Search Experiments (2)

Writers: Jane, AL
Date Posted: 25th December 2008

Characters: K'hetah, Zelle
Description: Zelle gets K'hetah to accompany her on a search.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 4

"So. Dragons have landed, people are approaching ... Now what?"

"We wait." Zelle placed her hands upon her hips, eyeing the small crowd that was hurrying toward her. This bit seemed a bit more eager than the last. Her last Search, she had been greeted only by the holder and only after upon speaking with him did he deign to gather any people to present to her. Her smile grew wider as the people drew near, but she hung back instead of stepping forward and greeting them like she would normally do, waiting, watching.

K'hetah glanced at Zelle, wondering why she wasn't greeting the people. It seemed a strange way to go about a Search to him ... and any moment it couldn't help but look rude on their part. He cleared his throat, glanced at Zelle again, and then stepped forward. "Hello." If he'd known he was going to have a speaking part in this event he would have at least found out who the cotholder was. He knew the name of the _place_ well enough, for he had his turn sweepriding over it, but he didn't know the cotholder. "We're from Dolphin Cove Weyr -" which was as it should be. They would rightly be surprised to meet riders from another Weyr. "I'm K'hetah, rider of Loeth, here, and this is Zelle -"

"K'hetah!" Zelle hissed in annoyance, but it was too late. The holders automatically looked to K'hetah instead of her and she couldn't tell if it was because he was a bronzerider or if it was because he had stepped up. When the Search had been done, Zelle recorded the name of the cothold as well as the one boy who had been Searched. She would come back for him in a day or two and bring him to the Weyr. It would give him time to say goodbye. She had warned him to pack light as he would not have as much room in the barracks as his own home.

When the people had left, Zelle turned to K'hetah, her finger wagging in his face. "Don't be the first to say anything. You're ruining the experiment!"

"Experiment?" he repeated blankly. "I don't know anything about an experiment but you were just _standing_ there ... Silent! Which is pretty much unheard of, for you."

"Just hush. Next time, don't say anything. I want to see what the people do." Zelle clicked her tongue and mounted her dragon, motioning that K'hetah should do the same.

~ ~ ~

**Don't say anything,** K'hetah complained to his bronze as the two riders dismounted in front of the cothold.

}:_I_ didn't.:{

**Don't even start laughing at me, Loeth.**

His dragon's silence was more eloquent than laughter and he stood there, silently, waiting for Zelle to speak to the approaching women.

"Not a word." Zelle whispered before the group was within earshot.

Mostly women, yes but behind them hurried a couple of men who looked like they had just come in from the fields at the news of the dragonriders' arrivals. She placed a brilliant grin upon her face and simply waited to see what would happen.

**Tell Zelle we're being rude,** K'hetah said to his dragon.

The bronze passed the message to the green.

**Tell him to hush and wait.** Rillith returned the message with her rider's and set about preening her wings.

The women paused a bit away from the dragonriders and they didn't do anything but glance at one another until the men caught up to them. One man in particular, a short, stout fellow who, despite his stature, seemed strong, stepped forward. He let his eyes dance over Zelle briefly, but his attention soon became focused upon K'hetah and he offered the bronzerider a broad grin. "Welcome to Viret hold!"

"Thank you," K'hetah said. "I'm - er - this is Searchrider Zelle and Rillith, her dragon."

"There should be more coming." Once more the man's gaze passed over Zelle, but it was obvious that he wasn't paying her much attention. "They should be along quite soon. Word was sent and spread quickly as soon as you were seen in the sky."

"Because you realised Zelle and Rillith were here on Search?" K'hetah said hopefully, glad the man's words would prove to Zelle that they were more interested in her than him.

"We heard about the eggs." Viret nodded, then turned as a bunch more of the hold residents hurried up to gather around. "Ah, here we go. I believe we can begin now." He looked to K'hetah expectantly.

"Zelle. It's Zelle you need. The green and blue dragons can Search best. Zelle?" Surely she was going to say something soon?

"If everyone of age would please step forward." The greenrider finally piped up, her amused smile tickling her lips as she finally moved to the forefront. "We can get underway."

Viret turned and motioned to the children and young adults who were in the acceptable age range. There weren't many. Most looked barely old enough at that, and there were two older ones whom Zelle suspected were _too_ old. "Rillith is going to come closer. There's no need to be afraid, she won't harm you."

The green dragon really barely moved, just took one step and regarded those who stood before them. }:The redheaded boy.:{ She stated after a moment, then added, }:And the tall girl with the braids. They will both do well.:{ Zelle turned and called out to both of those Rillith had searched. One looked to be about fourteen, the boy, small and slender. The girl was as skinny as he was with a proud dusting of freckles across her face.

"These two have been Searched," K'hetah said, stumbling a little in his explanation since it wasn't something he did very often.

Viret knew that, of course, but he beamed all the more at K'hetah's declaration of it. Zelle cast an amused smile over at the bronzerider before stating, "If they agree to stand, then I will come back in tomorrow to bring them to the Weyr. They'll need to pack clothes, but not much else." They wouldn't have room for much else, really.

~ ~ ~

"Well?" the Wingleader demanded once they had separated themselves from the holders and were preparing to remount their dragons. "Was that better?"

"It proved a point." Zelle slipped a glove over her hand and flexed her fingers, the leather supple and worn. She was going to have to replace those soon. "It was rather funny, actually."

"I don't know who it was fun for, but I didn't enjoy it much."

"But you helped with a very important experiment." Zelle studied her glove a moment longer before gracing K'hetah with her smile. "And for that I thank you."

"Thank me?" K'hetah said incredulously. "You'd better be planning to take me to nice tavern somewhere and shout me an ale."

"I think that can be arranged." Zelle turned and clamoured upon her dragon's back. "Race you to the Weyr!"

"No contest!" he called after her, laughing, and knowing it was true. The small, agile green would be long gone before Loeth got into the air.

Last updated on the December 26th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Search Experiments (2)