Humble Beginings (All Joiner)

ALana held her hand over her face, blocking out the sun. What a fine day it was. And today was THE day. She put her other hand onto the giant golden leg next to her. "Today is the day Essaith, were moving into Cobalt!"

She breathed in a long breath of the fresh Istan air as a great shadow went over her, blocking out the sun. She put both hands onto the giant muzzle that had been placed before her. "The last of the workmen left yesterday, and everyone has been informed about the meeting before we go"

>>So the meeting starts now, my chosen?<< The great hed nudged Alana gently. "Yes Essaith, the meeting starts now"

The great golden Queen laid down gently, holding her forarm up to act as a step for her rider. Alana climped up her Queens leg, grabing her riding straps and volting up onto Essaiths back. SHe staped herself into the harness, carful not to miss any buckles, and grabed the hand holds a little further down Essaiths golden neck.

With an unspoken cue, the great golden queen left her emptyed weyr, flying off above the bowl of Ista weyr. Climbing higher and higher, Alana shifted her flight goggles over her eyes so she could see. She looked down as they neared the meeting spot; a large cliff about a half mile from the weyr.

As Essaith gently landed, Alana removed her goggles again, and sat waiting for the others who were comming across today.

Z'ek spotted Alana below him as Zenath circled above her and Essiath. >>Shall we land?<< "Yes."
Zenath circled onece more and then landed garcefully a few dragonlengths from Essiath and Alana. Z'ek hopped off as soon as they landed. Flipping up his flight goggles, he walked at a brisk pace and stood beside his Weyrmate. "Alana."He said and nodded hello. "The others aren't too far behind me."
Zenath walked over to Essiath and nodded respectfully. >>Essiath.<< He then stood to her right to wait for the other riders.

Alana looked up at her Weyrmate, a huge smile on her face. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, making sure no other riders were in sight first. "Its all happening" Her voice showed all the exitement she was feeling "Our years of hard work if finaly paying off!"

Essaith nudged Zenath >>Do you want a scratch?<< She was feeling affectionate, and the best was to show that emotion was by giving her mate a good scratch on the withers. A Mutual scratch, or cource.

Z'ek leaned over and kissed Alana again happily. He rested his arm gently on her shoulders and huged her tight before looking expectantly at the sky for their riders.
>>Always if it's you offering.<< Zenath replied affectionately to Essiath. She rubbed his withers and when she paused, he reached over and bgan rubbing hers.

P'alo circled the cliff where his weyrleaders stod. He had arrived just in time to see Z'ek plant a kiss on Alana. They made a great team, and would be exelent weyrleaders, he thought.

He silently signled to Priloth to go down, and the cheecky Ivory folded his wings and droped into a fast dive, pulling up within just meaters of the ground.

Landing hard a few dragonlengths from Essaith and Zenath, P'alo pulled off his goggles and smiled. "Sorry about that" he unbuckled himself and jumped down, again landing hard, and walked over to the weyrleader and weyrwoman.

"Gie and Ri-Ri left just after me, they'll be here any minute now" He smirked as he watched Priloth stride up to Essaith and begin scratch her rump.

Nikita picked up her Ragdoll Sassy and rubbed her affectionately. She then set both her and Smudge in an animal crate for the shipride. "I'm sorry babies, but we're going to our new home."She said gently as the cats protested. Finally she got them in and shut the top.
Nikta walked back to her small bed and bureau and started packing her things. She didn't have much. She got a little carry case from underneath her bed and pulled open a droor to pack her cats' things. Quickly, Nikita packed the cat treats she bought every now and then for her cats and their cat food. Then she set it beside the animal crate and went to get her own things.
Nikita fumbled around in the top droor and came out with a runnertail tie, her toothbrush, and her hairbrush. She set them in a pocket of another bag and then shut the droor.
Pulling open another droor, she pulled out her undergarments and her impression robes and put them neatly into the large bag.
She then pulled out a white short-sleeved shirt, a black short-sleeved shirt, and 2 pair of tunnelsnake hide pants and set them also in her bag.
She moved to yet another another droor and pulled out a pair of tunnelsnake hide shorts, a pair of black cotton shorts and set them in the bag. From he same droor, she pulled out a medium length skirt, and a long, ankle length skirt she had been given and put them in the bag.
Next, Nikita pulled out the last of her clothing; a long, flowy dress thta hung loosely and went down to her ankles, and a short, tight-fitting black dress for special occasions, a thick wherriehide jacket and a light leather jacket for winter and fall. She tossed them in and then grabbed her sandals and set them in.
She slipped on her usual shoes and grabbed the last of her things; a tiny bag with some makeup in it, and a little silver bracelet, necklace and earrings for very special occasions.
Finally Nikita ws ready to go. She set the bag beside the others and slung her leather carry-bag with a few marks in it over her shoulder.

"Greetings P'alo. Is your Apprentice Callie on the way?"He asked and followed the rider's gaze to see Zenath glaring at Priloth.

>>Ah-hem.<<Zenath nipped at Priloth and shoved himself between Essiath and the Ivory, then reached back over and nuzzled Essiath in an afectionate but show-offy way.

Opal was almost reayd to board the ship. She was so excited to finally go to her new home. Quickly, she packed the rest of her things and went out into the hall to see Nikita standing there waiting for the now-befriended other candidates with her stuff. Opal hauled all her stuff outside into the fresh air beside the temporary female candidate camp. She turned around just as Nikita hauled her's out beside Opal's and then they both sat down on the grass to wait fr the others. None of the boys had gathered yet.

Alana was flooded with an amused feeling, clearly Essaith was enjoying being argued over, even in a one sided argument. She smiled happily and cuddled up to her mate.

Essaith purred at the fact that Zenath was being so Jealous. She streched out her long tail and flirtachusly ran it along Priloths hunches. She loved making Zenath jealous.

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Priloth grunted at the larger bronze, he was in no way big enough to chanlenge him for Essaiths affection. He walked a few dragonlengths away, into a patch of sun, and laid down.

P'alo grined. "She should be here any time now, Z'ek"

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Ri-Ri and Gie flew along the clouds to the meeting place. They had taken a detour to feed Irilith and Ebith, but had now caught up an circles the cliff, a beacon for any other latecommers. Their dragons could keep them informed of what was being said below.

Ebith barked to the larger dragons below them, announcing their arrival.
She spoke to Zenath. >>We stay here, keep lookout. Do keep us informed sweety<< She always called younger dragons that, and most never objected.

Eva stood in her room, packing the last of her things. Musnt miss the boat, she thaught to herself. She packed the last of her clothes and priceless medical instruments and began carting them out into the weyrbowl.

As she packed them into a crate, she was met by the two bronze weyrhandlers who were to help her drag her belongings to the boat. Their bulking male whers were happily standing in the sunshine, as they had been trained to ware light-flitering Hoods that protected their eyes.

She watched as they were straped in harnesses and hooked up to her crate... it was kind of sad that her whole life could be packed into one crate.

As the huge whers strained and pulled away her crate, she walked alongside them.

When they got to the meeting point, her stuff was loaded onto a large, flat cart that the wherhandlers were loading everyones baggage onto to take to the ships. She went and sat down next to the candidate Girls.

>>Alright, thank you Ebith. Nothings going on except waiting for the others. It'' only you guys, Z'ek and I, Priloth*twerp, he muttered under his breath* and P'alo, and Alana and Essiath right now.<<Zenath moved even closer to Essiath and nuzzled her again and began scratching her withers once more. However, he still had one eye on that annoyign little Ivory.
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"Alright land. I'm heading in, wait for me outside."Callie directed Aliath before they dropped into a nosedive. >>Okay see you and the new girls in a minute.<<Aliath settled down in a sunny patch and started snoring quietly. Callie headed into the temporary barracks, unnoticed by the girls on the other side of the barracks. Callie peered into a room and saw a little girl packing. She stepped inside and said, "Excuse me are you Annabelle?"
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Maryalice and Kevin landed together on the cliff beside P'alo. "Z'ek, Alana."They both said after they hopped off. Their Brown and Guildeds walked over to Essiath and Zenath and nodded respectfully and taking their places bewtween Priloth and Zenath. Tesisaeonisonith, the Guilded, took her place between Priloth and Kokoraith, her Brown mate and started scratching his withers. Kokoraith was bewteen his mate and the soon-to arrive Alpha Wingleader Bronze. "Have our childen arrived yet?"Maryalice asked.
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Heather carried all her stuff out to where the other candidates where. She set her stuff down and sat down beside her friends as all the other female and male candidates came out with their stuff and sat down as well.

Triston and Tessiath landed quietly beside the others. "Just me mom. Callie had to go get the little Copperrider."He answered his mother's question. His Bronze walked over and nodded to his superiors and settled himself between Kokoraith and Zenath.
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"Oh hey Eva."Heather said as the healer Evangeline sat beside her.
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"Are you all packed?"Jasmine asked from the other side of Eva.

Annabelle called Beth to lay on her bed next to her carry case and started to dig out some of her mothers old clothes she thought might fit and all of her other clothes."Achoo" Beth sneezed. All of the dust off Annabelle's clothes was on top of Beth. She folded her clothes and put them into her carry case. She chucked some teddies and pictures in and zipped it up.
"Pearl, Jemma" Annabelle called her Ragdoll and Black cats.She put them into a little crate, and told Beth to go into her crate.

"Excuse me are you Annabelle?"
Annabelle looked up. "Yes, are you the rider who is here to collect me?"

Tessiath walked away from Cody and went to sit between Priloth and Tesisaeonisonith. He greeted the others and settled down to rest while waiting.
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Percy bundled all his stuff and his pets a few feet from the girls stuff and sat down with them while his felow male candidates did the same. "Hey Eva!"He said happily to the healer. "Do you need any help with any of your healing stuff?"

Eva responed to both the girls at once. "Hi, yes Im all packed" she smiled sweetly. "And thanks for the offer, but all the basic medical gear is already packed, and the healer hall sent up the more advanced medical suplys on the ship, so they are already there.

"Yes. I'm the Weyrling Master Asisstant and I train the new riders, mainly queenriders like yourself. My name is Callie."She replied as she spotted a little Copper Queen's head poking through the large window watching them.
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>>Hi... M-My name is Beth..<<The little dragon spoke softly to Callie. "I'm done packing, can we go?"Annabelle asked.
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"Yes. Beth, just walk around to the back door and we'll meet you." >>ok...<<
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Annabelle picked up her stuff and carried it out the back door, followed by Callie, and almost tripped on a big group of candidates and a healer. She stoped and set her stuff besid the others' stuff, which was being loaded to go to the ship. "Bye Hemma, pearl!"She caled to her cats and then turned back around to Callie as Beth walked up and nuzzled her.
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"ALIATH!!!"Callie called as the candidates stared at them. Their expressions were awestruck as Aliath landed.
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"Beth, Annabelle, this is my Gold Aliath. Aliath, these are the new little girls."Callie motoned to each in turn. She then turned to an extra large crate. "Beth, your gonna have to ride in here so Aliath can carry you."She explained.
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Beth nervouesly climbed into the box and Annabelle pattted her nose before Callie sealed it.
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"Okay hop on."Callie helped Annabele on board and then climbed on herself. She pulled out a small pair of goggles and handed them to Annabelle. "Put them on. Their yours for you and Beth, my gift to you."She said as she strapped htem both in TIGHT. "Okay Aliath, get Beth and head to the metting place full speed."

"That's everyone except Callie and Annabelle."Z'ek said. He turned back to his Weyrmate. "When shall the ship arrive?"
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Callie, Aliath, Annabelle and Beth rode for a little while before they could see the meeting place. "Just a few more minutes now Annabelle."Callie said. She could see Gie and Ri-Ri and their dragons circling above the meeting place.

"Within a week, if the weather is good, if its bad it may take longer" Alana looked up and spotted a gold dragon carrying a rather large dragonette crate. "And it looks like the last have finaly arrived..."

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Ri-Ri signeled to Gie to look, she had spotted Aliath.
>>Zenath, Aliath is here with the young copper<< Ebith loved being the informate.

Ebith and Irilith moved into position to help Aliath lower the crate containing the squirming Dragonet.

Aliath hovered close to the ground and then gently set the crate down. She pulled the top open with a talon and the little Copper leaped out and shook herself from head to toe. "PLEASE tell me I can fly myself to the Weyr?"She begged Aliath.
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Callie hopped off and helped Annabelle down. "Sorry Beth but your too young."She led the dragons and Annabelle to the others. "Alana, Z'ek."She said and did a quick curtsy before going to stand beside P'alo. "Annabelle, come stay with me. I guess your trainign can starts early by helping me."She motioned to come here with a smile. Aliath started towards her place in the line of dragons. She stopped fo a minute and flirted incredibly to the Alpha Wing Wingleader's dragon Tessiath, who snorted and stomped. Her flirtations succeded in making him wnat her. His ethen fkuttered hr wings in his face and took he rplace to the immediate left of Essiath.

Alana watched as the last of the dragons and riders took their places and steped forword to address them.

"As you know, today is our moving day" Her little audience all cheered "It is very important that this is done correctly, so I am going to be giving the instructions." She paused for a little dramatic effect.

"There will be no weyrstaff until the boat arrives in a week or so, so until then we must be self suficent. There is enough food for a week, and the dragons can hunt wildbeast, but should the boat be hit by bad weather, there are plantations of Redfruit and Klah trees close enough to the weyr and a fellis plantation near one of the holds."

"We also need to clean and cook for ourselves till the weyrfolk arrive, so no slacking off" She eyed the young copperrider who the Istan weyrleaders had so kindly volenteered "Within a few months the holds will also be up and running, but we will need to help feed them and start the farming for the first seson or so"

She looked over at Z'ek, propting him to do his speech on behaviour, disiplin and safty.

Z'ek stepped forward and took his mate's place. "As my mate Alana has said, everyone will need to be self-sufficient. We cannot stress this enough. Everyone, including dragons, will have a job given by Alana and I. While we need to work hard, in your free time I urge you to explore your surroundings, but be careful always. Cody, is our only current healer until the ship arrives. Now when the ship arrives, please my fellow dragonriders, set an example for the candidates. Make them say, 'I wnat to be like THEM!' but PLEASE; make a GOOD example for them. Candidates will also be assigned building jobs and tasks. SOme of you may be wondering what to do with our young Copperrider Annabelle and her dragon Beth. As of now, Callie you are in total charge of Annabelle and are responsible. This means she wll stay with you and she must follow your directions. Annabelle, Callie is wise and experienced; you would do well do take her advice." Z'ek paused. "If you would all excuse us for a moment, I would like to speak with Alana alone."

Alana walked behind Z'ek to the edge of the cliff, their dragons followed and laid down behind them. The dragons began humming. Although this noise is usualy only made at a hatching, it was a handy way to prevent others hearing a conversation.

"So Callie is babysitting, but what else can we have her do that Annabelle can also do?"

"She can help build. I have a feeling Callie will know exactly what to do."Z'ek responded. "Shall we go ahead and go to the weyr?"

"Yes"

Alana walked back towards the others, and Zenath and Essaith moved out the way and stopped humming.

"Its time to go, I want everyone in the air in 5 minutes over the valley" She pointed to the valley just down from the cliff. "Well fly in formation, I want Callie and Annabelle to fly with Z'ek and I"

She mounted up onto Essaith and began her strap checks, as was compulsry before a jump "Between".

All the riders got in formation and Callie and Z'ek went to either side of Alana, ready for the trip.