Kyana sat on the top of the fire mountain, away from the people and dragons. She stared out at the setting sun, her chin resting on her knees. A small silver tear fell onto the stone she was sitting on. Skya, the small green firelizard chirped, concerned. Kyana's small white hand reached out and stroked Skya's eyeridge.
"I know, it's been turns. Ten, actually, since they died. Ten turns today. It seems like its been so long. Oh well. We oughta go in, don't ya think?" She stood, her auburn curls bouncing. She wiped her eyes and remembered.
"Mummy! There's a big blue thing outside!" shouted Kyana. Kyana ran to her mother, long auburn curls bouncing around her chubby seven year old face. She jumped into her mother's arms, kissing the woman all over her face.
"Its the sky, Ky," said her mother with a grin.
"No-o-o-o! Mummy, its got wings and teef! An' there's a man! He was ridin' on it! Come 'n see! Come on, mummy!" Kyanna dragged her mother out front. As soon as Valen laid eyes on the blue dragon in front of the house, she screamed and dragged little Kyana inside. Little Kyana had no idea what was going on. She whimpered, and began crying. Valen dragged her daughter through their home, stopping to pick up Kyana's younger brother, Giden. Valen took the kids down into the cellar, and hid in the darkness. Kyana didn't understand anything that was going on.
"Mummy...What's wrong? Why...why ca-ca-ca-can't I go suh-see that blue thing? Mummy, I wanna see the dwagon!" Kyana dissolved into sniffles and sobs, but her tears dried up. Valen hugged her children close to her. She was terrified in her heart of dragons. Her father had been a bluerider, and she was terrified to death of that dragon. Valen detected a loud knocking on the door. She hugged her children tighter, causing Giden to start crying. Valen rocked him, trying to shush him. The door opened, and heavy footsteps echoed above them.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you! I just came to tell you that there's a forest fire in the forest around you...You should get out now. I can take you on my Dragon if you'd like...Hello? Okay, I'm leaving now... Don't stay here..." The footsteps exited the door, and Valen sighed. She believed the dragonrider, about the fire. She worried about her oldest son, who was out somewhere with his father. She took her children back upstairs, and out the front door. She looked around, and saw smoke rising above the treeline.
"Oh goodness. Oh dear. Kyana, sweetie?" Valen kneeled down, face to face with her young daughter. Kyana looked up with large, trusting blue eyes. Valen placed the six year old Giden on the grass, and reached out to pull Kyana's hair back into a ponytail.
"Baby, I need you to listen very closely to Mommy. Take Giden, and go that way. You know where the road is?" Kyana nodded solemnly. "Okay, good. You take your brother and go straight there. Don't turn around. You're a big girl, you turned seven two sevendays ago. Okay? I'm going to meet you there after I get your father and older brother. I love you, sweetie. Give mommy a kiss, and I'll see you in a few candlemarks. Okay? I love you, baby." Valen planted a kiss on top of Kyana's head, and kissed Giden on both cheeks. Kyana grasped Giden's hand, and the two started off together. Tears filled Valen's eyes. She figured she would never see her youngest children again. She turned and ran towards the fire, calling for her husband, her hand on her pregnant belly, praying for her unborn child.
Kyana sat at her small wooden table, sipping a mug of klah. Skya perched beside her, watching her with concerned eyes.
"That was the last time I saw them. If it wasn't for Aunt Alin...I don't know. What'ya think? You wanna go for a walk?" Skya chirped and perched on Kyana's shoulder. Kyana grabbed a cloak and walked out the door.
Later that evening, Kyana was walking in the woods, thinking. Skya was sitting quietly, letting Kyana think. Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind that sent Kyana's auburn curls flying, and sent Skya tumbling from Kyana's shoulder, shrieking. Kyana ducked behind a tree, shutting her eyes to prevent dust from getting in her eyes. After a moment, the winds died down. Kyana ventured her head around the tree. She saw a small green crumpled heap and ran to it, hoping it wasn't Skya. It was.
"Skya, you okay?" The small green flit stood up, shook the dust from her scales and began chattering in anger and annoyance. Kyana laughed and hugged the flit, which was very awkward. Then, she turned to see what had made the wind.
A giant blue dragon had landed in a clearing. It was looking back at a young man climbing from his back.
"Wow..." whispered Kyana. She stared at the dragon in awe. She stepped forward from the trees into the clearing. The young man, very handsome now that she could see him, spotted Kyana and grinned a lopsided grin. He had strawberry blonde hair, and olive skin. Kyana smiled shyly.
"Hello, young lady. I am T'kel, rider of Blue Darrieth. May I ask your name?" Kyana smiled wider as he bowed. The blue dragon behind him snorted. Kyana stifled a laugh.
"I am Kyana, of Keandyn Weyr. Is there a reason why you landed in this clearing, in the middle of the forest?" She saw T'kel's blue-geen eyes shift to Darrieth, and then beck to her.
"My lifemate seemed to think it would be a good idea to come down here. He is a Search Dragon, you know." Kyana gulped. She gazed at the dragon, wondering what he was thinking.
"Why...why do y' think he wanted to come down here? There's nobody around..." T'kel's eyes seemed to be looking far off into the distance, and Kyana knew he was communicating with Darrieth. T'kel and the dragon both looked at her. Kyana felt something...she didn't know how to describe it. There was a slight pressure in her forehead, and her mind seemed crowded at once, but it was gone in less than a second.
"You want a ride?" asked T'kel with a glint in his eye. Kyana looked at the sky, figuring she had time enough for a quick soar through the skies.
"Okay," she said with a shrug. T'kel lifted himself onto the dragon, and pulled her up behind him. Kyana gripped the Blue's neck as they soared up into the sky. Skyra followed, whipping her wings as fast as she could. Kyana closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as smoky blackness surrounded her. When they exited the between, Kyana opened her eyes to her first sight of Dragon Soul Weyr.