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Username: Faewynd

Character Name: Farrah

Age: 14

Personality:

Farrah is innocent to the ways of the wider world and lacks general education in subjects that most people find essential, such as reading and writing. But she is a clever girl with a keen mind, and she has a large base of practical knowledge. She knows her jobs around the farm inside and out, as well as everybody else's jobs, even if she's too small to do them. She has a love of nature and is always exploring and making discoveries that are new to her, often embarking in pseudo-scientific research about subjects such as the lifecycle of a caterpillar or a tadpole. Because she is a fairly ignorant girl regarding politics and social schemes, Farrah is extremely trusting of others, having never been given a reason not to be. She has grown up safe and secure and has no reason to think that danger could possibly come in the guise of a human.

Devoted to her family, Farrah has a lot of responsibilities and she takes them seriously. She never goes out to play before her work is done, and when she does go play, she always drags along her younger siblings who dote on her. Farrah believes in taking responsibility because she knows that if even one person drops the ball, the entire farm could come to a screeching halt. She appears to have an infinite level of patience for her siblings and will show them how to do something as many times as it takes until they understand and can do the task on their own.

Farrah has an independent spirit, she makes decisions quickly and doesn't usually look back in regret once she has decided on something. She lives without a lot of parental oversight - she is a trustworthy girl and her parents rely on her to be where she needs to be and do what she needs to do. She doesn't require prodding or lecturing or scolding, and she doesn't respond well to these tactics at all. Rather like a donkey, if you try to force her in one direction she will reflexively try to move the opposite way. She blossoms under praise and trust and withers under scorn and criticism.

Not the loudest, most brazen girl in the world, Farrah prefers to observe before speaking. This can make people believe her to be somewhat dim. But she has quite a bit to say once she gets to know you and once she's had a chance to formulate her thoughts properly. She takes to her adventures and explorations the same way - she is up for anything at least once, but she wants to have a plan of attack in place before she makes a go of it. You'll never find her without water or rope or glows or whatever else might be necessary for the task at hand.

Farrah doesn't get a chance to interact a lot with other children her age. As the oldest, she spends the bulk of her time with the animals or with her little brothers and sisters. So she really loves to go to the market with her father, where they sell live and pre-butchered wherries and also show their runnerbeasts for potential buyers. The closest market takes place in a hold town that is only an hour ride from the farm, and there Farrah has the chance to gossip with other girls, make doe-eyes at the boys and pester every merchant for a look at whatever exotic goods they might have found. She is open and friendly with everyone, and is therefore well liked among her peers.

She absolutely adores Gathers and will sometimes even play Gather-day at home with her brothers and sisters. They will bang on pots as makeshift drums and blow on pipes that Farrah has made using reeds from the watering hole. The children will get into wild dances and the whole thing usually ends with a bonfire and a wherry roast.

Why Me?

For one thing, it probably had something to do with the fact that Farrah was in posession of a quantity of raw meat. But more than that, Farrah's sense of adventure matches Iachixth's, but her desire to plan ahead will help keep the gold from getting into situations that she can't get out of. Her longstanding patience gives her the perfect temperment to field any number of questions that Iachixth might throw at her, and her own inquisitive nature will make her want to seek out any answers she doesn't know. Farrah has a soothing effect on Iachixth, she shares many of the same characteristics but in a more muted and less exciteable way. She would never, ever tell Iachixth that they couldn't attempt something, but she will always make sure that they are as ready as they can be beforehand. Farrah is a loving and devoted girl and she responds well to love and devotion when it's returned to her. Iachixth will give her that loving, positive encouragement that she needs to thrive. Iachixth will also drive Farrah to become more spontaneous in her words and deeds,

History:

Farrah has lived her entire life on her family's small farm. Her parents are both herders, they specialize in fowl but also raise runnerbeasts. She is the oldest of six, and one of her main duties at home is taking care of her younger siblings. Living so far out from any major holds, Farrah has never received any kind of formal education. While she is very clever, she has no skills in reading or writing or any of the other basic things that most children learn during their childhood. Instead, Farrah knows how to breed wherries for the juciest meat and runnerbeasts for the swiftest gait. She knows how to butcher an animal deftly to make use of all of it's parts. She knows when to plant carrots in the kitchen garden and when to plant kale. She knows how to cook and clean and run a small household.

Farrah has been left largely to her own devices. Her parents are busy people who ascribe to the school of thought that children should be allowed to make mistakes so they can learn from them. While her days are always filled with the tasks required for running a small farm, she is not without free time. With her little siblings in tow, Farrah runs wild through the fields and forests, exploring trees and caves and streams with joyful abandon. She is a born naturalist, and everything is a fascinating revelation for the girl. She taught her little siblings how to fish with a stick and some string and an old wire, and then was delighted when they discovered a tiny fish in the belly of the bigger fish they managed to catch. She has been known to bring home insects so she can watch their behaviors and has, on occasion, taken longer than necessary gutting a wherry because she wanted to see how everything fit on the inside.

The family is aware of the shifting political climate in Pern, but the matter of rebels and revolutionaries holds little personal concern for them. Dragonmen never stop at the farm and Farrah, in all of her life, has only seen a dragon in person once, and that from a distance. There are no real political leanings in either direction. So long as they are left in peace to get on with their lives, what does it matter that the dragons are warring with one another? Were someone to attempt to explain to Farrah or her parents the reason of the feud they would be met with blank-eyed stares and snorts.

Farrah's relationship with her family is strong and healthy. Her parents, though busy, are always kind and loving. They always have a moment or two to pause and give one of their children a pat on the head or a gentle correction. Dinners are always a loud and racuous event filled with shouting and laughter. While they aren't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, and would be considered extremely poor by folk from the weyrs and larger holds, they are perfectly content with hearth and home.


Prompt Response

It was a good day. In fact, it was a great day! Farrah didn't get to go to the market with her father often, that was usually her mother's job while Farrah stayed home and watched the little ones. But today, her mother was ill and unable to help run their little meat stall. So it was with a lot of excitement that the young girl had helped prepare the meat, pack the wagon and ride with her father to the nearest hold town where they would set up their usual stall and sell their goods. It made for a long day, but by the time Farrah and her father Davros arrived in town her yawns had been replaced with a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed eagerness. The tanner's daugthers would be there to catch her up on all the townie gossip, and the baker's apprentice would be there to flirt with. She might even wrangle enough marks out of her father to buy herself something pretty, like a new hair ribbon. It wasn't often she got such special treats, but today felt different. Lucky, somehow.

Her first duty when they got to town and had claimed their stall, tethering their runnerbeasts in back with feedbags, was to hang the smoked wherries. Her family was somewhat famous (at least locally) for their smoked wherries, which they sold whole, hanging them upside down by their feet to display. There was something about the technique that Davros used which imparted an especially fragrant, savory flavor into the meat, and the wherry flesh lasted for a long time once it had been smoked. These, Farrah knew, would be the first thing they would sell out of. It happened every time. Her next task was to stack the crates of live wherries that would be sold for breeding or home butchering. She was just beginning to stack the crates in nice, neat rows when there was a huge commotion.

Into the market square barreled a wagon. Nevermind that none of stalls were open or that there was the beginning of a crowd of early shoppers milling around waiting. The driver barely seemed to notice anyone, he was in such a hurry. "Whoa, whoa!" He called to the two large runnerbeasts who, Farrah could tell, had been overworked and were lathered. They were not built for speed, but the driver didn't seem to care about that either. The market square was exactly that - a square. There was nowhere for such a large wagon to go except back where it had come from. There were too many stalls, they blocked most of the roads, leaving only space for foot traffic between them. The driver looked around in panic. "There's no time!" He shouted, his skin pale.

That was when Farrah noticed the two other figures crouched low in the bed of the wagon, their arms wrapped around a huge bundle that was covered in furs. The bundle, it was... shaking? Farrah blinked, wondering what on earth they could have under all that covering. "Dad?" She asked, tugging Davros' sleeve. "Dad, whats going on?"

The big farmer didn't answer his daughter at first, he was gazing with narrowed eyes at the wagon. Finally, "I don't know. But it can't be good. Look at them, they're terrified."

Yes, Farrah could read fear and concern in the faces of the driver and the two passengers. They had nowhere to go, it seemed. A group was starting to form in a large circle around the wagon, trapping them even further. Curious eyes raked over the strangers and their bundle. Curious voices called out questions, not always in the kindest of tones. The bundle's shaking grew more violent until the two passengers had to step away from it, shooting each other unreadable glances. Her father had been right, Farrah decided. Whatever was happening here was probably not good. As the crowd gathered she climbed up onto the counter of their stall, standing so she could get a better view of what was happening within the wagon. The bundle rocked and rocked and the furs began to slide down, revealing underneath a hint of gold here, a gleaming expanse there. All at once, the golden thing underneath the blankets cracked with a resounding sound that caused the entire crowd to gasp their way into silence.

Farrah stared, eyes wide. This couldn't be... but it was! It was! It was a dragon's egg, and it was hatching! "Dad! Dad, do you see it?" She shouted in excitement, bouncing up and down a little. "It's a dragon, dad!" This was the closest the young girl had ever been to a dragon, and she had no idea what would happen next. Dragons were mystical and mysterious creatures that Farrah and her like never really got close to. Their habits and behaviors had always interested her, but there was not a lot of information available to her. What a glorious opportunity! To observe a hatching! How her siblings would love this story!

A golden, shimmering snout pressed its way out of the egg, sniffing the air before the rest of the head emerged, followed by a front foot, and then the rest of the dragon tumbled out into the bed of the wagon. The creature gleamed and glittered in the sunlight, eliciting a whole new series of gasps from the crowd and a delighted squeak from Farrah. It was golden! She might not have a lot of knowledge on the subject, but she knew that the gold dragons were special somehow, queens of their race! But how could it have gotten here? What was it doing in the back of the wagon? There was little time for thought, however. The little gold dragon had gotten to her feet and was shaking off the egg-goo, splattering the nearest onlookers with the sticky mess. Once the worst of it had been divested from her delicate figure, the little queen looked around the crowd and gave a querelous chirp.

Farrah thought it seemed as if the golden dragon was asking the crowd, "where am I? Why am I here? Who are all of you?" Of course, no one responded to her, they merely stared and stared and stared. The dragon, receiving no answers, let out an indignant bugle and leapt down from the wagon, her wings outstretched for balance, her newborn legs wobbly as she landed and stumbled. This didn't seem to bother the hatchling, however. She straightened herself up and began to walk the circle that had gathered around her, poking someone with a wing here, nipping playfully at the buttons on someone's jacket there. At one point, she paused in front of the tanner's daughters, crouching down in the front with her back-end raised and wiggling, rather like a young puppy getting ready to pounce. The girls gave little squeals and backed up, leaving the little gold without the playmates she had believed she had found. The resulted in a huffy little snort and the lashing of her tail. How dare those girls not play with her?

Farrah found herself grinning at the dragon's antics. She really was a charming thing, and so pretty! As if the hatchling had heard her thoughts, the golden head spun in Farrah's direction, her long neck stretching upwards to get a better view. Farrah and the dragon locked eyes from across the crowd, and in that moment Farrah was hit with a deep, undeniable realization. She belonged to this dragon. She would live and die for this dragon.

~Yes, Farrah! You are Mine and I am Yours! Forever and ever! Now feed me, Mine! Your Iachixth is hungry and has many questions!~

It took Farrah a moment to realize she was the only one who had heard the words the dragon had spoken, words that would forever be embedded in her soul. The crowd parted as the slim gold made her way to the stall where Farrah stood. Immediately Farrah jumped down from her perch and ran to meet Iachixth, throwing her arms around her dragon's neck. Yes! Her dragon! She was part of that great mystery, now.

"Come, beautiful Iachixth." Farrah said, finding a new grace and posture now that she stood beside the beautiful golden dragon. The two made their way back to Farrah's stall, where her father was standing, mouth agape. "Iachixth, this is my father. Father," Farrah said, unable to keep from grinning like a lunatic. "This is my Iachixth. I belong to her now. Can we feed her please?"

Davros blinked at his daughter, and then at the shining golden dragon. Oh, Farrah's mother would probably rake him up one side and down the other for this! But both the girl and the dragon were looking at him with such big eyes, he could do nothing but sigh and gesture towards the stall. "Don't let her choke on it." He said in an effort to be cautionary. He was still struggling to grasp what had just happened. His daughter. Had she really just impressed the golden dragon? Had this really, truly, happened to a member of his beloved family? It was just too much to swallow all at once.

~I approve of the one you call Father.~ Iachixth informed Hers as they settled down to feed. The newly bonded pair were well on their way to eating the entire stand full of wherries when the wagon driver approached. His attitude seemed quite deferential and he clutched his hat in his hands. Davros watched the man warily from where he had taken up post, as if guarding his daughter and her new friend.

"I would speak to the girl, please." The rider said, sounding fairly humble. There was something suspect about him, Davros felt, but nothing that he could really pinpoint. Grudgingly, Davros stepped back just enough to allow the man to come close enough to address Farrah.

The newly bonded rider didn't even notice the approach. Her world consisted of Iachixth and only Iachixth. Feeding the dragon, answering her questions, telling her about all the grand adventures they would have with her little siblings... When the wagon driver cleared his throat for the first time, the blissful pair finally looked up at him. Iachixth bristled a little, deciding that something felt off about the man. She didn't want him near Hers, oh no she didn't! A low, posessive rumble emanated from the gold's throat.

The driver paled visibly, but he stood his ground. "Congratulations on impressing, miss." He said deferentially. "We will need to be going back to the weyr now, though. As soon as your dragon has finished eating."

"The weyr?" Farrah asked, her eyes blank. "What weyr? Why would I go anywhere with you? I don't even know you." Her words were matter of fact, there was no panic or even really any confusion. She was merely telling this stranger the way things were.

"You've got to go to the weyr." He said. "Thats where the dragons live. Your dragon needs to be with others, you both need to train under proper supervision." His tone was mildly condescending, as if he was talking to a dimglow or a small child. Farrah and Iachixth both bristled at that.

"What do you think, Iachixth? Do we need to go to the weyr? Do you want to be with the other dragons?"

~I don't want to go anywhere.~ The gold responded. ~First I want to eat. And then I want to go home with you, Farrahmine. I want to learn how to fish and I want to explore the old mining caves you were telling me about. There are so many things to do here! I don't want to leave yet. We can go and be with the others later, after you have shown Yours these exciting things.~

That decided it. "We aren't going anywhere with you." Farrah said politely though firmly.

The wagon driver opened his mouth to respond, until he noticed Davros had crept closer, his arms crossed over his chest. And he wasn't the only one... Many of the merchants who were present had also closed in around the driver, casting him menacing glances. Farrah belonged to Them. She was a good girl, and well loved, and after they had born witness to the hatching of Iachixth and her subsequent impression to Farrah, it seemed that the holders had decided that, to some extent, the newly bonded pair was Theirs. And they would protect Theirs, whatever the cost. The little hold town had never witnessed such excitement or had the opportunity to hold so much pride, and they would NOT let go of that. The wagon driver, seeming to sense this, backed away, his hands held up in a gesture of surrender.

"Okay, okay..." He said, making his way back to the wagon and the two disgruntled looking passengers. Keller would not be pleased at this development. But, thought the driver, neither would those blasted Traditionalists either. And there was still a chance... The girl and the dragon were both young, and being so far out in the middle of nowhere could work to the revolution's advantage. He wouldn't be the last person to try and persuade the girl to join them at Malvren or Benden. And there were those far more suited for persuasion than he.

NOTES: My intention is for Iachixth and Farrah to remain at the farm initially, so that ambassadors from both the resistance and the revolution can court them. Iachixth and Farrah will soon see that they will have to choose a side, but they will insist on first spending some time at both Trine and Malvren weyrs before coming to a decision. I don't have any pre-selected side for them, so I'd like to determine their path through roleplay, whether that be joining the resistance, the revolutionaries, or attempting not to take sides at all and form a commune of pacifist dragons. This will also give a lot of people who may not be as high up on the totem pole to have an opportunity to meet, befriend and attempt to influence the pair.

Username: mewrose
Character Name: Liana
Age: 15
Physical description: Liana is slim and a little short for her age, about 5’3”. She keeps hoping she hasn’t reached her full growth and might gain a couple inches, but doesn’t think that’s likely any more. She has medium brown hair with a hint of curl to it, just enough to add a bit of texture, and usually wears it pulled back into a braid. Since she mostly does indoor work, she avoided getting the tanned, weathered face and callused hands of most farmers, so her skin is fairly clear, though it naturally has a slightly dusky shade to it. She has a slightly round face with a somewhat blunt-looking nose and even features that might be pretty if she didn’t often wear a bored or petulant expression. But when she’s learning something new and interesting, her brown eyes light up and her face is far more open and welcoming.

Personality: Liana is chronically bored with her life. She is frustrated at being stuck in a tiny cothold with no future, and wants more than anything to go out and do anything else. However, she is realistic about this; while she often wishes for something more interesting, even her dreams are within the realm of possibility. She never dreams of being found to be the long-lost heir of a Lord Holder, or running off to join the Runners. Instead, she figures out what might be possible, tries to plan how she could make them happen, and prepares for the most likely course of action. She enjoys the occasional possible dream that she can’t make happen, like hoping she might someday be Searched, but does not count on them.

She is a smart girl, quick to figure out puzzles and picks up new lessons rapidly. But she’s frustrated at the very limited opportunity for education in her home and feels that she rarely gets to learn anything new. She’s a good problem solver, handy at figuring out solutions to various tasks or difficulties. However, she doesn’t get to do much of that beyond things like adapting a recipe to work around missing items, or figuring out how their supplies will feed the family for the winter. Her skill at these makes her mom happily comment that she’ll make someone a good wife someday. She rather dislikes that this implies even her mom thinks of her only as a worker and someone’s potential wife.

She always wants to learn more, about anything. She’ll listen avidly to anyone talking about science, or geography, or history, or gossip…ok, so she wants to know about almost anything. Small-town gossip and local news bore her to tears, since it’s always the same stuff. Like, someone was seen with someone else, or that guy’s crops are doing poorly, or blah blah blah. How do people listen to that drivel? She’s enthusiastic about learning, but otherwise tends to feel stifled, which tends to make her grumpy. She eats up Harper stories and the few books she can get her hands on, even if they are mostly histories, Teaching Ballads or books about farming. She would collect books if she could, but they cost marks and she rarely has any to spend on herself.

Overall she’s obedient and does her work when told, though tends to grumble and drag her feet a bit when she’s feeling particularly cross. She also never volunteers for work if she can help it; she’d rather go off and reread her family’s few books. She usually comes off as aloof or uncaring, since she never bothers to act particularly friendly to people she finds boring, which includes most of the cotholders she tends to meet. But she’s much nicer to Traders and traveling Harpers, who at least bring news of the wider world, and maybe a book if she’s lucky. She will sometimes abandon her work to greet an arriving Harper or Trader and eagerly ask for the newest news, though gets back to her work if told (even if she complains the whole way). She sometimes ends up babysitting the neighbors’ small kids, which she doesn’t mind too much. Kids at least have an imagination, and can come up with far more interesting stories than anything the adults usually tell. She’s fairly good at keeping up with their energy, but when she gets worn out she can usually settle them down by diverting them with a story, song or impromptu science lesson.

Why Me? Both rider and dragon like to learn, and want to see and do new things. Since Liana wants to learn more academic or practical things, she might temper Iachixth’s desire to investigate absolutely everything. On the other hand, Iachixth’s desire to talk to many people about things might get Liana to be more social and take an interest in other people’s daily lives. Liana is smart enough to understand all the new things they find, and can help Iachixth figure out what new things do. Liana’s history of tending to and distracting small children might help her keep up with the young dragon’s energetic explorations.

History: Liana was born to a family of farmers who have a small cothold beholden to Aquor Hold. Their holding is slightly isolated, about two hour’s walk to a small town-like collection of holds where they usually go for supplies, news and Harper lessons for the children. The family grows grain, keeps a small herd of caprines and has a couple runners for draft work. Her father also has a green flit, whose egg he bartered for in order to be able to send messages in case of emergencies. Liana is the middle child of the family’s three children. The oldest is her brother, a dutiful worker who’s good with the animals and crops, and likely to take over the cothold when their parents get too old. The youngest of the family is her little sister, the pet of the family. She’s the kind of sweet little girl who always does what she’s told, is polite, kind and charms all the adults while infuriating her older siblings. Or at least Liana, since her brother doesn’t seem to mind his youngest sister so much.

Liana’s parents are practical folk who don’t see much use to anything they don’t immediately need. They see no point in art or fancy learning, and while singing is all well and good for the Teaching Ballads and passing the time on stormy nights, they don’t pursue it just for entertainment’s sake. She always gets told “Why can’t you be more like your brother/sister?” and therefore asked to work harder, or be more polite, or otherwise be happy with what she’s got. Her parents frequently insist that they have a good holding, a sturdy house, flourishing crops, are healthy and well fed, and that she should be grateful. She’s never satisfied with this, and often retorts that there’s more than life to boring security, at which point she’s told to stop being fanciful and set to some sort of chore.

She’s not good with the animals, since the caprines always seem to like biting her and the large, thickly built runners intimidate her. She’s also poor at field work; after many months of increasingly impatient instruction she was still slow at tending the plants and never seemed to get the knack of things like weeding and pruning. So since she was unsuited for farm work, she was set to housework instead, learning domestic chores like cleaning, mending and cooking.

Liana took up Bakercraft, mainly for something to do. Her parents agreed to this because it was a good, practical skill, and because it was a craft she could be taught without having to go anywhere. There’s a Bakercraft Journeyman living in town who she’s entered into a somewhat loose apprenticeship under., and once in a while Liana checks in with the woman to get new recipes, or to spend an afternoon baking together and learning new tricks of the trade. She spends as much time and supplies as she’s allowed trying out new recipes or baking techniques, though her parents always insist that necessary foods be cooked first. At the last couple of the small, local Gathers her family attended, she plied her craft to sell bubbly pies and sweet rolls, which has earned her a (very few) marks. She hoards them carefully, hoping to earn enough to buy herself passage to a larger hold someday, maybe hitch a ride with some Traders or something. She’s often tempted to spend her marks on a new book, but makes do without. She reasons that book will interest her for a time, but a change of scenery could be her one chance to improve her life for good.

She has lots of time to think during chores, so constantly mulls over plans for how she could get away. Could she find a way to join the Traders? Or maybe join a craft that requires teaching farther off? She’s good with knitting and mending clothing, maybe Weavercraft. Or even join the Harpers, though her voice isn’t any more than fair. But her parents would never let her join any craft that they didn’t immediately need at their little cothold, and certainly not let her leave when she was needed to tend the hold. A favorite dream of hers is that a rider could come by on Search, pick her out and whisk her away to the Weyr to impress a dragon. Harper stories are full of that happening, and surely her parents wouldn’t refuse a rider. Even though the life of a rider is dangerous, or even if she never Impressed, at least she’d be away and doing something. But no riders ever came to their tiny little cothold, not once since she was born.

News comes rather infrequently to their middle-of-nowhere holding, so she knows little about the recent troubles with the weyrs and riders. The last she heard from a passing Harper is that the wherhandlers are trying to get more recognition for their craft, and causing a good deal of trouble with the weyrs. But he was drawn away to talk to someone more important than her, so she didn’t get to ask any more. She wonders what that might mean, but has no way to find out more and has to settle for the knowledge she has for now.

Prompt Response: It was market day again. Once every sevenday or so, the holders in the area gathered in the town to trade goods and supplies, and to catch up with how everyone else was doing. That day Liana’s father had some grain and caprine’s milk cheese to trade, so he’d made the trip to town. Liana had some along, bringing a sack of more grain to get milled into flour, and to check in with the Bakercraft journeyman who’d been teaching her in order to get some new recipes.

With so many people coming into town for the day to trade, the main street was rather busy, lined with people and their goods and teeming with talk. Almost as soon as they rolled into town in their small Runner-drawn cart, Liana’s father was stopped by someone he hadn’t seen in a few sevendays. They fell to chattering about how each other’s kids were doing, and Liana immediately grew bored. She started absently looking around the area, wondering what kinds of things people had brought in today and how long it would be before she could slip off to find her teacher. She was surprised to notice a large, unfamiliar cart coming into town, with two men she’d never seen in the driver’s seat. Wondering if they were Traders, she slipped off the cart and drifted closer to get a better look.

Abruptly her father’s green flit popped out of the air near her and glided over to the cart. The flit settled on the edge of the cart and began to hum. Two or three more flits, all belonging to people in town, also flew over to settle on the cart and hum. One of the two drivers made a sour face and reached up to swipe at the flits, grumbling at them to go away. But the little creatures just jumped away from the hand, flitted out of his reach and landed again, never pausing their humming.

Liana knew well that flits humming like that often meant something was being hatched or born. After all, often her father’s green humming was the first sign that one of their caprines was about to give birth. But a traveling cart seemed an odd place for a birthing animal. Did the men have a flit egg with them or something? She could think of nothing else being born that people would reasonably carry with them on a cart journey.

The drivers pulled over and jumped from the seat to duck into the back, though one of them paused long enough to swipe ineffectively at the flits again. Liana was close enough to hear them talking in low, hurried voices inside the cart, too quiet for her to make out any words, though the tone sounded urgent. One of them cursed somewhat more loudly, then was sharply hushed by the other before the voices dropped into unintelligibility again.

She was quite curious now. This was not behavior she was used to seeing, and anything unfamiliar was interesting. She was wondering what might be causing it when a loud crack was suddenly heard from inside the cart, followed by more cursing and some thumping sounds that set the cart to rocking slightly on its wheels. By now other people had noticed the cart, and a few were coming over to see if the drivers needed anything. But they all halted when a rapid series of loud cracks sounded, setting the people glancing uneasily at each other. Then something large shot out of the back of the cart and into the crowded street.

The thing was running on four legs, larger than a canine, but smaller than a runner and with a smooth hide. It was also an unfamiliar color for a creature, an unusually bright sort of brown and shining. On second thought, it was not quite brown. Was it a dark gold? It was hard to see clearly with the creature running around like that, and there were often people or piles of goods between it and Liana. Not to mention it was covered in some sort of goop, to which was stuck a few pieces of hay and fragments of some other yellow thing.

The two men clambered out of the cart, almost falling over each other in their haste, and started chasing after the creature. They were shouting at it and calling for anyone to help them catch it or stop it. But the people who had begun gathering to watch were mostly milling around in confusion, not really sure what was going on. One or two people made a grab at the thing as it went by, but it was either too quick or it was hard to get a grip on the wet hide and it got away easily.

The creature was rather frisky, acting like a canine puppy that’d gotten away from its master. Liana saw it jumping over things on the ground, ducking under carts and skidding around groups of people. All the while it kept looking over its shoulder to make the oddest sound at the two people chasing it, something like a flit’s bugle but lower-pitched. Its long tail and – were those wings? – kept smacking into things, toppling bags and baskets over and spilling their contents in the road, leaving even more things to obstruct the chasers’ paths. As soon as the creature noticed this, it seemed to think this was great fun, and even found time to pounce on rolling redfruits and slide through puddles of spilled grain. Naturally, the holders whose goods had been spilled were shouting and cursing at having their goods split and spoiled. Some paused to shake a fist at the creature and yell at the men to control their beast, but all turned to rescuing their supplies instead of helping to capture it.

The cart’s runnerbeasts were no happier with the antics of the creature. They bucked and panicked at the sight and sound of the running creature, and started to bolt down the street with the cart still attached. Thankfully, the visiting farmers knew well what damage a panicked runner could do, especially hitched to a cart, and a few people diverted their efforts to stopping the runners. Someone soon caught them and held them in place, soothing them with calm words and gentle pats before they could crash into anything.

The whole while, Liana stood watching the tumult in shock. What could that creature possibly be? She’d never seen anything quite like it and wracked her stunned brain for an explanation. It sort of resembled the flits which were now darting around and adding to the confusion, but it was much too big. Was it a wher? They came in the same colors as dragons, after all, and few other creatures could have a shining gold hide. But those wings looked far too wide, she’d heard whers had stubby wings …

Wait…dragon. The details of the scene fell together, the creature’s appearance coupled with the memory of the humming flits gathering around the cart. There was only one thing the creature could be; a newly hatched gold dragonet, still speckled with shards of her own egg. While it was the only possible explanation, it also made no sense. What would a gold dragon hatchling – or rather, the egg of one – be doing in a cart so far from any weyr? Harper stories made it clear that gold eggs were quite obvious, different from any other egg in size and color. And even if they were not, surely any dragon egg would be guarded and never allowed out of the weyr.

The dragonet hadn’t stopped running about since it’d hatched, but now it seemed its headlong rush was starting to slow some. It was only a new hatchling after all, so it might be starting to tire. The strange men chasing her were attempting to coordinate their efforts now, calling instructions to each other to corner her. Occasionally their combined efforts would get them close enough to make a grab or lunge at her, but she was smaller, faster, and still wet, so she stayed free of them. Eventually one of them called to the other, “Scorch it, the sharding thing is probably lost to us anyway!” He yanked a long belt knife out of its sheath and continued advancing on the dragonet with grim determination.

The sight of the knife, along with its implications, galvanized Liana into action. How could they possibly want to hurt a dragon? And a gold, no less? She shouted “No, you can’t hurt her!” and started forward, intending to try and stop them. How, she had no idea, but by the first egg, she couldn’t let them hurt a gold dragon! Unfortunately, the dragonet had been running by her at that moment and just as she moved, the hatchling turned sharply as it to dodge around her. Instead, girl and dragon barreled into each other, collapsing in a heap of flailing limbs and golden hide.

The collision with a rather large and quickly-moving creature knocked Liana’s breath out of her, and for a moment all she could do was try and suck air into lungs that felt like they’d been kicked by her father’s biggest runner. When she finally looked up, she found herself nose-to-snout with a golden head. For the first time since she’d hatched, the dragon was sitting still, gazing at the human she’d run into. A heartbeat of startled staring later, the eyes whirled with a rainbow of colors and a delighted voice rang out in her head. Oh, I like you! Lianamine, we will have so much fun together, you and your Iachixth!

With the voice came an awareness unlike anything she’d ever known, a new presence in her head that was at once foreign and very much a part of her. From the presence came a rush of love that left her gasping as much as the pressure of the dragon who was half-laying on her rib cage and wiggling with excitement. The beautiful, perfect dragon who couldn’t possibly be there, and yet was. And oh, what a wonder that she was! Liana couldn’t believe she hadn’t realized what was missing in her life until this moment.

She reached up a hand to stroke her dragon – her dragon! - but noticed the two strange men coming up behind the young gold, one still holding his knife. As quickly as possible she struggled up to a sitting position, which slid the hatchling down in to her lap. She grabbed the dragonet around the neck, hugging her close and glaring at the men. “You can’t hurt Iachixth! I won’t let you!” she shouted defiantly at them. The dragonet twisted around to look at the men as well, clearly more curious than anything.

The pair looked at each other; a wary, calculating glance that communicated something she couldn’t read but didn’t quite like. Then they turned back at Liana, looking her and Iachixth up and down. After a moment the one without the knife said, “Look, we don’t want to hurt her,” in what sounded like an attempt at a soothing tone.

“Then why did you pull a knife on her?” Liana broke in. The one with the knife started, having apparently forgotten he was still holding it, and quickly sheathed it, earning a reproachful glare from the other. “And why is she even here?” Liana continued. “Even I know that dragon eggs, especially gold ones, should be at a weyr under their mother’s eye. She would never allow one to be taken away, and neither would any of the weyrfolk. So what rational explanation could you possibly have for bringing her way out here, a long way away from any weyr?” She also knew quite well that she would have never Impressed to her wonderful dragon if the egg had not been here, and ought to be grateful. But the whole situation made no sense, and she meant to figure out exactly how it had come to pass.

Before they could gather themselves to speak again, Iachixth gently head butted Liana. Mine, I’m very hungry, she informed her rider. Is there something I can eat?

Immediately her thoughts were diverted to her dragon’s wellbeing. Now she could feel the dragon’s hunger, gnawing as if at her own belly. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t think. Of course we’ll find you something.” She looked up to the surrounding holders and found that most were a wary distance away, staring at the goings-on around her and whispering among themselves. The only person near her, besides the two men, was her father. He was looking somewhat uneasy himself, but was staring fixedly at the strangers and quite clearly staying by his daughter. “Dad, she needs food. Can we get her some meat? I have some marks a home, I can pay you back if I need to.”

Her father glanced at her, then back to the two men, clearly unwilling to leave her alone with them. But after a moment he walked over to the nearest person, a man who she knew raised wherries for meat. After a bit of quick bargaining, the man headed into a nearby building while her father came back to stand by her. A moment later the wherry farmer came over, keeping as far away from the strangers as possible. He thrust a cutting board with a sizeable chunk of wherry meat and a carving knife at Liana, then hurried away before she could thank him.

Right then and there, in the tumbled mess of the main street, she set to carving the meat into small enough pieces to feed Iachixth her first meal. For a while that activity took her whole attention; cutting the meat as fast as she could to keep up with her dragon’s hunger, imploring the gold to chew so she didn’t choke, and urging the curious youngster to stay with her instead of wandering off to investigate the area between bites. By the time the last of the meat had disappeared down Iachixth’s throat, the street had been largely cleaned up. And it also looked rather empty, since most of the holders had retreated to the edges of the buildings or made themselves scarce.

Iachixth nosed at the cutting board to make sure there was no more food, then licked it a couple times. That was nice. I would like to play some more now, but I’m sleepy, she informed her rider. She leaned against Liana, nuzzling into the girl’s side and causing her to brace herself to avoid being knocked over.

The two men had moved off while she fed Iachixth, apparently to go check on their cart and runners. But she’d noticed them talking to each other at length, glancing frequently at the gold hatchling. When they saw she’d finished eating, they came back over. “I think we got off on the wrong foot, let us start over,” one of the two said in a smooth tone. “Let us be the first to offer you congratulations on your Impression, and offer you the chance to make the most of your new lifemate. We represent a group who want equal opportunities for all dragons, regardless of the color of their hides—“

Liana’s father broke in before they could continue. “I don’t care what you’re offering, I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter,” he said firmly. “You get back in your cart and get out of here. I never want to see you around here again.” He crossed his arms and stared at them with an expression that brooked no argument.

“Come now, be reasonable,” the man said. “You can’t keep a dragon here. There’s little room for a growing dragonet, and she’ll eat—”

“That may be, but I wouldn’t trust a lame wherry with you, let alone my girl,” her father interrupted. “You get in your cart and get out of here, before we kick you out and keep the cart as payment for all the damage you caused.” The gathered holders had been keeping pretty silent until now, but at this there was a grumble of agreement and several took a step or two forward, particularly the ones whose goods had been spoilt.

The strangers looked around at the holders, who clearly outnumbered them by a large margin. The one who’d done all the talking opened his mouth as if to say something else, but when the holders made as if to move forward again he thought better of it and turned away without saying a word. The two went over to their cart, which had been turned to face the way they came, and climbed up into the seat. They drove slowly out of town, the driver looking straight at the road while the other gave a long, hard look at the gold dragonet and her rider.

Liana’s father stayed where he was until the strangers had driven out of sight. Then he offered a hand to Liana. “Come on, we best get you back home,” he said. Liana nudged Iachixth aside so that she could get up without the dragon falling over, then took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled up. She lead Iachixth over to their cart, which was thankfully left unharmed in all the ruckus. He glanced at the back of the cart, which was still full of the goods they’d brought to trade, then at the gold dragonet who was practically asleep on her feet. After telling Liana to stay there a moment, he grabbed a sack of grain in one hand and a crock of cheese in the other, then headed back to the wherry farmer. Shortly after the two returned, bearing more wrapped parcels of meat. These where quickly exchanged for the grain and most of the cheese, with all the meat being loaded on one side to leave a large space in the back of the cart. Then her father took the rest of the cheese and traded it to someone else for several pots of the oil commonly used to oil flits, which were similarly loaded onto the cart. With all these supplies gathered, he helped Liana lift Iachixth into the back of the cart, where the dragonet promptly curled up and fell asleep. Liana insisted on climbing into the back with her dragon, so her father moved some of the parcels onto the front seat with him to make room. As they rode off towards home, Liana couldn’t help noticing that holders in town were staring after them.

The ride home was quiet at first, the only sounds being the clop of the runner’s hooves, the creak or the cart and Iachixth snuffling and shifting in her sleep. But after a time Liana’s father spoke up. “That son of a wherry was right about one thing, you know; we can’t keep a dragon here,” he said, still keeping his eyes on the road. “She may be small now, but dragons get big, and golds biggest of all. We can’t afford to get her enough meat to keep her healthy. Now I know my lore well enough to know that hurting her in any way, be it hunger or anything else, would hurt you too. And I can’t let you be hurt like that.” It was not stated, but Liana could tell he knew full well that taking the dragon away by any means would have the same effect. Especially if that means were the rather final way one might remove some canine pups from a mother who’d had too many. Although it was likely more for her sake than her dragon’s, Liana was nonetheless grateful that her father wished the baby gold no harm and wished to help her for at least a little while.

“Now, if a hatchling dragon east as often as a hatchling flit,” he father continued, “And that meat she just had was an indication of the average meal, we have enough food for a few days or so. Maybe more if you’re willing to spend your own savings on meat, but I can’t afford to spend any more of ours if I want to keep our family fed.” He glanced over his shoulder at Liana and the gold dragonet, whose head was currently in her lap. “By the time the food runs out, you need to figure out what to do with Iak..Iachik..Iachixth? Shards, that’s a hard name to say.” With that, he faced forward again and fell silent.

Liana looked down at her wonderful lifemate and considered what her father had said. She recognized the sense of his words and knew he was right, though she would have liked more time to think before making a decision. Couldn’t he have paid for food just a little bit longer? Then she shook her head with a wry smile. Look at me, she thought, actually wishing for more time at home after wanting to get away for so long. I should be grateful he’s willing to let us stay at all.

But where could they go? There was always a weyr, of course. Trine was closest, the Harpers had told her that and she knew they had to send tithes to the big hold to be sent on to the weyr. But how would she get there? Sending a message to them to ask them to come get her could work, but how would the manage that? Her father’s flit couldn’t take the message, flits could only go to places they’d seen, or to people they’d met. Maybe she could pay a Runner to take a message. How long did it take a Runner to get from here to the Weyr?

Would the Weyr even want them? She expected a young gold dragon would be welcome in any weyr, but she couldn’t be certain. Just as she couldn’t be certain where Iachixth’s egg came from in the first place, though with Trine being closest, it was most likely. What about that other group, the one the stranger had mentioned? He’d made it clear they would welcome her, though she had little enough idea what they were about and no idea how to find out more. And she could never want to talk to those two men again anyway, not when they wanted to hurt Iachixth. But if someone else from the group came and posed no threat, it wouldn’t hurt to listen. She couldn’t think of anywhere else that would welcome, feed and house a growing gold dragon. Not one where she’d feel safe, anyway, though she spent the rest of the ride thinking and trying to determine if they had any other options.

When they pulled into the yard of their cothold, Liana’s mother came out to meet them, wiping her hands clean on her apron. She stopped short when she saw Liana sitting in the back with Iachixth. “What in the world—“ she began.

“Liana’s Impressed a gold dragonet,” her father said gruffly, stepping down from the cart. “I’ll explain while we get this food in storage. Liana, go make a place for her in the caprine shed.”

The shed was a small building that they kept the caprines in during bad weather. Thankfully it had been fair lately, so the goats would be able to stay in their pen, but Liana still had to muck out the shed and spread out fresh hay. Her brother had come by the cart to help unload and see the sleeping dragon, then went and helped Liana clean. “You’ll have to do this for yourself as long as she’s here,” he commented, “but I can show you the best way to do it. Is she really a dragon?”

“She is,” Liana answered. “Her name’s Iachixth, and when she leaves I will, too. I can’t leave her.”

Her brother nodded slowly at this and kept working. After a moment he said, “She looks like she could use a bath. We don’t have a tub big enough, or a pond or anything, but there’s buckets and troughs you can dip brushes in. You might have to wait until she wakes up, though.”

Liana winced at this. She hadn’t thought about that, only how to feed her dragon and where to go. She needed to consider what else the dragon would need. Oiling for sure, but thankfully her father had already thought of that and gotten supplies. How did one care for flits? Was dragon care similar? She made note to ask her dad how he cared for his little green.

When the shed was ready to serve as a makeshift weyr, she roused Iachixth enough to get the dragonet inside. Once there, the hatchling promptly flopped onto the hay and fell asleep again. Liana knew she ought to be making other preparations, but she just wanted to sit with her dragon for a moment. She settled into the hay, watching the golden flank rise and fall with her dragon’s breath. She seemed so peaceful now, it was starting to make Liana drowsy herself. It was hard to believe that the lovely creature had come into the world with such a ruckus, then thrown her life unto even more disarray. She slumped over, listening to her dragon breathe and smelling the musky scents of the hay and her hide. Maybe she’d rest for just a moment. As she started to doze off, she reflected that no matter what happened next, life would certainly not be boring any more.

Note: I will let RP determine where Liana and Iachixth go from here. People from any faction may try to convince her to join their side or to form a new one, though since the Revolutionists stole Iachixth’s egg and threatened her with a knife, they start off with a black mark in her book. I’m open to the possibility of starting a new faction, but it would not occur to Liana and she would need to be convinced to that option just as much as either of the existing factions. She has about a week IC before she runs out of food and has to leave, so if a splinter faction wants to recruit her, they will have to be able to provide food, shelter and other supplies needed for a growing dragon.

Username: Mortane
Character Name: Niyx
Age: 18
Personality: Anti-social, quirky, eccentric, individualistic, inventive, prideful, and a cynical since of humor are a few good ways to describe Niyx. The girl knows she's odd, but has made it her own somewhere along the line and takes jokes and jibes well though she tends to return them with her own sharp witted remarks. Niyx if you can break her cycle of frenzied activity and work, drag her away from her scrolls, and kick her into a crowd, can be extremely charming. With her fathers harper flare she's quite capable of feeding a crowd what they want, keeping them on their toes and keeping verbal attackers at bay with her cynical sense of humor and a rather winning smile. Her main fault is her pride. Niyx considers herself to be an excellent inventor. She takes great pride in her work and in all things she does. There is no half way for this girl, she either does something with all her heart and soul or she can't be bothered. She has a very distinct sense for when something is right, in it's proper place and for how the story is supposed to go, even if she delights in purposely throwing a wrench into peoples plans. She is by her nature a creator, a puppet master, a player of strings, someone who feels she should be above mistakes. Therefore when hers are pointed out she takes quite the hit and pains over correcting every minute detail of the offense. She takes great pride in her work and will neither eat nor sleep should a fault in it be pointed out till she has correct it. On the other hand she cannot stand laziness or people who falsely accuse and pick at her own failings to distract others from their own. If her sense of fashion wasn't so. . .odd on occasions one might even call her vain. Niyx delights in coming up with new things and enjoys showing off her unique flare on the rare occasions she deems to be social. First Queen help any boys who think that just because Niyx prefers to spend her time in the company of scrolls rather then them that she isn't fully capable of playing their courting game. No, Niyx delights in turning the male sex's more devious strategies right back on them carousing after her prey and leading them on in a merry chase before dropping them should they not prove her equal. Hinting at a trickier more manipulative beguiling nature when it comes to getting her way, hidden beneath her more bookish persona. After all it's all just a show to keep her busy while she's waiting for the ink to dry on her newest set of theories. Despite her tendency to play and tease other men Niyx is not a girl to lead one on. After all it's only a game and should it become more then a game to the man she's teasing she makes her intentions clear whether they are for her to stay or for her to go.
Why Me? In both their hearts Iachixth and Niyx are tinkers, inventors, explorers. They’re not content with the answer of “Things are the way they are because they are.” They want to know how they work, what makes things tick and then figure out how to work it all on their own. They want answers. Where Niyx is perfectly content to stick her nose into mechanical contraptions and theories she tends to have little company beyond that of hides and paper and is perfectly fine with that. Iachixth though sticks her nose into everything forcing her rider out of her little cubby hole and into the world making Niyx put to practice that innate charm she possesses to talk her dragon out of whatever trouble the two have currently gotten into. This could vary from the theft of socks off the drying line by one curious little dragon to Iachixth getting herself stuck under a traders booth that proved to tantalizingly interesting for dragon and rider to ignore. Luckily Niyx has no shortage of things to distract her curious dragon with even if doing so sometimes means the two of them end up covered in ink. However neither mind since what’s life good for if you can’t laugh about things? Both Niyx and Iachixth have a rather mischievous playful streak and first Queen help anyone who happens to catch both their attention. If you’re not being bombarded by questions from one side you’re being quipped at with clever teasing from the other leaving their prey’s head spinning. Everything is a new game to these two and they’ll be more then happy to let you play though you’ll have to figure out the rules yourself. Since learning them is half the fun! While both certainly are a quirky and strange pair they’re dedicated to their tasks and protective of their homes and friends or anything else they consider theirs. Iachixth has no problem puffing herself up and snarling if she thinks what is hers is threatened anymore then Niyx has a problem risking her life for those she feels are under her protection.
History: Niyx was born the daughter of a crosscrafting traveling caravan harper and the caravan leaders daughter. Her father worked with a traveling troupe of entertainers that stayed with the caravan preforming at different halls and holds while the caravan traders did their business. All the while ferreting out interesting information and sending it back vai firelizard to the southern harper hall and the old harper hall. Therefore as one can imagine Niyx who was often employed by her father at a young age to act as a very cute disarming conversation starter learned her fathers trade at an early age. With her sharp wit and instinctive hoarding of information and rumors her family thought her born to play one of the harper halls many tunes just as her father had. If of course there wasn't one minor kink in their plans, Niyx was about as inclined to be social as a watch-wher was to walk out into the midday sun. Once you were able to convince her to be social she could spin herself a tale and keep conversations going for hours with her odd snippits of knowledge and quirky habits. The girl just preferred the company of scrolls to people, feeling much more at home working on whatever strange little project she had at the moment to being around other human beings.

It wasn't till one stormy night around the time she was 13 turns old when the caravan was forced to take shelter at a small ancientcraft hall that Niyx much to her mothers horror found her calling. The girl was as snug as a truddle bug in a rug amidst the strange going ons, unusual experiments, odd equipment, and the occasional explosions as though she'd been born to the craft. Entertained and feeling a fellowship towards the young bright and eccentric child the small hall masters accepted her apprenticeship and come clear weather the caravan left without Niyx. Ever since then the girl has remained at the hall sating her curiosity and thirst for knowledge though there was one subject that was instilled in her by her fathers stories and the little firelizards that she hasn't yet been able to analyze properly. Dragons. Niyx is simply fascinated by the creatures and though she knows the scrolls she's read on them inside and out hide and ink are a sad comparison to a flesh and blood beast.

Later on when a rider came to hold to visit the markets she was searched by their dragon and brought to Trine Weyr much to her delight to stand as a candidate. Her time at Trine has not been without excitement. She did not impress her first clutch though she did prove both her bravery and foolishness by being willing to stand up to the Queen for the sake of the atypicals still trapped in their shells. She’s survived the revolution relatively unscathed and unlike some has continued to stay at the Weyr and was planning to stand for the next clutch. However instead she chose to go with the search party to look for the lost gold egg.
Prompt Response:

Niyx wished for the millionth time that night that the Jitterbug egg had been laid a green. If it was a little green egg the thieves would not have bothered it. If it was a little green egg then sweet curious Jitterbug would not be lost somewhere out there in the cold harsh night all alone with naught, but her captors to comfort the poor dragon. However if wishes were Runners then Holdless would ride. The other candidates could stay back and mope and hope for their bonded to be among those eggs not taken. Niyx however felt called to action as she lined up for those whom had volunteered to go out with the fourth group to search for the stolen queen. Checking over her belongings Niyx fingered the throwing knives she had in the small leather pouch hooked to her belt. The candidate rarely took them out of her bag since they were stunt throwing knives and not meant to kill though they were fully capable of it. It was simply an old superstition that it was bad luck for blades meant to bring smiles and laughs of joy at the skill of their use to taste blood and bring sorrow. However for Jitterbug Niyx would risk a bit of bad luck. Shaking her head she ran her hands through her short copper locks and glanced over at the riders that made up their group with a frown as she watched them do up their straps. It would be time soon and the stress was wearing on all of them. She could practically hear the anger crackling in the air and snapping through her own veins as memories of hearing the gold egg had been taken brought about her fury afresh. Finally it was time as a brownrider, the group leader, turned to them and motioned for riders and candidates or any other volunteers to mount up. “Keep it to two passengers max per dragon! We need to move fast and light!” The group leader barked as Niyx stepped up to a blue rider who’d didn’t appear to have anyone riding with him just yet.

“Mind if I join you?” Niyx asked forcing a grin as the man glanced down at her giving her a sympathetic look before offering a hand. “Not at all. I’m N’gan welcome aboard.” The blue rider replied as Niyx took his hand as she was hauled up onto his dragon and began working quickly to strap herself in as he instructed her to do. Pulling her goggles down over her eyes she had only just clicked the last buckle when she felt the blue’s muscles bunch beneath her as her stomach fell away and the three of them took to the air like a rocket as they fell into formation with the others. The group circled the landing field once to get a bit of altitude and then just like that they were soaring over the countryside. “Keep your eyes peeled!” Ng’an yelled back at Niyx who had to strain to hear him over the wind. “Rolloth says the watch posts spotted a wagon moving through here as fast as the runners could put hoof to soil! Here’s betting that’s our thieves!” He continued forcing Niyx to lean in close to hear his words before they were snatched away by the wind. “Understood!” She yelled back and half turned looking over the edge of blue Rolloth to peer down at the ground and into the distance searching for any sign of possible movement that might be their target.

It didn’t take her long to spot a cloud of dust coming from one of the roads as she turned and tugged on N’gan’s shirt pointing out what she had seen. Signaling the other rider’s the three of them dropped out of formation as Rolloth slid sideways into the air circling and swooping down to get a better look. There they spied a wagon just as described with the driver pushing the runners as hard as they could go. The poor beasts rearing and neighing at the sight of a dragon so close and nearly threw one of the drivers from the wagon bench. The ensueing chaos sent the wagon rocking and for just a second Niyx saw a flash of gold. “There!” She screamed pointing to the back of the wagon as N’gan nodded and without another word the blue dropped straight out of the air landing with a thud hard enough to jar Niyx’s teeth right in front of the wagon forcing one of the drivers to pull back hard on the reins as cart and runners skidded to a stop leaving deep tracks in the hard packed earth with hoof and wheel. Taking the blue’s cue dragon after dragon descended upon the wagon from all sides as the group leader dismounted, Niyx and N’gan not far behind him as they all approached the two drivers of the wagon with anger glittering in their eyes.

However other then the initial shock something was wrong. . .the drivers of the wagon didn’t look afraid or worried. They just looked smug. Sensing something was wrong at the same time as Niyx was the group leader turned motioning for her and others to go check the back. “Check the egg! Quickly!” He barked, but his order was overcome by laughter as the drivers doubled over grinning as wide as whers at their trick. Already knowing what she would find Niyx flipped the wagon cover up and felt her heart turn to ice. It was barrel. A simple barrel painted yellow to fool any who caught a passing glance inside. This had all been nothing more then bait to throw them off the track of the real thieves and gold. With hands shaking from the force of her anger Niyx slowly lowered the wagon cover once more to look to the group leader. No words were needed to convey what she had found. The look of stricken sorrow and fury on the young girls face was enough as the brownrider whirled grabbing one of the drivers by the neck and hauling him from the wagon bench to slam him bodily against the rough hewn wood of his craft.

“Where is the egg!?” He demanded the driver merely laughing in the brownriders face, but was quickly cut off as he pulled back and slammed the drivers head against the wagon once again. “I SAID WHERE IS THE EGG!” He roared narrowing his eyes at his captive though the sound of scrambled movement caught his attention as he glanced up to see the second driver attempting to leap from the wagon bench to flee. However the dull thunk of metal cutting deep into wood was quick to send the second driver scrambling back up into place as a throwing knife appeared not inches from his head.

“I can calculate the exact trajectory, force, and speed needed to throw a knife all in my mind alone. Unfortunately for you I don’t need to do any of those things to put one of my blades right between your eyes. So I would strongly suggest you stay right where you are.” Niyx spoke her tone cold as ice from behind the brownrider her eyes a little too bright with her anger as she all cheerfully informed the second driver exactly what she would happily do to him should he move another inch. Luckily he didn’t need to as Rolloth’s rider circled around hauling him from the wagon bench to shove him side by side with his companion.

“Now as I was saying. Where is the egg?” The brownrider growled only to jerk back as the first driver spat right in his face. “Neither I nor Bor will ever tell yeah!” The driver a rather wiry and muscled scar caked man replied. His companion, apparently named Bor, who was a smaller weasely looking man seemed to be having second thoughts and nearly leaped out of his skin as the dragon’s began to hum. Niyx had lived through the rebellion, through facing a Queen, through fires and attacks and she’d done it all with a smile trying to be strong for her friends. She’d be afraid, but never terrified. Yet such a little sound that should beckon in joy filled her chest with tight white hot terror as she glanced knowingly at the brownrider seeing his own eyes widen in panic.

“You will tell me where the gold egg is.” The brownrider demanded once more as the first driver grinned and laughed. “Never!” He barked out with his wry and bloodthirsty grin. “Times a runnin out for you wherries and what da I care if the Queen goes between? Just one less bloody gold in the world in my opinion. Don’t matter what she was wanted for. So you can just go suck a trudlebug yea ain’t getting nothing out of me!” The man growled only to be cut off by a sharp “Good!”

For a moment all fell silent as all eyes turned to stare at Niyx. However the gears were whirling fast in the candidates head. “I said good.” Niyx repeated as the brownrider gave out a muffled “Do you have any idea what you’re saying candidate?”

“What!? This is a good thing!” Niyx went on and for a moment the first drivers grin only got broader thinking he’d managed to recruit a new member to his cause. However Niyx’s next words had him frowning and his companion sweating bullets. “After all this means we have no reason to be nice or keep them alive anymore. In fact we can just charge them with the kidnapping and murder of a Queen and stick them right on the sands to face death by the egg’s mother.” Niyx finished and in that moment realization dawned in the brownrider’s eyes at her ploy as the second driver Bor gave out a startled “What!?” His voice cracking with fear.

“Stand strong she’s just bluffin! Dragon’s can’t kill!” The first driver barked giving his shaking companion a glare.

“She’s right you know. If you won’t give us any information we have no use for you.” The brownrider continued his voice and temperament having cooled and a rather viciously pleased smile had come to grace his face. Silently both rider and candidate prayed that their ploy went off without a hitch before the Queen hatched and went between. Time was of the essence and every second was ticking down a quickly waning clock. There would be no extra chores or punishment should they be late, but instead they would live forever with the knowledge that a Queen was dead because if their tardiness.

“That’s not entirely true. Malvren’s old gold had no problem doing in that would be assassin that threatened her rider and that was just her rider. Imagine what a gold would do to someone who killed her precious daughter. I do believe this warrants some experimentation. Do you think she’ll just step on you and break your necks or rend you to pieces you think?” Niyx asked the two drivers her tone all too pleasant as she described their possible horrible mutilation and eventual death.

“I would hate to keep you from your academic learning candidate. So it’s probably best we get these two back and find out just which way it’s going to be.” The brownrider replied with a grin motioning for N’gran to drag the second driver Bor off only to draw a yelp from the man.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! They’re hiding in the hold town back down the road behind us!” The man screeched out and struggled against his bonds even as his partner cursed at him. “I didn’t sign up to die!” Bor yelled at his companion, but both of their voices fell upon deaf ears as all, but two riders who were left to bring the decoy’s in took to their dragons and raced towards the hold town mentioned. Niyx wasted no time hauling herself onto Rolloth as N’gan urged him into the air and down to land with a wumph in the middle of town. Beside them the brown and his rider dropped from the sky bellowing out to those watching. “We’re in search of egg thieves! Please come forward if you know anything!” He called and then turned to the group. “Everyone spread out! Search every nook and cranny and call out if you find ANYTHING!” He yelled as Niyx scrambled down the side of the blue and into the town to search as all the while the dragon’s constant humming hung over her like an unceasing harpers dirge.

Unaware of the panic she was causing the Jitterbug egg had begun to rock and wriggle in it’s container sending it’s basket bumping and thumping against the other crates in the back of the abandoned cart. Shivering little cracks began to gradually form on the egg’s surface then chips and then a very confused and curious burble as the hatchling found itself staring at yet another strange egg around it’s egg. Reaching one tentative paw out the little gold poked the egg around the egg only for her paw to go right through it as a few talons poked out from the inside of the basket. Pulling back a little whirling eye could be seen peering out at the surroundings as the bubbly chirruping picked up an octave and the basket rocked harder. Finally a gold snout followed by merry green and blue eyes poked it’s head out of the top of the basket as the Jitterbug gold gave a little cry of triumph. She was out! She had found her way out of the egg around the egg and. . .where was she? There were so many things! So many new smells! But where was hers? Rocking forward Jitterbug forgot in her hurry that the bottom half of her body was still stuck within the basket and as such let out a rather surprised squeak as basket, egg, and dragon went tipping over sending the Jitterbug gold rolling across the bottom of the cart and off the edge to land in an ungraceful and dirt covered heap on the ground. Blinking in surprise it took the Jitterbug gold a few moments to get her wits about her as she got shakily to her feet. The sound of movement catching her attention as she turned cocking her head to peer up at the cart and the two very nervous pawing runners attached to it who peered down just as intently at her as she was peering up at them. Was one of them hers? No. . .she knew Hers and she was not them. Had they perhaps seen hers though? The little Queen asked tilting her head and giving the runners a questioning chirrup, but received no response. No? All right then she would just have to look somewhere else. Perhaps one of the two wooden buildings that were on either side of the little dirt alleyway she was in? Maybe hers was playing a game? Oh she did love games! First she would find hers then hers could find her! What a wonderful idea!

Padding up to the building to her left Jitterbug pawed at the wooden door the smell of cooking meat luring her in just as much as the urge to find her rider was. After a little bit of work the little hatchling managed to nose the door open slipping in undetected by the plump holder wife currently occupied with making dinner. Sitting back on her haunches the little gold blinked up at the woman in confusion. What was she doing? Why was she setting the good meat of fire? Where was her rider? Did she know where her rider was? Was the lady playing the game too? Ooo yes she should play with her and Hers! The little dragoness seemed to say with a burble and a happy chirrup.

“Oh there you are Finch! Where have you~” The Holder woman scolded half turning to give her firelizard a talking too only to find herself looking not at her beloved flit, but a dragon! A dragon in her kitchen! Letting out a startled shriek the holder woman backed up bumping into one of the pots hanging by the hearth and sending it clattering to the floor. Surprised Jitterbug let out a panicked squawk as she quickly back peddled slamming into a cabinet in her surprise and sending jars and pots clattering. Where oh where was hers! She didn’t like this game anymore!

The Holderwoman’s panicked shrieks had not only startled Jitterbug, but alerted Niyx as the candidate half turned towards the noise with a mix of terror and hope in her eyes. “Over here!” She yelled rushing towards the screams as a few other riders paused in their search and began to rush towards her. Running up to the building in question Niyx reached out jerking the door open only to be overwhelmed as a combination of smoke and flour filled the open air. However she was given little time to adjust as spotting an exit the jitterbug spun and bolted towards the light bowling over the coughing candidate who’d been trying to fan the concoction away from her face.

Miiiiiiiiiinnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!! A small bright chipper little voice all, but squealed in Niyx’s mind as the two rolled head over heels together in a mixture of legs and wings and other things as both candidate and dragon yelped in surprise.

Mine! Mine! Mine! I found you! Where have you been! Where have I been? What took you so long! Your Iachixth has been looking all over for you! The little gold chirruped and burbled happily in her rider’s mind as the dust cleared and found the missing queen in question covered in flour and soot and perched on top of Niyx peering down at the candidate turned rider with whirling eyes.

For a moment Niyx remained speechless too lost in those rainbow eyes richer in color then any harpers canvas could ever be and more glorious then the most vibrant sunset on all Pern. “I~ I’m sorry Iachixth. You had a bit of a head start.” Niyx finally managed to stutter and gasp the impact having knocked most of the wind out of the surprised rider as she reached a hand up towards her dragon.

Chittering and squirming with joy ontop of Niyx Iachixth playfully bopped her rider's hand with her nose leaning her head into it and crooning throatily in her cheer. That is fine Mine. Once I have eaten we will play another game yes? This time you will find me and we can explore together! Iachixth replied preening happily at such a wonderful idea and drawing a laugh from Niyx who had not the heart to tell her dragon she had already been looking for the little missing gold.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea, but um Iachixth would you mind hopping off me? It’s a bit hard to breath~” Niyx replied propping herself up a bit as Iachixth glanced down to see exactly where she was standing and then looked up in surprise. Sorry Mine! I was just so excited to see you and~ The gold rambled on as she backed off her rider allowing Niyx to sit up and get to her feet dusting herself off.

However for the first time since impression Iachixth fell silent as both dragon and rider were interrupted by a piercing scream as the holderwoman burst from the home frying pan at the ready.

MINE! Beware the Flat Thing of DEATH!!! Iachixth suddenly shrieked and leaped behind Niyx reaching up onto her hide legs to bury her head under her rider’s tunic and all, but bodily try to force herself up under her rider’s shirt and away from the clearly pissed off holderwoman.

“Flat thing of what~” Niyx began only to be interrupted as the Holderwoman leveled her frying pan right in front for the newly made weyrling’s nose and growled out “YOU.”

Niyx raised her hands in front of her in a gesture of peace as she went all, but cross-eyed staring at the offending object right in front of her nose. “Hey now Miss can’t we talk this out?” The candidate ventured reaching out to carefully push the frying pan aside hoping to entreat the Holderwoman into calming down.

“Talk! Talk! What was that~ That THING! Doing in MY Kitchen!” The Holderwoman screamed moving the frying pan away from Niyx only to put her free hand on her hip and point her intended weapon at the dragon shaped lump in the back of Niyx’s tunic and still visible dirty gold hind legs and tail sticking out of it.

Don’t let her take me MINE! I don’t want to DIE! There are so many things I haven’t seen yet! So many thing left to do! ~ Ooo what’s this! Iachixth lamented as muffled yelping and draconic wailing came from the back of Niyx’s tunic only to be cut off with a short curious chirrup as Niyx felt Iachixth chewing on the back of her chest bindings.

“Iachixth you’re over exaggerating she’s not going to kill you and HEY! Stay out of that!” Niyx replied with a sudden yelp reaching behind her to attempt to gently dislodge her lifemate from her clothing. “That’s my bra Iachixth! That is not good eating!” She exclaimed finally managing to tug the little gold out from under her tunic and bend to wrap the little dragon in her arms.

It’s not? Then what’s it for if it’s not food? Oh food! FOOD! Mine! I’m so hungry! Mine! Mine! I’m going to waste away if I don’t get something to eat! Iachixth asked pausing as suddenly she remembered with a rumble of her stomach that she hadn’t eaten yet and once more took up her draconic wailing.

“Ah-hem. Now what about my kitchen little rider!?” The holderwoman continued cutting into Niyx’s thoughts as she tried to reign in her dramatic little dragon the woman’s voice causing her to jerk her head up at peer back at the Holderwoman.

“Oh that! Oh I am so sorry Miss. She was lost you see and went looking for me. I promise it’ll never happen again.” Niyx replied casting a desperate and pleading glance over at the other riders as the group leader jogged over.

“It had better not happen EVER again!” The Holderwoman schreeched shaking the fryingpan at the newly impressed pair only to find her hand caught by the brownrider leader who deftly removed the offending object being used to threaten his young Queen.

“Yes ma’am I assure you it won’t happen again. I promise you will be compensated for your troubles now would you mind kindly quieting down. You’re scaring the younglings and you know how excitable the young are.” The brownrider replied flashing the holderwoman a rather charming smile as she quieted and blinked at him before letting out a huff.

“Very well, but you best see too it I get said compensation.” She scolded before snatching back her frying pan and stomping inside.

Letting out a breath Niyx hadn’t even known she’d been holding she gave Iachixth a little affectionate squeeze trying to quiet her wailing dragon and giving the brownrider a grateful glance.

“Let her know we’ve got a dragon on the way with a herdbeast. Can you tell me her name?” He asked crouching down beside the two as Iachixth quieted at is words.

Food? The little Queen piped up hopefully drawing a laugh from Niyx.

“Yes love food’s coming.” Niyx replied scratching the little gold’s eyeridges as she curled into her rider crooning with pleasure. “Her name is Iachixth. Isn’t she beautiful?” The newly made rider gasped glancing up at the brownrider with tears in her eyes even as the blue from before Rolloth betweened into the air above them circling to drop a killed herdbeast not far from where they sat.

“You’ll both need baths, but yes she is beautiful. Now let’s see about getting her fed.” The brownrider replied with a grin standing and drawing his belt knife as he began to hack up the dead herdbeast handing the fresh bloody pieces back to Niyx to feed Iachixth with.

More Mine Please! The little gold hiccupped wolfing down another piece of meat as Niyx withheld the next one. “Go a bit slower Iachixth I can’t have you choking.” Niyx coaxed uncaring that her tunic was not only now covered in dirt, flour and soot, but additionally herdbeast blood as she handed the next piece over insisting that Iachixth take her time. Which the little gold did though that didn’t stop her from constantly demanding more until her little stomach bulged against her golden hide.

Finally having eaten her fill Iachixth leaned against her rider’s side thrumming contently as Niyx stared down at her dragon her eyes soft with love as she scratched the little gold’s eyeridges until a gentle hand on her shoulder caught her attention.

“One of the holders has agreed to put the two of you up for the night until Iachixth is strong enough to return to the Weyr. We’ve got a hot bath drawn. It’d be best if the two of you got in it before either of you falls asleep or her hide starts flaking under that gook.” The brownrider from before replied offering Niyx a hand up which she took as beside her Iachixth slowly rose to her feet leaning into her rider’s side and sleepily bumping against it as the two were slowly lead to the room in question.

It was a rather simple room not much larger then some of the small storerooms back at the Weyr. The floor was made of roughhewn wood that had been sanded down by hand and years of feet, the walls were the same with a few sparse wall hangings to add a slightly homey feel and one little shuttered window that sat over a rush covered bed to let in the morning light. Pushed up next to the first bed was a slightly smaller one that had just recently been placed there by the looks of it for Iachixth to use. Then of course there was their bath sitting right in the middle of the room. Said bath in question was actually a very large metal family washing tin that had been filled high with warm steaming water. A chair had been placed next to it that had a pair of clean clothes for Niyx and a couple of towels for the two of them heaped onto it.

Padding over to the bath Iachixth rose onto her hand legs to place her front paws on the rim peering in to sniff sleepily at the water letting out a snort as a bit went up her nose. Mine what is this? Iachixth asked half turning to Niyx as her rider began to strip down out of her dirt and blood caked clothes.

“It’s a bath Iachixth. You’ll like it I promise.” Niyx replied with a gentle smile reaching out to help her squirming dragon into the warm water the little queen letting out a surprised peep as she sank up to her neck in the steaming substance. After the initial shock of surprise wore off the little gold spread her wings padding about in the tub her claws clicking against the metal bottom. I like it. Iachixth replied confirming her rider’s guess even as Niyx stepped into the tub with her sinking into the warm water as she felt it wash over her skin soothing her cuts and bruises from the eventful day.

Leaning back in the tub Niyx let out a tired, but content sigh as Iachixth draped herself over her rider’s legs leaning her head on Niyx’s arm where it rested on the edge of the tub. “I love you Iachixth.” Niyx murmured cracking one eye open to glance lovingly at her bondmate. She knew she didn’t have to say it. No words had to be voiced to confirm the joy, the excitement, the content and love that surged through them both. But that didn’t stop Niyx from voicing her thoughts anyway wanting her dragon to not just sense, but hear her feelings.

I love you too Mine. Today was a good day. Perhaps we can play again tomorrow and maybe the lady with the flat thing of DEATH will not be so upset. I think she needs to laugh more. Iachixth mused thrumming happily as she looked upon her rider with eyes that whirled a richer blue and green then a lush grassy field on a bright blue summers day.

“We will definitely play more tomorrow. Any game you want. Now let’s get you clean so we can both get some sleep.” Niyx replied smiling broadly down at her beloved dragon, her beautiful radiant Iachixth, and reached for the bag of soapsand that had been tied to one of the handles of the wash tub. Scooping out a handfull she got it good and suddy before scrubbing it gently over her dragon’s hide. This earned a bright happy alternating crooooo-OO-ooo-OO-oon from Iachixth as the slight movement of her neck hide being scrubbed on made her pitch alternate with each pass.

Any game Mine? Can we make a new one? Iachixth asked sleepily as Niyx finished scrubbing her clean taking a moment to do a once over on herself.

“Of course we can. Maybe we can even rope some of the other dragons and their riders into it.” Niyx replied stepping out of the bath to quickly towel herself dry and dropping the damp piece of cloth on the ground to help lift Iachixth out on as the little gold crawled out of the tub. Grabbing the second towel Niyx went over her lifemate with it carefully fluffing her hide dry even as the little gold batted at the ends of the fabric. It seemed that no matter how tired Iachixth got she always still had enough energy to play.

I’d like that Mine. The little gold crooned crawling onto the smaller bed that had been placed beside the one meant for Niyx and curling up on the rushes as her rider got into her night gown.

I’d like that~ Iachixth paused yawning and showing off little white teeth and a tiny little green tongue. I’d like that a lot. She finished stretching out like a cat her limbs splayed this ways and that, her little wings half extended and fell fast asleep. Only moving so often to twitch or croon in her dreams sometimes flailing as she chased imaginary playmates.

Crawling into her own bed Niyx pulled up the covers and took a moment to just lay there and watch the little twitching Queen a soft smile playing across her face. A dragon. . .her dragon and with that last parting thought her eyelids grew to heavy to fight and sleep soon took the rider just as fast as it had her dragon.

Both slept soundly. Dead to the world and unaware of the rider’s who stood guard over them. Unaware of the occasional dragon nose that sniffed at their shuttered windows and unaware that their story had just begun.

The morning came bright and early with the sunlight filtering through the shutters and across Niyx’s closed eyelids to wake her. Groggily she rose opening her eyes to stare up at the ceiling. She’d had the most wonderful dream. She’d found the Jitterbug egg and impressed the gold and they were going to live out their lives together and she would never ever be alone ever again. Had it really only just been a dream? Niyx wondered as she glanced to side and felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach at the sight of the empty smaller bed.

Apparently it had. For a moment Niyx felt her heart break as her vision became blurry with tears. It had all felt so real. . .slipping her legs over the edge of her bed she fumbled for her boots.

Only to have a golden snout snatch one right out of her hand as Iachixth bolted from under the bed and across the room with it prancing merrily about with Niyx’s clean socks adorning her head knobs. SURPRISE MINE! I got you didn’t I! Oh don’t be sad Mine! See! See! We’re going to have a great time today! Iachixth bugled bounding about the room boot still clutched within her teeth only to pause almost within reach of Niyx to wiggle her tail in the air holding the boot out enticingly.

Come get me Mine! She called as Niyx laughing with joy and relief made a grab for her boot only to miss as her dragon once more bounded out of reach.

“Iachixth you little stinker! Give me that!” She called getting to her feet to chase her dragon about the room the two of them playing their merry game until the little gold’s stomach began to rumble.

Food now Mine? She asked tilting her head in the exact same manner Niyx was as the young goldrider peered down at her companion snaking a hand out to make another grab for her boot only to have Iachixth jerk back making her rider miss with amused whirling green and blue eyes.

“We’ll get you your food you beloved bottomless pit of a stomach, but first I need my shoes. . .and preferably my socks too.” Niyx called as Iachixth finally let her rider have her footwear back.

These are not socks. They are headknob warmers. They were clearly meant for me. Iachixth teased bounding about her rider playfully as Niyx went about pulling her pants on and the clean if not somewhat oversized shirt that had been left for her.

“Well may I borrow your headknob warmers to warm my feet knobs for a bit darling?” Niyx called jokingly as Iachixth took a seat preening happily at their game.

Why yes you may! But I would like more later. Iachixth informed her allowing her rider to take the socks off her head knobs and put them on her feet where they belonged.

“Of course your majesty! Why when we get back to the Weyr I’ll get you all the socks you like!” Niyx exclaimed with a chuckle which turned into a bright joyous laugh as Iachixth cut in with a You mean headknob warmers.

“Of course Headknob warmers. Now come on you let’s go get some breakfast.” She joked resting one hand on her dragons neck as she got up leading the two of them out of the room to see the brownrider from before already sitting at the little cothold’s kitchen table sipping a cup of klah. Beside him were two platters. One piled high with breakfast food of which he already had a plateful and another piled high with carefully cut raw meat for the little Queen.

Arching an eyebrow at the two of them he grinned. “I wondered when the two of you were going to be out here with all that ruckus. Come on I got some meat cut for your little charge already. Best to feed her or I doubt you’ll be left in peace to eat yourself.” He joked even as Niyx nodded taking the platter and carefully piecing out it’s content to her beloved gold until like before Iachixth lay full and happy on the floor with a bulging stomach. This done Niyx took her own seat after washing her hands and began her own meal stuffing her plate full and working her way through breakfast.

“We’ll make a move to get you two back to the Weyr late tomorrow once she’s a little stronger. I’ve heard news the hatching feast has been delayed till then so hopefully we’ll have you both back in time to enjoy the festivities. I spoke with the Holder’s wife and she’s willing to let out a little gather dress she has so you’ll have something decent to wear. It’s not much, but it’s better then that mess of blood and dirt ruined clothes you were wearing before.” He continued after taking a sip of his klah watching Niyx with a curious eye as she worked through her food. He only remembered this candidate vaguely from when she’d stepped up to Trine’s senior Queen while the Sr. Weyrwoman was still in a coma. However that time felt so long ago back before all the death and the fighting had happened begun.

“I’ll speak with her about it thank you~” Niyx paused trailing off realizing that in all the chaos she had never learned the man’s name.

“G’dol. My name’s G’dol Miss.” He replied giving her a rueful smile his words making Niyx feel rather odd even as Iachixth tugged at her for them to go outside and play and explore.

“If you’ll excuse me.” Niyx continued the brownrider giving her a nod as she slipped out the door with Iachixth. It was then she realized she’d never been addressed as ‘miss’ before. Maybe ‘hey you, ‘girl’, or ‘candidate,’ but never ‘miss’ and it felt odd to say the least.

The majority of the day was a whirlwind of laughter, play, oiling, and constant bathing. Iachixth got into everything and Niyx couldn’t love her more even if it did mean the newly made rider spent most of her morning untangling the gold from a clothing line and apologizing for the now dirty laundry. Dirt was a constant part of her life now. If it wasn’t dust it was dirt, if it wasn’t dirt it was soot, if it wasn’t soot it was flour or mud which left Iachixth getting bathed often and oiled just as much. Not that Niyx minded as she sat with her back against a tree watching the sunset as she went over a happily crooning Iachixth with an oil cloth. Tomorrow would be day three. Tomorrow they would return back to the Weyr. Tomorrow they would face their future. It had only recently dawned on Niyx that she had impressed a BENDEN Queen. Well half Benden anyway though she would bet her last mark they’d try to lay full claim on Iachixth and her. However Niyx was not of Benden. She was born and raised in the Trine area and an Ancientcrafter apprentice to boot.

But she couldn’t just run away. Where would she go? Certainly not to the Revolutionist. The very thought of them stealing Iachixth’s egg and being willing to let the little Queen die set Niyx’s blood boiling. What if she hadn’t been there? What if she hadn’t been the one? Then beloved, wonderful, amazing quirky little Iachixth would have been lost between.

But you were there and you are mine Mine. Do not worry so. Iachixth piped up breaking into her rider’s thoughts as she cracked one little whirling eye open the rich yellow of worry there forcing Niyx to calm for her dragon’s sake. She certainly didn’t need Iachixth fretting over such things.

Then there was Iachixth herself. While Niyx was no expert on metallics she knew gold dragons needed a lot of work and caring and could easily become hurt and ill if their hide wasn’t properly oiled and cleaned. Still she wouldn’t go to Benden. This Niyx was certain off. Malvren maybe, but never Benden. Shards she would create her own Weyr away from it all if she had too to prevent it, but one way or another they needed allies. They needed to learn, to listen, to recruit. So for now the smartest thing for them both to do was bide their time.

I don’t like to wait Mine. Can’t we fix whatever is bothering you now? Iachixth whined nudging her rider’s hand playfully as Niyx smiled down at her.

“The patient dragon catches the wherry or so I’ve been told. Trust me on this Iachixth.” Niyx replied with a smile scratching her dragon’s eyeridges as the two rose making their way back to their temporary home.

The next day would be a busy one or a boring one in Iachixth’s case as she sat watching her rider be constantly poked and prodded by Miss Jorrini the Holder’s wife who had taken them in as she fussed and measure Niyx adjusting the simple white and light brown dress to fit the rather gangly young woman.

Mine what’s a needle? Iachixth inquired one of her many questions that kept dragon and rider entertained throughout the grueling process.

It’s something humans use to stitch pieces of cloth together to make clothes. Niyx replied having to keep her head straight as the older woman fussed at her. The sun would be going down soon and she didn’t want to be too late for the feast did she? Wanted to look her best yes. The woman went on and on most of which was tuned out by Niyx.

Mine why do humans wear clothes? Iachixth asked scooting a little bit closer to her rider when the fussing woman wasn’t looking.

We wear clothes to protect ourselves. Niyx explained turning her head ever so slightly to glance down at her dragon, but straightened it once more as Jorrini turned back around.

So human clothes are like us dragon’s hide? That is rather silly. Why do you not simply grow hide like we have? The little gold asked waiting until the woman had turned around once again to reach a naughty little paw out and bat at the hem of her rider’s dress.

Because we can’t grow hide and we’d look very silly in it. We’re not as elegant as you are Iachixth. Niyx joked giving her little dragon a wink as she was finally shuffled outside and to the awaiting brown dragon and G’dol.

Chuckling he helped her up into her seat passing Iachixth up to her before he mounted as well. “You don’t clean up half bad. I almost didn’t recognize you myself Miss. Now come on we’ve got a party to get too.” He spoke and with a laugh they were in the air soaring and circling until the lights of Trine came into view. The hatching feast it appeared was well under way as they circled and landed near the outskirts of it. Letting Niyx off and helping Iachixth down to the ground G’dol gave them both a bow.

“May the winds favor you always and may your future be a good one. Now get moving you two. There’s an entire Weyr waiting on you to make an appearance.” G’dol spoke clapping Niyx on the shoulder once before remounting his dragon leaving gold and rider to make the last leg of their journey in the glow of the hatching feast lights.

We will be great Mine. Iachixth spoke her words ringing with love and cheer as she looked up to her rider.

“We will make friends and allies.” Niyx replied in turn stroking her dragon’s glowing hide.

And we will make our own way. Iachixth added with a croon as the two of them stepped towards the light.

“Always.” Niyx promised.

Username: Shaddaling
Character Name: Jemi
Age: 19
Personality: Jemi styles herself as a boy. No, really she does.
Jemi is extremely confident; she has to be to keep up with a barrack of men and to prove that she earned her position and was not given it because her father and the captain are in a relationship. A strange awkward relationship considering her father is still dedicated to her mother but hey, s**t happens. She is bold, forward, and secure in herself. She will succeed time and time again to prove herself.
Composed, the barracks can be a vulgar crass place to be in and Jemi has the ultimate of all poker faces as a result. She keeps on track, no matter how many quips the men may make about her monthly. They are immature, the lot of them. Or on her looks, it is not her fault her nose was broken and set crooked though she could shape his nose to match. Just try her.
Temper, Jemi has a temper. She knows this, she tries to control it but after awhile and one crack too many her fist tends to find someone's face. Jemi been working on this and more often she will snap at one of the older guards for a spar. Sparring has its own set of rules to follow and lets her release her anger in a positive manner.
Bitter, perhaps from the multiple of breaks up or the fact that she would never look good in one of the popular style dresses, Jemi harbors quite a bit of resentfulness to woman in general. Her relationships with men have often ended up in violent fights when she learns they only gave her attention to look good in her father's eyes. If she didn't like certain parts of their anatomy she would swear off them all together.
Thrill junkie, Jemi likes to go fast. The rush of adrenaline as she urges her runner to the maximal speed, the way her stomach drops as she takes a jump. The surge of pride when she manages to toss a larger opponent or manages to catch Wen before he sneaks up on her. Jemi pushes herself, head tossed and eyes bright and joyous sometimes beyond her means.
Suspicious, because of Jemi father's position in the guard and her own past of bad breakups Jemi finds it hard to trust people. Men mainly but woman also ping her s**t list.
Why Me? Who else has the will power to keep such a curious little lady in line? Jemi will be able to keep up with Iachixth boundless energy and save her 'victims' from Iachixth endless questions. She'll keep Iachixth focus and reassure her that she is safe when threatened. Iachixth in return will give Jemi infinite love and someone to always lean against. Her curiosity will burn out Jemi's temper and together they will balance the good and bad in each other.

History: Jemi is the eldest surviving child of Lennox and Marian rather impressive brood of eight. The second born and first girl, Jemi was surrender by brothers, uncles, cousins and either meek house wives or strong sharp tempered women. Jemi did not get a little sister till she was eleven and by then she was such a complete rough and tumble tom boy that having a sibling to do girl things with was no longer fascinating. Jemi wanted to be a guard like her father, cousins, and uncles.
She started tailing her father to work and meet Wen. She thought the boy was younger then he was and sort of adopted him as her little brother. The little brother she always wanted, solemn and calm and not trying to stuff rock mites into her tunic.
They got along surprising well and when they both officially entered the guard became partners. They consider each other family in some weird unspoken way. Wen is Jemi's shield brother and she is his sword sister. Jemi and Wen both joined the guard when Shar finally got permission to create a messenger division to cut down the risk of important information being intercepted from Atlini hold to Trine Weyr and other holds beholden to Trine.
Things had been going rather well for Jemi, despite the growing problems of Wherholds and then Wen gets chosen as a Candidate on what should have been a routine run, leaving her alone with the men and her family. Yeah, like she is going to take that sitting down, not even seeing her shield brother impress.
Jemi argued fiercely and ended up gaining her wish. She had permission to watch the hatchling, likely relieving some of Shar's fears about his only child being on the sands for such a peculiar hatching. Two clutches were rare and had a habit of being eventful in unpleasant ways. She talked to Wen, found the eggs had been stolen and hit the road most likely to harbor the thieves.
Prompt Response:
Jemi grinned, sharp and commanding on the back of her runner as she fought with the staff that yes, she had a valid reason and right to visit her shield brother. She slid off her runner, handing its reins off to her fellow messenger and hoofed it inside the Candidate barracks, hoisting her messenger pouch as a badge at any looks. Everyone could get out of her way! Please.
She spotted Wen, there was no way she could miss the length of white blonde hair let alone confused him with anyone else. Speeding up, Jemi got closer, grinning. "Hey! Little Shield brother!" She shouted and laughed as he turned. Nothing could be more fun on catching her little shield brother unawares.
She slowed, setting in a brief parade rest and looked him over, ignoring the confused cry of 'Jemi?' and 'What are you doing here?' That wasn't important and he could answer it himself given time. "Really, that's all you have to say to me Wen?"
"You sent me a lazy."
"So it hatched? I'm glad." Jemi looked him over. "I'm not the queen of flits, little shield brother, it not as if I could ask the vender to point me a messenger egg." She reached over and tugged his jacket close, hiding the straps to the knife hoisters. "What wrong Wen?"
"Someone, likely revolutionaries stole the eggs. They took the queen egg and six others and I am not allowed to leave the grounds. " Wen leaned against the wall, eyes tightly shut and head angled back, a long line of exposed throat and clenched jaw. Frustration and anger. "I should be out there... Do you have anywhere to be, Jemi?"
"Why, no I really don't have anywhere I need to be in the next few days. Shar is going to be pissed at me though, he is not pleased about this." She raked her fingers through the short stubble of her hair. "Two clutches on the sand seems to bring all sorts of bad luck, little shield brother. "
"I'll send a message with your partner, 'Dire I take it?"
"Yeah, Shar doesn't trust me with anyone else on these long rides. He says I'm an ornery b***h." Jemi chuckled and went over her supplies and the condition of her runner. "Lips will be fine, I don't want to push him so I'll let him rest till I have a lead. But leads, little shield sibling, you must have some of them."
"The eggs are close to hatching and that alone crosses out a number of options. They can't board a ship so that leaves dragon back and roads. They wouldn't be on the main roads, to many people travel them and if the egg hatches, well they are more screwed than a flit that wandered into a nest of tunnel snakes to lay a clutch."
"Lovely image, dragons?"
"Unlikely, " Wen admitted. "Eggs would be an unwieldy cargo. They can't go between and they would be clear targets. Strange dragons and missing eggs. They likely came in on dragon back and rented out wagons and carts. I would ask around the market if anyone has seen an one peculiar. You might need to bribe them."
"Maybe, I'll take care of it. Wen," she said, tone serious and rough. "If I return and find out you did something stupid and got yourself killed. I will find a way to bring you back to kill you myself. Your father will never forgive me and I don't need the captain breathing down my neck that I went off and left you here. " She curled her hands into fists. "Stay safe or so help me."
"Jemi," Wen said sharply before softening, lips twitching in amusement. "When haven't I played safe? And being thrown from my runner or the fight doesn't count." He glanced towards the sun and frowned slightly. "I need to get going, I have classes... keep me inform? If you can."
"Classes?"
"More like babysitting," Wen made a face and nodded. "Keep safe Jemi."
"Will do, little shield brother." Jemi waved Wen off before continuing on to deliver the packages from the Lord and Lady of Atlini to the Weyrleader's secretary. She walked out and took Lips from her partner, patting the runner's dusky coat. "Well, I have a job 'Dire. Could you take Lip's and get him settled while I follow up a lead or two?"
"Shorty?"
"Wen's fine and he hates you to 'Dire." Jemi stroked Lip's forehead, cuddling the dark gray runner. "You be good for 'Dire till I come back, Lips." She stepped back and pulled out a machete from her travel bags, fastened it around her hips and added a coin pouch, both for leverage. "You can take care of a runner, can't you."
"You are such a bi-"
________________
The market place in Trine was close enough to Atlini that Jemi found the proper merchants fast enough. Information took a little bit of strong arm tactics and careful parceling of bribes to get that a there had been strangers asking after wagons and beasts. A few had been rented out and none of them had been heavily armed.
There were four search parties out, three on dragon back. She bought a few pieces of parchment and a stick of charcoal, sketching out a rough map. Jemi narrowed down her search, lips pursed and decided on a route of back roads leading towards Malvren.
___________________
She talked to 'Dire when she returned, saddling up Lips and checking the dusky runner hooves. "Think you can do that for me?" Jemi looked up, resting her head on the warm flanks of her runner.
'Dire frowned, leaning over the stall partitions. "You want me to tell the captain and the commander that you are going to be searching along the country side looking for missing eggs? He is going to be pissed. Not to mention your father." 'Dire scratched at his short hair, irritation clear in his stance.
"They'll understand. All you have to tell them is the truth 'Dire. s**t happened, it is unpleasant but we trudge along the road and get it done." Jemi stroked her runner's ears fondly. "If you need to just crack your sword between my father's eyes. That will get him to listen."
"Shaffit, fine, fine... keep your glaive at hand and I'll buy you a drink when you return home."
"Drinks are always good, till my return, brother."Jemi pulled her spear free, stroking the shorten pole arm languidly before fastening it back to the saddle bags and swung herself up on the saddle. "Let's get going Lips." She muttered, using her knees to set the runner in a slow trot, sitting tall and moving with the motions.
_________
The funny thing about being a guard, she mused as she rode her runner down the back roads, is that everyone thought the job was full of adventure and death defying thrills. Jemi shifted her legs, slowing the runner down as she inquired at a smaller town about any wagons passing by.
She grinned, cheerfully speaking to the short, pudgy man that came to speak to her. A few wagons had gone by, the only one somewhat odd had been a wagon with a pair of heavy set runner beasts. They had pasted by a few candle marks ago. Jemi tipped the man out of her purse and continued on. She was so sure she had found them.
Mainly thieves didn't take the time to learn the idiosyncrasies of who they were mimicking. Travels talked often, they took breaks from hold town to hold town getting information and to trade or purchase supplies. Merchants would call out wares and farmers usually had beasts following along for sale or the back piled high with produce. They were a bit of a oddity, nothing alarming but they would come across as at least unfriendly.
Jemi patted Lips neck and started on the road again. They were catching up. "Just a little bit longer Lips, and then you can get a rest." As if two heavy wagon pulling runners could escape them. She hummed softly as they trotted along, heading for the next hold town in the back roads.
"What shall we do with a drunken sailor, ooh, what shall we do with a drunken sailor. What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the mornin," she sang quietly as Lips trotted, crunching small sticks under his hooves.
Jemi wondered if the rebels were getting desperate. Could that be the reason for trying to snatch the eggs so close to the hatching? Had they heard about the clutch and just came too late and decided to attempt it. "Make him bail the brig with a leaky bucket, so early in the morning." She stroked Lips sides and whistled most of the tune. Could the eggs even be moved safely?
...
Shaffit, she had not considered if she found them how to bring the eggs back. Well, she only really had to worry about it if she found them. Jemi slipped down from her runner as she came up to the next small town. She held his bridle, walking the runner and paused. That was a rather large looking wagon, stuff full of hay and two fugitive looking people arguing... and was that something moving in the back?
The wagon at least answered part one of the dilemma of how to get back. If it was the wagon she was looking for. Jemi reached back and freed her spear from the bags, it wasn't her preferred glaive, but it had three feet of reach. "Lips, guard." She ordered, fastening it to her back and within easy reach. She stepped aside from the runner, heading towards the pair.
"Hello there!" She called, smiling a bit less then friendly as the pair turned. "As a part of the guard, I am to hold an inspection of all live cargo." Complete and utter shells. "I see you have something in your wagon. I ask for your full and utter compliance as I perform the necessary checks to make sure that the live cargo is not carrying Red Murrium." More lies and ooh, their face. She smiled as all color blanched out, continuing to approach.
"It is appreciated." Jemi continued, moving to push away the straw and froze as something gold and warm pushed against her hand. "Ooh..." She blinked, frozen at the warmth of the skin and itch of straw, the weight of moment heavy. It was a gold... they had stolen a gold egg and she was touching it.
'Iachixth, Jemimine. I am female and I itch and you were not around.' It, she, Iachixth was rising from the straw, pushing against her hand. She was in her head and Jemi could feel something push, as if there had been something missing and now it was overflowing and danger. Just a hiss of air, down, down. Pain.
Jemi twisted, landing hard on the wagon bottom, sprawled on her back, spear trapped under her body. She growled lowly, bringing up her feet to block the knife strike, watching it skitter of her boot. Bad, bad, bad. She could feel the young queen's confusion in her mind, the near overwhelming hunger and she needed to keep in control.
It was so hard to keep in control.
"What are you doing your shaffing idiot!" They were arguing, that would work to her advantage. Jemi shifted, wincing at the pain in her back and pushed the infant queen behind her. Shards, her spear dug into her back. Oww. She pulled it free, ignoring the trace of blood and held it out at pair. "Back of your rebellious scum." Not her best line, it sounded childish but she was angry and so tired of this. "What is wrong with you! You are going to kill her."
"Leave her Iorme... we can't do anything here now." The girl was speaking and the other seemed so angry but was letting himself be pulled away.
Jemi huffed, scrambling out of the wagon and grunt, legs wobbling. 'Jemi mine, you are hurt? What did they do? I'm so hungry.' She felt the queen press against her back, supporting and curious mixed with hunger filling her. 'Feed me?'
'Soon,' she sent back, watching the pair leave on the heavy set herd beasts. Jemi wanted to go after them, she craved tearing them, harming them. She had Iachixth though, the little queen was at her back and needed her. She couldn't draw attention to them. Not now. So she swallowed her pride and merely watched, till they were out of sight.
"Come on Iachixth love, let's ask the nice holders if they have something for you." She reached out and stroked the queen's head, nearly getting lost in the swirling eyes.


Notes: Jemi would attempt to create a sub fraction. Catching her Iachixth should not give a male power, that is just stupid. She strong and stubborn enough to possible get the leaders of Trine to hear her out and at least let her try to have a wing that allows any color to rise to a rank of power. Jemi might even attempt to have the Weyrleaders allow her, her own Weyr to conduct an experiment if such a thing could work.

Username: Naree
Character Name: Katya
Age: 16
Personality: When Katya was young, her mother asked her jokingly what she would do if she had a dragon. Katya responded that she would play with it all day. And when her mother, Miska told her that dragons were too big to play with all day, she merely replied that either she would grow to be a giant or her dragon would be small. That pretty much describes Katya’s attitude towards life. If she can’t have the results she wants, she tends to find another way to go about getting want she wants. Not that she is greedy or material but as the third child and youngest daughter, she realized at a young age that is she could do it for herself; she would like the results much better. While this is a good trait to have, independent, Katya may take it a step further and ignore her parents & throw caution to the wind in order to get what she wants. This has made for some interesting situations and punishments but nothing of the scarring type.

In general, Katya is a very easy going child. It is hard to upset her and even harder to get her angry at you. One thing that does upset her is messing with her family and her friends. She is doesn’t like anyone she considers hers, and although only 5’5”, Katya tends to act much bigger and taller, using her smarts and witty tongue to do her best to intimidate others. And speaking of smarts, the girl loves to learn. She is always trying to figure out new ways to do the same old task, wanting to learn more about Pern. She loves just trying to figure out life and everything that comes with it. Her father, as a woodcrafter, has made her several different puzzles that she loves to play with when bored. But because of her natural curiosity, she may come off as obnoxious or a pain to have around as she is constantly asking questions or getting into something. And when she gets told to shaft off, her feelings may get easily hurt. Katya is sensitive in the way that she wants everyone to like her and everyone to be her friend, and is bewildered when someone may not like her. She may sulk because of this, upset that things are not going her way or someone is not doing what she wants them to at that time. The upside to this is that Katya also forgives and forgets easily. Katya will move past whatever insult she thinks she may have suffered to a new task or activity.

Virtues: Friendly, Curious, Loyal, Intelligent, Persistent
Vice: Sensitive, Can be prying/over curious, Sulks, Stubborn

Why Me? How curious! Iachixth senses another explorer in Katya. Katya’s curiosity and urge to learn more will drive Iachixth to keep up with her in their daily adventures. During the early stages of weyrling hood, both girls will be curious about everything and everyone about them. After all, this is a brand new place! This may mean extra chores for not paying attention to what seems too boring or being found in the storerooms instead of being on time to lessons. But once they move past this stage and Katya starts to mature, her drive and focus to one task will help Iachixth sort of settle down. Together, they will get past any hurts and insults thrown onto them or their friends, and learn to let go of the past, and perhaps lead Pern into an interesting new future.



History: Katya was the third child, the second daughter born to Jerriah, a woodcrafter and laborer, and Miska, a woman who had been in the Baker craft but left after she married. Jerriah is a rather talented crafter, able to carve very realistic creatures and decorative items. Her older brother, Aden moved out to work with the merchants, her older sister Meeka went to Harper Hall because she was very good at singing and also drawing, and now it is just her & her younger brother, Nowah in the household.

Her childhood was a decent one. No death or drama for this young lady! When things were good, they were good. There were sweets, new clothing, and her father carving toys for her. Once, even a whole cake on her parents’ Espousal Day. When things were lean, and no one was buying, they just buckled down and lived on the land & their own hard work. Katya had fun being the apple of her father’s eye, taking the most after him and growing up with her siblings. Aden, the oldest at 23, doted on her a little bit too. She chased after her Mother and her sister’s skirt tales, wanting to be just like them. Being only 5 years younger than Meeka, she wanted to be and do everything her big sister did. And with only 18 months between her and Nowah, those two were thick as thieves, having fun playing pranks and creating their own little worlds. But she started to grow up and started questioning everything. Why did fellis grow here? Where did rain come from? If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it… So her parents, pleased with her curiosity and cleverness, purchased a solid and reliable runner beast & hired a guard to send her to the resident Harper & teachers to advance her learning and hopefully put into a good craft. She goes to the local hold three days a sevenday.

Prompt Response: It was Hold Day! Katya was practically dancing around her Father’s wagon as the runner beast was hooked up. Today she was going to meet with Harper Jeanna for her lessons and maybe even a chance to try the drum out. The teen girl had made sure every single chore was done, there was not a speck on her, though she couldn’t guarantee Nowah, and was now doing her best to contain her excitement.

“Hurry Father! Or we will be late! We can’t be late!” She shouted as she climbed up into the well-made wagon. As a wood carver, and a good one at that, the one thing Katya could count on was their wagon never failing nor her utensils never giving her splinters. And her little wooden figures, but that was her secret. Brown eyes sparkled and she settled and tried not to bounce. Her Mother was always telling her not to bounce but she just couldn’t help it! Sometimes, it was like the energy just had to happen and bouncing, singing, dancing seemed the easiest way to let it all out. Finally, her Father appeared, a grin on his face and a box full of his wares for the merchants in the Hold. Everyone was always pleased to see her Father in town; Katya not so much. She always had a question, wanted to watch what was going on, or just wanted to help. Though her helping didn’t always turn out the best results… She shrugged off the thought and waved. “Come on, do you need help with the box?”

Her Father shook his head and placed the box in the back of the wagon. He was still handsome man, starting to go past his prime, but strong enough to still manage his craft. Nodding to the guard that they had hired for the journey three days a sevenday, Jerriah climbed into the front seat and grabbed the reins. “All set, Daavis?” The guard nodded, mounted on his own runner beast and the party was off. The entire time was filled with chatter and laughter, the best type of trip. The day was sunny and the road was always smooth for them. Daavis was telling them that there was a clutch on the sands of Trine, from both the gold and crimson.

“What? I didn’t know crimson dragons could have eggs? Are they the same size as a gold’s eggs? Will they all hatch? How many eggs does a crimson dragon have?” Katya asked her questions fast and furious, her voice practically squeaking in excitement. She kept pushing back her light brown bangs out of her face, trying to keep an eye on Daavis.

“Whoa there, girlie. I don’t know much about dragon eggs or how many they lay. All I know is everyone is excited about the eggs and the quiet that has been going on. Sure there are a bit more dragons and riders about but I suppose that is a good thing considering what happened to Malvren.” Daavis replied.

Jerriah cleared his throat, giving Daavis a look that said, ‘Don’t say another word,’ and then proceeded to change the subject. He had heard that the rogues had been spotted off and on in Trine territory but as long as they didn’t mess with his craft, he left the world to itself. He only worried about making his marks and supporting his family. “So what lessons is Jeanna going to teach you today? Anything new or are you reviewing what you have learned?”

“Oh! Today we are going over basic plants and herbs. Outside living. Rather, I am taking Jeanna who grew up in a BIG HOLD and then HARPER HALL, how to survive on the basics if she ever gets lost. We were talking about it last time when I told her about this wild greens salad that Mother likes to make… You know the one that she adds turnips too. The one Nowah never wants to eat. Anyone, Jeanna might want to come to our house and see how we live and I told her sure! That I had to ask…” Katya grew quiet for a moment as she realized something she had forgot; she then gave her Father her biggest and best smile. “Father, can Jeanna come to our house for dinner sometime? She would like to meet Nowah and Mother, see your workshop, see my tree that I like to climb all the time. It would be wonderful!”

Ruefully, Jerriah shook his head. He was used to Katya’s enthusiasm getting the better of her and getting them into interesting situations. It was why he now had three canines, some runt caprine, and a flit that slept half the day. Giving a pat on the head, he nodded. “Daavis, you are more than welcome to join us as well. We will go hunting and have a good meal on Seven Day.” And talk of the dinner and what to serve took up the rest of the trip. As they entered town, Jerriah noticed that the Hold folks seemed on edge. He patted his side, making sure he had his belt knife. He always kept a small box that held his carving tools. Carving tools that were sharp and could be used for other purposes if he had to defend his youngest daughter. They slowed down and heard uproar in the public square. Moving towards Jeanna’s small classroom, Jerriah stopped. “Daavis, escort Katya to Jeanna and don’t let her out. This doesn’t look good. I will signal you when everything is safe.”

“Father! Let me come with you. I want to know what is going on,” Katya pouted, trying to peer ahead and see who was causing the scene. Finally! Something new was going on in the boring old Hold. But she caught the look on her Father’s face and bowed her head down. When Daavis came around to place her on the runner beast, she was pouting and disappointed but knew better than to argue. Besides, Jeanna would know what was going on. If anyone had information, a Harper did. The teen practically scrambled through the doors and cornered Jeanna. “What is going on? Who is causing such a scene in the square? Are they strangers? What do they want?”

A middle aged woman with black hair starting to go gray and dark green eyes shushed the teen and moved her to the back of the classroom. Peeking out the window, the Harper sighed. She knew that Katya would keep persisting until she provided some answers. “Strangers, two of them. They came in with a broken wagon, something to do with the bearings. They have a large sack or pot, something suspicious in the back but won’t let anyone near the wagon without an armed guard. The Lord Holder was trying to get them to move along, not tell them about your father. He hoped that they would go to the next town and be someone else’s problem. But they keep saying they are running out of time and the wagon has to be fixed now. It has been going on for several candle marks now. I only hope that Jerriah manages to stay out of it.”
Katya frowned. She knew her Father well and knew that he wouldn’t stay away. Looking out the window again, she saw Daavis standing outside the door and Jerriah moving towards the arguing men. This would not end well. Katya knew that Jerriah would fix the wagon just to move the strangers out of the village. And his stubbornness would demand pay and good pay to fix the wagon. But she also knew that he wouldn’t fix the wagon until he saw what the cargo was and if it was anything bad, he would turn the job down. They were stuck either way. “Jeanna, is there a way out past Daavis?”

The Harper looked thoughtful. Part of her wanted to protect the girl but the other part of her wanted to know what was going on just as badly. “There is a narrow window in the bathing room. We could both squeeze out of it, if we hold our breath and then go around the back way. If things go south, we can take a runner beast and head towards the next hold to warn them.”

Nodding in agreement, both women moved to the bathing room. The window was narrow but just wide enough that they could make it out. For once, Katya was grateful she didn’t have a chest or hips to show off as she wiggled her way through the window and fell to the ground below. Turning around, she moved so that she was under the window for Jeanna to step down upon. The wiggling and getting out took several minutes and by the time that they were both free, raised voices could now be heard throughout the open area.

“Curse you crafter! This is precious cargo we have here! We have to meet our party as quickly as possible. Can you or can you not fix the wagon wheel? We have plenty of marks to pay you with!” This was the voice of an angry young man, who was getting a little red in the face. Jerriah merely stood there, his arms crossed, staring the two strangers down. Beside them was useless Korvil and the farmer Yesserl. He would be of help to her father, for he was big and had muscles. Another stranger stood next to the yelling man. Behind them was the wagon, with its broken wagon wheel and covered with blankets, a strange shaped cargo. The women inched closer to hear Jerriah’s response. “There is no way I will help you until I see what is under the blankets. You could be thieves or carrying items wanted by others. I will not endanger this Hold for any amount of marks.” Katya mentally cheered her father on for standing up to the strangers. He would not change his mind for anything. Suddenly, the strange shape underneath the blankets shook. Gasping, Katya covered her mouth quickly and looked at Jeanna. The harper nodded to say that she too had seen the movement. What on Pern would be that big and shake like that? What if they were kidnappers and had someone important under the blankets? But the shape was roundish and people weren’t round. Unless they were fat. Or babies. Katya moved a little bit closer, still out of the way of her father’s sight.

“What in the name of the First Egg do you have under there? You’ve stolen flit eggs haven’t you! Well, we won’t be a part of it! And we are not afraid to make you leave.” Jerriah pulled his belt knife and Daavis stepped forward to stand behind the strangers. The female hissed at the male next to her. “We have to show them. Curse Keller, we will lose her and all of Pern will come down on our heads. I won’t be responsible for this.”

The male was shaking with anger. Striding over to the blankets, he yanked them off and threw them on the ground. There, on the back of the wagon was a large egg. Larger than a flit egg. And it had an almost golden sheen to it. Even worse, it was covered in cracks. “There, happy now! Your delays have cost us all. Hurry and gather all the girls in this back roads, forsaken hold between 12 and 21 Turns and pray that this dragon doesn’t go Between. It will be on your heads, not ours.” He spat at the ground and turned around to consult with his partner. For a moment, all was still. And then panic set it. A dragon egg in their hold. And not just any egg but the gold egg that had been laid at Trine! It had to be for how else could an egg like that get so close to their village? No one had been Searched from their area in a long time. What if no girl there was acceptable? A queen would go Between and the riders may blame them. Whistling for calm, Jerriah took control of the situation. “Gather the girls. And tell Ullen that we need meat and lots of it. I don’t know how much a little dragon eats but a large dragon eats it weight, easily. Move it, people!”

As girls began to gather, more and more cracks appeared on the egg and the strangers became more and more agitated. It was obvious that they had not planned for this to happen and were now at the mercy of the Hold folk. More men gathered, surrounding the strangers and the wagon, making sure that the thieves would have no place to go. The Hold was not big enough to have a messenger flag to summon dragons. A couple of folks had flits but no one had been to Trine to send their little beasts there. While Jerriah was occupied, Katya had managed to sneak up to the disabled wagon on the side facing away from the Gathering. She knew her father wouldn’t allow her to stand with the other girls but she had to see the egg! When would she get another change like this again? No rider would come to Search her. Never would she Stand on the Sands away from her family and everything she knew; which meant she would never have the chance to learn of Pern outside of her little homestead and Hold. It was depressing really. There was so much to find out and learn.

There is! And Iachixth will be there for you, Katya. We can find out so much together!

Squeaking and falling back. Katya looked around to see who was playing the joke on her. She was hearing voices; she had to be with everyone gathering. But it sounded so playful and fun, like a long lost companion. Moving back towards the wagon, she saw a blue colorful eye staring through the broken eggshell along with part of a wing. Carefully, Katya tugged at the shell and pulled off a large piece revealing a golden shoulder and more wing. “Was, was that you speaking? You can talk?”

Of course I can talk! I am a dragon. Let me out! I want to know what is going on! Why is there so much noise and why am I in this shell? My stomach is so very hungry. You will feed me, won’t you Katya? The gold shook and shuddered, causing more pieces of the shell to fall off. But she was still sitting on the bottom half of her shell and wasn’t very comfortable.

Katya nodded. “Ullen is bringing you meat. And everyone is arguing over you. Or about you. You are not supposed to be here, you are supposed to be at Trine. With the other dragons. OH! The other dragons! They have to be looking for you! Iachixth, don’t worry. We will get you back. And wait… You are talking to me! Does that mean I am your rider?” The teen whooped with joy and started dancing around, getting everyone’s attention. She tugged the gold, causing her to roll over in the blankets and come off the bottom part of the shell. Tossing it to the ground, she hugged the gold fiercely, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Look Father! Look Jeanna! She is mine! Mine, mine! And I am hers! This is Iachixth! And she is hungry! We have to feed her.”

Jerriah had a frown on his face. He had thought Katya was still locked in Jeanna’s classroom. But if it was meant to be then it was meant to be; Jerriah was not one to understand these things. Ullen had come with meat and Jerriah took the bucket to Katya. It was bloody and foul smelling but it was food for a dragon. “If she is yours, you feed her. And welcome to the world, Iachixth.”

In all the chaos and excitement, no one noticed that the strangers had snuck off without their prize. Two very unhappy rogues were going to have to report to Keller that they had lost the gold. For now. The Holders would not be able to move a newborn dragon just yet and they would have their chance to persuade the girl to their cause. Or if need be, kidnap her again like they had the egg.

Meanwhile, Katya was sitting in the middle of the squared with Iachixth feeding the little queen. The two looked quite taken with each other as they asked each other a million questions.

“Can you contact other dragons?” Katya asked. That would solve their problem of contacting the Weyr, if they even had to contact them.

Not yet. Can we stay here? I like here. And I like the one you call Father. Is he my father as well? The gold hiccupped and placed her head in Katya’s lap.

“You can call him Father. And I don’t think he will mind being your father. We can stay here but I have no place to put you yet. Maybe we can build you a house. You will get very big, you know. Do you like your name?” Katya wondered if dragons picked their own name or if it got picked for them.

It is mine. I like saying your name. Katya. Katya. Katya. It is short and I can yell for you easy. But now, carry me? I want to sleep in the blankets. The gold yawned, showing sharp baby teeth, her eyes closing.

“Let Father fix the wagon and we will take you home. But we can bring the blankets to you. And later, we can go exploring! I have so much to show you. And you can pretend to eat my little brother! This will be so much fun. We can grow together but you can’t grow too big okay? “ Katya fretted about where she was going to keep a gold and what she would tell her mother.

Jerriah came up and looked down at the two of them. He rubbed her chin and sighed. “Well, this will be an interesting story to tell your Mother when we get home. I will get started on that wagon now.”

Okay Father. “Okay Father.” Both girl and dragon replied with content looks on their faces. Soon they would be heading home and once Iachixth was a little bigger, they would be heading out to see Pern. All of it.