He had always known that the children from Cliffs Depth would impress sooner or later, not because he was arrogant of the quality of weyrbrats at the Weyr he searched for, but because he was who he was. Tall with slightly thinning dark brown hair and gentle brown eyes, he looked over at where the brown dragon Torth sunned himself on the ledge and frowned. The Weyr was equipped with two Head riders and four search riders for they often took it upon themselves to search for other Weyrs. After all, they were a community- and lucky for them, the location of the Weyr was such that thread it not fall as often as it might have. This led to the overall feeling of prosperity, and it was this that had him frown.
He was frankly, bored.

It had been almost four sevendays since he had actually searched anything, be it girl or boy and he took his position seriously enough that he was starting to wonder at his adequacy. Surely, a search rider wasn’t supposed to go for so long without… well, searching.

You worry way too much, rider. Torth said gently, causing G*bar to look up with a quick frown. You must have patience

G*bar snorted at that, and shaking his head chuckled. “Look whose talking.” Saying this gently, he walked over to where the aging brown lay and rubbed at the hide until a purr like noise seemed to emit from the warm length.

Well, it is true but--- Torth paused suddenly, and sniffing the air he stood up. It was odd how some dragons seemed to search, Torth in particular because he seemed to smell the scent like some type of potent soap. He was usually very precise as well, so when his eyes swirled with confusion, G*bar looked up anxiously.

“Well?”

We’re either being rewarded for the wait… or we’ve got one huge candidate on our hands.

By the time G*bar had arrived at the inn the tension was so thick that he could almost chew it. Clearing his throat, the people paused to give him a pausing glance. Looking up at seeing someone who seemed to wield authority, he coughed even loudly.

“Yes?” seeing his rank, she seemed to soften. “Search rider?”

“I’m uh…” no matter how many times he did this, it never go any easier. “I’m uh…here on a search-riding mission…”

“Here? At Dragons’ Fly?” at the name he smiled slightly and she laughed. “Aye, we have an Albright unusual name…” pausing, she looked over and shrugged. “As is custom, I’ll have everyone out of here soon.”

It was sooner said then done.

Taking about the majority of four candle marks to arrange everyone, Torth began to pace with agitation as they did so. The first people the brown seemed to point out where two twins, so completely unalike and yet two he recognized from the Weyr. He smiled privately- they were fitting green riders those two, and he knew that if Jintha and Beena didn’t bring more dragons to Cliffs Depth, they would at least bring life.
He was slightly disgruntled when Torth stood by the three youths, for while he knew that Kamar had a bit of a bronze rider in him –those arrogant fools- Dustan had seemed to quiet for a rider, more like a smith and Duvan too dangerous. He had seen what the youth could do with his fists, and him on a dragon… while he was too serious for a blue, a bronze would be too dangerous.
At the choosing of Kavan, he almost laughed when he extended the invitation for Kavan was a blue rider as they came- although he wouldn’t be surprised if the boy impressed a green. There was something fitting about him for that role. He wasn’t prepared for Kavan’s sister however, for while she accepted with that dazed look of glee, the mood seemed to grow sober as if something important had taken place.
When the drudge was searched, the adoration in her eyes towards Kista rather disgusted him. He was old fashioned enough that while Koomi was intelligent, he still didn’t like the idea of a drudge becoming a rider. Due to her fixations, he imagined her as a green rider… although he would be surprised if she would impress at all.
The female couple who watched him with amused eyes amused him in turn, for while he was old fashioned, he held nothing against those who found companionship within their own gender. He found it rather sweet, and while Dahn’s strong character imagined a brown into existence, the shy startling eyes of Kooska had him in mind of a green.
As he watched Kista be searched by Torth personally, he had to grin with pride. It didn’t matter what this young daughter impressed, for while she was still immature, the first founding of her mother’s personality was strong within her. He didn’t know what to expect with Mitar however, for the quiet goth like character didn’t seem to suit any of the traditional colors… and he refused to think of the more untraditional kinds either.

“Is that all?” he asked quietly, for he had on his hands twelve candidates. Twelve! They were a watchful, and yet Torth seemed undecided as he shook his head.

Maybe it is wrong but… it will never hurt.

It still surprised him to no end when Torth looked towards the slightly mute child. She had all the physical capabilities, and she was able to speak. Training may rid her of the problem of speech- however he hesitated due to the childish aura about her.
He was even more surprised however, when the older woman and the older man were search. He wasn’t as surprised as they were, for they tried to refuse, knowing their age made things untraditional… however Torth seemed to stick by his response, and he knew that in their hearts, they were proud.
The woman seemed like a fine brown rider, and at the same time, the man seemed to be a paradox for he appeared so disgruntled about it all- it was too amusing.

“Well.” He said finally. “Fifteen candidates.” He shot Torth a grin. “Remind me to never complain about the lack of searching…” he chuckled. “Because we still have that spark…” rubbing his hands together, he grinned. “Welcome candidates… welcome to Cliffs Depth. Tomorrow, I shall show you to your designated Weyrs” for they had no clutch of their own. “and we’ll see what the future brings, hmm?”

Oh boy, the Weyrwoman had her work cut out for her to find all these their befitting Weyrs.

***

Seperate Stories