History

Though she had two other siblings, their family was still considered small compared to the others in the somewhat rural community. Azaylia would be hard pressed to think of any true hardships she's had to go through, and her life before Apprenticeship was a good one. Even still, she found her own quiet, productive way to rebel against her father's preconceived notion that all his daughters would be married off to men who could take care of them.

Azaylia had always had a fondness for animals. As she grew (and grew!) it wasn't unusual for her to rush in and help with a difficult runner, or act as an assistant to her father when birthing bovine calves. It was hard, dirty, utterly exhausting work. And she LOVED it. Still, her mother did attempt to do her best at raising Aza like a proper Holder girl.

Whereas most rebellious children might have sneaked off in her situation, or outwardly abandoned one set of chores in favor of the other, Azaylia would never dream of doing such a thing. Instead, she learned to do her housework quickly and efficiently, as well as quietly. Because, the moment she finished the girl would rush out to see what could be done in the stables. In fact, her helping with the births as well as tending to the sick and injured animals became a regular occurrence.

She could hardly stand by the day's end, stuffing her face full of supper before dragging her aching feet to bed. It was worth it. Calloused fingers didn't hurt so much when she was doing needlepoint with her mother and sister, and soon there was hardly a need to go runnin' for Pa to move something heavy within the home. Her tightening physique was almost as rewarding as making her family's life easier- whether her father realized the true cause or not.

While attending the wedding of her older sister, the frightening truth of it finally dawned on Azaylia. Her father was going to marry her off just as easily as he had done with Daizi. Unless... she did something about it. Much to her surprise, her mother offered help in wearing down the stubborn old man's resolve. Azaylia and her mother had taken up the challenge when she was 10. Four years later, quiet insistence and an obvious passion for the craft had coaxed a reluctant 'alright fine' from her father.

At age 16, she was offered the opportunity to venture out under the guidance of an experienced Journeyman to High Reaches Weyr. Despite the rumors of how riders 'really were', and the fact that just seeing a dragon in the sky would make her lock up and fall over like a fainting goat... it was an adventure! She had never had an adventure before. They always sounded so exciting. And so, after sending a letter to her family (the same day she left the Beastcraft Hall, of course), she set forth with Journeyman Mack for High Reaches Weyr.

Acclimation didn't come as easily to the Apprentice Herder as one might have hoped. Still, Azaylia found herself making friends over the course of 3 turns. Though many of them were riders themselves, her overall fear of dragons was a persistent phobia that plagued the young woman. Which is why it may have surprised many when she asked K'del if she could stand for Cadejoth and Ysavaeth's clutch. Little did most know, this was a ploy in order to disobey a direct command for Azaylia and Journeyman Mack to return to the Beastcrafthall. Political tension between the Weyrs and Holds made it an obvious move for most crafts, and she was not the only one to use candidacy as an escape.

When the eggs hatched, it was the worst and best day of Azaylia's life, in that order. First she was terrorized by a gold hatchling, only to end up Impressing the rampaging Hraedhyth. She did receive a fairly nasty swipe from the dragonet's claws before it was all said and done. Oddly enough the 'attack' (as well as her new bond) seemed to have tempered her fear of dragons.

Now Azaylia is trying desperately not to screw up as one of High Reaches Weyr's newest goldriders. With political tension in the air, her own past mistakes and a hair-trigger gold dragon, it's a lot harder than it sounds!