Kaiya tried to ignore the pain in her chest and focused on moving one foot in front of the other. She breathed in and out, ragged breaths, and the thumping of her feet against the dirt on the running track caused her teeth to rattle in her head.
She looked around somewhat despairingly as the other weyrlings passed her, one after the other, many with no sign of tiring out while she plodded along behind them, ready to explode.
She then looked toward the massive group of galloping dragonets, their hides shining and glinting in the morning sun. Squinting her eyes, she spied a small sea-green figure running way ahead of the pack.
Kaiya laughed under her breath at the irony of the fastest dragonet in the class having the slowest person in the class as her rider. The one upside to playing fetch and frisbee constantly for sevendays was that it made Mabonth stronger and fitter than her brothers and sisters during weyrling exercises.
She shot a quick thought to Mabonth. Keep going, my girl! Leave them in the dust!
Slow down if you need to, Mabonth answered anxiously, It’s no fun if you’re hurting!
Kaiya took another deep breath in and out, and winced at the pain in her chest. I’ll keep that in mind.
It wasn’t for lack of trying that she was so slow. She had nearly died of drowning at the Hatching, and now, sevendays later, she was still having side effects. Pain in her chest and shortness of breath, along with the occasional migraine and fuzziness of mind.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind and focus on finishing her laps, no matter how long it took. How many had she finished? She had lost count.
One more! Mabonth chimed in.
Thanks! Kaiya gathered her strength, ready to endure until her laps were over.
Suddenly, there was a shove on her left side, causing her to stumble. She managed to right herself before she could fall over and twist or sprain an ankle.
“Keep up, slowfork!”
Kaiya looked up and glared as Thippia’s sneering face passed her by.
“Don’t mind her,” Jopha said, slowing down to match Kaiya’s pace. “She’s just jealous of Mabonth beating Rayth at everything!”
“Don’t overdo it,” Arina added, coming up behind her and patting her shoulder. “Remember what the Healers said about overexertion.”
Kaiya chuckled. “Yes, Mother.” She beamed, thanking the Egg she had such supportive friends.
“Just a little more,” Jopha said, “You can do it!”
Kaiya was, of course, the last to finish, but she didn’t care. Relief washed over her as she slowed to a stop, taking deep, careful breaths. She saw Mabonth nearby, splayed out on the ground, soaking up the sun. She was still covered in dirt from running.
“You didn’t need to wait for me,” Kaiya murmured, sinking to the ground and leaning against Mabonth’s side.
Sleepy, Mabonth answered with a tired but satisfied hum.
“Are you going to clean up?”
Don’t wanna.
Kaiya sighed and closed her eyes. “Me neither.”
They were both soon fast asleep, making a spectacle of themselves as the other weyrlings either pointed and laughed or walked on by. The fastest and the slowest, taking a well-earned rest.