and crawled under her blankets, but she couldn't sleep. She just lay there staring at the wall, letting the tears roll down her face, hand on her cheek again and the purpling bruise there. She didn't know how long she lay there when Lysia let out a holler.

You may not come here! she said, crying defiance. Andra could hear her dragons wings pumping and could see her in her mind on the ledge, wings spread to cover any landing space. My rider does not want to see yours!

Maranth and M'don, Andra thought, and curled tighter into a ball. What if he came in? He could land if he was really determined. What would he do? Her mind went into panicked loops again. She didn't want him in here, he'd hurt her again. He'd never hit her before, he'd never...

He is leaving, Lysia said in a more normal tone and Andra sobbed. Lysia poked her head under the curtain and watched her rider on the bed, eyes whirling grey and yellow. She was aware of another dragon landing on the ledge, but this one was allowed. She let Chenith's rider through.

Eseyra ran immediately to Chenith when she heard the commotion up at Andra's weyr. She knew what Lysiabith sounded like, and that was undeniably her.

She is upset with her weyrmate, Chenith explained. She will not let him land.

"What has he done now?" she muttered to herself and mounted Chenith. By the time they got up there Maranth and M'don had given up trying to land and had gone back to their own weyr, and Lysia let them on. She knew something was seriously wrong when she saw Lysiabith's head stuck into her rider's chamber. The green rumbled briefly when Eseyra passed.

She paused momentarily when she saw Andra curled in the bed, back to the entrance. She walked up and sat on the bed, and Andra didn't react. She touched her on the shoulder and got a defensive response. "Andra, it's me, Eseyra."

"He hit me," Andra said, rolling over, and Eseyra frowned when she saw the bruise on Andra's cheekbone. Andra sat up. "He hit me, Ezy. He's never hit me before. I don't know why he hit me. I feel so dirty."

The girl was sounding a bit hysterical and Eseyra gathered her into her arms and held her, rocking her. "You're not going back this time, are you?"

She could feel Andra shake her head against her shoulder. "Good. It wasn't you, Andra, do you believe me? I never thought he'd actually hit you, but he doesn't treat you good at the best of times, dearest." Andra nodded, and Eseyra could feel her shoulder getting wet.

She didn't say any more, just sat there. She felt Andra slowly slump, and craned her neck around to see if she'd gone to sleep. She lowered her to the bed and Andra stirred and grabbed at her hand.

"Please stay?" she asked, looking up at Eseyra through one good eye and one that was slowly swelling shut.

"Of course," she replied, and made herself comfortable on the bed. She watched Andra fall asleep again. She hoped her taste in men improved after this one. There were more than enough riders who would treat her right, but she seemed to go for the more difficult ones. She wanted to reach out and touch the bruise, it didn't seem real, but she didn't want to wake her. She'd keep a closer eye on her friend from now on. This would never happen again if she had anything to say about it.

Andra paused outside M'don's weyr and took a deep breath, clutching a carrisack. She tilted her head up so she wasn't looking at the floor and walked in. M'don was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the entrance, when she came in. She met his eyes and was glad to see something human flicker when he saw her bruise.

"Andra, I'm--" he began, but she interrupted.

"Save it," she said coldly. "I've just come for my things." She picked up an undershirt off the floor and went over to the desk to get a few of her writing tools. M'don stood up and walked over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Andra, I'm sorry," he said and she shrugged off his hand and turned around.

"This time, sorry isn't good enough," she replied. "This time I'm not coming back."

"Andra, please--"

"This time, I'm not coming back, M'don. End of discussion." She continued to pack up her things. There wasn't much here of hers, but she didn't want him to have anything at all that belonged to her, from her body right down to her coal sticks.

"Just tell me one thing, M'don, before I go for good. There is just one thing I need to know." She tried not to let her voice shake with the tears that were threatening to escape again. "What did I do? Why did I deserve this?" she asked harshly, touching her cheek and tilting her chin up.

He looked so helpless, but she wouldn't let it win her back, not this time. "I..." he said, and sagged. "I don't know, Andra. Please, can't you forgive me?" he said, reaching out.

She took a step back. "No," she said simply, and turned on her heel and walked out.

Good, Lysiabith said, encouraging. Very good.

"Take me home," she told her dragon and mounted. "I'm so sick of this, take me home." She wiped away the tears on her face. That had to be one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do.

You did it so well, Lysia assured her, taking off from the ledge for the last time.