Homesick

Writers: Emma, Joy
Date Posted: 9th October 2005

Characters: C'dinin, Arcon
Description: C'dinin and his blue Terebinth Search out a reluctant Arcon
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 8, day 8 of Turn 3

**Terebinth?** C'dinin ran a hand through his dark hair as the pair came out of /between/.

}:Here, there's something here,:{ stated the blue.

**Well let's take a look old friend.**

With those words, Terebinth spiralled down out of the sky, eventually ending up over a small cothold.

The morning meal had just finished and Arcon, along with all but his youngest brothers were making their way out towards the west fields.
Their father would be joining them later after fixing the plow harness that had snapped the day before.

"Dragon!" announced Nolic, the youngest of the five boys allowed to work in the fields. Arcon and the older boys looked up into the cloudy sky were their little brother was pointing and indeed, there was a blue dragon spiraling gracefully out of the sky.

"It's not time for Thread is it?" Arcon asked, worriedly.

"Not for two more days." His oldest brother confirmed with a frown.
"Nolic, go get Pa." The ten turns old nodded and ran back into the building. The others watched as the blue dragon landed.

**Here?**

}:Yes, here.:{ C'dinin unfastened his straps, and swung himself down from his seat on the dragon. By now, there was a small group of people beginning to form, all drawn by Terebinth.

"My duty to you and yours," he began. "I'm C'dinin, rider of blue Terebinth here."

Arcon's father approached, wiping his hands clean. "Good morning Bluerider, please pass my welcome to your dragon. My name is Arbitt.
What brings you to my home? Not bad news, I hope?"

Arcon and his brothers shifted nervously as the many possibilities of a dragonrider suddenly appearing passed through their minds, each more alarming than the last.

"I'm riding on search. Terebinth thinks that one of your children may have the potential to impress a dragonet, there are are eggs hardening as I speak."

Arbitt was first relieved, there were many unpleasant reasons for a dragonrider to arrive unannounced. He'd heard rumours of a sickness in the Weyr's herdbeasts, for example. However, after a moment, the words sunk in.

"One of my children?" He looked over the group of youngsters, the girls had come out with his wife. The older ones carrying the toddlers. He loved all of them, in his way and the thought of them Impressing a dragon was worrisome.

He would be proud of any of his sons, need them in the fields though he might, who Impressed a dragon of brown or bronze. But what if one of his boys Impressed a blue or worse...green? He knew what that would mean. And shells, what if the dragon wanted one of his daughters?
"Which one?"

Terebinth had been scanning the older children intently. }:This one,:{ he said after a moment, the turns of experience guiding him to the tall boy.
The dragon turned his head to study his chosen one a bit more. }:Yes him, he will make a fine rider.:{ "Holder Arbitt, Terebinth thinks that your son would make a good rider. The tall boy, might I ask his name?"

When the dragonrider explained to their father that he was on Search and one of them might be able to Impress a dragon, there was an excited muttering from the children. Especially the boys and girls still taking lessons from the harper who came by.

Arcon wondered if the dragon had picked Nolic. After all, his little brother had been the first to spot the blue dragon when it appeared.
The thought was distressing as he and Nolic were particularly close amongst all his siblings.

But then he noticed something. The dragon appeared to be staring right at him. For a moment, he locked eyes with the creature and couldn't look away. Arcon was so caught up in the whirling of the blue's eyes that he almost missed the rider announcing his own name.

"His name is Arcon," Arbitt replied with a mixture of pride and worry in his voice.

"Arcon," repeated C'dinin. "Might I ask how old you are?"

Blinking in bewilderment, he replied, "Seventeen turns. I'll be eighteen in a few months time." He paused a moment before asking, "Your dragon can't truly want me, can he?"

"He does. Do you have any ties here? Anything that might prevent you from accepting search?"

"Ties? No. Yes, my family is here. I can't go off to the Weyr right now, there's too much work to do." He looked to his father for support, but was stopped by the look on the older man's face.

"Arcon, it's a great honor you've been given boy." Arbitt said. "Not everyone can be Searched."

"But Pa..." He stopped his argument short by his father's raised eyebrows. Arbitt's children did not argue with him. Arcon sighed in defeat and looked back at C'dinin. "There's nothing preventing me from accepting," he said quietly.

"Then you can either come to the Weyr now, or wait a few days and gather your things together and either myself or one of my fellow riders will return for you. That is, if you accept this," said C'dinin. "I do have to tell you that not everyone impresses, however the vast majority of people that Terebinth has found have gone on to become good riders."

Once the decision was made, Arcon preferred to get on with it. "I'll pack a bag real quick and go now," he replied quietly. He turned without another word and went into the cothold to gather a few things together. He was followed.

"You're really going?" Nolic asked sadly.

He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile for his little brother.
"Yeah Nolic. Pa's right. Not everyone get's Searched out and they need lots of folks on the Sands so the dragonets have a better chance to pick someone." Everyone knew what happened if a hatchling didn't find it's intended rider.

Nolic nodded, understanding, though it was obvious he wasn't happy.
"I'll miss you Arcon. You're the only one who every listens to me."

"Aww, don't get all soapy on me Nolic," Arcon teased to cover his emotions. "I'll come visit whenever I can and I might not even Impress. They might send me home anyway."

"Don't hope for that!" Nolic replied seriously before a grin replaced his sad expression. "It'd be great if you can visit on your own dragon and take me flying."

Arcon laughed and ruffled his little brother's hair before shouldering the bag he'd packed. "It would, wouldn't it?" Together the two of them walked back outside where everyone was still gathered around the Searchrider and his blue dragon.

Arcon said a quick goodbye to every one of his brothers and sisters.
He listened to his stepmother's advice on getting enough good food to eat and his father's on working hard and being honest. He took one last look around what had been his home for his entire life and then turned to the dragonrider. "I'm ready."

"Then lets go." C'dinin took the bundle from the lad and fastened it to Terebinth's straps. "Do you need more time to make your farewells?"

Arcon turned around to face his family again and was mobbed by several of his younger brothers and sisters all trying to hug him at the same time. He laughed to hide the tightness in his throat and teased the saddest of them until they giggled. He glanced over at Nolic to make sure he was ok and grinned at the boy's smile.

"You be good now. And don't forget to wash up before you eat," his stepmother told him as she straightened his tunic. She stepped back to make room for his father.

"Make me proud Arcon," he said softly, gripping Arcon's shoulder firmly. It was the most physical affection the man had ever shown.
Arbitt had always left the hugging to the children's mothers.

"Yes sir," Arcon whispered, his eyes stinging. He suddenly felt very homesick. He needed to go now before he embarrassed himself.

He turned to C'dinin, "Let's go now, please."

"Okay," was the bluerider's reply. "Terebinth," he said aloud to the dragon, "We're taking this one back with us."

Last updated on the October 10th 2005

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Homesick