New Horizons

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd December 2009

Characters: Sabonus, Uetia
Description: Sabonus comes across Uetia on Watch duty.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 9 of Turn 5

"Uetia? Are you on Watch today?" Sabonus asked, rather surprised to recognize the greenrider who seemed to be on duty at that time.

"Yes, I am. About to finish it soon, by the way," Uetia replied and flashed him a smile.

"Will you be going down to the docks then?" he asked curiously.

"Very likely, unless Sirjath demands to be bathed or something else comes up," Uetia replied.

"Maybe I'll see you. I just came up here to see if I could see any ships on the horizon. The 'Jade Dream' is supposed to be coming into dock for repairs, but it hasn't arrived yet." And Sabonus hated to just wait.

"Jade Dream? Doesn't she sail all the way to Far Island?" Uetia asked.

"You know her?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"My brother sailed on her few turns ago," Uetia said. "He's now at the seacraft hall, getting some teaching experience before promotion to senior journeyman."

"Really? What a small world. I have an uncle that served on that ship when he was a younger man." Of course, his family seemed to be connected to just about any ship that sailed these waters.

"There really isn't such large number of seacrafting- families," the greenrider remarked. "And it does tend to run in family."

"It's something you're kind of born to, isn't it. But I suppose dragonriding is the same." Though he had never known a family member Searched from his father's side. Of course, it was hard to Search someone who spent most of their life at sea.

"Yes, that too. I have uncle who is rider and brother and several cousins," Uetia agreed.

That was quite a list! "Well, then you must have always known that this was a possibility then."

"In back of my mind, yes, although I managed to avoid until this age," Uetia said with a smile.

"Well, you agreed to Stand. There must have been a reason." And Sabonus was rather curious as to what that reason might be.

"Well, I was assigned to this ship, whose captain was complete tunnelsnake, a sleazy jerk. I was tired of keeping him off me, so when the ship stopped here, I went to talk with uncle U'das," Uetia told him.

"U'das is your uncle?" Of course Sabonus had heard of him. He was a Wingleader and former Weyrleader. Who didn't know him? "I would say being a dragonrider was in your blood then."

"So it turned out to be," Uetia said.

"Sounds like you chose this life as well." Sabonus still wasn't sure it was the right path for him, but he was willing to give it a chance.

Uetia just nodded and stared the horizon, while Sirjath bugled a greeting to an arriving dragon. "What I really wanted, was not allowed to me," she said softly.

She looked very serious indeed. Sabonus hoped he wasn't dragging up bad memories. "What was that?"

"To become a seacrafter. They don't accept females as apprentices. Dolphineering was next best thing, and they do take females," Uetia replied. She sighed wistfully and then shook herself out of it. "Now, I can explore new horizons with Sirjath," she said more cheerfully and patted the green neck.

But she certainly wasn't the same as a boat. "When was the last time you actually went _out_ on the water? Not just bobbing in the bay, I mean?"

"Not since I arrived here," Uetia replied wistfully.

"You know, my friend has a sloop I sometimes borrow to take out on the open water for a day's sail. Would you like to go for a cruise with me some time?" he offered, knowing that she must miss having the ocean wind in her face.

**Would you mind?** Uetia asked her dragon first.

}: Do I fit into it? :{ Sirjath asked curiously.

**No, but you could fly over it.**

}: It sounds fun. I can fish. :{

"It sounds like fun," Uetia replied out aloud, echoing her dragon.

"Good. I try to go out on the restdays. If you're free, just let me know." Sabonus thought it would be nice to have company once in a while. And an extra pair of experienced hands could only come in handy.

"I will," Uetia promised.

"I look forward to it." He looked out over the water. Still no sails. But he couldn't waste the day just wishing for the ship to appear on the horizon. "Well, I better go find a way to make myself useful."

"And I have watch duty to finish up," Uetia sighed. Watches were boring.

"You need to find something to keep your hands occupied," he suggested. "Do you carve at all?"

Uetia shook her head.

"I could give you some rope to take apart to make oakum, but I think you'd rather be bored," Sabonus said, the corner of his lips turning up into a smile. He was pretty sure she'd know just how tedious a task that would be.

"Ah-hah, don't try that on me. I got six older brothers, I won't fell into that one ever again!" Uetia laughed.

"Fair enough," he said with a genuine smile. "Just don't forget to tell me when you want to go out on that boat," he reminded her as he turned to walk back towards the steps.

Last updated on the December 10th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

New Horizons