Like a Kicked Tunnelsnake-Nest

Writers: Eimi, Jenny M.
Date Posted: 17th March 2006

Characters: R'sedel, Janella
Description: A Searchrider arrives at Lizard's Cove Seahold
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 26 of Turn 3

"Dragon! There's a dragon landing on the beach!"

Ritran bent over, panting, in the doorway. The lady within glared at him for disrupting her lesson, but her reluctant student was far more welcoming. Jumping up from her decidedly crooked stitching, Janella dashed past her youngest brother to peer towards the cove.

She wasn't alone in her enthusiasm. The usually ordered Seahold looked like a kicked tunnelsnake-nest. A helpless Harper tried in vain to contain his class, but young heads were poking out of all the windows of his classroom. Small fairs of firelizards the Hold was named for were wheeling in the air, eyes whirling with excitement from the holders below.

"Why's there a dragon here? Threadfall's not due for ages, and we've not had word of a visit," inquired a slightly breathless Ritran of his entranced sister.

"Don't be such a dimglow, Rit, didn't you hear? There's a clutch hardening on River Bluff's sands, he must be here on Search!" She was practically pulsing with excitement, "Don't you see? This is my chance! Father is never going to make up his mind about me. At this rate I'll be stuck here the rest of my life, with boring old wherries trying to teach me sewing and manners. But if I'm Searched, I can make my own life!"

Grabbing her brother by the hand, she jogged down to stand by their father. Holder Genard was twisting his hands anxiously as he waited to great the green Searchrider.

"I hope he doesn't take too many able lads. We're running short enough on the boats as it is without my best sailors being Searched," Genard mumbled softly to himself.

"Excuse me," R'sedel called as he walked towards the waiting Holder. His green Eniidith ambled on behind him. She was ever protective of her lifemate among strangers. The green had Searched with him long enough to know they were not always welcome in all Holds. "Good day to you, sir. Are you the Holder here?"

"Yes, I am Genard, Seaholder of Firelizards Cove. I hear that gold Vilarth has clutched at River Bluff. May I ask if you ride in Search?" Genard guided the Rider under the shade of some trees. It was far too hot a day to stand around in full sunlight, especially at midday.

"Yes, indeed I do." The greenrider put on his friendliest face, studying the Holder's reaction to the news. Some Holders were more pleased than other. Being new to the area, he was still learning the different Hold's personalities. "My green Eniidith seems to believe there is someone here that hold's promise. If I could have her inspect all your youths of suitable age, I would truly appreciate your cooperation."

"Of course. Konler," he called to the frazzled Harper, "Call those of age to be Searched."

There was no real need for the instruction, as the poor Journeyman had given up restraining the children as a lost cause. All the youths had long since flocked to the beach. The gaggle of eligible teens quickly straightened into a line, with Janella and Ritran scurrying to join. Nothing short of Threadfall could keep them away from a rider on Search from the weyr.

"I'm afraid we're not a large Hold, and many of the older lads are out on the boats," Genard explained as he waved the Hold youths closer "I hear that it's an unusually small clutch, though, so I hope they won't be missed"

"It is a bit on the small side," R'sedel nodded, "But that doesn't mean we don't want to give all of them as many choices as possible to find their perfect match. Every dragon is valuable."

"That's true," Genard agreed, "especially with the Red Star in the sky."

As if in reminder, that same star winked balefully in the midday sky. Janella shivered, along with the other younglings, at the mention of that terrifyingly impersonal nemesis. She hated feeling helpless against anything, and the agonising wait whilst the dragons fought Thread overhead grated on her every nerve. To think that now, there was a chance she could fight against it, with a dragon of her own flaming beneath her. Her fists clenched with renewed determination. She had to be Searched, she just had to!

R'sedel excused himself and walked back towards his waiting green. **See anything you like?**

}:Yes, very much. There are a couple that I like. They could be fine riders one day,:{ she answered confidently.

**I'll walk the line then,** her rider smiled, giving her a loving pat. He walked back to the start of the line and slowly began walking down until he reached a boy, no more than fourteen, with large hopeful brown eyes.

}:I like him,:{ Eniidith informed him.

R'sedel continued his walk, along the line until he reached a young freckled-faced woman with sparkling blue eyes. }:Her too. That's it.:{ The green's rider continued down the line, just to make sure everyone felt as if they had been given equal scrutiny.

"All right," R'sedel announced as he stepped back to address the whole line of hopefuls. "Holder Genard, my dragon sensed promise in two of your youths."

Two? Quiet talk broke out among those waiting to be Searched.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were both searched, Rit?" whispered Janella to her nervous brother, "We could fight Threadfall together, flying through the skies of Pern, saving the holders below from deadly peril!" Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of such bravery.

Ritran looked slightly green. "No it wouldn't," he hissed, "You know I hate that sort of thing. What if we got Threadscored, or lost Between? I'm far happier with both feet firmly on ground or deck."

Janella gave him a sardonic look. "And of course this would have nothing to do with a certain pretty Tanner's daughter, now would it?"

Ritran blushed.

"Eniidith is interested in that boy there," he said pointing to the browneyed youth, "and this young woman." The greenrider pointed directly at Janella.

Janella's mind went blank. She had been actually been Searched! It was a dream come true, in so many ways. No more crooked sewing, no more lessons in etiquette, no more cooking sessions that always ended in burnt disasters. In the Weyr, no one would shout at her if she went running when other ladies stayed abed. A fit body was far more important for a fighting rider than clear skin!

Genard sighed slightly. It was a pity that the rider picked out Basran's son. The lad was shaping up to become a fine sailor, due to join the main boats in a turn or so. But it couldn't be helped. Thread-free lands were far more important than a few more fish, after all. Judging by the look on his mother's face, there'd be no quarrel about the Search from that quarter, either.

His daughter's Search, on the other hand, was far more welcome. It provided an elegant solution to a rather thorny problem. Namely, what to do with the lass. In hindsight, letting her run wild for so many turns had been a mistake. No Holder would want to marry a girl as independent and wilful as she. But as a dragonrider, these traits could well be to her benefit. The Weyr would be far more accepting of his wayward child than any of the tradition-bound Holds and Halls.

"Well," he announced, "you heard the rider! If your mother agrees, Bedan, than you'd better get packed. You too, Jenella. It wouldn't be right to keep the rider waiting."

Janella's heart gave a twist, "It's Janella, father," she murmured, turning to head to her chamber. But then she brightened. Not even her father's forgetfulness could spoil this moment for her. Searched! Her step picked up until she was jogging, setting her poor brother panting again to catch up.

"Wow Jan," he gasped as they reached her room, "you're off to be a real dragonrider! I guess some dreams do come true. Promise me you'll take me flying once you Impress?"

"Silly, dragons can't fly straight after they hatch!" she laughed, stuffing clothing haphazardly into a sack, "But if I Impress, I promise I'll take you up as soon as I'm allowed, OK?" She ruffled her brother's hair. "You know, I might actually miss you, brat."

"Don't go getting all girlie on me" he warned, ducking away from her hand "Besides, you shouldn't keep the Rider waiting. He might leave without you!"

"Shards! He wouldn't, would he?" Slinging the bulging sack over one shoulder, she dashed out the door and back to the beach, where Genard was making polite conversation with the dragonrider. The other lad who'd been Searched, Bedon or Bedan or something, was submitting to one last hug from an overjoyed mother.

"Are you ready then?" R'sedel asked as he reached for her bag.

"I think I was born ready!" she replied, quivering with anticipation.

Bedan walked up to join them, his bag clutched between slightly nervous fingers. He eyed Eniidith's flank with trepidation, "How do we mount, sir? She's awfully tall."

"By waiting for a leg up, lad," the greenrider smiled. Eniidith lifted her forearm for the boy to step on. "Up you go young man. Trust me, when you have a dragon of your own, it will become as natural as breathing."

"Thank you" Bedan replied with a shaky smile, although whether to the rider or dragon was unclear. With a bit of a scramble, he managed to climb up and perched behind one of her broad neck-ridges. Down below he could see his mother smiling through her tears at the sight of her youngest on dragon-back for such a reason.

"Now you lass," he said reaching out to give Janella a hand.

With a grin, she took his hand and vaulted up behind Bedan. She wriggled slightly to settle herself against the green hide warm between her legs.

R'sedel helped them secure their riding straps and then swung up in front of them. "All right, one last wave good bye. Here we go!"

Janella waved furiously to Ritran as Eniidith sprung from the sun-warmed sands. As powerful wing beats raised them above the waving Holders, the Hold that had been her world for her first twelve turns shrunk beneath them. Janella made a solemn vow to herself through the whip of her hair in the wind; next time she returned, it would be on the back of her own dragon. Her father would never forget his own daughter's name once she was a dragonrider!

Last updated on the March 19th 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Like a Kicked Tunnelsnake-Nest