Doll by DollDivine

Name: Yiladep (Y'ip)

Gender: Male, Human, Pernese

Age: 16

Origin: Guild-born (vintners), Junior Apprentice

Height: 5'7"

Build: pudgy but very healthy

Skin: tanned, with numerous very small scars on hands and arms from vines

Hair: dishwater brown, shoulder-length, rarely under control and apt to poof up on dry days

Eyes: hazel gold, wide, usually looks like he's enjoying everything he sees

Personality: at sixteen he's still a Junior Apprentice. He lacks focus, according to his elders. Truth is, he's just got an easy way of being enticed by any shiny thing he happens upon... It's a good thing he's reasonably talented at playing cards - he does have a gambling habit and if not careful he could be distracted into ruin with it.

History: His parents were dedictated to their tasks at the vinyard, however they found time to dally - and eventually Laden asked for Pydrell's hand in marriage. Her young daughter was adopted by the Journeyman, and soon after was present at Yiladep's birth. They seem to be the very image of a happy family. Yiladep doesn't care much for the idea that he's supposed to find some girl and ply her with gifts and settle down: he is handsome and he knows it, and wants to exploit that as much as he can while he still considers himself 'available'. His sister is in a relationship with another of the young men at the vineyard, a woodcrafter who seems altogether too serious for Yiladep's taste. He would love it if she would at least entertain other suitors, unable to really tell if she's serious about the relationship or just seriously boring.

While it's clear that Yiladep is distracted and frivolous, flirtatious to a tremendous degree, he has never discounted the importance of his family's work! He is an adept crafter, good with numbers as well as the technical aspects of the wine craft. However he's not remarkably inventive about any of it, he reserves that for his flirtation and remarks to the women of the guild! He would never drop the wrong words on those delicate ears, though - he knows when a Lady is around, he knows when handmaids are listening, and most importantly he knows how to behave himself when anyone of importance is in the Guild hall.

Those people included the search riders from Sedona Weyr, which came just over a year before the current time. He was apparently suitable for standing upon sands, the riders didn't quite catch the looks of dismay from Yiladep's superiors. Maybe he'd make a better, more focused rider than he was a vintner. If he was as good at memorizing Thread charts and flight formations as he was at categorizing and filing ingredients, they claimed, he certainly could make an adept rider.

In the year since his Search, Yiladep has in fact proven that he can study and understand even complicated charts and patterns. Also in that year, he was among the lucky Candidates that found a nest of fire lizard eggs, and his large green was named Vinehide for the color of her dark skin.

It is hoped that he gets over his poorly hidden fear of the Weyr's heights, and more so that he gets over that fainting spell whenever he sees blood. That, he was chastised for. There will be blood and heights daily for a rider.

And though he stood for one clutch, he was not found by a dragon that time. Perhaps now... He will get his chance!

***

Yiladep was glad for the sudden sound that filled the Weyr: the hatching was starting! He was excited, this was going to be better than the first time. Of course, anything could be better than that, when he was left disappointed and alone. The afternoon was chilly outside, but his warm white Candidate robe would become stifling on the sands soon enough.

A blue started things off, that was a good sign - and better for him, because he'd bet two Marks on it! But he stopped thinking about winnings and money as other dragons began to fill the sands and their shells emptied.

Two eggs hatched at once, rocking so hard that the larger one rolled right into the other, and they both cracked open at once. Fortunately, the two hatchlings were both unharmed, though the smaller green was understandably irritated at her brown brother. She hissed and snarled at him, but their altercation seemed verbal rather than physical. Only when their mother shoved her head in between them did the hatchlings leave each other alone. The green was the first to make her way to the candidates.

She seemed entirely unimpressed with the female candidates, however, and she turned her attention to the males. Noa couldn't say she was entirely surprised; there were more of them. The green didn't seem happy with many of them, either, but she did finally make a choice. It was Riloem's side that she found herself at, and she left with a snort.

Fortunately for everyone, the brown hadn't heard his sister's final comment. He was busy looking for his own rider, and he took almost as long as Aetath had to find hers. He finally locked eyes with Yiladep, crooning. You'll do. My name is Azarth, Y'ip, and I need some food. Shall we?

Y'ip was thrilled. The sensation that went through his mind, his whole being, was Azarth. New, fresh, hungry!

***

Azarth grew rapidly, he would certainly be a strong brown. He prided himself on his ability to make others laugh, seeking out greens and their riders for his own amusement. Y'ip didn't break stride on that, either. For wasn't he also charming, handsome and bold? Of course he was!

Thankfully Y'ip also realized the importance of understanding the lessons they were being taught. Particularly when it came to flight and betweening. They didn't want to end up smushed flat on a bad landing, and in no way would it be okay to teleport into a rock! Though they joked about it, they all had heard rumors of the terrible results of either of those things. Mistakes happened, even to experienced riders.

Still that didn't really dampen Y'ip and Azarth's spirits any. Azarth was hardly wobbly in the air - at least accidentally. He mastered flight quickly and soundly, enough that when he did wobble, it was to avoid Thread!

Would Y'ip and Azarth seek a wing spot, or perhaps... go for more? Albion needed good strong fliers like them, and it would only be a matter of time before they became wing seconds, or perhaps even wing leaders!