Serri hummed a tune to herself as she ran through the line of numbers. Her fingers barely touched the abacus as she quickly calculated in her head and jotted figures down on the slate in front of her. A couple glances at a few star charts, one quick search through a book for a formula and Serri was finished. She smiled to herself as she re-checked her figures. "Well Tsuki. I think I have good news for Magika."
Her bronze firelizard looked up from where he was laying in the sun and chirped once. Serri laughed. She stood and stretched her stiff muscles. She’d been bent over her desk for candlemarks trying to calculate when the next Threadfall would be. She wasn’t a full Starcrafter, but she had to do something around the Weyr to earn her keep. She quickly ran her finger beside her list of numbers. She had it calculated at 4 seven-days from now. She nodded and walked over to her bronze flit.
"Four seven-days, Tsuki. That should be plenty of warning." She quickly covered the slate. Tsuki flew to her shoulder and she left the room, locking the door behind her. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the other people of the Weyr, she just didn’t want someone to accidentally erase a full morning’s work.
She entered the kitchen’s to find Melisande searching for something. The gold-rider didn’t hear Serri enter.
"Hey." Serri made her presence known.
Melisande whirled, saw who it was and smiled. "Hey. Looking for Media?"
Serri nodded. "Yes."
"She’s with Weyrwoman Magika." The gold-rider continued her search.
Serri smiled. "What are you looking for?"
Melisande smiled. "Kamlin."
"Your son? In the cupboards?"
"We’re playing hide-and-go-seek."
Serri still wasn’t convinced. "And he normally hides in the sugar bowl?"
Melisande grinned and stepped closer to Serri. "No. He’s under a table in the Dining Hall. I just have to look around for a bit before finding him. Gives me some peace and quiet and lets him think he’s Faranth’s gift to the game."
Serri left the kitchens laughing. She’d only been at Adanuk, for a turn, but she already felt like she belonged. She’d made friend and was accepted into the daily routine of Adanuk very quickly. She felt like she was home. She’d even got over most of her shyness. She knocked twice on the door to Magika’s office, hoping the Weyrwoman was in.
"Come in." Magika called.
Serri opened the door and Tsuki immediately flew from her shoulder towards his mother. The two flits flew happily around the room, knocking things over. Magika rubbed her eyes and turned to Media, who was standing beside her. "And you wonder why I can’t keep the place clean."
Media smiled watching the firelizards. "You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in turns." She shook her head.
"Tsuki!" Her little bronze flitter chirped and returned to her shoulder. "Sorry."
"Don’t worry." Magika gestured, pointing out the disarray of the room. "It couldn’t get much messier."
"I agree." Media sighed. "Anyways, I’ll get working on the preparations. Thanks for the heads up."
"No problem. Just keep it as quiet as you can, okay? It’s more fun for the hopefuls when it’s a surprise."
Media laughed as she walked to the door. "You mean it’s more fun for you to watch the hopefuls run around like wherries with their heads cut off trying to get ready." Media started to shut the door.
"Wait!" Serri stopped her. "I need a scroll or paper." She addressed both women. "I finished my calculations."
Media nodded. "Good work. C’mon Tsuki." The bronze jumped to Media’s shoulder. "I’ll send it back to you with this rascal." The firelizard cheeped and the two left.
"So should I go warn the wings?" Magika smiled.
"Not yet. I’ve got it calculated at four seven-days."
Magika patted her arm. "Good work. Nice to know in advance."
Serri blushed with pride. "Thank, but I’m not a full Starcrafter. I may have screwed it up."
"Give yourself some credit. I trust you." Serri blushed again and turned to leave. Magika went back to her desk.
Just before Serri closed the door, Magika called her back. "Uh, Serri?"
Serri popped her head back in. "Yeah?"
Magika didn’t even look up from her desk. "You must have figured out that there’s a Searching tomorrow. If I were you I’d get ready and keep it quiet, okay?"
Serri paced her room. Tsuki had been flying with her, then he perched on her shoulder and now he watched her from her desk, exhausted. The bronze flit may have a lot of energy, but Serri had been pacing for over 4 candlemarks.
"She was just tellin me not to be surprised tomorrow, right?" Serri completed her circuit. "She doesn’t expect me to get Searched, does she?"
Tsuki sighed and closed his eyes.
"Does she?" Serri whirled to face her firelizard. She smiled an calmed down when she saw him. "Y’know," She walked over to the flit. "I’ve heard that some creatures play dead when they feel that they are in a situation they can’t get out of." She tickled the small flit until he cheeped at her and flew to her bed. He glared at her then curled up again.
Serri sighed and sat on the bed beside him. "I get the message. I should calm down. Just because Kyna told me I should try to attend a Searching and Magika hinted at it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen." She rubbed Tsuki’s eyeridges until he began to make a soft purring noise. "If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. There’s no use worrying about it." She took a few deep breaths. "There. I’m calm."
Tsuki nodded and feel asleep. Serri shuttered the glows and climbed into her bed. She spent the nigh staring at the ceiling with butterflies dancing in her stomach.
"Serri." Media touched the girl’s shoulder. "Serri, hon. Get up."
Serri jumped out of bed, her heart racing. She’d been having a nightmare about being chased by a Searchdragon who sounded like Master Jendan. The Searchdragon was only trying to catch her to tell her how she would never become a candidate and why. Serri shuddered.
Media clucked her tongue and quickly rooted around in Serri’s closet. "Here." She pulled out a dress. "Put this on."
Serri yawned. "Why?" She’d completely forgotten about the Search.
Media rolled her eyes. "You’d lose your head girl, if it weren’t attached. The Searching. You want to look your best." Media rummaged around in her pocket. "Here. I brought you some ribbons to tie your hair back with." Media left the ribbons on the dresser and quickly hurried on her way. She had more potential candidates to dress up.
Serri sighed as she put on the dress. She tried to brush and tie back her hair, but her hands were shaking too much. She finally managed to get the ribbons to stay in.
She closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. She opened her eyes and examined herself in the mirror.
"Should I even bother going down Tsuki?" The bronze firelizard shrugged. "What do I see in this mirror that a dragon would want?"
Serri was of average height with a slender build. She appeared frail, but was actually pretty strong, for her size. She had emerald eyes and short brown hair with wispy bangs. The thing that bugged her the most about her appearance was her glasses. She’d always been told that they were very expensive and that she should be grateful to have them. Serri sighed and took them off. Unfortunately she could no longer see herself in the mirror. She put them back on. What could a dragon possibly see in me?
Tsuki flew to her shoulder and nipped playfully at her ear. It was his way of telling her to cheer up.
Serri attempted a half-smiled. Tsuki wasn’t convinced. He creeled and wound his tail around her neck.
"Shhhh...." Serri pulled the creature out of her hair. "Calm down. I’m okay now, see." She rubbed the firelizard’s belly.
A loud dragon bugle shook the foundations of Adanuk Weyr. It was followed by a steady drumbeat, calling the inhabitants to the Weyrbowl. Serri looked out the window to see two unfamiliar blue dragons, one unfamiliar green and Hyth. Weyrwoman Magika was talking with the three Searchriders.
"Well," Serri took a deep breath. "No harm in trying right?" With that she headed for the Weyrbowl.
Head Searchrider Nora smiled as she looked across all the hopeful faces in the Weyrbowl. J’gen and Beka had already begun the Searching process, but Nora liked to savour the moment. She turned to Mitanth, her enormous blue. So, love. See anyone?
Mitanth carefully looked around the group. Some, but no one amazing.
Nora smiled. You’re too picky.
Mitanth smiled back. I have to be. I’m Head Searchdragon..
Beka moved to talk to one of the young boys and J’gen didn’t seem overly impressed with anyone. Slow pickings?"
You could say that. She’s certainly taking her time. Mitanth was watching one of the doors to the Weyrbowl.
Who? Nora looked to where Mitanth was staring. Serri slowly opened the door, looked around and shut the door behind her. She stepped nervously into the Weyrbowl, Tsuki wrapped around her neck.
Her. Mitanth smiled at the girl and took a step towards her.
Nora walked towards Serri took. Serri’s hair was messy from Tsuki’s movement and her glasses kept slipping down her nose. She was fidgeting with her dress and staring wide-eyed at Mitanth. Really? Nora was slightly skeptical. What do you see in her?
Serri stared wide-eyed as the large blue came closer to her. Tsuki cheeped once at the dragon, seeing that it was making his master nervous, but personally he didn’t want to attack the much larger dragon.
Serri couldn’t help but smirk at her firelizard’s antics and was therefore smiling when Head Searchrider Nora approached her.
Serri took a deep breath, told herself to calm down and greeted the woman. "Hello."
Nora smiled, impressed with her boldness. "Hello. I’m Head Searchrider Nora."
Tsuki chirped once at the Searchrider and hid himself in Serri’s hair. She cringed as she tried to untangle the bronze, but tried to keep smiling at the Searchrider. "Sorry. He just doesn’t like meeting new people."
Especially people who are making you nervous. Mitanth’s eye whirled an amused green.
Serri jumped slightly as the blue’s voice entered her mind. "You can tell huh?"
The blue smiled kindly down on the girl. It was then that Nora saw Serri’s hand shaking. She hadn’t noticed how nervous the girl was. She’s pretty good at hiding her feelings. What else do you see Mitanth?
What do I see? The blue bespoke both his rider and Serri. I see a young woman who is very good with numbers and who uses her knowledge to benefit others. I see a girl who has grown and blossomed into a kind, caring woman despite and in spite of difficult situations. I see a shy person who still manages to muster the strength to defend what she believes in. But most importantly, I see a future dragon-rider. The blue nodded once, finalising his decision.
Nora smirked and shook Serri’s hand. "Congratulations. You’ve been Searched. We’ll give you a couple of minutes to go pack."
Tsuki cheeped happily and flew to Mitanth, obviously forgetting earlier grievances.
Both Weyrwoman Magika and Headwoman Media came and shook Serri’s hand, congratulating her.
Mitanth smiled, realizing that this was a very shocking experience for the girl and wondering if he couldn’t have broke the news less dramatically.
Serri fainted.
Serri at Talor Cliff Weyr...
Serri is a candidate at Talor Cliff Weyr.
Tsuki's picture is from Honshu Weyr.
Serri's picture is from Caleah's Anime Avatars.
Dress from The Kshau Protectorate.
Background from Jolie Joyau's Web Designs.
