The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. 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: 4/28/98 Log Cast: (People) Sandar, Mehlani, Aladis, Tariamina (NPC), Ro, Ceria, D'thon, Jessalyn, N'var, M'kla, Nimiriel, Halam, Rylan, Maylia, Kharty, Aurian (Fire lizards) Mehlani's fair, Jubei, Grape, Krill, Spock, Phizzer, Sayvel, Danae, Tola Log Intro: It's official -- Telgar Weyr has begun its Search for the clutch laid by gold Leilanth upon its Hatching Grounds. And much to the astonishment of young Mehlani, Kassima and her green Lysseth have Searched her, in the midst of a large group of visiting riders arriving from Igen Weyr. The dazed girl has readily accepted the formal invitation to Stand, although the abrupt upheaval in her life has left her reeling. Fortunately for Mehlani, although strangers begin to stream into the Weyr all day, brought in by the Search riders, friends of hers also number among the new Candidates.... ---------- Your location's current time: 17:53 on day 11, month 9, Turn 22, of the Tenth Pass. It is a autumn afternoon. Sandar smiles at Mehlani as he follows Aladis in. "Hey there," he tells the girl, looking around the room. His eyes quickly alight on the chore list already affixed to the wall. A still rather dazed-looking Mehlani can be seen gingerly smoothing the sheets on one of the cots, and trying to settle her large fair, to keep them from sneaking out onto the Sands and incurring the wrath of Leilanth. The lass blinks and looks up, startled -- the implications of Sandar and Aladis's arrival sinking quickly in. "Hello," she whispers. Aladis grins, "You can get yourself a cot and move your things. It's nice to be one of the first, you get first choice. The chorelist is over there. Remember that you're not allowed to leave the Weyr without permission from the Weyrleaders or Candidate coordinators. Aladis smiles at Mehlani, "And congratulations to you too, dear." Sandar nods to Aladis. "Thank you," he says as he scans the room for a suitable cot. Finding one, he heads over to it, but not having anything to put on it to mark it as his own, simply stares at it for a moment. Hearing Aladis' words, he turns around to smile at Mehlani. "Congratulations." Offering a shaky smile to Aladis and Sandar both, Mehlani murmurs a thank-you, and then adds to the boy, "And to you..." She then ohs in soft startlement as the crowd of fire lizards gathered on what has evidently become Her Cot starts scuffling amongst themselves. "Shhh... shhh, all of you!" Aladis chuckles, "I'll have the Igen contingent carry word of your Search back to Devlin with them, Mehlani. I'm sure he'll be thrilled." Sandar ohs! "Good idea," he tells the girl, as he places his bronze firelizard, Jubei, onto his cot. "Hold this one for me," he tells the bronze, realizing that for get Jubei to sit still he'd probably have to kill him, and he's not about to do that. Word? To Devlin? "OH!" Mehlani breathes. "Letters... I will have to send letters....!" Clearly, the newness of all this has yet to really settle in with the girl. But she bobs her head gratefully to the rider, nevertheless. Aladis chuckles, "I'll leave the pair of you to get settled in. If you have any questions, Sandar, feel free to hunt me down." That duty done, she sees to Tariamina's settling, along with the young sable haired woman's companions from Balan area. Sandar nods to Aladis. "Thanks," he smiles. "And thank Asabeth again, too." Strangers, here, too. Mehlani peers unsurely at the others trailing in after the rider, and finally gets her fair to settle down, glancing in all directions out from under her hat as she does so. Aladis chuckles as the Candidates get settled in. She excuses herself and makes her way out. Aladis heads through the entrance to the inner cavern. Aladis has left. Mehlani finally settles down on her cot, stroking several fire lizard heads in turn, and murmuring nonsense syllables to them to assure them that yes, she's already, Lysseth didn't hurt her, don't worry you lot. Still, she seems rather shaken. Sandar gives Mehlani a sympathetic smile, letting her converse with her firelizards in peace. He sits down on his cot, then bounces once or twice upon it as though to test its strength. Sandar hmms to himself, then tilts the cot ever so slightly. "There. No, wait." He tilts it a tiny fraction back. "There." "Asabeth... got you?" ventures Mehlani, at last, once her fair seems sufficiently assured. This is doubtless due to the lack of Arki anywhere in sight. Sandar nods to Mehlani. "Yup," he replies, patting the hair where Asabeth's whuff poofed it back. "Pretty exciting." Mehlani smiles rather dazedly to Sandar, the whole thing still rather overwhelming to her. "Lysseth," is all she says by way of reply, perhaps to indicate that that particular dragon chose her. Sandar smiles. [And later, once Mehlani's shock has worn off enough that she dares set foot into the living cavern....] Your location's current time: 22:51 on day 11, month 9, Turn 22, of the Tenth Pass. It is a autumn evening. You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern. Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$) This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the late meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders. Contents: Ro Jessalyn Ceria D'thon Sandar Grape(#8770Vep$) Pierron Lordie Twink Obvious exits: Lower Caverns Kitchen Bowl Ro looks around warily "Richenda might get mad. Say I'm goofin' off or the like." Ceria starts to walk outside, hesitating to wait for Ro's answer. "Why would Richenda think that?" she asks. Sandar looks about as sleepy as Grape as he sips from his mug. He smiles to Mehlani as she wanders through the entrance. D'thon shrugs. "Your call. Feel free to come if you change your mind - " A grin, and he steps to the entrance, pausing there for a moment. Tentatively, Mehlani peeks in through the entryway before really emerging into full view, Holl entwined protectively around her neck and peering out along with her, eyes whirling blue. Ceria pauses to smile at Mehlani. "Congratulations," she says before heading outside. Jessalyn looks torn. "I don't think she'd mind, really. But..." She nods to D'thon, with the beginnings of a smile, then waves to Ro and Sandy, and the newly arrived Mehlani. "I"ll see you guys in a little while." Sandar smiles at Jessie. "Nice seeing you." Mehlani flicks Ceria a tentative smile, and then ventures on into the chamber, smiling a second time towards Jessalyn. Ceria walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Ceria has left. D'thon walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. D'thon has left. Ro says to Ceria "She's mad at me." She shrugs. Jessalyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Jessalyn has left. Sandar nods to Ro. "It's because you hang around me," he informs her. "Makes grown-ups think you're a scalliwag." As the caverns clear out rather quickly, 'Lani glances about in bemusement, perhaps wondering what set everyone into sudden departure. Looking a trifle shyer than usual, the girl finally heads for the klah pot, Holl crooning gently in her ear. Ro shakes her head "Nah, she's just on the warpath and I'm her favorite target at the moment." Grape twitters 'smore then goes home for her little lizard nap. Yes. Time for home. Chirp! Grape flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Grape has left. Sandar shrugs a bit. Mehlani's brow crinkles at Ro's words, and she puts in earnestly, "Do... either of you want any klah?" Sandar smiles at Mehlani. "Got some," he replies, raising his mug. "Thanks though." Ro looks at the table before her, realizing she neglected to grab herself something to eat "Um, yes, please." Mehlani bobs her head gravely and pours up two mugs, then. One in each hand, she then ventures to Ro and holds one out for the other girl. Ro takes the mug carefully "Thank you, 'lani." Mehlani smiles to Ro, settling down in a nearby chair; Holl croons, lifting his head and considering his human's friend. "You're welcome," is 'Lani's murmured reply. Sandar goes and sits by the girls with his half-empty mug. "Well," he says quietly, "long day." Ro nods. She says to Mehlani "Have you seen the eggs, yet?" The girl in the hat nods earnestly, cupping her mug in both her hands. "Some, anyway," she murmurs. "I watched for a while... while Leilanth started the clutch." Ro smiles "I got to see her lay the last few eggs." Sandar grins. "It was pretty exciting," he agrees. Mehlani smiles a little more to Ro and Sandar, Holl offering rather more of a vocal reply, as he croons to the other two young people from 'Lani's shoulder. Sandar smiles at N'var. "Evening, sir." Ro asks the other girl quietly "How've things been since the other night?" N'var Soft brown hair, unruly by nature, governs a face that has lost its boyish roundness. Angled features, less innocent and more defined, appear to give him the quality of strength. Bright, intense brown eyes have are deep set, quick, and reflect the young man's inner nature--mischievous, untamed, and frought with a certain charming audacity. His frame is not large, but it has filled nicely now that he's grown. Standing near 5'9", he's agile and athletic. He wears a rider's jacket, the colors and patch of Igen Weyr prominently displayed on the shoulders. The sleeve of the wher-hide jacket bears another patch, that of Sirocco Wing. Dark wher-hide breeches are tucked into black riding boots. Beneath the jacket is a finely crafted white shirt. His helmet and gloves may be found tacked to his jacket's belt, or worn, depending on how long ago he was last flying. Always, hanging from his belt, is a long braid of auburn hair, a blue velvet ribbon woven into it. The knot that sits on the shoulder of his jacket has two thick cords, one of black and another of gold, as well as a thinner strand of bronze. The perceptive may notice a very tiny strand of blue wound evenly into the bronze cord. He looks to be about 22 turns old. N'var looks at you for a moment. Jessalyn walks in from the bowl. Jessalyn has arrived. Sandar smiles at Jessie. "Welcome back." Mehlani starts before she has a chance to reply to Ro, distracted by the arrival of the others. "Telgar's duties," she murmurs shyly to the Igen rider; the bronze fire lizard on her shoulder chirrups. N'var clears his throat, "Evening. Evening." He smiles, and then adds nonchalantly, "I guess I missed the rest of the Igen exodus." Ro smiles "What'd you think, Jessie?" Jessalyn grins brightly as she walks back into the cavern. "They're lovely!" Reclaiming her juice, she offers a polite wave to N'var, and a quiet, "Telgar's duties.' N'var nods to Jessalyn, offering a friendly smile as well, "Igen's to Telgar." Ro sips her klah, quietly. Mehlani only smiles a little to N'var, clearly unsure as to whether the rest of the Igen contingent has left, if her expression is to be interpreted. She bobs her head again to Jessalyn as that young woman comes in, and bronze Holl croons again. N'var shrugs into his jacket, "Well, if I missed finishing the nine, I might as well take my time about getting home now. Mind if I help myself to a drink?" Mehlani rises, and offers immediately, "I'll get you some klah if you like, rider..." N'var motions with his hand, having already taken a few steps across the cavern. "No, it's ok. I can get it." Smiling, he pours himself a mug and moves to join the Mehlani, taking a sip. "Did I hear right, earlier today, that you've been searched?" Ro blinks at Mehlani "You've been searched??" M'kla walks in from the bowl. M'kla has arrived. Pierron glances up as the weyrsecond enters. Ro nods to M'kla "Evenin', ma'am." Mehlani pauses, blushing, but letting N'var get his own klah as soon as she realizes he'd rather. She blushes rather more and then bobs her head, both at him and at Ro. Holl croons rather more loudly, evidently quite pleased. M'kla moves in, and nods to the assembled youngsters, "Evening." Jessalyn shakes herself back to awareness and smiles widely at Mehlani. "Congratulations." N'var turns his head, smiling and adding adding a formal nod to M'kla, "Igen's duty to Telgar." Ro grins, happy for her friend "Congratulations!" On a softer note she murmurs "I bet Kes'd be happy if'n you impressed a green." M'kla nods to the young rider, "And to Igen and her queens..." She finds a seat and settles down. N'var smiles back at Mehlani, adding his own soft, "Congratulations." Mehlani murmurs in vivid embarrassment to everyone, "Thank you..." And she blushes all the more brightly at Ro's murmur, crying out aghast, "Ro...!" Ro blushes, herself, replying "Well, wouldn't he?" Mehlani turns quite, quite pink, settling down into a chair again, clutching her klah mug. "He could probably answer that better than I," she murmurs, very tinily, very demurely. Jessalyn bites her lip to hide a grin at Mehlani and Ro, then peers toward N'var. "I hope you don't mind...can I ask you a question or two? Nimiriel keeps talking about how she wants to get back, do you have any news or anything I could give her?" Ro asks in a hushed voice "Will you tell me what he says?" "Nim?" N'var asks, eyes bright, "Ah, how is she? I'd love to see her." Jessalyn smiles, "She's fine, says that she's doing better than when she got here. Her girls are beautiful, too." Here, the young woman straightens up a bit, proudly. "She asked me 'specially to keep an eye on them." N'var grins. "Girls? shards. That's fantastic. I'm not sure what news I can bring. Hm. Well, our latest weyrlings just graduated." Mehlani chews her lip, then smiles hesitantly and leans over to murmur, She mutters to Ro, "... would... him... me..." Ro senses "Mehlani chews her lip, then smiles hesitantly and leans over to murmur, "I asked... Kassima, if she would tell him for me..."" Jessalyn nods, "Kiani, who is three now, and Tarien, who is nine months old...and loud!" She grins, too, and peers off toward the bowl. "I'll tell her when I see her next. I'm sort of surprised she's not here." Ro nods intently. N'var nods back to Jessalyn, leaning against the table. "It's my luck. I always seem to miss her." Ro asks the candidate yet another question "Does your Da know yet?" Jessalyn laughs, "She says the same thing about people from Igen." Mehlani blows out a soft breath, an awkward smile blossoming across her face. "I sent him a letter," she whispers to Ro. Jessalyn bounces out of her seat at the sight of a nanny beckoning from the lower caverns. "Tarien must be awake," she remarks. "I'll tell Nim you were here? I'm Jessie, by the way." Ro giggles "He'll be fit to have kittens, I'm sure." Nimiriel walks in from the bowl. Nimiriel has arrived. Pierron nods thoughtfully as he eyes the junior queenrider. M'kla snorts suddenly, "Nay...he'll likely be pleased...but blush just like his lass here." N'var says "Thank you, Jessie. Jessie, nice name." N'var smiles enigmatically. Jessalyn blushes, pleased, and grins. "Thanks. It's actually Jessalyn, but-- oh, look!" She waves to Nim, grins at N'var again, and dashes out quietly. Jessalyn walks towards the inner cavern. Jessalyn has left. Nimiriel opens her mouth to ask Jessalyn a question, blinking a bit as the girl scatters. "Well. Hello and goodbye to you, then." Mehlani gives another very soft giggle, glancing at M'kla, and then just bobbing her head to Torinth's rider and Ro both. M'kla looks out to the bowl, and then mutters something to the effect that she must be losing her mind. She'd forgotten. M'kla walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. M'kla has left. N'var grins as Jessalyn runs off, and then he calls, "Nim! Heyla." "N'var!" Nimiriel grins and makes her way toward the Igen bronzerider. "It's great to see you! How are you? How is Palineth?" N'var chuckles, offering the weyrwoman a hug. "Well. He's very well. I came with a small invasion wing, earlier in the evening. We were flying the Nine with our newest graduates." Ro picks at the last few bits of food on her plate "Well, I'd best get to bed soon. The headwoman will be wantin' me up before dawn to do somethin' or another. I'm really happy you got searched, 'lani. Congratulations." She finishes her klah and nods to the others before making her exit. Nimiriel returns N'var's hug enthusiastically, and grins. "We never got a chance to do that with my class, I wish we had." Mehlani murmurs softly to Ro, "Thank you....!" Ro walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Ro has left. N'var pulls back, still wearing a soft smile, "Yeah, I know. They seemed to be enjoying it, though. At least til I got..distracted." He winks, adding, "I got left behind, which is good, cause I got to see you." Mehlani, left without her friend now, blows out a sigh and mutely sips her klah, one hand lifted to the fire lizard on her shoulder. Nimiriel laughs. "How sweet. Well, in any case, selfish as it might sound, I'm glad you got left behind. It's good to see faces from home every now and again." N'var shrugs, laughing as well, "I'm sure they did fine without me. And I think they needed it. The newest riders, I mean. I don't know, just something about the way they were moping around." He turns, remembering Mehlani, "Speaking of young hopefuls, though, I was just congratulating this young lady. Searched earlier today while Igen was invading." Mehlani blinks, startled to be suddenly referenced in the conversation, though it certainly seems to meet with the approval of the bronze who perches protectively on her shoulder. The girl smiles timidly, her face just a trifle shadowed by her hat brim. Nimiriel blinks, and smiles at Mehlani, "Congratulations, though you've probably heard that from just about everyone by now." "I've been hiding, mostly," the girl murmurs more or less into her klah. N'var grins, somewhat amused by the girls shyness. "My name's N'var, by the way, of bronze Palineth and Igen Weyr." "Mehlani," murmurs the lass in the hat. As her bronze puts in a loud warble, she adds gravely, "This is Holl." N'var smiles, "Nice to meet you, Mehlani. And you too, Holl." Turning back to Nim, his expression grows a bit more nostalgic, "Jessie asked if I had any news she could relay to you, but I couldn't think of much beyond the newest riders. But, if there's someone specific you wanted news about, maybe I can relay it." "Well," Nimiriel murmurs, with a quiet sigh, "As good as it's been to see you, N'var, I have things I need to see to before I go to sleep. I'm going to try and visit soon, though it's never worth planning when, something always comes up." At the question, she shakes her head, with a slightly distant smile. "No...I just wanted some news from home, that's all." Mehlani offers the bronze rider a brief flicker of a smile, each corner of her mouth curving up for a moment, as she finishes off the last of her klah. Holl peers bluely at the visitor for a bit, as if to ascertain the safety of his presence in his human's vicinity; evidently, the 'lizard seems satisfied, for he then promptly pokes his muzzle into 'Lani's klah mug. N'var's expression faulters slightly with genuine disappointment, but his charming smile soon returns, "Of course, Nim. Wel, I'll see you again. I have a feeling I'll visit again soon." With that the smile widens, "Til then, take care." Nimiriel grins, giving N'var's shoulder a soft pat as she rises. "Got your eye on one of the girls here already?" she asks, teasingly. "Give Dysira my best, will you..?" N'var chuckles softly in answer to the first. The second garners a softly spoken, "I will Nim. And you know she sends you hers." "Holl, stop that," Mehlani might be heard to scold, very softly. As the two riders converse, the girl is eventually joined by not one, not two, but four other fire lizards, converging on her out of *between* in ones and twos. There's two blues and a green and a brown, and as they wing down to her, creeling, it's pretty clear what's on their collective minds: food. Nimiriel grins, "Maybe not just one, hmm? I know," she adds, nodding. Nimiriel walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Nimiriel has left. N'var teases lightly, "Now, Nim. You know you're the only one in my heart." N'var chuckles, turning back in time to see the faire descend upon Mehlani, "My." "Oh... oh dear..." The bronze on Mehlani's shoulder chirrups and flaps his wings at the other 'lizards, and the girl hastily directs them all to the nearest table, to give herself room enough to try to search her pockets for treats. This is evidently a well-known procedure to this lot, as a veritable flood of croonings and creelings erupt in reply. Looking just a trifle besieged, 'Lani glances sheepishly at the remaining rider. N'var tucks his hand into is jacket, but comes up empty. Grinning, he turns to the table and steals a couple of cold meatrolls, offering them up to the hungry horde if they'll take them from him. "Thank you," Mehlani blurts. Holl, certainly, is brave enough to scarf the a meatroll from the rider; the green, too, seems immediately charmed, cooing brightly to this stranger who obviously understands her priorities, which are Food, Food, and Food. As Holl and Wili commence gulping down meatroll bits, the girl focuses on distributing some bits of dried meat she's produced to the brown and the two blues, scooping up the smaller and shyer of the blues to feed him directly while letting the others fend for themselves with scraps she places on the table before them. Halam walks in from the bowl. Halam has arrived. Halam heads over to the hearth, pours himself a cup of klah and walks to his usual corner seat. "Hi Mehlani" he says as he plops down. Mehlani can be spotted in the middle of trying to hand out treats to her fire lizards; next to her, there's a rider giving meatrolls to 'Lani's bronze and one of her greens. As Halam arrives, the girl bobs her behatted head to him, and finally sinks down in her chair again, blue Brodi cradled in her arms as the little fellow burbles in absentminded contentment. N'var doesn't seem to mind, and in fact becomes slightly engrossed in feeding the bronze and smaller green. With a delighted expression, he mutters to the two, "Merp." What it means, or why the bronzerider chooses this to say, who knows. Looking up, he nods to Halam. Little green Wili gobbles down her share of the food, and then opens her beak to coo sweetly and quite tunefully at the bronze rider. Holl is rather more straightforward, though his croon's rather musical as well, once he takes an opportunity to deliver it. Halam nods to the stranger. "Sir" he says politly. Brown Munki seems just as happy to play with his food as eat it, though blue Enri levels a surprisingly stern whirling glare on the larger flit, looking exactly like a gruff, bearded Craftmaster calling a wayward apprentice to task. He lets loose with a few flowing, deep warbles at the brown, who replies by trying to chase Enri across the tabletop. "They do this a lot," Mehlani murmurs ruefully to N'var, blushing pink. From Halam's shoulder, Krill lifts his head and chirples a greeting to the other firelizards. N'var lets Holl finish the meatroll before he takes a seat. Leaning back, he steals another one in case they want to nibble more. While he breaks the roll, holding it out for them, he says, "Ah, they're sweet. And you manage them well, I see. Don't have any myself. Well, other than Palineth." Cradled in Mehlani's arms, Brodi coos affably towards Krill, and Mehlani in the meantime says sheepishly, "They're easier in smaller groups..." N'var looks amused, "How many do you have, all told?" "Eight," is the behatted girl's soft and rueful reply. "Nine -- if you count Vachon. He hangs around me a lot." She has her gaze dipped shyly down to the pudgy, somewhat homely blue perched in her arms, which seems quite fine with little Brodi. Holl decides he'd better assert his general dominance of Mehlani's fair by investigating the game of Chase Each Other Around the Table that Enri and Munki appear to have started, and why he, Holl, is not involved. In the meantime, Wili wings over and lands right on N'var's bicep, hooking her dainty claws into his shirt; if she were a woman, she might have just slid her arm around his elbow. She croons to him, rather throatily. Wili, it seems, has decided she's in Love, and she continues to croon in beautiful if admittedly random notes to this marvelous individual who has provided her with Food. N'var sits back, attention focusing on the little green attached to his arm. "Well, hello there," he says, eyes dancing. Holding out a finger, he tentatively goes to scritch her tiny, delicate eyeridge. N'var adds, then, to Mehlani, "Eight? Wow. You're better than you give yourself credit for. I couldn't handle eight." "Oh, Wili..." murmurs Mehlani, chagrined. The girl chews briefly at her lower lip and goes on timidly, "That's Wili. She does _that_ a lot, too." The 'lizard's eyes turn sapphire and emerald, whirling in a mix of the two, and she croons her delight at N'var's attentions. Mehlani concludes, "I, um, sort of had to learn fast, since I... um... Impressed six at once..." Halam chuckles remembering how bad it was with just two at once. N'var grins, attending to the green's scritching needs. He seems to be enjoying himself. "I don't mind," he says, and then blinks, "Six at once? My." Mehlani bobs her head gravely, looking briefly relieved as she glances around and counts heads. By now, Holl and Munki and Enri are chasing one another in serious aerial play, leaving Brodi curled up on her arm, and Wili wriggling in delight as she clambers around to perch herself prettily on the rider's forearm. Spock has arrived. Spock swoops down towards Halam. Phizzer has arrived. Phizzer swoops down towards Halam. Halam looks up as his other two arrive from the inner cavern. "looks like mine want to join the fun. Phizzer and Spock Creel greetings as the swoop in. N'var's eyes dart up to catch the airborn game of chase, and then returns to Wili's attentions, rubbing under the green's muzzle, "How's that, sweet?" The 'lizards in the air certainly don't seem to mind Phizzer and Spock's arrival, though the newcomers _do_ briefly cause 'Lani's airborn males to team up and surge playfully towards the others. Wili, in the meantime, lets forth with a bubbling, songful stream of croonings, serenading this marvelous human who not only understands Food, but also Scritches. As far as she's concerned, therefore, anything goes, and she flutters and flitters in absolute adoration. Mehlani, watching all this, smiles timidly. Phizzer and Spock zoom around the room creeling as the other 'lizards surge towards them. Krill in the meantime ignores the whole goings on. N'var looks up at Mehlani, grinning, "Yes, I think she definitely likes me." Still idly scritching, he asks of the young girl, "Mehlani? Why does that name seem so familiar to me?" 'Lani doesn't comment on her green's proclivities -- at least, not vocally; the girl _does_ grin sheepishly, before the expression shifts over towards bemusement. She considers N'var's question, and then ventures shyly, "My brother lives at Igen... he is a dragonhealer..." From the kitchen, Rylan walks out of the passageway that leads down to the storerooms. From the kitchen, Rylan walks into the Living Cavern. Rylan walks in from the kitchen. Rylan has arrived. Rylan bouncies into the cavern with a wide wide grin! "Brother?" N'var asks, "What's his name?" "Fahloran," says Mehlani softly. She keeps scritching Brodi, who yawns sleepily and curls up low along her forearm. Rylan arches a brow as he hears a familiar name, "What about Fahloran?" Phizzer and Spock finally settle and hop on to their pearches about Halam's body. Phizzer has left. Halam smiles as Phizzer flies over and lands on his shoulder. Spock has left. Halam smiles as Spock flies over and lands on his shoulder. 'Lani blinks, and glances round to the entering lad, sitting up a little. "I... I, ah, was telling N'var that Fahloran lives at Igen," she explains earnestly. "This is N'var, bronze Palineth's rider... and N'var, this is another brother of mine, Rylan..." Shy though she might be, she delivers the introduction with solemn straightforwardness. Halam stands "This is too much for my little ones. I'm going to take them to my room. I'll be right back." he says Halam walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Halam has left. Rylan nods towards N'var, "Weeeeelll met!" Rylan At 11 Turns, 10 months, and 28 days of age, Rylan has already begun to look like his father, with dark hair that tumbles to his shoulders, and large, solemn brown eyes. Dressed in navy blue breeches and a bright red tunic, Rylan is a quiet child, a startling contrast to his sister's exuberance. He's often seem with his green firelizard he calls Honey. He's not a fidgety child, yet you can often catch him chewing on a finger or a lock of hair. Startled easily, you can sometimes coax him into your lap with juice or a cookie. Deathly afraid of dragons he avoids them at all costs, except for his mother's and father's. He looks back at you with his big, brown eyes. In those you can see a gleam of curiosity those days. He does not seem that afraid any more, and sometimes his new-won curiosity leads him to walk up to someone, to approach someone and talk to him or her. The chance he does so is larger, when there are single persons, he doesn't like crowds at all. Carrying: Honey Rylan's Apron N'var repeats, "Fahloran. Oh, Fah!" He blinks, and grins, "Oh, yes. I should have known. That would make you leader F'hlan's daughter, right? And Master Melora. Ah, I should have known." He turns then, chuckling at Rylan, "Hi." Mehlani turns pink again at the mention of F'hlan; this seems to be a common color for her. She bobs her head, however. Wili squeaks a protest from her perch on N'var's forearm. Even the brief distraction of Rylan's arrival is diverting vital scritching concentration away from the human on whom she's decided to lavish her charms tonight. Creeling petulantly, she cranes her head out and lightly baps N'var's chest with her muzzle. Maylia walks in from the bowl. Maylia has arrived. N'var darts a look between Rylan and Mehlani, "He's an aquaintance of my mother's, as is Master Melora." He looks down at the lizard, returning his fingers to their delicate attentions, scritching down the slender neck of the green. Finally, he adds, "I've met him several times, back at Igen." Kharty walks in from the bowl. Kharty has arrived. Aurian walks in from the bowl. Aurian has arrived. Kharty smiles as she walks into the cavern, following Maylia. Her hand lifts in greeting as she sniffs the smells from the kitchen, still lingering. Aurian follows a couple steps behind Kharty and Maylia. She blinks a bit. Mehlani nods in that solemn way of hers to the visiting rider, then starts as she spies Maylia and the others entering with her out of the corner of her eye. Maylia leads the way of a small procession into the living cavern, two girls following after her. "The candidates barracks are just through here..." She tells them, nodding with a smile to those in the cavern. Mehlani's mouth draws into a small 'o', and she peers shyly at Aurian and Kharty, momentarily forgetting about the blue fire lizard drowsing on her forearm. Aurian Aurian stands before you quietly, a look of quick merriment gleaming in her grey-green eyes. You would almost think she was up to something. She still looks a touch pale from her long illness but that's from the lack of sunshine not the illness. Her hair is a mass of flaming red-gold waves that tumble down her back with a life of its own. Her hair is even longer than it was before, now somewhere about the tops of her thighs. She isn't very tall but you could never mistake her for a child. Her pouty mouth seems to be set in a perpetual grin. She appears to be about seventeen turns. She is wearing a pair of wherhide pants that have a rather beaten look about them. She is also wearing a deep forest green vest that is made out of velvet, hugging her form. It is laced up the front with a black ribbon. On her shoulder she wears the purple and white knot that shows her to be a Senior Healer apprentice. Carrying: Danae Tola Sayvel Rylan blinks several times, "Woah? They started searching??" Kharty Striking might be the word to describe this young woman. Her long, jet black hair is twisted at the nape of her neck, then looped up and around the back of her head, held in place with several shiny clips, made for her by a smith friend. Smooth, fair skin is weathered, seeing a good bit of outside work. Her dark, brown eyes twinkle in an impish way from an oval-shaped face that is normally of a serious nature. She's thin, but strong, with an eye to bubblies, primarily of the citrus kind. Kharty's simply dressed, to suit a simple minded woman. A white spun shirt tucks into black wherhide pants, and her black boots are snug and well fitting, showing ample wear. She has a small scar along the top of one black eyebrow, that's half hidden by long bangs that fall into her eyes a little. Mehlani, without offering any commentary, turns rather pinker. Aurian looks at you for a moment. Kharty smiles at Mehlani and offers a hand to her. "Kharty's the name.." Mehlani's blue eyes blink a few times, and shyly, she frees a hand off from the sleeping blue that's curled himself around her forearm, to take and shake Kharty's. "My name is Mehlani," she murmurs. "Welcome to Telgar..." Kharty shakes the girl's hand warmly and looks around, waving to R'val a ways from her. "Heyla. Did we meet at the clutching?" she asks after freeing Mehlani's hand from her grip. N'var leans back, concentrating on keeping the green happy as he watches the others. He does offer a respectful nod to Maylia, but doesn't interupt her with formalities. At Rylan's reaction, he darts a glance back to Mehlani. Aurian smiles at Mehlani, she tries to extricate a hand but is unable to due to the sack she is carrying. "Aurian." She just hefts the bag against her a bit more. Halam walks here from the Inner Cavern. Halam has arrived. Halam walks back in returning to his half empty cup of klah. "Thats better. They would have stired the whole weyr up." "I saw you," Mehlani agrees to Kharty, beginning to look a little overwhelmed, "but I, I don't think I said anything..." She smiles wanly to Aurian, and finally glances once more at her little brother and bobs her head at him. "This afternoon," she tells him, her words coming out in something of a squeak. Rylan snorts as nobody introduces themselves to him. He's little but not that sharding little. "I'm Rylan...Lani's brother", maybe that will help. Kharty blinks at Halam and asks, "Were we too loud?" she asks, as if he were talking about their arrival. Green Wili, in the meantime, croons warmly to N'var and nuzzles his fingertips with her soft little nose. That's better. Aurian glance back to Maylia, "Which way so I can put my things up?" Halam chuckles "Lordy No. It was my two firelizards. They came screemin in here causin a ruckus. They get all riled up around othe 'lizards and want to play, so I had to take them back to my room. Maylia leans back against a table, watching the new candidates interact with Mehlani for a moment. Her eyes rest most often on Kharty, cool, considering. As Aurian indicates that she's ready, she beckons the two along. "C'mon, I'll show you guys the barracks." Halam just figures out who the two new people are. "Oh! Hey welcome to Telgar and Congrats. I'm Halam." Kharty nods, agreeing with Aurian. "And I as well." Hearing her cousin's words she leans back and whispers to Aurian, "Her gaze would freeze an Istan in summer!" she giggles. Several fire lizards are, in fact, in view. There's a bronze and a blue and a brown playing an extended game of tag, in addition to the green who's demanding scritches from N'var, and the pudgy blue curled up on Mehlani's arm. Mehlani glances with wide nervous eyes from face to face, still blushing. Aurian blinks at Kharty's comment about her cousin. She glances at Maylia, "Are you sure you aren't talking about someone else?" as she speaks to her fellow candidate. Kharty hears Halam's words and smiles warmly. "Thanks!" To Aurian, she nods and whispers, "She's my cousin.. " Her words come out as if she's somwhat ashamed of that fact. Aurian blurts out in a half-whisper, "Are you sure?" She blushes as she realizes others could have heard that. Maylia clears her throat, and introduces the two new candidates to Halam. "These are Aurian, and Kharty. Just searched at the Healer Hall at Fort." An eyebrow gets raised to the two, muttering to one another, though her gaze is more curious than icy. Mehlani ducks her gaze back to the blue on her arm, and reflexively strokes his grey-marked head, apparently finding Brodi a welcome distraction. Kharty nods solemnly to Aurian. "Of course I'm sure..." A quick gaze to Maylia sends her words toward Halam with a smile. "I'm Kharty, good to meet you!" Aurian glances about as she hears her name mentioned, she smiles politely to Halam then turns back to Maylia, "Alright which way?" Halam grins "Well met and as I said... Welcome. you'll like it here at Telgar." Maylia smiles at the two... at the two? something must be wrong here. And leads the way into the inner caverns. Maylia walks towards the inner cavern. Maylia has left. Aurian walks towards the inner cavern. Aurian has left. Kharty waves to those in the cavern, calling out, "See you soon!" as she grins and follows Maylia and Aurian. Kharty walks towards the inner cavern. Kharty has left. Halam watches the new candidates depart and the turns with a mischevious smile on his face. "Looks like I might get some help in the stables after all. N'var watches the candidates and rider head out, and he goes to stand. "Well, it's getting late. I suppose I should be heading out, too. Catch up with the others back at Igen." He looks at the pretty Wili, "Coming with me, or staying with your dear?" he asks with amusement. Mehlani glances bemusedly at Halam, not taking the time to remind him that both she and Ro frequently work in the stables; most of her attention is on N'var and her green, and to the rider, she blurts out sheepishly, "Oh, I'm sorry..." She rises, and reaches out a hand. "Give her to me. Wili, you silly thing, come here..." Wili's eyes turn yellow, and she creels sadly, flicking her head back and forth as she looks from N'var to her human and back again. Halam reading Mehlani's expression for what it is says "I only meant that wewill be short handed now that your a candidate and if I were a bettin man I'd bet Ro get searched this clutch too. I even bet Kassi would make book on that." he sighs "and if it happens. I'll be pretty much alone unless i can convince Rich to put stable duty on the candie chores list." N'var offers up the green, chuckling softly. "Promise I'll come back for more scritches, Wili," he says, and nods to Mehlani. "Promise." Wili reluctantly flutterhops over to Mehlani's arm, and, distracted by Halam's words, 'Lani glances over her shoulder and blurts, "Well, of course Candidates help with the stables... K'star and E'rian always did stable duty at Benden... oh, thank you..." This last, to N'var, as her green is safely transferred. N'var smiles softly as he glances again at Mehlani, "Fair skies." With that, he nods to Halam and heads out. N'var walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. N'var has left. Halam smiles at Mehlani "I'm sure they did and I'm sure you will. What I said was more in jest than serious." Mehlani blows out a breath, looking rather overwhelmed again. Wili creels and the girl takes a moment to try to soothe the little one, while nodding to Halam gravely. Halam grins at Mehlani. "You are one of the hardest workers at the stables. Its going to take me workin twice as hard plus two Candies to make up for your loss." Mehlani smiles a little, but nods, a touch shakily. "I... had better get to bed," she murmurs, "and make sure the others don't startle Arki... it would be bad, if she bit them... please excuse me?" Mehlani, with that, resettles Wili and the drowsy Brodi on her arms, and quietly slips off. You walk towards the inner cavern. Inner Cavern(#1272RJL$) Obvious exits: Steam Baths INFirmary Candidate Barracks Corridor Weyrfolk Quarters Living Cavern You part the curtain and step into the Candidate Barracks. Candidate Barracks(#258RAHJ$) Contents: Kharty Aurian Obvious exits: Lower Caverns Hatching Sands Type +candidate help for information. Mehlani slips into the room, a green and a blue fire lizard on each of her arms, and she pauses hesitantly before trekking toward one of the cots that has apparently already been claimed -- by dint of two more green fire lizards curled up asleep on the pillow. A trio of firelizards are obviously too wide awake, they bounce about on Aurian's shoulder geting their talons caught in her sweater a bit. Kharty smiles as Mehlani walks past and waves to her. "See you in the morning, Mehlani.. nice meeting you!" Finding an empty cot, she falls over onto it and rolls around a bit, happiness on her face. "Yay!" she squeels. Sayvel has arrived. Aurian shrugs as Sayvel takes flight from her shoulder. Danae has arrived. Aurian shrugs as Danae takes flight from her shoulder. Tola has arrived. Aurian shrugs as Tola takes flight from her shoulder. The trio tumble onto Aurian's cot as she rummages about in her bag, "Where is that brush..." The girl in the hat smiles timidly to Kharty and Aurian, settling down silently on her cot and dislodging the two 'lizards she's carrying to curl up with the others. Elsi yawns drowsily and then burrows in by Rianet, while Mehlani herself takes a moment to carefully search her cot... and _under_ it... before sitting up again. All she says to the other two young women is a solemn, "If you see a very pale green fire lizard, it is probably Arki, and be careful, because she isn't very friendly." Then she proceeds to remove her battered hat and to tug off her boots. Kharty rolls onto her side and closes her eyes, contentment on her face. A small sigh escapes her as she drifts off to sleep, clothing still on. Aurian glances up at Mehlani, she grins "Alright then." She finds her brush and sits on her cot, brushing her hair out. The hat is gently placed at the foot of 'Lani's cot; for all that it's a battered, beat up thing, clearly having suffered long Turns of weathering, it seems to be a treasured possession. Her vest and the rest of her clothing follows as she changes into a nightdress, and through all of this, the rest of Mehlani's fair eventually makes its way in... a bronze, a brown, and a blue, but no pale green, no sign of the aforementioned Arki. A second brown banded in Minecraft colors is the last to arrive, and as if he's long familiar with 'Lani's fair, he wings down right in the middle of them to claim his space on her cot as the lot of them all settle down for sleep. Aurian keeps brushing out her hair she looks a touch nervous and unsure. She does seem used to it though. Finally, Mehlani offers another tiny, timid smile to the other new Candidate still awake, and settles down among the curled, colorful forms of her fair, closing her eyes, slipping under her blanket. And eventually, her nervous breathing settles down into the easier rhythms of slumber. Mehlani's Cot(#15942Dabe) You settle down on your cot. [End log.]