The following is a log of roleplay from PernMUSH . The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on pernMUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

10/15/02 (b)
A green flight is going on overhead.



You head in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the central bowl area of the Weyr.

Telgar Weyr Lake Shore

The vegetation thickens near the lake, becoming a meadow that runs along the edge of a narrow, sandy beach. The sands spill down into a crystal lake to the north, lapping against the crater walls to the north and east. A fence runs northwest-southeast, blocking off the lake from the feeding grounds. The meadow by the lake is covered with snow, and only the trail to the hot springs has been much trod upon. The trees make black, leafless shadows against the sky, each wearing a blanket of white. The herbs in the herb garden have all been cut back to wait for spring, and the water lilies are dead. The water of the lake is frozen over, forming a glassy sheet with only small cracks in it in places. Lines across the ice indicate that occasional ice-skating has occurred in places. The air smells of frost. The lake is cast into dark shadows, though it reflects the lights from the weyrs and the sky overhead, making a constellation in the waters.

You could probably catch a 'fish' or two if you tried.

Maylia heads over from the central bowl.

Cheni walks along a path, looking over her shoulder anxiously, as if waiting to be called back. She stumbles on a piece of uneven ground and barely manages to keep upright.

M'ndor chuckles and shakes his head, "Oh, he knew... but he's not as interested as he once was."

And in those anxious glances over a shoulder probably figures prominently Maylia and Tierth, who amble along down to the lakeshore themselves. Now and then, May glances upwards to where Lysseth is leading some males on a merry chase, but for the most part the pair aims towards the section of beach where weyrlings often bathe.

Tierth lumbers in from the central bowl.

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Voldrath hisses in triumph as the green starts to fall towards him, and opens his wings in welcoming embrace, reaching forward eagerly with his neck to entwine with hers in sublime bliss. The hiss of triumph turns to a hiss of rage as Decarath's attack interposes, and he now has to struggle to reach the green.

TGW-Bowl>> Tierth lumbers in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the central bowl area of the Weyr.

Shawnah is sitting in the snowy sand, watching Alyonth playing a game of 'blooding' with the ice floating in the lake, and chatting with M'ndor. Making a face, she shakes her head. "Alyonth was certainly interested. Not that she /understood/, but.." and then Cheni is spotted sneaking in, and then Maylia. Again she pulls herself up, and again she salutes. "Evening ma'am, Cheni" she greets.

M'ndor chuckles, "well Alyonth is many Turns younger than old Brimath.

As Cheni draws closer she salutes the riders present but she is half torn and keeps looking back over her shoulder, nervously. She wanders up to Shawnah. "I was told that I need fresh air, both by Irenyath and an assistant Weyrlingmaster, then Irenyath went to sleep, so I'm out here but I -don't- like it. Not one bit."

Brimath snorts.

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Taralyth swerves - Decarath's diving there, before him, and _he's_ not the one he'd run into - and answers both block and outraged cry with a tenor hiss of his own, unguessed mirror to Voldrath's; as the wind's fancy passes, he continues to argue with it, reaching, long wings as unwilling as hers to go gently into this benighted flight.

Maylia returns the salutes crisply, not with the 'oh, I'm required to salute these guys back' air that many riders adopt, but all serious-like. "Evening, M'ndor," she greets the elder bronzerider, then, "Weyrlings. Right they are, too. You need air. You'll not be doing your Irenyath any favours by staying indoors cooped up and going stir crazy."

M'ndor nods, "evening Maylia, how fairs Tierth tonight?

Shawnah quirks a brow at her fellow Weyrling. "And why's.. oh, that?" she glances up to the sky and chuckles, "You'll get.. eer.." nose wrinkles up, and she grins sheepishly, "You're probably getting tired of hearing that by now, huh?" an amused glance is sent toward Brimath then.

Cheni shivers in her coat and pushes her hands deep into her pocket. "I don't know, what if she -needs- me? What if she falls out of her couch, What if she gets lonely.." She keeps herself close to the path back to the barracks as she can get. "I'm already crazy, I suppose I could just stir myself and get it over with."

M'ndor chuckles at Shawnah and shrugs, "Its perfectly ok... at this point, he flies when he wants to. I'll not force the issue."

M'ndor smiles softly at Cheni, "Dragons are hardy beasts... she'll come to no harm."

Tierth plunks herself down in the snow and sand, not far from where Alyonth is playing, but only watches for now. Maylia glances her way, then replies, "Oh, she's doing just fine, thanks. The whole Wing'll be more at ease tomorrow, I'm certain." The overflying flight is given an upwards meaningful glance - it's her Wingleader's green getting chased. She gives an amused grin, and suggests, "We could find a stick to stir you with? Seriously, though. If she's asleep, she won't be lonely, and you'll hear her if she wakes up, won't you?"

TGW-Bowl>> Above, And you, her chasers, there on that wild height, curse, bless her now for her first cry, she prays: she'll not go gentle into that good night. Rage against the dying of the light. And rage Lysseth may, for all her days, but there comes a point past which rage is useless--past which even the most determined wings cannot rise. Past which the blood can not burn with the same fire. Past which a new blaze entirely must, as it kisses, consume, like fire and powder. And this is that moment: this, the moment that links fancy unto fancy, and brings her into Taralyth's wings... a grail captured, all quests ended.

Maylia continues easily, squatting down to run gloved fingers through the sand. "And your Brimath is well, I hope, M'ndor?"

Cheni slowly admits. "I guess and she was really tired out after all the exercise." She watches Alyonth and chuckles. "And so will she. What -is- she doing out there, Shawnah?"

TGW-Bowl>> Above, A trundlebug. She made him feel like a trundlebug. Decarath pulls away, gliding down toward the bowl, a tiny little skittering creature. A trundlebug. But he'll get better!

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Sruth swoops out, now - never mind that.

M'ndor nods to Maylia, "He's quite well actually."

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Voldrath gives one last in Decarath's direction for fouling his catch, then glides to the bowl.

Maylia flashes a quick smile for M'ndor, which expands to a wider grin. "Cheni," she suggests, "At some point, you could always try running from various places back to the barracks. See how long it takes you - that way you'd know just how fast you can make it back if she's in trouble." And might just warm her up, too. The suggestion made, May peers at Alyonth's activities, curious.

Shawnah glances out to Alyonth, letting out a long-suffering sigh. "Blooding." she answers cryptically. Even as she says this, the young dragon chases the last of the nearby ice into water. She thrusts her nose into the water, blowing bubbles a moment before she makes her way out, flopping onto the ground between the two older dragons.

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Taralyth wraps, enfolds, though her soot's not the sort to be polished free; twines neck and tail that wings may fly wide to sweep them both free, that moons' last light find what lingers, if not in green hide, in even more remarkable eyes.

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Voldrath disappears into Between.

Brimath turns his head and watches the small one with amusement.

Cheni is already pacing back and forth, and she considers Maylia's suggestion seriously. Slowly, she drawls. "Might work, but then if I ran in all this snow I might fall into as snow bank and that might slow me down a lot." Shawnah's response stops her in her tracks and she watches. "Doesn't she feel the cold?"

Tierth does as Brimath does, amusement clear in the small green's demeanor. Lowering her head, she exhales in a slightly chiding chuff, warm air breezing about momentarily - at least until a gust of winter's cold washes it away.

Maylia agrees solemnly, "It would slow you down, indeed. But you'd know, and have practice running in the snow then. Learn where the drifts are anyways, or you'll be digging Irenyath out until she's bigger."

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Indrath flies over from the south end of the bowl.

TGW-Bowl>> Above, Indrath flies downwards towards the waters of the lake.

Alyonth spreads her wings oh-so-slightly, giving Tierth a curious warble before glancing up at the sky, in the direction the green/bronze pair disappeared to. Shawnah gives her an odd glance, which turns into a glance of amusement sent toward Maylia and Cheni.

Cheni chuckles. "Or she'll be digging me out. She already got me out of one jam today, she's got sure footing on the snow." Startled by Indrath's dive into the lake, she looks up at the emptying bowl. "I suppose that's one way of cooling off." She resumes her pacing, walking up the path at a brisk pace and listens at the top for a minute then comes back.

Indrath skirts the bowl's edge upon returning from beyond Telgar, crisp wingbeats cleaving distance from the chill night air as he begins to match skill against rugged stone's relief -- but when he nears the lake he swerves away and into the free air, and mantles himself with responsibility and dignity as he descends, there.

"Not really. Well, she feels it, but it doesn't make her uncomfortable." Shawnah answers Cheni. She glances out toward Indrath then, tilting her head.

Brimath bugles at the incoming bronze.

As Indrath settles -- as he eases to a fine perch distant enough from the young dragons that he might keep all of them within his field of vision -- K'ran's bracing up his collar against the chill and dismounting with a pleasant and jaunty, "Evening!"

Maylia gives Cheni an odd look as she returns, but waits for Tierth to greet Indrath with a hummmmmm before asking, "You don't think you'll be able to hear her, in your head, as well from down here?" Her tone is gently chiding, nothing like either of the older riders might remember her using when she was Weyrlingmaster. Then it would've been scathing and sharp. "Dragons don't feel the cold quite like we do, though the young ones are more susceptible to it. Evening, Weyrsecond," she calls, saluting. Yes - saluting. There are Impressionable Weyrlings present, and old habits die hard.

Indrath voices greeting to Brimath and Tierth both, a warm rumble borne all the way from Boll by the looks of the tan gracing his lifemate's cheeks. "W- Maylia," answers K'ran, with as smart a salute for her. "M'ndor, Shawnah, Cheni. How are we all, tonight?"

Cheni snaps a correct salute K'ran's way then her hand dives back into its cocoon deep within her pockets of her coat. She flushes at Maylia's reasoning. "Yes'm, of course, I guess I'm just being foolish, she's sound asleep, I can't hear her, except for a dream about snow, I think." She puzzles at that, and shrugs then answers K'ran's question. "Fine, sir."

Shawnah is luckily standing this time, so all she has to do is snap off a salute. "Evenin', Weyrsecond." Shawnah greets back with a slightly crooked grin. "I'm good, my lifemate is strange.. how about you?"

"Well enough," answers K'ran, his reserve growing by dribs and drabs the more time he's in Maylia's presence; he'll go so far as to linger a touch along Indrath's muzzle, dipped low, for a reassurance. "Strange, hm?"

Cheni sighs impatiently at herself and offers belatedly. "Fine, Weyrsecond, I should say." She salutes again, just for good measure.

Maylia watches both weyrlings salute the Weyrsecond promptly, and gives a curt nod. Again, some habits die hard. Perhaps it's no wonder she's often referred to as W-Maylia? "We're doing well, thanks, K'ran. Yourself?" The arrival of a stranger in the night isn't yet noticed by the greenrider, but her dragon's keen eyesight does flicker over Keller for a moment.

K'ran has a grimace for that double-helping of deference, but answers these other salutes just as smartly even as the stranger nears from the bowl. "Evening, there," he calls over to Keller, light-toned and pleasant. "Oh, passing well. We'd the day off; spent it at Boll, exploring the beach and rolling in the surf. We were on our way in, but he saw you all out here, and he insisted on stopping and having a look."

Keller grins and waves. "I was just passing by, and heard the noise, thought I'd drop by and see what was going on, at this hour."

Cheni looks about for another weyrling to help her out but as there doesn't seem to be one available, she salutes Keller anyhow. Better safe than sorry, her expression reads. "Unfortunately, Irenyath is napping, a full meal, exercise and an oiling sent her into a blissful slumber."

Keller says "Don't worry on my account miss. My duty to your Irenyath. I'm Keller, late of Keroon beasthold, and presently working at Igen Weyr. I had some free time, and decided to explore a bit."

Tierth chuffs over the young dragon beside her, and May frowns slightly in response. "You'll find yourself carrying Alyonth back to the barracks if you aren't careful," she advises Shawnah, perhaps a little gruffly. "She's growing a little large for that, I'd think? Ah, K'ran, the beaches of Boll, some easy life Weyrseconds have! Ah, evening?" The curious greeting is aimed towards Keller, as May peers through the darkness towards him. "With young weyrlings about, there's often activity at all hours. They've not yet learned to sleep at certain times."

Keller stands and bows, formally. "My duty to you also rider, and to your dragon."

Shawnah sends a distracted look toward Alyonth, before turning back to the group. A polite smile and nod - and then a salute when Cheni salutes - is sent out to Keller, and then a sheepish grin appears on her face. "Eer.. yeah.. I mean, yes, ma'am." she answers Maylia. Giving an apologetic look to the rest of the group, she walks over to Alyonth, gently rouses her, and leads her off toward the bowl, both of them weaving a bit sleepily.

Cheni peers through the darkness as well and smiles sheepishly. "We've met before, Keller, Cheni and thank you, she doesn't quite fit the fancy politeness quite yet.." Unsure of herself, her usual state of being these days, she moves from foot to foot. "Igen you say?"

Keller bows to Tierth. "she be a fine looking green[She sure is a fine looking green m'lady."

M'ndor nods warmly to the newcomer.

Shawnah heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.

TGW-Bowl>> Shawnah heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

"Duties to Igen Weyr, then," offers K'ran to Keller, and gestures the other young man toward the rest of them -- though he's once more caught grimacing at the grave formality with which he's addressed; apparently he'd prefer a *little* familiarity or flippance. "Yeah, the easy life it is, May," he chuckles uneasily. "I'm sure I've got a three-meter stack of hides waiting for me, and N'var cranking to the rest of Starblaze that he wishes like blazes he hadn't given me the leave. Night, there, Shawnah, Alyonth --" And behind him, Indrath's rumbling *his* gentle farewell, too.

Alyonth heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.

Keller looks back at Cheni. "Pardon me. I'm not a rider, at least not yet, nor am I even officially resident of Igen. Weyrwoman Sarai, has graciously allowed me to stay and help at the stables, until more permanent arrangements can be made."

Keller says "My thanks Weyrsecond. I'll convey your duty, when I return!"

M'ndor smiles, "come to view the hatching then?"

Keller eyes widen, noticeably. "A hatching? I wasn't even aware of one being eminent!"

Maylia smiles slightly, acknowledging the compliment. "Her name's Tierth, and I'm Maylia. Igen? My duties, then. You're from there, aren't you Cheni?" Either May's got a memory like a sieve, or she's deliberately being obtuse.

Keller turns toward Cheni, and smile. "When did we meet, m'lady? I'm sure I should remember someone like you."

Keller nods at Maylia. "Oh, I'll convey your duty, also. And thank you."

Cheni blinks with a little confusion looking between M'ndor and then Keller. She pauses, then about to speak until Maylia does. Relieved by the distraction, she smiles patiently. "No ma'am, Boll area, Braddle. Near the ocean. Not quite the desert that Igen is." Keller's question takes her off guard, and once again, she shifts from foot to foot. "You were here, a few months back. I suppose with me in winter gear you'd find it hard to recognize anyone."

M'ndor nods towards the departed dragonette, "Ah, my confusion... thought you had come in for the recent Telgar hatching... being from Igen and all."

Keller looking from one to the other. "I get around a lot, sometimes. I just like being close to the dragons. I hope to get one, impress one someday."

"Boll. Braddle." Maylia's eyes narrow. "Who *am* I confusing you with, I wonder?" she muses, before shrugging. "A stack of hides, and a cranky Wingleader. I'm so glad I don't have hidework anymore."

K'ran mentions, idly and with a shrug of his shoulders, "I think I may have seen Lord Braddle leaving, afterwards, Cheni," as he half-turns back toward Indrath, who's still studying the weyrling. "Not sure, though -- hey, I could share mine with you, May, if you ever get to missing it."

Keller stands and bows to the riders. "I should be heading back to Igen. Got a lot of work to do at the stables, tomorrow. My duty to you and your dragons, riders. I will return, if I am allowed, soon. My pardons, if I interrupted anything. Have a nice night."

Cheni shakes her head and shrugs. "I'm sorry ma'am, I don't know, I think there is a girl from Igen Hold in the barracks, R'yk was at Igen, I believe and so was R'var? Oh, Pwert, a former candidate was from the hold as well, I do believe." She pinkens at the mention of Lord Braddle but manages to say quite nonchalantly. "Oh? I was wondering if he had made it or not. Share what with who, Weyrsecond?"

Cheni smiles distractedly at the stable hand. "Clear skies on your journey back to Igen."

Keller turns to leave, then turns back and smiles at Cheni. "Thank you miss. Clear skies to you, also. We'll meet again, I'm sure." Smiles and turns, headed for the entrance.

"Hidework," K'ran clarifies, as he waves a farewell after Keller. "Tall fellow, Cheni? Impressive girth, shall we say? He seemed a little red in the face; though I imagine there's no shortage of overfed Hold-folk around Telgar, what with all the grains they grow."

Maylia sends a distracted wave after Keller, but frowns slightly. "Must be a girl. Or maybe you just remind me of someone else entirely. Who knows?" It wouldn't be the first time May's had an inability to remember details about someone - ask Taiga someday how she likes being called Tundra consistently. "If I ever miss doing hidework, K'ran, hit me over the head with a good sized stack?"

K'ran nods obediently, there, and draws an X over his heart with a fingertip. "Promise," he vows. "After I have you looked at by the Healers, say?"

Cheni flushes even more. "Oh? A little red in the face you say? Could have been him and yes, his girth, most tend to remember it. I -do- hope he didn't hear my little faux-pas on the sands, I was rather overcome with emotion when Irenyath found me." She shakes her head again to Maylia. "Sorry ma'am, if I could be of any help, I'd say I grew up at Igen but my parents might strongly object."

Maylia snorts, and suggests, "How about before you call in the healers? Then they can treat the lump ON my head as well as whatever's wrong IN my head." Cheni's given a grin, then asked, "What faux-pas? Sadly I missed the hatching."

M'ndor says "well, g'night all... its about time Brimath and I retired for this evening."

Cheni chuckles. "Umm, well, I was so utterly happy Irenyath found me that I happened to mention my delight in not having to be associated with Lord Braddle any longer." That's her cleaned up version and she's stickin' to it. She smiles politely to the older rider. "Good night, sir. I should soon be getting in myself. Irenyath is a wonderful hot water bottle."

M'ndor wonders over to Brimath and springs to the leathers, waving to all below before urging Brimath up, up and away.

"Night, M'ndor," Maylia calls after the elder bronzerider, while wincing. "Yeouch. Perhaps he didn't actually hear you - it's quite noisy, and you really can't hear much unless you're right in the front of the galleries."

Maylia groans, straightening up from the crouch she'd been in. "Alright. Time for me to get myself to bed, and Tierth into her couch. Drills and sweeps tomorrow, funfunfun. At least Kassi'll be not proddy anymore. Evening, you two."

Cheni shakes her head. "Well, knowing the Lord of Braddle and his size he probably had a hard time climbing up very far unless he had two or three helpers to haul him up the last steps. I haven't heard back from my family though, perhaps he didn't overhear in the chaos." She looks doubtful, however, looking in K'ran's direction. Then her attention is fully behind her. "If you'll excuse me? Irenyath has an itch growing, it's small enough only to make her twitch, If I run now .. " Not finishing her statement, she slip slides, half runs and half skates her way back to the barracks.









*** Disconnected from PernMUSH ***

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