Searching Story Karlean woke up and stretched, waking her white firelizard. He chittered at her in agitation and then went back to sleep once she patted his head in apology. Getting out of bed she stretched again and then walked into the bathing room to change. She put her hair up into the usual bun and then walked out into the kitchen, where her mother was making breakfast. “Morning dear,” she said, not even looking up from the stove. “Hey,” Karlean replied. “Loredas dropped by, seeing if you were awake yet. He said he had something for you.” Karlean smiled, “No doubt another ring or something of that sort.” Her mother laughed. “You’re going to have start wearing them on your toes at the rate he’s making these things. I liked the last one.” Karlean frowned, trying to remember which one. “Oh, actually that was a necklace. Yes, I’m rather fond of that one too.” She sat down at the table and took an apple from the bowl. “What stone did he put in that one?” Her mother asked as she set some bread in front of her. “Pearls and opals,” she said as she took a bite. Her mother sat down across from her and said, “And you’re sure you’re no more than friends?” Karlean rolled her eyes and stood up. “Mom, really. I’ve known him since I was like three.” She nodded and said, “You should probably get out there tough, you know how he hates to be kept waiting.” Karlean grabbed her coat and walked out the door, heading for Loredas’s home. As she was walking she ran into one of her friends, who stopped her and started talking excitedly. “Oh you’ll never guess what I just heard. Well maybe you will cause it’s been going around the hold and I bet everyone know, but I don’t think you do. We were trying to see how long it would take until you heard. I’m going to tell you though ‘cause it’s cool, but I don’t know if it’s true or not, maybe you can tell me.” Karlean’s eyes got wide and she said, “Fren, can you slow down a little? I’m having trouble comprehending what you’re saying.” Fren laughed and said, “Oh sure, I’m sorry. Anyway, I just heard that you and Loredas are “together”.” Karlean rolled her eyes. “Did you hear this from Grendor? He’s been jealous of our friendship for as long as I can remember.” Fren shook her head. “No, I heard it from Harian, and Liana, oh and Wervan.” Karlean sighed. “Well I’m going to Loredas’s now. I’ll talk to him and then get back to you on that one ok?” Fren nodded and then said, “Did he make you something else?” Karlean shrugged. “I don’t know, that’s why I’m going over there.” Fren laughed and said, “Oh, right. Well I’ll let you get over there then.” She got to Loredas’s door and before she even had a chance to knock it opened and she stepped back in surprise. “Oh sorry Karlean, I didn’t think I’d scare you.” She nodded and said, “It’s fine. What did you need?” He shrugged and said, “I need an opinion on this ring.” She frowned. “Who’s it for?” He led her back to his workroom and said, “The lord holder. He said he wanted one to present to his wife on their anniversary.” Karlean whistled. “Oh that’s great. How far are you?” Again he shrugged and then said, “About half. I’m trying to decide which type of stone to use and such. I thought a woman’s opinion would be better than mine.” She nodded and stepped into the room, picking the ring up from the table and looking it over. The white gold shone brightly and she pictured the ring with a variety of stones in it. “This is a great ring Loredas, but I can’t get a clear picture of what should go in there.” He nodded and said, “Yeah, now you see my problem.” She sighed and said, “Maybe an amethyst or a topaz.” He nodded and said, “Maybe, but he wanted a more rare stone like a blue diamond or a black pearl.” She rolled her eyes and said, “A dark color would ruin it. It needs something lighter, like a… like a piece of rose granite. I know it’s nothing special but a rose colored stone would look nice, especially with the engravings you did.” He nodded, quite happy. “I think you’re right. That would look nice. Thanks a lot!” She looked the ring over a few more times, picturing the granite and then said, “There’s some rumors going around about us Loredas.” He looked up from the notes he was writing and asked, “What’s new? What is it this time?” She sighed and sat down and then got back up as the chair squawked. “Oh I’m sorry Hurni I didn’t even see you,” she said as she picked up his brown firelizard. He warbled in annoyance and then fell asleep on her lap as she sat down again. She sat there stroking him and after awhile Loredas said, “Anyway.” She looked up and smiled. “Oh yeah. Well the new one is that we’re together.” He laughed and said, “Oh wow, like that’s going to happen. I mean, we’ve known each other since we were five.” Karlean coughed and said, “Since we were three actually.” He laughed and went back to the ring. “Oh well, let them think what they will. We shall be out of here soon anyway.” She raised an eyebrow and said, “What?” He shrugged and said, “Well I heard there are dragons coming on Search either today or tomorrow. I can’t remember really.” Karlean stood up, grabbing Hurni as he slid down her lap with a startled squeak. “Are you sure?” He nodded and took his brown firelizard from her, placing him on the table. “Yeah, pretty sure. I heard two of the holders talking about it to the lady while I was talking to the lord holder about this ring.” Karlean smiled and said, “Oh finally. I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. Where are they from?” He shrugged and said, “What does it matter? Just getting out of here and to a Weyr would be good. I don’t really care where they’re from.” Karlean sighed and said, “Loredas come on, where are they from?” he smiled mischievously and said, “Moon Shadow Weyr.” Loredas smiled, knowing how much Karlean wanted to become a dragonrider. “What color do you wish for?” She shrugged and watched as Loredas cut the small granite piece and fitted it to the ring. “I don’t mind really. I mean, my only choices are gold, green or rare so I don’t really care. Like all girls I would like a gold, but a dragon is a dragon and I know I should love a green just as much as I would love a gold or white.” He nodded in understanding and said, “I’m hoping for a brown.” She blinked in surprise, hearing him only talk of bronzes in earlier years. “What happened to the dream of riding a bronze?” She asked. She shrugged as he closed the clasps on the ring and then started smoothing the granite. “I don’t know really. I guess I realized that a bronze can only fly a gold and the larger rares. When a brown can fly a gold, green or either size rare.” She nodded and said, “That makes sense. You have a particular female in mind?” she asked, hoping he would say someone other then her. Going out with Loredas would be just… weird. He shrugged and said, “I don’t know yet, maybe. It depends on what this particular girl thinks of me and the idea of my dragon flying hers.” Karlean nodded once, thinking about what he just said. After awhile of silence he blew on the ring and then handed it to her. “What do you think?” She looked it over, running her finger over the smooth granite and the Celtic engravings around the band. “It’s great Loredas. When are you giving this to the holder?” He hesitated and then said, “I’m not.” She stood up again and exclaimed, “What, why not? You spent so much time on this ring and now you’re not going to give it to her?” He nodded. “I already made the one for the lord holder’s wife. I dropped it off before you got here.” She let her mouth hang open for a moment and then she said, “Well then who is this one for?” he opened his mouth to answer but just then Hurni sat straight up and warbled. “What’s the matter with him?” She asked. Loredas shrugged and said, “I don’t know.” He picked him up and stroked the brown’s head as he chattered away. All of a sudden he put him down and said, “The dragons are here!” Karlean ran into the other room and grabbed her coat, while Loredas took one last look at the ring, sighed and then stuffed it in his pocket, hurrying after Karlean, who was already out the door and heading for the courtyard. The two friends ran towards the courtyard and when they got there they just stood and looked. There was a blue dragon, along with a green sitting in the middle of the hold, but their riders were nowhere to be seen. “I wonder where the riders are,” Karlean said. Loredas shrugged. “They’re probably looking for possible candidates.” They walked closer and when they were about halfway a young man ran up to them and put his hand out. “I’m U’scu, rider of blue Zayanth. He seems to think that one, or both or you would make candidates for our first gold clutch.” Karlean smiled and asked, “Really?” U’scu nodded. He thinks that you especially will make a worthy candidate, though I’m not saying that you will not,” he added as he saw the disappointed look on Loredas’s face. “Would you like to stand?” Karlean nodded and then looked to Loredas. He smiled widely and nodded. U’scu smiled and then said, “Alright, get your things and then come back here and we can get going.” | Stats | Search | Hatchling | Weyrling | Adult |