A Stubborn Lad

[ichigo]

Donerin was helping his uncle get ready to travel to the nearby main Hold for trading, as he was to tag along. He was outside of his uncle's house, making a few last preparations with the saddles and the saddle bags of the two runners they were taking as transport to the Hold. They were borrowed from a good friend of Don's uncle, the horses and the riding equipment, and Don wanted to make sure they were in top condition both before the journey, and after. With a grunt the young man lifted the first of the saddles onto a bay and white geldling. The steady steed would be his uncle's mount. After making sure it was sitting steadily on the horse's back he reached under and grabbed the far hanging strap to the cinch, making sure that it buckled firmly around the horse's gut. The runner gave a bit of a snort and pawed when Don tightened it, and after making sure everything else was in order he patted the runner's shoulder and lifted the bridle to its head. The gelding was very good about taking the bit, and though he chewed on it for a moment Don was pleased to see him drop his head to nip at a few strands of grass.

Don then went about saddling up the runner he was to ride, unfortunately the dun stallion was going to have none of it. He shuffled sideways when Don tried to hoist the saddle over and onto his back, and instead Don stumbled forwards into nothing. He could have sworn the stupid beast laughed at him. "Shards ya stupid runner. Don't move!" Don hadn't taken two steps towards the rebellious creature when it suddenly bucked. It's hooves weren't anywhere near Donerin but it was enough to make him pause and rethink his approach. "Well what is it with ya? You were perfectly nice coming out of your stall and your stable, but now what?" The horse simply snorted at him. "Now look here. Robithin and I need to get to the hold, and our friends 'ere offered to let me ride you there. So you best behave." The dun blew at him and dropped its head, as if in compliance and understanding. Surprised, Don approached it warily, and he was able to get the saddle on the horse's back, but when he went to latch the cinch he realized the horse was holding its breath in. "Ya sharding animal!" He raised his voice just enough to startle the stallion, and it trotted in place, nearly dislodging the saddle in the process. "Stop it!" Thud. The saddle smashed to the ground and the stallion immediately froze to look at the saddle, and then to Don, and then it nickered. Don sighed heavily. He was going to need some help with this beast, but at least it was something to do other than figuring out on whether he was going to go to the Weyr or not and stand for the eggs.

[Ise]

With another clutch about to be laid, Emera had taken a trip to a near by hold to pick up a few items and make arrangements for other items to be delivered to the Weyr. She had also taken some time to speak with some of the locals who raised heardbeasts for the Weyr, after the last massive hatching and the meat shortage that followed, Emera was going out of her way to make sure it didn’t happen again. It had been impossible for the elder woman to plan for so many new dragonets but she still scolded herself for it.

She had traveled with one of Refuge’s searchriders, giving him and his blue a chance to travel around a bit and look for those who might make good candidates. He had found a couple, and most had been excited to be searched out, one though had vexed the blue rider.
“I don’t know what it was about that kid Emera but Torzoth liked something about him and Torz is never wrong about these kinds of things. You know we were the ones that search out both those bronze riders for the last hatching.”
The man puffed out his chest, taking pride in his dragon, which only made the Headwoman snort.
“Yes, both those bronze riders that had spent their whole lives at the Weyr. What did you say his name was? Donerin? Why does that name sound familiar…”

Though Emera was close to sixty turns old and had met hundreds of people and heard of hundreds more, she had always been good with remembering names. Even if it took a few hours for some of them to come to her. It wasn’t until her evening meal that she suddenly remembered the name. A friend of her brother’s had had a nephew named Donerin who had come to live with him when his father became unfit. She wrote up a quick note, attaching it to her gold fire lizard and sending her out. Within the hour, Orlai was back with a reply from her brother and the Headwoman scribbled another quick note out and sent the flitter out once again. It took a little longer but when Emera got her reply, she couldn’t help but grin to herself, she might be getting old but she still had it.

Refuge needed candidates, every one of them was important. Even the stubborn ones. And the detour wasn’t that far out of her way, only a few minutes by dragon back. Some times a more personal touch was needed with some future candidates then others.

She had requested that the blue rider bring her close to the Robithin and Donerin’s home before dropping her off. There was no need to scare any animals they might be keeping, or to provoke Donerin by bringing a rider he had already had problems with. And a walk to their home gave Emera time to think of what she would say to the boy. The rider had given her a run down of the encounters he had had with the youth to help give her an idea of what the boy was like. He sounded like a stubborn man but one who had skills and some guts. If he wasn’t interested in the dragons, the Shield might be more tempting to him.

As the house came into sight, Emera could see the two runners and someone working to get them saddled up and ready to ride. She watched for a while before decided that it was most likely Donerin working on the runners, the yelling gave it away even more. But trying to saddle a stubborn runner kept Donerin from noticing her too quickly. She always walked softly and her speed was slow and leisurely. The Headwoman came to a stop half a dozen meters away from the scene, chuckling softly to herself as she watched. Some runners were just as mischievous as young boys.
“Have you tried giving him a treat? It might not make him behave any better but he might not laugh at you then.”

[ichigo]

Donerin startled almost as much as the runner had when he had yelled at it at the voice of someone suggesting he gave the antsy stallion a treat. He was about to snap back, but then figured the woman was actually trying to be helpful and he simply grunted. "I don't care if he laughs at me, so long as I can get this shardin' saddle on his back. The bay there was easy, this here boy seems to have other ideas." He gave the dun a light smack on the rump, though it was more with affection and amusement than any real anger. "I suppose it gives me something to do while I wait for my uncle, though I'd like to finishing tacking him up before he gets here." Don reached up and scratched the back of his neck a bit sheepishly. "T'would be a bit embarrasin' if he saw me having trouble." He glanced over at Emera and studied her for a moment while he scooped the ground-fallen saddle up and draped it over the fence.

"Do you come around here often? I haven't seen you before." He propped himself up against the saddle with his arm. There weren't any women as old as she in the small cothold he lived in, most of them died before they reached their fifties, but she looked to be just around that age, maybe even older. "Is there anything you need? Looking for someone? I know most people in the village here, not as many as my uncle, Robithin, but I get around. Being the main hunters here at least makes us known by everyone else." He brushed a bit of horse hair off the shoulder of his leather vest. Today he was wearing a long sleeved shirt made of light fabric. He didn't want to burn on the ride to the hold after all. "unfortunately I can't stay for long to help you, uncle and I are headed out to the hold for some business."

The dun stallion suddenly snorted and stomped a hoof as if to say 'I'm still here you know!' Donerin did well to ignore him though, and the horse puffed in annoyance and pawed at the ground. "Oh now you want to be payed attention to, well you'll have to wait. There's a lady here and she takes priority over you." Though Don would have, of course, given the same courtesy to anyone, man or woman.

[Ise]

“Some runners like being buttered up. They have just as much personality as people do after all. And I’m sure you’ll find a way to finish getting that runner ready, you seem like a capable young man.”
Emera came a little closer but kept her distance, she didn’t want to spoke the runners and make Donerin’s job any harder. She also wasn’t sure how he would react to her being there once he found out why she was there.

“I come by this area once a turn or so. But I have never visited your house before. This is a special case. And I’ll try not to take up too much of your time.”
The elder woman stood straight and tall as she gave Donerin a look over, sizing him up. Tall, good sized boy, yes the Weyr could always use people like that. And a hard worker from the sounds of it, one that took his responsibilities seriously.

“My name is Emera. I’m the Headwoman of Refuge Weyr. A few days ago a blue rider spoke to you about becoming a candidate for the upcoming clutch. I was hoping I could get the chance to speak with you a little and convince you to take up the offer. Regardless of whether you stand on the sands or not, we could use someone like you. If you’re one of the main hunters here then you clearly have skills in stealth and tracking. We have people who could hone those skills and make you even better. And we could always use more hunters, ones that don’t end up slobbering all over the meat.”

[ichigo]

Donerin gave a polite nod to Emera when she complimented him before straightening up and slipping his arms beneath the fenced saddle and hoisting it up. He managed to take the stallion by surprise and get the saddle on and the cinch done before it could even think about sucking its breath in. The horse snorted and looked at him in surprise. "Well then," Don patted the horse's flank. "Looks like I beat you on that one didn't I big boy?" He listened as Emera spoke, and was surprised that she said visiting him was a special case. "Really now? This'll be interesting." He couldn't help but tense up when she straightened up and began studying him. Well now whatever was that for? He met her gaze cooly and warningly, not that an old woman could hold much threat over him.

"My name is Emera. I’m the Headwoman of Refuge Weyr." Oh, well that sort of old woman could hold threat over him. He listened to her spiel about the weyr and the bluerider, silently bridling the horse, which, now saddled, was much more agreeable. When she finished he remained silent for a while. Before he finally spoke the only sound was that of him sucking in air through his nose and releasing it with a heavy sigh. He made sure the bridle was done well before turning towards Emera again. "Look. I know I didn't get off very well with that bluerider to begin with. So I'm going to assume he sent you instead of coming to finish the conversation he started." Don let that hang in the air for a moment.

"Though that was probably a good idea, I don't like no rottin' beast stealing my kill. Though I got it back, that's besides the point." He turned towards the horse and brushed some dirt from under its saddle pad he had missed earlier. "I've got a perfectly good life here with my uncle, I thought I had already made that clear to that rider." He turned back towards Emera once again. "Many of the people in this village rely on me to provide them with meat. There aren't many other young boys to fill that position, as many of them have already been taken away on search for previous hatchings, or gone off for other crafts, or simply aren't interested in hunting. This here is my home, and everyone here my family in a way." He let the meaning of that sink in for a moment before continuing. "I know you all are about protecting everyone, but if I go it will just be about protecting my family. And then there's no guarantee that I'll stay, even if I do get a Dragon. I don't much like the authority that the Weyrs put their Riders under, even the Holds for that matter, and before I make any decisions ya'll at the Weyr need to know that. And if I did end up staying I'd be making frequent trips back here, Dragon or not. My responsibilities are first and foremost to my family here, especially my uncle, and no one at the Weyr is going to change that." He thought himself finished, but then he quickly added "Not even a Dragon." Now it wasn't as if he'd neglect added duties that becoming a Dragonrider would add, if, of course, he chose to go down that path and a Dragon even deemed him suitable as a bond-mate, but he had other obligations that were just as, if not more so, important than tramping around like a bee in a hive.

[Ise]

“No, the rider didn’t come because I told him to stay put. I don’t need two boys getting into a pissing match on who’s better then the other. I’m a busy woman with a Weyr to take care of.”
Emera was not the kindly old lady who sat around knitting socks for people. She had little time to get everything ready for the hatching, one that was bound to be large. She didn’t have time to sugar coat things for people who were old enough to understand what was going on. She would give Donerin the benefit of the doubt and assume his education had been less the perfect, but he was still from the South. When Thread fell, no one would be safe without the dragon riders. She was respectful though and allowed him to ramble on a bit, nodding a little at some of his points. It was noble of him to want to protect his family after all, selfish but noble.

“I understand that you want to keep your family safe, that’s what dragon riders do. Only they see all of Pern as their family. No one is going to force you to come to the Weyr or stand on the sands. A dragon saw potential in you, that doesn’t mean you’d get a dragon. But do tell me, what are you going to do to help your family out when death rains from the sky? When all your crops die as Thread burrows into the ground? When all the game runs away to try and find a safe place? How will your arrows help anyone then?”
She gave him a moment to think about that before folding her hands behind her back.

“If you do come to the Weyr and try to Impress, you will have to submit yourself to some of our rules. Not forever but keep the dragons safe is more important then your dislike of authority. Without the dragons, Pern will die. And if you get your dragon killed or maimed at such an early age it’s likely to scar you mental quite badly. Coming to the Weyr to stand at a hatching is not a decision to be made lightly. Many people do not have what it takes to be a rider. Being bonded to a dragon is not like having a pet, it’s a far deeper experience then that.”

[ichigo]

Don could tell that the woman was already growing impatient with him, though it didn't really bother him, he was a bit irked at how her words suggested he would be useless to help his family when Thread fell. It was an admirable attempt, but if anything it would just make him more stubborn to prove that he would be of use to the immediate people in the small village. "If you're trying to make me feel like I'd be useless unless I'm part of the Weyr, it ain't working." He turned back to the horses once again, moving over to the bay geldling in order to double check its tack to make sure everything was in order. He also knew that a Dragon was not something to be taken lightly, which was part of the reason why he was taking his time about making a decision, he grunted and cast a stung glare at Emera.

"And you think I don't know all that? I know most boys jump outta their knickers at the chance to stand for a Dragon. I'm sorry if I disappoint, but I know there's more to it than glory and fame." Don pulled a brush out of his nearby tack box and began to brush down the bay's flanks once more and beneath the saddle, just to give him something to do. He hated standing still during tense conversations. "Having a Dragon interests me, an' I know they aren't just simple pets either. They're living, breathing creatures with minds of their own. I know that much from the run-in I had with that rider's Blue. If they weren't it would have eaten my quarry anyways, no matter my threat." And whatever made her think that he'd willing drag a young Dragon into danger like she seemed to believe he would do? He certainly wasn't behaving violently, and he didn't have any ill will towards the Dragons. If anything he admired them, though that part may have not been all too obvious. Don sighed heavily. He supposed the people from the Weyr, especially the higher ranking ones, were used to people ducking and weaving around them like one wrong move would get them stuck mucking out dirty stalls for the rest of their life, or sweeping floors. "I've got my reasons for taking so long with my decision. Like I said, I've already got responsibilities here, and havin' a Dragon would only add to those, as I don't intend to just give them up. Bondin' to a Dragon ain't an excuse to tell yer folks and those who depend on you 'sorry, I can't help you anymore.'"

Don brushed his hand against the flank of the bay once more before digging into the tack box to pull out a tool in order to clean the brush, which he did while leaning against the fence. "I don't want to seem... what's the word..." he paused for a moment, trying to get his wording right. "I suppose you may already get the idea... but I ain't like a lot of boys my age. I take my life very seriously ma'am, and bonding to a Dragon would be a very big life changing decision, something I don't want to take lightly and possibly regret. I mean, i can't possibly understand what having a Dragon a like, but I can guess." He offered her a lopsided smile, a gesture which made his face look more his age. "I'm grateful for the opportunity, I really am. I'm just no sure if Weyr life is the thing for me, though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to spend a few days there before the hatching while I make up my mind. There's some things I need to do first though here. I don't like leaving obligations hanging half-finished. As soon as my uncle is done in the house," He raised his voice pointedly on the last phrase and looked towards the small hut. What in Faranth's name was taking that man so long? "Then we'll be heading out to the Hold to take care of some business. You're welcome to come along if you're heading back that way, our friends surely wouldn't mind lending you a horse."

[Ise]

“No, those outside of the Weyr as just as needed as those inside. But only the dragon riders are useful during Thread fall. A single man on his feet or on runner back can’t do much against Thread. Afterwards I’m sure you’ll be able to find plenty of things to do to keep yourself busy. None of this is meant to make you feel anything, just meant to make you think for a moment. How are you going to be able to help your family the most.”
His sullen gaze didn’t faze her, she had spent turns upon turns raising teenage weyrbrats. Those kids could teach Donerin how to glare at someone.

“Not everyone goes into a hatching looking for glory, many just want to do their duty . A majority of those who are searched will never Impress. And those who do Impress will most likely have a blue or a green. There are very few legends and stories about blue and green riders.”
The Headwoman stayed perfectly still, her hands still folded behind her back. Her eyes would glance to some bit of movement every now and there but her focus was always Donerin.
“Bonding to a dragon is far more then that. You’re not just taking care of another creature that can think. You’re taking care of another aspect of your own self. You share your mind and every part of yourself with them. You kill a rider, you kill the dragon. You kill a dragon and nine times out of ten the rider will suicide. A dragon is a life mate, an equal. And if you have the ‘luck’ of Impressing a high ranking dragon, they’re just as stubborn if not more stubborn then people.”

She watched his restless movements, letting him explain how he was different from other people his age. He was more mature then some of the boys at the Weyr which would be a nice change for once. And while he was stubborn about things he seemed to have a fairly good head on his shoulders. She half worried that even if he did Impress, he would be foolish and stick to some of his plans just to try and prove something. She also wondered how some of the others would deal with him. Of course after handling the Northerners Donerin couldn’t be much more difficult.
“Go to the Weyr and spend a few days there, talk to the riders. They’ll be able to give you a better idea of what you might be getting into and the responsibilities you’d be taking on.”

She glanced towards the house as Donerin raised his voice, trying to get his uncle’s attention before he offered her a chance to borrow a runner and return to the hold. She shook her head politely, glancing back the way she had come.
“Thank you but I’ll pass. The blue rider and his dragon are just up the road waiting for me. They didn’t want to frighten any beasts you have here by flying over to drop me off. But I don’t think they would be too happy to see me on the back of a runner at my age.”

[ichigo]

Don couldn't really find it in him to reply to anything the woman was saying. He had made his point, and she had made hers. He checked the tack on the runners once more before giving her a curt but polite nod. "I'm sorry ma'am. I had really better check on my uncle and make sure he hasn't dropped something on his head or something. He's a bit of a clutz sometimes." Which wasn't exactly true. Robithin wasn't a clutz, but it was the only polite excuse to get away that Donerin could think of. "And 'a course I'll stay at the Weyr for a few days, I already said I would." He dissapeared in to the house for a few minutes and then returned with his uncle trailing behind. Apparently Don had spoken to Robithin about the exchange, and the uncle gave Emera a smile and a small wave as a greeting before he stuffed his own supplies into the saddle bags of the runner he was going to ride.

"G'mornin Emera. I hear you've been talking with Donerin here. Well, I'll try to talk some sense into him. Don't you worry about that!" Then the man hopped up into the saddle of the runner he was to ride and gave a 'well hurry it up' look to Donerin. Don simply returned the look with a glare before swinging up and into the saddle of his own Runner.

"I suppose I'll be seeing you around at the Weyr then." Then he gave a 'hya!' and he set off down the road towards the hold, his uncle following behind after giving his own greeting.