Beach
The cliffs that run along the shore come and go, various weyrs nestled along the tops of them or dug into the walls, but eventually they recede enough to expose a beach. The white sand echoes the rise and fall of the cliffs with a multitude of sandy dunes, endlessly creating tiny valleys that are constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of dragons. The dunes smooth out as the gentle slope approaches the edge of the deep blue water. The sand darkens, and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect.
The beach narrows to the southwest, leaving a path barely wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to a smaller, more sheltered cove. The sands are the same white, the waters the same blue, but they're calmer and more tranquil, more protected from the winds that ruffle Lake Caspian and the currents that tug beneath the surface.
Rough, wide stairs lead up to the meadow above and the road that runs along the top of the cliffs, passing through the fields and heading for the river mouth that can be just barely seen from here. The largest of the staircases up the cliff is located near the docks that jut out onto the peaceful blue waters.
(A bit belated, but here's a Disney Inspired Vig based on Hercules' Go The Distance. Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgnHF2CwrPs)
Don't tell Leirith, but some days it's hard to feel like a fierce little badass. Tonight, huddled under a blanket on the beach while she hides away for an hour or two, Rhodelia feels like the complete opposite.
Such an innocent little question shouldn't leave her shaken like this. It wasn't even directed at her, she just overheard her fellows chatting.
"Are your family coming for the Hatching?"
Rhody nearly dropped the dish she was supposed to be scrubbing when she heard that and thanked Farnath that her back was towards the rest of the room. If her dishwashing was more vigorous than normal when she wrestled her own thoughts for the rest of the afternoon, it's not like the kitchen staff complained.
But are Rhodelia's family coming to the Hatching? First, that would mean she'd have to at least write to them… and since she hadn't exactly done that since the night she slipped out with just another sparsely worded note left behind it doesn't seem like the type of thing you can just put in a letter…
Hey, Mom and Dad,
Sorry I abandoned everything you cared about and just left. I'm fine. I know you look down on bartenders as just simple drink pours with no actual knowledge, but guess what I've been doing for the past Turn? Oh, and then I got Searched so I may or may not Impress, but I'd like to see you there!!!
Hugs and Kisses,
Rhody
As much as she might like to have someone in the stands to cheer when they see her face, Rhodelia doubts that would work. More like have some folks scowling in disapproval ready to drag her back home to Benden immediately in the event that she doesn't Impress…
She isn't entirely sure if she really wants to be a dragonrider, but she definitely knows she doesn't want to go back to Vintner Hall! Especially now that she's abandoned her knot. If she didn't fit in back when she was an apprentice, she definitely wouldn't fit in as 'the girl that couldn't even handle confronting the possibility of flunking out'!
Eventually the desire to find someplace she did belong resulted in her running. With little planning, but things haven't been bad in Xanadu. She ran halfway across the world, and managed to find a job that while she might not be the best at it, nobody has really complained (aside from Nessa, but she complains about everything!). Does she want to do that forever? Does anybody have an answer for what they actually want to do? After enough moping on the beach, Rhodelia finally stands back up and shakes the sand off the blanket.
While she might not have all the answers yet, she's on her way and she'll be there some day. Sure, there may some hiccups along the way, but she can be strong (or badass), and eventually she'll find where she belongs. Or maybe she'll just make the place to belong. That could be worth her while too.