“Kirra! Kirra! Where is that girl?” mumbled Mirle, headwoman of the lower caverns at Niphila Weyr. Kirra was her fosterling, since her mother had died of a terrible accident some turns ago, and her father was not a very passionate man, except to his dragon, Torth. The girl finally made her appearance in the kitchens, an open book in one hand. Mirle took her by the arm and led her over to a wherry, now quite burnt, that had been left in the hands of a mindless drudge. Mirle looked hard at the girl and said in a dark undertone, “You were supposed to be minding that beast. We have dragonriders from another Weyr here and what do we have to show for it? Over-cooked meat as hard as their beast’s hide, that’s what! Now go to the storage room and find me a fresh one!” Kirra scuttled away without a word towards the cold chamber at the back of the kitchen.
Kirra through open the door and headed towards the stored meat, thinking crossly as she went. It’s not my fault the wherry burned. If the drudge had done what he was supposed to and if Kilian hadn’t dragged me away to look at her latest ballad… She sighed heavily and stopped in mid-search, a frown on her weary young features. She shouldn’t be blaming anyone else. It was her fault, and she would cook this beast herself, to make sure nothing went wrong. She pulled a good sized corpse from a rack and with struggle made her way out the door of the storage room, only to slip across the floor on some spilled grease. With a loud crash and a scream, she came to a stop beside one of the fire pits, knocking a stunned drudge from her feet in the process. Mirle soon came to stand over the sprawled girl, wondering that in all Kirra’s fifteen turns she hadn’t seriously injured herself. The headwoman collected the dropped beast and with a small huff gave it to an older drudge to look after before helping Kirra to her feet, staring hard at the girl, whose face was flushed with embarrassment. “You’d best be going back to your quarters m’girl, we’ve no need for blundering fools in here.” Kirra hung her head and left solemnly for her chambers. Kirra blinked back her tears in the glowlight of the halls. What was the matter with her today? She usually had things perfectly under control, and was a smaller version of Mirle; ordering around drudges and getting things cleaned, cooked, and prepared in a beautiful display with unusual speed. Today was just not her day. First, Neyana, her gold fire lizard, had awakened her with hungered cries and had mentioned that it was a bit late for her to be rising, didn’t she think? To Kirra’s horror, she had slept right through the breakfast and the lunch gong, and was positive Mirle would be just steamed with her. The woman was kind and good-hearted, but had a very short temper. By the time she made it to the caverns, they were barren except for the few drudges cleaning up from the midday meal. Mirle hadn’t been there, and she learned from her older sister, Kilian, that a Searchrider from Falas Weyr had just landed and she was out greeting him. Kirra had returned to her chamber, seeing how there was nothing to be done in the kitchen until dinner, and had watched the magnificent blue dragon and rider talk with the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman, as well as Mirle and a few of the other dragonriders, including T’ton, her father and rider of blue Torth. Neyana had flown down to listen to the conversation despite Kirra’s protests. Upon returning, Neyana reported that the blue rider had pointedly come to Niphila to Search, seeing how the small Weyr hadn’t had a Queen for Turns, and no new clutches had laid on the sands for at least four Turns. Kirra had brightened at this, hoping that a female would be suitable from her Weyr. She also learned that the Searchrider would be staying for the night, so she would be much honored in preparing a feast for him. That was when the real trouble began. About an hour after the Searchrider’s arrival, Kirra discovered that Neyana was missing. She was going to find her when she was visited by her sister, who couldn’t wait to show her the new ballads she had written about fire lizards, inspired by Kirra’s very own. Kirra had been delighted and began reading them right away, forgetting about the lost Neyana for the moment. That is, until she heard shouts coming from the dining hall. Kirra had dropped the ballad, ignoring Kalian’s protests, and fled down the hall towards the large dining cavern. When she had arrived, she discovered that Neyana was, indeed, fighting with a much larger gold fire lizard. To Kirra’s horror, the fire lizard appeared to belong to the much-honored Searchrider, who was on the table trying to break them apart. As if the incident was not bad enough, in stormed T’ton, demanding what all the noise was about, and upon spotting the only gold fire lizard in the Weyr, cast a cold glare on his daughter. It took Kirra, the Searchrider, and T’ton to break up the fight between the fire lizards. Kirra hurriedly took the scratched and bleeding Neyana back to her chamber before another word could be spoken. As she now entered her chamber, she found her fire lizard gazing up at her from her window ledge perch, crooning softly as she sensed her distress. 
Kirra did her best to smile at her, but failed as tears began welling in her eyes. No, she thought desperately, I will not cry. I am from a proud line of dragonriders…my mother wouldn’t shed tears over spilt klah…She smiled softly in remembrance of her mother, Chril, who she barely even knew and yet was such a large part of her. They shared the same klah brown eyes and soft chestnut hair, and soft heart. Kilian got her mother’s voice but her father’s appearance; Kirra got her father’s voice and her mother’s height. She was of medium height; nothing to complain about, but sometimes wished she could look down upon her father like he always did her.
Neyana crawled up beside Kirra as she sat down heavily on the bed, wondering what now to do since her tears were under control. She looked out her window at the quickly darkening sky and smelled succulent scents from the main cavern as the feast was undergo. She should join them, she realized, but was terrified of making a further fool of herself. Instead, she decided to perhaps sneak out to the stables and groom her favorite runnerbeast…the one that used to be her mother’s. With a sigh, she stood, Neyana perched on her arm and whistling softly in her ear as she quietly slipped through the shadows of the hall, thanking the first Egg that everyone seemed to be eating. As she glided through the door and closed it without a sound, she was pleased to see that it was a clear night and that the only things stirring outside the Weyr were restless dragons and, of course, the watchwere, who she made a point of staying away from. Kirra opened the door to the stables and lit a single glow on the wall, weary of being discovered. She found her way to Elegance, her mother’s chestnut brown runnerbeast and searched in the flickering glowlight for the soft brush she used to groom her. The runnerbeast snorted softly and investigated Kirra’s open palm for some treats, but discovered none and looked at her mistress sadly with large brown eyes. Kirra smiled and patted her softly on the head, whispering quietly to her while running the brush through Elegance’s silky coat. Neyana chirped softly, and then began to sing sweetly, but Kirra didn’t hush her, so at peace was she in the small, quiet stable. The tranquility was broken as the door softly opened and Kirra froze in mid-stroke, praying desperately that it wasn’t Mirle or T’ton come searching for her. But it wasn’t anyone she recognized, and Neyana suddenly took flight from her shoulder. Kirra stood and looked wide-eyed as gold met gold in the glow light and continued a fight that had broken out today. Immediately, the girl remembered who the larger gold belonged to and felt her heart leap to her throat as she realized it must be the Searchrider, and he would be most upset at her not attending his honor feast. Kirra realized that she must get her fire lizard under control before her pride received yet another severe beating this day, and threw a saddle over Neyana, taking her down squealing. To Kirra’s relief, the blue rider merely chuckled and helped her get Neyana under control. Once the fire lizards were successfully separated and glowering in opposite corners of the stable, the Searchrider helped her put the saddle back in its place. Kirra’s face was burning in embarrassment and she hated herself for it, knowing what the dragonman was going to say. “Might I inquire why you would prefer to be out in the stables rather then attending the great feast your Weyr has provided in my honor?” he asked with great humor. Kirra’s face flushed still more as she found herself unable to answer the truth without sounding childish. Instead, she replied rather bluntly, “I find better company with runnerbeasts.” This brought another laugh from the dragonman. “Ah, a stubborn one are we?” Kirra bit back a rather rude comment as her temper began to flair. The rider’s face grew vacant for a moment or two and he suddenly took her by the arm and pulled her rather roughly from the stables and into the yard. “What are you doing?” she all but yelled to him, struggling against his hard tug. She silenced herself, as the rider’s mighty blue suddenly descended from the heights before them. “What do you think?” the blue rider inquired of his companion. The dragon replied, although his response was unheard by Kirra. A smile came to the rider’s lips and he looked down upon her. “Well m’girl. It seems your attitude has gotten you the chance to Impress a dragon.” Kirra began a hot reply until his amused comment sunk in. “You-you mean…I’ve been Searched?” Another chuckle. “Yes, yes, be ready in the morning. And do bring that fire lizard of yours along, she’ll provide amusement for you at the Weyr.” Kirra simply blinked at him. “Well go on,” he said, shooing her away towards the Weyr. “You’ll need your rest.” Kirra nodded and despite herself bowed to the dragonman and his fine beast, bringing yet another spout of laughter which she had to cool her temper against as she had meant the bow, then turned on her heal and marched back to the Weyr, not caring who saw her. After all, she was now a Candidate, and so help her, she would Impress and save the Weyr!
Kirra awoke scarcely after the sun had risen the following day, intent upon making herself look like a Candidate rather then a drudge for her first appearance at Falas. Her fire lizard roused with her but she told her to continue to sleep for they would not be leaving for the Weyr just yet. Her friend quite happily went back to sleep, not nearly as excited about the oncoming events as her mistress was. Kirra could hardly decide what to do first. She hadn’t packed her few belongings last night for she had been too excited to do anything except sing praises in her room, with Neyana singing background soprano. She sounded like a herdbeast being beat over the head when she sang, but she simply didn’t care, so full of joy was she. After much excited pacing, she decided to first get a bite of breakfast and then head for the bathing room, and set out for the kitchen, as silent as she could make herself be. Upon arrival, she was unexpectedly greeted by Mirle, and stopped short in the doorway for fear of a long lecture about her absence at the feast the previous eve. Instead, the headwoman embraced her tightly and said into her dirty shirt from yesterday, “I’m so very proud of you Kirra. I knew you would make a better dragonrider then headwoman.” Kirra blinked at her as she drew away, too stunned by the sudden show of affection to say anything. Mirle wiped a tear from her eye. “Now don’t just stand there with your jaw hanging open. Have some breakfast.” Kirra sat down at a table and the headwoman quickly brought over hot klah, freshly baked biscuits, and a few cold pieces of the wherry roast that had been left over. When she finally got her tongue to move again, she inquired as to how Mirle had discovered her Candidacy. “Oh, well, I heard you singing in your chambers last night. I came up to eat you up about not being at the feast last night, only to hear you spouting tales about great blue search dragons and Hatchings.” Kirra frowned slightly, for she had wanted this to be a surprise. “Does anyone else know?” Mirle smiled warmly at her. “Not that I know of.” Kirra nodded, her face brightening again at the prospect of sharing her news with her father. She finished the last of her meal and stood. “Well, I’m off to the bathing area. And Mirle, please don’t breath a word of this to anyone else.” The headwoman nodded with a grin, knowing full well why the girl demanded secrecy. “Thank you Mirle. I shall miss you while I’m away.” The woman patted her motherly on the arm. “And I you. Good luck m’girl.” With that, Kirra was off for the bathing room, humming happily to herself.
It was time. Tloray was gathered with the other boys of the same age in front of the great blue dragon and the Searchrider. He slowly walked by them in the somewhat neat row they had formed and listened intently to his dragon, but apparently none suited his tastes. With a great sigh of disappointment, the boys moved back with the rest of the crowd. S’cue, the current Weyrleader, stepped forward. “Is there no lad among our Weyr that would satisfy your Search?” The Searchrider nodded with an amused grin. “No, there is no lad that would satisfy my Search.” S’cue blinked, clearly confused. “Then…there is a lady who would perhaps Stand?” The Searchrider nodded again, his amusement growing with every moment. S’cue turned to face the crowd. “Step forward, the lady who has been Searched.” Everyone waited. Suddenly, there was a squawk of the blue rider’s fire lizard and Kirra’s gold Neyana dipped into view. Kirra stepped into the sunlight, dressed in riding clothing that no one even knew she had. Her hair, plaited in a secure braid down her back, gleamed like a dragon’s eye in the luminosity of the sun; her eyes were bright and joyful. Tloray could not believe that this was the same Kirra he had always seen in the lower caverns, ordering around drudges and preparing food. She would never be described as beautiful; her face was plain and would always be that way. But today she had certain radiance about her that Tloray found most attractive, and he saw her grin with satisfaction as T’ton’s face drew back into what almost appeared to be a snarl. The Searchrider took her by the hand and led her to the dragon, Tloray wondered vaguely if this had not all been set up to look so very royal in Kirra’s scornful father’s eyes. The gold fire lizard dipped around the dragon, singing happily, as the rider assisted Kirra’s mounting of his blue. She settled between the neck ridges and waved a final farewell to Mirle, who stood in the entrance to the lower caverns weeping as no one had ever seen. Kirra’s face was beginning to hurt from all the smiling she did, but she paid it no heed as the joy in her heart distracted her from it. With one neck-snapping leap sky bound, she was aloft on the breeze, everyone she’d ever known growing farther and farther away, a new life letting its fragrant and sweet scent be known on the breeze. It was the smell of change, of a new beginning, and Kirra had every intention of keeping that scent about her in the days to come, awaiting the Hatching and quite possibly the meeting of a lifetime friend, and, yes, family member. With her fire lizards sailing about her, she began her journey as she hoped it would end: On dragonwing. Kirra has Impressed!..........................................a fire lizard that is....-_-...read all about it here! |
