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Writers: Teresa
Date Posted: 27th February 2008

Characters: T'nel
Description: Terainel remembers what his life was like before he came to be a candidate
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 4

Terainel walked the halls of the Weyr, not looking for anything or anyone in particular. He had been here for two sevendays already, but after spending a turn and a half on his own, it still felt a little strange to be among people, and lots of them. All doing what they wanted to do. No Father demanding that he be what he is. No one_ here_ tells him that he is worthless or lazy because he will not give in to his fathers demands. He supposed in time that feeling would go away.

It was his rest day and he was exploring the halls and the grounds. He decided to go outside, it was a little chilly, but not cold. A perfect time to go for a walk. He walked out into the sunshine and the sun warmed his face despite the chill in the air. He took a deep breath drinking in the salty sea air. Complete opposite of the cool mountain air he had been used to all his life. He decided to go to the beach.

Perching himself on a rock and looking out at the water he pulled his knees up to his chest, crossed his arms and rested his chin on his arms. He really liked it out here. His life was more different than her had ever imagined. But then again he could never see beyond his life at home.

Home; it has been a while since he has been home, or even had a home for that matter. He did miss his Mother, Sisters and Brother. His Father, he would rather not think about.

He thought about the day he had left; "You will start your training to run!!!!!" his Father yelled at him "I will not !!!! I don't want to spend my life running from one place to another!!" Terainel yelled back "I would rather breed heardbeast !!!" He continued just picking anything out of the air. He really didn't know what he wanted to do. He just knew he did not want to be a Runner.

"Only people with out endurance or strength breed heardbeast, that must mean you as well. worthless, lazy, piece of canine droppings. That is what you are, and all you will ever be worth. His Fathers face and ears were red and his fists clenched. "I will not have a son of mine being lazy or worthless." At that point his Father had pulled his arm back to punch him.

Before his Father could get a good swing in, Terainel charged him, ramming his shoulder into his Fathers stomach, using his own body weight to knock him down. Terainel did not fall with him, but stood there for a few seconds, not really believing that he had done that.

"You treacherous little tunnel snake." his Father said is a low deadly voice "I'll teach you a lesson you will never forget."

Terainel knew what that meant, he turned to get away before his Father could get his hands on anything. He turned to see his Mother standing in the doorway tears streaming down her face. She had never done anything to intervene in his beatings, but she had always administered first aid when it was needed. He was so stunned by her presence that he did not hear his Father come up behind him. He had only seen his Mother put her hand over her mouth and close her eyes.

By then it was too late. His Father had picked up one of his many disciplinary tools and swung it, hitting him square on the upper part of his right arm. Terainel grabbed at his arm with his left hand, groaning with pain, he looked up just in time to see his Father's fist come right at his face, knocking him off of his feet. He looked up again to see that his Mother had gone from the scene. Not wanting to be hit again, he pulled one of his legs up to his chest, then struck his Father right in the groin with all the strength he could muster.

His Father fell to the floor, with his hands covering his groin area. He took the opportunity to jump up and run. The only time in his life that he ever wanted to run. He ran as fast as he could, not really caring which way it was.

His thoughts returning to the present, tears started sliding down his cheek. He knew that his Father would have blamed his Mother for the whole thing, and she would have gotten his punishment. But that was all behind him now.

He knew that his birthing day had come and gone twice so he had spent about a turn and a half on his own. He wiped the tears from his eyes and cheek. and just listened to the sound of the waves. After a few minutes he was lost in thought again.

He thought of the day that he was found; He had been searching for some fruits, or other things to eat when a huge shadow passed over head. He had looked up sheilding his eyes from the sun, only to see a dragon with his rider in the sky. At first he thought nothing of it. He watched the dragon pass, but then the dragon circled around.

He continued to watch as the dragon looked down toward the ground from his flight path. *It is a blue one*, Terainel thought to himself. *I wonder what it is doing here?* Then the dragon started a down ward path. As soon as Terainel realized that it was headed straight for him he panicked. He had to hide, he didn't want to go back home. Surely this dragon was here to take him home.

He found a group of tall rocks to try to hide in. Hoping to Faranth that the dragon rider did not see him. But it was too late. He heard the dragon make a rumbling sound then the rider came into is hiding place.

"Hey there" the rider said in a gentle voice, showing his hands with his palms turned upward.

Terainels breathing grew more rapid, and he looked around for a way to get out, but the only way in or out was now being blocked by the dragon rider.

"whoa, there young fella" the rider said in his most tranquil voice. "What is the emergency that you have to run off?"

Terainel looked him straight in the eyes, and for some reason that made him relax a little. Still on the defensive he told the rider in a low sullen voice "Your not taking me back, I won't go back"

"Go back where?" the rider asked a little confused.

"My Father has somehow found a rider to bring me back to the mountains, well you can just go back and tell him that I am dead, tell him anything you want. But I will not go back with you." He shook a little from being so bold with a dragon rider. They deserved more respect than what he had just shown.

His father had always said that dragon riders were nothing but lazy layabouts, who had no morals or scruples. But Terainel had thought differently. Anyone who could ride astride a beast like a dragon had to be very strong, smart, and deserved respect.

"I don't even know who your father is. I did, however, want to invite you to come with me to Dolphin Cove Weyr. My friend out there seems to think you would make a fine dragon rider."

"What?" he stammered, a little shocked and extremely confused. "Me?, I could be a dragon rider?" he continued. His mind reeled from the shock of the statement, the rider had not come to take him home. He came to take him to a Weyr to try to become a dragon rider.

"Well, that is what that great big hunk of blue hide out there says" the rider said jerking his thumb in the general direction of the waiting dragon. "He seems to think that you have a lot of potential"

Terainel shook his head. "no, no, no There must be someone else around here that he meant, not me. I am from a family of runners, I have no family history of anyone that was ever a rider."

"My dragon is very rarely mistaken when it come to finding new riders. So far his record is pretty good. He has only had two of ten candidates not be able to impress on their first stand on the sands." the rider shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head, then added, "I would say that was a pretty good record, wouldn't you?"

"Well, yeah. I guess so" Terainel was starting to relax a little more now. He looked down at the ground and thought for a few minutes. *me, a dragon rider, wow. If only I could impress, that would be better than anything I had ever dreamed of.*

"He really thinks I could be a rider?" Terainel asked again not really sure what he had heard was correct.

"yup" the rider replied.

"But what if I don't impress?" He asked not really wanting to think about that now that he had the chance to become a dragon rider.

"Well," the rider thought for a second "you don't have to go home if that is what you are asking." he said in a concerned voice. *what on Pern could that boy have gone through to not want to go home?* he thought to himself.

"You mean, I wouldn't have to leave the Weyr?" he asked amazed.

"Nope, you can stay as long as you like, or go some place else if the desire arises." the rider told him.

Terainel thought for a few more minutes. "OK, I'll go"

"Do you have anything you want to bring?" the rider asked. Mostly out of habit.

Looking down, then raising his eyes he repleid "No, what you see is all there is" he replied with a nervous lop sided grin.

"Ahh, well the head woman will help you with clothes and shoes, and get you a full belly." he said stepping out of the hiding place.

Terainel climbed on the back of the blue dragon behind the rider, and before he knew it they were circling down toward the Weyr.

His thoughts now back to the present, he tuned his head to lay it upon his crossed arms. He thought he would never be as happy as he was here.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2008

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