The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) 1967.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	12/17/97

Log Cast:
	(People) Mehlani, Tamali, Siani, Halam, Rashala, Pierron (NPC), Sorel,
N'kshar, A'lex, M'kla, Jaeleka, K'tyn, Kassima, R'val, Emlyn, Lyrillia,
Davidon, Jayna, D'thon

	(Fire Lizards) Holl, Vachon, Rianet, Clearsky, Forestdawn, Woodlight,
Rainshadow, Leaf

Log Intro:
	Baffling is the lot of a fourteen-Turn-old girl trying to figure out
the mysteries of interacting with Boys, for the first time in her life.
Her trip to the Harper Hall to ask her mother about this very issue having
been less than constructive, Mehlani has, since her recovery from her dunk
in the Weyr Lake, tried to question her brother Fahloran and his friend Siara,
without any more success -- and it hasn't helped that Mehlani has discovered
that Siara, for some perplexing reason, seems in awe of her.
	Mehlani has at last concluded that she should respond to the gifts of
K'star and E'rian by doing something for both of them, but for the life of
her, she can't figure out what. This nags at her as the lass sets out to get
caught up with the chores she'd been remiss on, while ill...

----------
Your location's current time: 17:06 on day 16, month 2, Turn 21, of the Tenth
  Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's
  population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity
  here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently
  for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under
  Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets
  and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its
  size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the
  pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder
  that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it.
  Branches of evergreens and glistening winter berries are ornaments of the
  season.
A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of
  cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of
  the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns.
  Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for
  injured dragons and riders.
Contents:
Siani
Kheldar
Tamali
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl

It is with what has become her usual small honor guard of fire lizards --
  bronze Holl, brown Vachon, and green Rianet -- that Mehlani pads on
  slippered feet into the cavern. The lass is carrying a small armful of odds
  and ends, perhaps tasks to be done, and she peeks with solemn blue eyes out
  from under her hat brim to consider the cavern, before she makes her
  deliberate way to a chair near the hearth.

Tamali glances over idly, casually, frozen as ever.

Amidst the flutterings of the green on her shoulder and the bigger fire
  lizards winging along in her wake, Mehlani quietly takes her chosen seat,
  settling down her burdens on the floor before her as she goes. Holl and
  Vachon get a toy to play with, the sort of knot-tied long strip of rawhide
  perfect for fire lizards to chew or tug or claw to their hearts' content;
  then, the lass takes up the black vest lying in the middle of her other
  items and begins to inspect it, her brow furrowed critically.

Siani looks at you for a moment.

Mehlani(#4177PQace)
This is a young girl of about 5'2" in height, of an indeterminate age
  somewhere in the beginnings of adolescence. Her build is delicate, with the
  barest traces of teenaged curves as of yet; her skin, pale, speaking of
  unfamiliarity with Pern's sunnier climes. Long auburn hair wreathes her
  face, enough of it held in check by a slender braid in the back to keep her
  vision free, but the rest making an unruly mop, complete with rogue tendrils
  occasionally escaping to spill across her brow. Seldom does this lass speak;
  when she does, her voice is soft and sweetly toned, clear and grave of
  enunication. But far more often than not she simply fixes her dusty blue
  gaze on an object or person of interest, and keeps it there with a intense
  attention that suggests the weight of her world rides upon her drinking in
  every detail of her surroundings through her guileless eyes.
She is currently clad in a simply cut dark golden brown blouse with blue laces
  at her collar and sleeves, along with a pair of dark brown breeches laced,
  also in blue, around her calves and ankles. On her feet she sports a pair of
  soft scuffed slippers, suitable for padding around lower caverns; on her
  head perches a battered brown wherhide hat, just a touch too large for her.
Carrying:
A calico cat(#7160p)
Rianet(#12156s)
Holl(#6542p)

Siani is stretched out in her usual fashion, leaning against a table with a
  half-empty mug of klah beside her.

'Lani leans over the vest, which seems a trifle stiff and battered-looking in
  her hands; frowning slightly to herself, the lass begins carefully working
  the leather back and forth between her fingers, trying to soften the
  water-stiffened leather.

Tamali pulls out a piece of hide and starts writing on it, slowly.

Halam walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Halam has arrived.
Halam walks into the cavern looks around and waves to everyone. He smiles at
  Mehlani. Glad to see you up and about.

Mehlani lifts her gaze from the vest she is inspecting, and bobs her head
  gravely to Halam, saying softly, "Thank you, and hello."

Halam heads over to the hearth, pours himself a cup of klah and heads back
  over to his usually empty table. He looks at then feels the seat as if he's
  checking for something.

Mehlani's vest inspection is, apparently, extremely interesting to green
  Rianet. The fire lizard cranes her neck down to watch, then flitters down to
  the girl's lap and tries to take up a corner of the garment in her little
  beak, to waggle it about.

Halam stands suddenly and rushes out of the cavern muttering about water and
  feed and sharding runners.
Halam walks towards the inner cavern.
Halam has left.

Halam's departure is noted by the quiet girl in the hat, but Mehlani simply
  glances after him before turning back to her task at hat. She giggles a
  little as her green keeps tugging at the black leather, and gently, she
  disengages the vest from Rianet's beak before anchoring the garment between
  her knees, stretching it out, and taking up a brush with which to beat it,
  lightly.

Siani walks towards the inner cavern.
Siani has left.

Tamali finishes whatever she was doing, folding the hide carefully and putting
  it in her bag, she finds some wherry scraps for her fair, feeding them idly,
  casually.

Bronze Holl and brown Vachon, while Mehlani seems bent on engaging in
  vest-spanking, chitter back and forth at one another over who has the right
  to the pull-toy. Or the chew-toy, or the drag-toy, depending on which of
  them has it at any given time and what they feel like doing with it.

Rashala walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Rashala has arrived.

Pierron sniffs at the klah pot, and throws the old klah out with a look of
  disgust.

Rashala wanders into the living cavern, a small fair of flits about her head
  and shoulders.

Fire lizards seem to be the order of the day in caverns; the bronze and the
  brown lately seen in the company of Mehlani are engaging in a battle over a
  battered toy, chittering in lively piping tones, fluttering back and forth.
  Mehlani's green is dead set on helping her at her task, though; the little
  green keeps mouthing at the black leather vest the girl has stretched out
  between her knees and her hands, and Mehlani keeps gently shooing her away,
  murmuring scoldingly to her, "Silly, don't chew on that...!"

Yup, definitely the order of the day. Two blues, a brown and a green seem to
  be attached to the Ice Queen. One of the blues...the smaller...pounces on
  the green, sending her tumbling. Hopefully just play.

Tamali
Tall, statuesque, raven hair falls over her shoulders, skin light and fair,
  eyes a brown so dark they might almost class as black. Slender her form, she
  is probably no more than fourteen, but carries herself as much older, with a
  quiet dignity that is in no way that of a child. She seems, despite her
  height, almost delicate, frail, as if made out of bone china. Features
  finely-crafted...yes, many might consider this an attractive woman. In fact,
  'decorative' would be a good word to describe her. Voice is a mellifluous
  alto, pleasant and deep.
She is dressed simply, but elegantly, in dark blue breeches and a lighter blue
  tunic, cut to her form, her carriage making this simple, practical clothing
  seem like the finest Gather gown, black boots polished to a shine, she wears
  no actual jewellry, but somehow doesn't need to. Simple, unadorned, she
  moves through the world like...a vision.
Carrying:
Tamali's fair

Rashala
tosses her long, reddish-blond hair back out of her face. Her warm smile seems
  to welcome you, as her dancing-bright blue eyes tease you, just a little.
  She is 15 Turns, 7 months, and 2 days old, and stands about five and a half
  feet tall. Her creamy-pale skin is well-displayed by the dark colors she
  favors. A black-and-white Telgar Weyr knot is worn proudly on her shoulder.
  Three flits are usually somewhere around her: two brown, one green. They
  sometimes fight over sitting on her shoulders.
Carrying:
Baron
Leaf
Harah(#7203Vp)

Tamali sighs. "Clearsky, stop beating up Forestdawn."

Rashala grins as her flits zoom across the cavern to join in the fun. "Hope
  you don't mind," she calls.

Flit voices chattering back and forth at one another every so often make
  Mehlani look up, under the brim of her slightly overlarge hat. The girl
  notices Tamali's fair first, and smiles fleetingly at her, then bobs her
  head gravely at Rashala in greeting.

Forestdawn hisses and mock-bites Clearsky.

Mehlani pauses in smacking the leather vest she's got before her, holding the
  garment taut in her left hand, brush poised in her right. The thing appears
  to have limbered up some under her attentions, and after a few more
  experimental waggles of the leather, 'Lani seems satisfied. She settles down
  to drape the vest in her lap -- covering green Rianet, who squeaks a protest.

Tamali sighs, as Woodlight, her brown, gets in on the act, trying to break up
  the fight.

Mehlani settles down to flip the brush around and to start brushing carefully
  at the black vest, against the nap of the leather, bringing up its
  highlights. Odd, but, for all that it _is_ black, the vest does have
  highlights, and turns softer and more supple as the lass works at attending
  it. Rianet finally peeks out from under the thing, and seems pleased -- ooh,
  hiding! Can't see her!

Rashala finds herself a mug of klah, a bowl of scraps and a comfortable seat.
  She beckons her flits back from where they're playing, and settles in to
  feed them.

Mehlani finally holds the vest up before her, studying it intently. Rianet is
  left reveled in her lap, to cheep plaintively about her hiding place going
  away.

The feeding of fire lizards going on -- or perhaps more appropriately, the
  general smell of wherry -- can't help but be eventually noticed by bronze
  Holl, who looks up from his tussel with Vachon over the toy to peer
  whirlingly in all directions, first at Tamali, and then at Rashala. Food?
  Food? Does someone have food?

Tamali has food. Rainshadow is getting most of it while the others tussle.

Rashala chuckles and slips Leaf another piece of bloody wherry.

It would seem that Mehlani has declared her task done, for she promptly flips
  the black vest around and shrugs into it, settling it upon her slender
  shoulders. Seeing Holl, the girl peers over, brow furrowed under her hat,
  and tells him sternly, "Holl, it is naughty to beg. Stop that."

Holl sits up, crooning. Beg? Who? Him?

Mehlani
She is currently clad in a simply cut dark golden brown blouse with
  blue laces at her collar and sleeves, along with a pair of dark brown
  breeches laced, also in blue, around her calves and ankles. Over the shirt
  she is wearing a soft black leather vest of a stylish cut, setting off the
  pale cloth beneath it. On her feet she sports a pair of soft scuffed
  slippers, suitable for padding around lower caverns; on her head perches a
  battered brown wherhide hat, just a touch too large for her.

Rashala laughs and tosses Holl a piece of the wherry. "Is he always this
  hungry?"

Mehlani turns around slightly in her chair, lifting Rianet up to her shoulder,
  now that the vest is settled upon her frame. She says sheepishly to Rashala,
  "I do not think it is hunger; Holl has been very naughty lately...!"

To Rashala, Holl croons warmly and gobbles down the offered snack.

Mehlani then turns around to the rest of the oddments she'd left on the
  floor... a couple more garments, a needlethorn, some thread -- of the cloth
  kind, not the skyborne. She starts in on what appears to be basic sewing of
  the shirt she's picked up, though now, she's better pointed at the other
  young girls in the cavern.

Rashala sighs, then takes a swig of her klah and sets the mug and bowl down.
  "Well, I just stopped in to feed the ever-hungry mouths..."
Rashala stands up, and makes her way out of the cavern.
Rashala walks towards the inner cavern.
Rashala has left.

Holl apparently likes this begging trick. He flits over to Tamali, leaving
  Vachon to hoard the toy, and peers up at her with bluely whirling eyes. You
  have food, don't you?

Mehlani looks up from her sewing to follow her bronze's line of flight towards
  Tamali, and chews her lip a moment before blurting, "Holl, stop that!"

Holl, unrepentant and playful, croons first at his young human, and then at
  the girl with her fair. For good measure, Holl croons at the other fire
  lizards, as well.

Sorel walks in from the bowl.
Sorel has arrived.
Sorel walks towards the inner cavern.
Sorel has left.
Sorel walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Sorel has arrived.
Sorel walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Sorel has left.

N'kshar walks in from the bowl.
N'kshar has arrived.

Mehlani can be seen to be dropping a shirt carefully into the chair she'd been
  claiming, as N'kshar enters the cavern. The lass sighs softly at her fire
  lizard and steps over to retrieve Holl, before he can bother the quiet
  Tamali any further. "Please excuse him," she murmurs earnestly to the other
  girl.

N'kshar grabs himself a mug of klah, almost instinctively. He begins to head
  over towards /his/ chair at the weyrling table, but stops short, almost
  debating what to do now...

Holl warblewarblewwarbles as Mehlani scoops him up, and the girl then waves a
  slender finger at the bronze, sternly. "It's naughty to beg," she reminds
  him in her soft little voice. The girl then looks around, and moves over to
  one of the fire lizard perches, setting Holl there and looking at him, still
  sternly, in a way that relays, 'You stay here till you behave.' Holl, you'd
  swear, actually hangs his head and creels, looking pitiful, enough for
  Mehlani to soften enough to gently scritch his head. She leaves Rianet up
  there for the bronze to converse with, then turns back to return to her
  sewing.
Mehlani, spying N'kshar as she slips into her chair, pauses, then gravely bobs
  her head to him, in greeting.

N'kshar
N'kshar stands roughly 6'2", and has the muscular build of somebody who is no
  stranger to physical work. His brown eyes are flecked with tiny specks of
  green, and his black hair is a bit shorter than shoulder length, currently
  hanging down around his face loosely. His clothes are designed for
  functionality more than their asthetic value, consisting of a simple white
  shirt and brownish pants. He wears a dark blue headband, with an intricate
  pattern stitched into it's front with darker thread.  His skin has regained
  his old tan, a result of constant weyrling drills out in the sun. Despite
  sometimes seeming older, N'kshar is 22 Turns, 7 months, and 6 days old.
Carrying:
Headband(#9902IV)
Weyrling Jacket

N'kshar stands for a while longer, eyeing the table and chairs surrounding it.
  With a soft sigh, he turns away, heading in the direction of the hearths.
  "Oh, hello... Um," He rubs his forehead for a moment, taking a sip of his
  steaming klah. "Mehlani?" He finally asks, taking a seat nearby.

Mehlani has settled back down into her chair, once more taking up the shirt
  she'd promised to mend; she has a few more garments folded on the floor at
  her feet. As N'kshar approaches, she nods solemnly under her hat in
  confirmation of her name.

N'kshar looks at you for a moment.
N'kshar sets his mug down on the table beside him. "Aye. Thought that's what
  it was. " He reaches under his shirt to rub at his left shoulder, giving a
  slight yawn. "Sharding cold today." He comments, casting a quick glance out
  into the bowl. "Oh, what in Farnath's name am I talking about? It's always
  cold."

Mehlani is making small and careful stitches through the tear in the shirt she
  holds, but she looks up again at the rider's words, considering his tone,
  and his expression. She then murmurs earnestly, "I don't know enough about
  Telgar to know if it'll be cold here all the time... but it's been better
  now that I'm not sick anymore."

A'lex walks in from the bowl.
A'lex has arrived.
A'lex salutes around, and waves to the familliar faces.

N'kshar sighs again, picking up his klah again, and lifting it to his lips.
  "As if it wasn't cold 'nuff at Benden." He says with a half-snort. "Sick? So
  I belive I heard." N'kshar says with a raised eyebrow, regarding Mehlani.
  "How so were you sick?"

Near one of the hearths, Mehlani sits working on sewing a blue shirt, and is
  apparently conversing with N'kshar, who sits nearby. The girl bobs her head
  silently to A'lex, and then answers N'kshar gravely, "After I fell in the
  lake, I caught a cold."

N'kshar gives an un-enthusiastic wave to A'lex as he enters.

A'lex raises an eyebrow at Nikh, "Problem Greenrider?"

N'kshar shakes his head to A'lex, rubbing his forehead. "No, I'm fine.
  Headache, that's all." He lowers his hand to take another long sip of klah.
  "Fell in the lake, you say? Whenever did that happen?"

A'lex frowns and grabs himself some bovine milk and stew.

Mehlani quirks her head slightly at the mention of headache, but what she says
  to N'kshar as she proceeds along the rip in the blue shirt is, "Last
  sevenday." She ponders, then appends, "The ice cracked under me, and I fell
  in the water."

A'lex moves to the Dawnchaser table, still frowning over Nikh's headache.

"No fun, or so it sounds." N'kshar chews on his lip for a few moments,
  sloshing the klah around in his mug. "I have a brother who fell through some
  ice, back at the cothold a while back. My ma says that we almost lost 'em. I
  was young, and I don't remember it very well." He shrugs, and takes another
  sip of his klah.

'Lani might not usually say much, but she seems to understand that a rule of
  conversation is to pay attention to the other parties involved. She regards
  N'kshar with her solemn blue gaze as he speaks, her mouth making a soundless
  little 'oh' at the mention of his brother's mishap. "I am sorry to hear
  about your brother," she offers shyly. "I was lucky... Nraith and his rider
  and everyone else got me out and warmed up quickly."

A'lex grins at Mehlani, a bit of thanks in his look.

M'kla walks in from the bowl.
M'kla has arrived.

Pierron glances up as the weyrsecond enters.

A'lex salutes, "Greetings Mentor-mine!"

M'kla returns A'lex's salute, "Evening, lad. How be ye?" She gives N'kshar a
  more formal salute as well...for a full rider.

Mehlani lifts her head as A'lex calls over to M'kla; Torinth's rider gets a
  polite bob of Mehlani's head, beneath her brown hat.

N'kshar looks over towards A'lex at Mehlani's mention of her savior, giving a
  rather impassive look. "Aye. It's good that he did. Wouldn't do good to lose
  you." He returns M'kla's formal salute, a bare hint of a smile crossing his
  face.

M'kla pauses for a moment, "Mehlani lass...something landed on yer head."
M'kla looks at you for a moment.

A'lex smiles at Nikh.

Mehlani pinkens a bit to N'kshar, murmuring to him, "Thank you," before she
  blinks over at M'kla, inquiringly. She lifts a slender hand unthinkingly,
  then makes another little soundless 'oh' with her mouth, before explaining,
  "This is my hat!"

M'kla chuckles some, and looks both bemused and befuddled, "It's a hat is it?
  I thought praps one of your 'lizards were perched on your head." Her grin
  cracks though...unable to not tease the bronzerider's quiet daughter.

Mehlani pinkens a bit more, but a smile peeks out across the lower half of her
  face. "K'star gave it to me," she murmurs.

M'kla ahhhhhs, "K'star. I /see/."
M'kla nods knowingly.

A'lex tries not to smirk at mention of K'star.

On the perch to which Mehlani has exiled him for the time being (though not so
  far away that he can't keep a sharp eye on the girl), Holl croons. HE stole
  that hat. Clever Holl.

N'kshar takes a few more sips of his klah, pausing to rub his forehead every
  now and again.

A'lex says "You sure you're okay Nikh?"

"I'm -fine-." N'kshar states, giving a long, and extended sigh.

Jaeleka walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Jaeleka has arrived.

Mehlani, if she catches the wise tone of M'kla's voice, shows no sign of it;
  she simply bobs her behatted head in confirmation. And then glances back to
  N'kshar, her gaze turning a touch anxious. She chews her lip at his look and
  his tone... but says nothing, evidently willing to avoid pressing the matter.

Jaeleka wanders in and waves an oblivious hello.

A'lex's eyes unfocus for a moment, then a grin spreads across his face. "Well,
  if you need anything, let me know..."

M'kla glances at N'khshar for a moment, and then chuckles, "Lad...I'd wager,
  given Azeth's age...what he needs is a stout kiss...that's if he dan't punch
  you right in the nose first." Trust the older, wise greenrider to say
  something like THAT.

A'lex doesn't even blink, "Well he'll have to ask first..." He grins broadly.

Mehlani blinks. Twice. Then again. Under her hat, she promptly turns pink, and
  ducks her head to pay strict attention to her sewing.

Jaeleka makes a face and offers a "yuck" as commentary. Giving her adopted
  brother a shrewd glance.

N'kshar looks up at Jae's arrival, then back to his mug, which he spends a
  good amount of time studing. "I'm -fine-." He states again, setting his mug
  down next to him heavily. "What?" He says, looking over towards M'kla,
  either having missed some of the comment, or at least not registering it.

K'tyn walks in from the bowl.
K'tyn has arrived.

Pierron waves his arms expansively, driving the cavern's girls before him like
  a flock of avians, as he orders them to straighten up for the weyrleader.

A'lex looks up and salutes the Weyrleader as he enters...

M'kla chuckles a bit, "Aye...a kiss be exactly what he need...and mebbe to
  sock someone right in the eye."

A'lex says "You can hit me if you want Nikh, but you still have to ask for the
  kiss...." he chuckles, "Politely, too.""

Mehlani is sewing, and she keeps her head bowed over the blue shirt as she
  ties off the last of her stitches. Useful, that hat she's wearing. The brim
  hides her blush.

M'kla is rather busily teasing the youngsters, and it's pretty apparent from
  the grin...she doesn't even notice K'tyn...

Kassima walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Kassima has arrived.

A'lex salutes Kassima, "Evening ma'am."

K'tyn returns A'lex's salute, greets M'kla and Jaeleka and Kassima and pauses
  near Mehlani to give her a peck on the cheek, if she'll have i, before
  heading for the hearth.

N'kshar notices K'tyn out of the corner of his eye, and gives a formal salute
  to the Weyrleader. "I don't think I will, if that's alright with you?" He
  says towards A'lex with a somewhat annoyed look.

A'lex tries not to laugh at his friend's annoyed look.

Jaeleka smiles at the greeting. And spying Kassi, waves.

Mehlani might not see K'tyn, but Holl and Rianet on the nearby perch do, and
  they both croon at the bronze rider as he leans over Mehlani. _Then_ the
  lass notices him, and she smiles shyly at K'tyn at that kiss to the cheek.
  She then ducks her head to the shirt she's finished, folding it up to set
  aside so she can move on to the next one.

The heavy-looking carry-sack that Kassi has looped over one wrist swings back
  and forth as its owner walks in. Naturally, she groans at the saluting.
  "*How* long until all of these 'Lings are graduated?" she implores Kiat,
  after saluting him as is proper. "Please tell me 'twill nay be long. There's
  naught like getting back from a round of 'snake-hunting only t'be *saluted*,
  for Faranth's own sake."

K'tyn snaps off a salute to Nikhshar, beaming as he notes the lad's new knot.
  "Congrats, Nikh. You'll do Thunderbolt proud.

A'lex snickers, "Kassi, I'm going to salute you till the day you retire, and
  then some, just because you don't want me to."

Kassima hefts her sack up onto the table with an oof. Her fire-lizards seem
  inordinately interested in its contents, but she shoos them away before they
  can get too close. "There's *got* t'be someone who can order you nay t'do
  that," she grumbles good-naturedly at A'lex.

N'kshar gives a nod to the Weyrleader. "Aye. Thank you, sir." He says,
  returning to his klah quickly. He stands up suddenly, and quickly strides
  out of the living cavern without a word.

R'val walks in from the bowl.
R'val has arrived.

A'lex shakes his head, "Nope, that's one order I'd disobey proudly."
A'lex salutes R'val.

Mehlani glances after N'kshar, blushes once more, and settles back down to
  sew. Long tear in this shirt. Should keep hands and occupied for a bit,
  definitely.

K'tyn grins after the newest member of Thunderbolt, sipping at the cider in
  his hands. "Oh, heya, R'val."

R'val grins at K'tyn and the others, "Hullo gang, evenin and all that." He
  finds a seat.

N'kshar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
N'kshar has left.

Emlyn walks in from the bowl.
Emlyn has arrived.

A'lex salutes Emlyn, "Evening ma'am."

Kassima just snorts. "Then, 'Lex, I'll like as nay have t'try and get some
  sort of revenge on you. Have you heard stories of m'favorite type of
  revenge... Alexia?" With a wink, and a nod to Emlyn, the greenrider abandons
  her peculiar sack and wanders off in search of food.

K'tyn sniffs thoughtfully, leaning on the hearthledge. "So, A'lex. How's
  things, hm?" he asks, looking at the younger man thoughtfully. "I hear
  you're cutting a swath through the weyr as Wingleader of your wing. Is't
  true?"
K'tyn waves to Emlyn, greeting her with a cheery 'heya!' as he laughs at
  Kassi's remark.

A'lex stops short, "It'll never happen again, ma'am--er Kassi..."

R'val grins at Emlyn as she walks in, and fixes himself a mug of klah, finding
  a seat.

M'kla chuckles a bit at K'tyn's own remark.

A'lex says "Cutting a swath? Och, no, at least I don't think so, cause I'm not
  really sure what that means, sir. But the fighting Wings sure are cutting a
  swath through MY Wing though. But that's a good thing."

Emlyn returns A'lex's salute with just a little less precision than usual.
  NOticing the weyrleader, she shows him the respect proper. The greenrider
  makes her way to get a glass of wine, nodding at smiles without doing so
  herself. After a short moment deciding, she ends up with a -mug- of wine and
  finds a seat near the hearth.

Kassima grins impishly at the Weyrling in question. "Thought nay," she quips,
  while whipping up a wherry, cheese, mushroom, hot pepper, and lemon sandwich
  with blueberry sauce on the side.

Emlyn frowns at Kassima's food. She asks humorlessly, "When does Lysseth rise?"

Still working deliberately at the tear in the purple shirt she is sewing,
  Mehlani peers out from under her hat at the various riders, her gaze
  shifting from face to face. Her regard lingers on Kassima for a moment, but
  the lass says nothing, merely dipping her head again to her work.

A'lex starts coughing at mention of Lysseth rising, "AGAIN?"

K'tyn nods agreeably. "Aye, so it is." Stretching his long legs, he takes the
  few steps toward A'lex, blinking at Kassima's rather pungent concoction. "Oh
  my," he says quietly. "Uh, A'lex, might I have your attention a moment?"

Jaeleka watches Kassi..trying hard not to entertain the notion that she might
  be *eating* that stuff.

>From the kitchen, Lyrillia walks out of the passageway that leads down to the
  storerooms.

A'lex shakes the fright from his head and moves to the Weyrleader, "Aye sir,
  what is it?" He looks a little worried.

"About another Turn from now," Kassi replies cheerfully. "Save your coughing
  for then, A'lex. This is *still* a lot better than half of the stuff I ate
  last time." Setting the Sandwich from Hades down on the table, she pours a
  liberal amount of the blueberry sauce over the top before picking it up. She
  takes a large bite, with evident relish.

>From the kitchen, Lyrillia goes home.

Mehlani's nose crinkles as the scent of that... sandwich wafts in her
  direction. The girl looks up at Kassima again, weighty pondering in her
  gaze. For a moment, she glances back and forth between the shirt she's
  working on and the green rider, apparently deliberating something.

Emlyn frowns at Kassima's answer. Certainly the woman knows her dragon's
  physiology better than that. Peering down into her mug, she mutters softly,
  "Greens rise two to four times a turn, on average." Emlyn drinks some of her
  wine and allows her attention to drift over to K'tyn and A'lex.

K'tyn takes a seat, hiding a smile. "Well, it's come to my attention that
  there's something I've neglected to do, though, truly tis not harmed anyone
  by my waiting. And since you're here, I may as well ask. Will you ride with
  Skyfire, A'lex?" Deftly, he pulls a knot from his pocket, and places it on
  the table as he watches the young bronzerider carefully.

Davidon walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Davidon has arrived.

R'val grins broadly as one of his weyrlings graduates, "A'lex! Congrats.'

Emlyn looks at you for a moment.

A'lex blinks, face torn between excitement and anxiety, "Oh, sir, thank
  you.... but... but what of the Weyrling Wing?"

Mehlani glances in A'lex's direction, and smiles shyly at the young man, but
  in the meantime she gets slowly to her feet. Leaving the shirt and her
  needlethorn carefully out of the way, the girl pads silently to Kassima's
  side. Once there, she ler to murmur, "Please excuse me...."

Kassima blinks at Mehlani over her foully fowl sandwich. "Is something amiss,
  'Lani?" she asks, apparently having noticed the girl's glance. Kiat's
  gesture, however, distracts her attention for a moment. "See? How can a knot
  be special when 'tis nay lint-covered?" she asks of no one in particular. It
  seems to be a rhetorical question.

K'tyn flashes a grin at R'val, turning back quickly to look at A'lex. "Well, I
  don't believe there really is one, is there? All your mates have been taken
  into other wings," he oints out quietly.

Mehlani nibbles briefly at her lower lip, then leans over to whisper something
  to Lysseth's rider.

A'lex grins, "They have? They didn't tell me... although the barracks has been
  VERY empty... then sir, my duties there are done, and I'd be proud to fly at
  your side."

Mehlani mutters to Kassima, "I wanted... ask... you could... me... you...
  nice... your... um... be?"
You whisper "I wanted to ask... um.... if you could tell me what you think a
  nice gift for your... um... cousins would be?" to Kassima.
Mehlani glances sidelong at K'tyn and A'lex, pondering their words, then adds
  to Kassima, She mutters to Kassima, "... graduation,..."
Kassima senses "Mehlani glances sidelong at K'tyn and A'lex, pondering their
  words, then adds to Kassima, "For their graduation, I mean...""

Emlyn exhales and shifts as A'lex accepts K'tyn's offer. She catches R'val's
  eye and nods once.

R'val favours Emlyn with a rueful smile.

Jaeleka settles down to concentrating, humming snatchets under her breath, and
  frowning every now and then.

K'tyn nods, slowly. "Good. Now then. I have a rather firm policy regarding the
  habits and practices of riders in my wing; as Weyrleader, I have to set the
  example, you see? So to you must set the example for the others here." Kiat
  grins. "But before I get into that--shall I escort you to your new ledge,
  A'lex, Nraith's rider, newest member of Skyfire."

Kassima leans forward to catch the young girl's words, and looks rather
  thoughtful as she gives the matter the consideration it deserves. She
  mutters to Mehlani, "I think... new set... or perhaps... cards;... but...
  t'do... the... know! That... a *kilt*..."
You sense Kassima leans forward to catch the young girl's words, and looks
  rather thoughtful as she gives the matter the consideration it deserves. "I
  think Eyr could very well use a new set of dice, or perhaps dragonpoker
  cards; I've been meaning t'get him one of those personalized sets, but 'tis
  a harder thing t'do when you can't leave the Weyr. Kes... hmmm. He's
  tougher. D'you suppose... oh, I know! That lad needs a *kilt*!"

A'lex is confused, but he nods, "Aye, sir! Tha'd be great!"

Davidon walks towards the inner cavern.
Davidon has left.

M'kla calls her congratulations to A'lex.

Mehlani, listening to Kassima, nods gravely at her words. Until the last one.
  At _that_, she visibly jerks back a bit, blushing, and squeaks, "Kilt?"

K'tyn blinks at Kassi, overhearing...something? He clears his throat and
  stands. "C'mon. I think a retreat may be in order, hm, when females are
  plotting, A'lex."

Emlyn listens to K'tyn and frowns, hard. She leans toward R'val to ask, "Set
  the example? A newly graduated rider?" She picks back up her mug of wine.
  Since the disastrous Fall, she's been drinking more than usual. Her normal
  pleasure in life's small occurrances has been a distant memory, too.

M'kla chuckles a bit, and calls, "But K'tyn-lad...I think the lad'd look
  smashing in a black and white kilt..."

"I think black and bronze would suit him better, m'self," Kassima volunteers.

K'tyn grins at M'kla. "You're the one who'd be smashing, M'kla!"

A'lex nods to K'tyn and then looks at M'kla, "I don't think the family tartan
  fits anymore..."

M'kla snorts, and wags a finger. "I'll make ye think smashing."

R'val shrugs his shoulders at Emlyn with an affable smile, "Whatever works.."

K'tyn catches M'kla's hand, and presses a dashing kiss on the back of her
  wrist as he bows. "Promises! Promises!"

A'lex smiles and grabs his jacket from the peg by the door.

M'kla taps K'tyn's cheek lightly, "Aye, I hear these promises...get ye."

Kassima calls over to Kiat even as she salutes, "So, Weyrleader... when're you
  going to serenade the Weyrsecond again for us?"

K'tyn grins at Kassi, not answering as he makes a quick exit.
K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
K'tyn has left.

A'lex walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
A'lex has left.

Kassima takes another bite of the Hades Sandwich before nodding to Mehlani,
  hiding a grin. "Certes, a kilt. He hasn't got one, y'see--and that's a
  terrible shame!"

Mehlani looks around from rider to rider, looking deeply, deeply bemused --
  not to mention deeply rose-cheeked -- as sallies are exchanged, before the
  bronze riders finally amble out. Then, finally, back to Kassima, she murmurs
  tinily, "But would he like that?" She remembers something about a lad
  expressing firm refusal to ever get anywhere near a kilt, anyway.

Emlyn takes a deep breath, visibly attempting to relax. She turns her
  attention to Jaeleka. "Well, Young Lady, you're awfully quiet this evening."

Jaeleka blinks and smiles at Emlyn. "I'm thinking a lullaby. Its very hard
  work." Seh sighs. "And I'm not sure if I'm very good at making songs now
  that I'm *really* making one."

"He would *love* it," Kassi avows, "especially once he got used to it. 'Twill
  swear t'you on Lysseth's own shards. Kilts are excellent luck, y'know--and
  who can't use a bit of luck?"

Emlyn smiles slightly at Jaeleka. "Thinking a lullaby? That sounds like quiet
  work, indeed. And hard work. Would you like to sing what you've figured out
  so far?"

Jaeleka grins at Emlyn. "I could, but its not bery much or very good yet. I
  might have to change it."

Mehlani eyes Kassima, deeply dubious, as well as bemused and, well, pink. "I
  don't know about this," she murmurs timidly.

Emlyn sets down her mug of wine, which has to be a good thing. "Well, I'd like
  to hear it, even if you do change it." She smiles invitingly.

Kassima glances curiously at Jaeleka at the mention of a lullabye. "You're
  writing a song, Jae?" she inquires, before grinning reassuringly at Mehlani.
  "Ach, trust me. Every good Weyr lad needs a kilt. Once I've saved up enough
  marks, and can get to the Weavercraft Hall, I think I'll buy a stock of 'em
  for some of these poor, deprived, kiltless sorts."

Jayna walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Jayna has arrived.
Jayna quietly looks around and makes for the klah.

Jaeleka nods, and grows serious, humming a couple bars of notes to herself,
  repeating them until she gets the tones just right.

Mehlani stands there by Kassima, blushing brightly, eying the toes of her
  slippers. "I'll think about it," she murmurs, though the idea seems to alarm
  her. She pauses, then adds tinily, "What... colors?"

Emlyn folds her arms and listens to Jaeleka's humming.

D'thon's ears prick up at the sound of music, and he sits up, shaking his head
  to clear it. "Ermf." His first reaction is to fix his eyes on the klah pot
  and head straight for it.

Jaeleka smiles and takes a deep breath, her words coming out clear and sweet
  soprana - the notes she was humming. Softly done...

	Shall I sing to you softly
	of the stars that light the sky..
	or the sound of winged creatures
	as they spread their wings for flight?

	And shall I rock you gneetly
	as I sing to you of things...
	And you shall have a cradle
	on a bed of dragon wings...

Jaeleka's voice drifts off. "Thats all I got."

Kassima nibbles on a stray mushroom, cogitating. "Blue and violet for
  Greystones might suit... or black and brown, though that'd look like he
  comes from Fort. I've never thought that white suited either of 'em, but
  that may just be me; black, white, and brown could suit, too."

Jayna pours herself a klah and settles near the hearth to warm up.

Kassima's attention is pulled from the all-important question of what color
  kilt K'star should wear from the sound of Jaeleka's singing. "Ach, Jae...
  that's positively lovely!" Indeed, the greenrider's eyes gleam suspiciously.
  Hormones can be crazy things.

Emlyn grins at Jaeleka, "Why, it's very good indeed, Young Lady. You came up
  with that all by yourself?'

Jaeleka nods at Emlyn. "I did. The words *and* the music." She looks shyly
  pleased. :"Did you really like it?"

Mehlani glances down at the black suede vest she's wearing, then murmurs only
  to Kassima, "Thank you..." As everyone turns to Jaeleka, Mehlani smiles
  briefly and solemnly at the younger girl, while she slips out of Kassi's
  vicinity as quietly as she'd come, back to retrieve her sewing.

Jaeleka smiles at Kassi, her eyes lit brilliantly from within.

Emlyn nods emphatically. "I did, yes. You have a very sweet voice."

D'thon raises an eyebrow, saying nothing, and takes a gulp of klah. He now
  appears slightly more refreshed.

Jaeleka grins, and offers shyly -well, for Jae at least "Wow."

Kassima chuckles fondly at the girl. "You might make a Harper indeed, Jae. I
  think Kelt would be rather interested in speaking t'you... oh, heya, D'thon.
  Didn't see you there for a moment."

Jaeleka repeats the name to herself, then asks "Kelt?"

"Master Kelset," Kassima supplies. "Our Weyrharper. He's the Voice Craftmaster
  of Pern."

D'thon nods. "Uh huh," he replies. "Got a little drowsy there, Kassi."

Jaeleka ohs, eyes quite wide.

Emlyn's mood is fractionally better for having heard the lullaby. She allows
  her attention to drift over the people in the cavern once more.

Jaeleka mutters to Emlyn, "... not..."

Mehlani quietly gathers up her sewing, folding the garments into a neat stack,
  stashing the needlethorn so she won't prick herself with it. She smiles
  gravely to Jaeleka, and then murmurs to the cavern at large, "Please excuse
  me... I have to go think now." Indeed, the girl's eyes are filled with
  pondering, and from the look of her furrowed brow, she might well be
  considering how to move the Dawn Sisters, or the rearrangement of all the
  Weyrs of Pern. Without another word, Mehlani slips out.

[To be continued...]