Seached?!

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey. Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!

Searched?!

Hollerith decides that Chailyn needs to stand for Ladonyth and Cevodinioth's clutch.
Cast: Chailyn, F'gon, Macami, Channah, Jasmyn, Tania

Chailyn - Thursday, June 15, 2000, 7:50 AM
------------------------------------------

You amble out into the Weyr's Living Caverns.
Igen Weyr Living Cavern(#600RJMQ)
Igen's living cavern is an immense hollow in the volcanic caldera, stretching up two stories, the light of the glows and the hearth reflected in the quartz which peppers the swirled sandstone unique to this region. One hundred feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet long, the room could, and, as the social center of the weyr, often does, seat the entire weyr. Tapestries adorn the walls, depicting scenes from Pern's past. The head table sits upon a raised platform at the far eastern side of the room, in front of a huge fireplace which is continually burning.

A wide balcony overlooks the cavern, and large tunnels lead west out to the bowl, and south to the kitchens. A smaller tunnel leads off to the east, beyond which lay the inner caverns of the Weyr. A small doorway in the northern wall opens to the infirmary, and a quiet door to the northeast opens into the Records Room. In the corner one may +view a plaque.
Tables fill a good portion of the room. One can '+view' them at a glance, or get '+help places'.
Contents:
Taela
F'gon
Meal Table

F'gon smiles as he sips his klah, seated on a bench. "Hello Chailyn..." He smiles to Taela as well and nods.

Your location's current time: 10:59 on day 26, month 12, Turn 31, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter morning.

Taela shuffles into the Living Cavern. She moves toward the records room then stops, blinking, and glances around almost as if she is lost. She sighs softly, then salutes F'gon, albeit a bit sloppily. "Good day sir, miss." She nods to each of them.

F'gon smiles. "How are you, Chailyn?"

Chailyn comes into the caverns, brushing sweaty curls off her forehead. She heads for the serving table and juice, only then noticing F'gon and Taela as her name is spoken. She mms slightly. "Morning you two." Not really looking at the brownrider she shrugs slightly. "Oh, fine. How're you guys?"

F'gon smiles softly. "I'm doing fine. Just got back from a long day of Searching in the Telgar area. I'm just recharging before I go out again." He lifts his mug of klah as if pointing out the recharger.

Taela smiles, though it is a bit distracted. "Doing well, thanks." She glances around one more time, then heads out toward the bowl.

Taela walks out to the Bowl.
Taela has left.

Chailyn ohs. "How many eggs did she finaly clutch? I was too busy to see earlier."

F'gon smiles. "32. I win the pool on count, although I lose the gold/no gold pool..."

Chailyn pours herself some juice, and then wipes absently at her face with her apron. "Oh? Did she clutch a gold?"

F'gon nods. "Yep. A beatiful one...I can't wait to see who takes THAT one..." He chuckles. "Although I still haven't Searched any women. Hollerith just hasn't sniffed out any good ones yet."

F'gon says "But I brought Malent and Leelson in..."

F'gon loses his smile. "Shilarra is NOT going to be pleased, I'm guessing...

Chailyn shrugs. "T'al and I tried to tell him he couldn't run away from his problems. Just goes to show you that what goes around comes around."

F'gon nods. "Very true..." He sighs. "I'm really hoping I find some women at Telgar later. We need some good Candidates for that Gold. I'm just surprised we didn't find many folks here. We usually do." He pauses. "I'm still not too happy they gave me Telgar as my Search area..."

Chailyn arches her eyebrows. "Why?"

Chailyn blinks aftr a moment and then flushes. "Nevermind."

F'gon just smiles ruefully and nods.

Chailyn shrugs slightly. "Well, like I told Lee. You can't run from your problems. I'll stop by the barracks later and say hello to him."

F'gon nods and stands. "Well, I'm off to Telgar..."

F'gon grabs his walking stick and goes to limp out. Just as he does a dark form appears in the doorway, nearly blocking it. Its a brown draconic snout.

The maw opens slightly and a loud bugle sends everyone covering their ears in the Living Cavern. That was LOUD. Then the maw moves away to be replaced by an eye. It is whirling green...looking into the cavern, as soft warbling noises can be heard from the brown draconic throat.

F'gon nearly bumps into the dragon. "Holly, will you get out of the way? I'm COMING..."

F'gon pauses. Then says, "No, really?"

Chailyn drops her mug on her feet, splashing juice on her from head to toe. "Shells! Looks like Hollerith's impatient to be off, F'gon." She grimaces a bit and starts brushing at her hair and face.

A soft warbling is heard as the green eye moves off of F'gon...and looks right at Chailyn.

F'gon chuckles and turns. "Well, Chailyn, Holly has good taste..." He just looks at her for a long moment.

F'gon smiles as both Rider and Dragon (peering in from outside), just LOOK at Chailyn. After a pause he says. "Guess I'm not going to Telgar today." Infuriating, isn't he.

Chailyn mops her face with her apron, grimacing a bit. "I'll need a bath - I've starching this afternoon. and the last thing I want to do is be sticky all over *and* stiff." Her tone is rueful. She pats at the juice dribbling down from her hair. "Why? Sounds like he's ready to be off."

F'gon chuckles again. "No, Chailyn....you really don't understand, do you. Well..."

F'gon straightens and says, formally, to the girl, "Chailyn, on behalf of Igen Weyr, her Riders and her Dragons, I formally request your presence on the Sands at Igen Weyr. Will you accept the honor of being an Igen Weyr Candidate?" You can HEAR the capital letters.

Chailyn just gives F'gon a look. "Oh don't. It's not funny. I'm too old to be a candidate." Her tone is rather matter of fact, and she continues cleaning herself up, and stoops to retrieve the mug.

F'gon limps over and reaches down and stands Chailyn up. He looks right in her eyes. "Chailyn, I'm not kidding. I'
m being VERY serious."

F'gon says "This is Search...You are being Searched, Chailyn. Do you accept?"

You sense F'gon looks right in your eyes...all mirth gone, all humor gone. VERY serious...and caring.

Chailyn looks around the mostly empty caverns. "Are you sue he doesn't want one of the drudges or something?" The mug dangles from her fingers. "I don't believe it." She asserts firmly, "How does he know it's me, and not someone in the kitchens or something?"

F'gon chuckles. "Chailyn, please...be serious...this is HOLLERITH. He has Searched some of the top Riders in the history of this Weyr!!! He says its you. He means you. Now ill you please just tell me if you want this or not? You don't HAVE to stand, you COULD decline the honor if you want..."

Chailyn clasps the mug to her, not really thinking about it. She looks at F'gon for a few moments, blue eyes skeptical. Then she looks past him to that waiting green eye again and chews on her lower lip. "He really is sure." She is quiet a moment longer - she's going to wear a hole in her lip if she keeps that up. "I... I guess so."

The green eye and the maw pull back from the doorway, satisfied.

Macami comes in from the Bowl.
Macami has arrived.

Jasmyn comes in from the Bowl.
Jasmyn has arrived.

Channah comes in from the Bowl.
Channah has arrived.

Jasmyn grins, shaking her head. "Silly dragons.. Since when did Hollerith miss you so much, F'gon that he was pining at the door for you?"

Channah bounds in, giving the distinction impression of someone wanting to explode, but she settles for a loud, "Hi!" instead.

Macami walks into the Living Cavern, Channah in tow. "You'll be staying in the barracks, and there's candidate coordinators looking after you guys, Julanna and Iris." She waves to F'gon and Chailyn with a smile, then passes through to the Inner Caverns.

Macami strides through the passageway into the Inner Caverns.
Macami has left.

Channah waves to Chailyn and F'gon as she trots after Macami.

Channah strides through the passageway into the Inner Caverns.
Channah has left.

Chailyn watches the bounding and Macami passing through with a bit of dismay, perhaps already rethinking this. Still chewing on her lower lip, she looks back to Jasmyn with a faint frown.

F'gon chuckles. "He was pining for Chailyn...."

Jasmyn grins. "Oh really now?"

F'gon looks at Chailyn. "Welcome as a Candidate, Chailyn." He smiles.

You sense F'gon looks at you with a glint of happiness in his eyes.

Jasmyn grins and winks at Chailyn. "Oh my!" Her standard phrase in the last two days since the clutch. "Oh my indeed! Wonderful news! If you will excuse me? I have some business at Tillek, a rocking runner I have to pick up from a seaman."

F'gon says "Well, Chailyn, Go get your bags from the Dorm...you're moving...I'll meet you in the Inner Caverns. Even though you live here, you have to rush and pack up, as we don't give people outside the Weyr any more time than that." He winks. "Go on."

Jasmyn walks out to the Bowl.
Jasmyn has left.

Chailyn looks oh so terribly excited about the prospect too. "I have to move into the barracks?" Her tone holds a hint of dismay.

F'gon chuckles. "Yes, you do, Chailyn. Everyone does. And just think...starting tomorrow...CHORES!" He winks. "Its boot camp, Chailyn. We all went through it."

Chailyn's lips thin faintly. "Faranth's knees." She turns towards the entrance and says, "Hollerith, you know, I may never forgive you for this." She's only half serious, however, and turns towards the caverns to get her things. "I guess I better get started to get a decent cot."

F'gon grins.

F'gon says "I'll meet you in the Inner Caverns."

You stride through the passageway into the Inner Caverns.
Inner Caverns(#310RJ)

Macami comes out from the Candidates' Barracks.
Macami has arrived.

Channah comes out from the Candidates' Barracks.
Channah has arrived.

Channah bounds out, looking for all the world like a puppy that just discovered balls.

Macami waves to Chailyn as she stands there in the Inner Caverns. "Hi there." Once again she has Channah trailing after her.

F'gon strides in from the Living Caverns.
F'gon has arrived.

Channah says cheerfully, "Hi!"

Chailyn is hauling along a duffle, and she smiles wanly at Macami and Channah. While Channah may be the picture of excitement, Chailyn is anything but. "Hi, Macami. And hello there."

Macami arches her brows. "Anything wrong, Chailyn?" She seems rather bouncy herself.

F'gon grins. "Right this way, Chailyn" He says to her, pointing to the Candidates' Barracks.

Chailyn's smile turns a trifle wry. "Depends on how you look at things, Macami." She nods to F'gon, and then starts to head on into the barracks.

Channah puts the two marks together and says, "Oh wow are you a Candidate too? That's so amazing!"

Channah says to Macami helpfully, "She is so great at listening to people, you should see her at it."

Macami tilts her head and sighs somewhat. "Right now she looks like she needs someone who will listen to her, you know."

Chailyn wrinkles her nose lightly at Channah, though these words do produce a slight smile. "Thanks." Then she disappears into the barracks.

You stride into the Candidates' Barracks.

Candidates' Barracks(#309RAJL)
This cavern is slightly smaller than the inner cavern, and seems to hold in it the breathless anticipation of a history of hundreds of Candidates. The warm red sandstone is inviting, and a few tapestries hang here and there, depicting scenes of the hopes of the youths who stay here: dragons. Cots line the walls, and a few chairs and a comfortable rug sit in the middle, for an evening chat about weyrlife or a whispered conversation speculating who will be chosen by the inhabitants of the eggs on the Sands.
The opening to the south leads to the Inner Cavern.
Contents:
Candidate Information

F'gon strides in from the hallway.
F'gon has arrived.

F'gon smiles softly. "Pick a cot, any cot that isn't taken, Chailyn....drop your stuff off, and I'll go over the rules.

Chailyn nods to F'gon, rather subdued, and then heads through the barracks, dropping off her stuff on one of the cots next to Tania's. She doesn't bother with stowing anything just yet, instead looking back to the brownrider. "Rules. Right."

*Hissssss* comes from the cot Tania is fast asleep on... it's not the woman, of course.. but that wher... she's such a sweety, you know... just her little way of saying hello.. of course!

F'gon nods. "The Rules are you have to listen to the Candidates Coordinator. You'll get some chores to do as well, just like you have as a Resident. Some of those duties will be the same. Others will be training on Weyrling dragons, just in case..."

F'gon says "You are not allowed to leave the Weyr for any reason unless accompanied by an IGEN dragonrider...not just any dragonrider...and even then you need permission of the Candidate Coordinators or another leader of Wingleader or higher rank..."

F'gon says "That's about it, Chailyn..."

F'gon pauses in his enthusiasm. "You look so upset, Chailyn...what IS it? Aren't you HAPPY?"

Chailyn folds her arms. The 'just in case' really doesn't look like it phases her terribly much. Then at this last, her face falls faintly. "Not even to go to the bubbly fest?" She shrugs slightly. "I'm too *old* to impress, F'gon. I really think Hollerith's made a mistake is all."

"Shut up Perty.." that is the woman, Tania, this time, not the wher sport. She's sitting up now, looking wide awake. "Too old? Who's too old?"

F'gon raises an eyebrow. "Um, Chailyn...I've seen men almost thirty turns old Impress....

F'gon looks over at Tania. "Hello. F'gon, RIder of Brown Hollerith."

Chailyn mumbles something about men, age and candidates. Then she looks to Tania, brow furrowing as she evidently places the face, just not the name. "I'm Chailyn. I work in th... Oh. Well, I guess I don't anymore."

F'gon chuckles softly. He leans over and kisses Chailyn on the forehead before she can stop him. "You'll do great Chailyn. Every Candidate Holly has EVER Searched has Impressed....Ever...he picks well." He grins and limps out, very happy about something.

F'gon wends his way out to the Inner Caverns.
F'gon has left.

Chailyn looks after F'gon, dismayed. "Now *why'd* he have to say something like that!"

Tania quirks a brow at F'gon, then smiiles and pulls the young whersport into her lap. "Tania.. I hunted at Telgar.." she trails off as F'gon leaves, tehn chuckles to Chailyn. "Well met?" she watches after the rider, grinning "He's a bit of a flirt.." turning back to the woman, she giggles. "Hey.. maybe it's true!"

Chailyn sinks down onto the cot. "And I'll be the first to break his wonderful streak." She frowns faintly. "And I know he's a flirt." My, can we say a trifle touchy where the subject of this brownrider is concerned. Then she relaxes into a resigned smile. "Sorry. Well met. Let's just say, when I came out for a break today, this was the *last* thing I was expecting."

PST