It was assumed that since he was the first born male child, he'd inherit his family's small holdings, split it among his younger siblings perhaps, and marry a sweet young Lady to bring the next generation of little holders into the world.

When he was seven turns old, however, Ganolu became extremely sick. His family couldn't figure out what was wrong with him, he was perpetually ill with some kind of weakness, sometimes unable to even rise from his bed. It was decided to send him to the healers, who lived in the larger Hold above the little scattered cotholds and farms. And while they did determine a course of action about this sickness, to which they didn't inform his parents of the specifics - not only did it not work, as he continued to be frail and unhealthy much of the next several years, but he also developed a strong aversion to being in the chill, close and dark caverns of the main Hold.

Several years later, as he came into puberty and began shotting up in height, his parents often used the threat of sending him "to the Healers" to make him behave. They knew he was petrified of going there again, though they never quite understood exactly why.

The Healers - and the term must be used loosely, because they were hardly guild-trained, and more 'snake oil' salesmen than true mediciners - had kept him locked in what used to be a cold-storage den and simply instructed him "get better". There were hardly lights, but he didn't much mind the dark. It was the chill, that ran through his body with such pain that he eventualy did get better - if only because he learned to ignore his symptoms and beg to be let out.

His younger brother was the first to marry, a little on the young side, when he was but fourteen and Ganolu was fifteen. He'd missed out on many parties, dances, gathers and the like, in the formative years of his youth - so he didn't have connections like the rest of his family did.

He sulked around a particular gather as others raced runners or traded items. He tried dancing, but he was hopelessly bad at it, and decided to save himself the embarrassment of doing so again until he learned more steps. So it was that he was moping around the back of a tent when a particular rider came wandering by, and paused. A double-take, when made by a rider, was usually a good sign.

"And what's a guy like you doing alone at a gather?" She was pretty, with brown hair and a cute smile... Ganolu blinked, and shrugged.

"I'm just ... not that into gathers, I guess."

"I bet you are," she said, "but if you're not, would you like to see my dragon? She'd like to meet you."

Ganolu just stood there, unable to form words. Until, "your dragon - wants to meet me?"

"Of course, that's what search dragons do, don't they?" She giggled, and introduced herself as Bambi, rider of green Mysnoth. She pulled him toward the area where numerous dragons rested while their riders enjoyed the gather - he spotted the green because she immediately rose to her feet, stretched her wings into the air, and came gently over to the pair. She proceeded to snuffle and sniff all over Ganolu, like a dog searching for the treat hidden somewhere. And in the end, Mysnoth apparently informed her rider that it was a good choice. "What is your name, then?" Bambi asked.

"Ganolu," he said, still distracted by the sight of the brilliant green dragoness.

"Well Ganolu, you've been searched. I would hope to see you again shortly, I'm at the --"

"Wait, what?" Ganolu said, dumbfounded. "I ... I can't be searched, I've got... well, ... I ..."

It would be perfect, he realized. His brother would take the Hold, that wasn't a problem. He was far better suited to it anyway. And, he could possibly fly on a dragon? How opposite of the cold, cramped 'healers' hall that would be! Cold maybe, but up in the sky!

"I would like that very much," he corrected himself a moment later, before Bambi had to resort to other forms of cajoling him into accepting. "I'll tell my family, and pack up."

"Good!" Bambi happily clapped for him. "I'll meet you at the harper's tent, later, then."

So his fate was changed, his new life approached rapidly enough. He would have to try harder to be more physically apt, though he wasn't truly clumsy he wasn't very strong either. At least he could read adequately well, and would have no problem with whatever work was necessary to become a rider. He no longer had to embarrass himself around girls - wouldn't they come to him? Weyrs were supposedly such dens of sexual depravity to hear his mother say it, that he laughed to himself thinking on it. Perhaps he'd get to raise that family after all. Just, in a very different way than he'd ever been brought up to expect!

***

I'll never be alone again, G'olu thought to himself. The hatching had been wonderful: the first to hatch was his beautiful velvet blue Osath. He chuckled, they weren't the first to Impress, that honor had gone to the abruptly appearing green who befriended Ylsa. He remembered because Osath demanded it, half-asleep in the weyrling barracks as G'olu and the rest feasted.

He'd made such a great show of erupting from the egg, though his footing was a bit unsteady and he wobbled on the way to the boys. He lurched -- I paced!-- before them, and was about to choose...

‘How rude,’ the little blue huffed, surprising Ganolu. The young man had not been expected the voice.‘I had this witty introduction all planned out, and SHE had to go and ruin it,’ the dark blue hatchling had sat himself down in front of the dark haired man and was staring at him somberly, obviously waiting for his agreement.“I do apologize for her rudeness Osath… is there anything I can do to make it better?” he asked, a little unsure of himself.

‘Well, I suppose you could start with feeding me,’ the little blue’s list continued to grow as he and G’olu made their way from the sands.

That they did, and now... Now, he was a rider. G'olu was going to be able to prove himself to everyone - show his family that he wasn't weak and he wasn't 'second rate'. And with a blue... there would certainly be girls on greens available when they rose!

***

Bond: Ganolu [ G'olu ]
Name: Osath
Gender: Male
Color: Blue
Size [Adult]: Height-13'4" ; Length-40'7"
Personality: Dependable, and a little slow to make decisions. He likes to over-dramatize things from time to time, but overall is a sturdy dragon, with plenty of courage.
Abilities: Telepathy, Teleportation, Flight, Assisted Firebreath