Almara is Searched

Almara smiles at your request.  "You sure you want to hear that story?" "Of course," You obitiently answer. "Okay," She starts sitting on her bed and petting Tali.  "Well it all started when..."                                                                             *** Almara's eyes shot open as soon as the sun touched her face.  She bounced out of bed, waking Tali and making the firelizard creel at her in distaste.  "Oh, be quiet."  Almara shushed her.  Tali laid back down and went to sleep again.  Nothing could ruin this day for her.  She would stay optimistic, but serious, intelligent, but not boring,  mature, but not old.  Today was the day she'd been waiting for her entire life.  Today was the day the searchriders came to Adanuk Weyr. She smiled at herself in her mirror and quickly dressed in what she wore everyday:  A long, brown skirt and a loose brown top.  She pulled her long hair back into a tight bun and smiled at the mirror today.  Today was going to be the second happiest day of her life.  She concluded.  She figured the happiest day would be the day she impressed.  A cloud covered her bright thoughts.  What if the searchriders don't take you?  What if you never get a chance to impress?  What if you're not good enough? She banished those thoughts.  "I just have to get searched Tali.  It's my one dream. All I've ever wanted.  I just have to.  I will, won't I?"  Some of Almara's confidence is gone.  Tali opens an eye and glares at Almara, as if to say, How shoud I know? You're the one who's been talking none stop about this impression thing.  You tell me. Almara frowns and sits back down on her bed.  Her appetite for breakfast is gone.  She looks out her window into the weyrbowl and sees all the other young, hopeful candidates of Adanuk Weyr standing there.  About 40 young people stand there in the rising sun, talking, laughing, a few are even singing.  At the far end stands Weyrwoman Magika and her gold, Hyth.  Although Magika is very far away, Almara can still see her smiling.  Tali is now awake and hungry.  Tali perches on Almara's shoulder but doesn't make a noise.  She can sense her friend is troubled.  Tali rubs her head on Almara's.  "Do you think they are this nervous?"  Almara asks the firelizard.  Tali just cuddles up closer to Almara.  Almara turns around and wonders if she should even go down to the weyrbowl.  "I mean, "  She explains to the little queen.  "Out of all those people, they must be able to find enough good candidates.  They probably don't even need me."   Just then Almara hears a horn.  The searchriders have arrived.  She doesn't move.  Something in her mind tell her to run, that she has to get the the weyrbowl before they choose, but her legs are jelly and do not respond.  Even when Taliana starts creeling in her ear, urging her on, she can't move.  She watches from the window as the searchriders walk amoung the ranks of young people.  She watches as the searchriders choose people to go stand near the dragons.  They will be taken back to Cincanta Weyr.  She sees the searchriders return to their dragons. "No!"  She calls breaking into a run finally.  She needs to get there before they leave.  They need to at least see her.  She has to know whether she may have been chosen.  She has to make it.  Taliana flies behind her, creeling the whole way, telling those in front of Almara to move.  Almara breaks into the weyrbowl to see she's not to late.  Magika is standing talking with the searchrider.  Tali's creels draw their attention. "Ah here she is."  Magika smiles and gestures towards Almara.  "The girl I was telling you about." "You're right Weyrwoman."  The searchrider says after a moments discussion with his dragon.  "She will make an excellent candidate." Almara's mouth falls open.  "You-you told them to wait for me?" Magika smiles.  "I've seen you many times and so has Hyth."  She rubs her dragons head.  "Hyth told me the first time she saw you that she thought you'd make a first class candidate.  Unfortunatly,  Hyth had yet to lay a clutch.  I'd love for you to stay to be a candidate for Hyth's, but..." she shrugs.  "You shouldn't have to wait forever.  Good luck Almara."  Almara stares in disbelief.  Then jumps up with an expression of joy.  The doubts that had plagued her mind faded.  She would impress, she just had to.  And now she had her chance.  She hugs Taliana.  "We're going to Cincanta Weyr, Tali, we're going."  Magika smiles.  "You've got a lot of potential in this group, Weyrwoman."  The searchrider comments. "I know."  Magika replies. "I'm surprised you don't keep them all for yourself." Magika sighs and looks to Hyth, who had yet to lay her first clutch.  "Good luck." Almara will feel sorry for Magika, but not right now.  Right now her head is filled with a flight of shining dragons.                                                                              *** "Can you believe this all started with me almost chickening out?"  Almara asks you. You smile, glad you're not the only one who nervous at searchings.  "I'm glad Weyrwoman Magika told them to wait for you." Almara smiles.  "She's the best.  Anything else?"