The only thing she had a talent for, cloud-reading, was considered useful, but hardly a true calling. Even if she had a stronger gift for it than any had in three generations. Maybe it was the title itself that led others to underestimate the gift. "Cloud-reading" sounded like a gathering game. To her, it was more a weather sense. Spending just a few moments in the elements, she could tell what the weather would do that day, later that week, and sometimes, even farther out. Too bad the elders didn't trust her abilities, mostly due to her age, and the fact that, most of the time, it was easy for any clan member to predict the weather. It rarely differed from day to day on the plains. And there had been no major weather events since her ability had surfaced, so there had been no predictions that would justify her claim to a stronger than usual gift.

Her gaze drifted south, and she thought again of the rumors. Some of the southern clans had begun giving out a new rank: Seeker. True, some clans used different names, but it was the same principle; one who leaves to seek out friends and new experiences on foreign worlds. Unfortunately, her clan's elders did not view it as a viable path either. So here she was, given the afternoon to consider the acceptable choices, and make a decision, so her parents could arrange the proper ceremony preparations for the solstice.

Her tail twitched, the only outward sign of her inner debate, which was not going well. Especially if her parents, or worse, the Elders, had been privy to her thoughts. For she had moved beyond considering the unappealing options available to her, and was now considering how best to find passage off-world. There was a small space port near one of the southern villages, if she could manage to get that far.

She tried to think if she had any relatives in any of those villages. Maybe she could request a trip to a ranked cousin, see if they could spark an interest in her for their craft. Unfortunately, she didn't think any relative who had changed clans would be particularly receptive to having a little known cousin drop in on short notice.

Stretching, she slid off her rock and stood up, still gazing at the southern sky. She was so lost in thought, she never heard the older pan-thar slip up behind her.

"And what has my granddaughter wearing such a serious look?" The sound of the scratchy voice of her grandfather startled Jelnai into jumping forward, and she whirled to face the laughing elder.

"Grandfather! When did you get to be so sneaky?" Her heart was racing, and she glared at the elder male, though there was no anger behind the glare. Her grandfather was the only one who seemed to understand that she didn't feel "at home".

"I was not sneaking at all, little one. You were so lost in thought, a herd of velyr could have thundered by and you would have missed them! I called your name twice before I was within reach of you." He laughed again, this time at the chagrin on her face from being caught so unaware. "Don't worry, no one else has been searching for you. Your parents told me where you were, and why. Cloud-reading would be too narrow a path for you, and I think you know that. Even if the Elders would allow the choice. Perhaps if you lived in a more volatile region, where your gifts would be more valued, but not here."

She hung her head, having come to that conclusion herself, though hearing it confirmed did not really make her feel better. "I know. But there is nothing else that speaks to me, at least, not of the options presented to me." She did not mention the caravan tales she had been retelling herself, of seekers and dragons.

But then, with her grandfather, she didn't need to. Tenrak had always been able to read her, almost as well as she read the clouds. "That last caravan that came through, their news of new arrivals caught my attention as well. The Elders know the younglings will be intrigued, but most of them have more conventional callings, and will not be tempted by the lure of the unknown. They think you will fall in line like their grandchildren do." He tweaked her ear, as he always did when she needed cheering up. "I know better; you have too much of your grandmother in you to conform as they wish. Your parents do not fully approve, but they have agreed to allow it. If you choose, I will take you to your grandmother's clan; I have visited her family there on several occasions, and the Elders there have already sent several newly ranked offworld."

Jelnai's eyes had widened with shock as Tenrak supplied the solution to her indecision. But then she frowned. If she chose this path, she would have to wait until the spring equinox at least before she could be ranked. None of the other villages would be close enough for them to arrive before the solstice, even if the Elders would agree to rank a newly arrived younster, without getting to know her strengths and weaknesses. That would put her yet another season behind in training. She started to speak, but Tenrak beat her to it.

"I know, you would be too late for the solstice ceremonies, even if we left this instant, and we haven't the supplies needed for the journey. So leaving this instant is not an option. However, I did have another thought, and while your parents will like it even less, you may find it even more appealing. It appeals to my sense of adventure, and I wish I had been able to do so when I was your age. I will accompany you to the space port, and to your chosen destination. You will not be officially ranked, but it wll not necessarily be needed."

Her jaw had dropped at the words "space port", and Jelnai could not believe her ears. Her grandfather had just offered her a dream come true! For a moment, she couldn't respond, she just stared at him. Finally getting her mouth to function, she blurted out, "Truly? Offworld? Anywhere I choose?" She was still too stunned to even consider that she had no idea where they would go, no idea even what sorts of places there would be to choose from. Unable to think of anything else to say, she threw her arms around the older pan-thar and squeezed, hugging him with all her strength. "Thank you!"

"Thank me once we've explored for a while, that way you can decide if it is a favor I am doing you, or if you would rather have stayed home!" He hugged her back, then continued. "Well, we should get back and talk to your parents if we want to leave in the next few days."