It Runs in the Family

Writers: Jelena, Paula
Date Posted: 29th August 2016

Characters: Sh'lua, Genna, Sinla
Description: Sh'lua has some exciting news for Genna regarding her little brother Karlin!
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 8

Genna

Karlin stood on the look-out, his bag clutched firmly in his sweaty, nervous fist. His father had arranged a ride for him to the Smith Hall, were he was to be apprenticed. Well, he was pretty sure his sister Genna had had a hand in it, since the rider was from Dragonsfall Weyr, but that was even better, because he adored his older sister. Not that he saw her often anymore. Since she had impressed he had only seen her twice. But the magic of her golden dragon added only to her popularity in the boy's eyes and perhaps absence did make the heart grow fonder.

He wasn't particularly excited to be apprenticed. He was way too comfortable at home with his mother and brothers and a small part of him was afraid he'd fail miserably. His father was a famous Master Smith, after all. Sure, he was handy with tools, but that was just from being raised with them. He didn't think he'd have what it takes to ever make it past apprentice. The one thing he lacked most, he knew, was enthusiasm. But his parents had been unforgiving: he was twelve turns old now and he should apprentice. So, off he went.

At least he had a dragonride to look forward too! He almost couldn't breathe from the excitement of that part. His mother stood motionless beside him as she, too, waited for the dragon and rider to arrive. Yet another of her children off to leave her nest. Sinla had to fight the urge the scream.

Galerith backwinded to land, trying to not buff up too much snow. Sh'lua didn't mind doing favour for the Weyr's youngest goldrider, she was nice young woman. Kind of reminded him of his own daughter.

When Galerth was safely landed, Sh'lua slid down and approached the people standing there. "You're Karlin?" he asked from the nervous looking young boy. "Ma'am, Genna sent her love," he told Sinla, who he recongnized.

There was a flash of barely visible disbelief across Sinla's face. It was more likely the love had been directed at her son, than at her, but there was no reason to comment on that. "Thank you, Sir, and that you for doing Karlin this favor. Give my regards to my daughter when you see her." Her tone was formal, Sinla still hadn't entirely forgiven the Weyr for taking her only daughter.

"Yes, Sir, that's me," Karlin piped up in his boyish voice. "Thank you for the ride, Sir," he added after a prod from his mother. His eyes were almost twice their normal size as he stared open-mouthed at the blue dragon. He was absolutely gorgeous! And those scars, he had seen a lot of Falls already, for sure. Karlin was mightily impressed.

Galerith reached out with his head, sniffing the boy. The warm air from his nostrils made hairs wave.

"You're welcome," Sh'lua was just replying politely when Galerith interrupted him. }: We should be taking him home with us. The Eggs need him :{

**Oh no, not again. I should stop taking passengers altogether. You keep Searching them,** Sh'lua groaned inwards.

The boy giggled as Galerith's breath ruffled his hair and in his enthusiasm reached out a hand to touch the blue muzzle. "Hello, Sir Blue! You are absolutely amazing. I can't believe I get to ride you!" Such a pity it was only the one ride to the Hall. If only he got lucky like Genna and got Searched. To impress a dragon, wouldn't that be awesome? Didn't he have dragonrider blood in him? Surely he had, his sister had impressed gold, after all!

Sinla looked at her lad with a wistful expression, knowing that this was it. She'd only get to see him on short visits from now on, if that much. Turning to the rider, she managed a courteous bow. "I shall not keep you longer, you must have more duties to attend to that transferring a boy to his Hall." She had to restrain herself from more hugs and kisses, as she had sworn to Karlin she'd be 'cool' in front of the rider.

Sh'lua was feeling very uncomfortable right now. She was obviously a mother who didn't want her child to leave. How to break the news gently? Sheesh, she must think Sh'lua was deliberately stealing her children. Which made the big bluerider wonder if Genna had sent _him_ on purpose, since he had Searched her in a similar way. Oh, that would be so sneaky from the young goldrider.

"Ehem, you know, boy, you do take after your sister. Galerith here is a Search dragon. He likes you and thinks you have what it takes to become a dragonrider," Sh'lua said and glanced Sinla. If the boy was old enough to apprentice, he was old enough to Stand. But would his parents give him permission?

"What!?" Sinla all but cried out in frustration. Not another! Karlin was supposed to go to the Smithcaft Hall, where they had friends and family to look out for him. Not to the Weyr, where he might... She shook her head, trying to wrap her head around this bit of news. But She remembered well how it had went down last time and if she refused this, Genna would find out and she was certain her daughter would blow the matter entirely out of proportion. She wasn't ready to blow up whatever bit of their relationship they had started to mend. But to let her boy go off to the Weyr...

Karlin, on the other hand, looked absolutely dumbstruck. He had just been daydreaming about it and then... For a moment he considered if he had some kind of mind control powers, making the dragon Search him just by thinking of it, but he quickly shook the thought. He had dragonrider-blood in his veins! He'd be a rider, just like his sister. He looked up at the blue dragon in awe yet again. He hoped his dragon would be as awesome as this one.

"Does that mean he just Searched me, Sir?" he asked, wanting to her the words be said before he could believe it to be true.

"Yes, that's right, You have been Searched. To bad I didn't take any tokens with me," Sh'lua replied.

"I've been Searched! Momma, you hear that? I've been Searched!" Karlin emphasised that last word so badly it almost became a shout. When he saw the pained expression on his mother's face, though, he looked confused. "You will let me go, right? I mean, Genna is there to watch me. And she was allowed to go! You always tell everyone how proud you are to have a goldrider for a daughter. Wouldn't you be proud if I impressed too?" Of course Karlin hadn't noticed any of the conflict that had surrounded Genna's departure for the Weyr and he couldn't see why he wouldn't be allowed to go if she had.

Sinla heaved a deep sigh, trying to let the tension fly from her body. She'd lose him regardless of where he went. And it was true, Genna would be there to watch him. Perhaps it would be alright. She knew Karlin hadn't been keen on going to the Smithcraft Hall and regardless of what anyone might think of her, she did have all her children's best interest in mind. "You can go, but we need to make sure everything is arranged properly. We don't want to offend the Hall." Sinla looked at the rider now, trying to hide her emotions, but not succeeding very well at it for once. "How is such a thing normally arranged? I wasn't there when my daughter was Searched."

"Well, there's two options: either he can come with me to the Dragonsfall Weyr right away or I can come back for him some later time," Sh'lua replied. "The boy is, what, twelve? So it won't hurt if he waits, he is unlike to Impress this young age."

}: Lissath, I Searched your rider's brother! :{ excited Galerith reached to tell the news to the gold. He was used to use words like brother and sister since his rider seemed to have so many of them.

Genna literally dropped everything when she got the news from Lissath, the pile of hides she had been carrying scattered at her feet. She had hoped, certainly, when she had asked Sh'lua for the favor. From the letters her brother had sent her, she had easily gathered he wasn't too excited about his projected future at the Smithcraft Hall and sending a Search rider his way had been easy for her. But of course there had been know way to foretell if it would actually happen. She was thrilled beyond belief.

}: Can your rider tell him she is very pleased and is looking forward to seeing him? If the boy's mother objects, she would like to know. :{ Lissath relayed Genna's message to Galerith, pleased with the joy her rider radiated at the news. She would like to meet this boy.

Sinla considered the options for a moment. "Can you take us both to the Smithcraft Hall - and back? I'll need to discuss with his father, who is there currently, before we make any final decisions."

"Of course, no problem," Sh'lua replied. It wouldn't take him much more time than simply delivering the boy to the Hall. Just one extra trip didn't bother either of them. He also received Galerith's relayed message from Genna. ** Tell Lissath that so far things are going well,** all riders learned to do multiple conversations at once.

"Thank you, that is how we will proceed, then," Sinla decided, walking forward towards the dragon briskly. Karlin followed her, pausing for a moment as he realized he was still clutching his bag. He decided to take it anyway. He'd need his things if he was allowed to go to the Weyr after visiting the Hall. If he wasn't, he'd be sure to contact Genna. Surely she could convince their parents he'd make an excellent rider. The thoughts in his head raged on just as his voice usually did. For once, the babbling was directed inward instead of outward, overwhelmed as he was. What an unexpected turn of events!

"Yes, ma'am," Sh'lua said and offered his hand to help her up. Galerith crouched lower to receive passengers. "Just use his leg as a stair," he instructed. "Hand me the bag and I tie it to the straps," he told the boy. Galerith was big for blue so two passengers were no problem for him.

Sinla awkwardly mounted the dragon. It wasn't her first time, as a Master Smith's wife there had been a few official events to attend across the continent, but she knew she would never get used to it. Karlin, on the other hand, mounted the blue with such eagerness and youthful agility, that she almost wondered if he hadn't been on any secret dragonrides before. Well, he might end up riding his own dragon now, though it was difficult for her to wrap around that idea. Another dragonrider in the family.

Karlin handed Sh'lua the bag and sat astride the large blue with a positively radiant expression. He couldn't wait to tell his father the good news!

Sh'lua attached the bag, made sure his passangers were securedly strapped in before taking his own place. **Off we go, gently, we have first time passangers,** he warned Galerith. The blue didn't bother to answer, like he ever jolted passangers around! He launced smoothly to the air, gaining altitude with slow, large circles. When the reached the right altitude, Sh'lua sent him visual and they winked /between/.

Last updated on the September 1st 2016

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It Runs in the Family