Deciding what path to take (Wardens)

She was up late reading scrolls again, sitting outside in a chair with her feet propped up on a stool. She hadn’t wanted to disturb her weyrmate while studying old texts on some of the ailments that may befall human and dragon alike and require healing. Nothing major, as she was not of the healer craft. But enough that she could provide proper first aide while out in the field. It was one of the duties that would soon befall her. She'd been taking lessons and learning from the healers themselves to make sure she was ready. Emergency response was only one of the several duties that she and Cepheith would likely face.

Leaning back in her chair, Narisa glanced out towards the night, where she could faintly see the golden hide resting not too far out. Beside it, a smaller bronze hide. She wanted to be able to care for them if anything happened to them. But it had been more than that. As a goldrider, her original purpose was to be a candidate to potentially become Weyrwoman. However golds no longer hatched into that leadership position. They now had to earn it if they wished to hold it. This had also opened up the opportunity for other dragon colors to rise up and prove they too could be on top. Which was not something Narisa was sure she wanted. Not anymore.

Others believed she could do it, and at one time, she had believed it herself. After events that had occurred leading to the end of the wherwars, Narisa doubted her ability to be a good leader. Despite what her dragon argued. Yet she did not want to abandon the knowledge and specific skills she had developed while being a junior weyrwoman. So she had carefully considered what sort of options were now available to herself and Cepheith. They could be wingriders with their mates now. Which they had been doing for the past turn or so. But it didn’t feel quite like what they really wanted. What they were meant to do. And Watch dragon was definitely not an option for Cepheith. She’d get too bored quickly and likely leave her post. They had considered being Searchrider’s, and truthfully still considered it an option along with Courier.

But one job in particular caught Narisa’s eye. It gave her the chance to continue using some of her skills from before the golds fell from power, like inspection of goods that foreigners brought in. Or conversing with traders before allowing them to seek out the current Weyrleaders about their trade goods. She was no stranger to the needs of a Weyr and its occupants, and felt that this ability would assist greatly in not wasting time of potential traders and foreign dignitaries.

There would also be defensive and offensive training for it. Something she was still interested in after all these turns. And for good reason, she felt. Afterall, if they were going to be Wardens they had sharding better be able to hold their own! Thank Faranth for all the time she’d spent having lessons in self-defense training all those turns ago. They would also have the chance to escort caravans, showing them along the way that golds were still amazing creatures!

Narisa couldn’t help the curl of her lips as she watched her sleeping dragon. If nothing else, it all gave Cepheith more than enough to hold her attention and keep her from growing bored! A bored gold could be quite creative in finding ways to entertain herself. Plus, it allowed them the chance to fly outside the Weyr more, instead of being confined as they had been when younger. That freedom had been one of the big deciding factors in their choices of possible jobs. But it had been the chance to see if she was still capable of being a leader of sorts that the Warden position had truly won over as the best option for them.

We do the best that we can. And we’re good at this. A lazy honeyed tone embraced her mind.

Yes. I think we’ll do quite well at this job! She smiled again, looking down at her scrolls before deciding it was time to rest. Tomorrow as a new day full of tasks to be done.

(Word Count: 717)