Sr. Weyrling

“Kielao, leave me alone!” H’lian cried out. The blue firelizard chirped and continued to pull on the bronzerider’s ear. He tried to brush him away but he hopped up onto his shoulder and continued to pull. “Kielao, I swear to the Red Star, if my ear is bleeding when I get up I’m going to feed you to the watch wher.” The firelizard chirped in surprise and backed away. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now let me be.” Kielao hissed and flew off to find Jumarth. H’lian rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but he didn’t have any luck. Instead he rubbed his eyes and threw the blankets off of him. He got out of bed and stretched, blinking until his eyes adjusted to the change in light. He walked to his dresser and changed into some clean clothes before calling down the service shaft for some klah. “How are you today Jumarth?” He asked when he walked into his dragon’s room. I slept alright, but this infernal firelizard keeps pulling on my ridges, he said sleepily. H’lian nodded, “Yes I know what you mean. Weyrlingmaster D’tol asked me yesterday if had an interest in become searchriders.” Jumarth cocked his head to one side and asked, I thought only the lower colors were the searchdragons. H’lian shrugged. “D’tol and his brown seem to think that you may have the touch. Would you like to accompany one to a nearby hold so you may learn?” Jumarth stood up and stretched his wings. I do not see why not.

H’lian ad Jumarth tell D’tol that they would be joining the searchrider and then he grabbed his riding jacket and helmet. D’tol says we are to go with Beka and green Reth, and she wishes to leave soon. H’lian nodded in understanding and took the saddle from the stand. Jumarth helped to support the weight but couldn’t do anymore when he placed it on his back. H’lian tightened the straps and then climbed to his back. She wants us to meet her by the lake, fore Reth was bathing, he said even as he walked towards the ledge. “Alright well tell her we’re coming,” he said as he tighened his helmet a little. I have already done so, he said as he dropped from the ledge.

He landed heavily a few hundred feet from the ledge and bugled a hello to the dragons that were lounging around the lake. “It’s about time you got down here,” said a woman. H’lian looked down and saw Beka leaning against Jumarth’s leg. “Yeah, sorry, that was my fault. Are we ready to go?” She nodded and ran her hand through her hair. “Yes just about. I’m just waiting for Reth to dry completely and then we can go.” H’lian nodded and then patted Jumarth’s neck. “I thank you for taking us along.” She waved a hand at him and said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do for a dragon who has the sense.” H’lian smiled and unstrapped himself, sliding down off of his back and sitting down against his dragon’s leg. “Well, let me know when we can go alright?” He asked as he undid his helmet and slid it down over his eyes.

H’lian didn’t have any idea as to how long he had slept but when Jumarth woke him he was ready to go. Beka is ready to depart, the bronze informed him. He stood up, stretched and then climbed quickly to the saddle. “Contact Reth, see where we’re going.” Jumarth sighed. Relax H’lian. I’m sure she knows where she is going, and besides, if we get lost, the Weyr is only a short flight away. H’lian nodded, relaxing. Jumarth walked over to the green dragon and H’lian got his instructions from Beka. “I think we’re going to fly straight today. I don’t usually do this but D’tol said that you haven’t been able o work though as much betweening as he would have liked.” H’lian nodded and tightened the straps on his saddle. Relax, Jumarth repeated. I just feel like I have to make everything seem flawless. Jumarth sighed and spread his wings. “I guess he’s ready to go,” Beka said with a laugh. H’lian smiled and patted the thick neck. “Shall we?” She asked.

When they reached the Hold Jumarth set down first, followed closely by green Reth. Beka undid the straps and slid form her dragon’s back. H’lian followed her example and then followed her into the Hold’s courtyard. “Wait here,” she said. “I’ve got to go talk to the Lord Holder.” H’lian

nodded and leaned up against one of the buildings. A young girl ran by, glanced at him and then ran off again. However, after she was about a hundred feet away she stopped and walked back to him. “Are you a dragonrider?” She asked shyly. H’lian nodded. “Yes, I’m a rider from Talor Cliff Weyr.” The girl looked around the courtyard and asked, “Where’s your dragon?” H’lian kneeled down and pointed toward the large field beyond the fence. “Do you ride the green or the bronze?” She asked. H’lian laughed and stood up again. “I ride the bronze. His name is Jumarth, would you like to meet him?” The girl nodded vigorously and H’lian led her to his weyrling.

As they approached Jumarth he lowered himself into a lying position and lowered his head to the girl’s level. He warbled quietly and she backed up a bit. “It’s alright, he’s just saying hello,” H’lian said as he patted his dragon’s neck. “It is ok if I stroke his muzzle?” She asked. H’lian nodded and gestured for her to do so. As she rubbed his eyeridges he started to croon. “What’s that noise he’s making?” H’lian smiled. “Do you have a feline at home?” When she nodded he continued by saying, “Does it purr when you pet it?” She nodded again. “Well that’s the same thing, only a lot louder.” She nodded in understanding and continued to stroke him. H’lian saw Beka walking out to the field again and he waved to her. “Got one already?” She asked. H’lian shrugged. “I’m not sure. Let me ask Jumarth what he thinks.” She nodded and approached the girl, carrying out her part of the Searching. What do you think Jumarth? H’lian asked. She is very young H’lian, but I think that she will make a good candidate in later turns. I did not sense much fear in her. He nodded in understanding and then called Beka over, telling her what Jumarth said. She nodded and said, “Yes that’s almost the exact thing that Reth said. I think they’re right though. We should keep looking and come back in a few years for her.” She looked at Jumarth as he cocked his head at the girl and said, “I think he’s really got the touch H’lian, and he’ll one of the few bronzes who ever have.”