"I don't know. Maybe a scout," replied Gwen, turning back. They grinned at each other. College scouts usually came for Runion, the goalie. She'd been playing Varsity for four years- she got moved up her freshman year, the first freshman to be on Varsity field hockey at Leonardtown in ten years. The glanced over their shoulders at their keeper. She was deep in conversation with Jill.
"Hey Runion! Is that one of your scouts?" Amanda looked up into the stands, but was soon distracted by the piercing blast of the whistle, and maniac cheers as their fans lept to their feet. They'd scored again. Boo shielded her eyes to see who'd gotten that goal- Jeanine was trotting back with the ball in her hand.
"Good job, Jeanine!" chorused the defense. Three short blasts from the ref's whistle signaled the end of the half. They jogged off the field, the supposed scout in the stands forgotten momentarily.
"Great job out there, girls! I'm so proud of you! We're up by seven at the half, so you can be expecting some changes in the positions. D, get ready to play some O," said Coach Bowling, laughing at the girls' cheers. The defense loved getting ahead- then they got a chance to try their luck at offense, and scoring a goal. Runion, for a goalie, was unusually good at attack. She had scored a goal her Junior year, and loved to play offense.
"Alright. Ali, you'll go in at mid for Allison...Amanda, go at attack for Kaitlin. Gwen, I want you to stay back just in case. And Ali, be ready to hustle back. Jill, I want you to go for Brooke. Alright girls, lets make things happen."
"Ohhh man, I was so close! So close!" laughed Boo as they walked off the field after the game. The stadium lights were on- the sun had finally set. Runion smiled smugly- she'd scored twice in the second half. That scout would be so impressed...Speaking of the scout...
He was walking right towards the group.
"Hello," he said softly. The group of eleven starters huddled closer to hear him speak. He looked way too young to be a scout for a college. He looked old enough to be in college. Coach Bowling loitered off to the side, glancing over periodically.
"Is that your coach, over there?" he asked quietly, gesturing towards her. The girls all leaned back, disappointed.
"Yeah, thats Coach Bowling. She's single, by the way!" called out Runion loudly. He smiled, and Coach Bowling blushed. The girls were always doing things like that. He walked over to her, and they began to talk. They talked for a long time, and they were still deep in conversation after the girls had gathered their things and headed towards the locker room. ON their way to the parking lot, the craned their necks to see- Coach was still in deep conversation with that strange man. How odd. What could they be talking about?
Bowling called a team meeting before school. Starters only. It was an emergency. They got together, rubbing eyes. It was funny how things worked- Bowling called the captains late last night on their cell phones. From there, a chain was set off. Captains text messaged the starters, who texted each other. Soon they all knew. Technology...wasn't it great?
Boo came running in. Late, as usual. She grinned, and breathlessly took a seat.
"What's up?" she called to Bowling. Before their coach could answer, there was a soft knock on the door. They all turned...it was that guy! They stared as he walked in, and he smiled at their faces. Gwen turned and gave Laura a Look. Laura winked and licked her lips. Oh yeah, he was a hottie.
Bowling crossed over to him, smacking Laura in the back of the head on the way. "Behave," she hissed with a grin.
"This is Mr. S'nan. He came from...Somewhere, and he'd like to talk to you girls. Now listen up, listen carefully. Give him your full respect. He has something very serious for you to consider. I called your parents, and they are coming to a meeting after school." The girls exchanged glances in alarm. What could this be about?
"Don't look so serious, girls," said Mr. S'nan with a grin. Dimples showed in both of his cheeks. Jeanine and Boo exchanged a glance. Boo fluttered her eyelashes and fanned herself with her hand. They giggled into their arms. Bowling sent them death stares. They stopped, and sat up straight, hints of smiles at the corner of their mouths.
"Anyway. Your Coach introduced me as Mister S'nan. Please, just S'nan is fine. Anyway, I have sort of a...well, a strange story. If you'll please open your minds...And we'll be going on a field trip today." He glanced at Bowling. The girls all turned their heads. A field trip? Bowling flushed.
"Of course, it is unauthorized...And if you can't possibly miss a class today, then you don't go..."
"Bowling! Are you authorizing us to skip today, Bowling?!" crowed Jeanine. She and Boo looked at each other, giant smiles on their faces. Brooke, the freshman, looked alarmed. Jill was leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. The rest of the girls exchanged looks, curious, their interest peaked. This was getting very interesting.
He spun a yarn, a whale of a tale, and all that stuff. It was a long story. About Dragons, and far off lands, and people who linked with dragons, and rode them, and flew... Kaitlin struggled to keep her eyes open. Allison and Bre were text messaging each other as he talked, frantically almost. Why they sat across the room from each other, nobody was really sure. Ina was listening intently, but her face never showed emotion. Brooke twirled her hair around her finger.
The bell for first period rang. The girls (and S'nan) glanced at Miss Bowling.
"Um...lets move this to the small auditorium," she said. She emailed the principal and let him know that her hockey team was having a meeting, and a guest speaker, and to please send a substitute, and not let anyone in the small auditorium. He said that was fine, and so they went downstairs.
He continued his speech. Finally, during third period, he finished.
"Questions?" he asked. Hands shot up. He and Miss Bowling looked at each other and smiled. Bowling stepped forward.
"Before we answer questions. Lets go on our field trip. That might answer some questions. Now is there anyone who cannot go?" The girls looked around. Nobody said anything.
"Alright, lets go."
They trooped outside, and walked to the parking lot. There was a bus, waiting. They looked at Bowling. She just smiled and shrugged. They climbed in, and someone asked where they were going.
"Dorsey Park," replied Bowling. They looked at each other. Dorsey Park? What could be there that would answer their questions?
They arrived, and they peered out the windows. They trooped off, and Bowling told the driver she'd call him later. When he was out of sight, they all walked...towards the nature trail? What was going on???
"Don't be scared. He's big, but he won't hurt you." They looked at each other nervously. S'nan glanced into the forest, and slinking from out of the trees...how such a huge creature got in there, they didn't know...but there he was...A giant Blue beauty. The girls gasped.
"Oh my god hes GORGEOUS!" squealed Brooke. They all turned and looked at her, wide-eyed. She was usually so quiet. Brooke ran forward to stroke his shimmery blue hide, and then they all rushed forward. The dragon crooned, and Bowling laughed.
"Does this answer a lot of your questions?" They all stared at him wide-eyed, and nodded.
"So girls. You have a huge decision to make. Because Gerreth here thinks you'd all...ALL of you...make wonderful candidates to Bond. And the thing is... You'd be away for a really long time. I mean it. This is a huge job, being a Dragoner. I mean, no college. No more field hockey...here, at least. Your family wouldn't be able to visit you very often, unless you do bond and are willing to come pick them up...secretly. Its a huge decision. You'll have to think about it. You've got till the end of the week. Then we'll have a meeting with you and your parents to discuss it. The meeting tonight is for me and S'nan to describe everything we just told you to them. And for the rest of today...S'nan and Gerreth will be taking you two-by-two to Keandyn Isle, S'nan's home, so you can see the dragons and see how things work. The rest of us...are going to practice." The girls groaned sarcastically. And so they went.
Two by two they disappeared with S'nan and Gerreth...and two by two they came back absolutely glowing, and overflowing with tales of their experiences...in the hour and a half they spent there. Towards lunchtime, Bowling ordered pizzas for them all. S'nan enjoyed it. They laughed as he tried it tenderly, and then exclaimed that they'd have to bring some back home with them.
At the end of the day, they returned to the school, tired, excited, and sunburnt. They chattered nonstop, and gathered in the auditorium to listen to what Bowling told their parents.
It was basically the same speech as before. The parents asked bazillions of questions, and they were assured over and over that their children would be kept safe. Really, it was like going to college....sort of... and they'd all have each other...depending on which place they decided to go to. There were several possibilities. Finally the parents were satisfied.. Amazingly, they all agreed. They were standing around, talking excitedly (even the parents thought it was exciting!) when S'nan came up and grabbed Boo.
"I noticed...well, Gerreth noticed as well... That you were talking with a guy before your game. Who was that? A friend? Relative?" She smiled.
"Oh, that was my boyfriend Brian. Isn't he wonderful? We've been dating for a year and a half. That's a long time in high school, don't you think?" He smiled at her happiness and agreed.
"Yes, and a separation like this would maybe cause some problems, yes?" A pained look came to her face.
"We haven't discussed it yet together, privately. He's over there with mom and dad. I told him to come." She waved her cell phone with a smile. S'nan put his hand on her shoulder gently and looked into her blue eyes with his deep chestnut ones.
"What if I told you that he can come too? Gerreth thinks he'd make..." But she was jumping up and down, and running across the room into Brian's arms before he could finish his sentence. He rolled his eyes with a laugh. Well, this was going to be exciting...For everyone.
It was time for them to depart. They all showed up with suitcases, small ones though. And each had a hockey stick. There was no way they would stop playing the game. And they had enough for a full team...except...
"I'm not going," said Ina. They all gaped at her. She was always so exciting, always willing to try something new...out of everyone on the team, they never would have expected INA to not want to go. But then again...she didn't have much school spirit, or team unity...
"I just don't think that's right for me. I don't think I'd be able to care for another being that much...For the rest of my life, you know? Plus, I like it here. I don't want to leave. But I'll come visit, of course I will," she added hurridly.
So it was a sad goodbye. Yes, they were excited, scared, nervous, giddy...But they were sad, as well. They hugged parents, siblings, friends...And two by two, they climbed onto Gerreth's back, and off they went.
They all explored Droethia Labyrinth when they first arrived, and then they gathered together in the sunlight, huddled in a small group, waiting for S'nan. They smiled when they saw him coming. He smiled, opened his arms wide in a gesture of welcoming. Behind him trotted a redheaded woman. Boo stared. The girls and Brian looked back and forth between the two of them, wide-eyed.
"Wow," burst out Amanda, "She could be YOU in ten years!" Everyone laughed sort of nervously. The lady grinned bigger.
"Welcome to Droethia!" she exclaimed happily. "My name is Waeswen Litha. We have prepared a banquet ball in your honour tonight. This is the Labyrinth's resident tailor, Sysa." A short, stocky woman with black hair tied into a tight bun stepped around from Litha smiling jovially. "She will be fitting you all with some nice dresses for the evening- unless you brought your own?" She glanced around, smiled at their expressions. She clapped Sysa on the back.
"Alright, get to it. Banquet starts at LurSet. I'll see you ladies- and gentleman- there." She turned and walked briskly away. As soon as she was out of earshot, Sysa looked the girls up and down.
"I'll start with the gentleman. Followed by you two, then you two, then you two, you two, and then you two last." She pointed her pointer and middle fingers at two girls at a time. Then she grabbed Brian by the arm, and dragged him into the nearest entrance to the Labyrinth. They laughed at the expression on his face.
"So what colour do you perfer, love?" asked Sysa happily. She held out cloths dyed different shades. Boo was the last to be fitted, and they only had a few hours left. She feared she would not get a dress!
"I've always liked pink," she said shyly. The woman smiled, bounced away, and returned with an armful of pink shaded cloths.
"Any shade in particular?" Boo laughed, and said, "I changed my mind, is that alright? Green instead. Green goes well with my hair." Sysa grinned bigger.
"Oh yes, most definately. Miss Litha wears green a lot to formals. It looks wonderful on her, so I imagine it will look fabulous on you as well." She brought out an armload of greens, and Boo chose a dark forest green. Sysa placed the cloth down, ran into a small room, and returned with a book.
"Choose your design!" Boo flipped through pages and pages of dresses before finally choosing one. She handed the book to Sysya, who barely glanced at it before whisking Boo away to be measured.
The girls were all in a Hollow dressing, and fixing each others' hair. They were having a blast! LaLa and Gwen had met some young men who they were meeting at the banquet, and they were describing them to anyone who would listen. Brooke was seated on a low stool, Bre behind her doing her hair. Behind Bre stood Allison, her hair already in a curly updo, braiding Bre's hair with a swift and masterful hand. Boo was struggling with her own long, straight locks, trying to get them to curl-without the use of a curling iron.
"AUGH!" she cried out. Amanda was nearly in tears with laughter.
"It's not gonna work! Do something else!" she gasped. Boo made a face, and proceeded to whip it up into a high bun, letting loose ends fall around and frame her face gently. Kait leaned against a wall, twirling a strand of long black hair around her finger. Jill came out of the bathroom, grumbling, holding her flowy skirts up as she walked.
"What shoes are we supposed to wear?" she asked grumpily. Everyone stopped, pondering.
"Good question..." said Amanda. Jeanine came bursting through a door, arms wide open, head tilted back, eyes shut tight, singing at the top of her lungs, "My girlfriend! My dumb donut!..." Boo grinned, spun around, and grabbed Jeanine's arm. "Went to a party just the other night!" They laughed, and the other girls shook their heads.
"Shoes!" said LaLa with an eyeroll.
"Oh yeah," said Kait. "S'nan said he went back to our homes to get some stuff. Maybe that's what he's getting." The girls looked at Kait.
"Thanks for telling us earlier!" said Bre with a laugh. As if on cue, there came a knock on the door. Boo, wearing only her underclothes, squealed and scurried from the room. So did Brooke. The door opened gently, and in walked S'nan, carrying a gigantic box. He dumped it on the floor- dozens of shoes came tumbling out.
"I visited each of your homes and asked your families for help. They gave me all of your favourite shoes...and I have other boxes of clothes, and accessories too. I hope you can find what you need." He smiled, and hurried out of the room. The girls started to seperate their shoes into piles, trying various ones with their dresses.
Finally, they were all dressed, hair done, and shoes on. They filed one by one out of the room, smiling, gossiping. LaLa and Gwen met up with their male companions, Boo linked arms with Brian, and they all hurried to the great Main Ballroom.
At the Banquet, they ate, they danced, they mingled. There was a surprise- Litha had arranged for representatives from every place she could contact to come and talk to the girls. By the end of the night, they had all decided where they wanted to Stand. Bre, Brooke and Allison decided to try their luck at Blue Sky Weyr. Jill decided to try at Enzan Shi Deragonray. Kait decided, after visiting with everyone twice, to go to Moon-Struck Lair. LaLa and Gwen were attracted to the brilliant colours of the dragons at Serpent's Reach. And finally, Boo, Brian, Jeanine and Amanda all decided to go together as a group to Ryslen.