An Extraordinary Day

Writers: Nicole, Eimi
Date Posted: 12th February 2006

Characters: Saralorn, R'sedel
Description: Saralorn is Searched.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 3

"He'll be a winner for sure, don't you think?" His father asked him, leaning against the track fence. Their latest prize yearling, a dappled grey stallion named Wind's Rival, was pounding around the track.

Saralorn nodded and rose his eyebrows. He was fast, he gave the runnerthat credit. It would have been better if he could have trained him, but he hadn't had the physique for a jockey since he was thirteen. His
father was proud of the tall, stocky boy he'd become, but Saralorn as he watched Agelor on runnerback, he wanted nothing more than that short, lanky figure. There was nothing that could beat the feeling of the wind
against your face, and the thundering of your heart in sync with the runner's as you fought for the win. And lost in the nostalgia of hoofbeats, he barely heard his sister's words as she screamed them at him.

"Air's wider here," was what he heard at first, then, he puzzled out the sentence in his head: "There's a rider here!"

"What?" He said, whipping around from the fence. And sure enough, Reily rushed from his side towards the front of the beasthold, barking up a storm.

**So it's coming from down there, then?** R'sedel asked, looking down on the small gathering of people.

}:Yes. I think he'll be a great rider, :{ Eniidith confirmed with confidence.

**All right. Let's set down in the field there. The one without the runners.**

The green did as she was instructed and settled herself daintily down on the frozen ground. }:Let's hurry and get him. It's _cold_ here.:{

The greenrider slid from the back of his dragon and removed his riding helmet. He waved to the men standing by the fence. R'sedel would let them come to him. That way, no matter how they felt about a greenrider
personally, they would still remember that a green was a fire-belching dragon.

Saralorn just stared at the rider for a moment. What was a dragonrider doing at Black Stable? Riders /never/ came out here. Giving a quick glance to the runner behind them, he hoped the dragon wasn't hungry...

"Good morning, dragonrider," he father greeted him. "I'm Saredon, and this is my son, Saralorn. To what do we owe this visit today?" If there was even any notice given to the man's gender as opposed to the color he
rode, it was only a passing detail. What was given notice, however, was the canine yapping and barking at the massive green creature in front of him. "Saralorn, get Reily!" Saredon growled out of the corner of his
mouth.

He rushed to the canine and grabbed it by the collar.

"Sorry," Saralorn said with a sheepish smile at R'sedel. "He's never seen a dragon up-close before." He pulled the canine back between his legs and pushed his knees into the struggling dog's ribs to hold him still. "Sit, Reily!" The canine grudgingly obeyed, though his eyes never left the dragon and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, despite Saralorn's efforts to smooth them.

The green looked at the canine curiously. }:He's a very brave little creature.:{

**That he is love,** R'sedel smiled. "Eniidith is very impressed with your canine."

"Ha. Thanks," Saralorn laughed. "He's...really protective. Sorry if he bothered her or anything."

The greenrider chuckled. "Don't worry, lad. She's not even a snack for this green beauty." He turned towards the boy's father. "Sir, I am R'sedel, rider of green Eniidith, and we ride in Search for River Bluff
Weyr. My dragon believes there is someone here who has the potential to Impress a dragon. I ask your permission to inspect those of a proper age."

}:It's the boy with the creature,:{ Eniidith interrupted his thoughts.

**That may be love, but there's no harm in looking over the others, is there?** R'sedel responded.

}:All right. But I know you just like looking at the boys.:{ Her rider cleared his throat to keep himself from laughing. "Ah, sir, may I see the youths?"

Saralorn stared at him open-mouthed. The thought of being a dragonrider had always been an impossible fantasy at the back of his mind, but to have that changed to a sudden reality...

"You heard him, son. Round 'em up!" Saredon said after a moment's silence.

In a matter of minutes, every teenager on the holding had scrambled into a loose line in front of the rider. There were, maybe, fifteen of them all together, each watching the dragon expectantly. Saralorn was no
exception. His heart was pounding in his chest and his closed palms sweated. He couldn't remember a time he had felt so nervous in turns. Not just for himself, but for Aseda, who was standing beside him looking
just as anxious. This could be chance for her to live her life provided for and without any man. But, to know if she'd get that opportunity, only time would tell. Well, time, and the green dragon in front of them.

Eniidith looked at each eager face intently. R'sedel also looked the group up and down. **It seems to be a fine group. Are you sure just the boy?**

}:Yes.:{ Eniidith finally confirmed. }:Just the boy this time.:{

"You are Saralorn, right?" the greenrider said, looking at the boy with the canine.

"Yes, sir."

R'sedel smiled. "Well, son, it seems we came here looking for you."

For a moment, Saralorn was sure he was going to faint -- either that, or wake up. He just stared open-mouthed. This couldn't really be happening. But the seconds droned on like hours and then it hit him: this was as
real as it got, and now he had a choice to make. His mind was a sudden whirl of doubts. He was apprenticed to Maldern. What if his master didn't clear him to leave the Craft? He spun to face him, and almost as
if the old man could read his thoughts, the Beastcraft grinned and nodded at him. And what of his parents? His father's face was a mix of emotions, but glittering in his eyes and rigidness of his face he could
see a flicker of pride. His mother's eyes glistened with tears, but she was grinning at him all the same. Would they be alright without him? Of course they would. Agelor was their hope for the prize jockey now, and
he hadn't broken in any runner since his accident with Red Star's Fury. (If there was ever a runner more amptly named!) They had Maldern for the medical care and many able hands...Sucking in a deep breath, Saralorn
felt suddenly like a fifth wheel. Grinning back up at the greenrider, he made the only decision he felt he could: "So, what do we do now?"

R'sedel raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Pack?"

"Oh. Right!" Saralorn said with a laugh. "I'll be right back, then."

He was in his room avidly stuffing clothing into a sack when the scuff of feet distracted him and he stared up at Aseda leaning against the frame of his door. In his excitement, he'd completely forgotten about the others who had been standing with him. It's not like she hadn't forgotten about the family before. Like that night when she'd run off with that boy at the Gather-- to think that was all that could be left for her now. His heart sank. "Aseda...you're not mad at me, are you?"

"You're a rotten bastard, and I hate you," she said, staring at him with stone-cold eyes. He stared back, open-mouthed, and then her expression melted and her eyes filled with warmth. "Actually, I'm really excited for you."

"I just feel bad that you can't come with me, that you weren't-," he didn't want to rub it in, "you know."

"Don't worry about it," she shook her head and stepped forward. "I'm glad that now I know. You can put one childhood dream far out of your head and really look at what life's given you."

He grinned at her as he pulled the drawstring of his sack closed shut. "Well, at least I know there'll be someone here to take care of Reily for me."

"You're not taking him with you?"

"Nah," he shook his head. "He'll be happier here. There's nothing for that dog at the Weyr. Besides, I don't think it'll go well when he tries to herd dragons."

They both chuckled, and their parents stepped into the room. His mother was in tears and he grinnned at her sympathetically. "Mom."

She stepped forward to hug him, and they embraced. He could remember having to look almost straight up to see her face, and now he was nearly a full head taller than her.

"I'm so proud of you," she sobbed, placing her hands on his shoulders and looking at her boy. "But I'm just so worried."

"Mother, I'll be fine," he assured.

"The Weyr's a dangerous place. You be careful. Especially if you...if you become a dragonrider," she said, conveying all the urgency she could muster through her bloodshot eyes.

"Please, Laurdea, give the boy some space. He'll be fine," his father said. "Besides, everyone needs a little bronzerider in the family, aye, son?"

Saralorn grinned and chuckled nervously. And what would happen if he didn't Impress bronze? His father left no room for that.

"Go git 'em, boy!"

"Yeah, I will, Dad," he said, swinging the massive bag carrying his clothing and a few prized possessions over his shoulder. Reily padded in through the doorway and he ruffled the canine's fur affectionately. It
would be hard to leave him here. Saralorn cast a look to the firelizard sprawled out across the mantle, who stared back at him through dull, facetted eyes. **You, you little wherry, are coming with me.**

"I love you!" His mother told him, and he grinned.

"I love you too," he said and, with one last look back, turned and headed out the door towards a new future.

"Okay. Sorry I took so long. I managed to condense everything down into this," he told the greenrider, heaving the sack onto the ground in front of him. "Do you want me to hold it...or should we tie it on somewhere?"

"You hand that to me, and say any last good-byes. Of course, your family will be welcome at the Weyr for the Hatching when it happens," he said loud enough for them to hear. It was a comfort for most families
to know that their child was not leaving their sight forever. "Go on then lad."

Saralorn nodded and turned back around to the family who had come out to watch him go. Several of his friends and fellow beastcrafters were standing around Maldern and as he approached him, his shoulders fell victim to several friendly punches.

"Hey, who would have thought?" Ageldor said. "When I race Wind's Rival, you gotta come back man. You'll be able to come back in a turn or so right?"

Saralorn nodded. "Sometime around then, depending on when I Impress, I guess."

"Ha! It'd be worth the trip back just to see his dragon spook that runner of yours and see you fall on your ass!" Another said, and Ageldor glared at him.

"Take care, guys," he said, and they all shook hands before he moved on to Maldern. His master watched him with the faintest of smiles on his lips and there was a short silence between the two of them.

"I'm sorry if you're disappointed."

Maldern laughed. "Not in the least. To say I didn't have high hopes for you would be a lie, but you have a higher calling now. It would be a loss if you didn't take this chance, and personally, I have all the
faith in the world in you."

"Thank you," he said, and shook Maldern's extented hand, and after a moment, they embraced instead. It was going to be odd without having Maldern there for advice. But he'd managed, he always did.

As soon as he stepped away from the master crafter, he was tackled by his sister who threatened to press the air out of his lungs.

"I'd thought you'd be glad I was leaving," he grinned, hugging her back.

"It'll be too quiet without someone to aggravate me," she grinned.

"Take care of yourself, son," his father said.

"And don't forget to write," his mother reminded.

"I will, and I'll write," he assured, giving each of them one last hug before turned and heading towards the dragon once more.

"See you on Hatching Day!" His sister called after him.

He looked up at the 'rider: "Thank you. Are we ready to go?"

"Ready when you are," the greenrider said extending his hand down to help the boy up.

Saralorn took his hand and hefted himself up onto the dragon. He seated himself comfortably behind the 'rider and looked at the straps around him. "These buckle over the legs?"

R'sedel smiled and turned around and fixed the straps for him. "Don't worry. You'll be an expert in no time."

"Thanks," he said, and grinned. "That's only assuming I don't mess up and fall to my death in the meantime."

"We'll soon find out! Wave good-bye!" the greenrider said as he gave the dragon a silent request to take off and take them back to the boy's new home.

Saralorn lurched backwards as the dragon took off and he scrambled frantically for something to hold on to. He caught his balance and managed a nervous wave to his family just before they plunged into the cold of /between/.

Last updated on the February 13th 2006

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An Extraordinary Day