A new life? (Seaching, Garnet Hold)

[summerrain]

Just another day. Her father had left already, and mother was taking care of the house while Maika went to run errands. She spotted Raenkou and waved. They had gotten closer after the first ThreadFall, when they'd hidden in that old cave down by the beach. She knew she looked older than she was, and she didn't really care. She didn't do anything to make herself look older, she just was taller and more developed than other thirteen-Turn-old girls.

On her shoulder sat her Turn old Taro, her Brown flit. He was one of the best friends she had, ever since her brother got Searched. He had become her constant companion, like a trained canine. He also loved hiding behind her ears. Or he had when he'd been small enough to do so.

She had put on one of her best skirts, one of the ones with the tie in the back for her tail. She didn't like having to tuck in her tail; it just bothered her. The fur was soft enough, but it just felt weird. The same way that Taro just wouldn't eat fish. He'd eat chicken and duck, but not fish. He'd eat any kind of waterfowl, but not fish. He was just weird.

There had been rumors of another Search coming soon. Maybe... Maybe this would be her day. She had come to buy some things in the weekly market, things that were grown or raised in other Holds that they couldn't get in Garnet. Grains and other crops were just not suitable for Garnet Hold's climate. She giggled softly at Taro, who had latched his tail around her hair to keep himself from the herdbeasts' meat that he really wanted. She grasped him with one hand, cradling the Brown in her arm. She smiled down at him before walking away from the meat stand. They didn't need any more of that.

She paused and looked up when Taro darted from her arm. Dragons! There were dragons in the sky! The rumors were true. There was a Search going on. That must mean... There was going to be a Hatching soon! Maika smiled widely. This could be her chance! If she could just get to the Weyr, she stood a chance of seeing her brother Ik'tamal again. Not to mention that she might end up Impressing to a dragon. And she had heard that the Silvers were absolutely gorgeous...

[Na]

The air was cold as it hit her, but it was a type of cold that she enjoyed as it meant that she was riding Hravarth. I can't believe I'm doing this. She thought to Hravarth a giddy smile on her lips, even though she hadn't wanted to go on the Search flight she couldn't help but relish the freedom she felt in the air. Apart from being around animals she felt the safest in the air except when Thread was falling, because she couldn't be attacked as easily. Hravarth sent amusement back to her, tinged with the love of flying they possessed, You were wanting to travel and not just to fight Thread, he reminded her, and she had to acknowledge that. She'd begun to get antsy and even more hyper aware then she'd already been so when she heard of a Search getting started by her wing she'd jumped at the chance to get out of the Weyr and into the air. One of these days I'm going to start a flying caravan so I can't be tied down to one place. she thought, liking the idea more and more as she thought about it. I'd help, it sounds fascinating. Hravarth replied, and they shared a mental image of a flying Trader caravan. She laughed out loud then, not a fake one that she used when around people who she didn't trust-which pretty much meant everyone, but a genuine one that seemed to hang in the air. They started the descent, and what ever joy or dreams Eirlys had vanished as she saw the land and almost at once her instincts kicked into gear as she sent a mental summons to Seren who popped into the Hold and flew around helping her mistress search for any potential threats. Seeing none, she allowed Hravarth to land and when he did she slid to the ground dusting off her light red pants and shirt that she always wore when riding, like always they were trimmed with black, her long blonde hair was pulled back by a black band as well.

[Whim]

M'tu was not particularly fond of Searches. For one thing, he hadn't been overjoyed to be searched, himself; his parents' friends had been more excited than he had. Nor had he enjoyed his time after being Searched, before Impressing, stuck in the Weyr without anyone who could treat him decently. Not that he regretted it, truly; Rith more than made up for it. But still, Search wasn't his favorite topic. And it meant kids--finding arrogant little brats, all too stupid for a green firelizard and certain that they deserved a prince, and then encouraging their arrogance.

Ugh. There were just so many levels of ugh.

But, a job was a job, and Rith was a Search dragon; he found more than the average number of successful candidates, even for a Search dragon. It was a duty, though, and one that he and Rith were even better at than most, so M'tu kept his disdain (slightly) hidden as they spiralled down with the rest of the wing.

The Wingleader gave a speech when they landed, calling for everyone of appropriate age--and since when was fourteen an appropriate age? Fourteen year olds were idiots--to come and stand before the dragons, so that the dragons could check for candidate ability. M'tu tuned the rest of the speech out; it was always all the same pointless, lying praise anyway.

[summerrain]

Maika saw the Blue come spiralling down. It was... The same one who had Searched her older brother! Maybe he would know about Ik'tamal? She turned, seeing some of the younger children cautiously approaching the dragon. She ran over to them, Taro flying behind her. 

"Go on children," she told them softly. "You should go wait with your parents."

"Okay..." wined one of the kids, a little boy named Yakone. He led the others away, toward one of the homes nearby. 

Maika turned to the Rider, but tried to keep her distance. She wasn't of the appropriate age yet, though she did look like it. Taro settled on her shoulder, and one of the younger girls came up to her. Maika bent down to the girl's level, so she could hear the girl better. She had tuned the speach out. The nodded to the girl, pointing to the building the child was looking for. One of the merchant's kids, she was, and new to the Hold.

As she stood, a few of the older boys, only fifteen, ran by her. They pushed into her, unintentionally, of course, but they sent her to the ground. She glared after them, silently cursing their being oblivious to the rest of the world. She sighed and stood, Taro chirping in her ear. She scratched his eye ridge gently, then began to walk away. 

"Maika!" one of the older women called. "Come present yourself!" Maika sighed and began to turn toward the Blue when a group of older girls grabbed her arms. 

"Yeah! Come on Maika!"

"Don't you like the idea of Impressing a Queen?"

"Let go of me!" Maika yelled. She pulled her arms out of the grasps of the other girls. "Maybe I don't want to! Did you ever think of that?!" She glared at them, then looked at the BlueRider. She sighed quietly. "But I'd love to find Ik'tamal again." She walked slowly up behind the older girls, but was easily visible behind them. Despite being two years younger than them, she was just a little bit taller than them. Everyone else had already accepted her older appearance, though. "Maybe this Rider knows Ik'tamal," she whispered to the girls. 

Maika looked over to the dark red dragon that landed not far from the Blue. The rider was a girl. With a Gold flit on her shoulder? Taro chirped at the Queen flit, but stayed put on His' shoulder. Even a Turn old flit like him knew that approaching a Queen flit that wasn't a Clutchsibling wasn't propper. Maika's attention was focused on the dragon, with a strange pattern on it's hide. They looked like some sort of flower... Roses maybe? She was entranced by the colors of the Red's hide. Her amber eyes wide, her red tail flicked back and forth, showing her not forgotten irritation at the older girls and the boys that knocked her over. She had forgotten the rider, for the moment, marveling at the strange pattern of the Red's hide. Gorgeous... That made dragons even more appealing to her. She suddenly longed to be Searched, to get to Impress.

[Na]

Eirlys watched as the Wing leader spoke, before turning her attention to the gathered people. She didn't really know how a Search happened, since she herself had been Searched from the Weyr after her injuries healed, -Only to be hurt again- she thought remembering the pain of the injury she'd gotten when Impressing Hravarth. She saw a girl with a brown firelizard, her attention dragged there by Seren much to Hravarth's amusement, and pasted a smile on her face while Seren simply watched the other firelizard wairily. Oh a tailed, she said watching as the girl seemed to look closer at Hravarth. I think she's looking at you. The Wing Leaders speech was done and with a quick glance around at the other dragons, including M'tu and Rith before looking back at the girl. "He's beautiful isn't he?" she asked lightly, stroking Hravarth's hide lovingly. "Of course I'm sort of biased since I'm his Rider but..." she trailed off giggling lightly, as Hravarth nudged her gently. "His name's Hravarth, and mine's Eirlys." She didn't know what else to say, but figured that M'tu could step in or their Wing Leader since they were the Searchers. "What's it like to live in a hold?" she continued intrigued, pretending to ignor the others around her. "Hravarth also wants to know, since he's never lived in a Hold before." Hravarth nodded dipping his head curiosity in his eyes, while Seren launched herself from Eirlys's shoulder into the air.

[Whim]

M'tu rolled his eyes and ignored the clumsy kids; how did they ever expect to fight Thread if they couldn't even stay on their own feet? Not that he would much mind if Thread got them, but the dragons that would follow them was much more of an issue. Of course, the dragons would probably protect their riders from Thread, even if the riders didn't deserve to be protected, which would mean a lot more injured dragons but not so many going Between. The fact didn't please M'tu at all; why couldn't they just find enough decent riders? There had to be some around somewhere.

A few riders began talking to kids while most of the wing hung back, looking impressive and lazy, and the Search dragons began examining the kids. Rith and the wingleader's dragon each picked out one by the time Rith got to one of the kids the non-search riders were talking to. The girl had red hair and a brown firelizard; not the best color combination at all. Though M'tu had seen worse. Whatever, that didn't redeem it anyway. His own firelizard was back at the Weyr, sleeping off a meal, and so wouldn't join in the staring contest that the kid's and one of the rider's firelizards were going through.

Rith looked at the girl with one eye, then turned his head to look with the other, before nodding and moving on. M'tu sighed, stepped around the (unchosen, ha!) kids who'd been trying to pester him, and approached the girl. "Rith says you'd be able to Impress." Which, it turned out, was entirely different from impressing M'tu; his expression was somewhere on the edge of bored and annoyed. "You'll want to pack your stuff quickly, we don't have time to come back if you forget anything."

[summerrain]

Maika approached the Red, smiling slightly. "He's so pretty," she said, awed. "I didn't think dragons had patterns like that. It's so cool." She reached out to touch the dragon, but quickly pulled her hand back. "Sorry... I got excited for a second. My older brother's a Purplerider," she said after a moment. "His name's Ik'tamal. Maybe you know him?" She said this all in a rather off-handed sort of way, as if she was just making an observation about her brother.

Taro chirped at something out of Maika's field of vision, and the girl turned toward the noise. The Bluerider was... Coming toward her... Wait... Did that mean...

"... you'd be able to Impress."

Her eyes widened. She hadn't thought she'd really be able to Impress... Not yet, at least. She nodded to him, silently, before turning back to the Red Rider, Eirlys. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she told the young woman. She turned back to the BlueRider. "I've not got much," she told him. "I shouldn't be long." She nodded to both of them again before turning away. She walked off, picked up the bag she had set down, and returned to her home.

"Mother!" she called as she entered. "Searchriders are here again!"

"Really?" called a voice from further in the house. A head appeared from behind a doorway, red hair matching the girl's. "It's too bad your father left already. He loves watching the dragons, waiting to see if your brother will come home one day."

"Well, the BlueRider said that I might be able to Impress," Maika told her mother. She set the bag down on the table by the front door before heading to her room. "He's going to take me to the Weyr, like Ik'tamal was two Turns ago." She found a bag in the bottom drawer of her small dresser and began to pack. She pulled out a pair of deerskin pants, light brown, and some simple shirts of lighter earthtones. She left the one green shirt in the drawer; no sense looking like a tree on fire. She did, however, grab her blue and green skirts.

"Wow!" her mother Malana said with a smile, following Maika into her room. "Well, I have something for you before you leave."

"Don't take too long mother," Maika called to Malana's retreating back. "I'm not supposed to take long to pack."

"I've just got to find it!" her mother replied. "I'll just be another moment!"

Maika sighed, shaking her head. Her mother was hopeless... What was Malana going to do without her little girl to help her take care of the house? Maika knew she really didn't need to worry about her parents, but ever since the first Threadfall, they'd been on edge. They had reason to be, but still... Maika hadn't gotten hurt. She'd been in a cave with Raenkou and the others, then had been escourted back home by an injured dragon who had gotten the best emergency treatment Garnet Hold could give the pair. She shuddered at the memory of the Ichor dripping from the dragon's wing.

Maika slung her bag over her shoulder. It wasn't big, enough for about a sevenday's worth of clothes and some other things. She had a hairbrush and a few pieces of carved wood from the local carver. She had the basic necessities, and some other small trinkets. She walked to the door and had her hand on it when her mother's voice came to her again.

"Maika! I found it!" Malana came out of the bedroom she shared with Maika's father, holding a small rectangular box in her hands. "It was supposed to be for your next Turnday, but I'll give it to you now." Malana opened the box, showing a silvery pendant in the shape of a heart. "I requested it from the Jewelrysmith in one of the other Holds." The heart was on a thin chain, colored silver, though Maika was sure it was closer to a more common metal than the rare silver. Maika looked at her mother, smiling.

"Thank you... Mom..." she said quietly. She clasped the pendant around her neck, then gave her mother a hug. "I'll miss you... Take care of yourself, and father. And don't believe anything the other Holders tell you about me or Ik'tamal. I'll write to you once a sevenday." She let go of her mother. "See you," she said, walking out. The door closed gently behind her, and she walked back to the marketplace where the dragons were waiting.

She was almost there when she was stopped by Raenkou. "Maika, don't forget about us," he told her quickly.

"I won't. Promise," Maika replied. She gave Raenkou a quick, one-armed hug. Taro chirped a greeting also, and Raenkou laughed at the Brown.

"I didn't forget you Taro," Raenkou admitted with a laugh. He gave Taro a small piece of meat he just bought from one of the nearby stalls. Taro crooned his thanks, then swallowed the meat. "'Bye Maika," Raenkou said quietly.

"See ya Raenkou." Maika waved before approaching the BlueRider again. "I'm all packed," she told him. "I'm ready to go whenever." She looked at the other dragons. They were all so pretty... Even the male dragons. What would the Queen dragons look like? She looked back at the Blue, who was also a pretty color. "Your dragon's hide is such a pretty color," she said unconsciously. She blinked, then looked away. She would just keep quiet for now. Until she figured out what it was that this rider prefered. Then again, maybe he liked the quiet ones.

[Na]

Hravarth rumbled gently, obviously enjoying the attention he was getting and Eirlys gave him a fond, genuine smile. "I was surprised as well, but it fits him so.." she trailed off, as M'tu came over waiting politely for the Search dragon to do his thing turning her eyes to the sky to search for Seren who hadn't returned yet. "I know of him yes, I like to keep track of everyone in the Weyr but don't know him personally." Don't worry, Seren knows what she's doing. Hravarth said his mental voice soft as if picking up on her unease.

Really you think so? She's a queen fire lizard in this hold where we don't know any one. She returned her thoughts steadily increasing in panic. What if they try to kidnap her or something. Hravarth snorted and nuzzled her as she heard like she was in a dream the girl who'd been admiring Hravarth being chosen as a canidate. Breath, Eirlys, just take a deep breath focus on my hide feel the air entering your lungs and let it go. Eirlys clung to his words like someone drowning and before she could go even further into a panic Seren popped back next to her concern rolling down the bond. Gently petting her gold firelizard Eirlys slowly got her emotions back together and turned to M'tu asking brightly. "Anything you need help with M'tu?"

[Whim]

"Hurry up," was M'tu's distracted comment as the girl left, fortunately without pestering him first. He watched Rith as the blue continued inspecting kids, finding a few that he considered but none that stood out as much as his earlier finds, and moving on. Perhaps they'd improve and be searched next time, or perhaps not; either way, this hatching was going to be flooded with enough incompetent brats, no need to add more.

He rolled his eyes at Eirlys's question, letting his gaze drift away from Rith. The girl was always so perky, it was annoying. And she never knew when to shut up, or leave people alone. "Rith's fine. There aren't many decent ones here."

The girl's return and subsequent comments drew a disbelieving look from M'tu, and he turned back to Eirlys. "Actually, yes, you can deal with her." Hopefully that would get both the nuisances to leave him alone.

[summerrain]

Maika looked at the Bluerider. He didn't seem to be much of a people-person, having avoided talking to her directly since telling her of the chance of her Impression. She laughed softly at Taro's antics, flying around her head in excitement over their impending move. He was caught by a gust of wind, blowing him sideways. He wasn't able to right himself, and Maika could sense the fear through their bond. She dropped her bag and lifted both hands to catch the Turn-old flit, cupping him in her palms. She let him return to her shoulder, petting his back softly.

"It's alright Taro," Maika told him with a smile. She suddenly remembered the tales she'd heard from her brother about between. It was supposed to be a cold place, with no life or air... She changed her mind about Taro on her shoulder. She bent down to pick up her bag, then had Taro return to her hand. She held him close to her, under her traveling cloak that she had grabbed before leaving her house. Taro huddled in the pocket that Malana had stitched inside, specifically for the Brown flit.

Maika walked over to Eirlys. "I guess I'm riding with you then?" she asked. She looked over at the Bluerider. "He must not be very social at Cat's Paw Weyr, is he?" She shrugged. "If he's a Searchrider, his dragon must be pretty sensitive." She knew it was common for smaller dragons to be able to sense the Pernese that had a chance to Impress.

Only as she was clambering onto the back of the dragon that was to be her ride did Maika really comprehend the severity of the change. She might Impress. She, as a girl, stood a chance of Impressing a Queen dragon. Even if she didn't Impress a Queen, she would be able to serve the Weyr and Holds from dragonback... Her heart was beginning to race. She longed to become a Rider... The idea was incredible.

Taro squirmed in the pocket, poking his head out and chirping at His. She laughed at him. "I'm fine Taro," she assured the flit. "We're heading to the Weyr. Just snuggle in there and don't leave until we get to our new home."

[Na]

Eilrys grinned cheekily at M'tu, she didn't really like him and had a feeling the feeling was mutual. "Alright, I can do that." she said, as Hravarth dipped his head in agreement. "I did ask after all." She watched as Maika walked over and nodded, "Yup, but don't worry about it. There are plenty of people at the Weyr you can hide from him there." She helped Maika climb up onto Hravarth's back while he held very still. Are you sure about this Eirlys? he asked as Maika settled on top of him. I'll be fine Hravarth, I think the fact that I'm in the air will negate the fact that there's someone behind me. She didn't want to admit that her mental voice shook with nerves and knew that this wouldn't be the best flight ever. "Try not to make any sudden movements alright? I don't want you to fall off because you moved to suddenly." she called up to Maika as she hopped up behind Maika before looking down to M'tu. "Ready when everyone else is." she said, looking down at the brown firelizard. "You know, if you want your brown firelizard can follow Seren, she usually waits 'till we're at the Weyr and then goes Between."