Approved by Con
Name: Shalira 8D
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Rank: Candidate
Appearance:
Standing at about 5'4", she is not a tall woman nor is she very short. Average in height with a slim waist and a bust to make many swoon. Shalira has darker skin, a little more on the exotic looking side, but she is still one hundred percent Pernese. Her hair is a pale dirty blonde that is worn in a messy tail most of the time with a feather or two attached. When worn down, her hair goes down to brush against her shoulders. Pieces always hang down to frame her face and light blue eyes. Shalira tries keeps her appearance clean and wears nice clothing, though the under skirt might be a little tattered.

Personality:
Feisty and sassy are the two best words to describe Shalira on good days. Royal b***h on the bad. She was raised in a good family that found itself a little snitch of wealth with the crops they managed to harvest when many others suffered. Their land was fertile and her father loaned land out for a fee. But Shalira never acted like the 'rich fathers' daughter. No, she did what she wanted and when, regardless of what her parents would think. She liked hanging with the boys and doing things that were not very ladlylike. Gambling being one of the many things she learned from them. And yet another thing she could use against her parents.

Shalira is also quite shameless and a master in being a flirt. She can look at you just right without even trying. Her movements are always inviting in some way and she might promise you a kiss for a favor.Gender doesn't matter. If she thinks you're attractive, she's going to flirt. But she never lets anything progress from it. Very often. She's a bit scandalous. And she has never had problems stripping down in front of anyone (dragon strip poker anyone?). Or sugar coating things. She'll tell you straight up what she thinks or how it is. What's the point in beating around the bush? Dancing with words is a sport. But sometimes you just need to shaffing say it straight!

If there is one thing that she has difficult with, it's trusting people. Because of her parents, Shalira has a hard time trusting someone's intentions. Which is part of why she never lets her flirting lead to anything more serious. Just because someone says they are being honest, doesn't mean they actually are. Her father taught her that. She has no problem making friends or allies with people, but letting them get any closer and risk the possibility of them betraying her is not something she's willing to risk. This doesn't mean it's impossible to gain her trust. It just might take a little time and patience so she can see you really do mean it.

Shalira is an intelligent woman with a strong and stubborn will. The latter having been built up to handle her family. She's not afraid to argue a point with you and will hold her ground if she feels she's right. This also shows in her actions. If she wants to succeed at something, she will shaffing succeed. This could be in an argument or training. She'll use her stubbornness against you or against herself, depending on what the situation calls for. To prove her wrong will earn you a haughty retort and an annoyed woman. But she will eventually concede you were right. Eventually.

History:
One of seven children born to a family that was doing well for itself in High Reaches Hold, Shalira was the second oldest daughter of three with four brothers to compete with. Not that she had much planned for herself. At least in her opinion. She was quite the troublesome little deviant, always getting into trouble with two of her brothers, Malirin and Hyrin. The three were notorious for going to watch the wher races and betting their marks. Shalira was the best at winning while Malirin tended to lose almost every time. Hyrin was good at picking whers that were likely to win. It was her goal, when she was of age (...ish) to compete in the races. Something her family would not accept.

It was expected of Shalira and her oldest sister, Milas, to wed into allied families as they were closer in age to each other. Shyloira was the youngest of the siblings and wouldn't be expected to be of wedding age for several turns yet.

However her parents discovered her activities with her brothers through murmurs they heard from other families of notable standing and they were quite furious. That was clearly no place for a lady! Shalira disagreed, naturally, and continued to sneak out to see the races when she could. She was growing fond of the ugly creatures and began asking around to learn how one could acquire a wher.

Her father, of course, found out about this and was not going to have any of it! Other families were already talking - including the couple he had high hopes for marrying her off to - and sought a way to renew their status in their allies eyes. Because if there was one thing her family treasured most, it was to hold their status and be viewed as noble (even though they were not). It was by chance that Myliras heard about a rider in the area seeking possible candidates to take back on Search. He was not uninformed about bribes that were made once under a Pern sunset. Or the dragon plague that had taken a heavy toll. And so, spending a few more marks than he intended, Myliras bribed the rider to take Shalira to the Weyr under a Search. Which would make their family 'proud' and give them something of honor to talk about with their fellows.

Shalira was 14 turns when she was brought to the Weyr. She was furious at her family for what they had done. Yet... she decided this could work in her favor. Shalira threw herself into her lessons and learning what it was like being a candidate. The dragons were amazing creatures, just like the whers, and as much as she hated to admit it, she'd not mind impressing one at all.

Three turns after she'd been at the Weyr, a clutch was laid on the sands by Gold Evmeth. Shalira stood on the sands with the other candidates. Watched them Impress. And walked away dragonless. She was upset by this, but not as much as she thought she would be. Yes, she wanted to Impress. But part of her also knew that it would only be doing what her father had 'hoped' would happen.

Several more clutches were laid, but Shalira only stood for two more. And failed to Impress in both. However she'd caught wind of a few of the aged out candidates from her last Standing that were going to go through training to be a wher candidate. And Shalira found her calling. Like them, she requested to be considered for candidacy. And was accepted. For the next few turns she began her training to be a wherhandler, working hard to succeed. It was a personal joy when she was squired off and wrote home about it. If only she could have seen her parent's faces in person!

And now, after fate twisting things a little along the way, Shalira had been told there was a wher clutch ready.