My name? I guess I haven't thought of that in ages. Its Sirriol. No, not Serriol, but Cereal. Most people pronounce it right when I say it to them, but when its written down? Nah, they always get it wrong.
I'm exactly 16, tall, blonde, and beautiful, and everyone worships me.
Hah, I wish. I'm exactly the oppisite of all that.
Some people, catagorize us women, into three bits. The tall, blonde and beautifuls, the mousy, quiet ones who are very smart, or the hot tempered lasses. I don't fall into any catagory. So what does that make me? A man? Alot of women don't fall under those types. So I call them -us- the Genderless. No body knows, except perhaps a couple of my friends.
I'm short for my age, 5"2, with a lazy body. I don't mean I'm fat, I just mean I don't have the flat stomach, trim thighs, and flabless arms. I've got a longer torso then legs, my stomach's reasonably flat, but its still got a outward appearance. My arms are short, not so that its noticable, but when other people wear my clothes? My sleeves end three/fourths down their arms. They aren't flabby, but they could be firmer. Same thing with my legs. They bounce when I walk! On top of all that, I've got a chest flatter then my mom's washing board!
My feet are narrow, and small, and I used to have a serious... well, smell. But we've got that covered. So don't run away! Honest, you can smell them if you want! My hands are small, with long fingers, and nails which are either chipped, or cut so short, they hurt! Its not my fault, I have weak nails...
My face, is sort of round, I've got huge cheeks when I smile, and I've got that little bit on the side of my lips, that sometimes make me look like a animal. I don't have a double chin, except when I'm lying down, or yawning, and even thats only a little. My necks fine though, its not long and graceful, and it isn't short and stumpy, just in the middle.
I've got dark eyebrows, which my friend helps to keep in a nice shape. I really like my eyebrows. You can never go wrong with them. (Except, if you lean into a flame, and they get burnt off) My eyes are normal shaped, their not slanted, or large, just normal. With long eyelashes. Well, long in a way, that I can sort of close my eyes, to try and peek a look at stuff, and no one notices! My eyes are a dark green, and normal enough, except my brothers say they turn really evil when I glare, and sparks shoot out of them. Do they really?
My hair is shoulder length long, and straight, with not bangs, but cut so that it frames my face kind of. Its cut around my face, so it I let it loose, it falls to frame it. Its a dark brown color, but I learn how to dye it with my friends, so its go yellow, light brown, streaks in it, and one pink one. I don't know how that happened. I guess I swapped dyes with a friend or something.
Mom's always telling my to work out more, but its such a bother! I guess I sound typical, but I absolutly HATE working out, running, swimming, etc. Ok, I don't hate it, but I'm so bad at it! And they always compare me to my brothers and sisters. For some reason, they just had to turn out perfect from birth.
I sound grumpy, and like I always see the glass as half empty. But I'm not. I haven't got a cheerful personality, I don't really like 100% cheerful people. They make me feel really... bad, and they look all fake. I get along with people, but I like my own company. I don't like to get mad at people, and fight, but when I start, I find it hard to stop. And I hate apoligizing. And just because people know that, they think that their so great when I DO apoligize to them. What snobs!
I do my own share of kind deeds, but I'd rather sit down with a good book on my bed, with my mom's apple pie next to me. It makes me sound mean, but I don't like being around people who have less then me. I feel real bad, and I don't know how to help them. Oh sure, we're helping them out and all, but I feel like I should do more, and that makes me feel real bad, because nothing I do with good intentions ever works out.
I'm not dumb, but I'm not smart. I'm in the middle. I work better with things I like and believe in, but whenever I study, I seem to forget more. So I try to work with my friends. Not that it helps. We usually study for a tiny bit of a candlemark, then we talk about everything else! I don't know how we get so side tracked.
I'm one of those people, who you don't really notice at first, because of everyone else, but when you do, its like, your eyes slide over me, and to the next person, only to realise there was someone there. Then, curious why you ignored me, you talk to me. I'm that sort of person. I make jokes, but I'm usually very sarcastic.
But enough about me. I should tell you about my family. It gets quite complicating, but its really simple. You see, my grandfather, was the only child of two couples. His parents died when he was 20, and he married, his wife giving birth to my father. Then his wife died, and he remarried when my father was 18, and his new wife gave him a daughter, but what he didn't know, was that this daughter of his, wasn't really his daughter. You get it? He only found out after the wife commited suicide. My father, fell in love with the girl, and they married. They in turn, gave birth to my older sister, and then my older brother, but my sister ran off at the age of 16, to this scholar, who was three times her age. My brother stayed, and married a young woman. But all was not good. Because my father's wife died, and my father started to eye the young woman. He got her pregnant, and she tried to pass the child off as my brothers. But she couldn't because my brother was impotent. But my brother loved her, and they still live together. They gave birth to me. So my father, is really my father, but my mother, is really my sister in law, and so on. My father remarried, and got his wife pregnant, and they had twins, -male and female- and one more daughter. My brother and my mother -sister in law- adopted a male child. My father's wife realised she loved someone else, left my father, and my father turned gay. So I've got two brothers, and two sisters on my fathers side, and I've got one sister on my mothers side, does that make sense at all? It does, if you think about it for awhile. So when I say mom, I mean my sister in law, and when I saw dad, I mean my dad.
We live in Vella Crean. Known as the VC, to some of the locals. Dad thought he might be able to find a job here, and he has high hopes. Since this place is new, they need alot of people. And he did find a job. In a way that is. He's one of those people, who take care of the crops and the animals that come in for the VC. I don't know the name of them, but its a good job. We eat with the others, and sometimes, get caught to do little jobs, but basically, life is good here. We've been giving a small place, just infront of the lake, on the side of the crater. Its made out of rock, basically, likes a cave hollowed out, with extra walls fitted into it. Its really nice. We've got four bedrooms, one for my father and his friend, one for my brother and mother and their daughter, another one for my twin siblings, and sister, and one for me! I get my very own room! But its the tiniest, no bigger then a... well, I can barely fit a cot, closet, a chair, and a couple of nice rugs. But its mine, and I like it. Too bad no one else agrees with me. They call it a smelly old dump. But hey, its my opinion that really counts!
Friends... I have friends, but not alot of people live here. A few candidates for the sands at the VC are nice, and some riders, but friends.... its quite hard to make friends at the moment. I'm not sure _why_ exactly, but it is. Theres a guy I know, named Krito. He's really nice. Strange as well. He got shipped off to become a candidate. Now I don't think anyone my age still lives in this world.
******
Sirriol looked up, irritated, as two identical siblings walked into her room. Their dark brown hair, both cut to shoulder length, made their puny little faces look smaller, as their black eyes stared up at her, from within their tiny, pale faces.
"What do you want this time Ristor, and Yilan? Didn't I take you to see the dragons just awhile ago? Your 12 now, can't you do anything by yourself?"
Ristor, the female twin, started to whimper, and Yilan pouted. Both turned to each other, as if talking, and turned back to her.
"But Sirriol, we're hungry."
Yilan asked, in his silkiest of voices.
Sirriol shoved away the binded scroll, and stared back from the covers of her blanket. As she saw, that the twins wouldn't budge, she cleared her throat and asked.
"What about dad?"
Ristor stuck her tounge out, from the memory.
"He's busy chasing after this male rider, and using our sister Tiyla as bait. Just because she's eight and still cute, but she looks just like us!"
She whined.
Sirriol groaned.
"What about your brother?"
Yilan grinned.
"The last time I saw him, Irstan, was busy drooling after your mom. Frista is asleep by the way, we checked on her. She sleeps alot for being 5."
Sirriol moaned, and threw her blanket over her head.
"Go by yourself. I'm not coming out."
Grinning slyly, Ristor made her way forward, and started to nudge her sister with her hands.
"Come on Sirriol, besides, you can go and see those riders you've been admiring. And they say that a rider from Talor Cliff is arriving. You know how you've always admired their dragons and all...."
Sirriol bolted upright from the bed, and looked at her sister in the eye, with a very suspicious look in her eye.
"You said that the last three times we went out, and before that, only dad knows how many times."
Sighing, she kicked her legs over to the side of the bed, and shuddered, as they touched the cold floor. Searching almost blindly for the fluffy slippers, she sighed as Yilan reached for them, and grinned gratefully.
"I'll come with you this time, but this is the last time. I might not be some important... Harper, but I do have my work."
Yilan tossed her the slippers, and snorted.
"Yeah, writing in that stupid 'diary' of yours. Just because the Weyrwoman from Istabitha's found a rider to teach you to read and write. You haven't taught any of us, and you always keep everything to yourself. Its not like any of the rest of us can read."
Sirriol smiled patiently.
"I'll teach you after I finish up writing."
Getting up, she reached for a cotton robe, and wrapped it around her. Pushing the twins all but roughly out the doorway, she called out.
"Just give me a while to change, then I'll go with you."
Sighing, she searched for a plain white cotton shirt, sleeveless, with thick straps, and a plain dark brown skirt, that came down to about ankle length. Tying her hair back from her face, she pulled out a few strands to frame her face. Pulling out a pair of worn out shoes, she slipped them on and followed the twins outside.
******
Well, we saw the dragons. Ristor wasn't lying this time. Are they pretty are what? We went down, and I got the twins something to eat. -I swear, they eat so much, but where does it all go? Its just not fair! And I'm the one that loves to eat!- There was a green rider, just visiting. She herself, was alright. Not the prettiest person I know, but she looked so happy. Yilan went up to her, and asked her if we could see her dragon. She was nice enough to agree! -I've got to take him along, where ever I go now.-
The green ignored us half the time, but she was really pretty. I guess I don't know how to explain it. All dragons are different, but there was something about this one, which I really liked.
******
"Sirriol!"
Walking slowly towards her mother, she glanced back to see Tiyla running towards her. Grinning, she leaned down and picked her up.
"What is it Tiyla?"
"Da wants to talk to you about something."
Sirriol frowned.
"What could be so important? Tell him I'm coming though, okay?"
Tiyla nodded, and ran off. Sirriol paused on her steps, and thought for awhile. Shrugging, she retraced her steps, and followed her sister.
"Da?"
She called out.
Her father turned slowly, and beamed at his daughter. At his side, was a young, black haired woman, with dark, striking blue eyes. She grinned.
"Are you Sirriol?"
Sirriol nodded hesitantly.
"Who are you?"
The girl smiled warmly, and stuck out a hand.
"Call be Mara."
She winked.
"Long story. I'm here because m--, erm... Naeodin called me. She says that her dragon has been going through strange moods. I have to take you to her."
And she flicked one finger, as if she was ticking off a list.
"And another male. She treats me like a messenger..."
The girl grumbled.
Sirriol eyed her warily, which made her laugh. Smiling, Sirriol turned to her father.
"Can I go?"
Mara beamed.
"I already got his permission. Come with me! Sasiath -thats the Weyrwoman's dragon- is about to rise, and she is prone to so many mood attacks."
*******
Sirriol looked up nervously at the queen. The queen was bright, and looked... scary. It wasn't her fault she was scared! She had, after all, heard this queen screaming from the other end of the VC, called for them. Great mental power, or what?
Mara approached her easily, and grinned. Making her way towards her, she pulled Sirriol along, and beamed.
"It took me a while, but I found her, what do you need her for?"
******
You cannot believe what has happened to me!!!!!! It seems that at Talor Cliff, there has been a huge clutch, laid by seven queens. Seven Queens And its a secret. So shush! But anyway -I am so excited, can I manage to write this all down?- it seems that all that, is all that they will tell me. It seems, that there is something going on in this planet, and stuff, which won't be revealed to me, no matter how much I poke and prod.
The other male hasn't been found yet. But who originally approached Sasiath, are three search riders. They all came together for some reason, -secrets... I love secrets, as long as I know what they are about- and something happened, which got Sasiath searched through Istabitha and Vella Crean for the candidates suited, and there are two of us! Well, on from Istabitha and Vella Cfean. That guy somehow got within range of Sasiath, and she liked him. They say he's from a different planet. And Mara has to track him down!
Ooh boy, do I feel bad for her. We've grown quite close. Did you know, she is the daughter of Naeodin and B'nir? But enough of her. So, they thought that... now be prepared for this. I was a good candidate and that they thought I was a 'right' candidate for the eggs!
Talor Cliff eggs! Me! I can't wirte any more. I swear, if I do, I will tear this page in half! I told my parents and everyone, and they are as excited for me, as I am excited for myself!
******
Sirriol hummed, as she packed her bags. She stopped, danced, and packed. She just couldn't concentrate! Sighing, frustrated, she looked down in dismay at the clothing she had packed. All this in half a day? Where has the time gone? Closing her eyes, her mouth turned up, into a huge smile, as she started to giggle. It had been a sevenday, and she still couldn't believe it.
