Searching Story

Reggina woke and got out of bed. Rubbing her eyes, she walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. She took an apple from the basket and ate it quietly. She looked out the window and sighed. "Nothing ever happens here," she said to herself. She finishes the apple and then gets up and goes back to her room and gets dressed. As she pulls her hair back into a tight bun, her sister, Neria walks down the short flight of stairs and walks in. "Going out ot ride again Reggina?" She askes. "Yes actually, now go back to bed," Reggina tells her sternly. "That doesn't work on me you know. And besides I can't go back to sleep after I'm awake," she says. Reggina sighs and walks into the kitchen again and grabs another apple from the basket. "Mom's going to be mad if you take all the apples for the runners ya' know," Neria warns. "Quiet Neria or you'll wake the entire end of this Hold. When Hlian shows up will you tell him to come to the stables?" Reggina askes her sister. "You want that firelizard by you when you're riding?" She askes. "Yes," Reggina says. "He calms the runners. Now please tell him." Neria smiles and says "alright, alright." Reggina smiles back and dashes out the door.

As she reaches the stable, the barn hand walks out to greet her. "You're here this early again Reggina," he askes. "Yes Julei I'm here. You didn't turn Windblae out did you?" Reggina askes. "No, I had a feeling you were coming. He's standing on the crossties, waiting for you," he says. "Great! Thanks a lot," Reggina says as she dashes off to see her horse. She enters the barn and whistles. A loud nigh reaches her ears and she quickens her steps and she walks down the isle. When she reaches Windblae she gives him the apple and then goes to get his brushes and tack. She brushes him quickly and then puts the saddle on his back and tightens the girth. Windblae gives a snort of resistance but Reggina knees him in the stomach and pulls up on the straps quickly before he can suck more air in. She pets his neck after this and then pulls the halter off and slides the bit into his mouth. She gets the brodle on completely and then walks him out of the barn and to the small outdoor arena to the west.

They enter and Reggina ties her horse to a pole and then goes to set up some jumps with the poles ans standards that are laying in the middle. She finishes that then comes back to Windblae, tightens his girth a hole and pulls the reins over his head. After all this is done, she mounts up and, clucks and gives him a little urging with her legs. Windblae starts trotting and Reggina circles the ring a fw times to warm him up. She does some patterns and then gives him the signal to canter. She's about to take a jump when a small pop is heard directly behind her and Windblae takes off at the uknown noise. "Whoa boy, whoa," she says as she pulls hm back. She turns Windblae around walks back to the first jump. There's Hlian, flying in lazy circles in the spot he popped out from between. "Well at least she told you to come huh? She could have said not to come out of between right above my head. Oh well, I guess thats too much to ask for," she says in frustration. Hlian gives a small cirrup in agreement and settles down on the pole. "Now don't move from that spot," Reggina says. Hlian chirps in understanding and she canters Windblae again. She circles a few times and then takes the jump cleanly and then changing leads and taking another.

A few moments later Hlian snarls as they're departing from a jump and Windblae nearly dumps Reggina into the fence nearest her. "Hlian!" Reggina says in both anger and frustration. "I thought I told you not to do that." Hlian flies over and lands on Windblae's neck and grips onto his mane with his short talons. He starts chirping away but Reggina can't make out anything he's attempting to say. "What Hlian?" She says. "Give a picture or something." Hlian warbles and sends a mental image of flying dragons. "Thats it?" Reggina says, totally missing the point Hlian is trying to get across. "Dragons? I've seen them a million times, it's no big deal. Now go back to the post," she says. Hlian sighs in unhappiness and flies back to the post and folds his wings. As Reggina sees this, she picks up a canter once again. Windblae is to skittish now for Reggina to even think about taking jumps, unless she wants to end up in an early grave. She canters him around, changing strides every 2-3 strides but as she reaches the far end of the arena Windblae spooks again and takes off. She gets his under conrrol again and looks back to Hlian. He gives a squak meaning "what?" and she says "H'lian I've had it, go back home." H'lian warbles in protest and flies up over her head and Reggina follows him with her eyes.

As he passes a certain part in the sky Reggina cries out "by the Heavens! Dragons!" She looks to Hlian and says "I'm sorry Hlian, I had no idea." Hlian snorts and pops between again. "They're landing," she says to herself in anticipation. She digs her heels into Windblae's flanks and he takes off and a canter, only becuase Reggina was holding him back. They jump the fence and run past the barn and onto the hold square. As they get closer Windblae's breathing starts getting heavier and his eyes get wild. He pulls his head up and rears in fright as a blue dragon flies over their heads and lands in the square. Reggina dismounts quickly and ties Windblae to a fence post and runs for the square. As she reaches it, she sees four large dragons, two blue, a brown and a green. She walks slowely closer and one of the dragonriders spots her, points and nods his head. He dismounts and walks over to Reggina.

"Hey there! You interested in becoming a candidate at Talor Cliff Weyr?" He askes her. Reggina's chin drops and the dragonrider laughs. "Oh I'm J'lo by the way. Whats your name?" Reggina looks him over a moment and then says "Reggina, and yes I would like to be a candidate. That's what I've wanted to become my whole life!" J'lo smiles and says well then go tell your folks and I'll be right here." Reggina nods and runs off, right past Windblae who nickers in confusion. Reggina stops and runs back to him, unties his reins, mounts and gallops back home. I'm going to be a dragonrider, she thinks to herself...