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<< So, you're telling me that's NOT how it happens? >> Kaedrelath asked his rider, his voice bursting with confusion, husky to the point of sounding like sandpaper. M'zaji let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head while his shoulders moved in silent laughter. "I don't know how else to explain it to you Kae! We've had this conversation a thousand times before," the bluerider said, looking at his blue fondly. M'zaji was cradled in Kaedrelath's forearms, and the dragon lounged lazily near the man-made lake in Ista's Weyr Bowl. The blue had an insatiable curiosity and was constantly grilling his rider about how that worked, or why does that happen that way? M'zaji oftentimes did not have an acceptable answer; rather, Kaedrelath was not satisfied with the way his rider explained things. The pair often spent hours lounging under the sun, arguing and debating back and forth about various things.

<< M'zaji! Look at her! >> the blue perked up suddenly, letting out an excited warble, flaring his wings and half-standing in excitement. "Who?" M'zaji said half-heartedly, expecting to see some slinky green stretching up on the ledges. << No, no, not a green. Her! That girl! >> Kaedrelath clarified helpfully, his head bobbing up and down in a show of just how excited he was. M'zaji couldn't help but laugh. "She must be somethin' special, eh?" He said and pushed himself to standing. Kaedrelath made a decent Search dragon, though sometimes he picked good ones, and sometimes he didn't. M'zaji debated sometimes asking how Kaedrelath knew just who would make a good candidate or not, but decided that he didn't want to listen to the long-winded response. So, he just went with it.

"That girl there, that tall one? She looks out of place, and lost," M'zaji noted with a chuckle. "Are you sure?" Kaedrelath looked affronted, snorting and ruffling his rider's hair. << Of course I'm sure!>> the blue insisted with shrill bugle, throwing his head back. His eyes whirled rapidly, a mix of bright blues and greens that complimented his hide. << Am I ever wrong? I'm sure. Her! M'zajiiii, go get her! >> Kaedrelath's voice was accompanied by the sweet sound of a babbling brook. "Okay, okay! I'm going," M'zaji said and strode towards the girl, his blue trailing after him like an excited puppy-dog.

M'zaji wasn't any good at striking up conversations, so as soon as he was within earshot, he simply called out to the girl. "Uhhh, you there," he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "You look lost. Do you need any help finding your way around?" He offered politely, a warm smile spread across his face, his eyes bright and cheery~ and with Kaedrelath leaning over his shoulder nearly drooling in anticipation, M'zaji had to hope that the girl didn't turn and bolt away.

Kaedrelath was hardly proving Tseka's thoughts about dragons correct; the blue had his head hanging over M'zaij's shoulder, his eyes whirling a nigh-frantic mix of green and blue. His wings were held half-cocked, and he was practically quivering in excitement! << M'zaji! Ask her! Ask her to stay and Stand! >> Kaedrelath urged his rider, his voice becoming shrill and almost unbearable to listen to. Shells, man, calm down! I'll get to it! Have some patience, for Faranth's sake! The bluerider had to take a moment and breathe in deeply to prevent himself from laughing; Kaedrelath's excitement was infectious, and M'zaji didn't want to scare the girl away. She seemed a little uncomfortable in the Weyr, and M'zaji noted that her shoulder knot marked her as part of the smith craft.

"Please, I'm M'zaji~ and this oaf is Kaedrelath," he introduced himself with a soft and gentle smile, poking a thumb over his shoulder at his blue. "He isn't usually like this," M'zaji explained with a chuckle. "He's just... he is very excited to meet you, Tseka," the bluerider said, figuring that his cryptic remark would probably confuse the girl. But, he'd get to that part of their conversation in due time. His eyes moved to inspect the two 'lizards perched on her shoulders. It was often said that those who Impressed firelizards were also suited to dragon riding; Impressing a dragon and Impressing a firelizard weren't entirely different. They both required the Impressee to show empathy superior to their peers, and Tseka obviously had proven herself to both the green and the bronze firelizards.

"The Weyrlingmaster? I'm sure cranky, old K'le is expecting you," M'zaji said solemnly, pursing his lips. The Weyrlingmaster was not a man to be toyed with, and M'zaji didn't want to keep him waiting. If Tseka was here on smithing business, then he did not want to prevent her from completing her duties. << No! No, we can't let her get away! >> Kaedrelath threw back his head and trumpeted loudly, throwing his wings open to their fullest. "Okay, okay! Shards, cut that out!" M'zaji called, glaring over his shoulder at his impatient blue. He turned to look back at Tseka, and after Kaedrelath had resettled himself, the bluerider smiled warmly at the girl. "I'll take you to him, but in a moment. I have a.. a request for you," he said simply, and waited to see how she'd react.

Tseka thought that she met Kaedrelath's approval? Well, M'zaji thought to himself, that was definitely one way to put it. But, he wasn't sure if that would be the term he would have used. Shrugging it off, M'zaji returned his attention to the possible-candidate standing in front of him. The bluerider felt Kaedrelath's impatience and excitement rising to near-unbearable levels; he'd better just ask the sharding question already! But M'zaji felt that it was somewhat rude to catch the girl so off-guard, and just throw it out there that she would be more than welcome to stay at the Weyr and stand, if she wanted to.

Kaedrelath would have none of it, though. The blue roughly nosed his rider in the middle of his back, pushing the bluerider forward a step. The distance between the rider and Tseka was lessened. Little did M'zaji know that this gesture might be taken by Tseka in the wrong way; how was he supposed to know she was toying with the notion that M'zaji was trying to bed her? When she mentioned that her delivery for the Weyrlingmaster was a surprise, or something of the sort, and K'le wouldn't be expecting her, M'zaji felt much more at ease. A load of tension seemed to slip off of his shoulders; he stood a little straighter, and seemed slightly more relaxed.

"Well, Tseka... I know I've been beating around the bush, but I didn't want to throw you off-guard," M'zaji explained delicately, and offered the girl a smile. Kaedrelath crooned reassuringly, sticking his head over M'zaji's shoulder and stretching his neck so that he could sniff at the girl. M'zaji batted at Kaedrelath's nose, swatting away his blue. "Get out of here, you great lout," the bluerider playfully scolded his dragon, but it was obvious his voice was heavily laced with affection. "Tseka, would you like to stay at the Weyr? Kaedrelath thinks that you'll do well as a candidate." There! He'd said it, and now all he could do was wait for her reaction and response. Kaedrelath offered Tseka a congratulatory bugle, reaching out to touch the girl's mind briefly with an overwhelming rush of welcome, warmth, and reassurance.

Confusion flashed across M'zaji's face; he watched as Tseka reached up to unwrap her green firelizard's tail from around her neck, and he hoped that she wanted to stay. Kaedrelath might throw a tantrum if she decided not to! The blue dragon peered curiously at Tseka's two companions, miniatures of himself differing in size and color only. He warbled placatingly, trying to soothe the green that seemed so protective and on-edge.

M'zaji couldn't help but let relief wash over him in the form of a grin as Tseka's eyes went wide at his proposition. He feigned offense when she teased him (and to be honest, he was surprised that the girl knew how to joke! She seemed so serious,) but the smile returned to his face quickly enough. But, as quickly as his pleasure had appeared, it was replaced with confusion and skepticism. Kaedrelath echoed his sentiments with a low rumble, pulling his head back and lifting himself to sit on his haunches, wings tucked tightly to his sides while his head cocked to the sides. << She... she doesn't think we're serious? >> Kaedrelath asked, M'zaji realizing how hurt those words had made his blue. M'zaji pursed his lips and nodded slowly, thinking of how to word the reassurances he wanted to give the girl.

But Kaedrelath beat him to the punch. The blue did not understand why the girl did not snatch up the opportunity to stand for a clutch. It was a great honor, and her skepticism of them as Search riders was offensive. << Don't dawdle on your decision, girl, >> the blue snapped, sounding more harsh than M'zaji thought he should have. Not only were his words rough, but he invaded Tseka's mind with a rush of husky, uncomfortable jumble of emotions and images, one indiscernible from the other. M'zaji quickly took charge of the situation, taking a half-step closer to the girl and locking his gaze onto hers. "Tseka, Kaedrelath knows that you'll make a good candidate. This is the process of becoming a candidate. If he says you're good to go, then that's it. We'll bring you back home, you can tell your family and gather your things, say your good-byes, and then we'll bring you back here to settle into the candidate's barracks. We have the final say on who becomes a candidate. We aren't the only Search riders, mind you, but if Kaedrelath says you should be on our Sands, as a candidate, on the day of the Hatching, well... It's all up to you. If you want to be a candidate, all you need to do is say yes. If you want to go back to the Hall, and be a smith, that's fine. No one will think less of you for it, but it's all in your hands now."

Kaedrelath was still confident in his decision; searching Tseka was something that he felt very strongly about. So, naturally, when she announced that yes, she would like to become a candidate- the blue threw his head back and trumpeted triumphantly. M'zaji laughed, both at his dragon's excitement and simply out of sheer joy. It was always a good feeling, knowing that he was helping bring in future generations of riders. << See? I told you she should be a candidate! I was worried there for a second that she didn't like us, or something, but she would have been foolish to refuse, >> Kaedrelath rambled to his rider, his mindvoice light and seeming to float in on clouds. The blue was very happy.

M'zaji took a moment to briefly explain to Tseka that now they would have to return to her home, the Hall. She'd have to let her family, or some authority figure, know that she'd been Searched and had accepted the offer. She would have time to gather her things, and could bring whatever personal items she wanted~ so long as she thought they would fit in one trunk, kept at the foot of her new cot. The bluerider turned to his dragon (the blue had vaulted into the air and winged up to their weyr to retrieve his riding straps from their peg on the wall) and helped Kaedrelath into the straps. "Alright, up you go!" M'zaji said, reaching down to grab Tseka's hand and help her up Kaedrelath's extended leg. "Have you ever ridden a dragon before?" M'zaji asked, but Kaedrelath didn't wait for an answer before launching himself skywards.

It was roughly around an hour later when M'zaji, Kaedrelath, and his passenger winked back into view above Ista Weyr. It had been awkward for M'zaji, milling around while Tseka gathered her things and said her good-byes. But now,t hat was over and done with. Once Kaedrelath had touched down, M'zaji helped Tseka to dismount. "Now, we'll have to get you settled in to your new home," he said, his eyes bright and cheery to match the smile on his face.

The barracks where the candidates were housed were quiet this time of day, most of the current candidates either off doing chores or grabbing a late lunch. M'zaji was grateful for the quiet. He thought that if all of the candidates were around, it might have been a little too raucous for Tseka to settle in easily. "Well, here we are," M'zaji said, pushing in the door to the girls' dormitory. "I won't go in, since, well, I'm not a girl," he said with a laugh. "But feel free to take any empty cot, and put your things in the trunk at the base of the bed. There should be a candidate's robe, freshly washed and pressed, hanging on the peg beside your cot. Don't touch it," he said, his face completely serious. "It's important that when the Hatching starts, your robe is easily accessible. You won't want to keep the dragonets waiting! If there isn't a robe there, come find me and I'll show you who to ask for a new one," M'zaji felt bad, barraging the young woman with all these rules and instructions, but she had to know. "Chores for the day will be posted over there," M'zaji said, vaguely gesturing to a cork board where various things were written and hung~ chores, announcements, things of that nature.

"Any questions?" He asked, grinning, hoping that Tseka wasn't too overhwelmed!

M'zaji had to smile as Tseka motioned for him to wait; she seemed as though she were relaxing around him, if only slightly. The bluerider leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest patiently. He partially unfolded his arms when he heard a thump, but then the girl appeared in the doorway and M'zaji was reassured. He wasn't sure what the noise had been, but he had felt suddenly worried. He brushed the feeling off with a smile, though, prepared to answer any questions he could.

Tseka certainly had a few questions for him. Kaedrelath could be heard outside, chirping rapidly in his version of laughter. The blue was pleased that the girl he had searched out seemed so interested, so eager to learn, and so intuitive. << I think she'll do very well, >> Kaedrelath said confidently, but he felt the same way about all the candidates he searched. There was no way to tell who would, and would not, impress. Not until the day of the hatching!

"If you don't Impress, you have two options," M'zaji began. "You can remain at the Weyr and try again, at every hatching to come, until you're twenty-one turns. Or, if you'd rather, you can return to your family and the hall." The bluerider did not want to make Tseka think she was stuck at the Weyr. If she did not want to keep trying at impression, she could leave. M'zaji looked towards the firelizards and shrugged. "Just keep an eye on them. As long as they don't cause any disruptions, you can take them along with you wherever," he said and waved a hand vaguely. "Except for any times your on the sands. Touchings, the hatching, anytime. The queens don't care for their presence," the bluerider added quickly, frowning to convey just how serious he was. The last question, though, returned the smile to his face. "K'le would most likely be in, or around, the kitchens right now. He likes to eat dinner a tad earlier than the rest of the Weyr," he advised, knowing the particular habits of his old weyrlingmaster.