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.

10/17/02

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 red shades of sunset cast the meadow into deep, but peaceful shadows.

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

Cheni walks along the shore of the lake, watching as Irenyath bounds off to play on the ice. She shakes her head and laughs. "I don't think so, dear, you can show off if you like."

Pwert heads over from the central bowl.

K'ran's fitted himself with ice skates -- his boots are hidden away in a nook at the base of one of the boulders at the lake's edge -- and tentatively skating in a slow circle. He stops quickly when Irenyath scampers over to the ice, perhaps dusting the young green with a bit of snow, and throws a wave to her lifemate... and to Pwert, who's approaching from the bowl.

Pwert runs out towards the lakeshore, grinning broadly as he notices the young dragon playing on the ice, "Brimmy was right. They are out to play!" Spotting Cheni, he quickly takes off towards her, giving only pause to peer at K'ran's skates - and to throw a wave at him before continuing on his way. "Heya Cheni! That's Irenyath out there, isn't it?" he asks playfully.

Irenyath warbles and comes to a graceful full stop as she peers at K'ran. She looks to his skates and by her bewildered expression and Cheni's laughter, this is one puzzled dragon. "No, no. It's alright, his talons.. err, his feet are just fine. He's skating. And no, I don't know how.." She stops as she spots Pwert and waves. "Yes, Irenyath and she's out to explore. She's better on ice than I am."

Pwert giggles a bit in answer, and peers again at K'ran's skates, "Those are to make going on the ice easier, right, Cheni?" he points at the skates, "But you can go out on the ice in your boots, can't you, it's not that hard. . .

With a small smile beginning to light his face, K'ran gathers just a touch of momentum -- enough to let him glide in a long and lazy circle around Irenyath, as he comments, "She's really growing, Cheni. I can already see it. How is it with you both? And, Pwert, it's great to see you still 'round, too."

Cheni nods in agreement with Pwert's assessment. "Well, depends, if you are good on your feet and trust that slippery stuff, then it's to go faster on the ice. I prefer the shuffle along and grab on to anything more steady than me, approach myself." As Irenyath seems content to skate around the ice via her back legs, playing follow the leader with K'ran, Cheni watches with vague amusement and does her usual hopping in one spot to keep warm. "We are doing well." She salutes K'ran belatedly and adds a quick. "Weyrsecond, sir."

Cheni nods in agreement with Pwert's assessment. "Well, depends, if you are good on your feet and trust that slippery stuff, then it's to go faster on the ice. I prefer the shuffle along and grab on to anything more steady than me, approach myself." As Irenyath seems content to skate around the ice via her back legs, playing follow the leader with K'ran, Cheni watches with vague amusement and does her usual hopping in one spot to keep warm. "We are doing well." She salutes K'ran belatedly and adds a quick. "Weyrsecond, sir."

Pwert peeks at Cheni's salute, then looks at K'ran and giggles heavily, "So, Weyrling's do that here, too?" it seems to be a rhetorical question as the young lad continues without pause, "K'ran's right! She is growing pretty, pretty fast! She's even Pwert-sized now," he says with a wink, and adds, "Soon she'll be Cheni-size, the K'ran size - and then! Then she's going to be Cheni-Riding size." he seems pretty confident with his conclusion. He reaches out for Cheni's arm, "C'mon, Cheni! Let's try and catch them. Please?"

"Glad to hear that," says K'ran, as he answers the salute with a clipped one of his own, "weyrling." And just to tease Irenyath, he switches to skating backwards, headed back toward the shore while holding both hands out toward her pebbled-green muzzle as it's struck with the ice-reflected brilliance of dusk.

Cheni startles as her arm is tugged. Wide-eyed, she scrambles for balance. "I'd only slow you down unless you prefer to drag me behind you, me on my butt, that is. And she's growing wonderful and she's above almost the rest in not being so awkward as she get around." She laughs at Pwert's enthusiasm. "Missed talked with you, when I was busy in the barracks, glad we can at least get out for fresh air now." Irenyath's croon of utter confusion as the Weyrsecond suddenly heads backwards while facing her turns Cheni's attention fully to the green and she shakes her head as Irenyath slowly glides to keep this strange creature in viewing distance.

TGW-Bowl>> The winter air is freezing against you.

Pwert winks at Cheni, and nods, "Great! Dragging you on you butt would be great, 'cause then you wouldn't be taller than me. Let's go!" He tugs again on her arm, but more lightly, "Missed talking to all of you too," he says with a slight smile, "But I only just got back to Telgar a few nights ago - Livia had me over for a few day sleepover." he says with a grin. He giggles as he watches K'ran's tricks with the dragons, "C'mon, it'll be fun. Walking on water's gotta be as good as swimming in it!"

"So she's a bit of a natural, you'd say, Cheni?" K'ran skates a few cross-overs as he nears the lake's edge, the better to gather some sideways momentum and loop back toward open ice. "That's good, real good, you know -- might mean a little less bugging her to pay attention to lessons, as time goes on. So you disappeared to Igen, Pwert?"

Cheni shivers. "It's warm at Igen.." She feels herself tugged again and again she looks at Pwert. "No, no." She speaks with a hint of panic in her voice. "You go ahead, out there, I'd just keep you back." When her balance is again steady, she nods to K'ran. "Yes Weyrsecond, she's doing well, things just, well, don't seem complicated to her, show her once or twice and she gets it alright."

Pwert nods again to K'ran, "Just for last week. Livia wanted me to visit. I'm back now - for a while anyways. Going to help with running messages while I'm studying dragonhealing - Since I'm here, I might as well continuing learning here, until I know a lot more. Then I can be more useful for treating any injuries the hold's watchdragon gets." he says proudly, "Besides, I want to see how fast the dragons grow!" As Cheni refuses to join him he gives her the pout: Baby sad eyes included. Giving a little sigh, and shrinking his shoulders, he nods, and slowly steps onto the ice. However, as he reaches the ice, he grins at Irenyath and takes after her and K'ran, "Wait for me!" he calls happily.

Cheni rolls her eyes at the pouty Pwert and snorts. "Oh get over it, if you want to go slide around you can but I'm happy here, watching." She hops back and forth, doing jumping jacks to stay warm, now that she's away from the ice. "Besides, I want to watch Irenyath." She smiles besottedly as the tiny green does a graceful spin, using her tail for leverage. But her smile becomes guarded as Irenyath is spurred on to greater measures and spins even faster, skittering across the lake to stop within inches of a snowdrift.

For all the grace K'ran has on the ice, it's clear he's no figure-skater -- he's not daring any pirouettes or such, and actually slows down a trifle that Pwert might catch up. He's still keeping conversationally close to the shoreline, though, careful not to drag Irenyath too far from her lifemate, and his smile's touched with pride as Cheni discusses the dragon's aptitude. "Waiting, Pwert, waiting," he says. "How about the rest of it, Cheni? I remember having a hard time telling his stomach-rumbling from mine, early on--" and he *stops* as the green skids out of control.

A'ran steps towards the lake, closely followed by his better half, brown Orvieth - who's glistening from a fresh layer of oil applied to his hide. Orvieth warbles loudly, announcing his presence to everyone on the lakeshore. A'ran chuckles lightly, following Orvieth as the brown bounds towards the ice, watching Irenyath and obviously wanting some of the fun.

By the time Cheni has made it over to Irenyath, the tiny green is looking around in a cavalier way, what's the fuss? She trumpets with delight. "I don't care if it's fast and it's fun, you scared me." Cheni softly scolds but laughs exasperatedly at the same time. "Be careful, just for me? Please?" As the green heads out again, this time at a more dignified pace, she sighs with relief and as she spots A'ran, she gives a half hearted wave in greeting.

Orvieth races down, past those waiting on the shore and slides onto the frozen part of the lake, skidding to a halt a few maters from the shore and crooning to A'ran. A'ran steps down the lake shore, stopping by Cheni. "G'Evening, Cheni." He says, smiling, laughing lightly at Orvieth's sliding on the ice. "How's Irenyath today?" He asks her, smiling.

K'ran risks getting trampled by dragonets if he stays out on the ice much longer, so retires to the edge and begins unlacing his skates. "They have a talent for that," he chuckles to Cheni, once it's clear that Irenyath's fine. "For making your heart jump into your throat, and then looking at you like, what's the big deal?" And he flashes a smile to A'ran and Saeliena as they arrive with their lifemates, and can't help let pride broaden his smile when Orvieth joins his green clutch sister out on the ice.

Saeliena saunters down towards the shore, Ciryath trailing behind. The brown proceeds cautiously towards the lake, picking each step as if a wrongly laid foot could be fatal. Saelie jogs ahead, waving merrily to her clutchmates. "'Lo Cheni, 'lo A'ran!" K'ran receives a smile and a wave as well, though not nearly as hearty a greeting.

A'ran smiles at K'ran and quickly salutes when he sees the bronzerider on the ice. He smiles at Saeliena and nods to her, "Hey, Saelie." He says, Orvieth warbling a greeting to his fellow brown - while skidding along happily on the ice, seeing how many times he can spin around with one push of a leg. Orvieth's tail dances happily behind him, to think that the little brown had been chasing it when he hatched - now it's his favourite part of the body to fidget with.

K'ran's not one to quibble over the relative reserve of greetings, and while he's pulling back on his boots keeps an eye on Ciryath -- and answers A'ran's salute, promptly. "How are things with you, A'ran? And Saeliena? Everything well?"

Pwert slides in booted feet after K'ran - a bit over eagerly - and skids ungracefully to a stop, "Say, this is really fun." He seems delighted as A'ran arrives, "Hey! Makra- I mean, A'ran! Are you going to come skate, too?"

Irenyath sends a small block of ice racing in front of her with her maw then chases after it, nose to the ground. She excitedly warbles to the other dragons then continues on her hunting expedition. Only as Cheni worriedly calls her back does she take her toy and pushes it back towards the rest of the weyrling dragons.

Saeliena very nearly squeals upon spotting what activity all are engaging in, and moves as if to race out onto the ice. She's stopped by a rather startling thought, which Ciryath pokes into her mind. "Erk." Weyrling halts, and swiftly turns to face K'ran. "Err...is it safe to go out on the ice?" She doesn't respond to his question for the moment, far too concerned with whether or not she can join in on the fun.

Cheni calls out a greeting to Saeliena, rather than wave as she continues to do semi-jumping jacks, watching Irenyath and Pwert's antics from the safety of the shore. "My heart has been racing ever since I impressed but it's a good racing."

A'ran smiles to K'ran, "I'm well, sir. How's Indrath?" He asks, Orvieth skidding along the ice to try and retrieve his lifemate's attention. A'ran chuckles and then looks at Pwert, "Err, I think I'll sit it out, Lady Pwert." He says, grinning. Orvieth skids over to the shore and looks at Pwert for a moment, nope - not a lady - the brown quickly returns to his antics on the ice. "And Orvieth's enjoying himself as well, Sir."

"I'd imagine so, Saeliena," says K'ran, and stands -- still favoring his right leg just a bit. "If they stay close to shore, especially -- if the ice breaks, they won't suffer much more than getting wet. Just be sure to have them be careful, all right? I'd hate to see any of them get hurt." Pause. "You like, Pwert? There might be a few extra pairs of skates hung up in the living cavern, you know. Indrath's well, A'ran -- he keeps prompting me to look in on you all, so he can know how his offspring are doing."

Saeliena shuffles her feet a bit, grinning sheepishly at the Weyrsecond. "Oh, no, Ciry doesn't want to go out there." There's a rumble of agreement from the brown. "Says it's too much of a risk...doesn't want me going either - but I want to have some fun." With a little squeal, the weyrling races out onto the ice, slipping and falling with her first step. "Oof!" She exclaims, quickly motioning to reassure the agitated Ciryath. "Relax! Come on, come join us, Ciry!" In response, the brown sits his bottom down. Not moving.

Pwert glares at A'ran as he slides past, "Hah! I'm not the lady. After all /I/ didn't walk out on the game. Besides, this is even more fun." He gives a grin and a wink to his friend as reassurance that he's only joking. "Really, K'ran? But would it be okay to borrow them?" Yet again, the little lad giggles, "Y'know, he's really like a daddy! But, he doesn't tuck him in, does he?" asks the little boy with a hint of confusion. Slowly but surely, though, his eyes catch on Irenyath's toy.

Irenyath croons encouragingly to Ciryath as she slides long the shoreline, still chasing her ice block. She stops short of creaming Saeliena and whuffles the downed girl before moving along her way. Now that she's slowed down a tad, she's allowed Cheni to relax from her ready to pounce and rescue stance and the weyrling looks around. "The sign says if they aren't being used for official purposes to go ahead. I can't imagine skates being used for official purposes though.. I don't know."

A'ran nods to K'ran, motioning for Orvieth to come nearer the shore and smiling at the brown. He grins, "Yes sir." He looks at Saeliena and grins, the chuckles at her brown. Orvieth, jealous that the other brown's getting /his/ lifemate's attention, warbles loudly to A'ran, who quickly returns his gaze to Orvieth's slipping over the ice. He glances at Pwert and rolls his eyes, grinning, "Orvieth's confused as to why I called you a lady now...I'll have a /fun/ night explaining that game to him." He looks over at Cheni, "By 'official' I think it means rescuing people who fall in."

"Don't see why not, Pwert," K'ran chuckles. "Somebody left 'em out in the living cavern for a reason, you know?" His amusement deepens at Ciryath's reluctance to join his clutchmates on the ice, but he makes no comment. "Well. I ought to be going, anyw--" and he stops, abruptly, when N'var appears.

Cheni ohs, looking at A'ran, wide-eyed, and chews on her lower lip. "Be careful, Irenyath and watch out for Pwert, he's small." As Irenyath does watch where she is going, keeping one eye on her ice block chasing toy and one on the humans on the ice, Cheni again breathes a sigh of relief. As K'ran silences, she turns to see why and spots N'var. In mid jumping jack, she stops as well and pulls out a snappy salute. "Weyrleader, sir, good evening."

Pwert chuckles at A'ran, and calls out, "I'm sure you will!" Again, his eyes flicker to the Iceblock-dragon toy. Getting a mischievous grin, he slides towards short again, and starts to pack up a snowball. Rolling it around a moment, he gets a ball-sized pile of snow together, hard-packed, and rolls it out onto the ice. Much like the dragon, he trying to kick it around on the ice. As his foot heads for impact, it becomes apparent that friction is not on Pwert's side today. The ball merely falls apart, and Pwert falls backwards onto his rear with an, "Ouch!" Glancing over as everyone else's eyes' trail to N'var, he waves to the Weyrleader, "Evening, Weyrleader, sir! It's a great night for ice-sliding isn't it?"

A'ran smiles at Cheni for a moment, then looks over the ice. Orvieth slides to a stop when he realizes his lifemate's paying more attention to the other humans, and slides over to the shore, stepping up to A'ran and nudging him - knocking the boy off-balance. A'ran chuckles and pats

-Orvieth's side, then nods to the Weyrleader, "Evening, Sir."

N'var greets K'ran with a smile that falters at his hesitance. Looking past him, he greets the Weyrlings with a quiet "Hello. How are we today?" An Igenite at heart, he's nonetheless taken to Telgar and the ice and cold don't seem to bother him, much.

Saeliena scrambles to her feet, dashing out of the way of the dragons. "Ack! Watch it, folks!" Ciryath's eyes whirl a worried crimson, and his gaze moves towards the older dragons. With caution, the brown edges towards the ice, precision even more pronounced. He must protect his rider - and he's join to be very methodical about it. One foot in front of the other, slow and steady. "Cummon, Ciry!" Saelie calls, startling the brown. He loses his footing, and falls flat on the ice.

K'ran's hesitance is more from surprise than discomfort, and he musters a pleasant, "Evening, N'var," while unambiguously calling attention to the tired circles beneath his eyes through the act of rubbing at his face. "Little tired, but can't complain. Yourself?"

Cheni notices Irenyath begin to slow and carefully makes her way over to her lifemate, passing Pwert as she does. "It's easier when it's hard, like ice or a really well packed piece of snow" As she reaches the green, she walks beside her and they make their way to the barracks. "Supper then nap, I think. Weyrsecond, Weyrleader..."









*** Disconnected from PernMUSH ***

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