StarlightHold5

Zearia happily greeted the young girl, "What is your name, dearest? I'm sure S'ron would have told me if he had time, but he had to rush back to the weyr."
"Xijiana," The young girl sighed.
"Well, Xijiana," Zearia said, then paused as her eyes glazed over slightly. "Lady Xijiana," She started again, "you should have plenty of time to enjoy the gather. Liazeth believes the eggs should not hatch until late this evening. I'd love to show you around, but Endoth has just informed that Haren and Laterira are about ready to introduce their new child."
Zearia smiled as she rushed over to Laterira and gently took the babe she held. Laterira smiled sweetly at Zearia as she wrapped her arms around her husband.
"Dearest, we're ready," Laterira whispered.
Haren kissed his wife and turned to the crowd, "Attention, Laterira and I have an annoucement that we have saved just in order to share it with all of you. We have decided on a name for our darling new daughter, and at this time, would like to ask J'gon and Zearia to become our daughter's Patronus."
Many people looked at Haren, puzzled looks plastering their faces. Laterira laughed, "Patronus means Protectors in one of the ancient languages. It basically means that Zearia and J'gon become like a second set of parents to our daughter."
Zearia smiled, "We gladly accept, Laterira, and will you please tell us the name of this child so we won't be calling her your daughter for the rest of her life."
Haren smiled, "It's unusual. We've decided to name her Tourmente."
"Tourmente," Karastan sighed as he grinned. "Snowstorm."
Zearia sighed as she handed Tourmente back to Laterira, "I'd love to stay, but..."
"Say no more, Zearia," Haren smiled. "Endoth told me you have to get back to the Weyr to collect the tithes," Haren whispered.
Zearia smiled as J'gon placed his hand on her shoulder, "Do you need a ride?"
"Nope, J'gon. Sorry to disappoint you," Kaira sighed as she and her fifteen year-old son Kairan strolled into the gather area. "S'ron sent me to get you. He says that Shen and Quiya are waiting for you. Wait, Aith said that he's going to bring Shen. We best go get Quiya. Aith says she's upset that he won't bring her, too."
Zearia shook her head, "You go on and get Quiya. I can collect the tithes tomorrow, and invite any of the people who are bringing the tithes to the gather."
"Zearia! The Weavers are here!" J'gon shouted. "Where should they set up?!"
"Wait! I'm coming!" Zearia shouted as Aith betweened above.
"Zearia!" S'ron exclaimed.
"IN A MINUTE, S'RON!!!!!!!" Zearia exclaimed as she rushed over to get the Weavers.
Suddenly, a brown betweened next to Aith. Aith bugled a welcome as S'ron helped Shenainoa off of Aith.
"T'lon, what are you doing here?" S'ron asked as he lended a hand to the young man who was deboarding T'lon's brown Eatanth.
"Dropping off this young one," T'lon laughed. "Can't stay though. Shame, too. Looks lovely."
"You best be at the next gather," S'ron laughed. "Be nice to catch up."
"Surely," T'lon sighed as Eatanth prepared to take off.
"Might want to back up," S'ron said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder as Eatanth launched into the air. "So, what's your story?" S'ron asked the young boy.
Tenshion, Aith sighed.
S'ron shook his head as Tenshion pointed to his rank knots, "Weaver, eh? Well, get on over there. Weyrwoman Zearia's welcoming the rest of the caravan now."
Tenshion rushed towards the caravan, and S'ron turned back to Aith who was looking strangly after Tenshion. S'ron smiled coyly, "Aith?"
It's nothing, S'ron. Nothing, Aith sighed, shaking his head.
"Should we go check to see how Quadora's doing? It's quite cold out here, and she only had that white whisp gown on. I swear that girl will catch her death of cold if she doesn't start to wear more," S'ron laughed as he boarded Aith.
S'ron, you forget that Quadora isn't a girl anymore. Besides, she has B'lor with her, and I'm sure that he would have another jacket with him. You know how he worries about her, Aith sighed as he started to launch into the air.
"You're right, Aith," S'ron sighed. "I keep forgetting that we've aged. I still feel like that straping young sixteen year old you Impressed."
Well, you may feel like it, but you certainly don't look like it, Aith snorted, and before S'ron could retrot, Aith launched himself into the sky.
As the pair glided towards Jade Skies Beach, S'rn spotted the figure of a young man walking along the beach. Unsure whether this boy was a candidate or not - F'gan, Morning Star's Jr. Searchrider, might have searched him - S'ron decided to watch from on high. S'ron instructed Aith to land on one of the few ridges that surrounded the beach. S'ron walked down the ledge. Both Liazeth and Quadora were asleep, not surprising considering that they had to sit on the beach while the other riders enjoyed the gather. The young man approached the eggs. S'ron began to fume. What right did this guy think he had to go anywhere near those eggs? But Aith cooed softly.
S'ron, I wonder..., Aith sighed.
"What, Aith?" S'ron asked as he tried to bit back his anger when the boy knelt and touched one of the eggs. "Trying to persude the creature in the shell, eh?" S'ron growled. "Want to Impress even though you aren't a candidate?"
He won't be for long, Aith sighed as he glided down into the bowl.
But, the boy had already gone. Took off like a shot when he heard the flapping of dragon's wings. S'ron made his way down the cliffside, his anger still urging to be released, "I can't believe some common holder just walked out onto the beach and touched one of the eggs! QUADORA!!!!" S'ron shrieked before Aith could stop him.
Quadora stirred and blinked as she looked up at S'ron's usual pleasant face twisted into a painful grimace, "S'ron, what's the matter?"
"WHAT'S THE MATTER! WHAT'S THE MATTER! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S THE MATTER!! A HOLDER WALKED ONTO THE SANDS AND TOUCHED ONE OF THE EGGS WHILE YOU GUYS WERE SLEEPING!!" S'ron shrieked.
S'ron! Aith exclaimed, adding a bulge to catch his rider's attention. That boy was not a holder! He was that Weaver whom we met today, and I was going to search him anyway so it doesn't matter that he touched the eggs!
S'ron cleared his throat and mumbled an apology to Quadora, explaining what Aith had just said. Then he turned and started back towards the hold. He guessed the eggs weren't going to hatch today. Thank Faranth. They didn't have enough candidates yet.

Continue...