Too hot to trot...literally (Searchriders needed)

[Hrsegrl]

Upper Igen was known for being hot and hard to travel in because of the sandiness of the soil. Somehow Heshanen's family had been trading in Upper Igen for more generations than they could remember. His father was certain that his eldest son would carry on after him but Heshanen continually disappointed him. Today, hotter by far than the days before, he sent Heshanen ahead to scout the land for a place to stop. They did not usually stop except just before sundown. However, deadlines were not as important as keeping livestock and people alive. It was much too hot today to keep going.

Heshanen's own runner who usually made running in the sand look like nothing, was having trouble. The sweat ran off the shining gold coat. His white mane was plastered to the well muscled neck beneath it. His nostrils were foaming from the heat and his chest was lathered in sweat and foam. While Heshanen had found the shade just fine and a place to water his runner, it was not a good situation making the runner go back out into that heat. He let him rest for bit but as he urged the runner back out into the sun and the heated sands, he faltered. The golden horse snorted and got himself going again. By the time the caravan of traders was in sight, the horse was spent and Heshanen himself felt he had not seen shade or felt cool water run down his throat in turns.

He was clothed so that his head was covered and the layers he wore proved protection from the sun as best they could. Heshanen was a strong young man despite his pretty face and he took these sorts of missions from his father very seriously. As he rode up to the caravan, barely holding on to his own horse his father stopped beside him.

"How far son?"

" Two candlemarks at this speed at best. I'm not sure I can make it back any faster than this either. The heat gets worse when you get about half way there. When finally I saw it, the oasis seemed a mirage to my watery eyes. It might be better to go our normal route." The youth managed to keep his voice though he felt it could crack at any moment. He should not have gone so quickly. Now it would make no difference and he would have to keep up with everyone, knowing his runner and himself were exhausted.

Of course his father was going to stick to what he knew. The point of sending Heshanen out had never been to find the oasis. He knew where that was, it had been to teach him a lesson for being an ungrateful son this morning. Heshanen knew this now as they continued back to the usual road. He slumped in the saddle, huggin the runner with his thighs. His brother smiled encouragingly to him but said nothing. Sriebeno knew better than to talk about anything that went on between Hesh and father. As he looked over at him, Heshanen noticed on odd shadow on the ground, immediately causing him to look up.

"Dragons..." He whispered to his brother. Both were now looking up. In the sun it was hard to discern colors but certainly they were on Search to be out in the middle of nowhere. It was sriebeno's dream to get Searched and Heshanen had promised to go with him if he went. The pessimist in Heshanen told him the dragons would not stop here to see anyone. Sriebeno's thoughts were just the opposite which was apparent by the wide smile on the other boys face.

[DreamerLady]

Honestly, O'bej didn't understand why they had to fly straight, instead of Betweening right to the Hold or Cothold they needed. Of course, he was aware that Riders needed to scout as to have good jumping landmarks when it came to fighting Thread, but they had Rider's to do that duty. Or at least, they generally did. To be honest, in Telgar, most Rider's just shared Jump points with others, and there was no need to Scout. There wasn't an inch of Telgar or Crom that hadn't been seen by half the Riding population at one point or another, and the rest of Pern could be covered through the same system.

Unfortunately, they didn't have any Igen Riders, so that wouldn't work here.

It didn't stop O'bej from whining to Dev mentally about how much this Search Riding was a horrible waste of their time, which could be much better spend where it wasn't sweaty and miserable.

And Dev answered his Rider with commiseration, well aware that if his true feelings where revealed he would have to deal with more whining from his Rider. He wasn't skilled at deception, and kept his responses to O'bej short, and soft. Really, Dev was exceedingly excited to be out, flying, and in the company of two Greens.

Especially Yari, who was his best companion just like she'd been forever, and who made everything look like fun. And Jemth who seemed like a nice enough Green.

Thus, he was tired, and knew he'd be sore later, but Flying straight wasn't a problem yet. And that was when he spotted the caravan.

Look He announced brightly to the Greens and his Rider. Holders! Should we stop and Search them?

[Eisu]

O’sarl had been delighted at the prospect of getting out of lessons for several days. Of course he was more apt and willing to attend lessons than his younger brother was, but who wouldn’t have the preference of searchriding over drills, especially in this heat?

Comfortable on his Yarith, O’sarl was leaned back with a damp cloth in his hand he was continuously wetting his face and neck with. At the announcement passed to him from Dev, he sat up correctly in his harness and leaned over his beautiful greens neck.

“By golly, I think it’s a traders caravan. Crazy to be out in the desert here, I wasn’t expecting to find anyone till we got to the border land.” Looking back up at O’bej, he waved to catch his attention then pointed to the caravan he was sure his dragon already pointed out to him – as a signal that they should stop.

[sarah15554]

Airy turned toward O'bej and smiled as he said they should stop she herself was tired but she was looking forward to finding some candidates to bring back to the weyr.

Airy and jemth landed and she smile to herself as she waited for the other to join her.

jemth turned to her and purred there ids someone here that would make a great candidate but im not really sure where they are Airy's smiled faded as she turned toward her dragon are you sure about that, if you are then it's a good thing we stoped here Jemth purred and then told the other dragons about the good feeling she had about the place they were at now.

[Hrsegrl]

Heshanen and his brother still watching the dragons both almost simultaneosly gasped as the dragons began to descend. Sriebeno was looking expectantly at Heshanen when the older boy noticed the caravan was still moving. Had no one else seen? Although his runner was more tired it was his job to deal with father and he knew how important this was for his brother. The fullfillment of a dream. "Father!" He shouted as he neared the head of the caravan. "Father! Look!" The older man stopped and looked where Heshanen had pointed. "Dragonriders on Search. We should stop." He added to his father. Now his runner would get the chance to rest too.

The caravan had stopped but not because of what his father had or had not said. Everyone was now watching the dragons descend. Two lithe greens and what looked to be a brown, from this distance. No blues? He thought to himself. From what he knew of dragons, which was not really all that much, was blues were the best at searching. Maybe greens were just as gifted but not talked about? Just as well. He dismounted from his worn out runner and led him back towards his brother. The runner was not going to be ignored though and insisted on snorting and nickering to all the other runners he passed. "How did I end up with a runner who wants to be the center of all attention around here?"

"Because father wanted you to have the hardest one to deal with on a daily basis." Sriebeno answered with a grin. "Or was it the handsomest horse for his handsome son." The brothers laughed because though Heshanen had the looks of the family, their father did not value that as a good thing. Beauty was wasted on dimglows. Heshanen had no dreams of running this caravan, anymore than he had dreams of riding a dragon. He often thought there must be more to life but he couldn't fathom just how much more there was to be had.

[DreamerLady]

O'bej, grumbling less at the idea of stopping, and resting in the shade(Meaning of course, the shade his dragon would create once they landed), also moved his arm the in motion that signified landing. He really didn't know much about herdbeasts and runners, but figured a few dozen yards of space in between the animals and the dragons would be a good idea. O'bej might have been a Weyrbred boy of many generations, but that didn't mean he didn't know that Runners were, usually, not levelheaded at all.

Dev, tell the Greens to land on the wide part of the road in front of the Holders. Remember, animals are dumb, and you are large. O'bej instructed. Aim to land in front of them, too. We're a bit more imposing than our Green friends. So he wanted to be first. Sometimes, even the lax and lazy wanted to be noticed. And Dev was large, and a very nice shade of Brown. He'd make a good impression on these Holders.

Yarith, Jemth, we are all to land on the part of the road that is large. We are not to be scary, because they have beasts that are silly. Then, very carefully, Dev landed softly at the beginning of the wide spot in the road, not wanting to get too sandy at this point.

After he folded his wings in, O'bej unbuckled, and slide off his Brown, waving at the Holder group, and wanting for his two other wingmates to arrive, and stand next to him.

[Hrsegrl]

The heat from the desert and his long ride earlier no longer troubled him. It may not have been his dream to be a dragonrider but it was still awing to see them fly and land. They were amazing creatures and the men who rode them were equally cherished by the people. Protectors of Pern. His brother would fit in well with them. He wasn't about to risk his neck for a bunch of people who cared only for themselves. The dark haired boy urged his runner towards the approaching riders. His brother followed him stopping at his shoulder. Their father was already on his way over and was at Heshanen's side within moments.

"Greetings Dragonriders. What can we interest you in today? Would you like some water?" He turned to the woman on his right who immediately went back to the wagons and brought two skins of water. "I'm afraid you'll have to share one of them." He tossed the skins to the two dragonriders who were closest. The man cared little about who they were, so long as they weren't theives. They didn't have the look of hard men and women.

Heshanen wondered if they were here on Search or if all they wanted was something to drink. It wouldn't suprise him in this heat. That was probably all it was. No point getting hopes up over something so small. It wasn't like he'd be going anywhere. Sriebeno might but he would not be able to leave the caravan if father had any say in it. Following his brother to the Weyr was a childish fancy that he was not going to live out. What would be at the Weyr for him anyway? Nothing.