Searching the Wild Blue Yonder
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 26th May 2016
Characters: Saidrene, L'exan
Description: L'exan and Saidrene go on sweeps for the missing Holder and Dolphineer.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 19 of Turn 8
Saidrene had yet to go on sweeprides for the missing Lord Holder and dolphineer, but today hwen she'd checked the duties list her name had been paired with L'exan's to go on the hunt for the missing men. This made Saidrene excited for more than one reason: one, she found the idea of searching for missing people fun, and two, Alina had said that L'exan was nice, and she was interested to get to know the bluerider for herself.
Pulling her long, inky black hair into a loose braid that she wore hanging over her shoulder, Saidrene tucked her riding helmet beneath her arm, grabbed her riding jacket in the other, and went out to meet up with Ashareth in the weyrbowl.
L'exan was in the Bowl as well, putting Larzeth's harness on. He buckled the last section and gave his dragon's shoulder a pat. "All right, how's it feel now that I've replaced that buckle that kept chafing?"
Larzeth fidgeted in place. }:Ah, that's much better,:{ he concluded. }:Did you replace the other buckles as well? They feel smoother.:{
"Yup. I figured it couldn't hurt; they were old enough that it wasn't a good idea to keep 'em around," L'exan said. "And if that one buckle was beginning to get burrs, the others were close behind."
}:Good point. So where are we going this time?:{
"A lot farther than we usually go, that's for sure," L'exan said, reaching into a pocket to bring out a neatly folded map. "Other sweeps have already covered a lotta distance, so we're striking out into new territory with one of the greenriders- oh, that may be her." He lifted an arm to wave to Saidrene.
"Morning." She said as she tucked her helmet onto her head and buckled the chin-strap. Shrugging into her riding jacket, Saidrene grabbed one of Ashareth's riding straps and nimbly scaled her dragon's flank until she was seated in the saddle. "Looks like we really get to stretch our wings today." Normally they didn't have much reason to fly so far from the Weyr.
"Boy do we," L'exan agreed, walking over to offer up the map. "I marked out where we're supposed to- hey, I know you," he said in surprise. She had Saibra's stamp all over her. "Nice to finally meet you up close. I'm L'exan, and that's Larzeth."
}:My duty to you and your rider,:{ Larzeth said politely to Ashareth, bobbing his his head.
"I marked out where we're supposed to search, and Larzeth's got the visual for when we go up," the bluerider finished, holding up the map so Saidrene could take it and have a look herself.
**I know who you are, we're in the same wing!** Saidrene thought when the bluerider introduced himself. "I've seen, it was posted on the duty sheet this morning." She said, tilting her head toward the map that he held. "I'm all set to go if you are."
Ah, excellent! She had come prepared. L'exan approved. He tucked the map back into his jacket and fastened it up. "Let's get in the air, then," he said pleasantly, and jogged back to Larzeth to put on his helmet and goggles, and mount up. Once he was strapped in, Larzeth shared the visual of where they needed to go with Ashareth, and launched himself toward the sky.
Ashareth followed Larzeth into the sky and /between/ a breath behind him. When they appeared from the soundless void, it was over the bluest ocean Saidrene had ever seen. There was a jagged coastline on the horizon behind them, which she knew was the Topaz Hold region, but they were headed out to sea, using their dragons' keen eyes to look for anything unusual. **It's been so long now though, what could possibly be left?** She wondered.
}:All this water makes my rider nervous,:{ Larzeth confided to Ashareth as they flew. }:There are so few landmarks out here. This does not bode well for the missing people. He thinks the best we might be able to hope for is spotting the smoke of a signal fire, somehow.:{
}:Did your rider not grow up near the water?:{ Ashareth asked, mostly because of her own rider's curiosity.
}:He grew up in Green Valley Hold,:{ Larzeth said. }:But that's not why this bothers him. Like I said, no landmarks. Just wave after wave of water. It's disorienting. At least we can always go between if there is trouble, but the missing men don't have that option.:{
}:My rider loves the unending water... I'd rather have a nice, warm ledge though.:{ Ashareth told Larzeth. The water was fun for a swim here and there, but the green loved nothing more than a hot sunny day on a hot piece of rock.
}:It's even better when we know where the toasty ledges are,:{ Larzeth agreed,
L'exan adjusted his goggles and started a slow visual sweep for anything that might be helpful; any form of wreckage or garbage that could have come from a human, the aforementioned smoke signals, even some unfamiliar dolphins who might have some useful gossip. The pods most familiar with Dolphin Cove had done their best, but maybe they just needed information from a different source. It was admirable how long he was able to keep his focus on the monotony before he got a little bored and called to Saidrene, "Anything on your side?"
It was hard to hear L'exan's question over the whipping, roar of wind in her ears, but she thought he was asking if she'd seen anything. Saidrene shook her head. She'd seen nothing but the prettiest water she'd ever laid eyes on. No hint of wreckage, debris, or land. After all, to survive this long the two lost men would have had to found land. If they hadn't washed up on one of the islands of Windswept by this point, then they probably wouldn't.
}:L'exan thinks there has to be a more effective way to do this; he just isn't sure what that is,:{ Larzeth reported to Ashareth a little later. }:Does your rider have any ideas?:{
}:My rider says these is the coordinates we were given to search, all we can do is ride and scan the area for anything unusual or out of place.:{ Ashareth responded.
Saidrene used the searching time to just enjoy flying, and it gave her some time to think, especially about the things J'ackt had told her about Alina. She hadn't spoken to Alina about it yet, and she didn't know if she would. It was nice to have a friend and Saidrene hated to let J'ackt, or her feelings about him, interfere with her friendship.
By the time they were ready to return back to the Weyr, Saidrene had grown stiff in the saddle, her back and legs aching to be stretched. }:Is yours ready to go back?:{ Ashareth asked Larzeth.
}:Yes. Let's go,:{ the blue said in a resigned tone, reflecting his rider's disappointment. L'exan had been hoping for at least one clue they could report on, even if they couldn't find the missing men themselves.
Last updated on the May 27th 2016