Plans within Plans

Zynassa reveals her Grand Plan for runner breeding to Br'nal.

Zynassa - Tuesday, May 22, 2001, 8:17 AM
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Zynassa comes along from the direction of the waterfall, a heavy sack slung over her shoulder. Even above the rush of the waves, the sounds of spiderclaws clicking against each other can be heard. She is moving slowly among the rocks and tidepools, not really looking at the beach as she goes.

Yanaleth heads for the water in a delighted manner, steering clear of Zynassa, but splashing up quite the amount of water. His rider on the other hand, has taken up perch on some rocks, and smiles as he makes out the form of the girl at the waters edge.

Zynassa looks up at the splashing, likely because the tremors have caused all the clews she was hunting to abruptly head for the hills! Or the rocks, as the case may be. She grins at Yanaleth, and then looks towards the shore, scanning against the sun until she spies Br'nal and gives a wave before heading that way.

Br'nal breaks into a grin, and waves. "Sorry," he says, gesturing to the cause of the lost 'claws. "He wanted to swim at the beach today."

Zynassa laughs. "No skin off my teeth. Means I get a break. I've been out here since sunup, practically." She drops the sack on a rock, grimacing at the clicking outcry it sends up. "I swear, I hate the way those things sound. Taste, yes. Sound-" she breaks off and shudders. "What're you two up to today?"

Br'nal grins at the sounds from the bag. "Rather fiesty," he says. "Eh, I was given a rest day, to catch up on sleep," he says, shrugging.

Zynassa asks, "How's Sabrin's arm? I heard it got broken, and I didn't think I'd seen you since?"

Br'nal nods his head, "I know, I'm sorry about that, and about not showing the other night for the dinner. I'd been looking forward to it."

Zynassa waves that away. "Just means you missed seeing my gather dress again." She grins. "Maybe you're just not meant to see it. How is he? It wasn't a bad break, was it?"

Br'nal looks playfully disgruntled at this. "Maybe it means I'm due a private showing," he teases. "Nah, simple clean break, but it hurts. Understandably. And because he's so young they're worried about dosing him too heavily."

Zynassa makes a sympathetic noise. "Poor thing. And private showing - hah! Though I suppose Sabrin could always chaperone for us."

Br'nal looks hurt, "You think you'd need a chaperone?" he asks, twinkling eyes giving himself away. "And this is only your gather dress. Not even one of the others," he says. "Too bad, I'd had a nice new outfit to wear as well," he tempts.

Zynassa ohs? She looks mildly curious. "And no, it wasn't one of the others. I think I'll wear that where no one knows me!" She grins a bit. "Don't I always need a chaperone?"

Br'nal chuckles softly, especially at seeing your interest piqued. "You haven't the last few times."

Zynassa laughs. "Yes well. I wasn't all dressed up then either. Besides, you were given the day off to rest, were you not?":

Br'nal nods, "And isn't that enough of a guarantee?" he asks. In truth, he does look tired.

Zynassa relents. "It may just be. They've been working you too hard. I've not seen yaz in days."

Br'nal shrugs at this, "I wonder if other people have," he says, surprising himself at the snippy tone of his voice. "It's not them working me too hard. I had Sabrin staying with me the night he broke his arm, and he was up a lot, and crying, and so I was up a lot. Then add onto the a full day's schedule yesterday..." he tapers off.

Zynassa arches an eyebrow. She is quiet for a moment and then lets it pass. "Is there anything I can do?"

Br'nal smiles softly and shakes his head. "No, but thanks for asking," he says sincerely. "Enough on all that, though. How've you been?"

Zynassa shrugs. "Fine. Busy with chores as per usual. Lost more than I won wagering on Herath's flight up at Telgar."

Br'nal grins, "I heard S'dar's Chezroth caught. Good man. May have to swing by and visit sometime," he muses. "Drop in on 'Sai while I'm there."

You say "On who?"

Br'nal points to the brown playing in the water, "Well, I thought Yanaleth might take me," he grins, purposely missing the question. "I'sai, Taralyth's rider. Surely you remember him?" he asks.

Zynassa starts to roll her eyes at the question and then ohs! "I... yes. I remember him." She clears her throat and changes the subject. "Care to bring me when you go? The twins are still gloating at the marks I lost to Kassima."

Br'nal shades a smirk, "You lost?" he says, nodding. "Sure I'll bring you. And anywhere else you want to go," he says.

Zynassa nods. "Lost three and a half marks. Only won one. But then, that's what I get, wagering on a gold flight when I've not seen once since I was little."

Br'nal cocks his head to the side, "You weren't around for Qirith's?" he asks, and then nods his head, "No, I remember you said you weren't."

Zynassa shakes her head. "Nope. First one I'd been around since I was little. S'dar was weyrleader over at the Reaches, wasn't he?"

Br'nal nods, "I think he was, a few Turns back. Don't remember precisely when, though," he says. "So, you were actually there for Herath's?" he asks, curiously.

Zynassa nods. "I didn't see them go up. The twins were showing me something back in the caverns." She rolls her eyes a bit. "Though *they* disapepared on me of course. Kassima thinks they're just like their father, and I rather agree." She sniffs faintly.

Br'nal nods his head, thoughtfully. "What, ah, happened?" he asks.

Zynassa shrugs. "It was rather quiet actually. I talked to Kassima and Terac - that P'ter and Macami's boy, I believe - and met his duck. I didn't know people *kept* ducks as pets. Then the bronzers and brownriders started straggling in after Chezroth caught. N'gor and H'pen from Benden were there." She rolls her eyes. "You should have *heard* the things they were suggesting."

Br'nal arches a brow, obviously curious, but not willing to ask. "So it wasn't that bad then," he says, also a bit relieved.

Zynassa frowns. "Bad? How do you mean, bad? I ended up coming back with G'har. Poor thing. He was *so* addled."

"Well, I remember you explaining why you didn't want to be around during Qirith's flight, is all," Brin says.

Zynassa ohs. "Well, there were offers. But I'm quite capable of behaving myself." She grins a bit, "So was G'har, but don't tell him that. I put him to bed, and I doubt he remembers a thing. I can't wait to hear what he thinks happened."

Br'nal grins with something like, pride? "I'm sure you are," he says. "And that being so, why should you need a chaperone?" he smirks.

Zynassa chuckles. "All right, I walked into that one. But you still need to take today to rest."

Br'nal nods his head, "So you are saying I can't rest while sitting on my sofa in my weyr talking with you?"

Zynassa arches her eyebrows. "Well, I guess. Since I didn't get to see it the night of the dance. But it's such a gorgeous day out. Wouldn't you rather stay out here where there's warm sun to bask in?"

Br'nal looks around, brows disappearing under his curls. "I suppose in comparison, it is a nice day," he says. "All right, you've talked me into it, we can stay here for a while," he grins.

Zynassa laughs. "Well, you're not likely to get burned at least. That to me says it's a nice day." She settles herself more comfortably. "Besides, you have a better chance of actually *resting* here.

Br'nal grins, kicking off his boots, "Why are you so sure I wouldn't rest in my weyr?" he asks.

Zynassa eyes the weyrsecond. "Call it a hunch."

Br'nal sniffs playfully. "Honestly, Zyna, I'd rest. I'm not up to much. But, I wouldn't be against taking the chance to hold you for a while," he says, sincerely.

Br'nal pages to Zynassa: What a surprise, T'mren's wathcing.

Zynassa chuckles. "And *that* would be opening things up far more than you'd intend. You behave yourself. Besides, it's more peaceful down here. Lunch'll be starting soon, and that always makes an awful wracket in the living caverns. If you're really good, I'll provide a pillow for you."

Br'nal brightens at this, "All right, I'll be good," he says, grinning playfully. "But what will you do?" he asks. "I think Yanaleth's scared all the 'claws to Nerat."

Zynassa shrugs. "I've got a full load. And I know where they hide. Besides, with as many candidates as we have now, there should be pleanty of claws for dinner." She shrigs, offering her rather bony lap as a pillow.

Br'nal turns around on the rocks, rsting the back of his head on one thigh, a hand shading the overcast sun from his eyes. "True enough. Shame you didn't pull gathering plants instead of gathering food," he smirks.

Zynassa laughs. "It would surely have rained if I did."

Br'nal laughs, "It surely would. And then you'd really be yelling at me to get some rest."

Br'nal smiles as you play with his hair, "One of these days," he grins, "True enough. And here I even went so far as to clear away all the kids toys from the floor," he grins.

Zynassa teases, amused, "No wonder you're so tired."

Br'nal laughs, "Well, if I don't do it, no one will," he says.

Zynassa nods. "That's true enough. The kids aren't really old enough to put their own away. How'd Sabrin break his arm anyway?"

Br'nal nods, "They're neither of them four yet," he says, shifting the position of his head. "Oh, he and some of the other boys, all of them older than he, were playing with some of the firestone chunks that were left out."

Zynassa grimaces. "Well, at least he didn't fall out of a tree or anything. Papafel was always telling me that's how I'd break an arm."

Br'nal chuckles, "I know what you mean, though I was never quite as troublesome myself," he says. "Did you ever fall?"

Zynassa shakes her head, her expression both proud and amused. "Never did. Never been thrown from a runner either, and he was sure that'd happen too. But his advice there was just to climb back on." She chuckles. "I still miss him something terrible."

Br'nal expression sobers, "I take it's not a matter of going to visit," he says, softly.

Zynassa shakes her head. "He died. Oh, going on five turns ago now? I'm sure he'd like you though. Even if you're one of those no-account riders." She grins a bit.

Br'nal arches a brow at this, but seems happy at the idea of being approved of. "Not one with much use for riders?" he asks. "My parents are like that."

Zynassa's tone is wistful. "More that he'd rather his little girl settle down with someone who didn't have to worry about flights all the time. I wasn't terribly close to my sire. Papafel was really my father."

Br'nal nods, slightly, remembering his head is resting on your lap. "How old were you when you were fostered?" he asks.

You say "About six turns. Spent the first couple at Benden, before the water went bad. Then to Telgar. Then Bitra, and I finally ended up here." She smiles slightly, "Not a bad way to see Pern, I guess."

Br'nal smiles up at you, listening. "A great way. Much better than hitching up with traders for 4 turns," he says. "I've been thinking about fostering Sabs and Dosi away from the Weyr, when they're older."

Zynassa grins slyly, "You couldn't do any better fostering 'em at Bitra, but I'm biased. What was it like, traveling with the traders?"

Br'nal grins, "A lot of times wonderful, many times very hard. You ever been caught out in Threadfall?" he asks.

Zynassa shakes her head. "Faranth *no*! I was trouble, but I wasn't *that* much trouble. What was it like?"

"Terrifing," Brin says. "Happened twice that I can remember, that we were out without someplace to camp during it." Even as he speaks, he shivers. "I watched one of the cart beasts taken down and out in moments, though it felt like candlemarks," he says.

Zynassa shudders lightly. "What'd you do?"

Br'nal holds his hands up so that they are about 2 handsspans apart, "Hid out under an overcopping of rock about this wide, and scrunched my eyes shut. I was about 15 at the time."

Zynassa makes a sound of disgust. "I don't know that I would have ever had the nerve to accept search after something like that. I can't imagine what it was like. And I'm not sure I even want to try. -- I've been out with ground crews, sure, but alwasy after leading edge had passed."

"Honestly," Brin says, "I think it was one of the reasons I accepted Search. Well, that and Gelth was hanging me over the pools and I didn't know how to swim at the time," he grins.

Zynassa ohs? "I didn't realize Gelth searched you?"

Br'nal nods his head, again, only slightly. "Yup. A'zric wasn't around at the time, so I had to ah, just hang out, until he came running up from the bowl."

Zynassa chuckles softly. "That sounds like Gelth. I have to admit, whenI was younger, I was so hoping he or Chaeth would search me. Now, I think it'll be the men in the family that are the riders."

Br'nal reachs up, squinting into the dreary sun and tapping the tip of your nose, "Rider or not, so long as you're happy, don't question it," he grins.

Zynassa laughs. "I don't think I'd make a good rider anyway. I'm deathly afraid of thread after all. I could just see me panicing out in Fall."

Br'nal rolls his eyes playfully, "Zyna, any -sane- person is scared of Thread!"

Zynassa adds, "Besides, It'd mess up Jae's and my wager. Zaemina's going to be the only girl to impress. Though I swear, I think the boys will end up on bronze or green, after the way they acted the other night."

Br'nal chuckles at this, "What did they do?" he asks, giving into curiousity this time.

Zynassa snorts. "They were off with cavern wenches even before the flight had ended. So much for Joar's undying love for Ekaterina. I should introduce them to Lasora and let her smack them around a little, take that ego of theirs down a peg or two."

Br'nal blinks at this, "Shards, I keep forgetting. In my mind they're still about 12. How old are they now?"

You say "Just turned sixteen a month or so ago. And more trouble than ever." She shakes her head, her expression amused. "They're a total mess."

Br'nal chuckles, "Need to send them down here and let the heat sap away some of their energy," he teases.

Zynassa rolls her eyes. "Faranth's knees, no. They'd ruin all my dragonpoker games, spouting off about my winnings. They may even be harboring a grudge about the flight wagering - *if* they manage to remember. They wanted to cage marks off me and I told them I'd none to lend. They've *never* been as good at handicapping as I am." If she does say so herself.

Br'nal laughs at this, lifting his head barely off your lap to keep from jostling you. "I never understood handicapping," he admits, and then groans softly. "And I don't want it explained to me now!" he assures the Bitran.

Zynassa was just opening her mouth to do so, and subsides a bit. "Well, I'd never take your marks. It just wouldn't be fair. Though I really didn't do so well at Telgar. I'll do better on the hatching here. I'm supposed to be teaching Mouse, but with all the chores they pile on candidates, I've not really seen her to."

Br'nal nods his head, settling back down. "I finally got a chance to talk with her the other day," he says.

Zynassa mms. Her tone is a trifle wary, "Maybe that's why I've not been able to find her. What'd she say?" A pause and she asks, "What'd *you* say?"

Br'nal ahs, "I told her that I knew, and she wanted to know how, and we discussed that. And about the Candidate rules. I was mainly trying to stress to her how important it is that she try and not think about it, because it might affect her chances on the Sands," he says.

Zynassa nods. "That's sensible. How'd she take it? I hope she wasn't too embarassed?"

Br'nal hrms, "Not as much as I thought she'd be, but I felt like a real heel. She'd wanted to see me because it was her Turnday, and I didn't know, and hadn't gotten anything for her. And she wanted to tell me she was changing her name."

Zynassa arches her eyebrows. "Changing her name? She told me what her name was once. Marissa, wasn't it? A sight nicer than Mouse, if you ask me. But then, she grew up with four - or was it five - brothers. Still." She frowns. "You should get her something for her turnday, even if it is late."

"Marissa, yeah," Br'nal says. "Though she was shortening it to Mara. I think I will," he says. "A lot of siblings, but actually, it was Reye who nicknamed her, when we all stood together. She was so quiet, and never answered, so we all just called her Mouse. Seemed fine by her."

Zynassa frowns faintly. "Hm. I thought she stood when she was much younger." She trails off for a moment, perhaps mentally doing the math. "Huh. I guess it was with you guys. We're almost of an age." she shrugs slightly, shaking her head. "Well, I hope she does impress, though I know Grissa's missed her help in the caverns."

Br'nal chuckles, "True enough, I saw her with another girl in the caverns the other day, and she looked so harried. She claims she brings it on herself, by accepting former Candidates into the position.

Zynassa chuckles. "I've been helping out where I can, though I'm glad not to have the knot to go along with it. I mean, that's pretty much what Filliana trained me for. But I'd rather be out exercising runners. I think I've pretty much decided: I don't think I'll try to apprentice with the beastcraft. I just don't think I'd fit in well with that much structure, you know?"

Br'nal smiles at this, actually, he looks delighted. "So you'll be staying on at Ista then?" he asks.

Zynassa laughs, tapping the weyrsecond lightly on the nose. "I should be, yes. For a turn or two more at least. I'm going to talk to the weyr herder about training and breeding one of the foals due in the spring. It'll be a while, but. I'm sure I can get Filliana to lend me one of the fillies from Bitra. the runners here are decidedly different, so I'd like to start with that crossbreed strain." She pauses and then asks, a trifle sheepishly, "I'm not boring you, am I?"

Br'nal shakes his head, "Not in the slightest," he grins.

Zynassa rambles on, reassured. "I told you I wanted to develop a mid distance sprinter, didn't I? Something to compete with Keroon? Yet still sturdy enough to take the cold at Bitra - good doers on bad feed in the winter, that sort of thing. Well, most of the stock here is Keroon blooded, and this way I wouldn't have to pay stud fees. Granted, it's not as nice of a bloodline as if I'd started with Keroon's best, but that's actually some of what I want. Scrubs're likely to do better on less attention. I don't need a star race-runner. Not for what I want to do for Bitra. So far, though, none of the studs here are really want I want, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for spring. There's four mares gravid, and spring's foaling season, so." She shrugs. "I just have to hope we get some males, and convince the weyr herder not to geld the one I want."

Br'nal has a somewhat blank smile on his face as he listens. If the speaker were not quite so taken with the subject of conversation, she might notice that she's lost her audience sentences back. But, at least he's enjoying the scenery.

Zynassa is entirely taken with the subject and has no clue she's lost the brownrider. "Then, it's just a matter of training him, putting him through paces, and then shipping a mare down here from Bitra. *That'll* likely take a while. And have to be carefully planned. Summer after next, I think. If all goes well. It'd be easier to breed here - less chance of losing the foal during the winter and I have completely lost you, haven't I?" She finally does look down, recognizing the blank look. "That's the way mother always looks when I talk about this."

Br'nal had actually started to try come back around, a desperately lost look on his face at hearing of "Breeding, next summer," and he looks like a kicked canine and you notice. "Sorry," he says. "But I was enjoying watching you speak," he explains. "You're so vibrant when you start talking about runners. I'm almost jealous."

Zynassa clears her throat. "Sorry. I just don't have a chance to talk about my plans much. They're all written out on scrolls, ready to send to Filliana, as soon as we know what sex the foals are this spring. It's a lifelong project. You can't just establish a new bloodline in a turn or two. Why, I've read through mouldering records, back from Moreta's time - the Keroon herds still aren't nearly to the standards they described back then. And the pass'll be over in just another fourteen turns. We're past the halfway point. It's something to be thinking about."

Br'nal nods his head, "You make a great point," he says. "I can't see how you'd be denied the opportunity, it obviously means so much to you," he grins, taking a moment to lift his head off your lap and sit up. "When are the new foals due?" he asks, caught up in it.

Zynassa gives the brownrider a gauging look, almost as if trying to decide if he's really interested, or just humoring her. "Next spring," she says slowly. "There's still a thousand things that have to be right. I'm just hoping all the eggs crack my way. One of my goals is to have at least three full generations of the runners with the traits I want, by pass's end. It's reasonable, I just don't know if it's doable yet." She pauses and then asks, "I *could* use some thoughts on how to get the mares" in this short of a time span, with even moderate encouragement, it's changed from a single to multiple, "down here from Bitra. Assuming all the conditions are right. I couldn't risk losing blood stock to 'Fall."

Br'nal hrms, making a thoughtful face. "I can't see as how having Yanaleth snag them would be good for them." He says, "But I imagine a boat ride wouldn't be healthy for them either."

Zynassa shakes her head. "Oh no. No dragons. But you traveled with traders, and that's something I know nothing about."

Br'nal nods, "It's a good plan, and a lot of them might be willing to deliver a mare or two for a few marks."

Zynassa mms. "Well, I couldn't just leave it up to someone else. But maybe a caravan with them might be a good idea. I was actually thinking of a tin wagon - just in case of Fall. Like Keroon uses to ship runners out in the spring."

"Do you know how long that would take?" Br'nal asks. "Probably a few months."

Zynassa nods. "It'd be time well spent though. And it could be started before the foal here is ready to breed. There's still more details to work out." She leans down and drops a kiss to Brin's forehead. "But, before I do that, I really should get these claws up to the cooks. And *you* should get some of that rest. Deal?"

Br'nal looks mopey, "Maybe you'll visit after dinner?" he asks.

Zynassa grins. "Rest like a good boy and I'll think about it."

Br'nal leans over to kiss your forehead in exchance. "I'll be better than good," he promises.

Zynassa chuckles. "That," she says, climbing to her feet, "I'll have to see to believe." She shoulders the claws and heads back up to the weyr with a wave.

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