The Search

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 31st May 2008

Characters: Binea, Vanea, Neata
Description: Neata and Binea's search for their missing grandmother is unsuccessful.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 17 of Turn 4

Binea ran swiftly, calling out to her sister as she approached. "Any sign of her?" "No." Neata's throat was tight and it echoed in her voice. She was doing her best to hold back the panic that was threatening to consume her, and fighting the sting of tears that were assaulting her eyes. "No one's seen her, at least, not around her." There were plenty of other places to look, of course, so really it was too early to be acting as if she were a lost cause. Neata chided herself silent and that seemed to help her regain a little more composure.

The younger sister took a glance toward the skies, calculating the time. "I can't imagine that she would have gone far? She really is unsteady at times. . ." Her voice trailed off as she realized how much more serious that made the situation.

Neata rubbed her eyes and shook her head. "I thought I would just take a circular route, go down to the warehouses and check there, then the runner station...then..." Then...then...there were so many places she could be and the task seemed so daunting.

Binea sighed. "I wish that we had known her earlier, before she got like this. Maybe then we'd be able to figure out where she'd go." "Well, she's not going to get found if we don't move." Neata grabbed her sister's hand and began walking, heading toward the runner stations. It didn't seem like a likely place for her, but she hadn't been at the most likely ones.

"Neata," the younger sister spoke hesitantly as they walked. "What if. . . what if we don't find her? We still need to get back inside in time." "We're not going to think about that right now. We're going to focus on looking for her and _finding_ her." Neata didn't _want_ to think about that. If she tried, she'd just break down and start crying and wouldn't be able to do anything coherent. "Walk faster."

Binea quickened her pace, but glanced from side to side as they walked, noting the holders and crafters busily securing the Hold for Threadfall. "Should. . . should we be asking if anyone has seen her?" "I asked around at the docks, but you're right, we should ask as we go." Neata pointed to a man who had the knots boasting his rank as that of a journeyman beastcrafter. "You go on that side, I'll ask on this side."

There was a woman approaching to the side Neata had indicated. Binea placed herself in front of the hurrying holdwife. "Can you help me?" "You'd best get inside," the woman warned. "Not long till Threadfall." She continued on her way.

"But my Gram. . ." Binea's words trailed off as the woman ignored her.

Neata was on the opposite side, talking to someone else, her hands gyrating as she did so. At the shake of the man's head, she turned and noticed Binea. She hadn't moved. Had someone seen their grandmother? Neata ran back to her, her gaze looking to the woman and she asked almost breathlessly, "Have you seen her, then?"

"She doesn't care," muttered Binea. "No one cares. Gram could be out there," she waved her hand wildly, "hurt, and no one would care." "We can't give up." Neata's throat tightened again, but she fought against the tide that threatened. She couldn't afford to break down now. "Come on. Let's keep looking."

Taking courage from her sister, Binea continued on. "The beastpens – would she have gone over to see them? Or one of the craft workshops?" "We won't know until we look!" Neata grabbed her sister's hand and began to tug at her. "Come on!"

Binea recognized the wisdom in her sister's words and allowed herself to be led toward those locations, hoping that they would find the old woman there.

~*~*~

They had traveled through buildings Binea had never really noticed before this day, spoke to as many people as would listen to them, but to no avail. "We're not going to find her," she said dejectedly.

Neata didn't want to say it, though she knew her sister was right. She looked up to the sky, then turned dejectedly back to the hold. "We'd better go inside." She said softly, afraid to speak, for her throat was constricting and she wasn't sure how long she could hold back the tears. "Thread's about to start." The last words wavered as she spoke them.

The younger girl sighed. "I hate to tell Momma this." Neata nodded slowly, her steps hesitant and trudging. They had no choice. While they dragonriders would fight the thread that fell, it didn't mean that they weren't at risk themselves should they choose to stay outdoors. Doing so would be foolish. She just hoped that someone had found their grandmother and had taken pity on her. "Let's get this over with."

Binea followed her sister. "You're older – you do the talking." Neata found her mother and approached her with solemn face, her eyes dull and face pale as they settled upon the elder woman. Silence overtook her for a moment, grasping her throat and refusing to let forth the words. If she said them, it was as if she were sealing her grandmother's fate. She had to tell her mother, though, and after a moment she managed to sputter, "We couldn't find her."

Vanea knew what the young woman was going to say before the words were uttered, could tell from the expressions on her daughters' faces. She schooled her own mien to calm – a calm that she did not feel – and nodded. "The alarm will sound in a few minutes and the doors will be closed. I'll need both of you to help serve the noon meal." Serve? How could she serve? Their grandmother was out there, somewhere, alone, confused and in horrible danger. How could her mother be so calm? How could she just stand there and tell them to serve the noon meal?

Neata struggled, her face twisting, but she realised her mother was right. She had to keep going and hope for the best. She would help her mother. "All right." She managed to struggle out. If nothing else, it would take her mind off of what could possibly happen to her grandmother. Maybe.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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