Chapter 2: "Shards! We're Lost"

Axelle was just a tiny bit nervous. She knew where the wher-kennels were at Dawn Watch Weyr, but she hadn't actually been there. On occasion people were allowed to visit the weyr and the dragonriders came to town often enough. But they hadn't exactly made friendly with the daughter of a lowly food-stall owner. But not like she could tell Adamo that.
Devron seemed to keep very quiet while his brother was talking non-stop. She couldn't exactl say that Adamo was annoying, he was indeed quite charming and a good conversationalist... but he just tried to infuriate her every chance he got. No doubt trying to make her either cry or explode. Well, she'd do neither.
They trudged on around the lake, heading for the mountain caldera that marked the Weyr territory. Adamo was very much interested in what they would see; He had seen Whers before, but only from a distance as the dragon-kin were trained to be loyal to one person or household.
It'd been a while since he had allowed himself to dream about being a dragonrider. As a younger boy he had done that quite often, believing a valiant dragon would descend from the heavens to search him and whisk him away to a Weyr to impress a dragon. He'd played dragonriders with his friends until all of them had grown up enough to realize that dragons wouldn't see much in brats. He was already 18 and would need to take up a trade soon. Moving to a new hold had extended the time he was allowed to make a choice. No doubt he'd go along with his father and become a fisherman himself. A life he wasn't particularly aspiring to have. At least he had the freedom to choose a girl to wed. Though not all of the girls he fancied would want to become a fisherman's wife.
Devron, meanwhile was trying not to slip or fall or generally embarrass himself. Being next to his brother made him feel so inadequate, although he was happy that Axelle didn't fall for Adamo's charms. That meant he might just be able to become her friend and keep her as a friend. Other girls Adamo had dated had never talked to him after they'd broken up with his brother. Some had been mean-spirited, but others had been friendly.
"We need to leave the path here." Axelle said.
She held some branches out of the way and led the boys deeper in the forest.
"Where are we going?" Devron asked.
"The Wher kennel is located at te edge of the weyr, but away from the main entrance. So if we want to get there unnoticed, we need to approach it from the back."
"Shouldn't we just be able to visit them if we ask?" Devron tried.
"Of course not." Adamo said, "Would you let just anyone in a boat? Who knows what could happen."
Having made his point, Adamo veered of the path and followed what appeared to be an animal trail.
"You can go back." Axelle said, "Following the road won't be hard."
And leave the first friend he'd made alone with his brother? Devron sure wasn't going to do that. Summoning all the courage he could muster, he shook his head and followed Adamo into the shadows.
They walked for another 15 minutes or so until Devron finally dared to state the obvious.
"We're lost, aren't we?"
"Well I've never actually been this way." Axelle admitted.
"Now you tell us." Adamo chided.
"We just need to go back the way we came." Axelle said, turning around.
But no matter where they turned, the wall of green seemed identical and there were several animal trails that crossed each other. There was no way to tell which way they had come. Though the day was far from over, the light was dimmed by the trees and bushes so tracking the sun was out. They were far from the hold and who knows where they were in raltion to the Weyr. Still it couldn't hurt to try to shout.
"Help." Axelle hollered.
"I hope there aren't dangerous animals in the vicinity." Adamo smirked.
"Of course there aren't. I wouldn't have taken you off the path if there were." Axelle retorted.
He had been quiet for a while, but Devron hadn't been idle. Looking around he was the first one who noticed:
"I see something brightly coloured over there."
"What?" Adamo asked.
"I don't know, I think it's a tent? Or some other kind of fabric. It's bright yellow."
Taking him by the hand, Axelle took over the lead and pulled Devron behind her.
"You're going to just go there?" Adamo asked.
"What other option do we have? Stay behind if you don't like it."
Adamo shrugged and reluctantly followed the two others. Staying by himself in the forest wasn't exactly appealing either. Axelle had said there were no dangerous animals, but she'd also claimed to know where the Wher kennel was. She hadn't been a bastion of honesty.
Devron kept back a bit as Axelle stormed into the clearing. Wanting to get back home so bad, she started talking before se took stock of the situation that had Devron's ears reddening.
"Excuse me, we need some hel...."
And then she too noticed that the man in front of her was nearly naked. A small pond in the vicinity wafted steam and the man had clearly meant to take a private bath. Covering up without much panic, he waited for the youngsters to settle down and announced:
"So you needed help?"
"We're lost, mister..." Devron tried.
"We came from the hold." Axelle said.
And Adamo kept quiet, looking away thinking he'd need to find out where this spot was so he could come back later.
"From Big Bay Hold? You're quite close to the Weyr. My name is J'ack. I could take you there."
"Yes please." Axelle called
"Can we?" Devron asked
"If you don't mind." Adamo added.
It didn't take 10 minutes for them to reach the Weyr. Apparently Axelle did possess a sense of direction. The Weyr was still small, not too many dragonriders were in attendance but there was a blue dragon that looked positively radiant. The dragon came closer and sniffed them gently, giving them a peek of his leathery wings.
"It seems you've caught Dianath's eye." J'ack said, "She would very much like you to attend as candidates for the current clutch. that is if you want to."

Axelle, Devron and Adamo are Candidates at Dawn Watch Weyr
Dollz were made at Kate's Dolls
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