The next weyr is considerabley large, and a warm light comes from the opening of the vast cavern. The dragon chamber is large, and your footsteps echo as you stride through it. The dragon couch seems incredibly worn, as if not by the recent occupant sleeping there but by time itself. The bronze stands up as you walk by, sniffing at you and then watching you as you walk farther into the weyr where noise can be heard.
The living chamber, parted from the rest of the weyr by a long, flowing red curtain, is almost as large as that of the gold ones you've seen, though it is obviously not a goldrider's weyr considering the dragon oustide.
A young man sits at a table, emerced in the game before him. A chess board sits on the table, small marble pieces set up on it. It seems that the game has been going on for a while, and as there are no other players he appears to be playing both sides. He looks up at your entrance, and studies you for a moment before standing and walking over to you. "Hello."
He extends a hand and waits for your reply. When you finally greet him, he goes back and sits down. Offering you the chair on the other side of the table, he begins to talk in a low baritone voice. "My name is M'kat. I am a Bronzerider at Asura Weyr, and I am twenty-one. I recently graduated, and I was one of the oldest weyrlings in a long time, and I wouldn't have been a Candidate for much longer before Talketh outside picked me out. I was one for nine Turns, a Candidate I mean."
You wince at the though. Nine Turns without Impressing? What torture... "The only reason I was a Candidate for so long is because my siblings allowed it. My blood-brother is Weyrlingmaster J'simo, and my half-sister is Werywoman Kayan. My father was a bronzerider named M'mso, and he has been gone for quite a few years now."
"I have lived at the Weyr all my life, and have tried to Impress for most of it. Unfortunately, none of the dragons found me up to standards." He smiled wryly, but his brown eyes seemed sad. Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his tan hair that grew shaggy on his head. He was a handsome man and was going into the best years of his life. "That doesn't really matter now though, I suppose." You hear a light rumble from outside, a sound that makes M'kat smile lightly. "You're right. If definitely doesn't."
A small blue firelizard peaks out from under the small bed he has, then wanders over in your direction with a curious cheep. "The closest I had been to Impressing before Talketh was my blue firelizard, Rascal. He showed me I was worthy, I guess. Then Talketh, of course. I'll leave the rest of the angst out of the story, however, for your benifit." He looks up and over at you from the chessboard, hardly moving his head.
You feel yourself fidgeting. He has a strong gaze, and it seems he has inherited the proud and commanding manner of his siblings. He seems to be a strong man, perhaps if he didn't Impress he would have become a smith, though from what he said he had been too old. He must be fairly intelligent, he is playing two sides of a chess game. You let your eyes wander the pieces, and see that they are beautifully crafted.
"A gift, from my sister. Beautiful, aren't they? Well done by two of the best gemcrafters in the Weyr. They were a gift four Turns ago, but they still look in perfect shape, don't they? This game, of course, is only a few months old if anything. When I'm done with my Wing chores and Talketh is asleep it's nice to have something to occupy me." You get the idea that he isn't very social, and he takes after Kayan in his manner of being brisk with people.
He notices that once again you are fidgeting, and stands. Bowing to you, he leads you to the door. Before you walk away, you turn back to wish him luck with his new lifemate. He leans against the side of the entrance, the blackness of the dragon chamber behind him. "Thank you, stranger." He pauses again, smiling. "Thank you." Then he turns and disappears into the weyr.
Name: M'kat (Mikat)
Age: 20
Rank: Bronzerider
Dragon: Bronze Talketh
Gender: male
Parents: Bronzerider M'smo, unknown greenrider
Siblings: Brothers- J'simo, Sisters- Kayan and two others
Pets: Blue firelizard Rascal
Personality: Intelligent but slightly anti-social
Appearance: Handsome but dark.
M'kat Impressed at SnowValley Weyr.
M'kat Impressed Rascal at Riveth Weyr.