R'layn's Log Dump

OOC: Log catch-up; tagging

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:25 GMT

I'm going to go through this whole journal and fully update it with logs, and revamp the tagging system. Whoo! :)

OOC: Dating Personality Meme

Fri, 16 May 2008 13:27:56 GMT

The Loverboy

Random Gentle Love Master (RGLM)

FACT:You embody the German principle of Konstantzusammenschaft, which is best described in English (without using the obscure English word "sammenschaft") as "eternal togethermanship".

Well-liked. Well-established. You are The Loverboy. Loverboys thrive in committed, steady relationships—as opposed to, say, Playboys, who want sex without too much attachment.

You've had many relationships and nearly all of them have been successful. You're a nice guy, you know the ropes, and even if you can be a little hasty with decisions, most girls think of you as a total catch. Your hastiness comes off as spontaneity most of the time anyhow, making you especially popular in your circle of friends, too.

You know not to make the typical Loverboy mistake of choosing someone who appreciates your good humor and popularity, but who offers nothing in return. You belong with someone outgoing, independent, and creative. Otherwise, you'll get bored. And then instead of surprising her with flowers or a practical joke, you'll surprise her by leaving.

Your exact male opposite:

The Billy Goat

Deliberate Brutal Sex Dreamer

Always avoid: The Nymph (DBSD)

Consider: The Window Shopper (RGLD), The Peach (RGLM)

Link: The Online Dating Persona Test | OkCupid - singles | Dating

Log: Hangovers and Aching Muscles

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:21:37 GMT

IC Date: 21/08/15
Location: Bathing Pools
Characters: Jascela, R'layn, Seliene
Synopsis: R'layn's soothing his aching muscles. Seliene is soothing a headache. Jascela joins the two in the bathing pools.

Bathing Pools -- Ista Weyr
This is a steamy cavern with very smooth walls and floor. Once some kind of lava-tube with a huge bubble in it, a hot spring was piped in and fills the center hollow. The luxurious bathing pool seems at least 40 feet across, and reaches a depth of 7 feet in the center. The surface of the water ripples as natural underground hot streams provide the pool with constant fresh water. Several large benches and tables provide enough space for towels and personal effects around the cavern.
A constant level of fifty people or more at a time populate the huge pool.
A long passageway leads out into the lower caverns.

Seliene walks in from the east cavern.

Jascela walks in from the east cavern.

It's early morning, but the bathing pools are busy. That's not unusual, really, given that they're busy throughout the day, but right now there's a large contingent of riders who have got off dawn sweeps and are soaking in the large pool. R'layn is among them, though there are spaces near him - maybe he stinks more than the rest, or something. The rider is soaking quite happily, leaning forward so that he can massage some sweetsand into his left shoulder.

Seliene moves her way in through the throng, looking very much like she just got up after an 'entertaining' evening. She finds a relatively empty place to dump her things, then procedes to strip down and slip into the water within arm's distance of R'layn. As the warm water hits, she closes her eyes and sighs.

R'layn continues to work at his shoulder, though he watches Seliene as she slips into the pool right near him. "Tired?" The rider asks with a slight, lopsided smile. He stops massaging his shoulder then, dipping his hand into the pool to wash the remaining sweetsand off. That done, he sinks into the water until he's in up to the base of his neck, exhaling happily.

Seliene opens one eye to regard whoever just spoke to her - ah, the bronzerider. The other eye opens and she lifts a wet hand to rub her face. "I keep saying I'll never drink a certain thing again and I always seem to forget after a few cups of it. Funny how that works." She skews her head from side to side as if trying to work the kinks out of her neck. "I feel like Eileyth slept on my head."

R'layn knows hwo that is, to judge by his knowing grin. "S'always the way of it, eh? Still, at least you had fun while you drank, hm?" He pulls himself out of the water some, rubbing briefly at his shoulder and then moving his left arm back and forth, easing up the muscles. He watches Seliene, trying to put a name to her face, no doubt. The other problem with being in the pools is, of course, that there are no knots or badges. "Eileyth? You're not in Noemie's Wing, right?"

Seliene shakes her head - carefully - then arches her shoulders until they pop. "No, I'm in Caitlyn's wing. If I don't get rid of this headache and miss sweeps, she'll hang me from the starstones, I'm sure." Another yawn and she looks over at the bronzerider once more. "I'm Seliene," she offers.

Jascela steps in from the outer hallway. She's looking a bit ruffled as well, though hers looks to come from being bundled up in riding gear for several hours, even though the heavy leathers are gone by now.

R'layn nods at the Wing comment, then winces at the next sentence, about the headache. "Drink plenty of water? Sometimes helps with the headache side of things, at least. If not, the Healers don't have to know why you /have/ a headache," he adds, smiling slyly. He leans back against the lip of the pool, getting comfortable. "R'layn," he replies to Seliene's offer of her name. "You Impressed at...Nalaieth's last clutch, right?" Movement catches his eye then, and Ril looks up to see Jascela entering the bathing pools.

Seliene nods, following R'layn's gaze as his eyes drift toward Jascela's entrance. "I suppose they don't but I'd rather not fly with a hangover today." She reaches behind her and grabs her pouch of soapsand. "Yeah, I did. Seems like it was just yesterday."

Jascela steps over toward the pool and plops down unceremoniously on a bench, letting out a soft groan. She waves toward R'layn and Seliene. "Hey there."

"Never an enjoyable experience," R'layn comments with more sincerity than usual. Then he's right back to happy-Ril again, nodding rapidly at Seliene's confirmation. "It always does, doesn't it? I reckon that, even when we're ancient and grey, it'll still feel like we Impressed only yesterday." Then Jascela's greeting them both, and Ril lifts a hand out of the water to wave - gently, of course, so he doesn't flick water all over the place. "Morning, Jascela."

Seliene pours out a measure of soapsand and starts scrubbing at her arms. She offers the bluerider a quick smile. "Morning, Jas," she murmurs.

Jascela stretches her arms up above her, then reaches behind her to start untangling her hair. "G'morning. How're you two so far today?"

R'layn falls silent as the others become more quiet, reaching behind and to the side to scoop some sweetsand from a nearby pot. He works it into his left arm, kneading the upper muscles. "Aching," he comments to Jascela, though he doesn't sound too annoyed about it. "How about you?"

Seliene grunts softly, rinsing off her arms. "I'll live," she reports. "I always seem to, anyway." She smiles slightly and dunks her head under the water to wet her hair.

Jascela grimaces a bit and nods toward R'lain. "Same here. We had early sweeps this morning, and hit some rough air for a while. Tansith got bounced around pretty good for a while."

R'layn looks at Seliene curiously, cracks a half-smile, then looks at Jascela again, nodding. "Aye, I had dawn sweeps over the Hold. It's the one thing about being near the sea - lots of cross-winds and the like. Soaking's good for the muscles, at least." His hand moves down the arm now, working small circles into the muscle beneath the flesh.

Seliene continues to wash, working on her her next. "Something to look forward to this afternoon for me. Hopefully, that air will calm down by afternoon."

R'layn nods. "It's worst in the mornings, I find. By the afternoon it calms down - in the summer, at least." Grinning, he pulls himself up and climbs out, grabbing for his towel and wrapping it around himself, mock-'brring' as his wet skin chills rapidly. "I'll catch you again, Seliene. Take care of that headache." With those well-meaning words, he leaves.

You walk to the east cavern.

Firelizard Hunt!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:19:37 GMT

Location: Ista Weyr Bowl - Southeast; Shipfish Island
Characters: Alexiel, Caitlyn, Noemie, R'layn
Synopsis: Alexiel leads a fire-lizard hunt.

Ista Weyr Bowl -- Southeast
Clusters of dragons group around the large entrance to the living cavern. Smaller entrances line up to lead to the lower caverns and the infirmary. Smoke issues forth from square holes cut into the mountain high above the living cavern. The bowl extends to the northwest, and high above, the southernmost points of the spindles reach for the sky.
Daylight shines through the bowl, and the usually busy entrance to the living cavern is in constant use. Riders and residents move about across the bowl and through the caverns. There is no end to the activity during the daylight hours.
The wet summer season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering temperatures. Today, a gray blanket of clouds dominates the sky and a nice, light breeze carries the scent of sea air.
Weyrs and entrances to the lower caverns are visible on all three sides of the Weyr walls that bound you.

Contents:
Alexiel
Talurith
Marsath

Alexiel saunters out into the bowl, looking around as if she were searching for someone or something. Everything about her manner says that she's there with a purpose.

R'layn is out checking over Talurith's straps, but he looks over at Alexiel, eyebrows lifting as he calls, "Hey there, uh," there's a quick mental hunt for a name. "Alexiel? Looking for something?" He gives Talurith's straps a distracted tug, still watching the girl, and the dragon snorts. Not so tight, thank you.

Alexiel turns her gaze to R'layn and Talurith as her name is called and her face seems to brighten for a moment. "Hey R'layn, actually, I am looking for something, or someone rather. Are you and that handsome bronze busy today?"

"Someone? Oh, well...nothing we can't leave for a bit." That grin is definitely mischevious. "You need some help?" Talurith snorts again,t his time nudging R'layn gently, but Alexiel's compliment elicits a pleased croon from the dragon, warm air wafting over R'layn. "Eugh, you need to brush your teeth," the rider tells him, then winks at Alexiel.

Alexiel can't help but chuckle. "I was hoping I could get a ride between to Shipfish Island." She walks over to where Ril and the bronze are and leans in close to Ril, her voice dropping low as if she doesn't want anyone else to know. "I'm looking for wild firelizard clutches."

Now R'layn's eyebrows almost disappear into his hair. "Firelizard clutches?" There's no sound of disapproval in his voice though - just excitement, and enthusiasm now bubbles up. "Well, me 'n Tal'd most certainly give you a ride there. You should have luck with warm sands," he adds, still managing to keep hsi voice low and secretive despite his excitement at the situation.

Alexiel nods, pleased and excited to hear that the pair will help her. "I'm hoping I'll get lucky today. I'd be happy to find even a small clutch..." she trails off for a minute as she eyes the pair closely, a calculating look on her face. "Say, why don't you two join in the hunt?"

R'layn agrees. "Any clutch is a good find." Then- "Join the hunt?" He looks up at Talurith, and there's a silent exchange. Then a grin spreads acorss R'layn's face as he looks back at Alexiel. "We'd be more than happy to. Hopefully Tal here won't tread on any clutches though." He elbows the leg behidn him affectionately, getting a rumble in reply. "I remember firelizard hunts when I was young," Ril muses, albeit briefly. "It's warm enough for them here, anyway."

Alexiel giggles at the comment about Talurith stepping on clutches. "Certainly wouldn't be a good thing if he smushed a clutch." She glances down at herself, checking to make sure she has everything she needs and looks back up at the pair. "Well, I'm ready to go whenever you two are."

R'layn grins, patting Talurith's leg. "We're ready to go!" He nimbly climbs to Talurith's neck, the bronze's bent knee and R'layn's extended hand offerings for Alexiel to climb up, too. "Just hop up and strap yourself in."

Talurith
Seated snugly between Talurith's neckridges, you have quite the view from up on the large bronze. Not just of far down at the ground, but also of the bronze himself, up close and personal. The gold-green of his 'ridges sparkles as though with water droplets, and the entirety of the hide you can see from where you sit is spattered here and there with muddier brown-bronze. He has a musky dragon scent, though there's an alluring aroma lingering beneath, conjuring up thoughts of memories and stories to be told, mystical and enchanting.
You climb up onto Talurith's neck.

Below, Alexiel takes the offered hand and climbs up behind Ril.

Alexiel climbs up onto Talurith's back.

Above you, Kintryth soars over on the winds from the western opening of the Bowl.

Above you, Kintryth glides lower into the bowl, eventually backwinging gracefully near the living caverns to the southeast, scattering several firelizards on his way.

Below, Kintryth approaches from above, the wind from his wings stirring the air into a great rush as he lands.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn joins up with the 'hunting' party, her face eager. On her shoulders are both her blue boys, tails wrapped a little too firmly about her neck. "Aack...*easy* boys!" she warns them. Chirpeling, Book and Hider loosen up their grasps a little. "Hey Alex, Ril!"

Alexiel waves to Caitlyn. "Hey Cait, going to join us on a hunt for a firelizard clutch on Shipfish Island?"

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn nods enthusiastically, grinning broadly. "Hider said there was something potentially fun going on down here, and I was bored, so I came down. Boy, he was right!" the woman chuckles.

R'layn waves to Caitlyn too, while Talurith greets dragon and rider with a hearty bugle. "Just let me know when you want us to take off," he tells Alexiel, buckling in his straps and checking both his and the dragonhealer's.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Kintryth gives his bronze clutchsib a bright warble, his left foreleg wobbling a bit as he shifts his weight, readying himself for a launch to the sky.

Alexiel gives the woman a grin and a nod. "Glad you could join us Cait. Now, let's get off the ground and get to searching cause we're wasting daylight." She gives Ril a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I'm ready to take off anytime."

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn is all ready, too, and gives both humans a flashing grin, waiting for Talurith to take off before Kint does. "You first! I have to follow someone!"

R'layn nods. "Up we go then." Talurith's leg muscles bunch up, and then the bronze jumps straight up, body stretching and wings pulling back to lend him altitude.

You rise into the air.

Ista Weyr Lower Bowl Sky

Below, Kintryth flies up from below.

Below, Kintryth is right on Talurith's tail, the blue able to take off faster than his huge sib. Playfully, Kint swirls and dips around the bronze, causing Cait to laugh aboard his neck. "He's playful!" she shouts out.

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith seems proud of his clutchsibling's agility and speed. << Oh, I think we're to help look for firelizards. And we're not to step on any eggs? >> He sounds puzzled by that warning - why would they?

Dragon> Talurith senses that Kintryth is a strange mix of heat and cool raindrops, his thoughts swirling somewhat like his body is. <

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Location: Ista Weyr Bowl - Southeast; Shipfish Island
Characters: Alexiel, Caitlyn, Noemie, R'layn
Synopsis: Alexiel leads a fire-lizard hunt.

<lj-cut text="Log">
Ista Weyr Bowl -- Southeast
Clusters of dragons group around the large entrance to the living cavern. Smaller entrances line up to lead to the lower caverns and the infirmary. Smoke issues forth from square holes cut into the mountain high above the living cavern. The bowl extends to the northwest, and high above, the southernmost points of the spindles reach for the sky.
Daylight shines through the bowl, and the usually busy entrance to the living cavern is in constant use. Riders and residents move about across the bowl and through the caverns. There is no end to the activity during the daylight hours.
The wet summer season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering temperatures. Today, a gray blanket of clouds dominates the sky and a nice, light breeze carries the scent of sea air.
Weyrs and entrances to the lower caverns are visible on all three sides of the Weyr walls that bound you.

Contents:
Alexiel
Talurith
Marsath

Alexiel saunters out into the bowl, looking around as if she were searching for someone or something. Everything about her manner says that she's there with a purpose.

R'layn is out checking over Talurith's straps, but he looks over at Alexiel, eyebrows lifting as he calls, "Hey there, uh," there's a quick mental hunt for a name. "Alexiel? Looking for something?" He gives Talurith's straps a distracted tug, still watching the girl, and the dragon snorts. Not so tight, thank you.

Alexiel turns her gaze to R'layn and Talurith as her name is called and her face seems to brighten for a moment. "Hey R'layn, actually, I am looking for something, or someone rather. Are you and that handsome bronze busy today?"

"Someone? Oh, well...nothing we can't leave for a bit." That grin is definitely mischevious. "You need some help?" Talurith snorts again,t his time nudging R'layn gently, but Alexiel's compliment elicits a pleased croon from the dragon, warm air wafting over R'layn. "Eugh, you need to brush your teeth," the rider tells him, then winks at Alexiel.

Alexiel can't help but chuckle. "I was hoping I could get a ride between to Shipfish Island." She walks over to where Ril and the bronze are and leans in close to Ril, her voice dropping low as if she doesn't want anyone else to know. "I'm looking for wild firelizard clutches."

Now R'layn's eyebrows almost disappear into his hair. "Firelizard clutches?" There's no sound of disapproval in his voice though - just excitement, and enthusiasm now bubbles up. "Well, me 'n Tal'd most certainly give you a ride there. You should have luck with warm sands," he adds, still managing to keep hsi voice low and secretive despite his excitement at the situation.

Alexiel nods, pleased and excited to hear that the pair will help her. "I'm hoping I'll get lucky today. I'd be happy to find even a small clutch..." she trails off for a minute as she eyes the pair closely, a calculating look on her face. "Say, why don't you two join in the hunt?"

R'layn agrees. "Any clutch is a good find." Then- "Join the hunt?" He looks up at Talurith, and there's a silent exchange. Then a grin spreads acorss R'layn's face as he looks back at Alexiel. "We'd be more than happy to. Hopefully Tal here won't tread on any clutches though." He elbows the leg behidn him affectionately, getting a rumble in reply. "I remember firelizard hunts when I was young," Ril muses, albeit briefly. "It's warm enough for them here, anyway."

Alexiel giggles at the comment about Talurith stepping on clutches. "Certainly wouldn't be a good thing if he smushed a clutch." She glances down at herself, checking to make sure she has everything she needs and looks back up at the pair. "Well, I'm ready to go whenever you two are."

R'layn grins, patting Talurith's leg. "We're ready to go!" He nimbly climbs to Talurith's neck, the bronze's bent knee and R'layn's extended hand offerings for Alexiel to climb up, too. "Just hop up and strap yourself in."

Talurith
Seated snugly between Talurith's neckridges, you have quite the view from up on the large bronze. Not just of far down at the ground, but also of the bronze himself, up close and personal. The gold-green of his 'ridges sparkles as though with water droplets, and the entirety of the hide you can see from where you sit is spattered here and there with muddier brown-bronze. He has a musky dragon scent, though there's an alluring aroma lingering beneath, conjuring up thoughts of memories and stories to be told, mystical and enchanting.
You climb up onto Talurith's neck.

Below, Alexiel takes the offered hand and climbs up behind Ril.

Alexiel climbs up onto Talurith's back.

Above you, Kintryth soars over on the winds from the western opening of the Bowl.

Above you, Kintryth glides lower into the bowl, eventually backwinging gracefully near the living caverns to the southeast, scattering several firelizards on his way.

Below, Kintryth approaches from above, the wind from his wings stirring the air into a great rush as he lands.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn joins up with the 'hunting' party, her face eager. On her shoulders are both her blue boys, tails wrapped a little too firmly about her neck. "Aack...*easy* boys!" she warns them. Chirpeling, Book and Hider loosen up their grasps a little. "Hey Alex, Ril!"

Alexiel waves to Caitlyn. "Hey Cait, going to join us on a hunt for a firelizard clutch on Shipfish Island?"

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn nods enthusiastically, grinning broadly. "Hider said there was something potentially fun going on down here, and I was bored, so I came down. Boy, he was right!" the woman chuckles.

R'layn waves to Caitlyn too, while Talurith greets dragon and rider with a hearty bugle. "Just let me know when you want us to take off," he tells Alexiel, buckling in his straps and checking both his and the dragonhealer's.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Kintryth gives his bronze clutchsib a bright warble, his left foreleg wobbling a bit as he shifts his weight, readying himself for a launch to the sky.

Alexiel gives the woman a grin and a nod. "Glad you could join us Cait. Now, let's get off the ground and get to searching cause we're wasting daylight." She gives Ril a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I'm ready to take off anytime."

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn is all ready, too, and gives both humans a flashing grin, waiting for Talurith to take off before Kint does. "You first! I have to follow someone!"

R'layn nods. "Up we go then." Talurith's leg muscles bunch up, and then the bronze jumps straight up, body stretching and wings pulling back to lend him altitude.

You rise into the air.

Ista Weyr Lower Bowl Sky

Below, Kintryth flies up from below.

Below, Kintryth is right on Talurith's tail, the blue able to take off faster than his huge sib. Playfully, Kint swirls and dips around the bronze, causing Cait to laugh aboard his neck. "He's playful!" she shouts out.

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith seems proud of his clutchsibling's agility and speed. << Oh, I think we're to help look for firelizards. And we're not to step on any eggs? >> He sounds puzzled by that warning - why would they?

Dragon> Talurith senses that Kintryth is a strange mix of heat and cool raindrops, his thoughts swirling somewhat like his body is. <<they think="think" we="we" are="are" bumbling,="bumbling," sometimes.="sometimes." we="we" know="know" not="not" to="to" squash="squash" humans,="humans," so="so" why="why" would="would" we="we" squash="squash" firelizards?="firelizards?" i="I" am="am" always="always" careful="careful" of="of" book="Book" and="and" hider.="Hider.">>

Alexiel chuckles lightly at the blue's antics. "And I thought he was the serious one of the group," she calls out.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn laughs loudly as Book and Hider flick from her shoulders to the sky, spiralling around her blue dragon in a frisky copy of Kint whirling around Talurith.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with <>

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith agrees wholeheartedly with that. << Two firelizards would be good company. Why would any dragon squash them, or others? >> There's a pause for a word from R'layn, and then he adds, << R'layn says we go Between to Shipfish Island now. >> There follows the image of the island, as seen from the sky, with amazing clarity. << Hunting firelizards is fun! Or so I presume. >> There's a hint of a bashful grin in those words.

R'layn grins over at Caitlyn and Kintryth, then lifts his hand. "Shipfish Island!" He's beaming as Talurith vanishes Between with his passengers.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn nods as she gets the crisp visualization from Kintryth, via Talurith. "Got it"

Below, Talurith disappears into Between.

Between
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest!
You suddenly emerge...

Sky Above Shipfish Island

Below, Talurith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Below, Kintryth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Alexiel, releasing the breath of air she'd been holding, looks around as they come out of Between. A quick scan of the island from the sky and she catches sight of the beach below. "Best place to land would probably be that wide strip of beach of there," she calls out to the two riders as she points to the spot she's referring to.

Below, Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn nods enthusiastically at ALexiel, giving her a 'thumbs-up' of understanding. Again Book and Hider zip from her shoulders, now that they're safely emerged from *between*, and chitter excitedly at the sight of this new place below them.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with <>

R'layn peers down at the spot Alexiel points at, Talurith craning his head round too. The dragon's body follows, gliding down towards the beach. "Looks it," Ril agrees with Alexiel, calling over the rushing wind that's becoming louder as Talurith's speed increases ever so slightly as he aims for that smooth beach.

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith comments, << Nowhere is as pretty as Ista - our home. But, >> and he can be felt to be drawing in every sight, every smell and breeze, << This is a very interesting and amazing place. >>

You dive down towards the strip of sand facing the bay.

Shipfish Island - Fine Sand Beach

Below, Kintryth descends down from above, and sends up a flurry of sand when he touches down.

Below, Talurith's wings throw up sand as he lands, and once he's come to a complete stop he lifts a foot to examine the sand on it, sniffing at it with interest. "Yep, it's different." R'layn rolls his eyes at an unheard comment, though he's grinning as he unbuckles everyone and slips down to the bronze's knee, then the beach.

You climb down from Talurith's neck.

Shipfish Island - Fine Sand Beach
Tall, slim-trunked trees creep through the sandy soil almost down to the beachfront, where slender sea grasses and bright green withies populate the narrow stretch of sand. The warm breeze carries a whisper of southern clime to your senses as you stroll along the oceanside. The sand here is perfectly fine and smooth, unmarred by brush or rocks. Driftwood lies scattered randomly across the shore, worn smooth and bleached by the sun, and every so often a small seabird will dodge the wavelets in its pursuit of prey. Another lazy summer afternoon seems to drag without a sign of cloud in the sky.
A small, winding, and almost grown-over path leads away to the west into the dense forest, while to the south the beach grows rocky, hiding all manners of almost inaccesible nooks and crevices within its stony, sea-worn grasp.

Contents:
Kintryth
Talurith

Kintryth skims in for a landing after Talurith is settled, his wingtips calling up twin sand vorticies as he backwings. His smaller form comfortably settled near the bronze, the blue gives a chirp of curiosity, his head and neck craning about to take in the new sights.

Upon Kintryth, Caitlyn giggles at something unsaid, clapping her blue on the neck with rough affection, then unbuckling and skidding down his proffered forearm. "I'm glad I don't have as far to slide down as you do, Ril! Tal's gargantuan... And I thought Vildaeth was big, once!"

Alexiel climbs down from Talurith's back.

Caitlyn climbs down from Kintryth's neck.

Alexiel slides from the bronzes dragon's neck ridges to the sand below. Once on her feet again, she turns to grin and dragons and riders. "Welcome to Shipfish Island everyone. Our goal today is to find a wild firelizard clutch and if we find one, hopefully, transport it back to the weyr."

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with << I shall look for shells for mine, while she is busy looking for firelizard eggs. I found two large shells for her on Ista's beaches a few sevendays ago, and mine said one was still alive...and held a pearl inside. >>

Caitlyn chuckles at her searching blue, affection strong in her gaze as she turns back towards the two of you. "Okay, one clutch - hopefully a gold's - coming up!" She sounds more optimistic than usual, probably given the new surroundings, the good company, and the fun of the upcoming task.

Kintryth chuffs with a certain excitement, his neck a tad arched, tail wriggling almost playfully. Already, the blue is investigating - his nose whuffling atop the sands, his body moving carefully as he waddles down towards the withies.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with << I shall look for shells for mine, while she is busy looking for firelizard eggs. I found two large shells for her on Ista's beaches a few sevendays ago, and mine said one was still alive...and held a pearl inside. >>

R'layn laughs, looking over at Caitlyn. "Believe me, when I was itching his hide when he was growing...I'm just glad he *stopped* growing in the end." He gives Tal's leg an affectionate slap, though the bronze is too busy looking around him to notice. Ril looks at Alexiel then, suddenly serious. "Greens're usually eaten out by tunnelsnakes and the like, so a gold it is." There's a grin at Caitlyn's enthusiasm, and then he scratches his head. "Are we spreading out to look around?"

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith ponders that, the image of a necklace made of pearls strung onto string swirling into view, rippling briefly before it clarifies. << Like these? R'layn's mother has one, she likes pearls. >> Then there's a curious question. << Did Caitlyn like the pearl? Do all ladies like pearls? >>

Caitlyn frowns thoughtully, then looking at Ril again, nodding. "That seems like it'd be the best way to cover more ground before night. I can send Book and Hider with you two, so we can keep in touch, and know where each other are, especially since Alex doesn't have the backup of a dragon to keep her out of trouble." The woman winks to the Dragonhealer.

Alexiel chuckles softly. "Cait, I like Kint's enthusiasm, we've barely landed and he's already searching." She looks to her fellow hunters and nods to Ril's question. "That sounds like a good idea Cait. One of us can take the southern end of the beach, by the rocks, and one the northern end, and then one can take the mid-way point. So, who wants what area?"

Dragon> Talurith senses that Kintryth croons in summer rains at the image, giving you the impression that he not only agrees, but likes what you show him. <<something like="like" those,="those," yes.="yes." the="The" one="one" she="she" found="found" inside="inside" the...abalone="the...abalone" was="was" almost="almost" black,="black," and="and" was="was" a="a" little="little" lumpy.="lumpy." caitlyn="Caitlyn" adores="adores" the="The" pearl="pearl" i="I" found.="found." she="she" will="will" keep="keep" it="it" as="as" her="her" own,="own," from="from" me.="me.">> Pride, love, and humor flow from the blue.

R'layn appears to be jiggling a bit in anticipation of the hunt. "I'll take the north end, then?" Talurith's busy nosing at the sand near him, rising to his feet now to start padding around (as best a large dragon can pad), edging towards the water. "I think we'll all be okay. As long as we don't have awful luck." He chuckles.

Caitlyn smiles up at her pair of firelizards, and quickly Book flits to the ground before ALexiel, churring daintily up at the woman. "I told him you' pick him up, since he'd have to dig talons into your shoulder to land. But he'll watch out to not poke you, ALex. My little boys are thoughtful."

Book takes wing from Caitlyn's shoulder.

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith forms a new image based on Kintryth's description of the pearl, washing the other pearls and the string away to leave just one, a slightly lumpy near-black one. << Thank you," >> he says, mysteriously. "<< Perhaps I will find one today. >> Optimism.

Alexiel lifts Book to her shoulder.

Hider takes wing from Caitlyn's shoulder.

Alexiel nods to the two riders. "Great, Cait, if you'll take the mid-way the point, that leaves the south end for me." As the little blue flits to the ground in front of her, she smiles at him and picks him up. "Such a gentleman you are."

You pick up Hider.

Caitlyn watches Hider jump to the sand, and giggles at him crooning to R'layn as the little blue gets boosted aboard the bronzerider's shoulder.

R'layn can't help but grin as he lifts Hider to his shoulder. "Feels funny to have a minature dragon on your shoulder," he comments, words coming out carefully as he tries not to jostle the blue. He looks to Alexiel then, nodding. "What should we do if we find a clutch?"

"I trained both of them to *not* be like Gob or Bali's blue..." Cait starts out with a wide grin, and then quiets for a few moments, her face pensive and drawn. "Anyway, just have them bespeak Kint if you need help, or a message sent. They're good about such things."

Book churrs daintily, and gives a headsweeping carress to Alexiel.

Hider clings gently to R'layn's shirt, the blue already crawling behind his neck, pressing his little body as far under the man's short hair as he can get. Being his namesake, and hiding.

Alexiel looks to Ril and grins. "If you find a clutch let Cait and I know, right after you do a victory dance, of course."

Caitlyn again smiles to the both of you, nodding agreement, then casting her eyes out towards Kintryth, who is wading into the ocean - plowing about with his great muzzle.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with <>

R'layn tries to look down at the aptly-named Hider. Yeah, no luck. Instead he gives the firelizard a gentle scratch, nodding at Alexiel. "Okay then, we'll get hunting?" Already he's looking towards 'his' section of beach, frowning as he decides on a place to start from.

Alexiel nods to the two riders as she starts off towards the south end of the beach. "Aye, hollar if you find anything." Book is now sitting on her shoulder and she reaches to scritch him.

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith's words sparkle with gratefulness. <>

Caitlyn giggles softly at R'layn's fruiless attempt to oggle Hider, then shakes her head, heading off on her own tangent, eyes already cast down to the sands, searching for telltale signs.

Hider sighs in contentment, still splayed along R'layn's neck.

Book trills softly, rubbing his head against Alexiel's knuckles.

Alexiel idly scritches the trilling blue as she walks along, her gaze on the sand around her. "What do you think, Book? There's bound to be a nest on this beach somewhere, right?" Her eyes scan left along the beach towards the water and then right towards the treeline.

Caitlyn carefully treads the sands, not willing to accidentally scrunch something as she walks farther and farther from her fellow humans.

Book gives a tiny warble, craning his neck and head downward, eyes whirling as they adjust to focus on the sands before both of you.

Alexiel frowns slightly as she puts some distance between herself and the two riders. "Aren't you a cute one," she murmurs to the blue as he warbles. "You let me know if you see anything interesting, handsome." Nothing sticks out in her own eyes, no marks in the sand where firelizards have landed, no egg shells, no indication of a nest at all on the perfectly smooth surface of the beach.

R'layn laughs at Hider's sigh, giving the blue a final scritch before he focuss on the search at hand. He drifts in apparently random paths, placing his feet carefully as he walks. All the time he's looking down at the ground.

Book hums softly, his little head craning, questing left and right as he dutifully searches with his keen gaze.

Caitlyn shuffles her way farther down her slice of the beach, peering and searching to the sands. At one point, she falls to her knees in excitement, fervently digging... But she only finds the torn up wreck of what was likely a green's clutch - completely eaten by predators.

Alexiel picks her way down the beach, moving carefully and methodically. From the corner of her eye, she catches a flash of green along the beach sand and turns to see what it is. Is it a firelizard, perhaps a green with a clutch nearby? Nope, just a leaf blowing along in the gentle breeze.

R'layn has no luck, as hard as he may be searching. Is that an egg? No, just a rock washed up by the sea. He's drifting nearer to the water, and suddenly spins on his heel to move away from the surf. He'll have no luck that close to the water - not with anything but green clutches, anyway, and they'd be drowned.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with << Mine has found only an old, eaten up clutch from a green. >>

Caitlyn sighs, and moves on, rubbing sand from her eyes occasionally - stopping to take a quick drink from her small waterskin. A hand shades her eyes from the glare of the sun, and she scouts the terrain ahead.

Alexiel starts to get hot in the light of the sun and pulls the little blue from her shoulder long enough to remove her riding jacket. She promptly returns the firelizard to his perch and continues her search. "See anything yet, Book?"

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith sends his regrets, his next thoughts flowing slowly as he searches for a shell with a pearl. <>

Dragon> Talurith senses that Kintryth blends with the gently heaving waters of the ocean, so to be nearly indistinguishable from them. <<maybe the="the" greens="greens" do="do" not="not" wish="wish" to="to" clutch?="clutch?" or="Or" it="it" might="might" be="be" the="the" firestone...though="firestone...though" that="that" does="does" not="not" keep="keep" browns="browns" and="and" bronzes="bronzes" from="from" making="making" eggs.="eggs." hmmm...="Hmmm...">> Snuffle-sift-look go the blue's thoughts as he searches for 'proper' shells, and once in awhile, there's a satisfied 'snap' as he manages to catch a fish to munch on.

Book churrs quietly, wings drooping a bit in the heat - his body posture indicative of a definite 'No.'

R'layn keeps his eyes staring down at his feet, squinting now and then as his head bobs up as he walks and the sun glares at him. Then there's - something? The rider moves to carefully kneel, trying his best not to dislodge Hider from his perch, and he eases the sand away. No, there're just hollow shells, broken and left, already found by tunnelsnakes. Shaking his head in his disappointment, Ril straightens to continue his search.

Hider stays out of the sun just fine, protected by R'layn's hair and neck - the little periwinkle blue gazing out at the beach ahead. He too, reacts to the scent of a clutch so near, but as Ril closes, the blue sighs, and is again disinterested - knowing before the human does that it is dead.

Talurith wades into the sea, slipping beneath the water's surface like a giant bronze fish. Every now and then he surfaces to refill his lungs, then he's gone again. He swims round Kintryth, more agile in the water than in the air.

Kintryth chuffs up at Talurith at times, appearing humored as his large sibling becomes a torpedo in the water.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith with << You swim very very well - as good as I, at least. >>

Talurith> Kintryth senses that Talurith's river of thoughts joins the sea now, and the dragon delights in the tug of the waves as he swims. Finally, he speaks again. << They must have their own reasons. Maybe I will ask Naijath one day. R'layn found a green's clutch too, quite dead. It's a shame. >> In response to his sibling's latter comment, he says, << Thank you. I love water - it's exciting, unpredictable. >>

Caitlyn again begins her trek, searching closer towards the trees, now - the woman stepping in and out of their shade as she heats up.

Kintryth is nosing much more intently into a long trough his claws have raked beneath the waves. Like the previous time 'clamming,' the blue lowers his head beneath the surf, and soon lifts it above the surface. A mouthfull of sand dribbles from the sides of his maw, and soon enough, saltwater and copious amounts of dragon drool begin flowing from his chops.

Alexiel kicks at the sand before her idly. "We're running out of beach here, Book." She reaches up to scritch the little blue again. Indeed, the rocks are drawing nearer as she continues her search, only a few more yards between herself and the first big boulder and still no sign of a clutch. "Maybe I picked the wrong end of the beach."

Caitlyn suddenly halts in her search, smakcing her lips a little - then laughing softly - not close enough to be overheard by anyone. "Oh you darling, silly blue!" she chortles to Kintryth.

Book peers at Alexiel, leaning into her scritching fingers, then puffing daintily. The tiny blue peers around at the beach, then lifting his head to more cleary scent the air.

Naijath spirals down from above, and sends up a flurry of sand when she touches down.

Talurith surfaces to look at Kintryth, curiousity in the tilt of his head. R'layn is busily combing his section of the beach as thoroughly as he can. "There's gotta be one around somewhere," he murmurs to the firelizard on his shoulder.

Naijath lazily circles around before landing daintily on the beach in a little puff of sand. Smiling, Noemie neatly dismounts, waving to her friends. "Hey, Tal told us that you all were here," she explains. "We flew straight, so it took a little while for us to get here."

Noemie climbs down from Naijath's neck.

Hider chirples to R'layn from his hiding place around the back of the bronzerider's neck - lifting his own head and neck for a few moments, sniffing the air as if to try and catch some scent.

Caitlyn has been scouting the sands of this portion of the beach for nearly three hours, sipping from her waterskin more often as she heats up. Nothing but the old, eaten up clutch of a green has graced her eyes in the period.

R'layn has been just as unsuccessful, though he looks triumphant briefly as he now stopps to pick up a small shell, pastel pink in colour. "Well, at least I found something, eh?" He chuckles, then looks over at Naijatha and Noemie, the new arrivals. "Noemie!" He looks at Hider as best he can, where the firelizard's on his shoulder. "Smelt something?"

Kintryth keeps slobbering the sand through his mouth and lips, the stuff coming out in a goopey slurry which cascades back into the water. Finally, he rumbles to the swimming Talurith, and waddles back into the shore - sighing as his left foreleg wobbles slightly. Down to the sand his head lowers, and with infinite patience and caution, his great jaws gape open - tongue rolling out a large shell - composed of one piece.

Hider trills, swiping his head against R'layn's cheek. One paw's digits grasp the man's earlobe carefully, and tug. His now extended head and neck point to a point just beyond where they stand.

Alexiel glances back to see that Noemie and Naijath have joined the search and that the others seem to be having just as much luck as her. She's hot and tired and clutchless, still she continues to search, glancing to Book every now and then to see if the little blue has found anything.

Kintryth warbles a greeting to his green clutchsib, hovering protectively over the full nautilus shell he's discovered in the sands. His wings flap at the sky as Naijath lands.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith and Naijath with <>

Naijath warbles back to Kintryth, joining him in scouring the beach, apparently having been briefed by her rider on what she's supposed to be doing, and seeming intent on finding a similar treasure of her own. Meanwhile, her rider heads over towards Ril, planting a kiss on his cheek before looking around the sand. "What's been searched already? Is there part of the beach I can look through?" She seems eager to join in.

Dragon> Naijath bespoke Talurith and Kintryth with << You are very lucky. It is pretty. >>

Talurith> Naijath and Kintryth sense that Talurith sends his own admirations of Kintryth's find, slipping in, << R'layn has found a shell too, but I don't think it's *quite* as nice as yours, Kintyrth. >>

Caitlyn is still far up the beach, her eyes unwavering from the sands - not having noticed Naijath's entrance. She sighs, wipes the sweat rom her brow, and continues in her quest.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith and Naijath with << There are many shells out in the sand of the shallows. You may try out there, Naijath. Most are not what Caitlyn thinks of as...very neat...but I think they are interesting. >>

"What's that?" R'layn follows the direction Hider's pointing in, the hand with the shell lifting to shade his eyes, that pink delight dangling near the side of his face. "A clutch?" His free arm gives Noemie a squeeze for the kiss and he grins, somewhat distracted by the possible promise of success. "Alexiel's done the north, Caitlyn the south, and I'm doing the middle here. No luck for any of us, though," he grins.

Hider takes that dangling, nearby pink shell to be an offer from a generous R'layn - and snags it quickly - his forepaw's talontips shoving inside the bivalve's shell - forcing it open - then burrowing inside with hasty abandon to jerk the mollusk out. *munchmunchEEP!* Hider suddenly squawks, then disgorging a muck-coated something hard from his maw. Settled again, he concentrates on eating the rest of the mollusk.

Caitlyn sighs deeply as she reaches the end of her swath of the beach - not a single clutch-sign spied besides that first dead one. Again sipping from her waterskin, the bluerider turns, and makes her way quickly back towards the central beach, where all the humans set out from. A small light in her eyes echoes the belated message from Kintryth that Niajath and Noemie have come, and the Smith alters from a brisk walk to a lazy jog.

Alexiel finally reaches the boulder and she clambers on top of it to get a better view of the sand around her. Left, right, she looks all around, but nothing. With a dejected sigh, she starts down the other side of the small boulder to continue her search. Focusing on the task of finding a clutch, she doesn't pay attention to where she's going and lets a cry as her foot catches on the boulder. Her arms flail wildly as she attempts to maintain her balance, but her struggles are to no avail and she flies off the rock to face plant into the sand below.

Book gives a piercing squall, and launches from Alexiel's shoulder to the air - leaving her with a few scratches on her shoulder - but avoiding the plunge himself. Circling the dragonhealer's head, the bookish blue chitters at first with irritation, then crooning with concern.

"I don't see any- hey!" R'layn's head snaps round, but it's too late, alas, for Hider has the shell. "What the-?" The rider manages to catch the hard lump in his cupped hands, grimacing. "EW! Oh, thanks." He goes to rub ti clean on his trouser leg, but suddenly looks Alexiel-wards at Book's squall and Talurith's startled cry. "Alexiel?" He calls over, glancing with concern at Caitlyn and Noemie.

Alexiel pushes herself up onto her knees, reaching up to wipe the sand from her face. "I'm ok, just a few scractches, nothing to worry about," She calls out. Glancing up at the concerned blue, she gives him a smile. "Don't fret, I'm just fine, handsome."

Caitlyn might not quite be able to hear Book above the sounds of the sea, but Kintryth sure does - jerking his head up and giving a rather loud rumble in Alexiel's direction - eyes whirling a yellow-green...then fading to blue.

Book again chitters down to Alexiel, then chirpeling in relief. Seeing that the human in his charge is alright, the blue remains airborn, swirling nearby... And then begins to croon low in his throat. Flitting back to Alexiel, the little blue choruses to the woman - dipping back towards the trees, then back to her. Back and forth, clearly and attempt to get her attention.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith and Naijath with << The healer fell from some boulders to the sand, but Book informs me she is allright... Hmmm?? Oh, I see. Book also shows me that he has found what he thinks we have been looking for! I must guard my shell, but all of ours should go see! >>

Hider perks his head up to the air in a listening pose, having finished his snack. The flit tries to lure R'layn those few feet further down the beach towards something unknown, but whether the man will follow is up to him.

Talurith> Naijath and Kintryth sense that Talurith is concentrating on Alexiel's well-being, and as such is reassured by Kintyrth's words. <>

Noemie has been wandering around Ril's area of the beach, scouring it for clutches, finding nothing, except another interesting looking shell, which she's carrying in one hand. Suddenly, though, hears the commotion, and heads towards Ril. "Did Alexiel find a clutch? I think that's what Naijath's saying, but she's too excited to make much sense right now, which is unusual for her."

R'layn peers over at where Book is flying around. "Is she- oh, she is Tal? See what? What's up?" The final question is for Hider, Ril glancing between where Alexiel is and where the firelizard's pointing. He steps where Hider seems to be trying to lead him. "Another clutch, or something else...?"

Caitlyn flashes Noemie and R'layn an onlyslightly worried, but triumphant look - jogging towards the boulders which Kintryth and Book are leading her to. "It's this way.."

Alexiel looks over to see what Book is going on about and there is joy and jubilation as she realizes that the little blue may found a nest. See, bad luck does lead to good luck, she falls and finds a nest. She scrambles over to the area where Book is flying to on her hands and knees, to excited to even get to her feet. She sets to digging as soon as she reaches the indicated spot. Oh yes, joy and jubilation and celebration, she's so focused on the eggs that she doesn't even notice the fair of lizards pop out of Between above her. She doesn't notice them all diving for her to protect the nest. She doesn't notice them until the Queen lands on her back with a screech and much clawing. "Shards!" Alex calls out as the gold's talons dig into her back, followed closely by a bronze clawing at her head and a brown at her back. The rest of the fair dives and scratches at her as she raises her arms to shoo the three attached to her away and to shield her more vital areas.

Hider has it! He just had to show R'layn! Another shell is dug up from the beach sand - this one a soft purple and salmon swirl - and the flit again guts it of its contents, chewing with fervor.

Noemie sees the fair of fielizards suddenly appear, and begins to run towards Alexiel. "Oh, shards!" she calls, looking panicked. Her dragon, too, immediately reacts, the dainty green suddenly seeming like a different creature as she bugles madly towards the attcking fair, rushing towards the girl.

Talurith charges out of the sea like a leviathan, water streaming off him as he fiercely trumpets at the firelizards attacking Alexiel. R'layn shakes his head at Hider, then spots a flash of gold hide and runs towards the sight. "Alexiel!" Talurith is loping towards the boulders also, still making as much noise as possible.

Book is at first quite put off by the appearance of the fair, but quickly changes to anger once his human is near. Eyes wheeling a bright orange, the little blue screeches and bugels at the fair - darting amongst them daringly - avoiding their attacks as he drives many farther away. But forsooth! The queen and her bronze are not distracted, and are still assaulting Alex.

Alexiel waves her hands at the gold and bronze, trying to get them off of her without hurting them, the rest of the fair having fled from the daring blue and the bugling dragons. As his larger cousins draw nearer, the bronze seems to lessen his attack and finally flees, and the gold follows shortly after, not wanting an alteraction with any creatures as large as dragons.

Hider makes a late entrance, burping from his seafood fest - the shell clutched between his forepaws. Looking down to R'layn, the big blue firelizard whistles for his attention, and drops that shell - hopefully into the man's hands, then joining his brother to dive and swoop. Watching the air just in case the fair should return.

Dragon> Kintryth bespoke Talurith and Naijath with << You have done an admirable job of scaring the little ones away from the 'healer. They will stay away until you leave. >>

By the time that Noemie gets there, the dragons have done their job of scaring away the firelizards, and she pauses a moment to catch her breath, glad that the experince is over. "Well," she says, "That was an adventure."

Caitlyn arrives just in time to see the retreating fair, and scrabbles her way over the rocks, and up to Alexiel. "Owww..." she murmurs in empathy, looking at the long scratches down the girl's back. "I have a vial of numbweed in Kint's packs...hold on a moment, Alex." And off she pounds back to the main beach.

R'layn is out of breath more from concern for Alexiel than because of the run. He leans against a boulder, grinning at first at the successful scaring away of the 'lizards, then looking with concern at Alexiel. "Are you okay?" He asks simply, giving Noemie's comment a nod and a smile. Talurith has skidded to a halt, eyes starting to whirl slower now that the attacking fair are gone. Ril looks up at that whistle, just in time to shove his hands out and catch the shell. That's stowed away in his pocket. "Thanks?"

Hider trills appreciation to R'layn from his aerial antics, returning to watching the skies for any possible intruders.

Alexiel sits up, huffing from the frantic struggle to get the firelizards off of her. Her arms and back are covered in scratches and she's bleeding and bruised and she sits up, she hisses in pain. Through the look of pain on her face, it's clearly evident that the girl is more excited and thrilled than anything, despite her condition. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me, let's get the eggs and head back to the weyr." Psh, who cares about a few little, ok, maybe big, scratches? She's sitting on a clutch of firelizard eggs.

Caitlyn soon enough returns, puffing from the combined heat and her exhertions - again crawling over those rocks to reach the young woman. "Here, let me, Alex..." she murmur-puffs to the dragonhealer, then glares softly at her. "Youcan't go *between* unti lyou're doctored up a little. So take it." And the bluerider lifts the woman's shirtback, and applies the salve everywhere there's scratches and bruising. "OKay, *now* we can get the clay pots I brought, fill 'em up with warm sand, and bring these treasures home!"
</lj-cut>

Log: Brother and Sister

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 18:42:51 GMT

Location: Ista Weyr Pool and Garden
Characters: Kaelana, R'layn
Synopsis: Talurith takes an interest in Kaelana.

Ista Weyr Pool and Garden
You can see out over the ocean, and its turquoise surface glimmers brightly in the warm light. The sky vaults above your head like a fine backlit glass bowl; lush vegetation around you holds every shade of green and purple, and reds in between. A circle of stones line the crystal-clear pool, fed by a rushing stream from the distant black Weyr walls. The air is scented with the ocean and with the flowers and fruit trees planted here in orderly rows. A small flagstone path meanders past a low stone fence and out back to the plateau.
The wet summer season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering temperatures. Today, clouds interrupt the sky and a nice, light breeze carries the scent of sea air.
You see several intimate 'places' here to talk in private. As you look around, you can see firelizards darting 'down' the waterfall on gleaming wings.
Contents:
Talurith
Kaelana

The ever present oppressive heat of the Istan summer beats down from the sky, despite the faint breeze and spattering of clouds across the sky. This doesn't seem to phase Kaelana much, who just happens to be strolling through the Garden, strands of hair curtaining her face. She approaches the pool and sits at the edge, removing her shoes quickly to place her feet in the cooler waters with an obvious sigh of relief.

Strong (and rather dusty) wingbeats swirl the heat into eddies, rushing noises distinct in the quiet calm of the afternoon. A rider jumps from the bronze's foot as the dragon backwings, twisting into a dive and slipping in the water. The bronze isn't too far behind, folding his wings back to slide nosefirst into the pool's cool embrace. The rider's first to surface, and as they push back their blonde hair it's apparent the young man is R'layn. He starts to swim towards the edge, towards Kaelana, though he doesn't seem to have noticed his sister.

The abrupt arrival of the dragon pair, startle Kaelana from her reverie, causing her eyes to swing up towards the sky and watch the dragon wing in, a hand risen to blind her eyes from the sun and dust. She gives an involuntary start at the landing in the pool but as the rider surfaces she furrows her brow before her eyes fly open in recognition. Cupping her hands to her mouth, the girl calls out a cheerful greeting in the form of, "R'layn! Over here!"

R'layn looks up from his swimming at the call of his name. "Kaelana!" He picks up his speed, bumping lightly into the edge just beside the girl. He pulls himself out, and it's evident that he's stripped off his riding gear before coming here a t-shirt and baggy trousers (now soaked and stuck to his skin) are keeping him from getting too hot. "How're you doing?" He asks cheerfully as he sits himself on the edge beside Kaelana, his bare feet dangling in the water. Near the middle of the pool, Talurith surfaces to spit up some water, eyes spinning in delight.

Kaelana waits patiently for her brother to make it too the edge, watching the bronze blotch of the submerged bronze. As R'layn takes the seat, she leans back on her palms, a nod and grin given to him in greeting. "How am I? I've been getting most of the day off for the last little while 'cause fishing isn't very good in tha heat of the day around here. Did you manage to make it to the clutching though?" She looks excited just remembering it, eyes shining brightly in the sun.

"Lucky for you," R'layn grins, leaning back on his elbows and watching Talurith. The bronze now lies so that only the top of his head and his water-splashed crests are above the pool's surface. He swims about like some ominous sea predator, the occasional playful spurt of water belying his act. "I missed it," R'layn replies as to the clutch, looking somewhat mournful. "I think I was off doing an errand. Caught the end, but that was after the eggs'd been laid. It was good, I take it?" He adds, grinning at Kaelana.

Kaelana looks out over the water, a silent laugh on her lips at the antics of the bronze dragon, seeming to be enjoying the show. After a few moments, she turns her head back to her brother with a sad smile, "You missed a good show. Though you'll make it to the next one I'm sure..." She brightens up slighty at her own comment before adding, "It -was- good. Some of my friends were there and I got to meet a bunch of new people! Bit noisy though."

R'layn tips his head from side to side. "Yeah? Aw." He watches Tal, thinking. "Well, there'll be the hatching! And the next clutching, definitely." That thought cheers him, though it could be Talurith's spurt of water that narrowly misses a swimming fire-lizard that causes him to laugh. "People came in from other Weyrs to watch, I'll bet? And they'd've been betting too, probably. Best way to lose marks, that. Yeah, the noise is an issue." He doesn't sound like he minds noise though, dismissing it airily. Talurith snakes closer, eyeing Kaelana. Is he about to spurt more water?

Kae gives a big nod, somewhat overexagurated. "I heard some guy talking about betting so he always made marks but I think he was lying. They don't really know do they?" She paddles her feet slightly in the water, just enjoying the coolness in comparison to the stifling air around them. "Oh yeah! I forgot about the hatching. I'm sure you can make it too that, It'll only be my third ever." She gives a big grin to her brother, her lapse of judgement not phasing her in the least.

R'layn lifts a shoulder. "Some people know how to bet intelligently. So it's *said*," he smirks. "But at the end of the day, it's alll luck. 'specially with clutches." Then he laughs, wriggling his legs and splashing some water at Talurith's face - the bronze is now right in front of the siblings, the top of his head (nostrils, snout, eyes and headknobs) above the water. "How c'n you forget the hatching?" He chuckles. "Yeah, I'll make it. You're gonna come watch, yeah?" He looks at Kaelana, grinning good-naturedly.

"They probably just -claim- that it's intelligent betting," Kaelana replies, a slight giggle given, "Maybe I should get into -accepting- the bets...I'd make more than I do now!" She looks at Talurith with a look of cuiosity written across her visage, "Its amazing how he can look so small, knowing he's so big...And to believe he came out of one of those eggs!" The last query is met with a powerful nod, "Definately! I wouldn't miss it for anything. The one at Telgar was amazing and here I'll probably know some of the people on the sands!"

R'layn grins brightly. "You could make a good profit taking bets, y'know? Might be worth a go. You're doing fishing now, aren't you?" Talurith enjoys Kaelana's admiration, his mouth opening as he floats towards the girl, teeth on display in a friendly manner (if that's possible when they're so large and sharp). His rider shakes his head at the dragon. "Aye. He's...er, three now. Time flies by. Ahh, I remember the Telgar Hatching. That was a good one," he reminisces. "Yeah, that's the best thing about hatchings in your own Weyr. You can cheer your friends on!"

"Fishing, yes. I've been pretty busy with it forthe last, oh, half turn or so." Kaelana responds to his query, smiling at the bronze, "He looks right menacing like that, glad i'm not a herdbeast here." She nods to the last comment in agreement, "I can't wait to see the hatching now, thanks for reminding me! I've been a bit busy over the last few days, just taking a little break from the heat now," She gestures towards her feet in the water, "As you can probably see."

"Good, good." R'layn nods his head in brotherly approval. Some 'brotherly advice' is spoken, too. "Make sure it's a job you enjoy, too. Life's no fun if you don't enjoy what you do. And you'll spend your time dodging work and risking trouble otherwise." He grins, no doubt remembering his own childhood. "Aye, this heat is too much really. I know I say it every summer but...it really is." Chuckling, the rider watches Talurith lest the bronze do something naughty. For the time being, he's just got his mouth open, still looking at Kaelana with inquisitive blue eyes. Then a long, warm breath escapes his open maw, wafting over the girl, and he shuts his mouth with a neat little snap. R'layn narrows his eyes.

"Oh It is!" Kaelana assures with much conviction, "I do love it so much more then the stuff they had me doing with the harpers. And I think Ma and Dad wanted me to become a scribe, do you believe it?" She lets out a high laugh, smiling the whole time, "The heat is a bit much but I don't know if it'd be worth the cold to be anywhere else, you know? Maybe we could go up north next summer?" Just as she asks the last question, the somewhat fetid breath wafts over her, causing the girl to recoil slightly, "Gah! What has he been -eating-!?" in half surprise, half jest.

Dragon> R'layn senses that Talurith's voice comes, puzzled, a river slow-moving, still in the heat. << But why does she *have* to be a scribe? Why can't she be a rider? I think she'd make a very good rider. She could find her dragon among the eggs. >> He sounds very convinced. Hint hint. << Yes, *that*. >>

R'layn laughs again, in good humour - though he still looks at Talurith, brow wrinkled in confusion. "I think ma and dad have a thing about us being scribes, huh? They made me be one, remember?" Shaking his head in amusement at the memory, he chuckles at Kaelana's sudden laugh. "I could always take you to a trip to - huh?" He pauses, eyes taking on the look of a rider listening to their dragon. "Uh?" He looks at Talurith a moment longer, face the very picture of confusion, then grins broadly ad looks at Kaelana. "Well, er, y'don't have to be a scribe *nor* a fisher, Talurith thinks. In fact, he reckons y'should stand for Aerianth and Volath's clutch?" He ends on an upnote - a question.

Kaelana can't help but laugh at R'layn's comment, nodding whole-heartedly, "I know! They wouldn't let me leave harper classes 'til I was -14-. Maybe it'll come in handy in the future then, you never know." She tilts her head at his last remark, the general glee fading fast to a look of confusion. She interrupts quickly with, "You could take me...?" before letting her brother continue. "Wait but...wait..." She begins, slowly, "Me?" She looks utterly confused, though a faint hint of excitment is evident, slowly overwhelming her self-doubt.

R'layn is too busy grinning. Even Talurith is displaying a draconic grin, his jaw dropped. He huffs once to get his point across, urning his head so that one large, blue-green sparkling eye is fixed directly on Kaelana, as if to say, 'yes, you!'. R'layn provides a translation, of sorts. "Yes! Talurith reckons you could find your lifemate out there. It's worth a shot, isn't it? Not everyone gets asked to Stand, either." He paddles his feet in the water happily. "What d'you reckon?" He asks, curiously.

The confusion and doubt fade in but an instant, Kaelana slowly beginning to burst into a irrepressable grin. "Yes!" She echoes, eyes wild with joy, "Oh, Thank you Talurith, thank you so much." She looks to be wanting to hug the dragon, but unable to reach over the water. "I'll do it! This'll be amazing, right? I get to see the little dragons up close!"

Talurith warbles in immense delight at Kaelana's acceptance of the offer, his eyes now sparkling even brighter. He comes up to the very edge of the shore to bump his head affectionately against his rider's sister, if the girl will allow him to. R'layn, grinning ear to ear, gets to his feet, letting his dragon have his moment. "That you will! But you gotta promise me you'll learn to dodge them, right? I don't want you getting hurt out there. But you're gonna make our parents even prouder, aye? This is gonna be great," he agrees.

Kaelana awkwardly hugs the dragons head, failing somewhat with its wedge shape. The comment however, perks her interest away from the dragon back to R'layn with wide eyes, "-Dodge- them? I don't like the sound of that..." A fint hint of worry sweeps in, but it still looks to be overpowered by anticipation, "I promise."

Talurith hums as Kaelana embraces his head, giving her a little nudge to try and gently push her towards R'layn. The rider, nicely dry now, looks ready to move off. "Don't worry about it," he hastily reassures Kaelana. "We better get you to the barracks, anyway."

Kaelana slowly stands to her feet, a small strecth given from the prolonged sitting. "I won't, I think this is something I can get through mostly alive." She pauses at the last remark, "Where's the barracks? I've lived here all my lie and can't say I know." She grins, somewhat wryly, and waits for her brother to lead the way.

Talurith swims away from the shore again, fish-like in the water as he celebrates his successful first Search. R'layn rolls his eyes at the bronze, then grins at Kaelana. "You'll learn where the barracks are soon enough. Goin' back and forth from chores and all." With a hearty wink, he waves an arm in the direction of the plateau. "I'll show you the way!" And off he goes towards the plateau.

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 22:06:56 GMT

Location: Docks and South Beach
Characters: M'yr, Rilayen

Ista Weyr: Docks and South Beach(#2557RJs)
The black sand stretches for kilometers to each side of these long docks, curving from the south to the southeast as the plateau's gentle slope curves towards the forests. These docks are obviously brand new and recently expanded, stretching far into the harbour. Metal rings adorn the wood at regular intervals, providing places for ships to berth, and several smaller sets of docks jut out from the main. Beside the docks to the northwest the beachside tavern rests, offering more places for sailors to dock and seek refreshment. The sky above you is a delicate shade of blue, tinged with a clear green. Blue-grey shadow covers everything under the under the lee of the plateau to the east. The yellow glow of the morning sun can be seen below the level of the plateau and Weyr to the east. What the rock shadows, the sea more than makes up for, in a million dazzling reflections off of the blue rolling surface. The sky shades to a pale eggshell blue far to the horizon, where it meets the sea in a line unbroken except for the distant dark smudges that rise out of the sea far to the west and southwest: these are the beautiful Ista Isles.
The wet season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering temperatures.

M'yr perches on one of the moorings next to the Isle Hopper, the schooner bobbing lightly in the fervor of the sea's waves that lap against her hull. Both palms rest on the wood beneath his butt, fingertips lost under the fabric of his trous. The sea wind tosses his dark hair about his face, but he seems to not mind, no swipes to push locks out of the way. Perhaps he realizes how fruitless that would be, perhaps he doesn't care. When his chest rises, a long breath is taken in, then released slowly as dark eyes gaze out to sea.

Rilayen knows how to make an entrance, even if it's the wrong sort. The heavy thumping of his boots on the wooden flooring disturbs the quiet atmosphere: Ril, however, doesn't notice. He's busy looking about at the view when he spots M'yr, and with some more great clunks and thuds he comes to a hesitant halt, watching the Weyrsecond. A moment's indecision and then he calls out, "Morning, Weyrsecond. Enjoying the view?"

M'yr visibly startles, a swing of his head to view the body associated with the voice he doesn't know. Gaze dropping to the knot on his shoulder, he figures out the rank within the greeting and dons a light smile. "You might say that. Or wondering just how long before the tremors begin again. Or if my newest contraption will work above the sea currents." Here he pauses, surveying the lad. "Somehow I don't recall meeting you. I'm M'yr, paired up with a bronzed lump called Soldreth. You'd be..?"

Rilayen eases up at the sight of the smile. "Maybe we won't have any more," he says of the tremors, though something in his voice suggests he doesn't quite believe his own words. "Contraption?" His usual curiousity shows in his voice. He stays stock still under M'yr's surveying look before answering, "I'm Rilayen. You mind if I call you M'yr, or do you prefer something else?" He asks that politely, looking at M'yr's face.

M'yr easily thwaks a few fingers against the Istan Search and Rescue patch sewn not all that well onto his shirtsleeve. "Contraption, yes. A new seat design to hoist folks out of the sea. Rilayen, huh? That doesn't tell me much, now does it, lad? Nor does it tell me where you're from. Or what you do." Rattling off each of those, his eyes narrow a tad before the 'Second shifts back to looking out to sea once more. "For now, M'yr will do. In more formal settings? I would expect you to know what to call me then, right?"

Rilayen peers at the badge and inclines his head slightly as he takes note of its relevance. "Sounds like a good idea. Like if their ship gets wrecked or something?" He takes a breath and licks somewhat dry lips before answering M'yr. "Live in Ista Weyr. Born here, in fact, never left. Gonna be a scribe if my parents have the final say." He wrinkles his nose, continuing to watch M'yr even as the Weyrsecond looks back out to sea. "Yes, Weyrse- er, M'yr."

M'yr angles his head just enough to be able to see Rilayen, a dark brow arching slightly as sable eyes peer his way. "Or weyrlings fall off their new dragons, or swimmers go out too far, overestimating their stamina, yes. Ista, eh? Huh. I don't recall seeing you around but then with all of us here, that's easy enough to do." Pausing as if considering just how much he should tell this lad, he does eventually go on. "I'm from Nerat."

Rilayen considers that. "Plenty it could be used for," he concludes. "Ista, yep." He looks at M'yr thoughtfully. "Nerat? What's it like there? Did you Impress-" a brief pause as he recalls the name mentioned earlier- "Soldreth here?" All his questions are asked with genuine curiousity, the boy apparently not realising how nosy he's being.

M'yr's lips twitch at the questions coming from the other Istan, a brief play of a smile seen briefly. "You sure do ask a lot, don't you?" he queries then chuckles. "Nerat? All I saw of it back then was the docks around the bay and the path to my parent's cot. Not too long ago, hmm, maybe a few sevendays, I was there dragonback, which was nice as I'd never seen it from the air before." Now he turns fully to latch eyes onto Rilayen's. "Soldreth, yes. He's a bronze, and quite a handful, actually. He found me here, on Istan sands. Gave me this." A hand reaches to his shirt, undoing a fastener to pull the fabric aside. Beneath is a long scar, crossing his chest.

Rilayen lets his fingers move idly at his sides, arms swinging a bit in the breeze. "Told that a lot, M'yr," he replies with a broad grin white in his tanned face. The fact that M'yr isn't outright complaining comes as some relief, anyway, to judge by Ril's carefree tone. "Must be weird to see everything from up above." He frowns in thought. "Can't imagine it really." The boy gawps at M'yr's scare when the rider reveals it, coming out with an incredulous, "He gave you *that*? Before he Impressed you or when he found you?" He grimaces at the size of the scar.

M'yr tends to fastening his shirt back up, slim fingers gliding easily against each one. "It was during the hatching. He was, well, what you might say a little excited? It wasn't meant, he just skidded to a halt in front of me, and a rather sharp talon found my chest. The healers saw to it pretty quickly, but I was kept on my cot for a good while til it healed." He shrugs at that, offering a smile. "It happens sometimes. Hatchings can be very dangerous."

Lifting a lean arm to run his fingers through his hair (not that it makes any difference to it, since the wind soon ruffles it again), Rilayen winces at the description of the incident. "Seen plenty of injuries at hatchings, but not one caused like that, I don't think." His arm drops back to his side, swinging wildly before settling under gravity's pull. "They teach you to dodge in candidacy?" He smiles.

M'yr's sable eyes lower to watch his companion's arms, a thumb gesturing toward them. "You have a problem with those, lad?" is asked, a light twinkle in his eyes laced with a touch of humor. "You need taught how to dodge? I'd think that would come from your younger days when you were playing with your friends?"

Rilayen looks down at his arms, neck twisting, a puzzled expression melting onto his features. He looks back up. "I don't think so," he says, grin confused. "I think dodging yer friends is a bit different from dodging dragonets. With the sharp claws and all that." He takes a breath at the thought of being raked by those sharp talons. "Bit more dangerous on the sands. Some people get unlucky I s'ppose. And if he was headed for you to Impress you, you didn't have much of a choice, huh?"

M'yr crosses his arms over his chest, long legs also twining at the ankles comfortably. He's not pushing back any wafting hair either, a waste of time at least. "They do it so quickly, you don't have much time to think, actually. And he's... well.. rather.. frisky by nature so.."

Rilayen continues to hang around, shifting his weight from one leg to the other every now and then, not making a move to sit or anything. He's caught up in the conversation, anyway. "I always thought most bronzes were serious, like?" He comments, eyeing M'yr. "A frisky bronze?"

M'yr bursts out in laughter at the questions, amusement clouding his dark eyes as he regards the youngster. "Serious?? Him??" he sputters, then slowly regains his composure. "Well, Sol /can/ be serious, but there's an edge to him. He's very, what can I say, strong in his convictions. So am I, that making it hard to tone down his influence at times. Have you ever stood on sand?"

Rilayen just has to laugh at the sputtering bronze rider: he can't help it. "Knows what he thinks, huh? My brother's green's like that." He grins, but then shakes his head at M'yr's question. "Nope. never been asked to, so I never have. How many times did you Stand befroe you Impressed?" Is his counter-question.

M'yr's brow arches yet again as he settles down into a smile. "Who's your brother? Is he here? I know most riders, if not by name, because of the hidework I do for V'lano. As for standing? Only once, the time I got Sol. He's.. hmm.. a little over three turns now."

"Y'raer," Rilayen gives that name with pride. A dragonrider in the family is, after all, something to be proud of. "Green Ularoth's." He looks impressed. "Only that once? Known people that've stood hundreds of times and never Impressed." Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. "Three Turns?" He thinks hard, eyes narrowing as his brow furrows. "I think I maybe remember that hatching. Maybe."

M'yr shrugs lightly, a hand reaching up to rub his nose briefly. "Y'raer? I believe I remember the name, never met him. Is he younger or older than you?" A thoughtful pause comes before the next question. "And why do you want to be a scribe? Not that we aren't interested in that. I actually had to write a letter for V'lano once." Here he gives a distasteful grimace. "He's a terrible writer."

Rilayen nods. "Older." As an afterthought he adds, "Twenty-eight." In answer to M'yr's question he screws up his face. "Well, my parents said I had to get a job around here, and 'cos I can write well they said I should be a scribe." He shrugs. "I don't mind writing, y'know. I help my sister and everything, 'cos she can't write as well as me." He trails off, then says disbelievingly, "V'lano's a bad writer?" Blink. Pause. Then pride for his own ability creeps into his voice. "Well...I thought he'd be a good one."

M'yr's laughter comes back, this time much more controlled. "Why would you think that? Because he's weyrleader? That isn't any prior criteria for the job, you know."

Rilayen smiles sheepishly. "Well, because I'd thought the Weyrleader would have to write all the time and stuff. So he'd have to be able to write well. No criteria-" he repeats carefully the word after a pause, having never come across it before- "To be Weyrleader? Except the bronze dragon?" A bemused grin.

M'yr chuckles at that, "Or a brown. That's occasionally happened but not often. I think Ista actually had a brown's rider for Weyrleader but it was a long time ago. At least that's what I'm told. It was only a few turns ago that I came here and got a job as a dock hand. Heh. Broke a mast too. That one on the 'Hopper, actually. Jillah wasn't too happy, but it was fixed so it turned out all right."

A moment's thought but Rilayen shakes his head. "Can't remember that. Must've been a long while ago." He rubs at his nose then moves his hand to push his hair back, looking around for the boat in question. "Oh. Doesn't sound too good. Did you fix it for her?" He looks at the mast.

M'yr swings his head around to look at the schooner under discussion, a distant smile forming. "Yeah, they made me fix it. I had help though, as I'd never done that before. My extent had been moving cargo crates around and off boats before that. I learned a lot, but made a few people angry with me in the process." That doesn't seem to make him uneasy, a tinge of pride perhaps in his last words.

Rilayen grins, admiring the craft. "Some good work gone into it, looks like. I don't know so much about boats..." he trails off, starting on a new thread. "So you were mostly doing the lifting work on the docks, not fixing the boats or anything?"

M'yr shakes his head, a reminiscent smile forming as he looks toward the Isle Hopper. "No fixing until her, no. But," that said, he lifts off the mooring to stretch, "I do think we should both get back to the weyr. I'd speak with Griere or Nolee, perhaps Lyss, about that job. If I see them, I'll let them know you're interested. Shall we go?"

Rilayen looks part eager to go, part hesitant. A job...but going with M'yr sounds good. "Sure!" The boy beams, all signs hesitancy vanishing from his face, and makes a move to follow M'yr back to the Weyr. "Think I'll get it?"

M'yr strides along the dock, a slight rolling of his eyes at Ril's enthusiasm, though it fads to a grin. "Maybe. We'll see." is all that's offered, the two disappearing around a curve, back to the beach then the weyr.

First Ever Log

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:14:30 GMT

Location: Ista Weyr Plateau
Characters: Jazra, Rilayen
Synopsis: Jazra and Rilayen chat and Rilayen gets to examine a distance viewer for the first time.

Ista Weyr Plateau
In the delicate morning light, the shadow of the Weyr casts over most of the Bowl to the east, shadowed by the typical morning mists that breeze through the air. The Istan Plateau is barely visible here on ground level for what it is: a mass of lava that flowed out from the broken line of the northwestern Istan bowl toward and into the sea. The rich soil of the plateau yields a lush dusky emerald and violet carpet of vegetation. The plateau suddenly ends at the sea in a high sloping cliff. You can see the rainbow of a roaring waterfall at the center edge, fed from a large pool that dragons often are found bathing in. A well-worn trail leads south from the plateau and down to the black volcanic sands of the island's beaches. The massive spires of the five black Spindles rise out of the ebon rock of the far side of the Weyr bowl to loom menacingly, distant yet still stark against the sky. The ocean glimmers a deep turquoise to the west.
The wet season oppresses the island with high humidity and sweltering temperatures.
Paths lead down to the beach and back toward the Weyr around the corrals.

Jazra is setting up a carefully painted distance viewer and talking with E'zil. "I have to go ride sweep soon." The bluerider explains. "But I wanted to see what you were up to with that viewer. The whole Weyr's abuzz with news of the shower tonight. And we haven't seen our cousin Isora in how long?" Jazra smiles craftily as she looks through the viewer carefully. "Yeah, you're right." She says as she adjusts it carefully. "This is going to have a great view of the skies tonight."

Sauntering up the path to the plateau, Rilayen does a double take and halts at the sight of Jazra, E'zil and the distance viewer. "Woahh." The boy shifts his head forward on his scrawny neck, gawping unashamedly at the viewer. "What's that thing?" His loud, intensely curious question is directed at Jazra, seeing as she seems to be the one in charge of the viewer.

Jazra turns at the sound of a new voice. E'zil grins, claps his sister on the back and says. "Well, gotta go! Do tell me if you catch that bowstring snapping wherry!" He says with a wink as he mounts his blue and sails off for sweeps. Jazra snorts. "It's a distance viewer. The starsmiths use them to watch the skies at night. There's a meteor shower going on tonight and my cousin Isora's doing a report on it for his journeyman's knots." She explains. "So he's coming to visit. I'm just setting this up for tonight. Then I have a score to settle with a bowstring snapping wherry." She adds as she gestures to a net, a bow and quiver, and a series of bowstrings coiled next to the bow.

Rilayen watches the rider leave then looks back at Jazra. Well, her distance viewer. "Distance viewer." he rolls those words around his mouth thoughtfully. "Meteor shower? Sounds dangerous to me." A frown furrows his tanned forehead. "You gonna watch it with that distance viewer thingy then? Or your cousin gonna be the one using it?" He looks over at the hunting equipment and nods. "Enemy of yours, is he?" He flashes her a grin.

Jazra nods to the equipment. "Yup, snapped three bowstrings and nearly took my head off he did." She explains. "And my cousin's bringing his own, he gave me one to use as a gift. I guess one of the journeyman's requirements for a star crafter is making one's own, dunno, all I know is that it came by courier with the star craft's seal and my cousin's signature on the wrappings. And meteor showers are when bits of rock from way waaaaay up in the stars come falling. They either melt and disappear or fall somewhere. But some of them are made of pure metal, and they say that the smiths pay through the nose for the metal ones, because the metal they're made if is better than what comes out of the mines. Mind you, that's what I've heard, it may not be true. But you can see the fires in the sky, and some people even say you can make a wish on them. I've heard of little children doing that, sort of a child's story."

Rilayen clicks his tongue and rocks on his heels. "Sounds like a dang'rous one, him. Sure you'll get him next time, though." He peers at the viewer for a few moments, then steps closer. "Can I take a closer look at it? Looks like a fancy piece of work." He smiles good naturedly. "Maybe I need to catch some of these rocks. I could wish for one to land." Again his eyes are drawn to the distance viewer, curiously probing it from afar. "Your cousin gonna be a master, then? Oh, I'm Rilayen by the way." He offers his name as an afterthought, having finally remembered some manners.

Jazra backs away from the viewer. "Be very careful not to jostle it, but yes, you may. My name is Jazra, I'm a huntress. And these things," she indicates the distance viewer, "have been standard to the Star Craft since the 9th pass when one was discovered at... Fort Weyr I think? In the back halls. The smith's, according to the story, used it to map the skies around Pern, starting the Starcraft. They even say..." And she leans close to Rilayen and whispers, awed. "They even say that the first Starsmiths tried to map the red star." She whispers, clearly awed by their audacity. "They say that one of the dragonriders at Benden at that time tried to go there based on what he saw in the viewer that the Smiths set up, and almost died!"

Every movement carefully cautious, Rilayen steps up to the viewer. One long arm comes swinging up suddenly, but it's with great care that he very gently runs a finger along the painted side of the distance viewer. Admiration for the intricacy of the design glimmers in his eyes. "Nice to meet ya, Jazra. 9th Pass?" He whistles, though doesn't look up from the viewer. "They've been around a long time. I've never seen one up close b'fore." When Jazra leans in to whisper, he turns to hear her better, eyes widening at what she says. "The *Red Star*? Were they crazy or something? Going to the Red Star, too?" Ril shakes his head. "Madness. Lucky to survive, I should think, seeing as Thread comes from there."

Jazra nods vigorously. "And one of my brothers, a Harper, found a song about it in the archives, confirming it." She says as she keeps a nervous eye on Rilayen with the precious instrument. She looks around nervously, as though hoping nobody else will hear her. "But it shows how strong the distance viewers are. I'll bet you could see something on one of the moons with them. Or see a dragon flying straight or a ship coming in from /miles/ away!"

"Must be true then," Rilayen muses as he dips his head to hover his left eye a centimetre from the viewer's eyepiece, looking into it without touching it. "If it could see the Red Star," he adds, speech slowing as he thinks hard about how great a distance it must be to see that distant, ancient enemy, "It must be a pretty fine piece of work." His tone isn't kept as low as Jazra's since he's too preoccupied with the distance viewer to realise he's talking at his normal, rather loud volume. "What're you gonna use it for after the shower?"

Jazra shrugs. "I'm probably going to store it away until the next time something happens in the skies." She says thoughtfully. "Who knows, maybe the star crafters will find it hundreds of turns from now and say, 'wow, what a piece of work this.' And the shower's not the only thing going on tonight. A friend of mine who's a bluerider is going to have a baby in a few months. Dad heard and wanted to send her something. So he made a mystery package for her and my guess is that its something for a baby to use. It's down in the residents caverns. E'zil brought it in bright and early today. He's usually the first one up in the mornings. And he claims that he's the only rider in the Weyr who's chipper during a dawn sweep." She says with a roll of her eyes. "My dad's a smith who specializes in glass. But he's probably made it out of something else whatever it is. And he likes to make things to give away, when he's got the materials. Small things like cups or bowls, or beads made from bits of glass."

Rilayen laughs, looking up from his examination of the distance viewer. "Maybe they'll've got something different by then, so your viewer'll be worth a lot. A lot more, I should say," he adds, "It's real nice." He steps away from it, putting his hands in his pockets and facing Jazra to talk to her better now that his attention's off the viewer. "Oh, was that that blue rider with you earlier? Huh. Sounds like you've got a talented family, too. Smiths, riders and hunters." He grins. "Sounds like your dad puts his talents to good use."

Jazra rolls her eyes. "Personally, I think its his way of saying. 'I'm here and I want to do business with you, so here's something nice and don't forget to come and buy something later.'" She says with a giggle. "But when it comes to friends and family my brothers/sisters/cousins/parents always share around what they do. When I was growing up, and I'm talking ten or twelve turns old, there was a mini tussle over who wanted me to join what craft. Then I showed an aptitude for hunting and they gave up. My mother's a tanner though, and she gave me a lesson on how to preserve a hide /juuuust/ long enough to sell it to a local tanner, or get him/her to finish preserving and dying it so that I could use it. But my family has serious pride issues with trying to get their younger generation into the crafts. Usually on my mom's side there's one rider a generation. E'zil's the only one in /this/ generation. But a great grand uncle was a greenrider. And my dad's side? They encourage their people to get as close to a Mastery as their skills will allow. Doesn't matter what craft. My grandparents are still rank crazy."

"Nothing wrong with a bit of business promotion," Rilayen notes with a broad smile. He listens to Jazra in a patient sort of silence, not wanting to interrupt. "Sounds like you got a very int'resting family. You not want to go into a Craft or something then?" He asks at length, looking at Jazra curiously. He blows upwards to shift a lock of hair that's threatening to stab him in the eye.

Jazra sighs. "Nope. That's just not the way I tick." She says with a shrug as she leans in to train the distance viewer on the harbor. She spots a couple of ships, a dragon landed near them, people coming and going from the Sandbar. "Hey, have you been down to the Sandbar yet? They've got drinks of all kinds. Everything from the Fireball to the Weyrling." She says as she pulls back and points to the building on the beach below. "I heard about a band that plays there somenights for entertainment, and the drinks there are amazing. My favorite is klah with a kick."

Rilayen moves to stand beside the distance viewer, looking out at the harbour himself but only seeing fuzzy things in the distance. He squints, but it doesn't help. "Only a couple of times," he says in reply to Jazra. "Quite like the drinks, but I have to be careful with my marks and all that, my parents keep saying. I don't even live with them but they think they can tell me what to do." He snorts, then mocks in a high voice. "'Get a job, Ril! DO something with yourself!' I'll do what I want, y'know?" He follows the direction Jazra's pointing, squinting at the Sandbar. "I don't think I've heard them. Maybe we should go down there one night when they're playing? I like a bit of music, me." He's an aspiring harper, perhaps?

Jazra chuckles. "I'd like that." She sighs as she sits back on the grass. "I'd better get hunting if I want to bag that wherry before sunset, when the fun starts." She grins and nods up at the skies. "Who knows, maybe we'll find some fallen meteorites. But if I get one can you imagine the marks it will bring in?" She wonders as she flops back and looks up at the skies, still reluctant to go.

Rilayen doesn't make a move to sit down, apparently having something in mind to go do presently given the restless movements of his lanky legs. "Don't wanna be hunting in the dark for wherries," he says sagely, cricking his neck back to look up at the sky. "Enough to buy lots of drinks at the Sandbar?" He says with an impish grin, lowering his head to aim the smile at Jazra. "I'm gonna go find my sister now. Promised I'd help her with some writing. She's still not as good at it as me," he says with a touch of pride. "See you around, Jazra." Off towards the path he goes.