Purple Feet

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 29th March 2024

Characters: M'yvak
Description: Thande has purple feet, but that doesn't keep him from making a good impression.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 11

M'yvak

Thande had purple feet. He often did, on account of all the grape
stomping. He would worry about washing them when he got home. For now,
he was not about to miss out on seeing the dragon. One had appeared in
the sky overhead, and several of the apprentices on their way home had
stopped to gawkâ€" Thande included.

His rider probably only wanted to try to finagle a fancy bottle of
wine or liquor. That was what they usually wanted. But sometimes...

"Good afternoon," M'yvak announced to the children who had come
clambering up to get a close-up look at Pesrath's gleaming, soft blue
hide that had been freshly oiled before leaving Dragonsfall that
morning. M'yvak felt as a Searchrider that he needed to look his best,
as did his dragon, to represent the Weyr properly. He was in a fancier
pair of riding leathers than he normally wore in threadfall, and he'd
taken care to have his shirt pressed by the laundresses. The collar of

it appeared starchly above his riding jacket, where the Dragonsfall
insignia proudly resided on his shoulder patch.

"I've come on Search," he announced to those who had gathered, young
and old. "If you are between the ages of twelve and twenty-one, then
please step forward and allow Pesrath to meet you." He saw the
crestfallen looks of the youngsters who were not yet twelve. "Don't
worry," he winked, "you'll get to give Pesrath a pat on the nose

before we go."

Thande's heart skipped a beat. There was some amount of prestige when
it came to becoming a fully fledged vintner. But... did he actually
like doing it? For Faranth's sake, he had purple feet. Dragonriders
did not have purple feet.

He hurried â€" but not too much â€" to join the line.

"Oh, don't be afraid," M'yvak assured a young girl, he estimated her
to be around fourteen. "Pesrath's as gentle as a kitten."

}:I'll remind you of that the next time you want me to catch a
green,:{ Pesrath grumped, although he lowered his head until it rested
on the ground beside the girl.

She reached out tentatively, her fingers trembling as she placed her
hand flat on his snout.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "He's so... soft. He _is_ sort of like a big
kitten, isn't he?"

}:I'm dunking you in the ocean on the way back.:{ Pesrath shot to
M'yvak, who was chuckling.

"Yes, _just_ like a big kitten."

**Well?**

}:She's cute, but no. Not her.:{

**Are you sure? The Weyrwoman wants plenty of Candidates.**

}:She wants Candidates with true potential. Send the next one forward.:{

"Thank you, dear," M'yvak said to the girl. "We'll be back again in a
few months."

The girl looked slightly crestfallen, but she nodded and left the line.

"Next," M'yvak said, motioning with his hand. "Good afternoon, young
sir," he said with a smile for the next potential Candidate. "Oh...
You have... Purple feet?"

Pesrath swung his head around curiously.

"Good afternoon... moderately aged sir. Is that a disqualification?"
Thande grinned and bowed his head to the dragon. "May I?" he asked as
he held his hand out to touch him. After the show the girl before him
on, he expected he would be quite scary, but he was not scary at all.

M'yvak liked the kid's spunk immediately.

Pesrath stretched his neck out, placing his muzzle against the boy's
hand. The blue sniffed lightly. }:What's on his feet?:{

**Grapes. They stomp them to make wine.**

}:I like to stomp wherries myself,:{ Pesrath said approvingly. A low,
grinding rumble worked its way up from the blue's chest. }:I like him.
He has potential. Give him the token.:{

"Pesrath believes you have potential and should come to the Weyr to be
a Candidate." M'yvak said while fishing a token from his pouch. "This
is a Search Token. If you wish to go to the Weyr with me today, you
can ask permission from your Masters, show them this, and I'll wait to
transport you. If you'd rather think about it, you can keep the token
and present it to any Dragonsfall rider that comes this way."

Thande was too busy scritchy-scratching Pesrath to fully process what
M'yvak had said right away. But before he made him wait long enough to
repeat himself, he turned to look at him.

"I can come with you? Today?" He took the token and stared at it. "No
more purple feet..."

"That's correct. I still have the rest of the line to go through, so
I'll be here for another candlemark or so. Just come back by then if
you're interested in leaving today." M'yvak instructed.

It was a big decision to make in one hour. But... How long would
Thande have to wait for another rider to happen by? A day? Seven? A
month? He had to strike while the iron was hot. Wait, that was a smith
thing. He had to stomp while the grape was round.

No, he should just stick with the smith thing.

"I'll go get my stuff packed. I can bring my stuff, right?"

"That's right. Keep it to two bags. You'll have a trunk in the
Candidate Barracks to store your things when we get to the Weyr."
M'yvak caught movement from the corner of his eyes and turned his head
to see a couple of the small children jumping back and forth over
Pesrath's tail.

"Two bags," Thande agreed. He might not bother to take the time to
fully scrub his feet. "Don't leave without me." He waved to the kids.
They might miss him at first. But they would get over it.

Last updated on the April 7th 2024

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Purple Feet