Charta Hold Search

[Miki]

Charta Hold seemed empty. A chill had fallen over them and the ground was blanketed in snow. Nobody dare come out in the chill. Well, almost nobody. Miki was out and about with her two closest friends. “Kenar,” she yelled. The boy she was speaking to turned his head. And his reward for being so obedient? He got a mouthful of snow. Miki burst into laughter and fell back into the snow.

“Miki,” a girl called. Miki didn’t rise though. She talked while lying in the snow.

“Yes, Karla?” he said. Karla walked up beside Miki. Miki raised her eyes to look and saw her friend with as much snow as she could hold. As she dropped the snow, Miki tried to crawl away but it landed on her back. Karla put a foot on the pile of snow.

“I am queen of the hill,” she declared. As she raised her hands triumphantly, Kenar threw a snowball and struck her in the shoulder. All the while, Miki was moving the snow off her.

The three children played for a long while until they were too tired to run anymore. “I love the snow,” Miki stated.

“Me too,” Kenar said. Karla simply nodded and closed her eyes. It was very cold but the three were too tired to care. They just waited there till they regained their breath. “Miki?”

“Yeah?”

“Never mind.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Never mind.”

“Whatever,” Miki said. She waited for a few minutes and then lifted herself to her knees. She heard someone walking. It was her uncle. She walked up to him.

“It’s time for lunch,” he said for the group. The other two stood and the three exchanged good-byes. Then Miki followed after her uncle home and ate lunch. She didn’t feel like speaking to her uncle. She liked him but sometimes not so much. Today he was going on one of his rants of how she should not hate dragons. It was hopeless but her uncle persisted.

Miki knew she would always hate dragons. They were the reason she was orphaned. To think she had lived among them for so long when she lived in the weyr. She shuddered inwardly and finished her cup of water. “I’m leaving,” she said. Her uncle shook his head but let her go.

Miki’s friends were still eating so she grabbed a stick she had in her room and ran off to a secluded area. She twirled the stick around. Again and again she tried and then started to jab invisible enemies with it. She swirled around, kicking around and jumping about. This was her training.

[Tenma]

There was a blink in the bright blue sky showed up as a dragon popped out of between. It was a large green, in fact, she was larger than any other green in her weyr, and even larger than many smaller blues. On her back sat a rider, covered in her many clothes that protected her from the deadly cold of between. Her dark brown eyes looked down at the ground and away from the bright sun. As she did so the green leaned to her left. Her left wing pointed toward the ground while her right pointed up into the sky. She glided downward in a circle like a funnel. As she neared the ground, she trumpeted loudly from the depths of her throat to alert the weyr of her arrival. She reached out her feet and stumbled as she landed, causing her rider to chuckle.

Almost three years later from stumbling at your hatching and you are still stumbling around on the ground. The rider chuckled as she leaned forward and brought her leg over, dismounting off of the lime green colored dragon. She unbuckled her helmet and let her midnight black locks fall down to her wait, but it stayed together in a pony-tail. She placed a delicate hand on her green's head and scratched the dragon's eye-ridged, earning a growl of pleasure.

[Miki]

As the echoes of the dragons call reverberated through the hold, the people rushed out, wrapping sweaters and blankets around themselves. Miki walked to where the crowd was gathering. A circle of people were gathering, the inner circle made up of children. Miki rolled her eyes. What fools they were. She headed back to her home.

As she walked leisurely back, she ran into her uncle. She knew he'd have a mouthful to say. She kept walking past him. "You know you can't just leave. If you aren't there a dragon might die because you were the one meant for it," he said as she left.

"Good," she called back. She grabbed a ribbon and pulled her short hair back into a small ponytail. Her uncle continued, trying to formulate a plan.

Miki walked into her house and went straight for her room. She grabbed a ball and threw it up again and again. She kept her violet eyes concentrated on the small white ball, wondering what was happening. She wondered if her friends were there and who the dragon would pick to come with her.

-x-

As the dragon spiraled to a landing, the Holder was already halfway out the door to his house. He ran over to the area the woman and her dragon were stopping. He was the first to her and very quickly was being surrounded by people. Nobody dare push him away as he was not one you wanted to mess with when you lived in his weyr (well, Miki wasn't very good at fallowing that rule). Kids crowded around him in a semi-circle.

Once the young woman had slid off her dragon, Talar and his wife were right before her. "Hello, miss. It is a great honor to welcome you to Charta Hold. Is there anything I could do to assist you?"

-x-

Meanwhile, Miki's uncle was contemplating how to get Miki to come. He would need to trick her as there was definitely no way to convince her. But, Miki might not even be the one they were looking for. Only if no other child was chosen would he get her. He nodded in agreement to his own plan and watched the rider intently.

[Tenma]

Nira waited patiently as the Holder and the residents of this hold spilled out of the Hold and toward the green dragon and her. When everyone was assembled, the rider respectfully bowed her head and prepared to introduce her dragon and herself. "It is very nice to meet you. I am Nira, rider of green Siarath" She said with a smile upon her face.

She took a moment to survey all of those before her with her chocolate brown eyes. "Siarath and I are here in hopes of finding a suitable candidate or two for the next hatching. Now, there is no clutch currently on the sands, but our Jr. Queen's hide is glowing, meaning a flight shall come soon. And as a small Weyr with few holds to Search from, we like to get started early." She explained. "So, I would like for all young men and women within the age limit to stand in a line before Siarath and I. We need everyone who fits the requirements, so as not to overlook anyone who would've impressed."

[Miki]

Uncle was getting more worried. He stepped back and tried to quickly formulate a plan. She needed to be here. He surveyed the people, trying to decided what to do.

-x-

Talar shooed back the adults and pushed the children closer so they formed a shoulder-to-shoulder line. The Holder smiled as he looked at the line of children. "I am sure you will find a fine selection of suitable children here," he said. His wife kept silent but made sure to have a smile plastered on her chubby face. She was a sort of plump woman but she gave off a motherly vibe.

The woman walked to the side of the line and placed a hand around the girl's shoulders. "Relax," she said with a smile. She looked up at the rider with her warm brown eyes. All of her brown hair was tucked neatly in a bun below her bonnet-like hairpiece. She looked over the children and realized someone was missing. She waddled over to the middle of the line. Kenar and Karla were standing beside each other. "Where is Miki?" she whispered. Kenar shrugged.

"We haven't seen her since lunch," Karla whispered. Mrs. Talar looked worriedly at the crowd.

"If you'd excuse me, I think we are missing a child," she said kindly. She waddled threw the crowd and headed to the home of Miki and her uncle. As she wen, she noticed Uncle. "Oh, where is your niece?"

"She is at home. She refuses to come. I'm trying to think up a way to get her here."

The two talked it over. Now they were a team.

[Tenma]

Siarath started at one end of the line. Her placid, green eyes. She looked deep into the souls and minds of those in front of her. She looked over those from the younger to the older of those suitable. Some were tall, some were short, some were thin, some were wide, some were ecstatic, while others were nervous. They were all different. Every now and then her search would pause to mentally speak to one of the possibilities. A bit later her large head swung around to face her bonded. They looked at each other for a moment, obviously mentally speaking.
Mine, I don't see any that would work. None of them are ready to stand on the sands. Siarath said to her rider.
None of them? Nira replied, slightly disheartened. She received a telepathic no. Nira looked over those that stood in a line before turning to the Holder.
"I am sorry, Holder of Chasta Hold, no one in that line is suitable to stand on the sands, not this time." She bowed her head lightly before looking at the Holder and waited to be dismissed.

[Miki]

The Holder sighed deeply, knowing nobody would come to Search for a long while. This was only the second time and the first was a long while back. He looked at the crowd of children. Many seemed dismayed by the disapproval. The Holder looked to the rider and nodded. "Well, thank you for coming. I hope you find a good person to bring."

-x-

Mrs. Talar had got it. She had the perfect plan and it was immediately put into action. She and Uncle were in the home now. The Mrs. ran into the girls room. "Miki, oh Miki. You need to come right away. There is something wrong! Your friend is sick!"

Miki immediately assumed the dragon had done something. She was running out the door before Mrs. Talar could congratulate herself. She and Uncle were quickly following Miki. Miki stopped just as she reached the group. They were all wandering away and she looked to Kenar and Karla. Both were in perfect health. She looked back suspiciously at the tag team. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked accusingly.

Mrs. Talar walked to her husband. "We have one more child, Miss. Please see if she is right."

[Tenma]

Nira nodded. She knew that everyone was upset. She hated this part. She really hated when she went on Search and didn't get one candidate. Everyone was put down and it pulled on her heart. She walked back toward Siarath and put her helmet on. She clipped it tight and was about to hope onto Siarath when she heard a voice.
"We have one more child, Miss. Please see if she is right." She turned around and saw another girl standing there. She looked extremely unhappy to be there, but Nira knew it was not her place. Her job was to Search, not meddle. Nira turned to Siarath and nodded, letting the dragon know to check out the girl.

Siarath lowered her large head down to be eye to eye with the girl, even though her own I was much larger. Why are you so late? It does not help to be late when trying to impress a person, or dragon. Siarath explained.

[Miki]

Miki glared at the dragon. It was a disgusting creature, no doubt. The dragon lowered her head to be even with Miki's. The girl leaned back, not wanting the dragon so close to her. The dragon spoke to her through her mind. As much as she wanted to yell at the dragon for talking to her, she was more infuriated by what the dragon said.

"I don't need lecturing from a dragon," she spat. She stepped backward, away from the dragon. Her uncle ran up to Miki and grabbed her firmly by the shoulder. He pushed her foreword roughly.

"Don't act like a brat," he hissed. Miki pulled herself away from her uncle and glared into the dragon's swirling eyes with her own violet ones.

[Tenma]

Nira and Siarath watched as the girl's face showed disgust and even horror. She backed off until an older man pushed her forward. Nira clasped her hands over her mouth at what the girl said. How could she talk to a dragon like that. Siarath growled angrily, slightly baring her teeth. Her eyes were yellow with anger, but they weren't really swirling at all because she wasn't all that angry.
I'll have you know that dragons are one of the wisest creatures, and a dragon can teach his or her bonded a great deal that they cannot learn from parchment. I suggest you show more respect. That attitude is not going to help you in the Weyr.

[Miki]

Miki nearly laughed at what the dragon said. Dragons were no smarter than humans. She crossed her arms and looked away. "My behavior is fine and none of your concern. Besides, who says I even want to be in a weyr?"

Her uncle frowned, clearly distressed. He whispered in her ear, "If they offer, you will accept or I swear your life here will be miserable."

She looked down at her feet, embarrassed. "I, I will go if you so choose it." She spoke quickly, trying to get it over with. Her face turned pink and felt warm. Her hands were clammy despite the cool weather.

How could Uncle expect her to live with dragons? How could he expect her to make a bond with one and care for it? Her anger grew until she could no longer hold it. "If dragons are so wise, then why would they kill a rider? Why would a dragon murder his own rider?" She spun around, whipping her hands to her side. She did not walk away though. She just lifter her arms and crossed them.

[Tenma]

She will do. Siarath huffed. SHe obviously didn't like the girl.

Nira opened her mouth to speak when she heard what the girl said. She was appalled at what Miki said. Siarath let out a low inaudible growl that only Nira could notice do to their link. "I.." She stuttered before talking. "Siarath would like you to accompany us back to the Weyr. "Since you have already shared that you would go, can you please go pack, say goodbye, and return?" She questioned with a kind smile.

Talk with her. A dragon would not dare kill any human! Siarath exclaimed.
I will when we get there. I don't want to cause a scene. Nira replied.

[Miki]

Miki could see the dragon was disturbed. She smiled a little. Her uncle was also enraged. She was at the top of her hill until the woman said she was going. Her shoulders dropped. She wanted to yell no but she knew she could not. She spun on her heel and stomped back.

Miki packed nearly everything she owned into her bag. As she dragged it out, her friends were waiting for her. "Bye," she said.

"Bye," the other two said simultaneously. She dropped her bag and hugged the two. They said little more except promising to write. Miki dragged her bag to the dragon.

The young girl lifted the bag up. She looked back at her uncle, upset. She did not want to go but she knew she had no choice. She looked up. "Are you going to help?" she asked. She gave the dragon an icy look and lifted the bag higher.

[Tenma]

Nira walked over and strapped the bags on Nira's back so that they wouldn't fly off.
"Are you going to help?" THe girl said rudely. Nira nodded. She tightened all of the straps on the bags. She then walked back towards the girl, bent her knee slightly, and put her hands in position. "Just step onto my knee then swing your leg over. Grab the arm straps and I will adjust your legs straps." Nira explained.
Siarath grumbled lightly, not liking how her rider was being treated.

[Miki]

Miki gladly released the bag. She looked up at the dragon. "I can figure it out," she said and climbed up onto the dragon. She strapped herself in and looked back at the hold. The holder was beaming with pride. Miki simply rolled her eyes. She looked at her friend and shook her head a little towards the man. They laughed and raised their hands to wave goodbye. She waved as well and waited to take-off.

[Tenma]

"Okay." Nira said. Even if the girl didn't want help, she went around and made all of the straps tight and snug. She then mounted Siarath and strapped herself in.
Do not talk to Niramine so rudely. Siarath growled, causing the two passengers to feel the vibration.

Nira affectionatly patted Siarath. "Okay, when we leave the ground there will be a sharp bolt. When in between you will not be able to see, hear, feel, or speak. Eventhough you cannot feel anything, keep holding on." Nira instructed and let Siarath know to go.

The large green obliged and opened her large wings. She left the ground and flapped her wings, gaining height. High enough from the ground, Siarath went between.

[Miki]

Miki waited for the dragon to rise. She did not pay close attention to the woman. She knew what she was doing. She rose up into the air and felt the wind pushing on her.

Miki realized they were going /between/ once they were in the air. She wouldn't show fear. Then the dragon would not kill her. She held on tightly and waited for the bitter cold. And she was ready and it came.