A/n: I do not own Pern, or Sonnette's Dawn Hold, Wyth, or the main dragons/riders therein from Sonnette's Dawn. Dragonriders belong to Anne McCaffrey, and the others belong to a DoP RPG whose name I can't recall at the moment. But remainder characters are mine.
SEARCHING…AND BEING FOUND
"Everyone not old enough or too old to be Searched needs to get out of the courtyard so the dragonriders can go home. We've already taken enough of their time."
The crowd began to disperse, and Latonya and Nikkos began to take their daughters away. Kendra was shaking so bad now that it was finally over with she had to sit down. Her family moved to flank her, and they waited while everyone else left except the older children fourteen turns and older.
Kendra leaned up against the courtyard wall, and accepted the cup of water Gavin gave her. They watched as the dragons came down to their riders. It was fortunate that they were the smaller blue and green dragons; otherwise they wouldn't have been able to fit all three dragons in the courtyard.
The big dragonrider stepped forward, a nice looking man of about thirty or so Turns, his face scarred by several Thread scores giving him a rakish appearance. One of the blues put his muzzle next to him and it didn't take a smart person to know that was his dragon. He had enough scars to match his rider, and it was his rider who addressed those gathered for the Search.
"I am S'ner, blue Asheroth's rider, of Thread's End Weyr. We come in Search for the queen Wyth's current clutch. We're doing something different at Thread's End, Searching early so we can get our candidates as comfortable as possible with the eggs and Weyrlife. It'll be another three to four months before the eggs are ready to Hatch, but we want to have every candidate to have as good a chance as possible. Do not be afraid, and try not to be disappointed if you are not chosen. If everyone were a dragonrider, Pern would be a boring place, so try not to feel too bad. This will go as quickly as possible." S'ner gestured to his companions.
"Searching with me today is T'eal, blue Doth's rider." The younger blue rider nodded to the crowd, smiling as he came up to his dragon's head, stroking the pale blue head and muzzle.
"And the lovely A'son, green Meeth's rider."
Kendra found herself admiring the graceful petiteness of the little green, noting she was a beautiful shade of emerald found only in the rarest of gems. Kendra realized she wouldn't have mind if she had been chosen to be a green rider, no offense to the wonderful queens. She had a feeling that the greens were underestimated.
As if aware she was the object of attention, the petite dragon arched her neck and fairly seemed to preen in her own importance. She made a snorting sound as she eyed the eager candidates before her. Her rider placed a hand, now ungloved, upon her lifemate's muzzle in an indisputably soothing gesture.
"Please hold as still as possible, though some of you might want to spread out a bit to give the dragons some room. There are enough dragons to Search all of you, so just be patient." S'ner gave a hand signal to his companions and then they split up.
Kendra took another sip of her glass of water watching the show. She leaned her head up against the wall, closing her eyes, basking in the coolness of the stone beneath her back. She had a headache now that all the fuss was over, and she was acutely embarrassed. It was just her luck that she had to have her problems aired out for the entire Hold to know.
A sound from her family and above her made Kendra look up and she came head to eye with green Meeth. The petite green gave a soft woof sound, sniffing her family, no herself, Kendra realized with a shock. She stared stupidly up at the eye that was larger than her own head and met the multi-colored gaze, not even feeling her mother's arms tighten around her shoulders, or her brothers move in a protective circle with her father, or her sister grabbing her leg. She was fascinated at the whirling colors and tilted her head slightly for a better look. She scarcely knew if she breathed, she was so taken.
"She's taken with you," the lovely voice of A'son broke the spell and Kendra gave a slight start as she focused in on the smiling woman in riding gear.
"Pardon?" Kendra blinked. She had to clear her throat, hating how breathless and squeaky her voice came out. Of course, it could have had something to do with her being squeezed by her family.
"Could you let go, Mom? Mia? I can't breathe." Latonya reluctantly let go of her eldest girl, and Mia had to be pried away by Malachi.
"Meeth is taken with your daughter, Merchant Ulric, Lady Ulric," A'son repeated for the family's benefit. This was weird, trying to Search a girl and having to go through a very protective family.
"She is?" the girl in question asked, staring up at the dragon in front of her.
"Yes," A'son nodded knowingly, eyes flicking over the girl in front of her, assessing her for dragonrider material.
She seemed quite taken in as well, A'son thought. She'll probably want a queen next. Maybe.
She'd seen many types over the Turns, some more surprising than others but it was always dragon choice that mattered and won out in the end.
"Well, Kendra of the Ulric merchant clan, how would you like to come to the Weyr?"
"The Weyr?" Gavin echoed suspiciously. He glanced over at his sister in amazement.
Kendra is being Searched?
Mako gave a pleased chirrup, not in the least put out that his next favorite plaything would probably leave. Once Gavin got over the shock and his protective instincts, he found he actually liked the idea. He gave a glance toward where Prefan had been taken out, and wondered. The boy had been furious, and he'd spouted off what he'd like to do if he got his hands on Kendra again. Perhaps the Weyr wouldn't be such a bad place after all.
"Your dragon…Meeth? Has Searched our daughter?" Nikkos spoke slowly, looking directly at the dragonrider, who never flinched from his direct gaze.
"Searched and sized up," A'son promptly retorted, echoed by Meeth's snort.
Of course she was Searched. I Searched her out didn't I?
A'son had to hold back her smile at her dragon's feisty remarks. Her lovely Meeth was as vain as any Holder Lady and just as prideful as any queen.
Easy Meeth. They're a bit more protective over her at the moment because of that idiot. Give them a chance to recover before getting mad, eh?
"I don't see a problem." Nikkos began. Latonya looked at him in amazement. He held his wife's gaze. "It'll be three months she'll be away, and there's no guarantee she'll Impress."
He too was remembering Prefan's threats, and he tried to get his wife to understand. She seemed to after a moments thought, but she didn't seem too happy about it.
"Three months…" she began and then stopped. She looked over at her eldest daughter and sighed. "Three months. She'll miss her birthing day. Oh, Shards, I won't hold her back. If she wants to go, then she can go." Kendra smiled up at her mother, and then looked over at the dragonrider.
"I'd like to go, Rider A'son."
"Wonderful!" A'son looked over at the family, and her smile was sympathetic. They were obviously close, it was almost a shame to break them up, and especially after the rough day she'd had. But Meeth wanted to get her to the Weyr, if only so she could see her weyrmate before he left for patrol.
"We can pick her up here in the courtyard if you want to go and get her some clothing for her stay? It will be three months."
"Oh, yes," Latonya spoke. As one, the family rose up, and Kendra stood on her own, placing her cup down.
"Can you meet us outside our hold? It'll probably be easier."
"Sure, just take your time."
"We'll be quick," Kendra promised and then left with her family to hurry home.
A'son! Lonith will be leaving for patrol soon!
Don't worry, Meeth, we'll get there in time. I don't think they'll dawdle long. Look, Asheroth and Doth are almost finished.
Kendra and the family stopped at the stable to pick up Day Star and then they left for their home. When they got to the home, Kendra slid down and ran for her room. With the ease of one who traveled a lot, she picked up her carisak and started to pack some clothes. She chose one good Gather dress, one good skirt, and a couple pairs of her favorite trousers. She also picked some work clothes, for she remembered her dragon lore and knew that she'd probably be put to work.
In went her boots; both the good ones and her work boots that she'd had cleaned yesterday. Four tunics followed the boots, and a comb, brush, and looking glass were not far behind. A bar of soapsand and a little bottle of sweet smelling lotion were stuffed in with her under things, all in good condition. With a family of merchants, her clothes were of the top quality weave, and in good condition.
Last of all was a roll of her favorite songs and the chords to them, including the new one she'd been copying before Perfran rudely interrupted her. She didn't own a lot of jewelry, and that was quickly packed under all the clothes in the secret pouch sewn into the carisak where all her marks were as well. And then she was finished.
She stared at her room, and somehow got the feeling she wouldn't be returning here. Whatever clothes she left her sister would be able to wear in a couple of Turns. It wasn't fair; Kendra thought wryly, that her eleven Turn sister was almost as tall as she herself was. At five foot one, Kendra wasn't very tall or imposing. She sighed and then left the room.
It was a tough good-bye, for Kendra truly felt she would no longer be part of the day-to-day life in the Ulric household. Her families cried, but were very supportive, and when she mounted on the gorgeous Meeth, she waved and then they were lifting off and going between.
"Welcome to Thread's End Weyr!" A'son announced as she helped her charge dismount. Kendra could only stare.
"Wow."
"It's sort of imposing the first time you come," A'son smiled. She motioned for the girl to follow her, and carisak in hand, Kendra followed the green rider. Meeth waited until they were a bit away before spreading her wings and taking off, heading for her mate's weyr.
A'son led her to a little barrack area not far from a place that smelled heavenly. A'son looked behind her at Kendra and grinned.
"These are the Candidates barracks. They're just like the Weyrling barracks except that the Weyrling barracks are bigger to accommodate the growing dragon whereas the Candidates barracks only accommodate the humans."
The candidates' barracks was actually two wings of buildings connected together by a hallway/lobby area. A'son led the way in and pointed to the left.
"Over in that wing is the girl's section. Over there," and she pointed to the right,
"That's the boy's wing, where those little terrors will stay for the three months. If you're not used to boy's antics, prepare yourself, though I don't think that'll be a problem for you. And in front of us," she gestured. "Is the CandidateMaster and Mistresses' quarters. They chaperone the candidates to make sure that they don't dally with each other," A'son informed Kendra gravely, knowing that after the scare today she'd appreciate it. Kendra did.
"But enough of that, let's get you settled into some quarters, and then I'll show you the kitchen and infirmary. Over here's the female bathrooms, there's several baths so a bunch of you can get a bathe at the same time but it also has partitions to give you some privacy as well. The boys have their own bathrooms so you don't meet up with them until chore and chow time."
"Wow."
That seemed to be the only word Kendra could come up with at the time, and A'son held back a laugh. It was a shock, but she wouldn't be surprised if Kendra took a few days for it all to sink in. With nearly three months to wait, she had all the time she needed and she wouldn't be rushed either.
"A'son!" a bright bubbly voice bounced along the corridors, and Kendra turned in some surprise as a blonde hurricane rushed toward them, stopping to stare in open curiosity at Kendra.
"Hello, Shauna," A'son greeted, keeping her mirth in check, feeling much better and at ease. Shauna would be perfect.
"Who's this? I'm Shauna, my father is a dragonrider, and I was Searched, were you Searched too? You must be, otherwise A'son wouldn't be bringing you here, unless you were a drudge, but then again, A'son doesn't really bother with the drudges unless she has to and she seems to like you," Shauna just babbled and Kendra's jaw was slack as she gaped at this creature before her.
Kendra's only thought at that moment was how she could talk so fast and so much in a single breath.
"Hey!" A'son protested, but she grinned, for it was truth. She didn't really bother with the help unless absolutely necessary.
"Shauna, this is Kendra, Meeth Searched her, and she's craftbred and needing a friend. Why don't you show her the ropes so I can give my mate a goodbye kiss?"
"Sure!" the blonde named Shauna beamed, and reached out to gather Kendra, who wore a bemused look upon her face.
A'son laughed again as Shauna tugged Kendra away, shaking her head, lips still smiling.
"Something tells me that is the start of a beautiful and unusual friendship," she mused before turning away to seek her mate. She didn't look back, knowing that the girl was in good hands.