I watched as three of those in the line in front of me exited the tiny canvas tent victorious, gleefully clutching eggs of shining indigo, shocking ruby and a glittering gold.

That left a mere four eggs to choose their rider for the next years. I had seen a few men and women, of different classes and backgrounds, leave empty-handed and downtrodden, but even so, I didn’t like my chances.

I would have to be a bit rougher to get a swipe at glory.

“Excuse me,” I whispered, finding that my voice would not come out as loud as I wanted it to. Some of the older men and women in the queue gave me glares of discontent, but a pretty girl with long night-coloured hair and deep blue eyes stepped graciously aside so that I could, albeit hesitantly, finally manoeuvre myself through to be in front of the table. Sometimes, a lack of height had its uses.

A single lamp displayed the wooden table in front of me, and lit up the face of a couple of Elders who were watching the eggs. Their eyes flicked up and down, quickly observing my odd attire, but I believed that they could see as little of me as I could of them, even with the external light that was peeking in through several cracks in the canvas. I guessed it was all in the manner of fairness…even if the fifty gold coins were not exactly poor-man’s change.

I gazed firmly at the table, as though I’d be able to pick an egg just from looking, and looked straight from left to right, ignoring the burning gaze of the Elders. The three eggs that had already been taken left gaps that seemed as big as a valley, especially when every egg counted for something. I let my hands hover over the second-from-left egg: a rich purple one, gleaming in the dim light. The colour amazed me, and I felt happiness, as though that egg was the one, but no stream of energy surfaced when I placed my palms onto it. Disappointing.

Next, moving quickly past the second and third gaps, I glimpsed the emerald egg.

It was the colour of grass that had just been kissed by morning dew, and it was daintily sparkling lightly. As I gazed down at the egg, light gleamed off every facet.

“If I may hurry you…” An Elder muttered in front of me. Behind, I could hear the grumbles of the others who were still waiting their turn.
“Sorry,” I gasped, transfixed.

Closing my eyes, I placed both hands onto the egg carefully. The eruption of sudden power that flowed from my fingertips and from the egg was unbelievable. I could see the radiant light, even through my eyelids. I could taste the electricity that was dancing on my tongue.

Yes!  I screamed in my head.

“Welcome to the community, Dragon Rider,” said the middle Elder, sliding the dragon egg out from beneath my hands and formally giving it to me.

“Your name, madam?” The Elder asked me.

“M-Manona Whiterbey,” I stuttered, surprised at how much my voice was shaking with adrenaline.

Grinning, I gripped the egg tightly, never wanting to let it go, and pushed my way out of the tent. I watched the adviser, Razok stare at me and smile a little. I didn’t like his greedy smile, and I gathered that he was not a person that many people liked. The farm boy with the sky egg still glared at the adviser too.

And so, I walked over to the line of the ‘chosen few’. There I stood apprehensively, watching the other new riders watching me.

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DISCLAIMER: We are NOT intending to plagiarize Christopher Paolini and his wonderful work: The Inheritance Cycle. We are only using his great concept of Dragon Riders (:
Events, places, people are all fiction.

Characters

Lyred Drillast
Age: 17
Appearance: dark brown hair that reaches to his eyebrows, tall and lithe body complexion. Dark amazon green eyes.
Personality: a dreamer and adventurer, he dislikes injustices and corruption. Very loyal, defensive, and protective. completely trusts in his instincts even though he is very logical.
--Dragon: Rahell
Appearance: Dark red scales, sharp white teeth, his talon and spikes on his neck and tail are white, has slightly curved horns on the sides of his head, two smaller horns on the side of his chin. Very skillful at flying and suited to the sky.
Personality: deep bond with Tallen, both of them are curious and adventurous. Friendly and supportive.
Author: Lunexian

Lilyth Astraen
Age: 17
Appearance: Long midnight hair to her hips, a fierce, cat-like expression, with narrow, piercing indigo eyes, sharp highboned cheeks, sly, thin lips and a matching slender, long-limbed body form, enhanced by the magic of the Dragon in which she is bond to.
Personality: Fierce, independent, clever, yet warm and intelligent; on occasions incredibly silent and uncertain, and others terribly outspoken.
--Dragon: Ildri
Apperance: Deep, glittering violet, being moderately large but not huge and not small either. Eyes and form very similar to her Rider's, sly and feline.
Personality: Youthful and fiery, short-tempered, "sharp-tongued", with vivacious attitude that Lilyth can only rein in at times. She sometimes only get herself and her Rider into trouble, even with the best intentions.
Author: ZillaGirl

Corrina Starlight
Age:18
Appearance: Waist-length silvery blonde hair, grey slanting eyes, full lips. Petite, with a slender figure. Feminine, and slightly muscular.
Personality: Quiet and thoughtful, only says things when they need to be said. Kind, loving, clever although protective and fiercely loyal. Loves flying.
--Dragon's: Ketu
Appearance: Electric blue, 10ft. foot to shoulder, 26ft. tail to nose, 5ft. shoulder to shoulder, 11ft wings. Long neck. Head spines, glittering white fangs and claws.
Personality: Much like Corrina, quiet and thoughtful, very clever. Has an awful temper when provoked.
Author: Stargazer

Manona Whiterbey
Appearance: Long straight dark brown hair, halfway down her back; brown-grey large round eyes; has a fringe that covers the tops of her eyes slightly; round face, with a broad nose, and average sized and shaped lips (but a pointed cupid's bow) ; slightly tanned skin from working on a farm all her life; rather short in height, but has strong arms.
Personality: A bit uncertain about who she is, can be wild and gets bored easily because she is excitable, adventurous, and not timid. Wants to be somebody, but is slightly held back by her father, who is a strict magician and does not approve of dragon riders. Manona has no magic herself though. Her mother died when she was very little and she has no siblings.
~~~Dragon: Tinu
Appearance: Emerald scales, amber eyes. Long sharp ivory claws, sharp but small, still-growing fangs, a few small ivory spikes down his back.
Personality: Patient, but can be protective and stern when necessary; slightly shy; young.
Author: SumnerzAngel

updated Feb 1 '11 by LuneXian