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:
	9/22/1997

Log Cast:
	(People) Jehrina, Alexi, Emily, Ceria, Danton, F'hlan, Melina, K'tyn,
Suzot, Breenah, Elyandra, Kassima, Salless (NPC), Kaylira (NPC), J'lor,
Garant (NPC), T'bin, M'larr (NPC), Gwynden, J'lyn, Mehlani, Makear

	(Dragons) Tzornth, Prometh, Zibrith, Pleiath, Lysseth, Lorieth,
Leilanth, Brynarth, Wyith, Vidarth

Log Intro:
	As in Hold or Hall, so too with a Weyr: life continues in all of its
cycles. Littles grow up to be young men and women; they Impress their 
dragons and their firelizards, or join Crafts. Their firelizards rise to 
mate, if female; they chase the rising ones, if male. So has the young 
bronze who looks to Mehlani, F'hlan's daughter, done this very evening. And
even as bronze Tzornth's rider goes looking for his offspring to try to 
look after her in the aftermath of what her firelizard has done, another 
aspect of life occurs in the Weyr as the elderly auntie who has presided
over the Living Cavern for as long as many can remember comes peacefully 
to the end of her Turns....
	[This log is a companion log to holl-flight.txt, from Mehlani's
point of view.]

----------
You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.
Benden Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJ$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's 
  population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity 
  here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently 
  for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under 
  Salless' watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets 
  and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its 
  size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the 
  pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little 
  wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do 
  it. Branches of evergreens and glistening winter berries are ornaments of 
  the season.
A short tunnel jaunts eastward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of 
  cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southwest end of 
  the cavern near the westerly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. To 
  the southeast is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured 
  dragons and riders.
Contents:
Alexi
K'tyn(#7313PJOUce$)
Elyandra
Breenah
Jehrina
Danton
Suzot
J'lor
Melina
Ceria
Salless
Scrap of Hide
Athena(#9341V)
DRINKS, courtesy of Apprentice Suzot and Journeyman Enpici.
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Jehrina nods to K'tyn. Politely, at least.

Alexi says "G'devening all!"

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

Ceria smiles brightly at Alexi, her distraction forgotten momentarily.

Danton divvies out the klah mugs to the respective requestees. Then heads 
  back to get some more food. He tries to catch Suzot's eye, then glances 
  over at Salless.

One of the stray candidates bumps into Emily as she walks in, spilling wine 
  on her. "Oh, I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

Alexi grins at Ceria, "Hey..."

F'hlan, walking with his usual slight limp, the collar of his flight jacket 
  turned up along the back of his neck, steps into the cavern and scans it, 
  brown eyes narrowed bemusedly. Snow dots his shoulders and his shaggy hair, 
  and he's cradling his brown fire lizard in the crook of one arm.

Melina's mouth curves into a much bigger smile and she waves to the new 
  people in the cavern. Her dark eyes grow wide upon seeing so many people.

Alexi says "So who needs what?"

Danton calls out, "Hey, Alexi."

Ceria rolls her shoulders with a sigh. "I'm glad we finally finshed bagging 
  that stone," she says to Alexi.

K'tyn shakes his head, and pauses on his way to the hearth to greet Salless 
  as he always does--with a sassy smile and a wink--before he fills up 
  several plates with food and a mug with ale and takes them to a seat nearby.

Alexi waves to Danton,.

Another lower cavern's girl passes Suzot the rolls, when it becomes obvious 
  that Salless is not responding.

Emily jumps back away from the other candidate, but not quickly enough to 
  avoid being splashed on. "It's okay," she mutters quietly. "It'll wash. Or, 
  if it doesn't, I'll wear it anyway."

Alexi says "My shoulders still hurt..."

Suzot takes the basket from the LCG with a frown. "Thank you," she says 
  automatically, but her rock-plain face remains turned towards Salless for a 
  little longer than it should.

Ceria nods. "Mine too."

The candidate's lower lip trembles. "But, but...it's red wine. It'll never 
  ever ever ever come out, and it's such a pretty blouse....I'm so, so 
  sorry...."

F'hlan approaches the nearest people in the caverns, and as he draws near, 
  the bronze rider clears his throat and inquires solemnly, "Excuse me. Has 
  anyone seen my daughter?"

Ceria glances at F'hlan. "I saw her in here a while ago," she says.

Breenah turns back to the group gathered and warms her back as she rubs it. 
  Catching Ceria's eye she adds "My back got the worst of it."

Jehrina smiles at F'hlan, "Evening."

Danton starts stacking dishes for carrying, watching Salless curiously as he 
  works. But not so curiously that he upsets the dishes.

Ceria smiles at Breenah. "My back is ok. It's mostly my shoulders."

One of the sauciest lower cavern's girls winks and says, "No...lets take 
  advantage of the opportunity for a little grown up activity?" That sends 
  some others into a chorus of titters.

Jehrina blinks, and then nods, "She ran into and back out of the records 
  cavern earlier. Barely saw her."

Elyandra turns her gaze from Salless to F'hlan, shaking her head, "No, I 
  haven't seen Mehlani in quite some time." A tolerant stare to M'larr and 
  she turns on her heel, heading for the Weyrwoman, "Jehrina, would you 
  please tell M'larr that a pregnant woman is not an invalid?"

Suzot passes by Emily. "Dunk the whole thing in wine," she advises in her 
  usual, flat tones.

Alexi throws himself into scouring the tables which are unoccupied...

K'tyn looks up, his attention immediately caught by F'hlan's question. He 
  blinks, his own mien becoming solemn. "Greetings, F'hlan. I saw her 
  earlier, but...that was a while ago," he admits.

Emily just shrugs. "I've more, and I can make another. Don't worry yourself 
  so about it." That said, she disappears back into the inner caverns, 
  returning a moment later in a clean shirt.

Jehrina enh, Oh. "M'larr, a pregnant woman is not an invalid. GO ask your 
  mother."

Kassima walks in from the bowl.
Kassima has arrived.

Melina grins and nods to Suzot, "Die it all wine colored then you won't 
  notice"

Elyandra then realizes she's in front of the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader, and 
  salutes, "Ma'am, I mean." She elbows M'larr in the gut, "Yeah, go ask your 
  mother!" Snort. She heads for a seat.

Ceria glances around as the living cavern becomes a bit crowded.

Alexi waves, "Kassima!"

Ceria stands and goes over to Kassima. "I still have your knife, ma'am," she 
  says.

Suzot passes out breadrolls to those at her table, which now includes K'tyn. 
  "Breadroll, Weyrleader?" she asks respectfully.

F'hlan turns to the Weyrwoman, and inclines his head to her. There's a touch 
  of a smile to his lean mouth, but his eyes are worried. As the various 
  responses reach him, he gently strokes the head of the brown he's carrying; 
  little Ged is clearly exhausted, his hide almost grey, and his eyes 
  whirling a dull shade of yellow. "I'm afraid," F'hlan murmurs, "that Holl 
  was just in a flight... if what I sensed from Ged here was true. Shards..." 
  This last is muttered, as the man turns reflexively, clearly wracking his 
  brains.

Salless's head drops level with the book as she looks closer and closer to 
  the words of the Lower Cavern's directory. Eventually, she rests her head 
  against it and closes her eyes, still humming softly.

Melina waves to Kassi, grinning. So many people.

Danton finally puts down his plates, and goes over to Salless. "Ma'am? 
  Salless? Are you alright?" he asks.

Ceria glances at Salless before turning back to Kassima.

The candidate who stained Emily's shirt rubs her eyes and sniffles. "Well, 
  I'll dye it for you, if you want me to. Or I'll wash it. Or I can make you 
  a new one. I really can...I'm a good sewer..."

K'tyn frowns at Elyandra, blinking at her confusedly a moment as he 
  apparently doesn't understand what Jehrina had to say that. He nods at 
  Suzot, and thanks her for her considerateness, looking back at F'hlan with 
  more than a bit of worry.

At Danton's query, Alexi crosses the room to check on Salless...

Danton taps Salless lightly on the shoulder, "Would you like to sit down?" he 
  asks.

M'larr looks from Elyandra to Jehrina and back again. Confusion clearly 
  marked on his face as he considers, "M'kla has what... twelve young ones 
  total?" No, not the brightest, it's apparent his distraction is his 
  bronzeriding, "I've never seen her taken off of her duties..."

Suzot gives K'tyn the breadroll and continues down the table to another 
  worthy rider and her weyrmate.

Melina peers around. Salless? She shudders quietly. The woman's songs have 
  done more to make her cold then anything else.

Ceria finds her gaze drawn back to Salless, and she starts to look concerned.

Emily pats the sniffling candidate's back gently as she passes by again. 
  "Relax. It'll be taken care of, it's not that important."

Kassima nods to K'tyn and Jehrina in lieu of a salute, for once, since her 
  arms are rather occupied by Kaylira--one holding her, and the other trying 
  to keep the child from hitting people they pass by. The Candidates, too, 
  receive a nod and a smile of greeting. "Heya, all. Packed Cavern t'night; 
  must be a later dinner hour than usual, eh? Ach, Ceria--how many times do I 
  have t'tell you...." She sighs, letting go of Kay's hands for long enough 
  to shake a finger at the Candidate. "My name's nay ma'am. But I'm glad 
  y'still have the knife; I've been looking for it."

Salless's humming has trailed off somewhere in the middle of the conversation 
  and before Danton approaches her. She is seated with her head resting on 
  her tome, her eyes closed. When Danton nudges her, she slumps to the side, 
  and does not respond. A faint smile is on her lips.

Elyandra points a finger to M'larr, "Exactly my point." An instictive hand 
  goes to her belly as she flops into a chair.

Jehrina glances at Salless, and then grimaces at F'hlan, "Wonderful. I'm 
  afraid you'd probably have a better idea of where she's hiding than I."

Danton puts one arm around Salless to support her. He looks at her carefully, 
  "Ma'am?" he asks louder.

Ceria's eyes keep darting back to Salless as she gets Kassima's knife and 
  hands it back to its owner.

Alexi says "She's asleep, right?"

Melina watches Danton and Salless. She frowns, sitting up to see better.

Ceria takes a step toward Danton and Salless.

Elyandra blinks, nudging Jehrina, and pointing, "Weyrwoman? What's wrong with 
  Salless?" She pushes to her feet.

Kaylira crows with delight when her hands are freed, and promptly smacks Mom 
  in the head. This seems to be a favorite activity of late. "Oof, child. I 
  shudder t'think of the brawls you'll start when you're of age... thankee, 
  Ceria. I appreciate having this returned." She tucks the blade into its 
  place at her belt before glancing towards Salless, frowning slightly in 
  concern. "Is something amiss with her, then?"

Danton puts his free hand just in front of Salless's nose and mouth, "I 
  don't.." he says, leaning over her.

Salless does not move at Danton's touch, and no warm breath brushes against 
  his fingertips.

K'tyn starts to eat, but with all the activity going on, he stops, roll 
  tasted but uneaten, looking back at Jehrina, then to F'hlan and then to the 
  all too still form of Salless.

Suzot returns the basket to the lower cavern girl who'd given it to her and 
  picks up the klah-pot. Nearly empty. Luckily there's another one on the 
  fire, but she'd better refill this one in a hurry. She picks several sheets 
  of bark from their hiding-place and starts to grate them on the other side 
  of the counter from Salless, about two arms'-lengths away.

F'hlan's brown gaze swings around to see the young man bending over Salless; 
  the bronze rider straightens at the sight of that, and he eyes the elderly 
  lady with no less concern in his eyes. As Jehrina addresses him, Tzornth's 
  rider frowns and leans over to murmur to her, "I don't know whether Holl 
  won--but Tzornth can't find the little one, so I'm suspecting--" He cuts 
  off, then, as the more immediate situation grabs more and more attention.

Ceria moves across the room to stand with Alexi.

Alexi looks urgently at Danton.

Melina speaks up, her voice quavering just slightly and her eyes clouding 
  over, 'She /is/ sleeping, right?"

Ceria stares at Salless, a look of confused horror beginning to creep across 
  her face.

Danton says suddenly, "Oh Shards!" He picks Salless up in his arms, looks 
  towards the exit to the Inner Caverns.

K'tyn clears his throat. "Perhaps...someone, A healer?" he says loudly, 
  looking at Salless' form with growing pain an dismay.

Elyandra elbows her way through Candidates and Riders alike, working her way 
  over to the still form of the old cook, "Salless?" She reaches for the old 
  woman's wrist, feeling for a pulse. Feeling none, panic begins to rise in 
  her throat, "SALLESS?!"

Alexi staggers back... "No..."

Ceria steps back, her green eyes wide and confused.

Breenah glances around the room. "A healer?" she whispers wondering if 
  fetching one would help. Wringing her hands and shaking her head she sits 
  down as a vast wearyness overtakes her mood.

No pulse, no breath, though she is still warm. Just a soft smile playing 
  along the lips of a very, very old woman.

Danton says to Alexi, "Call the Healer." His tone, however is more resigned 
  than urgent.

Melina draws back and shakes her head. She shudders again and she takes a 
  long draught of klah. This can't be.

"Elyandra," comes the voice of F'hlan, gone very soft and solemn, the voice 
  he once used when the Weyr lost D'vin and Krystlin, "is she...?" He trails 
  off, but not really in the tone of a question.

Ceria turns to Alexi, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "Alexi?"

Alexi nods and moves towards the lower caverns

Suzot stops grating klah, staring in her bland way at the woman. She watches 
  people pat Salless's cheeks, feel her pulse, shout at her. Her hands don't 
  move for several seconds, or maybe a minute...and then she picks up the 
  klah and turns her back, moving over to another counter to face the wall as 
  she keeps grating and grating the bark into smaller slivers, grating till 
  her knuckles bleed.

Elyandra's eyes dart across the Living Cavern and she calls out, "Someone get 
  a healer! Please?!" Desperation raises her voice to a horrified scream and 
  she looks up at F'hlan in desperation, "I... I don't know what to do..." 
  Tears well up in the Greenrider's eyes.

Alexi walks towards the inner cavern.
Alexi has left.

Jehrina's face goes blank, her voice barely a whisper, "I don't think a 
  healer is going to help this time."

Danton looks about for an empty table, and lays Salless gently down on it. He 
  checks her pulse one more time, briefly.

Alexi walks in from the bowl.
Alexi has arrived.
Alexi returns, healer in tow...

"The healer can confirm it, but..." The Weyrleader sighs, his appetite lost 
  for once. "She's gone," he says disbelievingly, his voice breaking. 
  "Salless... is gone." He blinks, and swallows tears that threaten. "Ah, 
  Salless. I'll miss you."

Ceria stumbles backward, her face confused, her eyes tearfilled.

Melina frowns adn turns around. Tears streak down her red cheeks and she gets 
  up, leaving her mug behind. Without a word, she trots out, back toward the 
  candidate's quarters.
Melina walks towards the inner cavern.
Melina has left.

J'lor sighs. A tear rolls quietly down his cheek and drips into his mug of 
  klah.

Tzornth's rider does not bother to step up to Salless; the reactions of 
  Danton and Elyandra are more than enough to tell F'hlan what's occurred. 
  Dark eyes glimmering with a few unashamed tears of his own, he turns and 
  says quietly to Jehrina and K'tyn, "We'll need to put her to rest."

Danton waves the healer over, directing her towards Salless.

Garant, the healer, moves to Salless, and after a moment, confirms the 
  Weyrleader's words.

Suzot continues grating the klah, finer and finer, to a powder.

Alexi breathes in short, ragged gasps and shakes his head...

Ceria moves closer to Alexi, tears dripping down her face.

Alexi puts an arm around Ceria, stifiling a sob.

Jehrina bites her lower lip, looks up at F'hlan, and nods. That's about it, 
  just nods.

Ceria hugs Alexi, burying her face in his shoulder.

Elyandra, still gripping the wrist of Salless, shakes her head, refusing to 
  believe the obvious which is right in front of her. Tears stream down her 
  face and her free hand moves to cover her mouth, still shaking her head.

K'tyn nods at rider and resident. "I've asked Prometh to ask Ashroth to send 
  T'bin in. He should be here," he says quietly, more to Jehrina than anyone 
  else.

Kassima's eyes glisten with unshed tears; even her daughter is silent, though 
  she looks confused. "Nay..." Kassi breathes once. "Surely it can't be so. 
  She's...." She swallows, looking towards K'tyn at the Weyrleader's 
  declaration, and nods mutely in acceptance of the truth of it.

T'bin walks in from the bowl.
T'bin has arrived.

Danton folds Salless's hands over her chest, then asks the WEyrleader and 
  healer, "Should we take her back to her room?"

Breenah wipes at the wet streaks that fall freely down her cheeks. Taking a 
  step or tow back, she becomes hiden in the shadows as a soft sound of 
  choked breathing can be heard.

J'lor sniffles

Tears flow freely from Alexi's eyes.

K'tyn takes two steps forward. "Ah, lad," he says brokenly, gesrturing 
  quietly to Salless' still form. "Your aunt. She's gone."

T'bin hurries in, "What is......" He trails off, and an ice cold poker face 
  slaps down, hard. "What happened." No emotion is betrayed in his cold brown 
  eyes.

Ceria sobs silently, still holding onto Alexi.

Danton steps back, getting out of T'bin's way. He turns, looking around. Then 
  walks towards Suzot.

The tall Vintnercraft-Candidate finally realizes that she's powdered well 
  more than enough klah-bark for three pots of klah, and she pours it into 
  the pot and adds water. Going through these commonplace motions, her body 
  becomes stiff and her movements brisk again; her jaw tightens, but 
  otherwise she is utterly and completely without expression.

T'bin takes a deep breath, and straightens his shoulders, walking to 
  Salless's side. He frowns, as if unsure he believes what he's seeing, and 
  his long fingers reach out to brush her cheek. "She's....she is gone."

Elyandra feels a hand on her shoulder and turns to see the large form of 
  M'larr, his face solemn. He pries her wrist free of Salless's and pulls the 
  small greenrider into his arms, "C'mon, let's get you out of here." Slowly 
  he leads Elyandra away and off to the side of the crowd.

Jehrina takes a deep, shaky breath, "Aye. I'm sorry To..T'bin."

K'tyn struggles to control his emotions. "T'bin--she went peacefully. Her 
  favorite song on her lips," he says after a bit.

F'hlan steps quietly back, allowing Jehrina and K'tyn to command this as they 
  need to.... and allowing T'bin to see what needs to be seen.

Emily walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Emily has left.

Danton says quietly to Suzot, "Your hands are bleeding. Why don't you stop." 
  He puts one hand on her shoulder.

T'bin looks up and nods. "She...doesn't....didn't want to be buried at sea. 
  She always hated the sea. Can she....Is there any way she can stay here? 
  She loves...loved...Benden Weyr with all her heart."

Suzot steps away so fast some of the water sloshes out of the klah pot. 
  Reflexively, before she even knows who it is, she says flatly, "Don't touch 
  me."

J'lyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
J'lyn has left.

A lone tear tracks a silver path down Kassi's cheek before the greenrider 
  gets a chance to wipe her eyes, taking a deep and shuddering breath. "And a 
  smile. She was smiling," she observes softly, probably not even aware that 
  she spoke aloud.

Alexi sits Ceria down at a table and picks up a cleaning cloth and begins 
  wiping the same spot on the table, over and over.

Jehrina nods, "Of course. Where else could we have her?"

K'tyn looks at Jehrina, then back at T'bin. "We'd not have her anywhere else."

Danton steps back from Suzot, hands in the air. "Alright," he says.

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

Ceria sits without moving. Her eyes are closed and tears seep from beneath 
  their lids.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth's awareness ripples out into the 
  Weyr, as his rider's mind contacts his own. With a memory relayed to the 
  dragon of F'hlan being called a 'mophaired waif', the bronze begins to 
  keen. It's a soft sound, without the gut-wrenching anguish called out of 
  the minds of dragons when one of their own passes *between*... but it is no 
  less heartfelt for that; rather, it is the sound of a dragon paying 
  respects to the passing of a human his own rider has held dear.

Suzot clears her throat as if she might say something else, but then doesn't. 
  Instead she only puts the triple-strong klah on to boil. She doesn't seem 
  to notice her bleeding knuckles, raw from scraping against the grater.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Prometh joins Tzornth, his own wail 
  sounding through the stones as he too, honors one his rider held dear.

Gwynden makes her way into the cavern, the somber faces slaming into the 
  small child, making her eyes large; her movements quiet.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Zibrith raises her own mental keen to that 
  of Tzornth's, her rider's sadness overwhelming that of her own 
  sensibilities.

From Alexi's shoulder, Pan croons sorrowfully, picking up on the emotions in 
  the room.

J'lyn walks in from the bowl.
J'lyn has arrived.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Pleiath lifts her head from her forelimbs 
  to look across the bowl at the keening dragons. Her eyes turn slowly with 
  curiousity. After a moment of silence, she lowers her muzzle and drifts 
  back to her former quiescence.

T'bin nods again. "Thank you very much. I guess....we should take her to the 
  infirmary? I think I need......to say a lot of things I never did and 
  always meant to."

Gwynden makes her way across the room, her eyes following eveything at once. 
  Finding her self next to a canidate, she pulls on the trouser leg of Suzot.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lysseth adds her own soft voice to the 
  haunting lament, honoring the memory of this woman whom her rider respected.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lorieth keens sharply, her riders deep 
  sorrow and anguish coming through...

"Ah...T'bin. The dragons...they are..." Kiat breaks off, and sinks into a 
  chair, unable to keep the tears from escaping his control. He stands again, 
  and nods at T'bin. "May I assist?"

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Leilanth lifts her head, keening sharply 
  into the evening sky.

Suzot looks down, bloody-raw of knuckle and stony of countenance. "Aye?" she 
  asks a trifle gruffly, voice having sunk into the range of tenor.

T'bin looks around for someone big and strong to help him, as diminutive as 
  he is. He nods at Kiat once.

T'bin
The knot of an Istan bronzerider that marks this young man's shoulder doesn't 
  seem to equate with his appearance. T'bin is a mere 5'1" in height, and of 
  a thin and wiry build, tanned by the Istan sun. His face and hands are 
  narrow and fox-like, with warm canine-brown eyes and expressive, mobile 
  features. He gestures continuously, and speaks quickly with a light Benden 
  accent. He has light, creamy-blond hair, straight and fine. It is cut short 
  in back, but long bangs spill to either side of a pronounced widow's peak 
  in front. The pale shadows on his cheek attest to an age of about 26 turns.
He is wearing white linen shirt with billowing sleeves and narrow cuffs, with 
  an embroidered vest of scarlet and gold. Black wherhide pants are tucked 
  into shiney black boots, which match his riding jacket when he's flying. He 
  often also wears black, fingerless gloves. A silver, star-shaped broach 
  keeps his knot in place, and at his waist is a well-tooled belt pouch and 
  his hunter's knife.
He looks frustrated and nervous, pacing often and seeming very restless.  A 
  green-bronze firelizard clings desperately to his shoulder. 

In a quiet voice, a mear whisper, Gwynden asks, "Whats happe'n?"

K'tyn
Tall, dark, and menacing-looking, this Benden rider's broad muscular frame 
  lends him presence and solidity; a strength echoed in the raptor's gleam of 
  his amber-gold eyes below thick raven-wing black brows. Something tenuously 
  controlled lurks beneath his calm, urbane manner; hints of it percolate 
  through the strands of curly black hair that's clubbed ruthlessly back from 
  his forehead in a black-ribboned queue. Sun and wind and weather have 
  roughened and tanned his skin to an even bronze tone. Punctuating his 
  features, two gristled scars twist about his face like his dragon's tail, 
  flaring whitely around his mouth when he dares a grin. On his hand glimmers 
  a bright band of gold. K'tyn is 24 Turns, 9 months, and 27 days old. 
  (+detail)
 K'tyn is clad in an undyed linen shirt, leather vest with matching trousers 
  and black wher-hide boots. His riding jacket hangs open loosely, and upon 
  his shoulder is a black and red Benden Weyr Wingleaders' and a WeyrLeader's 
  knot, intertwined with a bright bronze strand. A patch, SkyFire's emblem, 
  blazes on his jacket.
K'tyn catches and holds your gaze for a moment, his golden eyes crinkling a 
  little as he smiles and then looks away.

J'lyn looks towards the Weyrleader, silent tears touching his eyes, and a 
  look of offered help on his face.

Jehrina nods, stiffly and slowly, "Yes." Her eyes alight on K'tyn for a 
  moment, her expression softening from the blank one it had assumed. Her 
  eyes fill with tears, and she takes several deep breaths, not allowing them 
  to spill over.

Gwynden
A child of about 10 Turns, 4 months, and 23 days looks to be this 'Gwynden'. 
  Her features are delicate and her tiny frame could make her hard to notice, 
  but her laughter and prattle can be heard tinkeling through out the 
  caverns. Miss-matched eyes (The left is blue, the right is green) sparkle 
  with childish wonderment. Deep, silken brown hair waves down her back, held 
  in check by two thick braids. Blue and yellow ribbons inter-twine through 
  out the braids to match her dress and pin-afore. On her shoulder are the 
  knots of a Benden Weyr Resident as well as a Baker Craft Student knot. 
  Clipped to a loop on her pin-afore is a leash, canine attached to the end 
  while on her shoulder a bronze firelizards rest.
Carrying:
Joshi
Beni(#8045Vs)

Breenah keeps to the shadow as she heads toward barracks. Not knowing what to 
  say to the others who knew the woman so much better, she quietly bows her 
  head and takes her leave. The sound of keening drowns out her footfalls as 
  she leaves.

Danton keeps an eye on Suzot's response to Gwynden, mindful of Suzot's 
  reaction to him mere moments before.

From the table where Ceria left him sleeping, Defiant awakes and creels 
  quietly. Ceria opens her eyes and goes to pick him up. She strokes him 
  mindlessly before returning to sit near Alexi.

Suzot clears her throat, though it doesn't help her voice any. Flatly she 
  explains, "Salless just died." Flat, yes, but also much quieter, probably 
  the only way she knows how to soften a blow to a child.

"Paying her tribute..." Kassi whispers, marvelling even as more tears slide 
  unchecked down her face. So much for the rumor that this particular rider 
  doesn't know how to cry. She turns her head away to murmur soothingly to 
  Kaylira, easing the child's alarm at the distinct keening sounds.

Breenah walks towards the inner cavern.
Breenah has left.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Brynarth tilts his head where he sits on 
  his ledge, and listens to the keening of the other dragons. A moment 
  passes, as he relays the reason to his rider. His wings ruffle against his 
  back, and sits respectfully and silently while the Benden dragons continue.

Mehlani walks in from the bowl.
Mehlani has arrived.

Alexi looks up at the sound of the Dragon keening, then looks to K'tyn, "I'll 
  help if necessary..."

Mehlani stumbles into the cavern, white of face, looking horribly shaken. Her 
  clothing--breeches and jacket--and her hair are quite disheveled, and the 
  girl's blue eyes are huge, nearly black with dismay. Her gaze scans the 
  room, and when it alights on her father, 'Lani makes a tiny little squeak 
  of a noise and stumbles to him, mumbling, "Da?"

Gwynden blinks a bit, not taking it in for a moment. "Died? Dead? Like when 
  the summer goes away and the flowers -- die?" Whispering again, her face 
  seems to fall. "But... she can't be. Who will take care of the weyr?"

K'tyn moves for Salless, and stands near her. For a moment he smiles, 
  remembering her acid comments, and the many many plates of food she 
  prepared for him. He looks up, at T'bin, and at the others around him, 
  accepting the tears and pain. "J'lyn, T'bin..Garant. You think we can 
  manage? She looks...much smaller than I thought she was." He nods at Alexi. 
  "My thanks for the offer, Alexi."

"As will I, Weyrleader," J'lyn says, his voice cracking slightly.

Jehrina says "Use one of the largr benches... it will be easier that way."

T'bin takes a deep breath, gritting his teeth, and nods. He helps arrange 
  Salless on one of the benches.

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

Ceria sobs, still stroking the little brown firelizard she holds in her lap.

Elyandra buries her face in M'larr's shirt, refusing to watch and stifling 
  her sobs.

Makear looks upon the scene with wonder of what she missed. SHe quietly slips 
  into a dark cornor where no one will notice her.

Hearing his daughter's voice, F'hlan immediately turns to the young girl and 
  wraps a gentle embrace around her shoulders, drawing her close and shifting 
  Ged into a jacket pocket, to be better able to hold his daughter.

Alexi moves closer and waits for any instruction...

Suzot straightens, just when it was thought that the girl couldn't get any 
  taller. "Benden'll have to take care of herself," she tells Gwynden. 
  "Salless - deserves a vacation."

Danton says quietly to Gwynden, "Someone will. Here, sit down," he suggests, 
  "You alright?"

T'bin, with a surprisingly clear head, gestures Alexi to the other end of the 
  bench and helps lift it up.

Alexi says softly, "Aye, Suzot, that's the truth."

T'bin lifts Salless into his arms.

Alexi moves to the bench and lifts.

J'lyn hefts the bench with help from the others.

K'tyn helps lifting, as well.

Tzornth> Prometh and Leilanth sense that Tzornth, his voice 
  uncharacteristically small, reaches for the both of you and asks gravely, 
  << My rider wishes to know if you have this well in hand? <Image of 
  Mehlani> needs her sire. >>

Suzot stiffens into firm resolution and goes deliberately to stir the klah. 
  Tiny, a tiny action, but maybe someone seeing it will feel the message the 
  Vintner subconsciously means to convey: life goes on.

Her bottem lip trembeling, Gwyn is at a lost for words. Watching the men move 
  the dear woman, tear after tear slips down her usually rosie cheecks. 
  "But," she croaks out, "You come /back/ from vactions..."

T'bin stops, trembling for a moment, then grits his teeth and leads the way 
  towards the entrance of the living cavern and the blowing snow outside.

Jehrina takes another deep breath, refusing to crack in the middle of the 
  living cavern. She simply watches the group of men lift the bench.

K'tyn looks at Jehrina, and then at F'hlan. He nods, then helps T'bin carry 
  Salless out.

T'bin walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
T'bin has left.

Alexi walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Alexi has left.

K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
K'tyn has left.

Kassima watches with respective silence, unable to look away even as her 
  fire-lizards softly echo the dragon's keen. She bows her head as the bench 
  is lifted, and murmurs, "'Twas the best way for her t'go, I think. In the 
  Cavern, surrounded by Weyrfolk... and happy."

J'lyn sniffs back hot tears, and helps carry Salless's body out.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth leads the honor call for the 
  beloved elderly human, his bronze voice carrying clearly and steadily into 
  the night before he at last trails off into silence.

J'lyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
J'lyn has left.

F'hlan catches the young Weyrleader's eye and nods to him over Mehlani's 
  head, even as the lass, figuring out quickly what's occurred, breaks into a 
  silent torrent of sobs. With a bit of stiffness to his motion, Tzornth's 
  rider stoops a bit, scooping the delicate girl up into his arms and 
  murmuring to her, "C'mon, miteling. We'd better get you somewhere warm."

Dragon> Prometh and Tzornth sense that Leilanth rumbles softly, her thought 
  tempered for once, << We will continue. See to the girl. >>

From Ceria's arm, Defiant croons softly.

No longer near Gwynden, Suzot is mercifully not there to give the only 
  replies she could give, which would probably sound callous and uncaring. 
  Never mind about her bleeding knuckles; she hasn't got any way of 
  explaining death to a little. It's just as well.

Dragon> Tzornth and Leilanth sense that Prometh rumbles quiet assent.

Cradling his offspring to him, careful not to squash her against the pocketed 
  brown in his jacket, F'hlan limps stiffly out into the Bowl, murmuring a 
  request for pardons as he exits the scene.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
North Bowl(#396RJ$)
The light spills over the over-arching mountains and into the bowl. It 
  illuminates the patched ground, covered with gravel and fine sand. Here and 
  there, the odd piece of greenery struggles up from the ash-based soil. 
  Drifts of snow and the heavy tracks of large dragon feet and bellies cross 
  the expanse of the bowl. Rocks and crags are hung with the purest white. 
  The northern half of the crater is smaller than the southern one, but still 
  immense. To the west is an opening into the Living Cavern of the weyr. 
  Other openings in the northern cavern lead into the weyrs of the junior 
  queens, weyrleaders, and the massive Hatching Grounds. Storage bunkers of 
  various sorts are stacked against the rough rock walls. The bowl is quiet 
  in the depth of night.
Several entrances lead to the junior queenriders' weyrs. Use '+view 
  queenriders' to see them.
Snow falls silently but heavily around you.
Contents:
Emily
Lysseth
Zibrith
Sorath(#3377JQaemqs$)
Obvious exits:
South Bowl  Weyrleaders' Complex  Hatching Cavern  Outer Infirmary  Guest 
  Weyr  Living Cavern  Records Room  

Mehlani comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.
Mehlani has arrived.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
  legs and bugles a greeting to blue Wyith and his rider, Dh'lon of 
  HighReaches Weyr.

Above, Wyith glides down from above.

Carrying Mehlani in his arms, F'hlan limps stiffly out of the lower caverns, 
  heading for the south half of the Bowl.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Vidarth keens loudly.

[End log.]