Candidate Aeveen

Aeveen smiled and tucked a strand of his chin length reddish hair behind his ear. He picked up the hide he'd been working on and held it up. On it was a seemingly irregular pattern of ink dots...but to him it was Kiem. He could make out her head...her beautiful wings...her strong tail. He smiled again, rolled it up and tucked it in his belt. He grabbed his distance viewer, his most prized possession...he'd gotten it a sevenday ago on his 15th birthing day, and ran out of his room.

He stopped by the kitchen and let his mother know he'd be out until nearly dawn again, then kissed her cheek and left the hold. His family lived in a small mining hold, though that didn't stop him from pursuing his own choice of career in the starcraft. His parents encouraged him...even though his father had wanted him to become a miner as well...but he'd stopped trying when Aeveen showed absolutely no interest.

Aeveen climbed up the rock face behind his hold, careful not to damage his distance viewer. Once at the top he looked at the wall of blackish stone if front of him. He set down his things and pulled out the hide, opening it and glancing first at the wall, then at the hide.

"This spot should do nicely. Kiem...go get the first bucket..." He waited until she was gone, then spread his drawing on the ground near the wall, placing small rocks on it to keep it flat. When his flit returned with the first bucket of white wash he picked up the brush and looked at the wall.

"H'mmm...I think...the first one should be about...here..." He made a large splotch on the cliff face. Another glance at the diagram...another mark on the wall. When he could no longer reach to make his marks, Kiem took the brush and he directed her to the correct points.

It was half a candlemark after dusk when Aeveen was finally finished...and he sent Kiem back to the hold with the empty buckets. He picked up his viewer and his hide, and climbed down again. Across the small field was another small cliff. Aeveen ran towards it and climbed it as well, making himself comfortable where he had a perfect view of the cliff face he'd just finished.

He took his viewer out of it's case and held it up to his eye. He scanned the sky quickly, then focused his attention on the cliff. He adjusted the lenses a little, then grinned. The cliff blended in with the sky when it was dark...and the white slpotches still stood out in the early evening darkenss.

"Look Kiem..." he showed her a mental picture of what he was seeing. "That's what you would look like if you were a constallation..." The blue-green flit spread her wings and chittered excitedly, making Aeveen laugh. She liked it too. The two stayed there, looking at the stars and Kiem's temporary constallation until early morning, when they snuck back into the hold. The white wash would come off when it rained...it would be such a shame to lose all that work...but...he could always make another one.

Aeveen closed the door to his room quietly and stripped off his clothes before he slid into bed. He'd have to get up early to help out in the field...so that meant he'd only get a few hours sleep. Shards...that meant no star gazing tomorrow night. He was asleep minutes after that decision.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yes...he is here. I don't know where he is...you'll have to go find him...No no...he's inside. Go on...he is here. I'm not wrong.

"I never said you were my friend." V'tar patted Morineth on the shoulder, then headed for the hold. He was greeted enthusiastically...and almost dragged inside. When he asked if they had a son...the woman who'd brought him in let out a shrill yell, then waited quietly.

Aeveen grumbled to himself as he got out of bed. He'd probably slept in...even though it hadn't helped. He wondered what punishment he'd recieve this time. He dressed quickly and hurried downstairs. He braced himself for a scolding, but it never came.

"Aeveen, this is Searchrider V'tar from White River Weyr." His mother turned to look at the Dragonrider again..."Was it him?"

Aeveen waited staring at V'tar...who was most likely conversing with his dragon. Had they really come here for him? Impressing a dragon would make being a "Star Gazer", as his family put it, even easier! And think of the constellations he could make...He hoped it was him they were looking for...

"Morineth says he's the one." V'tar looked over at Aeveen as Kiem settled on his shoulder. "I take it you are willing?"

Aeveen nodded..."Of course I'll go!!" Kiem added her consent rather vocally, much to the amusement of everyone in the room. V'tar told them to go pack, and Aeveen took the stairs to his room two at a time. He packed most of his things, since he didn't have all that much, and was back in the kitchen before V'tar had even had a chance to sip the klah he'd been offered. His mother made him sit and wait while the Searchrider had a drink, then they both led him out to the waiting Morineth and loaded his things.

Aeveen's father was there to see what was happening, and wished his son the best of luck when he learned he'd become a candidate. His mother, who tried desperately not to cry at her baby leaving home, failed miserably...and wept as she hugged him good-bye. Aeveen didn't know why she was so upset...he'd come and visit once his dragon could fly. He kissed her cheek, then let V'tar help him onto the blue dragon's back.

As Morineth ascended to the right hight for going /between/, Aeveen looked back at the cliff he'd painted the night before and smiled. With a dragon at his side...they'd only get bigger and better...Kiem chirped in agreement before they disappeared.

Kiem was Impressed @ Falas Weyr.

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