“The very thought of that glorious moment made Keevan’s breath catch in his throat. To be chosen—to be a dragonrider! To sit astride the neck of a winged beast with jeweled eyes: to be his friend, in telepathic communion with him for life; to be his companion in good times and fighting extremes; to fly effortlessly over the lands of Pern!”

Impressing a dragon will give Keevan a friend and a lifetime of “telepathic communion.” Keevan exists on the sidelines, not quite fitting in and always falling behind his peers, causing him to long for an equal and to never again fear being left behind. Being a dragonrider will also allow him to “fly effortlessly” over Pern. For so long, Keevan has worked harder than any other candidate to prove himself despite his small size. Not only will being chosen prove to himself and everyone else that he’s worthy, but it will also provide him a reprieve from the ceaseless effort he has invested throughout his life.

“Keevan was forced to wonder why being small was reprehensible. People were always calling him ‘babe’ and shooing him away as being ‘too small’ or ‘too young’ for this or that. Keevan was constantly working, twice as hard as any other boy his age, to prove himself capable. What if his muscles weren’t as big as Beterli’s? They were just as hard. And if he couldn’t overpower anyone in a wrestling match, he could outdistance everyone in a footrace.”

Keevan’s size is something he can’t escape, despite his efforts. While others of normal or larger size are assumed capable, Keevan is stuck working twice as hard to earn the approval that others are granted automatically. Though there are instances when Keevan displays internalized bias and self-doubt due to his size, he is aware that his unique strengths, such as speed and resolve, lie outside physical size and strength.