Search Story Comadra put her paints down and stretched. She’d been working on this one for almost a week and she was getting tired of looking at it now. Sauri, her blue firelizard chirped loudly and she stroked him absently. She looked up at the sky, which was getting dark, though it was only about noon. Looking back at her painting and sighed. The flowing plain was starting to look boring and the line of trees beyond it looked uninhabitable. It needed something else but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Sauri warbled helpfully and she smiled. He spread his wings and dove from the canvas, opening his mouth and pretending to flame. He circled back and landed again, showing his pointed teeth in a wide smile. She rubbed his head and said, “That might work,” she said and she looked the painting over. She was about to pick up some blue paint she felt a raindrop land on her hand. “However,” she said. “It will have to wait.” She stood up and packed her things, waiting for Sauri to grab a paintbrush she missed and then ran back towards the village. As she walked into the house her younger sister looked up from what she was doing. “I was wondering when you’d get back. Did you get any farther?” Comadra shook her head. “No, but Sauri gave me a great idea. I think I’m going to paint some dragons flying over the field or something, so it’s not so boring.” Halvarn nodded and went back to work. “What are you working on?” Comadra asked. Halvarn looked up again and said, “I’m trying to figure out my math. It’s due tomorrow.” Comadra nodded and sat down in the seat next to her. “Anything I can help with?” Halvarn shook her head. “No, its all proofs. I know you didn’t learn that ‘cause I asked for help before and you didn’t know.” Comadra frowned and stood up. “Well if there’s anything else you need come and get me, you know where I’ll be.” Halvarn nodded. “Yep, back in the study, working on the painting.” Comadra hauled her painting things back into the study and set them up again. “I hate painting inside,” she told Sauri as he landed on the canvas again once she got it up again. He chirped softly and looked out the window, where he could see lightning off in the distance. He looked back at her and chirped again. Comadra sighed and began to paint a large brown dragon swooping over the field. A few hours later she had a wing of three, the brown as well as two greens. She leaned back in her chair and looked it over. The piece now looked much fuller and she was happy with it. She looked out the window and saw that the rain was beginning to lessen. She picked Sauri up and then walked into the kitchen again. “I’m going out for a bit,” she told her sister. Halvarn waved her hand and Comadra walked out the door and out into the rain. Sauri curled up close to Comadra’s neck and she stroked him lightly. He hated getting wet and she felt bad dragging him out in this. She walked towards the dining hall and opened the large doors slowly. She walked in and as soon as she did so Sauri shook himself off. She patted him again and sat down at one of the nearest tables. A drudge took her order and she placed Sauri in the middle of the table. “Don’t play with those,” she said as he started rearranging the vase of flowers. He chirped sadly but obeyed his owner and lied down. Her food came a few minutes after this and she ate thankfully. She hadn’t had time to learn how to cook since her parents passed away, though she would have liked to. Halvarn sure would have enjoyed her cooking over the dining halls without a doubt. The tubers were slightly over cooked and the meat a bit under. She finished her meal and then called for another one, which she would take to Halvarn. She stood, picked up Sauri and then walked from the dining hall, holding the plate in one hand while she struggled with the door with the other. The rain had now stopped and she walked briskly back home. She was about halfway there when a voice cried out, “Hey you, with the blue firelizard!” Comadra stopped in her tracks and turned around, looking for the person calling to her. When she didn’t see anyone she began to walk again, this time more slowly. However, she hadn’t gotten three steps when the voice cried out, “Hod on, I’m coming!” Comadra sighed and rolled her eyes, but she did stop. When the person finally showed himself he was out of breath. “Shards you walk fast,” he said. Comadra raised an eyebrow and she felt Sauri tensing up. “Do I know you?” The man shook his head. “No you don’t,” he said. “But let me introduce myself. I’m K’var, rider of blue Merrenth. We’re searchriders from Dark Moon Weyr. He seemed to think you would make a good candidate there. Comadra took a step back. “I’d love to but I can’t.” Sauri chirped a surprise as K’var’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? What’s your reason?” Comadra stroked Sauri and then said, “Both of my parents are deceased and my younger sister is only twelve. I can’t leave her here alone.” K’var smiled and she thought it very rude. “I’m sorry about your parents but the problem with your sister, well isn’t a problem. She can come as well. That won’t be a problem. And anyway, within a year she’ll be old enough to apply.” Comadra hesitated but then smiled. “Alright, follow me and I’ll get my things. I’m a bit of a heavy packer I hope that’s alright.” K’var nodded and she led him back to her home. Comadra walked into the house, closely followed by K’var. Halvarn looked up and blinked when she saw him. Her sister hadn’t had a boyfriend for almost, well since her parents died and she’d definitely never seen him around the village before. “Where’d you meet this one?” She asked flatly. Comadra frowned and said, “Watch yourself, and he met me. This is K’var, a searchrider from Dark Moon Weyr. He thinks a be a good candidate for one of their clutches.” “Well good for you,” she said sarcastically. Comadra crossed her arms and said, “And I’m going, and so are you. Pack you things.” Halvarn stood up from the table but didn’t move. “I’m not leaving this house,” she said. Comadra threw up her arms. “Fine, I don’t sharding care!” She yelled as she went back into her room to pack her clothes. She never yelled so she knew she surprised Halvarn with that. She shook her head and put a few changes of clothing into her bag and then walked back into the kitchen again. Halvarn was standing there also, with a large duffel bag by her feet. K’var was smiling broadly and her led them back to Merrenth when Comadra nodded. “I told her that she would be able to Impress next season and she seemed rather pleased,” he said happily as he walked next to Comadra. She nodded and smiled. “I’m glad someone could finally make her see what was really going on. I haven’t been able to really control her since our parents passing, but I think a dragon will be good for her as well.” K’var nodded and took her bag, strapping in and then helping her to his back. He strapped Halvarn’s as well and then climbed up, pulling her up after him. K’var told them to hold on and then they took off. As they gained altitude Comadra looked down at her village for one last time before they jump between. | Candidate | Hatchling | Weyrling | Adult | | Search | Hatching Story | Stats |