New Arrivals (Expedition, Raelwynn)

[Dragon]

Solera stood at the back of the expedition group. Half of them she didn't know what to think, and the other, she didn't know what to think of either. She thought they all didn't know what to do, and really, neither did she. She was tired, soaking wet, and her whole body ached from the strenuous walking she'd just finished. And these Dragonriders hadn't offered to let them sit! That was rude. She got the feeling they were biding their time, but for what? Either way, she wanted to find out.

But first, she was hungry and wet! Apparently these Weyrleaders had no care for strangers. That didn't sit well with her, but she'd have to deal with it, for now. She took the time to look around at everything around her, where the Dragons slept, where the Riders quarters were, the direction for the infirmary, and the way they were taking for the 'Weyrhall'. Upon entering the large room, she stopped beside Navarre, and listened quietly as he spoke. She'd learned of the details of the mission once she'd 'agreed' to go on the expedition. Though the exact words didn't leave room for her to make a 'real' choice.

As she waited to hear what the Weyrwoman said, looked around in the Weyrhall. It was a nicely large room with many rows of tables. Upon seeing two other Riders enter the room, she fixed her eyes on them, staring at them in turn. Who were they? Were they just standing there to protect their Weyrleaders from sopping wet, hungry, and tired expeditioners? Or just watching to crack jokes about them later? Solera didn't really care though, those where just thoughts she'd never voice to anyone.

[Ise]

Dereo had stayed quiet throughout all of this. He hadn’t been stunned into silence like some of the others had been when seeing the Weyr for the first time. Everything was impressive. And big. And he could feel his muscles tense up as he got the idea that all of this was done to intimidate them. They were being treated like heardbeasts, the Shield members nothing but a pack of canines that snapped at their heels to get them moving.

Of course Dereo was tired by this point, his mind wandering and clinging to any familiar thoughts to stop him from doing anything stupid. People he couldn’t understand but animals he could. Things made so much more sense to him when he could picture everyone as animals just playing out their role.

He was glad to be in the hall with a roof over their head and shook himself off a little. His body was still tense and he only half listened as the lordlings started their political dance with the weyrleaders. He flexed his hands, trying to work some of the cold stiffness out of his fingers glancing up as someone, Nevarre, finally spitting out why they were here though putting in too many pretty words. Dereo looked at the weyrleaders, his jaw clenching as he saw the darkening look in D’seus eyes. Though the man said nothing, Dereo felt like a caged animal suddenly. His dark eyes quickly moved around the room, looking at the riders in the room and for a moment wondering how far the Expdition could get if they tried to get away from them. Though his body stayed tense, his head dropped and Dereo focused on the drops of water that dripped off the tip of his nose and made a small puddle on the floor. They were wet, cold, tried, hungry and missing two of their own. Which meant they were at the mercy of these weyrleaders; one who looked like he would be more then happy to throw them back into the jungle.

Dereo kept his head down, listening still but more trying to calm himself down. He was too strung out and needed rest. But until he could get some real sleep he needed to keep his head down and make sure he didn’t bring any unwanted attention to himself during these talks.

[franny]

Osaris was enjoying the rain. It felt refreshing and drove away the bugs. She wouldn't like it after the rain because after the rain it would become hot and humid, but unlike most of the others,she was enjoying the rain. Of course, she didn't say anything. Everyone already thought her strange enough.

She crooked her mouth into a small smile at that thought and moved her fingers around while keeping her hands at her side. She was getting tired of walking in such a big group.

She looked around and saw her buddy, Dereo the beastcrafter. She found this ironic since she used to hang out with beastcrafters when she was younger.

She continued to look around, and then she saw it, the place they were being led to, and she saw the most amazing creature ever, a giant firelizard. It was a dragon! It had to be! All this time wandering where they were going, and they were being led to the dragons!

It shocked all figets out of her, and she simply stood there stunned by the dragons. They looked ugly with their large heads and bodies, but at the same time they were prettier than weyrs and their size was simply magnificent and awe inspiring. Suddenly, she had an irrational urge to speak up and ask if she could impress one. They impressed dragons like firelizards right?

She kept herself quiet, and even the whole commotion with the silly pregnant girl barely registered as she starred at the weyr and at the dragon. She liked the dragon better than her runner back home.

She followed dutifully as everyone walked into the building following the rest of the expedition members and her buddy.

They entered into a place called the weyrhall, and Osaris thought it nice enough, but her mind still was locked on the dragons. They came south to find dragons, and they found them, and they were more amazing than imagined.

Finally, Osaris couldn't stop herself, "Sir, I am Osaris, third daughter of the High Reaches Lord Holder, and I would like to know if we can try to impress a dragon." Then a short pause, hoping she said everything right she added anxiously, "You do impress dragons right, like firelizards?"

Her mothers training is all that kept her being respectful. She was slightly wild until her mother decided to force her back into the hold, and manners didn't come naturally to her. She was more used to being alone with her runner in the hills and mountains.

[HG]

The Weyrleader listened patiently male Holder's and then suddenly a young woman in the back seemed to speak up. Dragon impression was different. He should probably explain to them in a way they would understand. So it was that D'seus told the youths a story.

“In answer to your question Lady Osaris, dragons impress but differently than firelizards.” He looked at the faces in front of them who all seemed to hold the same expression as if they had no idea what he was talking about. What was the North teaching youngsters these days? Obviously nothing important!

“Firelizards impress to anyone who holds out food to them. Wild firelizards will impress to eachother, something that dragons will never do. No, dragons impress based on levels of empathy, telepathy and compatibility between potential rider and self. And make no mistake about it, dragons always choose the person best suited for them. If that person is not there on the day of the Hatching they will Between without one and therefore die.”

Best to make them fear the loss of a dragon by not standing. It looked to him like these youths would be very inclined to stand. “Selection of Candidates is made by Search dragons who can pick up on these empathy and telepathy levels. I would request that since our lovely Queen is egg heavy that you stay for the Hatching and undergo a Search. If you are found suitable, Standing for a Clutch is considered a great honor and to deny it would be most disrespectful.” D'seus was quite prepared to have them stand.