We Give {Plot!}

[Nia]

"It's this way!! This way!!"

"C'mon... we've been walking almost all day... can we go back now?"

"No way, no way! I know it's up here! You're just tired because you have no stamina!"

"Well obviously!"

The two boys were walking slowly through the Western Continent. Well, one was. The black-haired boy was lagging behind his brown-haired friend, who kept having to double back to catch up. The brown-haired boy's clothes were dirty and it was obvious he went outside often, but the black-haired boy's clothes were clean and crisp, like those of someone who stayed inside often and rarely went out. Both boys couldn't have been older than 12, and both boys were hopelessly lost, despite what the brown-haired one said.

"I knew I shouldn't have brought you with, Lairan! You always slow me down!" the brown-haired boy huffed, crossing his arms. "It's not like you even know where we're going, Sezune. We're lost!" the Lairan snapped, sitting down in the dirt. He didn't want to get his clothes dirty, but he was exhausted. It was going to be getting dark soon and they'd never make it back to the Hold. Sezune had wanted to show him some stupid river or something and hadn't remembered how to get there. Now they were lost and Lairan was growing very frustrated with his curly-haired friend. At least they hadn't brought his little sister along, that would have really made him angry.

Oh, shards and shells. His sister! "Sezune!" Lairan stood up suddenly, surprising the other boy, who'd been staring into the rainforest as if trying to figure out how to get back. "My sister is back at the Hold all alone! We told her we'd be back before dark!" Lairan was starting to panic, his sister was easily upset and very loyal, he knew she'd be waiting there all alone in the dark until they came back. "Oh relax, Lairan... it's not even dark yet..." "But it will be before we get back! She'll be waiting outside all alone! She's only 8!" "That's old enough!" "It is not!"

The two continued their bickering in the clearing, out in the middle of no where with no hope of making it back to the Hold (and Lairan's sister) before dark. Sezune was starting to feel sort of responsible, it had been his idea, afterall, and sat down on the rock to think. Lairan sat next to him. "We're going to be lost here FOREVER and I'm never going to see my sister again and I'm going to die here and never Searched and become a Dragonrider and it's going to be all your fault," Lairan's voice sounded suspiciously like he was choking down tears, but he always had been rather dramatic. "I'm sure someone will notice we're gone...." Sezune tried to cheer up his friend, patting him on the shoulder. "Yeah, right...." It looked pretty hopeless from Lairan's point of view.

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[Kila]

Alizadehth and Varya soared confidently over the Western Continent, surveying the ground they passed and making note of anything out of the ordinary. They method they had adopted was akin to something like a sweep rider, just making rounds to make everything was in order. If anyone was suited for this particular job in this particular area, is was definitely the two now in the air. They were original renegades, the oldest (along with D'ror and Abeneth) to be exploring the unknown continent and unraveling its mysteries. Between them they were observant, aware of small details, determined, and reliable. The mysterious Orange Queen was steadfast and strong as a mountain, and her rider, the slim, formidable woman astride her, was showing her better side. No hint of Varya's less capable, breakdown of a self had surfaced for some time, and all the renegade plans were beginning to take shape and progress according to plan.

The sweep was going smoothly, both dragon and rider in a fine mood and enjoying being together out on a ride. Two little details down in a clearing, however, threw a bump in perfection.

MineOwn, look down there; Alizadehth commanded, spotting the two young boys ahead. The Orange's keen eyes were well-matched by her riders, however, and Varya had already spotted them.

I see them as well, she replied, attention honed in on the two human figures far below. They can't be from Dalibor, it's too far away by foot, she reasoned. Besides, they don't look like they'd be weyrbrats or anything.

No, they are only common holdfolk, I am sure; Alizadehth agreed, more firm in her conclusion. I do not think they are cause for alarm.

No, but we still must be cautious.... Alizadehth, land before they see you so I can approach them. I do not want to know anything about me. Wait in the trees and I will see what they are doing so far out here, she decided, asking Hers to take her down before they became fully visible to the two children.

Alizadehth willingly complied, cutting downwards sharply while they were still out of view and landing among the large masses of trees. Varya leapt down silently, letting her hand run down Alizadehth's side in thanks before approaching the clearing where they had seen the two boys. She strode forward purposefully and entered the clearing, stopping when she was in full view and sizing them up at close range. They were only boys, and disheartened ones at that. "Hello," she greeted them calmly. "What are you two doing out here?"

[Nia]

Lairan and Sezune were sitting in silence as they tried to figure out what to do to get back. Well, Lairan was, but then he'd always been the brains where Sezune had been the brawn. Even though neither boy could really be called muscular. Maybe they could retrace their steps? No, they couldn't do that. They hadn't thought to leave a trail, Sezune had been sooo sure of where he was going because he'd been there sooo many times before. Lairan sighed and tried to think some more. Sezune was his best friend, but sometimes he just didn't know what the curly-haired boy was thinking.

The silence was somewhat awkward, as Sezune wasn't sure if he should appologize to his friend for getting them into this or not. He was very glad when a woman emerged out of the forest to greet them, and he stood up right away, jarring Lairan out of his thoughts. "Thank Faranth!" Sezune exclaimed with a grin forming across his face. Lairan wasn't impressed and didn't stand. Sure, he was glad that perhaps they now had a potential way of finding their way back to the Hold, but he wasn't going to get his hopes up just to have them knocked down.

But finally, Lairan stood up next to his green-eyed friend, his own amber eyes slightly narrowed and patronizing. "We're lost, obviously," he said flatly, frowning. Sezune looked at his friend in something that very much resembled shock. "Lairan! Be nice! She could help us!" Lairan had a lot of pride, even for a twelve year old. He didn't like asking for help, it was a sign of weakness that he wasn't going to show anyone. He could have figured a way back on his own! But deep down he knew he couldn't, and sighed, defeated.

"We were trying to find this place out in the forest. He said he knew the way," with this he shot a 'this is all your fault' look at Sezune who smiled weakly, "But he really didn't, and now we don't know how to get back to the Hold," Lairan explained, his tone calm. "We really have to get back, his sister's waiting and she's really little, so we can't leave her outside alone! Please help us?" Sezune pleaded, picking up where he knew Lairan would never go. Asking for help just wasn't what his black-haired friend did. Ever.

[Kila]

As soon as Varya came into sight one of the boys lept to his feet and thanked Faranath. A huge smile spread across his face and he seemed genuinely happy to see him . Varya carefully did not let show on her face, but was surprised by the reaction. She was generally greeted with suspicion, just as how she greeted others, but this random child in the middle of the wild acted as though she were a saint.

The second boy Varya found she cared for less. He rose grudgingly only after his friend had already jumped up and approached her. He was far more reserved and cautious, as any normal person should be. She did not appreciate his tone, though, when he explained that they were lost. "Obviously." The first boy chided him immediately, abashed by his rudeness, but he continued. Lairan, as the other boy called him, represented himself loud and clear. He was clean and groomed, obviously an indoor thing, and was far more weary than the other.

The story did begin to come out though, despite Lairan's hesitance. They had wandered away from their Hold (knew it) to find somewhere. The more adventurous boy had no doubt claimed to know the way. Now they were lost and didn't know they way back home. This information seemed to come painfully out of Lairan. As he trailed off Sezune jumped in and picked up where he had left off. "We really have to get back, his sister's waiting and she's really little, so we can't leave her outside alone! Please help us?" Sezune pleaded, doing what his friend would not.

Varya was moved, far more compelled by the second boy's plea. She knew far too well the burdens of caring for ones family. And these boys.... needed her help. They had asked her for it. MineOwn! What is wrong? Alizadehth demanded from the cover of the trees, alarmed by Hers' sudden rush of sentimental feelings. Alizadehth.... these two boys have strayed too far from their hold and are lost. They... need my help. It wouldn't seem like a big request to any other person, but the Orange knew different. Varya had left her past Weyr in frustration, feeling that she had been able to do no good for anyone in its confines. At her deepest center, the young woman desired only to be a hero. It seemed a cliche, corny dragonrider-esque thing to wish, but that was what she had been to others her whole life and finally here, out in the wild of the Western Continent, she had found somewhere to start.

"Aye," she replied, face only betraying the smallest hint of her inner joy, "Of course I'll help you get back home." She couldn't let down her defenses completely, but she did at least need to display her willingness to help them and not treat them icily. Her tone and mien softened and she beckoned to them and turned. "Come with me." She headed back into the woods and through the brush from whence she'd come, not looking behind her but with the faith that the two boys would follow. Her path was simple and easy to follow, but she broke into the smaller clearing where Alizadehth had landed first and had time to lean against her hide and wait for them to follow.

Are you sure it is ok for us to show ourselves to them? Alizadehth asked, big whirring eye regarding the path they would have to follow.

Yes, love, Varya said with happy confidence, You know this is why we're here. Not for D'ror, and not completely for us.

[Nia]

She knew the way! The strange woman knew the way! Sezune was ecstatic. They would be able to make it back to their Hold and back to Lairan's sister. He was grinning ear-to-ear and pushed Lairan's shoulder. His friend didn't look nearly as happy, though he did look relieved. Sezune nudged him again. "Why aren't you happier? We're going to make it back to your sister in time!" Sezune whispered, hoping that the woman wouldn't be able to hear him in case Lairan were to say something rude. Lairan pursed his lips a little, but sighed, as though coming to terms with what he'd been thinking about. "I guess, yeah...."

With a little reluctance, Lairan followed Sezune as he darted off after the woman. They didn't even know her name, and he was certain they'd never met before. Why did she want to help them? Was there something in it for her? Had the Hold already sent out some sort of reward for their capture? ... no, he was thinking too hard. Maybe she just wanted to help. There were good people out there, and this woman seemed to know the way to the Hold, which was good. He had to get back to Natilia, she was waiting for him. He'd suck up his pride for his sister's sake.

Sezune eventually dropped back to walk next to Lairan, feeling a little nervous the farther into the forest they went. He wasn't as brave as he tried to seem. Both walked in silence, as there wasn't much either of them felt comfortable saying in the prescense of the older woman. She was nice enough, but they were 12 year old boys and a little intimdated. But only a little.

Neither of the two of them were sure where they were going, but they were both pretty sure that they hadn't come this way. This lady didn't know where she was going, Lairan decided, and regretted following her. However, his regrets soon disappeared when he caught sight of the clearing and the large Orange dragon. "W...whoa...." he said softly, having never seen such a large dragon up close before. The watchdragon at the Hold was old and only a Blue, and Lairan didn't really go visit the watchdragon often anyway.

Sezune was more vocal about his amazement. "You're a dragonrider?! That's so cool! Isn't that cool, Lairan?!" he nudged his friend again, who tried to hide his amazed expression. "Yeah... I guess," he said, trying to seem as though it wasn't a big deal to him. "A-are we gonna go back to the Hold on her?!" Sezune exclaimed, his own wonder not dulled at all by Lairan's reluctance. This was like a dream come true... to both of them.

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[Kila]

Varya smiled when the two boys entered the small clearing. Their faces wore undeniable expressions of shock and awe. It was not likely that they had ever been close to any large dragon before, and Alizadehth was a gorgeous example of her color. It was their lucky day.

The Orange herself was also quite pleased by their reactions, and it softened any objections she had about helping them as Hers wished. She knew her place in the hierarchy of life- the top. She loved to be marveled, especially when it wasn't attention that she had to demand, for she was not above it. Vanity was not too harsh of a word to be applicable.

"Aye, a dragonrider indeed," she said proudly. The prissier boy of the two was trying not to show that he was impressed, she could tell. She didn't hold his reservedness against him, for there were many a people she had met like him, but he would be wise to hold his tongue if it were sharp- especially around Hers. "This is Alizadehth," she continued with a smile. "Ye will be riding back to the Hold on her with me. Don't be shy, come be acquainted before ye are on yon way. She won't bite unless you deserve it. Alizadehth only looked down at them with calm eyes as Hers invited them over. She was not unfriendly or aloof, but she exerted an ever present air of noble superiority.

"We mustn't keep your little sister waiting," she said to Lairan. "I kin that she is too big for ye to mount her on your own," to the both. Varya knelt down on one knee and laced her fingers together, holding them out to make a step. "Ye will be fine if ye step on my hands and boost yourselves up."