Scrolls and Fat Golds

Zynassa delivers scrolls up to Br'nal at the Reaches, and meets up with I'sai, though Temornath steals the show.

Zynassa - Wednesday, April 25, 2001, 8:20 AM
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Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr(#840RJs)
Standing on the eastern side of the bowl, you realize why this is one of the most striking Weyrs on Pern. Arrayed around the north rim of the bowl are the Seven Spindles: high crownlike points formed of old volcano flows which were eroded to sharp spikes. The bowl itself is a rough ovoid shape, with a large lake taking up a good portion of the southeastern part. The bowl seems to slant down to the lake shore, and the soil becomes a little looser in that direction. From the east, the slight aroma of herdbeast and wherry hide rises from the feeding grounds. The northeast section of the bowl is full of activity: training of dragons both young and old goes on in a large clearing near the entrance to the weyrling barracks and dragon infirmary. Several small boulders dot the area to the north, forming a winding path to the ledges leading into the weyrleaders' quarters.
The morning is partly cloudy, though the sun still shines through. There seems to be a light breeze and the fall air temperature feels comfortable.
Contents:
Matheny

Matheny sits on the steps that lead up to her weyr and works on a set of straps. She gives a smile and nod of greeting.

Zynassa slides down the side of a green, followed shortly by the rider, also wearing Istan colors. A fumbling at the dragon's straps, and a rather large carrysack is released to thump to the ground. "Thanks, M'dar! I can get it from here. I'll tell Renaith when I'm ready? Or come find me?" The greenrider sketches a salute to Matheny, grins to Nassa, and is off to the caverns. "Oh! Ista's duties to the Reaches and her queens."

Matheny salutes back and then smiles to the arrival a little more openly, giving it more of her attention, "High Reaches duties. Want me to call someone to help with that sack?"

Zynassa shakes her head, slipping into the strap carefully and balancing it. "It's not too bad. Scrolls is all. For Br'nal." She grins a bit. "Four months of wing reports. I'm Zynassa, by the way, ma'am."

In the bowl, to the west, Behemoth stirs and peers about. He leans down to blow air at Zynassa, playfully.

Matheny ahs and nods, seeing the burden managed, "And I'm Math, nice to meet you." She slides the straps through her hands and then pulls them back again, knowing she'll need to check them more thoroughly. "Do let me know if you end up needing assistance. I think I saw Br'nal headed towards the living caverns earlier."

Zynassa nods. "Thank you, ma'am. I will, don't worry." Behemoth gets a grin, "Hey, you. How's your rider today. -- If you'll excuse me? I should get these to Br'nal. V'drin was most emphatic about it. Well met and clear skies to you and to Jenryth."

In the bowl, to the west, Behemoth rumbles. Whatever THAT means.

Matheny spares a hand for a moment to wave, "Well met." and then looks back to the straps, knowing she needs to get it down with soon.

You go towards the western side of the bowl.

Zynassa grins up at Behemoth. "He's a smooth one, your rider. Terribly suited to you, naturally, big guy. I just hope Temornath isn't disappointed Gelth didn't bring me." She gives the bronze a wink, flirting with /him/ far more than his rider, before heading into the hatching grounds.

Behemoth shakes his head out and rumbles pleasantly

You walk through the tunnel, emerging in an enormous cavern. You walk up a short flight of steps into the galleries.
In the Galleries of the High Reaches Weyr Hatching Grounds(#510RJas$)
Tiers of stone carved benches rise uniformly above the hatching sands, set against both the southern and western walls of the enormous hatching grounds. The warmth radiating from the sands make the cool stone benches a welcome change, especially for sand baked feet. One section of the galleries has been roped off for special spectators, and the seats within have cushions done in the dark blue and black of the Weyr. To the east, the cavern narrows and short flights of steps lead down to the cavern entrance or to the sands themselves. From the galleries, the many dragon ledges are visible, scattered all along the hatching cavern walls.
The sands stand empty now, all evidence of the last hatching has been cleared away except for a stray riding glove forgotten on one of the benches. Echoes fill the empty cavern at the slightest noise. Occasionally a firelizard will guard her own clutch at the edge of the sands, an ideal place for a clutch of any type.
To see things down on the sands, you can 'view', or to see a specific object you can 'view <object>'. +viewhelp gives you egg specific viewing help.
Contents:
Br'nal
Refreshment Tray

Br'nal sits in the Galleries, holding his seemingly empty hands up to the link and squiting at them. A pile of dark fabric is pooled in his lap.

Zynassa comes in, toting a rather cumbersome carrysack. She looks out to the sands first, as eyes adjust to the darker regions of the cavern.

Your location's current time: 8:50 on day 16, month 9, Turn 35, of the Tenth Pass. It is a autumn morning.

Br'nal settles on one hand, as he brings it down a faint glimmer of thread, the sewing kind, is visible. Glancing back at the pile on his lap, the silhouette of someone in the entrance catches his eyes, and he glances over, trying to who it is.

Zynassa purses her lips, regarding the dragons on the sands. "Maybe he's in the caverns," the words are spoken mostly to herself, and the carrysack, which had given her silhouette a rather humpbacked appearance, is dropped with a soft whump. "Just leave these here-" she trails off, turning towards the tiers of seats.

Br'nal grins, now placing the familiar voice, "Hi Nassa. Still around?" he asks, putting his sewing to the side.

Zynassa ohs, peering up into the tiers. "Gone and come back to bring your a present from V'drin. Wing reports. He thought you should be catching back up before you get back to Ista." She suits actions to words, and climbs up to settle beside the brownrider.

Br'nal glances at the sheer size of the sack that is carried up, "Oh dear. If that's all reports, I'd better hope the eggs don't hatch for another month!" He grins at Nassa. "Who'd you get to give you a lift?" he asks.

You say "M'dar and Renaith. He's got a bluerider up here he wants to see before Renaith gets proddy again." She shrugs slightly. "And it's just light reading, really. I /told/ V'drin that if he swamped you, you may not want to come back home."

Br'nal laughs at the comment in his own defense, "Thank you," he says, hooking a foot through the strap of the bag and tugging it closer, though he makes no move to go through it. "Just putting the finishing touches on a new outfit for the Hatching," he says, holding up a dark shirt.

You say "Are you getting terribly excited? Do you know what Yenne will wear?"

Br'nal nod his head up once, down once, left once, and right once, and then grins brightly. "I'm getting real excited. All I get to do this time is watch and see. Last time I was assisting Cenica, when she was Weyrlingmaster, and the time before that, I was in robes myself," he says. "But I've no clue what Yenne'll wear."

Zynassa asks, "Have you gotten her a hatching gift yet?" For one who spent a great deal of her life in Bitra, she seems to know more than a bit about the actual event. "You know. Something a little personal so that she can remember it? Yaz always got a bit of jewelry for his goldriders. Or a nice scarf or something. I *hope* I'll get to come. First time I'd be able to see a hatching here. I've just seen 'em at Benden, Telgar and Ista." She grins. "I've got Reaches, Igen and Fort to cross off my list. And with Zaemina's sire down at Southern, maybe I can even get down there too."

Br'nal blinks, "Wow! You've seen plenty more of them then I have," he says, and then grows quiet for a moment. "A gift? Shards, I hadn't even thought of that. I mean, I got her something, but that was more to get back at her for the gift she gave me, and that was with Divya and Rilsa, so... I don't think that counts."

Zynassa shrugs at Br'nal. "Birthed at Benden, lived for a while at Telgar, mother's a rider at Telgar, and with Yaz as Weyrleader, I've seen a few yeah. You really should give her something. A little dragon egg pendant or something. Oh! I know! Talk to the smiths about making a pendant like that rock down there, to remind her of the invisible egg."

Br'nal beams immediately. "That sounds like a great idea. Maybe I can corner Gaeta sometime soon," he says, tapping his chin. "I can't tell you how glad I am you mentioned it, Nassa," he says, looking a bit sheepish. "I would have felt the total heel not having gotten her anything. I guess I've gotten a bit rusty on getting presents for women."

Zynassa chuckles. "Having a big brother as a weyrleader for a few turns will get you thinking. I'm surprised he didn't give you any pointers. He's usually pretty good about that. And goldriders can be hard to please, I've heard. But, he's had a lot on his mind, I guess."

Br'nal nods his head, "I still can't believe that Gelth didn't catch...or that he's so happy about it," he muses. "I mean, I'm thrilled to see him so happy and all, it's just...not what I expected, I guess. And Fu's so young, and all. And S'ris too. I mean, I weyrlingmastered them!"

Zynassa nods. "Well, I understand him being happy about it. He has more time to spend with Mina and Yina now. But, yeah, I was a little disappointed he didn't catch," she admits. "TIt's nice not to have to worry about being 'The Weyrleader's Little Sister' now, though.

Br'nal grins, "True enough, that must have been a bit of a shadow," he says thoughtfully.

Zynassa mms. "I dunno that I'd say shadow, really. It's just..." She shrugs. "It's not as bad as being 'Lady Bitra's Fosterling', but." She breaks off. "Anyway, Not like I'm Blooded to the Hold or anything. But still, it's something to make you think before you act. Ever felt like that? Like people were always watching?" She gestures around to the empty cavern.

Br'nal nods his head, "Most assuredly, I have. When I first signed on with the traders, when I first got to Ista, when I was a Candidate," he smiles, indicating that the list goes on and on. "Almost as bad as Amary's inspections of us all. Only then, you know who's looking at you, and can see the face they're making," he teases.

Zynassa laughs. "Oh, you usually know who's looking. There's that awful pimply lad at Telgar Hold that I *swear* has to have a firelizard spy in the weyr living caverns. He's always riding a runner into the ground to get there when I show up to see my family. And the annoying smith at Benden." She wrinkles her nose.

Br'nal makes a wry face, "Another reason I don't like those pesky beasts. You don't have any, do you?" he asks, his face full of playful suspecion.

Zynassa laughs. "Not a one. As I've said, we girls in the family don't have the luck with dragonkin. I don't even think Jae's impressed a lizard yet."

Br'nal nods his head, "I've the one, a brown named Nor, that Fluria insisted on giving to me when we stood together. I swear he sleeps more than he wakes, and don't mind half-admitting that I often wished he wouldn't hatch."

You say "I thought you were a weyrlingmaster for Fluria?"

Br'nal nods his head, "We stood together, the first time, and she didn't Impress. She did the next time, for Isadith's clutch with Gelth. That's when P'tod and S'ris Impressed as well."

Zynassa ohs. "I didn't realize. I mean, I knew she impressed with P'tod and S'ris." She grins a bit. "Were they as much trouble as weyrlings with all that /stuff/ going on?"

Br'nal shakes his head, "Nah. You see, P'tod originally had a thing with Keira, but she Impressed when I did, and he got left on the Sands. During Weyrlinghood, I guess time and distance, and the arrival of Salek kind of had them drift apart. I didn't even know there was anything between P'tod and Fluria until right before graduation," he says.

You say "Wasn't S'ris involved in there too somehow?"

Br'nal grins a bit. "It was very confusing back then. S'ris, no, I don't think...wait." He purses his lips as he thinks, eyebrows disappearing into his bangs. "I think that started after they graduated, and I think P'tod was with Echo before Fluria was with S'ris, but I'm not sure. I remember Dossa telling me that S'ris was quite the charmer, he'd even put the moves on her, so who knows when the two of them got started."

Zynassa shakes her head, bemused. "Weyrlife. Well, at least Yaz and Mina are happy. And G'rel and Germaine've been weyrmated for longer than I've been at Bitra, I think."

Br'nal nods his head. "I know, no matter the troubles I've ever had, it's great to able to look up and see some truly happy couples. Though, for a while, I have to admit, I felt guilty feeling happy for your brother."

Zynassa arches her eyebrows. "Why?"

Br'nal grins, ducking his head down, "I think my sister may still have a crush on him," he says. "She met him before he became Weyrleader, and when I told her that he had a weyrmate, she went to pieces. Granted, that was about 5 Turns back, but," he shrugs. "She's awful luck."

Zynassa mms. "How old is she?"

"She's 22 now," Brin says, "Nearly 2 turns younger than me."

Zynassa ahs, looking a trifle disappointed. "I've younger brothers, but they've just turned seventeen. Too young for her, I'd imagine. *They're* the charmers of the bunch."

Br'nal arches a brow, "If they'd not be put off by a 22 turn old Craftmaster," he grins. "The only other sibs of yours I've met were the twins, and that was back when I was a Candidate. How old are they now?"

Zynassa laughs. "That's them. Seventeen turns, only just. I've another brother - Alnar at Benden - and another set of older twins - Fashaylan and Sylotra - by a rider here at the Reaches, on my father's side. But I don't know them near as well."

Br'nal blinks, "Wow, well, yes, I guess if they were about 12 when I last saw them..." he chuckels at himself. "Large family you've got. Guess that's the riders in it. Just me and my sister on my side."

Zynassa says drily, "Both my mother and father tend to get around. I'd not be surprised if there were more I didn't know of on my father's side." She grins at bit at Br'nal. "We've all grown up. Well, except for Zaemina."

"She's the newest one, right?" Brin asks, "How's Yina doing?" he asks, eyes alight. "I miss that little pest."

Zynassa laughs. "Pesting quite well, thank you. I bundled her off to the harpers for a day so Jae could look after her. We just *can't* get her interested in her lessons. Oh, she knows 'em spot on when you ask, but she just drives the weyrharper to distraction in classes. I thought maybe knowing her auntie was with the Harpers might calm her down a bit, but..." She shrugs.

Br'nal grins, "She still running around the Weyr stark naked?"

You say "Now that summer's over, not as much. And we're trying to keep her busy. Turn that activity to good use."

Br'nal winks, "Activity? Try an overabundance of energy. I told A'zric he'd better find a way to keep her clothed, or he'd be a grandfather before he knew it, and have a grenrider for a daughter!"

Zynassa laughs. "Halter tops. I need to introduce her to halter tops. If the nannies would just stop dressing her like a little girl, she'd be fine."

Br'nal hrms, "Maybe I could work on something for her. I wonder if she even remembers me?"

Zynassa says stoutly, "She will once you get back. And that won't be too much longer - you said yourself."

Br'nal nods his head, "I certainly hope so. They've been wonderful to me here, and the timing couldn't have been better, I needed to get away from Ista for a bit. But I miss it now."

Zynassa asks curiously, "Why'd you need to get away?" She grins, defusing what may be a personal question with a joke, "After all, I wasn't there yet."

Emilly tiptoes in, looking rather firestone dusted and settles down on a tier of the galleries. She props her chin up in her hand and looks out across the Sands.

Zynassa is seated next to Br'nal, and a rather hefty carrysack is before the pair. The brownrider has a puddle of fabric in his lap as well. Nassa looks down to Emilly, and gives her a polite nod of greeting.

Br'nal explains to Zynassa, "Well, Dossa was sort of, well, I guess she'd have said I was her weyrmate, but I don't think I really was. She's Dosali's mom, and she had a bit of a breakdown when she heard Yanaleth'd caught Temornath, and the scene got a bit ugly." He half-waves at Emilly.

Zynassa says bluntly, "Why? Not as though you had any choice in it. She's a greenrider, she should know better." Her tone has a hint of asperity in it.

Emilly smiles a touch absently and returns the wave and the polite nod, before her eyes return to wandering the view on the Sands.

I'sai wanders up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
I'sai has arrived.

Br'nal nods, "She's a greenrider, and it's not like Yanaleth always caught her green, but," he shrugs again, smiling at I'sai. "Even I'sai here could tell you that there was no understanding her."

I'sai, mounting the steps, "Hm?" And his sudden smile glints white and wry: "What about Dossa this time?"

Emilly is sat up on the risers, looking out at the sands until I'sai's voice meets her ears and she sits up a little, hand leaving chin, to wave toward the Telgar bronzerider. "Heyla Is ... um ... sir..."

Br'nal slaps his knee and laughs, grinning at Nassa. "You see what I mean?" he grins. "Anyway, she threatened to send Dosali away, because she didn't want to look at her when I wasn't there, and that was sort of the beginning of the end, and why I brought both Sabrin and Dosali with me, here."

Zynassa arches her eyebrows. "I'sai? I've heard my mother mention you. I'm Zynassa. One of Jazmin's," she adds by way of explaination. "Well met." She frowns back at Br'nal. "I've not seen her around much, so she must be keeping to herself."

I'sai's expression may shade relieved that there's nothing new, setting a foot on a nearby bench to lean upon bent knee; he afterward tilts a long look Emilly's way at the appellation - then, "Oh. Right. The candidate-thing. Which reminds me, good luck and ... Hm? Jazmin's? Hello, Zynassa, and tell me you didn't get that sunburn here."

Br'nal nods his head, "Keeping to herself down in Southern, last I'd heard. Mind-healers had to be brought in," he looks a little cowed by this. "So I've just been keeping to myself."

I'sai's own sandy brows slant up at that. "Has she," he breathes. "Well - well. But better I not say anything."

Zynassa's eyes flicker to Br'nal, a hint of sympathy in them, then she tactfully changes the subject, "No, not here. Ista. Like a silly wherry, I fell asleep in the sun." She grimaces, "I'll be peeling like a tunnelsnake by the end of the sevenday I'm sure."

Laurene strides up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
Laurene has arrived.

Br'nal winces at the explanation of the sunburn, "Ooh, that's gotta hurt," he says. "Did that myself a few times. You've lotion you're using? Or just numbweed?"

Emilly nods a few times and slaps flicks some 'stone dust off of the knee of her trousers. "Thank you," she says with another smile, then falls silent for a moment, face shading to sympathy at Zynassa's plight. "Ouch ..." she murmurs.

Laurene makes her way into the stands, nodding now and then to folks. She finds a quiet spot from which to look at the eggs.

I'sai whistles a soft, "Shards," from where he's half-perched on a bench near the others, poised to as readily go or stay. "That'd do it. Though, better Ista than... than Igen, hey?" with a nod to Laurene.

Zynassa nods to Br'nal. "An aloe cream the healers gave me. It doesn't hurt that much, really. Not now. The first couple of days, whoo! You'd think I'd sanded all my skin off or something. Carenath's tail it /hurt/." She gives a rueful shake of hear head, and follows up with a polite nod to Laurene.

Laurene arches a brow at I'sai's comment, summoning up her best dour wingleader expression. It's somewhat ruined by the twitching of the supressed smile at the corners of her lips.

Laurene pages to Emilly, I'sai, and Zynassa: Eek! I've gotten /older/ again when I wasn't looking.

I'sai readily explains, after a quieter murmur Emilly's way, "Poor Zynassa here got sunburnt, wingleader; I hear such things are worse in 'But it's a dry heat!' land." To the girl herself, a faint line of perplexity vertical between those brows, "Weren't you ... I think I know your name, but it's from Bitra, Telgar's territory."

Br'nal grins at Nassa. "Just the face, or did you get the whole front?" he asks. "I got my whole back and the back of my legs, first sevenday I was down at Ista. Thought that sleeping the night on the beach would be a great idea...it was so hot. By the shell was I wrong!"

Laurene chuckles, gesturing to her own brown skin. "I grew up in Ista, rarely ever burned. Probably is worse in dry heat because it's harder to keep it moisturized."

Zynassa grins a bit. "Never been to Igen - the humidity at Ista's enough to choke a herdbeast though." She nods to I'sai's statement. "I was fostered to Bitra from Telgar - I've still siblings at the weyr though. Joar and Jarin." She names the teenage troublemaking twins without a wince. At Br'nal's question she merely arches an eyebrow. Apparently, she's not telling that much detail.

Emilly nods I'sai's way and murmus something quietly by way of reply to his comment to her, before lending her attention to the others again. "Hmmm -- sleeping on the beach -can- be nice ..." she muses. "But that sounds quite painful, sir."

Br'nal chews his lip, he obviously hadn't meant the question to be so prying. "So, I'sai, what brings you out this way?" he asks, looking for a safer subject, as he finds a safe place to tuck his needle, sliding the cloth back into his bag.

"Worse sunburns or more sweat," I'sai's in the middle of mulling, after Zynassa's confirmation had eased his demeanor; "Hm? Oh, traded half the other day's off-day, and thought I'd take the chance to drop by, even if only for a little while. See you. How things were going. Bet P'tod will be glad too when we're all travelling around again. See Em here, too. Did eyebr... that is, did _Elie_ get Searched?"

On the sands, Temornath wakens from her nap. She turns to the galleries and studies those seated there.

Br'nal arches a brow at I'sai, with a teasing grin, "Eyebrow? Was that what you were going to say?"

I'sai promptly and falsely denies, laughing-eyed, "Absolutely not!"

Zynassa listens quietly, her own expression quizzical.

Emilly ducks her head for a moment, then nods at I'sai. "Yes she did." She makes no sign that she might have heard that slip-up on the rider's part. And when Br'nal brings it up again, she remains, quite stoic. Not a word, nope.

Gannon strolls up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
Gannon has arrived.

On the sands, Temornath rumbles. Loudly. Then her tail starts swishing back and forth.

Gannon enters quietly, blinking a little at the crowd.

Zynassa's brow furrows, and she looks towards the sands. "Faranth's teeth, Br'nal. If she's upset I didn't bring Gelth and you-know-what, please do have Yanaleth apologize for me?"

Br'nal chuckles, "I would have said 'gossip'," he teases, "And she knows it. First five or six times I saw her, I caught her talking about me."

Gannon hovers near the door--Temoranth's roar did NOT exactly do wonders for his confidence.

Br'nal grins at Zynassa, "I'll tell her, but I'm not sure what has her so agitated."

I'sai glances sharply down at the rumble; he has a boot resting atop the bench, but now straightens from his knee. Wearily, "And of course I came to see the eggs too." Pause. "And their sire. And dam." Then, "What was she saying, Br'nal? And how's A'zric taking it, Zynassa? And... was I supposed to ask you anything, wingleader?" glancing around as if to tick off a list, one that ends in a pleasant-enough nod when he espies Gannon there.

Laurene grins at the broody dragon, then rises from her seat. "Well, if you'll all excuse me. I've got sweeps."

On the sands, Temornath doesn't seem to be looking at Gannon, or at Zynassa. Indeed, it is uncertain whether or not she has even noticed them. In any event, the gold's volume goes up as she moves from rumbling to trumpeting. Both wings come out and cover the eggs protectively.

Br'nal smiles at the woman in passing.

Gannon nods, respectfully. "S-sirs, ma'ams. R-reaches duties."

I'sai raises his voice within the trumpet's echoes, "Clear skies." It drops to a muttered, "Or maybe I didn't come to look," and turns a shoulder to the sands and their sable-winged guardian: there, better?

Laurene's gaze, as she turns, trips upon Gannon as the lad hovers uncertainly by the entrance. She smiles, "She is very unlikely to come up all this way to eat you."

Zynassa covers her ears at Temornath. "Is another queen visiting?" She raises her voice in order to be heard. "Yaz is relieved I think, I'sai - Tamina's expecting their second baby and it means he's more time to spend with her." She gives a nod to Gannon as well, hands still half shielding her ears from Temornath's outcries.

Gannon nods. "I k-know ma'am..."

Br'nal makes a face, after taking a moment to converse with Yanaleth. "I'sai, did you say something at some point that could have upset Temornath?" he asks.

Yenne wanders up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
Yenne has arrived.

"You know me," I'sai says, dry - though his tone isn't particularly pleased, as he scruffs his hands into his jacket's pockets. "Well. We should be going soon, too, anyway... glad to hear it, at any rate, Zynassa. S'ris, well, all I know him from was when he was hanging around, panting around my wingmate Talisha, though I'm sure he's, uh, respectable now."

Br'nal laughs, and his return comment to Yanaleth can be heard, softly, "Well, I doubt he meant -fat-"

Yenne marches straight into the hatching grounds, over to the stairs, and down onto the sands. From the set of her lips, she's not exactly happy.
Yenne has left.

Gannon says "B-but I don't want to u...upset her anymore than she is."

Br'nal glances at I'sai, an odd look on his face and nods, "Well, clear skies then," he says. "Will you come for the Hatching. In a sevenday, I'd think."

Laurene grins and lowers her voice, confidingly. "Well, in /my/ experience, broody golds will be upset or not at their whim. So long as you don't take yourself onto the sands and don't make a great deal of noise up here, you should be fine.

On the sands, Yenne continues on to Temornath, reaching out to caress the agitated gold's headknobs, to sooth her. Without turning around, she says in a voice that's just loud enough to carry, "I'sai, has your dragon been making any more cracks about my dragon?"

Zynassa cautously tests the descible level, taking hands away from her ears. "S'ris I really don't know that well, though I'm sure he'll settle in fine. If you'd give my love to everyone at... Telgar..." She trails off, as Yenne takes the Telgari bronzer to task.

Emilly's hands lift to her ears briefly as Temornath sets to trumpeting, then looks over as Yenne enters. She watches the young goldrider progress across the sands, then blinks as Yenne calls out to I'sai and one hand covers her mouth for a moment.

Sh'yar walks up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
Sh'yar has arrived.

Gannon starts to answer Laurene, then quiets, leaving the obvious unsaid: an angry queen will likely stay on the sands and not come up in the Galleries to bite peoples' heads off. An angry GOLDRIDER, on the other hand...

Laurene winks, "Always remember: riders are people too."

Sh'yar shoos the candidates towards the entrance, "Not the best place to be right now."

Gannon nods. "Y-yessir," he mumbles, backing towards the bowl entrance.

Laurene considers, then adds, "Besides, if the Weyrwoman comes up here in a rampage, all you have to do is fling I'sai in her path, then you should have time enough to escape."

Sh'yar is visibily agitated and not intrested in listening to jokes.

I'sai leans forward, braced by knee-laid palms; calls, "Sorry, don't think he'd been paying much attention, but if he has..." After a moment's pause he adds, that much more placatory, "She has great breath support," before standing back. Quieted, "I'll see what I can do, Brin. Myk'll want to; but if I'm the one who's drawn sweeps... should hear through Nioth if nothing else." He adds, "Everyone at Telgar it is, though it'll take me a Turn, and - " breaks off at the sound of his name, glancing sidelong between wingleader and candidate.

On the sands, Yenne keeps one hand resting on the head of her lifemate and turns. "You know, Wingsecond," she says conversationally to I'sai, "it's not smart to insult egg-heavy golds. It's even less smart not to apologize to them if you do insult them. If you insult and don't apologize, it's a little foolhardy to have the unmitigated gall to come and gawk at the eggs. I'm sure you understand why Temornath is uncomfortable and unhappy."

Emilly's hand slips away from her mouth, to tug at a single curl and she shakes her head a bit, then gets to her feet. "More firestone to sack," she murmurs by way of explanation and smiles sympathetically at I'sai on her way down and out of the galleries. "Nice to see you Is ...um ... sir" she gives Gannon a little wave on her way by, and slips on out.

Emilly walks down a short flight of steps and heads out through the entrance to the bowl.
Emilly has left.

Gannon nods. "F-firestone. Yes."

Laurene claps Gannon on the shoulder, "Buck up. You'll be fine."

I'sai may mutter something, wry, about dragon memories - certainly Taralyth often remembers what he'd rather not - but then he straightens back from the other pair and returns cooly, clearly, "I'm not aware of any deliberate insult, but I apologize for any offense, weyrwoman." And waits.

Gannon nods. "Y-yes, ma'am."

Zynassa watches the exchange silently, eyes shifting between Yenne, I'sai and Br'nal. Sh'yar's glowering hasn't affected her just yet. Then again, she's not a candidate and going to get extra chores for staying.

Gannon scootches a few steps closer to the bowl.

Laurene salutes the Weyrwoman and calls over, "Igen Weyr's duties to High Reaches and her queens." Then nods once again to those in the galleries and turns to head to the bowl.

Br'nal takes a moment to pull his attention away from I'sai and Yenne, last thing they need is more of an audience than there is, and winks briefly at the visiting Istan.

Sh'yar mutters to Br'nal, "What..."

Laurene walks down a short flight of steps and heads out through the entrance to the bowl.
Laurene has left.

Zynassa merely arches her eyebrows at Br'nal, staying quiet as Sh'yar murmurs something to him.

On the sands, Yenne has turned back to Temornath in a further attempt to help sooth the gold. While wings stay protectively covering the eggs, Temornath's tail has stopped sweeping from one side to the other, and the trumpeting has, at least become rather more infrequent. "I see, Wingsecond," she says coolly to the Telgari bronzerider. "Then, for the record, my dragon and I did consider it an insult for her to be referred to as both fat and lazy while she was egg-heavy. This is something you may wish to keep in mind in the future."

Br'nal leans over to reply to the Reaches rider, He mutters to Sh'yar, "... commented on... she... And he and... showing up now,... the eggs,... set... thus..."

Gannon ducks out in a hurry, as if something had just occurred to him.

Gannon walks down a short flight of steps and heads out through the entrance to the bowl.
Gannon has left.

Sh'yar heaves a sigh of relief, He mutters to Br'nal, "... can... how... would upset... now... see... our..."

Br'nal nods his head to Sh'yar, "Best idea."

Sh'yar walks down a short flight of steps and heads out through the entrance to the bowl.
Sh'yar has left.

On the sands, Yanaleth arches his neck in Temornath's direction, not intruding on her personal space, or even touching the gold, but crooning softly.

Zynassa asks Br'nal lightly, "Duty calls? I should get home anyway."

I'sai draws in a sharper breath; but when he lets it out, it's in the same controlled tone as before: "Naturally." And, "I don't recall those terms being used. By us. Surely one would have pride in a... bountiful clutch. But I'll, ah, keep it in mind even so."

Br'nal nods his head, reluctant to part with the company. "Of course," he says. "Hopefully A'zric will bring you with him for the Hatching?" he asks. Then, with another bold grin, "And thank you again for pointing out that item I'd forgotten," he says.

Gannon strolls up into the stands from the entrance to the bowl.
Gannon has arrived.

Gannon hauls a largish bucket in from the Bowl.

Zynassa nods to Br'nal. "I've a feeling it might be useful." She tactfully offers, "I'sai? If you're headed out, I'll be glad to walk with you."

Gannon may be young, he may be inexperienced, but he is neither stupid nor suicidal. The bucket is attached to a rope and lowered down onto the sands, where Yenne can see it.

I'sai, looking long at the sands even now - stands down; remotely polite for all those darkened eyes, "Yes, of course, Zynassa. Sweeps call. After you. Brin, we'll see you... when we see you."

Br'nal spares a smile, "Clear skies, 'Sai. Take care, Zyn," he says, slipping up on the girls nickname, and grinning sheepishly.

Zynassa gives Br'nal a little wave and a grin, offering to the riders who will remain, "Clear skies, all." Then with a glance back at I'sai, moves quietly from the galleries.

You walk down a short flight of steps and head out through the entrance to the bowl.
Western Bowl, High Reaches Weyr(#880RJs)

Contents:
Mimenth(#6814OVaes$)
Sh'yar
Kichevio
Saulith
Emilly
Taralyth
Konnevath
Bromith
Gyreventh
Nepenth(#4050JVaps)
Tezcath(#11475JQaeps)
Minecraft Tent(#11335Je)
Melisandeth
Dalrianth(#3773JMQaes)
Corineth

I'sai comes out of the entrance to the hatching grounds.
I'sai has arrived.

Zynassa murmurs something in an undertone to the Telgari rider, even as she peers around for someone - her ride, most likely.

Kichevio looks over from where she's chatting with Emilly, and waves to I'sai. "Temornath boot you out?"

I'sai senses "Zynassa says lightly, "It's never dull, visiting the Reaches. Riders here are a moody lot - I think it's all the snow.""

Emilly nods, slipping her hands into her pockets. "The eggs are nice," she says softly. "As for fellas to flirt with ... well ...." she looks 'round the Bowl. "Plenty of blues and browns around."

Saulith warbles smugly in agreement, and Kichevio rolls her eyes again. "And people call _me_ flirtatious."

I'sai says curtly, "So you could hear it from there, could you? ...We have sweeps to get to. Sorry to not stay, Emilly, but we'll be watching." To Zynassa, quieter, studying her anew, "I'll remember that." And, "Thank you." And with that, he hooks up his goggles, and moves to shifting-winged Taralyth's side.

Zynassa gives I'sai a nod and a smile. "Clear skies. And my best to the folks back at the weyr." She starts to join the rest of the group, but a rider with an Istan knot threaded with green comes up and draws her away. Her own ride, apparently, and it's time to return. A wave is given to the Reaches folk and visitors, before she is boosted quickly aboard further down in the bowl.

Surely it's coincidence that, upon Taralyth's interested glimpse of the co-craftmaster, I'sai pulls himself that much more quickly up the young dragon's neck - as he had in the training center, to hide some evidence.

I'sai swings up to Taralyth's neck.
I'sai has left.

Emilly sends a wave after I'sai and then gives Kichevio an apologetic smile. "I should really get going ..." she says, looking over at where other candidates and young weyrfolk are sacking firestone.

That Istan green launches almost before Zynassa's strapped in, her rider twisted about to make sure nothing is dropped. The trio wink between as soon as they rise above the bowl walls.

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All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern™ is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!