You Only Get One Shot

Writers: DL
Date Posted: 12th May 2011

Characters: S'ryad
Description: Surryad thinks back about his Searching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentor Approved

His father had told him to get away from the dragon, that they had work to
do and he didn't have time to gawk at the green beast hovering in the Hold's
courtyard. Surryad didn't have time to wonder why his father had used such a
rough tone too. Sarad wasn't known for explaining himself nicely when he
wanted something done.

In hindsight, Surryad realized why his father had been so gruff. That night,
as he turned the token over in his hands, listening to his parents shout at
each other, he began to realize a lot of things.

He hadn't _meant_ to attract the dragon's attention. Plenty of Searchdragons
had dropped by Emerald Falls over the Turns and Surryad had managed to
escape their attention. Or just politely declined their offer. Not that
Surryad didn't think he was dragonrider material - his father didn't want
his son going off to the Weyr.

"You have a duty to the Hold," Sarad always said, "They took us in. You
leaving would be one less worker for the Lord Holder and we can't have
that."

Younger Surryad had just taken these words as truth and went back to work,
allowing himself the momentary dream of something more but eventually,
usually that night, telling himself that he was a worker, not a dragonrider.
And this had sufficed for Turns.

But now that Surryad was older, and the dragons still as insistent, he began
to wonder if maybe...

"Don't look at it," Sarad said sharply as they worked side by side. Surryad
grabbed another weed and gave it a quick tug. He reached for another,
ignoring the tingle of sweat between his shoulder blades. The green dragon
was settled in the courtyard, talking to other Searched Holdbrats. Over the
rows of plants, Surryad could see their expressions - elation, hope,
happiness.

He didn't voice a complaint, but he felt it. He just wanted to talk to the
dragonrider - he wasn't going to go _with_ her. Not yet anyway. But instead,
Surryad kept working.

At one point, he happened to catch the green bulk moving at the edge of his
vision and he thought the dragonrider was leaving. To his panic, when he
looked up, the dragon was looking at him. And moving _towards_ him.

It was oblivious to the edge of the field and just before it could cross the
irrigation ditch and begin trampling plants, Surryad intercepted it, waving
his arms and shouting, "No! No! You'll break the plants! Stop!"

The rider said something to her mount and the dragon stopped, looking down
at the tiny green leaves and then back at Surryad. "She thinks you've got
what it takes to be a dragonrider," the woman said with a grin.

"I know," Surryad said softly, dropping his eyes and adding, "Ma'am."

"Surryad! Get away from there," Sarad growled. "We've got work to do."

"You know?" the rider asked quietly.

Surryad nodded. "I've been Searched before. I've never accepted though. If
you'll excuse me, dragonrider," he said, with a bow, "I have to get back to
work."

"Hang on," the rider said quickly, reaching into her pocket and slipping him
a wooden token. "If you ever change your mind, that's your token for the
Weyr."

"Surryad!" Sarad shouted sharply.

"Thank you, dragonrider," Surryad replied with a bow and a flutter of hope.

That's how it had started. And now, here he was, at the Weyr, in the
Candidate Barracks, miles away from Emerald Falls, from the fields, from the
yelling, from the constraints. Here and with a chance for something...more.

Last updated on the May 16th 2011

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