This is a log of an online roleplay on PernMUSH. This is not fanfiction, and the respective characters are copyright of their respective players.

Merielan stops in her stroll towards the barracks. "Talisha!" She smiles "Just who I was coming to talk to--" Her eyes over to Imanath "You and Imanath--"

T'kar grins cheerfully, strolling along with Fasolth at his side. "Evening!" he calls as he approaches Merielan and Talisha.

Talisha follows Imanath out of the barracks..the green's interest locked onto all that fluffy white stuff. "Oh hi!" Tali greets with a smile, adding another towards T'kar. "What did you want to see me about?"

Merielan's grey eyes are on Imanath--she doesn't appear to notice T'kar or Fasolth's approach. "I was just hoping to check on how Imanath was growing--perhaps have you riding her about." A careful pause with the inflection on "On the -ground-.." "After you do your ten push-ups for not saluting.." Meri drawls out--one eyebrow raised "We can perhaps see if Imanath's got enough muscle bulk to carry you about for a bit."

Talisha straightens into a quick salute, cheeks blushing bright as she once again forgets that all important act of respect. "Ten?" can you hear her whining? Sighing, Tali drops down to her hands and knees, only girlie push-ups for her. "Okay.." Imanath swings around to stare at her lifemate, perhaps that twinkle in her eyes is one of amusement as Tali groans--pushing up then down, until all ten are complete.

Merielan runs careful and gentle hands over the green--crooning compliments under her breath. Straightening up--Meri wipes her hands on her pants and smiles a bit at Talisha. Whad'ya know--she's not a Maylia clone after all. Grey eyes turn to meet Talisha's "Have you ever ridden a runner?"

T'kar grins, pats Fasolth's side, and slides down, this time walking up to Merielan and Talisha. "Count me in for this one!"

Talisha starts to fidget, fingers pulling at the bottom of her blouse, then tugging at the closures on her heavy winter jacket. "Never in my life." her gaze turns down, examining the snow around her feet for a moment before she looks up, meeting first Meri's gaze and then Imanath's. "K'ran was going to teach me before the whole candidacy thing."

Merielan grins over at T'kar--her expression softening for a moment. Then eyes are turned back to Talisha--still slightly softer then before. "All right..have you ever seen anyone mount a runner? Or even a dragon?"

Talisha glances sideways at T'kar, then turns her gaze back up to Merielan. "Sure I have.. I've been on a dragon before myself." Imanath in the mean time is acting rather like an excited puppy, burrowing her snout into the snow, then shaking it all off. She gets to fly?

Merielan grins a bit at Imanath's antics--she doesn't say anything though; simply turns back to Talisha with a brisk nod. "Wonderful--then you know how to mount a dragon? And how to hold on when one is moving?"

Fasolth edges over towards the demonstration, eager to be of assistance. T'kar stands by as well with a cheerful grin, inspecting the surrounding area before nodding towards Talisha. "You're lucky, too, it's not raining and muddy like it was when I learned to ride Fasolth. I only fell off once!"

Dragon> Imanath senses that Alerith's thoughts are warm sugar-bubbling into caramel on the stove--creamy browns and tans << Not fly yet--soon. Today you will have your lifemate on your back for the first time! >>

Talisha shakes her head again as she catches the very corner of her lips between her teeth. "I've always had help up, I've never done it myself. But I can sit okay.. although someone's always been in front of me to help me." she shrugs lightly and grins, "But I'm sure I can manage.." her lifemate swings around to face Alerith, head tilting just slightly.

Imanath> Alerith senses that Imanath thoughts bubble over with excitement, spilling hazy blues and bright emerald greens over metal pictures of herself and her lifemate. << I will? Will I be good at it? >>

Merielan smiles gently--clapping Talisha on the shoulder in reassurance. "Don't worry--you might fall off--like T'kar." A slight grin and a glance at her weyrmate "And I did---several--times. Don't worry--if you fall down--it's not that long of a way down. And--somehow--I think Imanath will do everything she can to prevent you falling."

Dragon> Imanath senses that Alerith's thoughts whirl with amused tones of red and burgundy << You will be as you will be. Do not worry-My lifemate and I will help you and you will get better as you practice. >>

T'kar smiles quietly to Merielan before glancing up at Fasolth. "Yep, it's a good thing you start riding when they're that tall, rather than when they get this big." He thumps his brown in the chest affectionately.

Talisha looks between T'kar and Merielan as her lips curve a wide grin, and the girl can do nothing but nod. "Do I.. get up now? How?" brows lift, and she watches Imanath peering curiously at Alerith before trotting back to her side, nudging against her lifemate affectionately. "If I fall.. I'm going to get soaking wet with all this snow."

Merielan's eyes are distant as Alerith's eyes whirl slightly faster. Soon this silent communication seems to be over as the brown kneels down in the snow. "Have Imanath do what Alerith is doing--kneel down like that--when she's bigger you'll have to mount using her foreleg..but for now..and your first time it's easiest this way."

T'kar adds, "Don't worry about the snow. It comes out easier than mud." Nonetheless, he watches carefully, looking ready to run in and provide assistance.

Talisha motions for Imanath to follow Alerith, communicating softly in her head, then again out loud. "Just crouch down like him." she offers to her lifemate as Imanath does just that, kneeling in the snow and waiting for further instructions. "Do I get up now?" Tali asks before giggling softly at T'kar, "Which I'm thankful for, Imanath would have a fit if I got dirty."

Merielan grins and moves towards Imanath--motioning Talisha to come stand by her. A hand is placed on the green's ridge "here--one hand here to support yourself." Meri's leg is lifted in preperation--but not actual mounting. "Then you swing it over--and lift upwards with your arms." A pause as Meri thinks "Rather like swinging over a fence--but this time you want to -land- on the fence."

Talisha stands beside Meri as she watches, then reaches forward, placing one hand on Imanath's neck ridge and the other is placed for support. "Right.. like a fence, no swinging over." deep green eyes fix on the sun-kissed hide of her lifemate, and Tali lifts one leg, pushing up with her arms and swinging almost all the way over.. but not quite, she manages to keep herself from falling off the other side, and squirms until she's comfortably seated between Imanath's neckridges. "Did I do it right?"

Merielan carefully takes a turn around Imanath and the now seat Talisha. Finally she pauses on the other side of the green. "Perfect.." Is Meri's answer given with a grin of congratulations. "Now--" More to do? Oh no! "You don't have straps to hold onto--so for now just hold onto the ridge in front of you. Get a good grip and then ask her to -slowly- stand up. -Slowly-! So you don't fall off."

Talisha focuses on the expanse of green beneath her and moves her hands to hold tight onto the ride in front. "Okay." she murmurs softly, letting one hand drop to give Imanath an encouraging pat before returning to the neck ridge. "Okay sweet.. up, and slowly, that's it.. good girl.." Imanath slowly, so slowly starts to rise up, front legs first, causing Tali to to wobble towards one side and then the other before she stands up fully, and Talisha rebalances. "Okay?"

Merielan steps back a bit--finger tracing a path through the bowl. "That rock--around it and back here.." The spot mentioned is about halfway across the bowl. "Again-slowly. Slow is better--you'll speed up as you find your balence on her." Alerith rumbles his agreement, fixing his whirling eyes on the small green--adding his own -silent- stamp of patented..'listen to my lifemate.'

T'kar watches, grinning a little but concerned as well.

Imanath fixing her whirling gaze on Alerith for a brief moment, the swings herself around, ready to head towards that rock. "Okay I'm ready." Tali murmurs down to her lifemate before turning an excited grin onto Meri and T'kar--just as Imanath takes her first few lumbering steps across the bowl. "Slooooow!" and the green slows, her feet crunching snow beneath, and rocking Tali back and forth as the girl clings on tight.

Merielan puts her hands around her mouth--calling "Hold on tighter Talisha!"

Fasolth is caught up in the infectious excitement of Talisha's first ride, and decides he'd like to be part of it too. In a matter of seconds the big brown bulk is mobilized, bearing down on Imanath with a cheerful bugle. << Let's race! >> The stunned T'kar gathers himself after a few moments, trying to halt the inevitable with a cry of "Hey!! Fasolth!!"

Merielan's expression grows stormy--and worried. "FASOLTH!" Her voice thunders out in a cry that just might dwarf Maylia's cry one day. "Stop right this instant! Talisha..do -not- have Imanath listen to him!"

Imanath had been plodding along merrily, quite happy to go at the slow, sedate pace, but at the bugle from Fasolth, her eyes whirl in excitement and the green takes off, and the slush of the snow flicks out from beneath Imanath as she races along despite Talisha's loud protests and the tighetened grip of her hands on the ridge. "Help me!" comes Tali's voice, shrill across the bowl as suddenly she starts to slip, toppling over Imanath's side.

Dragon> Imanath senses that Alerith's thoughts are worried--full of spirals of red with worried drops of red << Do not run! Your lifemate is falling off! >>

Merielan breaks into a run towards Imanath and Talisha--Alerith trundling along behind. "Hold on--Talisha! Hold on tightly--Imanath..SLOW the shardit down!"

T'kar winces and doesn't even look at Merielan, dashing across the snow and trying to get a grip on Fasolth's tail. The brown outdistances his rider easily, but begins to slow, angling around slightly just as he passes Imanath, stepping right into the poor little green's path.

Talisha shoots a look over at Meri as she starts to run, eyes flinging wide with horror as those fingers start to slip, "Imanath..STOP!" but it's a little too late, as the green suddenly comes to a halt as Fasolth steps in front, Tali is flung forwards, landing straight into a pile of snow, all but covering her beneath the fluffy white blanket--her head and one hand poking out.

Merielan is frantic--she dives into the snowbank after Talisha--grabbing for that hand. "Talisha--grab my hand.."

Fasolth pulls back, realizing his error. T'kar ignores his brown for now, sprinting to Talisha's side as well. "Shards. Is she hurt?"

Talisha shakes the snow away from her face with a splutter, that one hand grabbing onto Meri's tight, "I'm okay, I'm okay!" she manages between deep breathes, whether from excitement or fear it's hard to tell. "I'm okay!" she breathes again, shifting beneath the snow covering as her teeth start to chatter, "I'm just -freezing-."

Merielan takes a step back pulling Talisha back along with her as she takes step after step back out. "Your sure your all right?" Meri asks worridly--checking the girl over from head to foot--with worried grey eyes, not quite believing her protestations.

T'kar brushes off Talisha's back, ashamedly avoiding Merielan's gaze. "We'd better make sure Imanath's all right, too..." He looks over to where Fasolth is making apologetic little whuffles at the green, eyes whirling with deep concern for her and her rider.

Dragon> Imanath senses that Taralyth sees from his high ledge, and - the image having been surprised from him to another, sent lightly as a laugh - << Good toss! >>

Talisha shakes the snow from her body, leaving patches of the white on the back of her clothes, and damp patches all over her. "I'm fine! Really I'm fine.." she dusts the front of her jacket off quickly, turning a smile onto Merielan for reassurance. "The snow was soft enough, I'm really fine." and then her gaze travels to Imanath. The green ducks her head beneath a wing, looking rather ashamed of herself under Talisha's glare, then folds it back to peer around the bowl. She didn't mean it, honest.

Imanath> Taralyth senses that Imanath wraps herself in a blanket of creamy white and pale blues, swirling in a protective mist. << I could have -hurt- her. >>

Merielan's grey eyes--stony with anger now turn on T'kar-- "Leave..now.." She intones in tones that brook no arguement but tell of her own deep anger "You aren't to come near the weyrlings..especially Fasolth until Your told differently..Get out of my sight -now-." Talisha is turned back to with that same un-reassured face "Your sure?" A glance full of reassurance towards Imanath.."That was -not- your fault."

T'kar nods meekly, giving Talisha a quick apologetic smile before he walks off at a quick pace, frowning up at Fasolth as he leads the brown away. The brown turns his head for one last apology to Imanath before he lumbers off, head low.

Dragon> Imanath senses that Taralyth inquires, prism-light, prism-bright, << But did you? >>

Dragon> Fasolth bespoke Imanath with << I didn't mean to do that. Is your rider ok? >>

Talisha shifts from foot to foot quickly, watching after T'kar, brow furrowing just a bit as she starts to rub at her knees. "I'm really okay Merielan, I'm just cold, real cold." her teeth keep chattering, and she makes her way towards Imanath, shivering. Her lifemate croons softly up at Tali, nudging her carefully and looking rather pitiful.

Imanath> Fasolth senses that Imanath replies in tones of light, crisp blue, mixed with swirls of jade in a blanket of reassurance. << She is fine. >>

Merielan smiles in sympathy "I know--and your going to go into the barracks and get some hot Klah into you in a moment--Just one more thing." She points at the pitiful looking green. "You are going to prove to yourself--and to her that you can do this. C'mon..back up there."

Imanath> Taralyth senses that Imanath's thoughts are calm, softly swirling blues. << No, she is fine. But I -could- have. >>

Dragon> Imanath senses that Fasolth's stream of thought has reached an utterly still pond, afraid to disturb any of the Weyrlings. He responds with vague relief, then withdraws, waters a faint presence far off in the Bowl.

Talisha shivers lightly, twitching in her spot. "Again? Right now.. but I'm freezing!" she protests, though at the insistant nudging of Imanath's head, she comes around, placing her hands in the right places and swinging up, still shaking but landing in the right place. "Where to this time?"

Merielan grins in encouragement--that unsympathetic finger points once more to that rock. "Back to the rock--and back here..-no- running." Her smile is soft and lilting--more sympathetic now "As soon as you get back--you can head back into the barracks and get warm."

Imanath> Fasolth senses that Imanath blows a puff of glittering lace towards you in her mind, delicate snowflakes twirling and twinkling in soft, silver light as her tone comes with reassurance once more. << She is -fine-. You are fun! >>

Dragon> Imanath senses that Taralyth glints recognition, her blues reflected in him: she's fine. So, << Then it is well. >> He says again, << Good toss. >>

Dragon> Imanath senses that Fasolth is subtly reassured, a slow warm current stirring in his pond. << That is good. Alerith is very mad at me, but we will play when you are a little older. >>

Imanath doesn't need to be told this time, she starts off slow, and will end slow, her plodding leaving prints in the slushy snow. Talisha holds on tight, careful to guide Imanath with her thoughts, slowly around the rock, and slow back as the green keeps her eyes on the ground in front of her until they reach the finishing point. "Was that good? Better? I didn't fall off!" Tali beams down at Merielan this time, her cheeks flushed with excitement and chill, and still not moving from her place between Imanath's neck ridges.

Laidan heads outside with Yehlth, under watchful eyes, going towards the lake. Yehlth likes to get rinsed off at the oddest times..

Merielan gestures for Talisha to slide off. Once the weyrling is on the ground--Meri enfolds the girl in a hug. "Good job! Very good job!" She tells both Talisha and Imanath. "I'm very proud of you--not only did you do it..but you got back up there after a scary accident. I'm very, very proud of you both. Now--go and get warm. Don't want either of you to get a cold! And don't forget to practice--slowly--.."Merielan adds quickly "And not too much! You don't want to overstrain her.."

Imanath> Taralyth senses that Imanath offers the shades of a heated sunset--bright reds and oranges laced with glints of golden sun. << I did it! Did you see that? She didn't fall off this time >> and then with a hint of purple brightness, << I know >>

Talisha beams happily at Merielan, then turns around, wrapping her arms around her exciteted lifemates neck. "We did it, you did it! I'm so proud!" and with a softly sweet croon, Imanath nudges Talisha towards the barracks, "Thanks Meri, I'll keep practicing, soon!" and trotting off, the shivering girl and bounding green head into the barracks.

Dragon> Imanath senses that Taralyth reflects that in his turn, brilliant with her light, and rich with his own warmth - and pleasure: she did it, indeed. << Next, you fly >>

Imanath> Taralyth senses that Imanath makes her sunset brighter, the hot golden sun rising from beneath those shades of molten red and bright purple, hazy as they form her thoughts, full of loud questions. << I fly? Next? I do? When? >>

Dragon> Imanath senses that Taralyth might be naughty, but the surface of his touch as it receives hers is all studied sobriety: << Ask Alerith. >>

ers