A Reason To Stay

Writers: Devin
Date Posted: 15th May 2008

Characters: N'vanik, Cosani, E'los
Description: A Reason To Stay
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "Anger and Pain"

N'vanik

Cosani

}:I love you,:{ Loseth crooned.

N'vanik took a deep breath. He couldn't change the past and he couldn't make her understand. So he had to figure out what he _could_
do. "You want to stay at the Weyr?" he asked Cosani.

She looked up, rubbing her eyes, and nodded. At the moment, she also wanted to crawl into a dark hole. She was so embarrassed by bawling in front of all these people ... just like little girl.

"How about we go talk somewhere more private?"

She nodded again and climbed shakily to her feet. "Alright. I'll get my stuff together, and then we'll go." N'vanik gathered together his cleaning supplies. He considered flying up to his weyr. It would be much faster, but he didn't have any riding straps and it would be too dangerous to take the girl. **My daughter,** he thought in amazement.

**I guess we'll have to take the long way. You go on ahead,** he told Loseth.

}:Ok.:{ The bronze's eyes were still whirling with concern as he took off.

Cosani watched the dragon with wide eyes.

"We're going to my weyr. It's a long walk."

She turned to him. "Your weyr?"

"Yes. I think we've provided enough entertainment for today."

She didn't know if she was more angry or embarrassed. "Fine. Let's go."

N'vanik led the long, silent walk through the Weyr and up flight after flight of stairs. Some of Cosani's tension faded as it was replaced by exhaustion. How far up was his weyr, anyway? She thought they might be climbing all the way up to one of the moons.

N'vanik glanced back and saw her lagging behind. "Want to take a break? It's two more levels up."

"No ... I can ... make it," she panted, her face set with determination. She wasn't going to let this dragonrider--her father--
think she was weak. It was bad enough she'd already cried in front of him.

"You sure?" he asked.

She nodded. He shrugged and continued up the stairs. They finally reached his weyr and Cosani was too tired to hesitate. She walked right in and collapsed into a chair.

N'vanik sat down on the couch and gave her a few minutes to catch her breath. "So, why are you here?"

"I didn't want to stay at ho -- at the hold anymore," she answered.

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't."

N'vanik sighed. "If I'm going to let you stay at the weyr, I need you tell me the truth. Did you run away?"

"Yes," she answered, her eyes dropping. She was afraid he would try to send her back.

Just like him. "How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

Shards, the same age, even. "Why did you run away?"

Cosani swallowed, fighting back tears. "Grandda started talking about suitors. He didn't want me to turn out like Ma."

"Sharding ass," N'vanik muttered. "So you came all the way here to find me?"

She nodded.

"I did the same thing. Run away from home, I mean," he said. She gave him a curious look. "Same age as you. I lived on my own for a while until I was Searched ... hey, there's an idea."

"What?"

"We could get you Searched. If a Search dragon gives you the thumbs up, so to speak, then you'll be a Candidate and you can stay here as long as you want." He was already thinking of who he could ask.

}:Karnahath is a Search dragon,:{ Loseth said.

**Thanks, love.**

"But what if ... if it doesn't work?" She didn't understand how Search worked and was worried that she would somehow fail.

"Then we'll think of something else. But we'll worry about that later.
You've got dragonrider blood in you. That gives you a better chance than most."

"Okay. How does it work?"

}:Could you see if Karnahath or his is busy? If they aren't, see if they can have a look at her.:{ To Cosani, he said, "We'll get a Search dragon to look you over. If he thinks you have the potential to be a rider, then you can become a Candidate."

"How does the dragon know?" she asked.

N'vanik shrugged. "I don't know. They just do."

}:They aren't busy, and they're curious to see your hatchling.:{ N'vanik rolled his eyes. Great. The entire Weyr was going to know about this by the end of the day. **You didn't have to tell them who it was.**

}:Sorry.:{
**They might as well come up here, then. If you don't mind sharing your ledge.**

}:Nope. I'll tell them.:{ Cosani studied N'vanik as his eyes went unfocused. The rider she'd talked to earlier had done that, too. That must be what happened when they talked to their dragons.

"A Searchrider is coming in a few minutes," he said.

"Okay." An awkward silence followed.

The sound of a dragon landing on the ledge was a very welcome interruption. N'vanik got up to greet E'los and Cosani trailed behind him. "Thanks for coming, E'los. This is ... um ..." Oh, shards. He hadn't asked her what her name was!

"Cosani," she told the rider. "What ... what do I do?"

"Nothing, really," E'los said. "Karnahath will take a look at you to see if he thinks you have the potential to Impress."

"How does he know?" she asked.

"Some dragons just know. They sense that a person has the right qualities for becoming a dragonrider."

That didn't explain much. "Oh."

E'los gave her an encouraging smile. "He's ready if you are."

Cosani followed E'los out to the ledge, where Karnahath was waiting.
Loseth stepped to the side to give them more room. "Ok, love. Why don't you take a look at her?" E'los said to the blue.

The dragon leaned his head down. Cosani stared into the huge eyes, whirling with blue. They were so beautiful.

}:I like her. I like her a lot,:{ Karnahath told his rider.

E'los grinned. "He likes you."

Cosani tore her gaze away from the dragon. "Really?"

The bluerider nodded. "Congratulations. You've officially been Searched."

She blinked, looking from rider to dragon and back. "Really? That's it? I'm ... I'm a Candidate now?"

N'vanik sighed with relief. This would make things a lot easier.

Last updated on the May 18th 2008

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A Reason To Stay