Azmere's Weyr
Azmere was a sweet and carefree child. She was very bright for only having six turns. Her mother Celarah had already begun teaching her daughter how to read and write since she was hoping that Azmere would follow in her footsteps and become a healer. Azmere would of course attend the harper's lessons later on when she was older like all of the hold children. However, this wasn't to be.
A serious sickness had swept over the hold where Azmere lived with her family. It was especially hard on children. In fact, two children had already died of the disease. Celarah was constantly being called from one house to another. Unfortunately Azmere, too, caught the illness. But, luckily, her mother was able to cure her with the masterhealer's help, and there were no more deaths reported. However, because of the sickness, Azmere had become totally deaf.
Over the following years, Celarah did as much as she could to help her daughter cope with the horrible reality. She taught her basic hand signals, but other than that she couldn't do much else. She tried everything to help Azmere. She even got her two fire-lizard eggs from Baeris Healing Den hoping that they might be able to help.
Ten turns after the sickness.
Azmere woke up early and fed her fire-lizards. She didn't understand why, but she could actually feel their hunger and hear their kreels. She didn't hear them with her ears though. She heard them through her mind, and she couldn't quite explain it. It didn't really bother her that she was deaf. She had already accepted the fact and moved on with her life. After she fed them, Oort and Timor flew out of the window to sun on the roof.
Azmere brushed her long, blonde hair as she looked in the mirror. She was attractive in her own way with rich brown eyes, but she wasn't thin and lithe like the other hold girls. This was probably because she was never allowed to do any work. Everyone kept away from her, and she did as she pleased. Her own father, Okar, didn't even act like she existed. He spent all of his time training her younger brother, Yutar, to take over the hold.
Azmere took her usual seat by the fire next to the loom. Weaving and sewing were the only things she was ever allowed to do. Her grandmother who used to visit showed her how to work the loom and sew what she needed, and she learned quickly. Now she barely had to think as her deft hands sewed the stitches. She had been working on this peice for quite awhile, and now it was almost done. It was a new tunic for her. It was a beautiful emerald green color. When she had finished the last stitch and secured it, she held the peice up to the firelight and admired her work. Her mother saw her and came to see what project her daughter had completed. She looked at the tunic and smiled up at her daughter for Amere was about 5'11".
Azmere went upstairs and changed into her new tunic. It accented her golden hair. She decided to take a walk. It was the only thing she enjoyed besides weaving and sewing. She walked down the stairs and walked out the door. She loved to walk on the beaches of Revan Hold. It was so beautiful.
She sat down in the sand and thought about her greatest dream. She wanted to be a dragonrider. She had told her mother this once a long time ago, but her mother had written a note which had said that there was no possible way she could become a dragonrider. Azmere, however, never gave up hope. She was constantly thinking about dragons and what it would be like to fly on one. The sun rose to its zenith, and Azmere rpseto go home for the midday meal.
When she reached the hold, something was different. People were running each way with children running behind them. Azmere decided to ask Celarah about it when she got home. She reached her home in no time and immediately asked her mother about what was going on. Celarah took a quill and a peice of parchment and wrote on it, "Searchriders are coming. Hurry go wash your face. They will be here any moment."
"But I can't be Searched," she told her mother.
Once again Celarah took the quill in hand and scribbled quickly,"We have orders that all candidate-aged people are to line up outside. There is little chance that you will be Searched, but you still have to stand out there with the others. Now go!"
Azmere ran upstairs. She hurriedly washed her face and brushed her hair. She ran back down nearly tripping the last five steps. Then she rushed outside and stood at the end of the line. All the teens waited for the dragon to arrive. Then suddenly, a blue dragon came from between over them. They staired in awe as the blue landed in front of them and the rider descended. Surprisingly, it was a woman. She was tall and had red hair. Okar held a brief conference with her before she began to pace in front of the line.
Azmere watched the blue dragon. He was so pretty. She wished she could Impress a dragon. It wouldn't matter what color or size. Just any dragon would do. She didn't even mind if she didn't Impress at all if she just had the chance. That's all she wanted. Her thoughts were interupted as the rider reached her. They were about the same height, and Azmere looked her dead in the eyes. She wanted her chance and she wasn't going to give it up. The rider smiled at her and began to talk.
"I can't hear you," Azmere interrupted. Her mother came to her side and talked to the dragonrider. "What's going on," Azmere thought to herself.
"I think you would make a good rider, and I told Zaeralis," a voice said.
Azmere jumped and turned to her mother with wide eyes. Celarah stared at her. Azmere explained what happened, and then the rider looked at her surprised and then back at her dragon. The rider took a peice of parchment and a quill from Celarah who always carried them with her and wrote on it, "My dragon, Cymbalth, was speaking to you. You have a wonderful ability to hear dragons, and you have been Searched."
Azmere couldn't believe the words. She read the little note six or seven times before she looked up at her mother again. Celarah had tears in her eyes, and she hugged her daughter. Then she went back into their home to pack Azmere's things. Azmere could see her father staring wide-eyed at her, and she went and gave him and her brother a hug. This was the happiest day of her life.
Celarah came back shortly with a small bag and some wherhide for Azmere. Azmere slipped on the wherhide vest and pants and hugged her mother once more. She turned to Zaeralis.
"Are you ready?" Cymbalth asked on behalf of his rider.
Azmere nodded and followed Zaeralis to the blue. She climbed up onto his back with Zaeralis's help and Cymbalth launched himself into the air.
"We are going to Harana Weyr. Don't be scared," Cymbalth told her, and then they went between.
They came out of between over a cliff. Cymbalth landed neatly in the Bowl, and Azmere climbed down.
"You have to go see the weyrwoman. My rider will take you," Cymbalth told her.
Azmere followed Zaeralis into the weyr and up many flights of stairs before they finally stopped. They walked into a well lit room where a short red-headed woman was sitting at a table. This had to be the weyrwoman. Zaeralis went to the woman and evendentally explained the situation to her. Azmere stood there. She was extremely nervous. What was going to happen to her?
"Don't be scared. My rider will not hurt you," a strong femine voice told her.
"Who are you," Azmere thought.
"I am Gold Elysith. My rider is Weyrwoman Yulara. She won't hurt you," the voice explained.
She couldn't believe it. It was just like before. There was a dragon speaking to her. She looked back at Weyrowmn Yulara. The weyrwoman smiled up at her. She took a quill in hand and began to scribble on a peice of parchment. When she was finished she handed the parchment to Zaeralis, and Zaeralis brought it to her. It said,"I am Weyrwoman Yulara as my Elysith has already told you. It seems you have the ability to hear all dragons. This would be very useful to my weyr since we are just starting. However, because of your special condition, I think it would be better it you stood at Baeris Healing Den. They have a reputation for hatching very special dragon. Zaeralis will take you there, and after you are an adult ,should you Impress, you can come back and live here at Harana."
Azmere looked up and smiled at the weyrwoman. She thanked her before she followed Zaeralis out of the weyr to where Cymbalth was already waiting for them. She climbed up once more, and they launched. Then they were between once more.
Adult Story
It was a beautiful day at Baeris Healing Den. Azmere and her yellow-green Cerenth were down by the water whcih is where they spent most of their time. Her two fire-lizards were sunning on the ledge of her weyr. Both Azmere and Cerenth enjoyed watching the dragons and their riders from the Swim Hatching play in the water. Cerenth herself could swim but not that well. She preferred the dry land.
Azmere had decided not to go back to Harana Weyr. Cerenth couldn't go between, and it was a long flight to Harana. Not only that, she wouldn't be much help to the people there, and she definitely wouldn't fit in there. So, she had sent WeyrwomanYulara a message telling her of her decision. The weyrwoman had written back her congratulations on the pair.
Azmere reflected back on everything that had happened in the last turn. Cerenth was an adult now. She was about 23 meters long from head to tail. Cerenth usually walked upright with her like a cape, but every once in a while you can see her on all fours. She is never far from her rider. In fact, that's how it had been since she hatched.
Azmere's Yellow-green Cerenth!!!
Azmere looked up at her dragon who was resting nearby. They had made it through their weyrling training together. Azmere would watch carefully during the lessons, and Cerenth would listen and relay everything to her rider.
Cerenth's hatching had not really damaged Azmere's ability to hear all dragons. She could still hear them, but it was only when they needed or wanted her to hear them. Azmere didn't mind this at all since Cerenth told her everything she needed to know. Her thoughts were interrupted when her dragon spoke.
[[Rider?]] came Cerenth's strong voice.
**Yes?** Azmere replied sleepily.
[[I would like a mate.]] Cerenth informed her rider quietly.
**What?** Azmere asked shaking herself.
[[Not right now, but I would like a mate in the future.]] Cerenth said with whirling blue eyes.
Azmere rolled the idea around in her head. A mate? She hadn't even given it a though until now. She knew that her dragon needed a mate, and she wouldn't mind having some company. She smiled up at her dragon. **Okay, Cerenth.**
Cerenth rumbled a reply. [[I'm going to go into the water. Do you want to come?]] Cerenth asked sliding into the water.
**No, I'll just watch.** Azmere replied as she rested back against the ground.
Cerenth flicked her tail playfully at her rider. Then she slowly began to make her way towards her siblings.
