A Search Unexpected

[Kandarra]

Valkoran led his mount, the tempermental stallion Shif, to his favorite spot under the largest tree at the edge of the woods. It was far removed from Jervan Hold, but still within sighting distance. He gazed for a few moments at his brothers and other workers moving the groups of runners around before taking a worn scroll from its protective covering on his saddle. He snatched it out of Shif's reach before the runner's teeth could close on it and chuckled, scratching the ornery stallion's rump. He tucked the scroll into his fitted tunic belt and used his long arms and strong legs to easily climb up to his favorite branch. Valkoran settled himself carefully and began to read the hide, an analysis of tithing traditions.

A breeze ruffled through the trees, blowing a few stray strands of his shaggy, sandy blonde hair into his face. He used a long-fingered hand to brush it out of his shockingly light grey eyes, which seemed never to waver from what he was reading. He sat with one leg dangling from the branch and one knee bent, perfectly balanced from his years of runner-riding experience. Shif reached up to nip at his boot; "Not right now," Valkoran said just before Shif's teeth reached the supple leather, his eyes never leaving the hide. Shif's head dropped and he shook his head angrily at being caught. "Nice try, though," he chuckled.

Shif suddenly began a nervous dance at the base of the tree, and Valkoran tucked the scroll back into hit tunic belt. "What is it?"

[Tenma]

Siarath's large green body skimmed the treetops as she soared over them. The soft, fresh leaves tickled her stomach, but she she didn't seem to notice. She zipped right over the tree that Valkoran was sitting in, she never even noticed the boy. Her large body shadowed everything beneath her, and her tail swayed dangerously behind her. As the two neared the hold, she bugled loudly to everyone, the sound echoing into the distance. She then folded her wings and landed.

Nira dismounted, by climbing off of her bonded's back. She stood on the ground and waited a moment for a few people to come out. She then removed her helmet and allowed her dark brown locks to fall against her back. She smoothed the strands out and stood tall as she attempted to make a good impression at the hold. She had never searched this one before, and she hoped that it didn't have bad views on female riders. Unfortunately, she found that some people were against females riding any color but a gold, and Nira found that offensive. She didn't want her Siarath to be a gold, she loved her as a green.

And I love you as a girl, not as a boy. Siarath replied, overhearing her Mine's thoughts. She nuzzled her rider affectionately.

Nira smiled. And I love you. Her brown eyes turned to the skies. She had brought R'dal, her new weyrmate along for this time. He was still new to Dark Moon Weyr, and she wanted to spend a bit of time with him.

[Dragon]

R'dal and Elith flew alongside Nira and Siarath, enjoying their time together. She was searching and R'dal was here to help, though he knew the main reason he was tagging along was because she wanted his company. The big brown landed with a thud and his rider got off. He removed his riding helmet, revealing the short brown curly hair. He walked over to his weyrmate, towering over her. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he stood at her side and looked at her, "Glad you brought me along". He gazed over to those who gathered around.

[Kandarra]

As soon as it had started, Shif's fit stopped, but Valkoran was too distracted to notice. Dragons had flown right over his tree! They'd had to be dragons, nothing else cast that large a shadow. He watched them land at the hold, and he quickly climbed down from the tree, placing the scroll hurriedly in its case. Mounting Shif, he turned the runner towards the hold and began to trot briskly towards where they had landed.

-------------

Meanwhile, practically the entire population of the hold, around 15 people, had gathered at a careful distance around the dragons and their riders. The children were strangely quiet as they gazed on in wonder, and the adults were each contemplating the new arrivals. A woman hurried off, soon returning with a man looking to be in his late fifties and very, very tall. "Good day," he said, bowing. "My name is Varnelyn, and welcome to Jervan Hold. What can we do for you?" He looked closely at the two riders. "I don't recognize you from Ista. Are you new?"

[Dragon]

"Well that is strange. You see I am originally from Ista weyr. I transferred though", he told the man and looked at Nira. She was the reason he transferred. He loved her and wanted to be with her. Elith won her Siarath's flight and they were now weyrmates. R'dal looked at the man, he was tall but then again so was R'dal. R'dal was also very muscular too making him indeed a big man. Often his build and height intimidated others, but the irony of it all was that he was such a gentle man. It seemed a contradiction to his looks.

[Kandarra]

"Well, it's true I haven't frequented the Weyr here much, as I spend my time tending to my hold." Varnelyn paused. "If you will excuse me for being... blunt, may I ask your business here?"

[Tenma]

"It is no promblem at all. I am Nira, rider of green Siarath..." Nira paused to allow R'dal introduce himself. Then she continued. "We are riders from Dark Moon Weyr and we are here on Search. Our Sr. Queen, Kaith, has recently flown and a clutch shall be laid soon and we are in need of candidates. They can be male of female and must be between in the ages of 13 and 22, no exceptions." Nira explained as she always did. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, can we have those that are eligible to come forward, and the others stand back?" She asked. They didn't always get that request granted, and it wasn't neccessary, but it was helpful.

[Kandarra]

Searchriders... Varnelyn thought. I hope they don't take my best workers. But the holder kept those thoughts to himself and thought who would be eligible. "Vorik! Verlan! Valkoran!" He called his three younger sons' names; his eldest was 25 and too old for the Search. He also called a few others

Verlan showed up first, as was usual, and Vorik trailed behind by a few seconds. The others arrived, with the exception of Valkoran. "Has anyone seen--" Varnelyn began.

At that moment, a large bay stallion galloped along the wide gap between two stables and halted fifteen feet from the dragons, refusing to go any farther. Its rider dismounted and simply left it standing, knowiing it wouldn't go anywhere. The runner was out of breath, and the rider speechless.
.
"Valkoran, get in line with your brothers. These are Searchriders."

Valkoran moved quickly on his long legs to the end of the line, next to a girl he didn't talk to much. Searchriders... he thought in wonder. I wonder if the dragons are reading our minds? I read a scroll once that you can sense the presence in your mind. Should I try?

[Tenma]

Siarath looked over them. She decided to look over the girl's first, that way she could cut it down a bit. None of these girls are worthy to stand at the hatching. Get rid of them. There are too many standing around me. Get rid of the girls. The green explained to her mine.

Nira thought about that. How was she supposed to tell them to get rid of the girls, but be nice about it. "Excuse me, Siarath has informed me that the girls may leave. If they wish to stay they need to take a few steps back. She is overwhelmed." Nira said in the nicest voice she could.

[Kandarra]

"Ladies, if you would," Varnelyn said pleasantly, and the four or five of them stepped back several steps. Inwardly he figured they had been rejected. That was alright; he couldn't really spare anyone. Except for maybe-- he pushed that thought aside.

Meanwhile, Valkoran stood with growing anticipation. The girls hadn't been any good, so maybe one of the young men here would. Maybe he would. However, he quickly quashed that thought, as all he did was read and train runners; he didn't own a firelizard or visit the Weyr. Sobered by this thought, he stood patiently and waited for them to ask him to step back. Vorik was likely to be Searched more than he. He was older and had been to the Weyr many times.

[Dragon]

R'dal took a step back and watched his weyrmate go to work. The two must have done this several times for this seemed to routine to them. R'dal had hardly done any searching at all. He was a brownrider and normally such a job was left up to blues and for the most part greens. He gave a bit of a frown as all the girls had to leave, none were chosen. Do not worry mine. Siarath knows what she is doing, none were right. Elith reassured his rider. Now only the male candidates were left.

[Tenma]

Siarath looked through them in order. She sent feelings of dissapointment to her mine, and her face looked at Nira. None of them. I don't think any of them should stand on the sands. Siarath explained.

~None? Not one single candidate? Please look again Siarath. Just double check.~ Nira begged.

Siarath agreed and looked over the boys once again, she was positive that she didn't want any of the girls. Well, there is one of them, but... Siarath's eyes were whirling.

~But what?~ Nira asked.

Nothing. That one. He is good. I missed him before. Siarath sent the boy's image to Nira.

~Good thing you double checked.~ Nira smiled. She walked over to Valkoran. "Excuse me young man," she began, but knew that the boy really wasn't that much younger than her, "may I know your name?" She questioned.

[Kandarra]

Valkoran's heart jumped into his mouth as the greenrider came over to him. He knew it couldn't be the person beside him she meant, because that girl had been asked to step back, and greenrider... Nira, was it? hadn't stepped past him. "Hi," he said nervously, before realizing that she wanted his name. "Valkoran, uh, is my name." He glanced at his father, who stared on without expression. I'm not one of his main workers, he realized. He doesn't care if I go.

[Tenma]

"Well, Valcoran, how would you like to come back to Dark Moon Weyr with us, be a candidate, and stand at the next hatching?" She waited for his response. This was the time that most candidates jumped for joy and ran off to tell there parents the good news.

[Kandarra]

Valkoran nodded. "I would be honored, Searchrider Nira. If I can bring a couple of my runners--" he stopped. "That would be great. Father?"

Varnelyn stepped forward. "Had it been anyone else, I might not have let them go. But my son here has no large responsibilities here at Jervan, so I permit him to go to your Weyr. Good luck, son," he said, taking Valkoran in what might have been the first hug he'd ever given. "Just tell me which runners you'd like and I'll have them on a ship for the Southern Continent in the next few sevendays." Varnelyn turned to face the two dragonriders. "Thank you for bringing this honor to our family, but if you will excuse us, this is a working hold." At these words, everyone began to drift away to grudgingly complete their tasks after such an exciting event. Everyone, that is, except Valkoran's brothers, who stayed a moment to congratulate him and slap him on the back, no small feat as he was at least a foot taller than all of them. Eventually, they, too went back to their work.

"So, uh," Valkoran began, "should I go get my things, then?"

[Tenma]

Nira sighed. How many hearts had she had to break because of this. "I am sorry, but we can't take any of your runners. They are horribly afraid of dragons, and we would not be able to get them safely to the weyr. Especially since we are going between, the poor beasts would kill themselves, with fear." She explained.

[Dragon]

He rubbed his weyrmate on the back, "Good job. I wouldn't worry about those who didn't get chosen, a dragon knows best which person should be chosen. Wouldn't it be more heart breaking to bring one that wouldn't have a chance of impressing?".

[Tenma]

((I was talking about not being able to take the pets.))

[Kandarra]

"Oh, no, didn't you hear Father? He meant he would send them on a ship. He didn't mean take them in your dragons' talons, of course not. Say, isn't it true that Dark Moon has the most female greenriders of all the Weyrs, yet it's the smallest?" He paused. "And should I go get my things?"

[Tenma]

Nira laughed. "Sorry, I didn't know your father was the holder. Don't bring to many runners though, maybe two. Once you impress, you will be too busy caring for your dragon to be caring for many runners. So, gather what you want to bring, say bye to everyone, and we will be waiting right here for you." Nira explained.