Explore the Unknown (ANY/SearchRiders) [9.28.2707]

[Kendrall]

Mordecai loved to explore. That much was evident, and by the time he received his journeyman's knots he couldn't wait to finally head off into the mines on his own, or at least take some of the younger apprentices with him to help hone their cartography skills. Being above-ground was one thing, at least to Mordecai. Above-ground, you could use just about any object as a landmark to help guide your path. Beneath the surface was something else. There, you had to make your own landmarks, usually by marking a passageway with a piece of limestone or other mineral that served the same purpose...but the drawback was someone could always smudge or outright wipe the mark from the cavern wall. Then you were stuck.

Mordecai learned from an early age to look for subtle differences within the rock walls, and soon could tell at a glance if he'd been in a passageway before or not. That was something he often tried to teach in the class - dull, dry, and boring to most - but when it came time for the field exercises, those same apprentices who'd fallen asleep during the lecture often regretted their mistake. The Harper had lost count of how many times he had to find a lost student or two.

The one thing he hated most of all were tunnel snakes and crawlies. Both made his skin, well, crawl. Mordecai had been bitten by a tunnel snake, and had it not been for his father there would have been little chance of survival. His meager beltknife did little good against reptilian-like flesh, and he only had the one glowlamp to provide enough illumination to light his path.

Too bad it didn't give him enough light to avoid that den of tunnel snakes he'd nearly stumbled into the last time he was down this way.

Mordecai had no way of knowing how many candlemarks had passed since he started this latest venture, but he reckoned it was nearly time to return to the surface. It wouldn't do him any good to be stuck down here, and now that rumors from Nova indicated there were new Riders in the ranks - supposedly stumbling into the present from the distant past - he wanted to know if the rumors were true. He also wanted to know more about what life was like all those Turns ago, and if there were any relics to be found. That presented a problem, though. The Northern Continent was supposed to be off-limits, or so he'd heard. So were the South Polar Regions, where these other Riders had been hiding out.

More history to be learned, he supposed. More exploring. But first, he had to get back to the surface. Scrambling through a narrow cleft in the rock, the young Harper began the long ascent.

-----------------------------------

((OOC: I changed the date to match the time jump.))

[sorra]

Elliwodth looked below them as they came out of between. The green was glad to get out and stretch her wings. Her rider seemed to be feeling better and that was good. Although she still complained about her sore ribs from time to time.

Kiyoni looked down at Tuath Hold. Do you think we'll find anyone, Elli?

The green snorted as she angled her wings to glide to a soft landing. I have no doubt we will, the green said. Elliwodth always liked going on Search. Even if they didn't find anyone it gave her a chance to meet new people and show off. She always liked being admired.

Kiyoni chuckled at her dragon's antics. The search rider carefully slid down her dragon's side, being extra careful of her ribs. She knew Arktos wouldn't be very happy with her if she injured herself more. But she wasn't going to give up going on Search either. Rivi sat happily on her shoulder and chittered. He liked Searches too. Kiyoni looked around for someone who might be able to help her.

[Kendrall]

It took Mordecai a while to make the journey from the upper caves to the surface. As he finally came topside, as he called it, the young Harper noticed a faint but recognizable shape in the skies just above the Hold proper. A dragon. Dragons weren't always everyday occurrences, but Mordecai supposed it was either a Searchrider, or perhaps even a courier or visitor from Nova Weyr. Either way, he'd find out soon enough.

It was a rather short trip from the caves to the inside of the Hold walls, where Mordecai had an opportunity to see the dragon and its Rider up close. A Green dragon, which meant the Rider was either a female or a male. He didn't care either way, personally, but he was rather intrigued as the Rider slid down - carefully, he noted - and on its shoulder was a small creature. Mordecai had heard of firelizards before, but never laid eyes on one. Nor did he realize the Rider was, in fact, a rather beautiful lady. Probably a half-dozen or so Turns older than he was. It wouldn't surprise him at all if the Rider had a weyrmate; if so, that particular man was a very fortunate one indeed.

Clearing his throat to hide his discomfort, the young Harper loped over to where the Searchrider was. "Hello," he said cheerfully. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

[sorra]

Rivi looked around the Hold with bright eyes. The blue was chittering happily as he sat on Kiyoni's shoulder, wondering where everyone was. Elliwodth seemed to yawn as she waited. The green actually lay down and curled her tail around herself.

Kiyoni smiled at her dragon. Aren't you being lazy today, beautiful? she teased her green.

Elliwodth snorted. Just waiting, she said. She looked up when she spotted Mordecai coming toward them. There, she said smugly.

Kiyoni spun around at her dragon's words. She smiled as the boy loped up to them. It appeared that he had definitely been busy before their arrival. "Good day," she friendly. "I'm Searchrider Kiyoni and this is Elliwodth," she said. Rivi chittered, causing Kiyoni to laugh. "And this little monster is Rivi. Elli and I are here on Search. I was just wondering where everyone was."

[Kendrall]

Mordecai wasn't sure what to make of the Green looking at him, nor its Rider having to turn around and smile at him. He nodded when the woman introduced herself, her dragon, and the firelizard on her shoulder, and why they were here. When asked where everyone else was, the young Harper shrugged. "Most likely inside," he said, "or down in the caves. I did pass a group of miners on my way back from down below."

He looked again at the Green, studying her (at least he was pretty certain it was a she) as if appraising a gemstone or other precious relic. "Your Green here, ah, Elliwodth was it? She looks beautiful. You ever take her on expeditions?"

[sorra]

Kiyoni waited patiently for an answer. She had been on enough Searches to know that they could take a while sometimes. "The mines?" she asked. "Do the children go there too?" She didn't know much about mining. Although it was really the children that she was interested in talking to at the moment. This Harper included. He looked young enough and Elliwodth definitely seemed interested in him.

Rivi chittered a greeting while Elliwodth cocked her head to the side. I like him, the green said when he complimented her. And for more then one reason.

Kiyoni giggled softly. "Elli thanks you for the compliment." She raised a brow. "Expeditions?" she asked curiously. She had never thought about that before.

[Kendrall]

Mordecai nodded when Kiyoni asked about expeditions. "You know, exploring, mapping..." His voice trailed off when he supposed the Searchrider wouldn't be familiar with what he was saying, or perhaps he was starting to bore the woman. "Sorry," Mordecai blushed. "But I've always had a love for adventure, and though I'll admit I prefer the mines and caverns because it represents the unknown - to me, at least - I wouldn't mind taking to the air on the back of a dragon to chart unexplored territory."

"As for the children entering the mines - only those starting their apprenticeships are allowed to enter, unless they're with a Journeyman Harper like myself on a field exercise. Even then, I'm not allowed to take them very deep into the caverns. Sometimes the air quality is so terrible, I can hardly breathe myself."

[sorra]

Kiyoni listened quietly as Mordecai explained what he had meant. "Oh, that would be fun. I must say I haven't done much of that. I mainly go on Searches," she said. "Which I find fun. I get to visit different Holds and meet new people." The green rider chuckled softly. "No, I don't mind listening," she assured him. Elliwodth snorted and sniffed at Mordecai. The green sent her rider a quick confirmation. "Well, what would you think of a new adventure?" she asked, wondering what he would think of being a candidate.

The Search rider nodded. That made sense to her. "So, it sounds like you explore quite a bit." She knew she still needed to see the other children. "Will the others be around soon?" she asked.

[Kendrall]

Mordecai nodded in return when Kiyoni commented on his love for exploring. "I do, actually. My father wasn't too keen on it at first, nor my mother; my sister is the only one who hasn't changed her mind." He shrugged. "Not much I can do about that, I'm afraid." Before he could continue, however, a small group of children, ranging from roughly twelve turns up to sixteen drew close. Evidently, word had reached the Hold proper there was a Searchrider on the premises. "Seems like you have your answer, Searchrider," Mordecai nodded. "I'll have to wait to answer your question about new adventures after your Dragon there makes a decision."

[sorra]

Kiyoni smiled in sympathy. "I'm sure they were only worried about you getting hurt." She had never known her parents, so she hadn't had to worry about worrying them. She looked toward the children coming up to them. Rivi chittered happily as Elliwodth watched them approach. "Alright, I expect an answer though," she smiled, knowing that Elliwodth already thought he should be a candidate.

[Kendrall]

Mordecai wasn't sure what else to say, but instead chose to stand with the group of children that came to see the spectacle. Searchdragon visits were fairly common, and each time it was always interesting to see which child would be picked as the next Candidate to stand at a Hatching. The young Harper knew there were both Dragonriders and Wherhandlers; and while he wasn't entirely sure on how to react should he become a Wherhandler, becoming a Dragonrider was equally a mystery. Two Turns, wasn't it? Two long Turns before he could receive his Riders' knots, two Turns before he would be free to explore again, two Turns before he could really get himself involved in a relationship. Well, that last part wasn't entirely true, was it? Weren't male and female Candidates "suggested" to "experiment" with each other and with members of their own gender? That was mere speculation mixed with rumor; while the thought of being with another man in between the furs made his skin crawl, he himself harbored no ill will towards those who had a relationship with another member of the same gender outside of a Flight. Being with a woman, on the other hand, sounded like fun; if said woman agreed to reciprocate the feeling.

Mordecai never thought of himself as good-looking or handsome, merely average and leaning towards more the studious type. Thus, finding a potential soulmate ranked pretty low on his list. That was what was going through his mind as he fidgeted, waiting to see if the Searchdragon - Elliwodth? would make up her mind. Or whatever constituted as the mind of a dragon. Something else to eventually learn. Just how entwined a Dragon and its Rider truly were. But would he be chosen to learn more about the world outside of the Hold?

[sorra]

Kiyoni watched Mordecai out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't help but wonder what he would think of coming to the Weyr. She was sure it would be different from the life he lived now, but she had no doubt that he would be able to explore and go on all kinds of adventures. She knew her and her brother had gotten into all kinds of trouble when they were younger. Kiyoni grinned a little as she waited for Elliwodth.

Elliwodth sniffed at each child, deciding what she thought. There was one other one that might do. That girl and him, the green said to Kiyoni, looking toward Mordecai.

The search rider grinned and stepped over to Mordecai. "Alright, Mordecai, it's time to answer my question," she smiled. "What would you think of a new adventure at the Weyr? Elli here has just Searched you."

[Kendrall]

Mordecai nearly jumped when Elliwodth's head seemed to coalesce in front of him; he was lost in thought and failed to fully pay attention to what was going on around him. The Green sniffed at him, then moved on to the next child and so on down the line. Unsure of himself, Mordecai tentatively raised an arm and sniffed at the fabric. Was he in need of a bath or something? Was there a certain odor Elliwodth was looking for? Realizing that someone could be watching him, the young Harper quickly dropped his arm, his face a bit reddened from embarrassment.

That embarrassment only deepened when Kiyoni walked up to him and all but announced that he had been Searched, and what he thought of a new adventure at Nova. He blinked rapidly a few times, trying to collect his thoughts. Clearing his throat, Mordecai could only muster a weak nod of his head. Him? Searched? Going to Nova? His head spun. Was he finally to become a Candidate, and possibly start off on a new adventure of life at a Weyr? There was one other child - a young girl whose name eluded him for the moment - whom was chatting excitedly with some of the other girls. Clearly, she had been Searched as well, and was giddy with joy.

"I'd have to let my family know," Mordecai said, removing his hat and holding it with both hands in front of his stomach. "But otherwise I'll be looking forward to that new adventure. If you don't mind, I'll need to grab my cartography supplies and some change of clothes. I won't need anything fancy, will I?" He made a face at the last question, his expression suggesting that he loathed dressing up for anything 'special'.

[sorra]

Kiyoni hid a chuckle as she watched Mordecai. She couldn't recall the last time she had seen someone check their clothes after a dragon was close to them. Of course most people were in awe afterward and didn't seem to notice anything else. She was glad to see that Mordecai was attentive. That would be good for a candidate.

She smiled as she caught sight of the girl talking happily with the others. Kiyoni nodded in answer to Mordecai's question. "Of course. There's no rush. Actually I wouldn't mind talking to your parents if that is alright," she said. She shook her head. "No, nothing fancy right now," she assured him. She figured he'd hear about the Feast later. And her and Elliwodth could always come collect anything else that he might need that he didn't think to bring.

[Kendrall]

It took Mordecai longer than he expected, but roughly a candlemark or so later he returned with his parents in tow. Amicai had the look of a miner about him; stalwart but pale-skinned, roughened hands and was dressed in drab clothing. Morgan was the opposite; she was a bit on the petite side, her skin more of an olive complexion and clad in brighter colors. Both bore the knots of senior journeymen; it was Amicai who first nodded and spoke to the Searchrider.

"I understand your dragon has Searched our son," he said in a bit of a gruff voice. "While he is free to make his own decisions, I do have to express a bit of a concern. Mordecai is our only son, and his mother and I would be highly distraught if anything tragic were to happen to him. I daresay the risks of him going through Weyrling training are much greater than being down below in the mines. Surviving a cave-in is one thing. Not coming out of between is another matter entirely, as is Threadscore." The miner pointed a finger at the dragon. "I never fully trusted dragons and their Riders, though I realize they're our first line of defense from Threadfall. Now I hear rumors coming from South Sands there were a bunch of young children snatched away from their folks, and many caravans were raided. Dragons and their Riders, so the story goes. If there's another bunch of Riders out there causing trouble, I don't want my son to have any part of it."

Morgan said nothing, instead hovering close to her husband and gently stroked his arm with one hand, her other arm wrapped around his waist. Her face suggested worry, as she knew full well what could happen to their son if the fates were to veer sharply towards misfortune.