A Day of Firsts (2/4)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 3rd May 2024
Characters: Yasmeane, X'eri
Description: X’eri and Yasmeane arrive at Lantern Ridge for Search, but nothing about their encounter goes as planned.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 11 of Turn 11
Their landing in Lantern Ridge stirred up two things: dust and
excitement. Children came darting out to witness the presence of two
dragons, and not just any two dragons, one of them was a bronze. It
wasn't often that their little minor hold got the distinction of a
bronze dragon visiting.
}:You are nervous?:{ Kohath asked X'eri as he felt the trickle of
apprehension from his rider.
**I'll have to rely on Yasmeane for translation,** X'eri said. He
hadn't gone on many Searches in his career as a dragonrider, today he
was mostly just there to escort Yasmeane as she practiced. Still,
being unable to communicate with the excited children, who were edging
closer to Kohath, was going to be difficult.
Lantern Ridge reminded Yasmeane vividly of her own small home. Of her
loving parents and siblings. A place where she had been respected and
seen as an intelligent person of integrity. Not like Dragonsfall at
all. She looked at the childrens' glowing faces as they tried their
best to wait patiently for the moment when the dragonriders allowed
them to get close to the dragons.
"Hello," Yasmeane called, somewhat awkwardly. "This is Isaroth. She's,
um... my dragon?"
X'eri, who stood to the side, watched her face intently, trying to
read her lips. It was evident from her body language that she felt
uncomfortable.
"And this is X'eri and his dragon Kohath," she finished lamely,
gesturing towards the bronzerider.
"We're here on Search, so if -"
"We're not interested!" a man interrupted, stepping forward in front
of the gathered children.
Yasmeane blinked. "Do you speak for the parents of all these children, sir?"
"Don't get sassy with me, _greenrider_. We know all about you loose
women up there at the Weyr. We heard all about that woman and that
blue dragon. You can just turn right back around and go back where you
came from."
X'eri couldn't make out every single word the man said, but he caught
enough to get the gist. He could see Yasmeane's cheeks turning red and
her hands curling into fists by her sides.
The presence of the dragonriders was drawing more people, adults now,
to the loose semi-circle of onlookers.
Yasmeane looked past the belligerent man to a woman standing with a
boy who looked to be about sixteen. The woman's hand was on her son's
shoulder as he looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"Ma'am, if your son would like to meet Isaroth and Kohath, he can come
forward," Yasmeane said reassuringly, although her senses felt
heightened with adrenaline.
The woman and boy took a few steps forward, and just as Yasmeane was
reaching out her hand to greet the pair, the belligerent man stepped
forward and slapped Yasmeane's hand down.
Yasmeane snatched her hand back in outrage, which earned the gathered
crowd a low rumbling warning from Isaroth, whose eyes were now tinged
with orange swirls.
She opened her mouth, preparing to blister the fool who had touched
her, but X'eri stepped between them.
The bronzerider's hand was clamped onto the other man's arm like a vice grip.
"Apologize. Now," X'eri said.
**He _spoke_!** Yasmeane thought in shock. She'd never heard the
bronzerider speak, and honestly, she hadn't known if he could.
Yasmeane realized that in the two months they'd been partnered, she'd
never asked him any personal questions about himself. She had been so
caught up in her own problems that she'd never considered it. She had
assumed that he _couldn't_ talk, not that he simply chose not to.
Kohath's intimidating presence behind X'eri towered over the gathered
crowd, casting them in the impressive shadow of the bronze dragon.
The children scattered in fear.
}:Oops.:{ Kohath said with chagrin. He typically enjoyed the attention
of miniature humans. Scaring them made him feel bad.
"N-Now," the holder stammered, "there's no reason to get testy. I, uh,
I apologize for slappin' your hand, lady, but I told you both already.
We ain't sending our children off to the Weyr."
X'eri tried to follow the movement of the man's lips but he spoke so
quickly and with such an irregular speech pattern that he couldn't
quite follow.
The confusion must have shown on X'eri's face because the holder,
whose courage had apparently swelled a little, barked out, "You slow
or something? I said, We. Don't. Want. You. Here."
Now _those_ words X'eri could clearly read on the man's lips. A blonde
head, at mid-chest level, suddenly bobbed in front of him. With
Yasmeane's back to him, he couldn't tell what she was saying, but from
the swaying of her neck and her hands on her hips, he had a feeling
that whatever she was saying couldn't be good.
**This is getting out of hand. Kohath, let's go. Tell Isaroth.** X'eri
grabbed Yasmeane by the elbow and hauled her backward towards their
dragons.
"-- and if you _ever_ talk to a dragonrider of the Weyr like that
again I'll... X'eri. X'eri!" Yasmeane jerked her elbow to get him to
quit dragging her, but he didn't look back at her.
}:Kohath's rider says we must go. Now.:{ Isaroth said, her wings
unfurling to reveal her own agitation.
When X'eri felt Yasmeane quit struggling, he turned her loose but
glanced over his shoulder to make sure that she was going to her
dragon.
Last updated on the May 9th 2024