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She still smelled blood in the air, it still wasn’t dawn, and there was still no lifemate for her. Even with all of that swirling around her head Weiwin managed to continue to hide under a shroud of numbness as she walked back to her room. Her shoulders were still held back… she must have forgotten to take her pride off at the door. The rest of her seemed to sag in some imperceptible way and as she looked herself over in her mirror that hung over her bed, a result of the multitude of previous users wearing down the stone into a neat crevice along with the ingenious use of wherry bone. Peering into the little mirror she saw a dejected but not defeated girl. Next time, next time she promised herself.

When she left the barracks she was in a wrap and sandals – she apparently hadn’t bothered to change those – and her hair was loose from its braid. She made an appearance in the kitchens and was given some fruit and sent on her way. As Candidates they wouldn’t be getting the day off, so in a few short hours they would be back at chores as if nothing had happened. So, Weiwin was off to enjoy her bounty somewhere scenic. When she got to the lake there was only one other person in sight and by the look of her, she was a Candidate too. Weiwin hadn’t made it a habit to seek her peers out, but she made an exception considering what they had all just been through.

She made her way over to Santhea, not asking the girl if she could sit next to her even though she sat a little closer than strangers usually do. With the fruit in her lap, Weiwin silently put an arm around Thea.

“No need to apologize” she said, suddenly feeling a little awkward that she wasn’t bawling her eyes out as well. Again with the numbness and inability to cope with the death of the dragonet. As for the other dead hatchling, well, Weiwin hadn’t thought much of it. She eased up with her arm around Thea, though, as the Candidate managed to get her tears under control but she remained close.

When it came to answering Thea’s question about standing again Weiwin hesitated. Even before the sour hatching she had earnestly considered going back to Fort Hold. She had stood for one hatching and had managed to fall into a slump after not impressing, seriously questioning what the Search Dragon had seen in her. Now, after talking to worried riders and a tragedy laden hatching she was honestly baffled by the question. It took her a moment to reply, and she was sure she wasn’t instilling much confidence in the fellow Candidate at this rate. But she shot for an honest answer. “Before last night I was doubtful about staying on at this Weyr, or any Weyr really. To top it off, last night was just my second time standing and, to be sure, I feel for the Candidates who stood for the first time last night. But you can bet your head I will be on the sands given the next opportunity.” She had made sure to put emphasis on ‘will’. “Accepting Candidacy means signing up for the chance to impress one of the most wonderful, dazzling creatures on Pern.” Here she paused for dramatic effect as her hand swept over nothing in particular. “But it also means you have to accept the hazards surrounding Candidacy.” She didn’t feel like naming them was necessary. “But, by the sounds of it you already know all of this.” She eyed Santhea for the briefest of moments. “I’ve only come to learn this recently.” A slightly sheepish smile crossed her mouth.

“Want my other yellow fruit?” She asked as she took a bite of the first one. "Any distraction is a good distraction, mm?" It didn't take a wherry to tell that the other Candidate didn't look hungry, but then again neither was Weiwin.

The other Candidate sure did seem to be a character, Weiwin thought as she gave a slightly crooked smile when names were mentioned. Introductions. Well, Weiwin was on the formal side of interactions, considering she was usually busy grubbing around in the dirt or scrubbing dishes could, she thought smart behavior to be refreshing. So, after Santhea gave her name Weiwin nodded and said “The name’s Weiwin, and I’m from the Fort Hold area.” Then she smiled again at the thought of dragons. It was a good turn for their conversation, even if it brought up memories of the horrible screeching and vivid images of the lost creature. Now they could compare their interactions with the dragons of the Weyr.

“Well…” she paused for another bite of fruit, “so far I haven’t helped bathe any dragons, but I have eaten lunch next to a brown on the beach.” Idle conversation usually ended up on the last of her list of things to do, that is to say she generally looks down on it. However, it felt just a little reassuring to her rattled nerves to sit back and prattle on about happy times. “But, I’m surprised to hear that a dragon let you help bathe it – that doesn’t happen much, Dievath must really trust you. Have you seen him since?” Her green eyes were misty yet curious.

“Oh, and what’s your stance on firelizards? Yea, or nay?” She hadn’t quite decided whether or not she wanted one of those little buggers since she couldn’t see herself getting one ‘just because’.