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You amble eastwards to the bright and cheerful living caverns.

Living Cavern - Fort Weyr(#101RJM)

This large cavern spans far into shadowy heights where little illumination ever reaches and to all sides, providing a communal room where residents and riders alike can congregate together for supping or companionship. Usually, there are open glow baskets providing much of the light within the great cavern, though some sections remain in dim darkness. Along the northern, sloping stone wall are several hearths delved from the rock where the preparation of food seems to take place throughout the day. Tables surround the hearths to mark off the area. Further along the wall are some smaller hearths. In one, a kettle always simmers over the fire, holding klah. At another, a kettle of porridge or stew is made available. Quite a number of chairs are situated near these smaller hearths in order to catch the best warmth during the cold season. Many tables, chairs and benches provide seating as well as places to eat, game, or to be put to whatever use they are needed. Stands of branching wood, looking much like many armed perches, have been placed around the cavern to provide rest for firelizards.

The exit into the bowl yawns toward the west, with other exits to the southeast and east leading deeper within the stony Weyr.

Contents:

M'kal

Kenrik

D'rien

Obvious exits:

Game Room Bowl Stores Hearths East Cavern Southeast Cavern

Yilisa swings into the Caverns, filing her nails. Beautifully filing her nails. Every so often, she holds her hand out at arm's length, just to see how they look, before going back to work. She's rather oblivious to the others in the Cavern, other than as objects she shouldn't run into.

M'kal saunters in from the bowl outside, yet another cheerful tune whistled as he makes his way through the cavern to the food table near the kitchen, tune pausing for the ocassional greeting to those encountered on his way. He trades his now traditional cheek kiss to the cooking auntie for a plate of cheese rolls, and searches about for a pitcher of juice then fills his mug.

D'rien is sitting down eating a meal and drinking some juice as he talks with Kenrik.

Kenrik shakes his head. "I doubt something so tremendous could ever happen to the likes of me. I don't have that much luck."

Yilisa has stopped filing her nails long enough to scope out who's in the Caverns. She nods cordially to the bluerider and his companion before her searching eyes spot the Weyrleader. A slight smile touches her lips...and then she gets a good look at the table. Ew. A rag is grabbed from a nearby drudge, and she marches over to M'kal's table and commences to scrub.

D'rien looks up and he shakes his head a bit as he eyes Yilisa with interest

An amused smile touches the corners of M'kal's mouth as the weyrlingmaster so vigorously attends to his table. "At ease, Yilisa," he says quietly, reaching out to halt the scrubbing motions that bring her rag perilously close to his meal. "Don't rob the workers of their jobs. Here, sit down and relax. Care for a cheese roll?" Ever the courtly gentleman, he gets up to pull out a chair for her, while scanning around the caverns again as he's wont to do.

"But...but...but it's...oh, all right." After a moment of indignant spluttering, Yilisa concedes, and folds the rag ever so neatly before setting it down on the table and accepting the proffered cheese roll and chair. "Every now and then they let this place get so.../dirty/." She glances around the spotlessly clean living caverns as she says that, biting into her cheese roll.

M'kal chuckles softly as he settles back into his seat. "For a healer, I suppose cleanliness is extremely important," he conceeds, not commenting on her zealousness. "And by the way, thank you for helping with Nuadath's wing the other night. Without you, he wouldn't have been able to fly Fall yesterday." That's it, steer the healer onto more distracting topics than the state of the caverns. "Congratulations, D'rien," he calls out as he spies the bluerider's wingbadge. "I was hoping Daphne would catch you today."

D'rien grins a bit, "Thanks, caught me just a bit ago."

Yilisa sighs softly, taking another bite of her cheese roll. "You're welcome," she says, her voice taking on an oddly caressing tone. "Poor Nuadath's pride was more bruised than his wing was," she adds, the smile on her lips taking on a peculiar twist as she watches M'kal. Catching the comment to the bluerider, she swivels in her seat to inspect the badge herself. "Congrats, D'rien," she says with a brief smile before turning back to the Weyrleader.

That same amused look flickers across M'kal's face as Yilisa regards him. "Now now, don't denigrate your... talents. You have a deft touch. It's to our benefit, both Fort's and mine personally." After sending that sally back across the net to Yilisa, he winks at her and then looks over at Kenrik. "So what brings the apprentice to the Weyr, young beastcrafter? Enjoying your time here at Fort?"

Kenrik looks up, suddenly included in the conversation. "Actually, sir, there's a good chance I might be posted here. I'm looking around ahead of time." He grins. "I love it here. I've discovered my talent for darts."

Yilisa's eyes flicker with something, something very...appreciative. "I'm glad you approve," she says, her voice low and almost purring. Hearing the beastcrafter's response to M'kal's question, she turns to look at him curiously. "Glad you like it here." She's civil, even cordial. Amazing, isn't it?

M'kal smiles at the weyrlingmaster, appreciation sparkling in his own eyes. "How could I not approve? The skills you bring to the weyr are highly valuable. It takes a more foolish man than I to underestimate you." A pause to sip his juice and and let his gaze flicker over Yilisa's outfit. "Especially the way you look." Kenrik is given a nod of acknowledgement. "My weyrsecond, D'von, is quite fond of the gaming room and will no doubt be intrigued by a new face, and a new hand to pit himself against."

D'rien has disconnected.

D'rien has connected.

Yilisa leans back in her chair just a little, eyeing the Weyrleader. "Thank you, M'kal," she says in that low purry sort of voice. "I appreciate your...regard." The mention of D'von's gaming room obsession draws a grin from her, though, and momentarily diverts her. "There's an understatement," she says under her breath.

Maeveth> From the Lower Sky, Estriveth wings far down, circling the caldera, leading into the lower bowl sky of Fort Weyr.

Maeveth> From the Lower Sky, Estriveth wings down from the Lower Sky, slicing deft thermals in the southwest part of the bowl and makes a landing.

Maeveth> Brynn ambles in from the central part of the bowl floor.

Maeveth> Brynn has arrived.

Maeveth> Brynn walks off eastwards to the bright and cheerful living caverns.

Maeveth> Brynn has left.

Brynn ambles in from the northeastern bowl outside.

Brynn has arrived.

D'rien has disconnected.

Brynn walk quietly into the room, not wanting to disturb anybody with her entrance.

M'kal leans back in his chair, sipping his juice as he trades loaded comments with the weyrlingmaster. The arrival of the brownrider causes his smile to widen a bit and he waves at her from across the cavern. "You're quite welcome, Yilisa. You know there's very little... we wouldn't do to help keep you happy and satisfied," he tells the greenrider, voice lingering lovingly on the last three words but his expression otherwise bland.

Brynn smiles when she notices M'kal's wave, and starts to make her way over. "Monaco's duties Weyrleader, its nice to see that you're well." She smiles at Yilisa. "You as well Weyrlingmaster."

The brownrider's arrival is greeted with narrowed, somewhat speculative eyes from Yilisa, but she smiles at the hail. "Thank you, brownrider." Her glance slides back to M'kal like a compass needle, and that smile alters perceptibly. "Really."

Kenrik has disconnected.

M'kal grins wickedly at Yilisa before getting up and turning to offer Brynn a welcoming hug. "Welcome back to Fort, Brynn. It's always a pleasure to see you. I trust Estriveth is doing well?" One of the kitchen workers is summoned to supply refreshments and M'kal pulls out a seat for Brynn at the table.

Kenrik has connected.

Brynn returns the hug and smiles. "It's always a pleasure to visit as well, thank you for the warm welcome." She takes the offered seat. "Estriveth is doing very well. At the moment he's mostly acting smug."

Yilisa glances over at the brownrider, chuckling. "Smug, hm? Wonder why," she says, with one of those grins that says that she knows darned well why. She takes the opportunity afforded by M'kal's standing up to examine his...other assets.

"Enough of the dragons around here wear that same look," M'kal says amusedly, that amusement broadening as he follows Yilisa's gaze. "So how many -does- that make for Estriveth, Brynn?" he inquires as he resettles in his chair and passes around the snacks, contriving to brush his hand against Yilisa's in the process. "He sounds to be quite the canny brown."

Kenrik heads off to the game room, wondering if he can reach 10,000 points.

Kenrik walks off onwards to the game room.

Kenrik has left.

Brynn smiles. "Well, he hasn't won all that many actually, in some ways he's too cautious. I'm never sure when he's going to chase, because he's attentive to the females all the time whether they're glowing or not, so I don't know when he's interested in a female for a different reason. He's won two actually, both Sognareth's."

Kenrik ambles in from the gaming room.

Kenrik has arrived.

Kenrik walks off westwards to the bowl floor outside.

Kenrik has left.

Maeveth> Kenrik ambles in from the bright and cheerful living cavern.

Maeveth> Kenrik has arrived.

Yilisa gets contrivedly brushed, and brushes right back, a glimmer of something in her eyes. "Sognareth. M'rant's green, right?" she asks in a distracted tone, most of her attention on the bronzerider.

Maeveth> Kenrik walks off southwestwards to the central part of the bowl floor.

Maeveth> Kenrik has left.

Brynn turns and nods at Yilisa. "Yes, M'rant's. "We impressed together, and we have been friends since candidacy."

Bronzeriders are -supposed- to be distracting, it's in the job description. M'kal leans back in his chair and strrrrrrrretches, then relaxes again to take a few bites of meatroll. "Nuadath's finally decided he doesn't have to chase -every- green that rises, which makes my life much easier," he candidly admits.

Brynn has disconnected.

Brynn has connected.

Yilisa watches that strrrrrrrrretch with slightly widened eyes, and quirks a knowing eyebrow. "He rises for /some/ of them, though, right?" The question could be assumed to be caused by the fact that Yilisa has seen Nuadath chase greens before, but probably wasn't triggered by that.

Brynn nods and smiles. "Estriveth doesn't rise for them all either, but he was one of the first of his class to start noticing the females. Worried me for a bit there, back at the end of weyrlinghood."

"Some. Usually he makes the effort for the ones he actually knows. Ceristh chides him, so does Rhiannoth sometimes. But golds are usually possessive of their bronzes," replies M'kal. "Their riders certainly are," he adds wryly.

Brynn smiles, but only faintly, at that. "Yes, I've noticed that. And the other way around too."

Yilisa quirks an eyebrow slightly at that, but doesn't lose the appreciative glint in those green eyes. "Jalis certainly doesn't seem possessive of you," she points out wryly, thinking back to another conversation. "Would it be you're thinking of a different goldrider?"

Barcyla ambles in from the easternmost lower caverns.

Barcyla has arrived.

Barcyla walks off eastwards to the eastern part of the lower caverns.

Barcyla has left.

Barcyla ambles in from the easternmost lower caverns.

Barcyla has arrived.

Barcyla walks off southeastwards to the darker southeastern cavern.

Barcyla has left.

M'kal looks genuinely surprised at Brynn's comment but holds his comments. Yilisa's statement draws a chuckle from him. "She -was- possessive... But I'm not a one woman man and she finally realized that. Yes, she's dear to me, she's the mother of my child, and I sincerely hope she finds the mate she's looking for."

Brynn turns to M'kal and smiles. "And how is your child?"

"Sylural is doing wonderfully. She's quite a handful for her foster mom and the weyrnannies," responds M'kal with a grin, diverted with this side subject. "She inherited more than her fair share of my stubbornness, I think, but she's such a little sweetheart at times too."

Brynn smiles. "I'm sure she is, and I'm sure she'll grow up wonderfully. Do you like being a father?"

Yilisa's eyes glint slightly at the mention of Jalis' previous possessiveness, and she smiles. "She might find that mate," she says, thinking back on the Weyrwoman's previous behavior with a chuckle.

Nicah has arrived.

Nicah heads out eastwards to the eastern part of the lower caverns.

Nicah has left.

M'kal hms softly. "I enjoy spending time with children, and I'm enormously proud of Sylural, but... I'm not really the one raising her. I was mostly an inconvenient means to a rather attractive end. I love her very much, but... I just don't have time to act fatherly very much, unfortunantly."

Brynn nods. "I know that I wouldn't have time for a child, if I had one, because of my duties. I always wanted children, still kind of do. But if I can help it I won't have them, and it'll just have to be something I'll regret not being able to do. Because I think that I'd regret more having children, and not being able to raise them."

Barcyla ambles in from the southeastern cavern.

Barcyla has arrived.

Yilisa shrugs fluidly, rising from her chair to stalk gracefully over toward the hearths. Snagging another cheese roll, she bites into it rather fiercely. That appraising look is still directed at M'kal, though.

Maeveth> Nuadath has arrived.

Maeveth> Maeveth is asleep. Really, she's asleep. Her tail is twitching something fierce, though.

M'kal watches Yilisa carefully, a curious gleam in his eyes as he studies the restless weyrlingmaster. "Are you feeling alright, 'Lis?" he asks, lips twtching as he maintains a innocently concerned expression. "I'd tease about ants in your pants, except there's obviously not enough room for anything but you in that outfit of yours."

Brynn glances over at Yilisa as M'kal addresses her before turning away and taking a sip of her drink. "Any news you'd like me to bring back to Monaco with me M'kal?"

Yilisa rips into that roll again, jerking a look at M'kal. She seems to be more on-edge than seductive right now, which is odd for the normally composed weyrlingmaster. "Fine," she says. The comment about the outfit rates a second look and a slight softening of the lips for a second.

"Not news, as such," replies M'kal. "Drucilla and Veruca are battling for possession of the Biggest Brat award, but that's par for the course. How they impressed I will never know." Yilisa's response seems to satisfy M'kal in an obscure way and he chuckles softly. "Heading out again, Brynn? Do convey my respects to the weyrleaders and Katala, and my congratulations as well for Briana and C'bol."

Brynn nods and smiles. "I will." She chuckles. "Sounds like Druscilla. I think I may have been the only one who was happy for her when Druscilla impressed. I think she has strength, if she would stop channeling into her attitude and start channeling it into her duties." She frowns. "I think mostly she needs a friend or two."

Maeveth> Maeveth is still asleep, but is moving restlessly, her tail twitching more than before.

Maeveth> Nuadath flies down from his ledge and settles majestically on the bowl floor, barely stirring the dust. His show is lost on the sleeping green and he deflates a bit as he realizes this. He arranges himself off to one side, where the light will strike him just -so- and waits for the little green to awaken.

Yilisa glances at Brynn. "Leaving so soon?" she asks, and her voice has an odd overtone to it as she watches the brownrider. Another hunk is ripped from the cheeseroll, and her toe has started tapping oddly.

Brynn turns her head and smiles at Yilisa. "Well, I wouldn't want wear out my welcome."

Barcyla walks off eastwards to the eastern part of the lower caverns.

Barcyla has left.

M'kal has fallen silent now, apparently content to watch Yilisa as intently as she was regarding him earlier. That same faint smile hovers on his features, tinged with smugness, visible whenever he's not drinking from his mug.

"Don't leave yet." The request is not quite a command, and Yilisa sinks her teeth into the hapless roll again. She has taken to pacing back and forth a bit, her mind elsewhere.

Maeveth> Nuadath (M'kal) just looked at me.

Brynn smiles. "Well, there's nothing for me to get back to, and Fort is a nice place to visit, so it wouldn't do any harm to stay for a bit longer."

A pair of riders, one brown, one blue, come bustling into the living caverns at just that moment, intent very obviously on the stalking form of the greenrider near the hearths.

M'kal chuckles softly and murmurs sotto voce to Brynn under the cover of the entering riders, "If you're not careful, you may be here long than you think," and nods his head toward the greenrider who devours her rolls so viciously. "Mae's asleep, Nuadath says, but..." His voice trails off significantly and he frowns slightly as another pair of blueriders enter from another part of the inner caverns.

Brynn raises an eyebrow and then sighs. "Well, maybe Estriveth won't want to chase so soon?" She seems to want to convince herself of that.

Maeveth> Maeveth opens her eyes, and stretches in a lithe, sensual manner, the late sunlight playing off her luminously emerald hide as she extends neck, tail, and wings to their fullest.

Yilisa is still pacing, oblivious to the entrance of the clots of riders. Suddenly she stops, eyes opening wide at some cue only she senses. "Mae's awake," she announces to nobody in particular.

Maeveth> Nuadath thrums appreciatively as he watches that stretch, eyes whirling rapidly in a deep blue just lightly touched with flashes of violet.

"Is she, now?" inquires the weyrleader lazily, giving a quelling look to a group of incoming senior weyrlings. Through the mysterious communication network that exists in a weyr, word passes around and the cavern quickly absorbs the influx of curious and anticipating riders.

Brynn looks around at all the people now entering the Living Cavern and frowns. She mumbles something about timing, and turns to watch Yilisa curiously.

Maeveth> Maeveth completes her stretch, and suddenly, abruptly, launches into the air. Her goal: the Feeding Grounds.

Maeveth> You wing upwards to the lower bowl sky.

Maeveth> Lower Bowl Sky - Fort Weyr

Maeveth>

The view from this angle in the bowl is stunning. The caldera that hugs the variegated rocky and dusty terrain below stands in majestic splendour as it rings the oldest Weyr on Pern, the gigantic Tooth Crag giving standing silent and eternal sentry. Grays, indigo and blacks fleck the sides of the ancient volcano's maw, dotted here and there with the eyes of weyrs on either side. Below, the observer is assured a myriad opportunities for the roaming gaze - the Lake sparkles against the green pasture of the feeding grounds. The Star Stones, the largest on Pern, give way down below in the northeast to the yawning cavern that houses the Weyrfolk and feeds the Weyr. The only other gaping draw to the eye is the bubbled out hole that leads to the ledges over the Hatching Grounds.

(OOC: Views are available, type '+view here' for details.)

Maeveth> Obvious exits:

Maeveth> Upper Sky Star Stones Northeast Bowl Southwest Bowl Lake Feeding Grounds Hatching Caverns Center Bowl

FTWB>>From the lower bowl sky, Maeveth wings in from the northeastern bowl floor.

Maeveth> You wing downwards to the feeding pens.

Maeveth> Feeding Grounds - Fort Weyr

Maeveth>

The area is penned in with a sequence of vertical wooden staves, slats crossing horizontal between each one, to keep the animals within. The fence reaches high, nearly four feet and a half with the occasional gate to provide access in its meandering length that stretches out from the mountain side and is roughly triangular in shape, with its furthest point listing toward the lake. The fence partitions off a corner of the lake, providing water for the beasts that live here to drink. The stables, a series of pens and stalls with hay mangers, march along the mountainside. Its roof is covered with sheets of metal, providing safety from rain or thread for the animals. There is plenty of space in this broad field for several different kinds of herds or flocks.

The lake is visible from here, its water shimmering slightly. Far to the northeast, the 'Tooth Crag' dominates the bowl. Just to the east, south of the jagged tooth, is the Star Stones peak. The Weyr stretches below the rim like an irregular oval.

Maeveth> Obvious exits:

Maeveth> Bowl

FTWB>>From the lower bowl sky, Maeveth drops down to the weyr's feeding grounds.

Maeveth> From the Lower Sky, Nuadath wings in from the northeastern bowl floor.

FTWB>>From the lower bowl sky, Nuadath wings in from the northeastern bowl floor.

Maeveth> Nuadath wings in from the lower bowl sky.

Maeveth> Nuadath has arrived.

FTWB>>From the lower bowl sky, Nuadath drops down to the weyr's feeding grounds.

Maeveth> Estriveth lumbers in from the southwestern bowl floor.

Maeveth> Estriveth has arrived.

Yilisa's eyes are wide, and she starts heading for the entrance to the bowl, footing not at all sure as she trys to stay in contact with her dragon.

Maeveth> Nuadath springs after Maeveth as nimbly as he can, having been awaiting just that response from the glowing green. He doesn't bother waiting for her to stalk her prey, he simply pounces the first beast -he- can and drains it. The faster he is, the more he can drink before she takes to the skies.

You amble westwards to the bowl floor outside.

Northeast Bowl - Fort Weyr(#117RIJL)

High overhead, the jagged 'Tooth Crag' looms into the sky, dominating the oblong bowl with its slanted shadow and great height. The drab grey and brown stone of the caldera sweeps upwards to either side, fashioning a scooped bowl out of the mountain and honeycombed with many weyr dwellings. Directly northeast is the Weyrleader's Complex, its stone stair winding upwards to a large ledge and weyr entrance, with more stairs leading to the Weyrwoman's weyr, and a third tier that ties to the Weyrleader's ledge and weyr. Just to the west is another set of ledges and stairs, the ground weyrs that house the junior queens. A small tunnel to the medicinal storeroom is just to the east of the Weyrleader's complex and directly south, the portal of the Living Caverns, with the ground before it worn with the passage of time. Southwest spreads the length of the oval bowl, with a shimmering lake at its furthest southern end.

Please +view for more detail

Contents:

Rhiannoth

Charlith

Obvious exits:

Center Bowl Hatching Grounds Living Cavern

FTW LC>>Yilisa walks off westwards to the bowl floor outside.

FTW LC>>Yilisa has left.

You amble southwestwards to the central part of the bowl floor.

Center Bowl - Fort Weyr(#100RIJM)

The bowl is roughly oblong, stretching from the northeast where the mountain ranges to its highest, to the southwest, where some time, in the distant past, and earthslide rampaged down the side of the mountain, falling into the lake that fills most of the lower part of the bowl. Jagged rock points up into the sky over northeast like a dragon's craggy tooth, sloping down on either side. Southeast along the slope it rises a few meters where a small ledge for a Watchrider and the massive eye of the Star Stones resides, where, to herald a Pass, the Red Star will be bracketed.

Down in the bowl floor, to the west, is the large, ground level caverns that house the Weyrling dragons. South of that, the feeding grounds where the beasts are kept and the lake. Northeast, almost directly below the 'Tooth Crag', is the large entrance to the Hatching Cavern, and south along the same wall, the Living Cavern. North is the Weyrleader's complex as well as the ground weyrs of junior queens. The weyr bowl holds many hundreds of weyrs within its sharply defined boundaries. The rocky walls are dotted with many levels of large caverns and ledges, gouged out of the stone.

Please +view for more detail

Obvious exits:

Weyrling Field Southwest Bowl Infirmary Northeast Bowl

Maeveth> Estriveth isn't familar with the feeding ground of Fort, so surveys the land with a sense of caution and the need for strategy. Surprising, then, is the fact that he rather unceremoniously lands on a herdbeast, breaking its back with the impact. Ripping into its next, he drains it of its blood.

FTW LC>>A rush of riders follow Yilisa out into the bowl, the weyrleader liesurely trailing along behind them.

FTW LC>>Brynn walks off westwards to the bowl floor outside.

FTW LC>>Brynn has left.

You amble southwestwards to the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

Southwest Bowl - Fort Weyr(#170RIL)

The sand and graveled ground of the oval bowl narrows here in the southwest, emptying into a wide lake. The land that butts up against the pond is sandier there than elsewhere, providing almost a cushioning spot for those wishing to enjoy the cool water. Tumbling down into the very edge of the water on the opposite side is the remnants of a landslide, ages old. A fence partitions off the small north corner of the lake against the west mountain wall and stretching in a large, vaguely triangular shape that juts out toward the lake's beach. Inside the fence are kept the food beasts and runners of the Weyr. Several ground weyrs that line the eastern wall loom wide and open, storage caverns that bunker the Weyr's supply of firestone, the smell that continually exudes from them faintly sulfurous. Yet more weyrs delve deep into the rock and earth of the slopping walls, layer upon layer of them reaching to the very rim.

The lake is visible from here, its water shimmering slightly. Far to the northeast, the 'Tooth Crag' dominates the bowl. Just to the east, south of the jagged tooth, is the Star Stones peak.

Please +view for more detail

Obvious exits:

Lake Feeding Grounds Center Bowl

FTWB>>Yilisa walks off southwestwards to the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

FTWB>>Yilisa has left.

You amble westwards to the weyr corrals and feeding pens.

Feeding Grounds - Fort Weyr

Contents:

Estriveth

Nuadath(#222OUVaeps)

Maeveth(#999Oaeps)

Obvious exits:

Bowl

FTW LC>>M'kal walks off westwards to the bowl floor outside.

FTW LC>>M'kal has left.

M'kal ambles in from the southwestern bowl floor.

M'kal has arrived.

Brynn ambles in from the southwestern bowl floor.

Brynn has arrived.

Maeveth waits just long enough for the herd to stampede past her, induced by Nuadath's hunting. A short hop lands her on the back of the nearest beast, and a flick of her paw breaks the poor thing's neck. She tears at the beast's soft belly, eager to get at the blood within.

Yilisa is standing at the edge of the grounds, her hands clenching and unclenching on the railing, her wide eyes seeing nothing but her dragon. "Just the blood, Mae," she says, commandingly. "Blood only! No meat, Mae!"

Inuth closes his wings and drops into the feeding grounds like a stone. His target has been chosen in haste and he downs a large herdbeast with little effort. He pins it to the ground and opens its throat with one razor-sharp claw before fastening his jaw to the wound to consume the ruby liquid that spills out.

Estriveth drains the first herdbeast, raising his bloody muzzle to look for his next victim. Luckily a wherry running away from another chaser was unfortunate enough to come his way. Talon snakes out and snags the wherry, and the brown pulls the beast to him. Teeth sinking deep into the wherry's back, Estriveth hungrily feeds on its blood.

A startled flurry of feathers marks where a blue dragon has brought down his first wherry, draining the bird quickly and tossing the corpse aside. A short hop brings down a second bird.

Nuadath drinks quickly from his first beast, needing no promptings from his rider. M'kal moves to stand not far from Yilisa, his eyes half-closed as he lets his lifemate's senses sublimate his, licking his lips at the same time Nuadath does, the bronze moving just enough to snake his head out and knock another beast off its feet, muzzle plunging into the bloodrich underbelly. The big bronze growls at the incoming Inuth, red tinging previously content blue to form a vivid purple eyetone.

Maeveth leaps from her first victim to a herdbeast who had the bad luck to be standing idiotically nearby. The luminescent green lands on it, breaking its back, then tears into it to reach the blood, pausing in her feeding to hiss at the males who have the temerity to intrude at such a time.

Blood flies all around the feeding grounds as the horde of male dragons prepare to chase after the glowing green, and the air's filled with the complaints of scared or drying beasts. Riders flock around Yilisa, expressions ranging from joyful lust to nervous trepidation, depending on the experience level of the particular rider.

Estriveth finishes off the wherry and turns his head to look at Maeveth for a moment, but only just. He needs to be ready for her, and so starts his search for his next victim. Down here is for him, up there is for her. He finds his next feeding in a herdbeast that he quickly sinks sharp teeth into, its neck gushing blood as its cries drift quickly away. Ripping at the beast Estriveth drinks his fill of it and tosses it aside.

Maeveth lifts her crimsoned muzzle out of the belly of her catch, and gives the assembled males one long sweeping look. Then she is off, flung into the air with one powerful push of her haunches, wings sweeping downward in long strokes.

Maeveth> You wing upwards to the lower bowl sky.

Maeveth wings upwards to the lower bowl sky.

Maeveth has left.

Maeveth> Lower Bowl Sky - Fort Weyr

Maeveth>

(OOC: Views are available, type '+view here' for details.)

Maeveth> Obvious exits:

Maeveth> Upper Sky Star Stones Northeast Bowl Southwest Bowl Lake Feeding Grounds Hatching Caverns Center Bowl

From the Lower Sky, Maeveth springs into the air from the corrals.

Inuth's whirling eyes follow the glowing green as she launches herself into the sky. His muscles tense and then he springs into the air, following after the object of his desire. The bronze's wings move in wide sweeps, up and down, muscles rippling under his hide.

Nuadath drains his second beast and quickly as he did his first and wastes no time in seizing a third beast to dessicate. Completely immersed in his bloodlust, he's started to glow like the other males, his growls becoming deeper and more primal, a hint of outrage in his manner. HE is the weyrleader's dragon, this is HIS weyr, that is HIS clutchmate, and HE is going to win her for himself, despite the presence of all these others. As Maeveth springs upward, Nuadath takes the time to finish draining his last beast before following her with a powerful thrust of his own wings that stirs the dust into small eddies.

Nuadath wings upwards to the lower bowl sky.

Nuadath has left.

From the Lower Sky, Nuadath springs into the air from the corrals.

Maeveth> Nuadath springs into the air from the corrals.

Maeveth> Nuadath has arrived.

Estriveth was slower to be prepared to rise than usual, and drops his kill from his mouth before rising quickly up into the sky and trying to regain the time he's lost.

Estriveth wings upwards to the lower bowl sky.

Estriveth has left.

From the Lower Sky, Estriveth springs into the air from the corrals.

Maeveth> Estriveth springs into the air from the corrals.

Maeveth> Estriveth has arrived.

From the Lower Sky, Maeveth glories in her flight, in the way she is leaving the multitudes of males far beneath her. The air hums over her wings like liquid light, and she snakes her head back to taunt those who so arrogantly think they can win her. She soars still higher.

Maeveth> Maeveth glories in her flight, in the way she is leaving the multitudes of males far beneath her. The air hums over her wings like liquid light, and she snakes her head back to taunt those who so arrogantly think they can win her. She soars still higher.

Inuth moves through the pack of males pursuing the glowing Maeveth. His size takes away from his maneuverability somewhat, but he doesn't let that deter him as he focuses on his goal. He is determined to catch up with the enticing beauty.

Maeveth> Estriveth follows Maeveth, follows as best he can with his slow start. He increases his speed a little at a time, no quick sprint that will deplete his reserves. He ignores the taunt from the green, though he doesn't ignore her. Eyes only for her, he continues steadily on.

Yilisa staggers away from the railing, oblivious to the riders who are helping her back in the direction of her weyr.

Feeding Grounds - Fort Weyr

Contents:

Brynn

M'kal

Obvious exits:

Bowl

You amble eastwards to the southwestern bowl floor.

Southwest Bowl - Fort Weyr(#170RIL)

The lake is visible from here, its water shimmering slightly. Far to the northeast, the 'Tooth Crag' dominates the bowl. Just to the east, south of the jagged tooth, is the Star Stones peak.

Please +view for more detail

Obvious exits:

Lake Feeding Grounds Center Bowl

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, Yilisa ambles in from the weyr corrals and feeding pens.

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, Brynn ambles in from the weyr corrals and feeding pens.

Brynn ambles in from the weyr corrals and feeding pens.

Brynn has arrived.

You amble northeastwards to the central bowl floor.

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, Yilisa walks off northeastwards to the central bowl floor.

Center Bowl - Fort Weyr(#100RIJM)

Please +view for more detail

Obvious exits:

Weyrling Field Southwest Bowl Infirmary Northeast Bowl

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Yilisa ambles in from the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, Brynn walks off northeastwards to the central bowl floor.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Brynn ambles in from the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

Brynn ambles in from the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

Brynn has arrived.

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, M'kal ambles in from the weyr corrals and feeding pens.

Maeveth> From the Southwest Bowl, M'kal walks off northeastwards to the central bowl floor.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, M'kal ambles in from the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

M'kal ambles in from the southwestern part of the bowl floor.

M'kal has arrived.

You amble onwards to the weyr shared by Yilisa and Maeveth.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Yilisa walks off onwards to the weyr shared by Yilisa and Maeveth.

Yilisa and Maeveth's Weyr -- Fort Weyr(#878RJh)

A spacious cavern opens up into an almost perfect circle, though the cavern tends toward oval extremes where the bowl entrance has been carved out, and the smaller tunnel leading to the living chamber. The rocky walls are smooth and rippled as if once, years and years before the Weyr was habitable, this might have been a magma tunnel. There is no dragon's couch in this room, though a hollow has been gouged out of the stone, making it appear as if it were a large bowl. Luckily, the entire weyr is raised from the bowl floor so that flooding is no danger to this dragon's rest. The hollow is filled with springy, fragrant grasses and covered with quilts to make it more comfortable.

Through the tunnel there is a rather large room. A fireplace of stone has been carved out of the smooth, rippled volcanic rock with a chimny that extends up and through the rock, emerging somewhere else to carry away smoke. A rug of soft green fabric has been woven and lies beside the bed that is not too far from the fireplace. The bed is old, made from pine and aged into a soft gray, shining with a thick, lustrous polish. Several furs cover the bed along with many pillows. A desk is pushed up against a wall beset with several niches provided for glows. On that desk is a bag that healers normally carry about. Inside the bag are many new healer's utensils, obviously a gift left here for Yilisa.

Obvious exits:

Bowl

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, M'kal walks off onwards to the weyr shared by Yilisa and Maeveth.

M'kal ambles in from the bowl.

M'kal has arrived.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Brynn walks off onwards to the weyr shared by Yilisa and Maeveth.

Brynn ambles in from the bowl.

Brynn has arrived.

[Monitor] R'thon has connected.

Maeveth> Maeveth stretches her wings to the utmost, soaring over and under the pack of pursuing males, reveling in the strength of her wings. She takes her pursuit out and over the Weyr, the chill of the mountain air cooling a body hot with the most primal of urges.

Maeveth> The steady beating of wings marks Nuadath's progress across the sky as he follows the dainty green. He does not follow closely, instead he hangs back the better to react to any acrobatics she may execute. He's not adverse to shhoting past and shouldering one of the blues who doesn't pay attention to his surroundings, sending that one off course a bit.

Maeveth> Inuth makes a valiant effort to follow all of Maeveth's aerial acrobatics, but his size simply makes this impractical. He tries to make up for his lack of flexibility with strength and speed, pulling ahead in the pack as his wings pump rhythmically.

Maeveth> Estriveth follows Maeveth, but cautiously stays to a mostly steady path. He doesn't want to wear himself out, doesn't want his bulk to be his downfall. Here and there he dodges out of the way of other chasers, choosing to ignore them rather than fight. And always, the green is what he sees and what he strives for.

Yilisa growls under her breath. "That's it, Mae...fly circles around 'em. They can't catch you." Her eyes are unseeing, focused on a scene beyond the rock walls of her weyr.

Maeveth> Another blue, quite the daredevil, surges ahead of Maeveth, employing his superior speed, and drops down from above in an attempt to make her change her course, answering her taunt with one of his own. A flock of firelizards approaches from the left, drawn by the antics of their bigger cousins.

Maeveth> Maeveth folds her wings to dive, most unexpectedly, streaking through the pack. At the last possible second, her wings snap out again, and she soars upward, looking back to taunt the newly-disorganized males. Her gleaming form darts outward, past that impertinent blue.

"We'll wear you out," responds a sandyhaired bluerider, partner to the daredevil, and is echoed by murmurs of agreement from those around him.

Maeveth> Estriveth sees Maeveth dive and falters in his decision to stay in a steady path, even to the point of dropping from the sky a short length before evening out. What goes down must come up and he waits for her above.

Maeveth> Inuth waits patiently for the green to tire, for as he's seen and learned, they always do. Eventually she will be with one of the pursuing males, and his inviting bugle attempts to persuade her to choose him. I will not disappoint you, his call seems to say.

Brynn looks around the weyr frantically, as if trying to find a way to escape. But even if there was one, her bond with her lifemate would make her frozen to take it. Instead she does the opposite of freeze in place, and walks around the room. Never stopping long, her eyes only partially watch where she's going, the rest of herself wrapped up in what is happening high above.

Maeveth> Nuadath doesn't bother following the green downwards, either, merely continues to shadow her from above, then below as she soars back up again. His roar splits the air, challenging the younger bronze, eyes hot with fury and he redoubles his efforts. HE has no need to horde his vast energies, after all, and he changes tactics, rising up to harry the green with thrumming reminders of his presence.

Maeveth> Maeveth is starting to tire now, her wingbeats slightly more labored than before, and her movements not as sharp. Nevertheless, she continues to go up and out, trying with all her might to distance herself from the pack of pursuers. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a dragon falter, and she bugles her triumph.

Maeveth> Inuth inches closer toward the head of the pack, relying on his strength rather than his agility. He doesn't really make an effort to follow fancy moves. Instead, he bides his time, using air currents and trying to guess where Maeveth will move next in the sky.

Maeveth> Estriveth rises to follow, but as he did not fall completely when she dove, he won't rise completely when she soards high above. He does go up, but at a less steep angle, trying to get below the glowing green. For if she dives again, he'll be waiting. And if she needs his supporting wings, he'll be waiting. But he still climbs into the sky, because sometimes waiting isn't enough.

"Uh-oh," issues from Yilisa's lips as she senses her lifemate's strain. Nervously she clutches at the edge of the fur on her bed, dampening it with anxious palms.

Maeveth> Slow and steady wins the race, and fast and steady wins the green. Nuadath's boundless energy keeps him behind Maeveth and he follows from just below, her desperate straight line flight playing right into his strengths. He roars another challenge, as if the very force of his bellows will knock competitors from the sky or at least daunt them.

Brynn looks up at Yilisa's words, startled out of her revere, startled into stopping her walking. She seems relieved, and goes back to pacing, that one moment of standing still too much for her.

That knowing smile of M'kal's broadens into a full fledged smirk of triumph and he works his way around to one edge of the flock of riders, eyes only on the green-eyed blonde. "She's almost done for," he murmurs, "Let me help you, 'Lis... The tension's almost unbearable..."

Maeveth> Maeveth is straining, her breath catching in her lungs, her muscles showing the tremendous effort she has required of them. But still she does not give up. Instead, she stretches out her wings, and begins to angle straight up, sacrificing speed for altitude, in a last desperate attempt to escape her pursuers.

Maeveth> Inuth watches eagerly, bugling again in resounding tones as Maeveth begins to fall back. She's no longer as swift an agile as when she started out. Now he starts his chase in earnest, attempting to outfly the nearest competition.

"Mae, no, not that way..." Whatever else Yilisa was going to say is lost as she gasps, one hand going to her lips, eyes still intent on the invisible scene beyond them, not noticing the proximity of the riders.

Maeveth> Let the little minx tire herself even more trying to fly upwards away from him! Nuadath will follow her whereever she goes, always staying centered and below, keeping her in his sight and his dive path. As he notes her weakening, he croons gently, telling her of his strength, his ability to bear her delicate weight were they to glide together. His wings pump all the harder, his breathing coming in controlled pantings, his muscles rippling as he flies his heart out to prove himself in the eyes of the green.

Maeveth> Estriveth hesitates to follow Maeveth up. He knows enough that just as what goes down must go up, he also knows that what goes up must come down. But she is what he wants, what he yearns for, and he can't help himself. Expending some of his energy that he has carefully and cautiously saved, he rises up into the air.

Maeveth> Inuth strains his neck forward in an attempt to entwine Maeveth's. He may not be close enough to catch her, but if he's not, he'll certainly make a herculean effort to get there in time for the catch.

Maeveth> Estriveth gives everything to gain the altitude he needs to catch her. His tail comes around, snaking back and forth and ready to ensnare the beautiful green. His wings he readies to support her body with his. He adds to his speed, readying himself, and moving his tail to entwine.

Maeveth> Nuadath dips down and underneath the green, then surges -up-, attempting to execute a deft maneuver that'll have him ready to bear her weight during the mating dive, if he can juuuuuust do this right and catch her tail with his and twine himself around her... his wings stretch to their fullest, nimble tail searching and extending... all other considerations gone except To Catch and Adore This Green.

Maeveth> Maeveth is at the end of her strength, and the end of her ascent. Her forward momentum stopped, she cannot go further upward, and so finds herself going...down. Down she goes, frantically trying to extend her wings to catch air, to save herself from the imminent plummet...when she finds herself entwined, tail to tail, then neck to neck. A moment's struggle, then she realizes that Nuadath well and truly has her, and she abandons the fight.

Brynn was already walking, so it doesn't take long to walk out of the door, amidst the general exodus from the weyr.

Brynn walks off onwards to the bowl.

Brynn has left.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Brynn ambles in from the weyr shared by Yilisa and Maeveth.

Maeveth> Estriveth rumbles in disappointment, as he quickly moves away from the newly formed pair.

Maeveth> Estriveth wings downwards to the center of the bowl.

Maeveth> Estriveth has left.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Estriveth wings in from the lower bowl sky.

Maeveth> Disappointed, Inuth shifts his direction, to glide back down into the bowl and his weyr, to seek consolation from his lifemate.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Brynn goes home.

Maeveth> From the Center Bowl, Estriveth goes home.

Yilisa sits down on the edge of her bed, eyes still wide, though now those green orbs turn unerringly toward the bronzerider whose dragon caught hers.

M'kal looks a little surprised himself as he steps forward to enfold Yilisa in his arms, looking down at her with unalloyed shock and pleasure.

Maeveth> This is a decided shock to Nuadath: it's well known he hasn't been able to catch a green up until this point. But the surprised bronze knows what to do and he does it enthusiastically. The twined pair fall in a controlled plummet, Nuadath crooning happily to Maeveth as he fulfills the promises he made.