Welcome to Gaia! ::

K’la smiled, still encouraging. She couldn’t go on prodding him when he looked like that. “That’s up to her. Dragons only speak to other dragons and their riders, but they understand speech very well. It’s considered good taste to greet a dragon with respect when you see them. Even if they don’t acknowledge you, they notice.”

Have him scratch? Yvoth suggested hopefully. She stretched her opposite wing out for balance and lowered her long, supine neck and heavy head down until she was eye level with the boy. Despite K’la’s claims about hearing, she had no visible ears or earholes. Only headknobs and multi-faced eyes that outshown any jewels Winderick had seen while sharpening K’la’s knife.

K’la touched the boy’s shoulder and put on some light pressure. “She says it’s okay. Scratch the ridge over her eye. She won’t move.”

Once in arm’s-reach, the green grew perfectly still. K’la sensed that she didn’t want to startle the boy. Her eye watched him unwaveringly, and just before his hand made contact it flickered to K’la. We should take him. Then his hand brushed the warm green skin and Yvoth emitted a low hum. She pushed at his hand to encourage scratching and her outer lids closed in pleasure.

Are you sure? Not that K’la had relished letting the boy come this close only to send him back to the smithy, but even when they’d both been younger and she’d been more enthusiastic about Searching, Yvoth rarely bothered to comment about those she spoke with. In fact, they so rarely returned with anyone that it wasn’t often the pair were sent out on Searches anymore. K’la had only volunteered today because she needed to be away while Hinalle was cleaning her rooms.

Yesssss… The dragon sighed, and the sudden flood of warm breath made the area feel several degrees warmer.

K’la wasn’t sure if that was an answer or content comment about the scratching. No questioning the green about it now though. “Well done,” she said, half laughing at the sight. After watching him scratch Yvoth for a while longer, she licked her lips and prepared to interject. She hadn’t done this part very much, and her voice sounded too careful for unimportant subjects. It was easier to recall what Candidates said had drawn them in. “No one really knows what qualities dragons Search for, Winderick. Some people say it’s courage, or goodness, integrity, strength. I’ve met all types of riders, and I can’t even guess what they see in us. Whatever it is, Yvoth thinks you’re worthy to Stand at the next Hatching. I know you have a craft here and your uncle, but, if you want it, Yvoth and I can take you to the weyr. And if you’re not sure yet, I can answer any questions you have.”

Yvoth’s lids began opening when K’la began speaking and watched Winderick with an acute and intelligent curiosity.

K’la would never understand the craftbred desire to work. She was glad, however, that some people were interested in the tedious subjects though.
We work, Yvoth protested. We ride sweeps and transport people and things. We take important messages and search for those lost at sea and go on Searches like now. We work.
This is a different sort of work. When I work with you it isn’t like work at all, my dear.
Placated and pleased with the praise, Yvoth gave herself to scratching for a few more moments. When K’la began answering the boy’s questions though, she withdrew her head from his hand and lifted it to scan over the Hold.

“Not really,” she shrugged. “I was never a candidate – I Impressed Yvoth from the stands without having trained at all, so I don’t know all the details of candidate life. I know they would keep you terribly busy though in the kitchens or hauling firestone sacks or whatnot. It’s necessary work you’d be doing, but not glorious. It you find time to advance in your work, it would be very slow. More likely, you’d just have the time to keep up enough practice to not forget what you know. If you Impress though, you’ll have to put your craft behind you.” She frowned with the gravity of her next sentence. “No one is certain to Impress though. There are many who age out of eligible candidacy. They usually take up a trade in the Lower Caverns or Holds, usually wiser, but often bitter from not having Impressed. I have to warn you of that, Winderick.”

K’la’s smile returned slowly. She was glad that the boy had the courage to face so much unknown future and risk. Her approval was mostly self-centered though. It would heal her reputation some to actually return with a fresh candidate from Search for once. She chuckled lightly. “Within the hour. You go back to your rooms and pack and I’ll go speak to the Lord Holder briefly about taking you. Oh, and your uncle. I’ll come back to the smithy to speak with him and pick you up. Make sure to bring whatever you need. You won’t have a chance to come back for something you’ve forgotten.”