Arrival of the Dawn Lady

Eva looked over the ocean. It had been more than a week since they had left Ista, and everyone was looking forward to making landfall. It was early dawn, the sunwas rising behind them. It had been for a while, since the winds were blowing them west fast enough to make it seem like an eternal dawn.

She could hear Flits stiring, there were several people on board with them. She looked over the ocean, and a huge smile went across her face as, in the very far didtance, she spotted the western continant.

All the candidates squeezed forward to the front of the boat. "We're almost there!!"One cried. "There's still a little ways to go."Answered another. Nikita squished her way through to the very tip of the boat-where she wasn't really supposed to be. Sitting, she leaned against the railing and watched the island coem closer.

Afraid of being squashed by the crowd of youthful candidates, all who were clearly hoping that there would already be eggs, Eva wriggled back out of the pack, and went below deck. She found her goldfish in his glass carry-bowl, looking very sea-sick for a fish.

"Its ok Flish, We'll be on dry land again soon." SHe fed him and went to the ships cook.

Grabbing a sweetroll from the tray, she made her way back upstairs. She leaned over the railings at the side of the boat. they had made progress, they were at the mouth of the central channel now. Not far to go at all.

Alan nervously sat with his flit, Sky. For some reason he was asked to join the others at Cobalt Weyr. He glance up and looked at the other people around him and then turned his eyes back towards Sky. He was a bit nervous about what was going to happen at Cobalt Weyr.

Nikita sowly got up and shoved her way through a group of male candidates. Going downstairs, she went over to her pets and patted the ragdolls on their heads.

As the shorline neared, Eva could see why they had chosen such a beautiful place. The once barren contant had been seeded with grubs generations ago, and since then they now lush greenery had grown back.

Alan glance up and was amazed at the sight of Cobalt Weyr. Though still very puzzled to why they asked him to come out to Cobalt Weyr.
"Sky I think coming out here might be worth it" Alan said to Sky.

Nikita dashed back up the stairs and stoppe don the top when she saw her new home. She took off running towards the front of the boat and tripped right over Alan and landed face first. She got up said, "Sorry Alan!"and took off towards the front again. Again shoving her way through the male group, elbows flying to clear a path.

Eva stayed where she was, the ramp would be there anyway, so she would get off this darm boat first! The one thing she did run to get was Flish... and she got a few wierd looks and mumbles when she was holding a fish in a glass bowl... on a boat?

As they neared the port, she saw dragons fly overhead. The weyr propper was a mile inland, but there was a nicely made path, and a clear view of the massive weyr. Everyone gasped as one as the ship docked, and the seccond that tit was compleetly still, they eroupted into cheers!

Eva looked up to see a massive Gold and Bronze circling, as well as an Ivory and slightly smaller gold.... this must be the welcoming party!

---

Alana smiled as she, Z'ek, P'alo and Callie circled downward towards the port. They were timing the decent perfectly, so that the largest two dragons would land just as the new candidates and weyrfolk steped off the boat, and the seccond pair would land just after the last one had stepped back to dry land.

It would take days to unload all the stuff on the boat, but the first impression allways mattered the most...

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Eva's smile widened "Look over hear you flock of stupid wherries! The Weyrleaders are here!!!" Eva saw every head turn, and every flit dissapear as one, reapearing among the dragons, a greeting for their new dragconic friends.

Nikita ran over and stood beside Eva, staring up at the dragons. Finally... Our new home and leaders.. I hope the first impression is soon.

Alan stood up after being tripe on a smiled slightly at the girl that had bumped into him accidentally. Alan was excited to see his new home and meet the leaders of Cobalt Weyr.

As the plank was lowered off the ship onto the docks, Eva couldnt wipe the smile off her face. Some other child had pushed in front of her, and was aided onto the docks. She also was helped out, and soon found herself stairing at awe at the end of the docks...

---

Their trick had worked. Alana smiled as the new weyfolk and candidates stood in awe of them as they landed at the end of the docks. To show off, Essaith puffed up her chest, sat on her hunches and bugled loudly an invatation.

Alana looked up, the other dragons, though riderless, had obeyed Essaith and come to escort the new weyrfolk home.

Nikita was helped out first and walked up hesitantly a few feet from Essiath's head. She wanted to touch the dragon, but she drew her hand back sharply behind her back. She looked at the rider who had dismounted her and tried to aks permission with her eyes.

Alana could see that the candidate wanted to touch the queen so badly, but the first thing they needed to do was get them home.

As the human cargo and their pets gathered round, Alana made her speech.

"Welcome, friends, to Cobalt Weyr!" The crowd erupted in cheers. She put her hands up to hush them. "I am your weyrleader, Alana, rider of Essaith, and this in your Weyrleader, Z'ek, rider of Zenath" She motioned to Z'ek and Zenath.

"The first thing everyone needs to do is get up to the Weyr. The Weyrlingmaster P'alo and Priloth, and I and Essaith, will escort you." She looked around for a seccond "I know that there is several drudges and beastcrafters here, and I will require them to stay behind with Z'ek and Zenath, and Callie and Aliath, to move the beasts into the runner stables, the inner beasthold, and the weyrs beasthold, for the dragons to feed on."

Alana saw the drudges and Beastcrafters move towards the back of the crowd. "Everyone else, follow me!"

She valted onto Essiath with little none effort, and Essaith was jumping into the air in secconds, a great breeze had swept threw the weyrfolk from her massive wings. Flying a little ahead of them, the crowd slowly made its way up the mile long path back to the weyr, with Essaith and Alana before them, and P'alo and Priloth behind them.

Z'ek waved to Alana. "I'll see you in a little while!"He called as she and Essiath took off. He directed everyone what to do and then he helped get all the runners out. There were quite a few! Getting a long rope, he tied each with a foot or two of extra rope each runner to the long line so only a few people would ahve to lead them. He patted all of his own riders and then went over and helped hook the many, many crates to Zenath, Aliath, and the hooded whers after the whers unloaded them. Then he stationed Zenath and Aliath on either side of the road with directions to keep the heardbeasts in the path. Then with the others' help he unloaded the beasts and they were ready to go. He walked at the front, leading the runners, and had two drudges who were runner-loving along the rope and at the end of the rope. After a while of walking they stopped just outside the weyr gates.