Freedom {{Open}}

[raii]

The jungle was perfect for her. Thick vegetation trapped the sun's rays in a warm, humid atmosphere, but for some reason it wasn't too hot. There was no breeze, no human sound, nothing that could be found in the Weyr or in her Hold. It was silent, in a way. There were sounds of animals rustling and chirping, of course, but there was no talking or gossiping or anger or sadness. There was just nature, and the natural way things ran. There were no petty arguments, no grudges, no massive attacks.
She dug her toes into the moist dirt. Sometimes she wished the entire world was like this. She let down her hair, which she had tied up for convenience this morning, and let it all fall over her shoulders. She made sure her necklace was secured around her neck and her pouch was safely tied to her waist. She suddenly started sprinting, as fast as she could, through the jungle.
She had never been in a place like this before. Over the dirt was a thin layer of moss, which was soft and cool on her feet. It was so beautiful, so green. Meir would have loved it. Sari smiled sadly. She’d just have to love it for him. Busy admiring the feather leaves and the pastel flowers, her foot hooked on a root. She tripped, and far from gracefully. She landed on the soft ground, face first. She sat up, crossed her legs, and began combing the moss and grass out of her hair using her fingers. That should teach her not to run in unfamiliar terrain.
She missed running freely. She’d have to go visit the river later, considering it was a bit less crowded than the jungle. Her eyes glazed as she remembered running through the wind. She’d been so free, like she was flying. Sari ceased to exist, she was only another part of nature. She’d tire quickly, and it would be over soon, but it was a freedom she savored with her heart.
Although glad to have the peace, silence, and reflection of being alone, she wished she could show this place to someone. It was beautiful. It was to be admired and shared, no matter how much she’d love to keep it to herself. She wondered if she could remember her way out, and wondered how deep in she was. As she wiped some dirt off of her face, she recalled the route she had run in. She would find her way back when she was ready.

[Rowana]

Flying without having to worry about fighting was a welcome relief for Farryl. She thought she'd managed this attack better then the last, but it was still giving her a new share of nightmares. Dragons were such beautiful creatures that seeing any of them die, even the enemy, was painful. At least good luck had kept Peppeth from having to do much more then dodge. She doubted her child minded green had the heart to harm another. Look, Farryl-mine! A runner!

Farryl looked down curiously. She thought the message runners usually used the path down the river. That's not a runner, love. I think it's one of the candidates, she explained. It was hard to tell through the trees though. Then we can search her! Farryl laughed. If she came from home, then someone already did, silly. Oh, Peppeth sounded crestfallen, but she perked up quickly. I can give her a ride back! Farryl shrugged. If she wants it. It wouldn't hurt to at least say hello.

Peppeth hummed with delight and dropped into the trees. Tiny as she was, she was probably one of the few dragons who could land in the jungle without injuring herself. Even so, she broke a storm of branches on the way down. Next time, maybe you could find a clearing? Farryl suggested. This is more fun! Farryl rolled her eyes and slid the short distance to the ground. "Sorry if we startled you," she apologized to the girl. "Peppeth just wanted to see if you needed a ride." Hobbs, her blue fire lizard, chirped a merry greeting. Zellos ignored her. Candidates weren't worth the bronze salamandyr's time.

[raii]

A huge green dragon dropped from the sky. Sari’s heart skipped a beat as her peace was ruined. Now, however, she saw something more beautiful than a jungle. She’d seen dragons up close before, but she never quit adjusted to it. It was a rare sight for her. “Sorry if we startled you," the rider said as she slide off the green’s back. "Peppeth just wanted to see if you needed a ride."
“Oh!” Sari’s heartbeat sped up a bit with the anxiety of meeting someone new. Be yourself, be yourself, she told herself, trying to push her first-meeting timidity away. “It’s…okay, don’t worry!” Beyourselfbeyourselfbeyourself, She chanted in her mind. Somehow the panicked thoughts running together calmed her down. She blinked twice, her dark eyes hinting at a bit of nervousness.
She ducked her head. It was easier to talk to new people when she didn’t look at them. “Uhm, I’m sorry…I’m not very interesting…” She looked up suddenly, this time to Peppeth. “Oh! Thank you very much for offering Peppeth...But I’d like to stay here.” Their presence wasn’t how she thought it would be. Maybe it was because Peppeth was more in tune with nature, and a rider was more in tune with her dragon. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to try being with someone else.
“You two can stay if you like, though. It’s very peaceful here.”

[Rowana]

Farryl smiled warmly. Truth be told, she wasn't used to people being nervous around her. Being a dragonrider seemed to have that effect on some though, or maybe it was just new people. "I wouldn't say that," she said. New people were always interesting in her opinion, no matter who they were or what they did. Everyone had a story. Peppeth crooned at the girl. We can stay? she asked hopefully. Hobbs had already found a comfy, sunny spot on a branch above their heads.

Farryl nodded. "We'd love to stay if you don't mind company." She rubbed Peppeth's nose affectionately and waved the girl over, indicating she could do the same. Peppeth didn't general mind who petted her. She just loved the attention. "I'm Farryl," she introduced herself with a nod. "Peppeth you know, Hobbs is in the tree," she pointed at the fire lizard who trilled musically at them. "And don't mind Zellos," she wrinkled her nose at the salamandyr. "He doesn't like anyone." Farryl had never realized how much trouble it was to do introductions with so many pets before, but Zellos got cranky if she didn't include them too.

[raii]

"We'd love to stay if you don't mind company." The girl said. She introduced herself as Farryl, and her fire lisards as Hobbs and Zellos. She slowly drew close to Peppeth. She'd never petted a dragon before. She gently touched the soft green nose, as if afraid to break her. She relaxed a bit, and she smiled. She rubbed the nose as she had seen Farryl done, and then pulled her hand back.
"It's nice to meet you all. It's hard to meet new people...so I don't know anyone." She smiled, and looked at Peppeth. "And I'm very glad to have met my first dragon." She'd seen dragons, and been acknowledged by them, but never really met them. "You're very nice, Peppeth."
She turned back to Farryl, before glancing at Zellos and Hobbs. "What is it like to impress? I've had fire lizard friends, but...I've never seen a hatching before. I've heard being bonded with a dragon is even specialler..." She blushed. She'd never really talked so much to someone she just met. Maybe it was being around Peppeth. Being with animals in general brought her at ease, and Peppeth seemed to like her...though it seemed Peppeth liked everyone.

[Rowana]

Peppeth did like everyone and she liked those that payed attention to her even more. She purred loudly and pushed her nose into Sari's hand. Tell her I like my head scratched too, she crooned. She might like people, but Peppeth was sigh about speaking to anyone but Farryl, unless it was entirely necessary. "I'm sure you'll meet plenty before long," Farryl assured the girl. "Here." She rubbed a spot just behind Peppeth's eye ridges. "She likes this spot."

While the girl petted her dragon, Farryl rubbed Zellos's head absently. He hummed fondly, but still ignored the stranger. "Impressing is..." Farryl tried to think of how to explain it. "It's like finding a half of your soul that you didn't know you were missing." She smiled dreamily at Peppeth. "Course it's not that big a deal with fire lizards, or even salamandyrs, but it's almost like they become a part of you." Her face fell suddenly, remembering Tille, her first fire lizard. "And when you lose it, it's like a part of you dies inside." Tille had been gone for over a turn, but it still hurt sometimes.

"You're a candidate, right?" Farryl guessed, perking back up. It was better to focus on the future then the past. Besides, she'd talked enough and she wanted to here what the girl had to say. "What's your name?"

[raii]

"Oh! I'm sorry...I just...yes. I'm a candidate. My name's Sari. From Selenitas Hold." Sometimes when she was nervous she forgot things like that. At the same time, she didn't particularly enjoy talking about herself with new people. In fact, she didn't really like when the conversation was focused on her. However, it seemed that Farryl was upset about something, the loss of a salamandyr or a fire lizard.
She could adjust to talking about herself for a little bit.
"This is all so much different than my home. It's full of new things, like dragons and the jungle, but I miss the places I used to relax near the Hold. I'm even starting to miss my violent older brothers," she said with a nervous laugh. "I'm glad I'm here though. Even if I don't impress, I want to stay here with dragons forever. Dragons are such marvelous creatures."
Sari gently patted the spot she was rubbing for a moment. "My brother loves dragons too...he would have loved to meet you, Peppeth."

[Rowana]

Farryl nodded her understanding. Though she'd never had a place to call home, the traders who raised her had been like family. She'd missed them quick a bit when she'd first left. "You'll get used to it. In time, it may even start to feel like home." It did for her, anyway. She couldn't imagine living anywhere else. She smiled at the thought. "They are indeed," she agreed. Peppeth was purring so loud it sounded like happy thunder. Her eyes were closed in happiness. She loved being petted.

I am sure she will impress, Peppeth whispered to Farryl, with firm certainty. I like her. You like everyone Peppeth, they can't all be destined for dragons, Farryl told her patiently. But this one is! Peppeth insisted. Peppeth knows. Farryl chuckled. "Peppeth is sure you'll impress," she translated. "She really likes you. So don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen right off."

An idea came to her. "We could take Peppeth to visit your family sometime, if you like. I'm sure she'd love to meet them too."

[raii]

"I'm honored, Peppeth," Sari said, with a pleased blush. "I really hope you're right." At Farryl's suggestion, she looked down, as though her bare toes had suddenly gotten incredibly interesting. "I don't know...my mom is old, it might excite her too much..." She didn't want to say the real reason, it caused the uncomfortable 'Oh I'm so sorry' reaction. She couldn't quite say that the only one in her family who adored dragons like she did was dead.
She concentrated on rubbing Peppeth for a moment. She hoped Peppeth was right. She could just imagine having a dragon of her own. A soft smile appeared on her face. She was glad Peppeth liked her. She liked Peppeth, and Farryl too. They were both so nice to her.
"I really like it here," she stated. "Not the Weyr--I mean I like being there too--but I mean the jungle. The open. Nature. Isn't it just so pretty?"

[Rowana]

"Oh, maybe another time." She could tell the suggestion had upset Sari, though she wasn't sure why. It didn't seem to have to do with her mother's health, so it must have been something else. She clearly didn't want to talk about it though, so she decided not to pry. She could talk to someone when she was ready.

"It is lovely," Farryl agreed. She had traveled through the jungle many times before she'd settled down, so she knew it well. She also knew it's peaceful appearance could be deceiving. "It can also be dangerous," she added seriously. "You shouldn't wander too far on your own." They were probably fine here, but wild felines were very terratorial. They weren't likely to mess with dragons this close to the weyr, but further in could be another story.

[raii]

Sari nodded. "Maybe you're right. I don't know this area yet. I just don't like being cooped up." She wasn't herself indoors, feeling cramped and alone. Out here she was part of something, part of nature, part of life. She felt like she belonged. Inside, she was out of place, alone, and lonely.
She dug her toes into the ground, feeling the moist, rough earth on her feet. "Do you really think I'll really Impress, Peppeth?" She imagined a dragon by her side, a wonder she never thought she could experience. Meir would have been so proud that she'd been searched. If she'd Impressed...she would never feel alone anymore. No matter how many people she was around, or how many nice people like Farryl made her feel comfortable, she always felt alone, like something was missing.
She looked to Farryl as she rubbed Peppeth's eye ridge, hoping that Peppeth had really meant it. She knew Peppeth was very nice, maybe she was just being polite? Green dragons did know this kind of stuff though, maybe, just maybe, Peppeth did mean it.

[Rowana]

Farryl leaned against a tree and nodded. "Me neither," she agreed. She was used to wide open spaces and constant traveling. Staying in one place had taken getting used to, but it was worth. She was sure Sari would feel the same if she had a dragon of her own. "Maybe you could ask for work outside?" she suggested. "The boats..." she made a face. She hated water and anything associated. "Or with the runners?"

Peppeth snuggled into Sari with a warm purr. Such a lonely girl deserved a dragon, she was sure. Feeling bolder from the attention, Peppeth decided to include her in her speech just this once. Of course I do, she crooned, so that both Sari and Farryl could hear. Farryl beamed. Peppeth must like this girl if she was willing to speak with her. Maybe that would give her courage for the Hatching.

[raii]

"Maybe runners," she said. "I'll have to ask." Peppeth purred before speaking directly to her, telling her that she believed she'd Impress. Sari's eyes shined. "Oh, thank you very much!" she said. She was pleased that not only had she truly met her first dragon, she had also become very well-liked by her.
She hoped Peppeth was right.
She had never felt like she belonged before. Maybe all it took was a nice enough person. Maybe it just took sharing her environment. Maybe it was the magic of a dragon. Whatever it was, she was happy to have met Peppeth, and happy to have met Farryl.
She ran her fingers behind Peppeth's eye ridge. Her hide was so smooth and soft. Meir would have loved to be here. For a second she imagined what things would be like if Meir had just Impressed. Maybe he and Farryl would be friends. She almost wouldn't mind being known as his little sister. He would've had a dragon of his own, and she liked to imagine it was a bronze, and maybe he would've been Weyrleader.
She shook her head. Don't dwell on the past, she told herself. She forced a smile, pushing all thoughts of Meir from her mind. "You're both so nice," she said, her voice a bit quiet. I