Gayatri slid off Edyth's back and turned to look around the small cothold. It reminded her of the one she'd grown up in, and for a moment, Gayatri wondered if they'd ever go back there.

Then she glanced at the people who were beginning to crowd around. Someone here had caught Edyth's attention. ((Which one was it, dear heart?))

They were shadowing a Searchrider that day for a reason. A couple of weeks ago, Gayatri had figured out that Edyth had Searching abilities, so now here they were.

Edyth swung her head from side to side, then focused on one face in particular. {{This one.}} And the information was also relayed to Owkobith. {{It's her.}}

Gayatri slid off Edyth's back and turned to look around the small cothold. It reminded her of the one she'd grown up in, and for a moment, Gayatri wondered if they'd ever go back there.

Then she glanced at the people who were beginning to crowd around. Someone here had caught Edyth's attention. ((Which one was it, dear heart?))

They were shadowing a Searchrider that day for a reason. A couple of weeks ago, Gayatri had figured out that Edyth had Searching abilities, so now here they were.

Edyth swung her head from side to side, then focused on one face in particular. {{This one.}} And the information was also relayed to Owkobith. {{It's her.}}

The older blue pair had done many Searches in their lifetime, often in
little places like this as well. They had also sensed something when
flying over with Edyth and Gayatri - that was the main reason they had
paired up with the green weyrling for Sweeps at the moment. Edyth
seemed a promising talent, and Yeha was pleased to work with her and
Gayatri.

((A little youngling!)) Owkobith crooned with delight as he passed the
image onto his rider. He liked the younger children best. They
generally got so excited by being Searched, it was delightful to see.
((I sense her clearly as well. She would be a fine candidate.))

"Well spotted, Edyth. Well, Gayatri, since your dragon spotted her,
would you care to be the one to announce Search? It's fairly simple,
first we ask to speak to whoever is in charge, and let them know that
your dragon sensed a possible candidate, and if they could, have
everyone of Searchable age come forward. We do that because it's
sometimes possible that there's more than just the initial one the
dragon picks up passing by. Even if they choose not to come forward
now, especially since there's no clutch on the sands at the moment,
it's a good thing to know and make a record of where these people are
for future reference. They may have good reasons for waiting to
accept a Search at the moment, when there's really no pressing need at
the Weyr, and when there *are* eggs on the Sands, we have a record of
names and holds to go to that makes things a bit easier," Yeha
explained.

--
"Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely
in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a
shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted,
and loudly proclaiming: "F*** ME, that Rocked!!" -unknown

Whizzy: Jerzy
Aim: Yue146

Gayatri nodded as she listened to Yeha, and remembered how it had gone when she was Searched, more than two turns ago. She gave Edyth a pat on her shoulder, ((You did great, Edy.)) then turned to do just what her mentor suggested, seeking out the head of the cothold and relaying her request that the youngsters of Searchable age be assembled.

Gayatri nodded as she listened to Yeha, and remembered how it had gone when she was Searched, more than two turns ago. She gave Edyth a pat on her shoulder, ((You did great, Edy.)) then turned to do just what her mentor suggested, seeking out the head of the cothold and relaying her request that the youngsters of Searchable age be assembled.

Jautil had never thought he'd be playing host to one dragonrider, let
alone two. When the younger of the pair - at least, he presumed this
young lady to be the younger one, it was a little difficult to tell
under the gear they were wearing - came and politely introduced
herself and mentioned that they had come on Search, well, that sent up
a flurry of excitement through the entire cothold. They certainly
weren't about to refuse the dragonriders! Jautil sent runners out to
the orchards and fields for anyone who hadn't already come in at the
sight of the dragons landing; there was bound to be a few stragglers,
after all. Then he had those of appropriate age step forward, many of
them grinning and whispering excited, wondering if maybe they were the
one the dragons were looking for. After all, who *wouldn't* want the
chance to become a dragonrider?


--
"Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely
in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a
shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted,
and loudly proclaiming: "F*** ME, that Rocked!!" -unknown

Whizzy: Jerzy
Aim: Yue146

Again, Gayatri was reminded of the day she'd Been Searched, and it made her a bit homesick. She hadn't seen any of her family since the day of the Hatching, and missed them, especially her mother. She made a mental note to go see them soon.

After thanking Jautil and giving some of the younger children a smile, she went back to stand with Yeha while the youngsters were gathered, and gave her mentor a smile over the reactions that their arrival had caused. "It was just like this when I was Searched. Brings back a lot of memories."

Again, Gayatri was reminded of the day she'd Been Searched, and it made her a bit homesick. She hadn't seen any of her family since the day of the Hatching, and missed them, especially her mother. She made a mental note to go see them soon.

After thanking Jautil and giving some of the younger children a smile, she went back to stand with Yeha while the youngsters were gathered, and gave her mentor a smile over the reactions that their arrival had caused. "It was just like this when I was Searched. Brings back a lot of memories."

"Thank you all for your cooperation," Yeha began, stepping forward to
take control of the Search. Since she was the official Searchrider
here, she'd be the one to confirm what Edyth had already passed on to
Owkobith. "Please don't be alarmed as my dragon comes to look at each
of you. He will not harm you, I promise, but he must see you all to
know just who it is that was sensed by him and Edyth here as we passed
by."

While the younger of the children looked excited, a few of the older
ones looked a bit nervous. Whether it was because they were really
hoping they would be the one Searched, or because of a large blue
draconic head sniffing at them, it was hard to say, though Yeha was
willing to bet it was the latter. Carefully, the blue dragon looked
over each of those presented to him, and finally stopped in front of
the little girl Edyth had shown him. She definitely was the one.
There was no one else here.

Owkobith rumbled with pleasure. ((You were right, Edyth. She is the one.))


--
"Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely
in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a
shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted,
and loudly proclaiming: "F*** ME, that Rocked!!" -unknown

Whizzy: Jerzy
Aim: Yue146

While Owkobith inspected the youngsters that had lined up, Gayatri stood by with a hand on Edyth's neck. It was exciting to be on the Search, and Edyth gave a happy rumble in return, when Owkobith confirmed her discovery.

Gayatri have the chosen girl a smile, then glanced at Yeha. "Will she ride with you?"

While Owkobith inspected the youngsters that had lined up, Gayatri stood by with a hand on Edyth's neck. It was exciting to be on the Search, and Edyth gave a happy rumble in return, when Owkobith confirmed her discovery.

Gayatri have the chosen girl a smile, then glanced at Yeha. "Will she ride with you?"

"That would depend on whether she wants to accept, and whether her
family allows it," Yeha answered Gayatri, her voice low so as to carry
only to the Weyrling. "Since there's no clutch on the Sand, Search
doesn't have the priority it would if there were eggs."

Maemi, for her part, was looking torn between being delighted that the
dragon had chosen *her* out of everyone else, and being very
flabbergasted at the sudden change in her life. She'd never even
thought of leaving the little hold before this! Sure, someday she was
supposed to get married, but she figured it'd be someone nearby, or
someone already working on the lands her family ran. The Weyr was
just some place you heard about, and dragons were things you saw
flying overhead, but never actually saw up close. Did she even want
to *be* a dragonrider? She didn't know. She was just a little kid.
How could she know?

But her father looked so happy and proud, how could she say no? But
what if she didn't like it at the Weyr? What if she wasn't really cut
out for being a dragonrider?

"I-If I change my mind later, I can come home, right?" She asked the
pair of riders.



--
"Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely
in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a
shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted,
and loudly proclaiming: "F*** ME, that Rocked!!" -unknown

Whizzy: Jerzy
Aim: Yue146

This time it was Gayatri who stepped forward to answer, smiling at the look of confused joy on the girl's face. "You can stay here if you want to, or go with us. And you don't even need to make the decision today. There's actually no clutch at this time, but who knows when the next Goldflight will be. If you want, I'm sure you could always come back for a visit."

Gayatri thought the man she guessed to be the girl's father looked a lot happier about this than his daughter did. But most parents were proud if their child was chosen on a Search.  Her own father had taken some persuading, but she imagined he was proud of her now.

Of course, this girl was a bit on the young side, but not anymore so than some other Candidates at the Weyr. "What's your name, hon?"