DCW: Will We Impress?

Writers: Allison, Vix
Date Posted: 18th June 2007

Characters: Harila, Ch'bal, Toncha
Description: Harila and Chabal discuss Impressing and Searching.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 11 of Turn 4

"I still don't see why you want to learn all of this." Chabal's demeanor was
sullen as he rose from his seat. The instructor for the day had already
left, after describing to the candidates typical maladies of young dragons.
"You're not going to Impress and neither am I. We'll stay for the Hatching
and then we'll go back to live with Grandda."

"Maybe you won't Impress but I expect to find myself a dragon on the Sands,"
his sister replied. "That search dragon wouldn't have chosen us if we didn't
have as much chance as everyone else here - and more than most people."

Harila smiled to herself and turned in her seat it face Chabal. "Your
sister's right Chabal. We wouldn't have been chosen if there wasn't the
possibility that we'd Impress. So stop being such a grump. Besides, if we
do Impress, wouldn't you want to know what you're doing instead of being
thrown into a situation with no clue? I think we've all got a chance and
hopefully the eggs will be okay when they're brought back. That's what we
should truly be worried about."

"I'm not a Weyr person, I'm a holder," insisted the boy. "I've been brought
up to take care of the land, to raise a family, and to pass on that life to
my children. It's what's expected of me."

"People don't always do what's expected of them." Toncha gave Harila a
conspiratorial grin. "I _will_ walk off the Sands with a dragon and I'll
know exactly how to care for her. I've decided that instead of doing what
others expect of my life, I'll do what I expect of myself."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," retorted Chabal. "And Harila
is right - how do we know that the eggs are even viable? They could be of no
more value than rocks right now."

"I understand that Chabal, but the Search dragons would not have chosen you
if you weren't a possible Candidate. Don't you think if the eggs weren't
viable the dragons would know? I'm sure they'd let us know, I mean, look at
what happened when the two eggs were lost in transit," Harila said and
shuddered. She still remembered the dragons keening.

"I agree with Toncha. When I get out there, I will also walk off the Sands
with a dragon. I just want to do what I feel is right and what I feel is
right is standing out there on those Sands and, hopefully, Impressing!"

Chabal had to admit that the girl was right - the dragons would have known.
"Alright, but what if your dragon was in one of the eggs that was lost?"

Harila frowned and thought about that question. "Well, that's a good
question. If it was my dragon who was lost, than I can only hope that
there's another dragon out there that I seem appealing to. However, it
doesn't solve anything to dwell on that problem. Like I said, we can only
hope our dragon is still there. Why are you so angry anyways? Is it just
because you don't want to be here?"

"What's the point?" He sighed, trying to remove the anger from his voice.
"We've not been brought up to this kind of life, at least not Toncha and
me." He glanced toward his sister in response to her glare. "Well, it's
true. We've been raised for a quieter life, one with less people and more
solid goals. I don't care, would be absolutely happy at home, but what about
her?" He indicated his sister. "She's got her hopes up and what happens if
she doesn't Impress?"

"Well, how long do you plan on Standing to see if you can Impress? Have you
spoken to anyone about how you feel? Besides, the Weyr does have a solid
goal. In fact, all dragonriders have a solid goal: to protect Pern's
population from Thread. That seems like a pretty solid goal to me at least.
But you're right, being a dragonrider _isn't_ a quiet life," Harila replied
and smiled at him. "Don't worry, life has a way of working itself out. At
least, that advice has always helped me through tough times."

"I understand that, the goal of fighting Thread," he conceded. "But . . .
what about now? Families don't even have the thought that those who Impress
young will at least have extra time to train. Now the Weyrleader wants to
start dragonriders of fifteen turns flying Fall. Fifteen? That's not old
enough to have experienced any of life but go ahead and risk that life? I
don't want my sister facing that situation."

"And it isn't your choice to make," said his sister, her voice cold. "I can
make my own decisions about my life and I intend to do so. Yes, we came here
because Grandda insisted that those Searched have a duty to do so, but I'm
staying because it's what _I_ want to do."

Harila turned to Toncha. "Don't worry, I understand. We're all here because
we've made our own decision to be here and want to do our part to help out
the people of Pern. At least, I just want to ride a green," Harila said and
smiled at the two. "Hey, are we done here?" she said, looking around and
noticing everyone was gone. "Do you both want to continue this discussion
over lunch?" she said and smiled at Toncha and winked at Chabal.

"How about lunch _without_ the discussion?" Toncha gave her brother a
pointed look.

With a long-suffering sigh, Chabal forced a smile for both girls. "Alright,
lunch."

Last updated on the June 21st 2007

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DCW: Will We Impress?