Main Hall (#5798)
Running through the ridge that forms the Dolphinhall, a ten meter ledge
 of stone worn smooth by the sea, comprises the main working area along
 with a lane of seawater that flows parallel to the rock shelf. Upon
 the ledge itself are six tables that are used by the crafters for the
 occasional meeting, or the more common impromptu class and the
 cleaning of dive gear. Directly to the west, a large archway leads
 back to the wide stairwell that goes up to the entrance foyer and the
 apprentice dormitories, as well as the Crafthead's office. Along the
 rough stone walls to the left and right of this, smaller archways lead
 to a small kitchenhall, as well as the baths.
Opposite this area runs an equally wide bridge that crosses the sea
 lane below over towards another ledge on the other side with yet more
 archways branching off deeper into the hall's reaches. On non-thread
 days, large windows with heavy metal shutters open up onto the sea,
 letting fresh air and light into the hall from the north and south
 walls, and lighting smaller bridges that travel across the water under
 the cavernous, arched ceiling with its supporting wooden rafters. 
  It is a winter midmorning.  
On the perch is Feleti.
Adora is here.
Obvious exits:
Kitchenhall     Wide Stairs     Baths     Arched Bridge
Adora (#16332)
Neither stunningly beautiful nor devastatingly ugly, this young woman
 is, overall, merely average.  Doe brown flecks of deep-set fluorite
 eyes twinkle mystery and mischief under a thick feathering of
 tawney-hued lashes.  Unremarkable tresses, more sienna now than the
 amber of childhood, fall just past slender shoulders, the mass of
 frustratingly straight hair framing an open, friendly countenance.  A
 perpetually arched eyebrow and almost defiant tilt to her chin belay
 some of the wide-eyed innocence that cloaks this maiden from head to
 foot.  Medium of height, neither tall nor petite, she can blend with a
 crowd or make herself stand out, depending on the whims of her moods. 
 The tilt of the smile which always plays about her misty-rose hued
 lips is often the first indication of her sometimes mercurial shifts
 of temper.  
Soft leather mocha in the form of trous fit snugly over Adora's legs,
 loose enough for comfortable riding, but still clinging in all the
 right places.  Flaring out over curve of hip is a tunic of the same
 pale brown, trim around the hem and cuffs a pale sky blue.  Sturdy
 boots of fawn brown cover her feet, durability and comfort in one.
 Perched on Adora's shoulder is Selkie.
She wears 'Reaches colors of blue and black knotted into a double cord
 with three loops and one tassel.  Two ribbons, one fawn brown, the
 other silver, twine among the intricate knot of Weyrsecond.
She is awake and looks alert.
Carrying:
 Selkie                             
Adora is 21 Turns, 8 months, and 16 days old.
Zali (#16905)
Short, sienna colored curls are chopped short, held back from Zali's
 face with an ever-changing assortment of hair clips. Misbehaving
 tendrils escape from their ties, to hang in her face, or stick out
 wildly.  Her skin is tanned a deep golden color, from hours spent
 outside, and freckles liberaly dot her pert nose, and sweep across her
 high cheekbones.  Long and dark lashes surround her sapphire eyes, so
 pale they edge on an icy-white hue at times.  Small and lithe
 describes Zali, although by no means petite. Arms and legs are short,
 but muscular, ending with small hands in feet and long, deft fingers. 
 Despite her turns, Zali's subtle curves remain mostly hidden under the
 muscle of her upper body.    
Yellow cotton hugs Zali's body closely, accenting the soft curves of
 her body.  Falling to the top of her feet, the sunflower colored dress
 just brushes the tops of brown wherhide sandals.  The low neckline is
 square and wide, and embroidered with a darker colored border, much
 like the cuffs of her sleeves, which end just below her shoulders. 
 The dress loosens at Zali's waist, flaring out to give her legs more
 room.  Hair is tied back with two yellow ribbons, a small bow on each
 side of her face keeping the curls out of her way.  A thin chain is
 about her neck, and on it is a silver, heart shaped locket. 
A pure white, single looped, single corded knot is stuck to her
 shoulder, proclaiming Zali a High Reaches Candidate.
She is wearing a silver chain bracelet with the Apprentice charms.
She is awake and looks alert.
You notice Zali looking at you.
Zali is 20 Turns, 4 months, and 21 days old.
Adora wanders into the dolphinhall, looking rather confused.  She steps
 hesitantly into the hall "Sharding confusing lay out," she murmurs
 under her breath, peering about for a non-bustling apprentice to stop
 and ask directions of.  "Excus.."  Hrm, rush off without waiting for
 her to finish, why don't you?  "Pardon m..." Hrm, do any of these
 apprentices have manners?
Zali may not have manners, but she's not in a hurry either. Sitting
 quielty on the ground, an open book lays in her lap.  Sapphire eyes
 wander from the pages though, instead staring off into space as she
 tugs on a curl with one hand, the other holding a small roll to her
 mouth. As Butterfly pokes her head out of the bag at Zali's side, she
 waves her away with a quiet shushing.
Turning in a circle, the brownrider tries to spot someone who is not
 rushing past on, no doubt, some deathly important errand.  Sweat
 trickles from her riding helmet and across her temples -- it's /hot/
 down here, even in the middle of winter!  "Ah, excuse me?" Adora
 queries of a girl sitting off to the side.  "Do you happen to know
 where I can find a dolphin?"  Okay, so maybe it's a really dumb
 question, but how else can you introduce your dragon to the water
 mammals?
Zali glances up, a bit suprised as the rider speaks to her. "A difon?"
 Oops. Swallow before you speak, dear.  The apprentice hurridly
 finishes the last of her bite of roll before scrambling to her feet
 with a slight blush. "Sorry, a dolphin?" She turns to glance at the
 sea lane. "Well, there might be one down there, or possibly out in the
 cove." Her glance travels back to Adora and she smiles. "I could take
 you there if you want?" Her book remains forgotten at her feet,
 apparently not too important to the 'phincrafter.
 "Not on the beach?" brownrider's voice reflects some downcast tones at
 that.  "Lisulath wanted to meet one, you see," she adds in
 explination.  "In all our turns of riding together, he's never
 actually met a dolphin."  Comes from living in the mountains, you
 know.  "I'm Adora, by the way," she adds, her bluegreen eyes sweeping
 over the apprentice--or that's what the charm bracelet looks like,
 anyway--before she smiles broadly.  "Rider at High Reaches Weyr.  How
 /do/ you stand the heat down here?" is added as she pulls off her
 helmet and gloves, wiping her brow with one leather-coated arm.
Kin seems like more of an illusion rather then reality as shimmering
 white gold wings suspend the angelic firelizard in the air.. Free...
 free she is... free from the icy shadows of ::between::!
Kin shimmers, paper thin wings slowly letting her pristine form to
 glide on down to her current destination: Zali. A small chirp is
 given, quiet, ever so quiet, probably a question, making sure it's
 okay to land upon the lady's shoulder.
Zali shrugs as she glances around. "I dunno, I'm used to it I guess. I
 thought Master Sea Hold was too cold when I was up there." She grins
 softly, "Its much nicer down where its warm." As usual, Zali answers
 the rider's questions backwards. "I'm Zali. A olphincraft apprentice.
 From here." Brown head tilts slightly as she reaches the first
 question. "Not /on/ the beach. They can't come /too/ close, or they'd
 get stuck. There might be some a little ways out though." Another
 shrug. "I dunno."  An irritated glance is shot toward the firelizard
 as she lands, but she makes no move to brush the gold away.
Adora chuckles softly.  "I grew up in the north, so this weather seems
 odd to me."  Especially when she's wearing leather.  "How do the Istan
 riders stand it?"  Let's see, what next, then?  "I can't swim, so
 going out too far would be bad.  But Lisulath likes the waters at
 Southern, so I'm sure he could swim out if there were a dolphin
 about."  The dragon /really/ wants to meet a dolphin.
Kin gives a bit of a squeak at the annoyed glace she is given, a near
 whimper of sorts before the gold slides closer to her mistress'
 friend's neck. Wings gently rustle and the ribbon around her leg
 shifts so that the name Anely can be made out as plain as day. Angular
 head is gently pushes against the 'phin crafter's neck, as to why
 she's getting all this attention from little Kin, only guesses can be
 made. Adora gets a look, a look of placidness in those slowly whirling
 green-blue facets of hers. Oops, hi to you too milady.
Zali reaches up to stroke the gold absently a few times as she nibbles
 on her lower lip. "Well, I guess we could go look. Maybe there would
 be one close by."  She pauses for a moment, her hand drawing back from
 the visiting gold to tug on a curl agian. "And there might be one in
 the cove. I guess it might be easier to get there." Eyes dart to the
 sea lane agian, and she shrugs. "Lets check over here though first."
 The girl walks over to the lane, her eyes scanning the waters for any
 sign of a dolphin.
 "But Lisulath can't fit in here," Adora says softly, leaning back
 against a nearby table.  "And he's the one who wants to see the
 dolphin."  The weyrsecond is only trying to appease her lifemate, you
 see.  "What made you want to be a dolphincrafter?" Change the topic,
 put the girl more at ease.
Zali blinks slightly and then looks back up. "Oh, right. Sorry." She
 walks back from the edge and over toward her forgotten book, and
 Adora. "A dolphincrafter? Well, my father was a seacrafter, and the
 halls were close to each other. I just kinda...became one." A small
 frown passes over her face at the mention of her father, but is
 quickly replaced with a crooked grin. "And I love swimming. You should
 try it sometime. Very relaxing." She pauses, her brow wrinkling. "Hmm,
 how about we go out and see if we can find a dolphin for your dragon
 to meet." That /is/ why the rider came after all.
Kin shuffles about on Zali's shoulder a moment more before suddenly
 lifting her head--as if she heard something or someone calling--and
 gracefully sliding from said shoulder to angelically launch herself
 into the air.
Kin dances, shimmers, glitters... beauty of the highest caliber can be
 seen suspending in mid-air for a brief moment before the darkest
 reaches of ::between:: claim the little gold as their own.
Adora chuckles.  "I've tried swimming.  I sink."  She sinks very, very
 rapidly.  The brownrider winks at the apprentice, watching the
 firelizard flip between.  Strange little creatures.  "I got my first
 here at Ista, looking for my da," she suddenly adds, refering to
 firelizards, of course.  
Zali blinks a bit at the rider. "First what? Oh, firelizard?" She
 smiles agian. "I got mine from my brother. My first one that is."
 Without thought, her hand goes to the small green at her side, which
 she strokes a few times before continuing. "That one belongs to a
 friend of mine." She pauses as her eyes brighten. "Wait, your from
 High Reaches, maybe you know her!" Nevermind that the rider may not
 know /every/ person in the Weyr. "Do you know Anely? She's a healer."
Adora tilts her head to the side slightly.  "Anely?  Yes, I believe
 I've met her a few times."  She is weyrsecond and does try to know
 everyone in the weyr.  "Well then, shall we go outside and see if we
 can find a dolphin for Lisulath?"  Swinging her helmet by its strap,
 the young woman turns to head outside.  Except that she's going the
 wrong way, heading instead toward the arched bridge.
Zali grins and nods, reaching down to pick up the book before looking
 after the rider. "No, wait! Not that way. The beaches are over here,"
 A wave of her hand in the stairs is her only direction. "That just
 goes to the library and stuff." The girl turns around a few times,
 before depositing the book on a handy table, then looks back to make
 sure the rider is now going to right direction as she walks toward the
 stairs.
Adora giggles as she turns about to follow the apprentice. "Oh.  This
 hall is very confusing.  I could have sworn I came in over a bridge." 
 Apparently her memory is as spotty as that of her dragon.  She
 continues to babble away, "So, how do you know Anely if she's all the
 way up at the 'Reaches?"
Zali laughs softly. "I was lost for weeks before I found my way around.
 I still get lost in Ista's main hold." Slow steps lead her closer to
 the exit as she talks, more than happy to ramble about her friend.
 "Oh, I met her at a gather one time. We came in third in a scavenger
 hunt." She pauses for a moment, then continues. "Then, we were
 candidates together at Ista. I've been to visit her once since she's
 moved back to High Reaches." 
Luke walks in from the Wide Stairs.
Luke says, "hello again Zali"
You notice Luke looking at you.
Adora's eyes brighten, "Ahh.  It must be hard to get up to the 'Reaches
 to meet with her?"  She gives a nod to Luke as she continues on her
 way out the doors.    
Adora hums a soft tune under her breath as she steps to the Wide Stairs.
Dolphinhall Courtyard (#2511)
Barren and windswept, this small courtyard lies outside the
 Dolphinhall's main entrance and is paved with large flagstones that
 lead up from a break in the low, surrounding wall to a large metal
 door set into the rock of the actual hall. Huge and metal, the door
 gleam dully beneath a layer of gathering tarnish and the corrosion of
 sea air, for the area looks out upon the spar and mouth of the
 cave-like sea entrance into the hall. Back the other way, beyond the
 low stone wall that surrounds this area, the hold's cove gleams like a
 rough-cut gem of tropical blue waters and black beach sands, the main
 hold itself off just beyond that. 
  It is a winter midmorning.  
To the southwest, you see Rixesith and Lisulath.
Adora is here.
Obvious exits:
Emerald Cove     Main Beach     Sea Caves     Metal Door
Adora points toward the large brown in the courtyard. "My dragon is
 over there, if you'd like to go meet him?  You say you stood at Ista? 
 Then you aren't scared of them.  Good.  The last dolphincrafter I met,
 Tiri--well, Iri now--was quite scared of them."
Zali nods slightly. "It was. Thats why I've only been up there once. I
 don't really know any riders, so..." She shrugs then nods. "No, I'm
 not scared of them. Well, not the nice ones anyway..." Depite herself,
 she begins to nibble on her lower lip nervously. "What'd you say his
 name was? Lisath, or Luth or something?" Zali never was good with
 names.
 "Lisulath.  And he's very nice, no need to worry.  Would you like to
 meet him?"  He'd like to meet the person that is going to introduce
 him to a dolphin.  
Lisulath distractedly shuffles, whirling eyes taking in every detail,
 in from the Main Beach.
If she can find one.  Zali smiles and nods. "Yes, please, if you don't
 mind." Funny how one's manners can come flying back to them when
 confronted with a large, brown dragon. "Lisulath..." She says the name
 softly. "I like that." The apprentice takes a few steps forward, eyes
 studing the drgaon intently.
Lisulath (#8000)
Weathered brambles ramble along the dusty sprawl of this fawn-brown
 bard: silvery rowan roams 'round each headknob and down the
 timber-ridged track of his neck, forking then to investigate the
 unbeaten paths of each long limb and that ever-winding tail.  Liquid
 guinness flows as poetry along the contour of his spine: a vagabond's
 trail cloaked in the tattered burlap of his patchwork 'sails.  But
 threads of gold glint from that mending, embroidering each 'spar with
 the intricate knotwork that belies his scruffy exterior; bushy
 eyeridges twitch above those merry eyes in gleeful acknowledgement
 that there is more rhyme than reason to him.
Honey colored riding straps drizzle golden between neckridges, the
 supple leather and its llama wool padding accenting the pale brown
 hide beneath.   Precise stitches of turquoise run evenly along the
 edges of each strap while polished silver buckles gleam cheerily. 
 Awl-punched holes remain unused 'neath one of the buckles, ready for
 any necessary adjustments. 
Lisulath is 4 Turns, 10 months, and 1 day old.
He is 68 feet (20m) long, with a wingspan of 113 feet (34m).
Lisulath seems to be listening.
Lisulath shuffles in, obviously hearing his name. He lowers his head to
 the ground, resting his chin on the flagstones, one large eye
 regarding the apprentice. He rumbles something that sounds like a
 question, and one of Adora's eyebrows arches upward. "Indeed?" she
 murmurs under her breath. "Zali, how would you like to go visit Anely
 up at the 'Reaches?" she suddenly asks, her eyes bright as she
 appraises the young woman through half-closed eyelashes.
Zali's eyes brighten, and she turns to Adora. "Really? You'd take me to
 visit her? I'd need a ride back, too you know, and I don't want to be
 a bother or anything." The girl pauses in her ramblings to stare at
 the rider with hopeful eyes. "I mean, I can probably always find
 someone else, or wait for her to come down here. She said she would
 soon." Sapphire eyes shift to the brown for a moment as she waits,
 hoping the woman won't mind the trouble.
Adora smiles a half-smile about the coming back thing, but doesn't say
 anything.  "Oh, it'd be no bother, not at all.  And since we're down
 here, we might as well take you to visit."  It seems the swimming with
 dolphins is all about forgotten in the light of more important visits
 among friends.  "I'll mount up and give you and hand up, then?  Climb
 on up and we'll be off."  The fawn colored dragon obediantly lowers
 his foreleg to the ground, and reveals his riding straps with
 appropriate handholds.
Lisulath waggles his bushy eyeridges as Adora climbs up the
 fawn-colored leg and settles between the silver-traced 'ridges.
Lisulath waggles his bushy eyeridges as you climb up the fawn-colored
 leg and settle between the silver-traced 'ridges.
Above Ista Hold
You wing your way over the Ista Hold complex.  Below, the main hold's
 wide courtyard faces east, over the ocean.  Just north of that lies
 the Hold's main beach, the white sands often crowded with holders
 enjoying the sun and surf.  Turquoise waters from the hold cove roll
 up to lap on the shore.  Just inland from the main beach are the
 Hold's main gather meadow and racetracks.
  It is a winter midmorning.  
In the courtyard, you see Cherenth and two people.
Obvious exits:
Courtyard     North     Valley     Beach     Gather Grounds     Fire
 Heights     Gather Square
Adora turns her head slightly, the wind from her dragon's great
 wingbeats blowing her voice away before it can be heard.  "Hang on, we
 go between!"
Lisulath shows off the patchwork cloak of his wingsails before he
 slides silently into ::between::!
:::BETWEEN!:::
You hang, senseless, in the dark nothingness of ::between::... absolute
 darkness surrounds you, and the profound cold stings you... you wait,
 and count...
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest...
Above High Reaches
Quite, quite high, nothing braves these heights but stone and dragon
 and cloud; the Star Stones jut dutifully above the Weyr proper, flayed
 by the mountain winds that are consistant at this altitude whilst the
 rest spreads below, protected by its crown of jagged stone
 spires'-teeth.
  It is a winter midmorning.  A haze of clouds still filters the
 sunlight.  The wind from the north has calmed a little, though it is
 still far too cold to go outside without wrapping up.
Gliding around is Spoingy.
Obvious exits:
Weyr     Over The Mountains     Star Stones
Lisulath slips in from ::between:: like a tall, dark stranger stepping
 from the shadows of the wood.
Zali releases the breath she had been holding, before reaching her arms
 up to wrap around herself. "Its /cold/!" Her jacket is wrapped tigher
 about her as she glances down upon the Weyr. "It's pretty. If cold..."
 At least the girl thought to grab the jacket before they left the hall.
Bugles from the watch dragon greet Lisulath as he emerges from between,
 answered by the great beast upon which two women ride.  The vibrations
 from his answer can be felt all the way through his body as he begins
 his gentle glide downward, spirling to show off all of the 'Reaches
 chilly beauty.
Adora laughs.  "You'll need some heavier clothes, if you're to visit
 for a while.  Let's get you to the caverns, where it's warmer."
Central Bowl
Seven spindles brush the clouds -- quite literally -- overhead, a
 jagged, spired cotillion grey-stoned majesty. The bowl from here is
 expansively large, extending a full half mile in both directions, and
 although sometimes a bit of a stretch, most of the hubs of activity
 can be easily observed. Hard-packed ground shows the common pathways,
 all of them meandering about the craggy bunch of boulders that form a
 centerpiece: carven, hand-worn and foothold-full, it gives a bit of
 centerpoint to the otherwise vast emptiness of the area.
To the north lie the hatching grounds and leadership weyrs, while the
 lows of herdbeasts mark the feeding pens to the northeast. A flurry of
 ever-present activity marks the living caverns to the west, and
 another time-traveled path the ground weyrs just adjacent to the
 southwest. Southeast, a glint of blue shows the lake, glittering and
 cold.
  It is a winter midmorning.  A haze of clouds still filters the
 sunlight.  The wind from the north has calmed a little, though it is
 still far too cold to go outside without wrapping up.
Clinging to footholds in the boulder-mound are Zhaneel, Spice, Nox,
 Reno, Crimao, Gunwalloe, Vanitas, Kelpie, and Miki.
Bronze Nhamarath, green Siulth, green Yshanth, brown Trebinth, and
 brown Djarreth are here.
You see a wagonmaster and Dustina here.
Tyara is here.
Obvious exits:
Pens     Northern Bowl     Caverns     Ground Weyrs     Lakeside    
 Guards HQ
Adora beams.  "Here we are.  Let me help you down, Zali, and we'll get
 you warmed up inside the caverns.  I'm sure Anely is about somewhere."
Lisulath croons a soft farewell, watching with twinkling eyes as Adora
 swings from his back and lands on the ground with a quiet thump.
 Lisulath croons a soft farewell, watching with twinkling eyes as you
 swing from his back and land on the ground with a quiet thump.
Adora smiles at Tyara as she ushers Zali toward the caverns before the
 Istan girl freezes.
Adora hums a soft tune under her breath as she steps to the Caverns.
Living Caverns (#392)
The rough-hewn majesty of this cavern far outpaces any delight in the
 multitudes of curves that form its enclosure. The glabrous grey
 granite is shot through with translucent obsidian, lending
 subtly-veined sparkle to the walls and the foot-trodden smoothness of
 the floor that shows centuries-old placements of the scarred trestle
 tables; carven hollows give homes for the glow baskets and the
 coat-pegs that line the walls. No mosaics, no painting, no tiles: just
 a few well-done tapestries mark the pathway that lead to the kitchen
 to the north and the inner caverns to the west, and frame the
 nighthearth's stew and snacks, while a heavier strip of oiled canvas
 shields the unwary from the wind in the bowl.
Tucked into a glowlit niche are Pollina, Tiramisu, Maksim, Dogma,
 Denver, Nebo, Sun, Tremayne, RazorThorn, Mayor, Litza, Smirk,
 Tristano, Nimble, Ozu-Zarkh, Fiannan, Harme, Denim, Guardian, Leimur,
 Autumn, Sara, Inaho, Maynard, Ebon Vile, and Searcher.
You see Tsunami Banner, Old Auntie sit-by-the-fire, Fluffernut, Brat,
 Fruity White Wine, Missy, Fantastic Triple Layer Bubbly Surprise,
 Creampuff, Azlan, Saphron, sketch, and PeaGreen here.
Pyrene, Edaeyn, Faye, Luke, and Adora are here.
Obvious exits:
Bowl     Kitchens     Inner Caverns     Crafting Area
Pyrene shakes her head at Edaeyn, "Cheat..." She raises her head to
 glance to Adora and Zali and waves to them both, idly. "Hello... you
 missed the cookies... Brats have been and gone."
Adora bustles in from outside, bringing with her a gust of wintery air.
  "Here we go, Zali, let's plant you in front of the fire, warm you up
 a bit."  The weyrseond bobs her head to all in the room that she knows
 -- which is most everyone -- as she pours a mug of steaming klah for
 the half-frozen dolphincrafter.
Luke says, "hello Zali we meet again.:waves"
Edaeyn smiles wryly, her expression entirely serene as she regards
 Pyrene.  "It would be more accurate ... it's not just about
 weapons-use, you know."  She nods a greeting to Adora and her unknown
 companion, brows arching slightly and gaze silently querying.
Zali makes her way to the fire without complaint, a warming arm still
 wrapped about herself as her eyes dart about the cavern. A small,
 frozen smile is offered to Pyrene as she takes a seat in a waiting
 chair. "Hullo." She replies softly to Luke, before her eyes turn to
 search the cavern. Now where is Anely?
Anely slinks in from the Central Bowl.
Lis ambles aimlessly in from the Central Bowl.
Luke says, "is this a party."
Tyara strides with feminine grace in from the Central Bowl.
Pyrene flickers a further wave to Anely and Lis in that case. "Cookies
 are gone... don't bother." She shrugs at Luke, "We're a weyr.... we
 fluctuate between crowded and insane a good deal of the time....
 Adora, who's your friend?" And she nods towards Zali. For that matter,
 she doesn't know who Luke is yet, and he gets a sudden piercing look.
 Strangers come to steal the non-existant cookies.
Anely slides in, fingers wiggling about in the ebon hair to pluck
 little bits of ice and snow from her hair. "Yes, now I remember /why/
 I don't like snow, why I don't like High Reaches. It's a /pain/ to get
 out of my hair." The healer sulks and slides fire-wards, to meet,
 well, her friend! "ZALI!" Ane nearly pounces her candidacy friend,
 accidentally moving a bit too quickly with her hands and snagging her
 eyebrow ring. "/Ow/!" She lets out a bit of a sniffle before finally
 making it to the 'phin crafter's side, fingers gently hovering above
 the wounded eyebrow.
Edaeyn shakes her head.  "Not everyone who comes in here is looking for
 cookies, Pyrene ... really ..."  You can take her word on that. 
 Admittedly, it's somewhat diminished by the fact that she's nibbling
 on the sole surviving cookie of the last batch.  She winces a little
 in sympathy at Anely's move, but lifts a hand to offer a wave to her
 and Lis.  The bottom of her mug is eyed absently.  How much longer can
 she stretch it out before she's accused of stalling?
A group of random brats arrives from deeper in the Weyr.
Zali almost jumps out of her chair, but decides agianst it as a small
 breeze sends her back into its comfort. "Anely! Adora brought me up
 here to visit you!" A concerned eye rests on the piercing, but her
 friend is the healer, not her. "I don't know how long I can stay
 though..." She turns about, her eyes searching for the rider. "Adora,
 how long until you need to take me back? Whenever you need to go,
 thats fine. It was nice of you to bring me here at all." 
Lis gravitates towards Pyrene with a happy smile - the nanny is no
 doubt an isle of sanity amid the trashing sea of bedlam that usually
 is the caverns. "'Lo Pyrene!" calls the greener sweetly across the
 room, striding through the accumulating crowd towards the nanny before
 plopping down next to her. "How's you?"
Adora brings over a mug of klah for Zali, shrugging slightly.  "Oh,
 whenever Lisulath says you need to leave, then we'll go.  Until then,
 you can stay here at the 'Reaches."  Rather vague answer, but it
 works.  She settles into a seat nearby, smiling at Anely and glancing
 about the room, wiggling fingers at Lis as she enters.
Pyrene /is/, isn't she? "Lis... dear..." she greets, casting a wry eye
 over the bulge. "I'm fine... sorting out rosters." She flaps the hide
 again, which is still blank after a good hour of 'rostering'. "How're
 you? And... it." D'renn-sprog-to-be.
Anely lets her own gaze slide to the corner of her eyes to peer quietly
 at the black ring with the little lapis bead on it. A bit of a glare
 is given before she rolls her eyes a bit at that. "Just don't ask, it
 was all /Lylia's/ fault. Lets just say wine doesn't help me think at
 all straight. Stupid turndays..." She grumbles before pushing away the
 unhappiness and suddenly wrapping her arms around her friend. "Ooooh!
 It's nice to see you! I haven't seen you since the hatching..." Voice
 once more trails off before head tilts and a returned smile is given
 to the brownrider. "Thank you for bringing her up here..."
Edaeyn leans over to glance at Pyrene's work.  "How are you doing?" she
 inquires blandly of the nanny.  "Almost got it worked it out?  How
 involved is it?  Maybe I can lend a hand ..."  She could be genuinely
 being helpful, or just trying to guilt the nanny a little bit ...
 probably a futile task, but the guard still has a twisted sense of
 idealism.  "You any idea whether it's male or female?"  This to Lis. 
 She's heard something about dolphins being able to discern.
Zali takes the mug, her brow wrinkling a bit. "Well I can't stay /too/
 long. The masters would wonder what happened to me..." Her words trail
 off as the mug is lifted to her lips. Not usually a fan of the liquid,
 anything hot will do at the moment. Her worries are forgotten as the
 apprentice is swept up in a hug, her hand out of the way as she tries
 to protect the klah.  "Wine? Turndays?" Zali grins at Anely, then
 shakes her head. "Maybe I don't want to know."
"/It/ is fine," Lis bristles at Pyrene's dismisssal of her
 D'renn-sprog-to-be, even though she's called the thing 'it' herself.
 "In fact, it's better than fine, it's..." Lips pause in their unkind
 words, forming an 'o' of surprise. "I don't think it's supposed to do
 /that/." Edaeyn's words are lost in the shock which shows itself in
 the /look/ Lis gives to her noticable bulge.
Pyrene grins at Edaeyn... that same cheerful grin the guard received
 earlier. "Oh, of course... you want to pencil in one or two likely
 dates for your demonstration? So I have something to work around, you
 see." Bright, she is. Lis'bulge gets a worried look. "What?" Knowing
 the father, she wouldn't be surprised if the foetus had somehow
 managed to, ah, pinch a certain part of Lis anatomy that it shouldn't
 be able to reach from inside.
"You're quite welcome, Anely," Adora's soft voice responds.  "It's all
 part of being weyrsecond."  Her bluegreen eyes sweep the room and come
 to rest on Lis.  "Are you alright?" Her voice raises slighty as she
 calls across the room, noticing the look that just swept over the
 greenrider's face.
Anely is quite careful of that evil hot mug of klah, yes, very careful
 of it--klah=evilness. "It wasn't by choice, drunk Ane is not a good
 thing. Just trust me. And lets just keep my masters oblivious of the
 little fact that their little High Reachian Senior Appie was drinking.
 I mean twenty is a big turnday but I really really didn't want to let
 Lylia by me. /Now/ you know why." Another tender smile is given to the
 Weyrsecond before fingers slide off towards Zali's wrist. "Come on, I
 have to show you my room!" Oh yes, her room that you can't even see
 five feet in front of you. Ah yes, that room. "It won't take long,
 really..." Oh dear, everyone run, Ane's in a giddy child mood, this is
 bad, /very/ bad.
No, Pyrene, the fetus hasn't picked up /that/ habit of D'renn's just
 yet. "It... it rippled, somehow. And it wasn't really a good feeling
 either," Lis informs all and sundry, eyes fixed on the child inside
 her belly. "Ooh, there it goes again!" Eyes widen, and then dart over
 towards Anely entreatingly. "A... Anely?" gets asked in a querelous
 tone.
Well, it was worth a try.  Edaeyn spreads her hands helplessly.  "I
 can't tell my schedule from one day to the next ... I think you should
 get down what needs doing, and I'll work around you whenever I can." 
 Which will be just about never.  The guard *does* have a strategy. 
 Arched brows and intent gaze follow Anely; she looks vaguely concerned
 for the other's mental health.  She somehow seems to miss that there's
 a rider she should presently be somewhat more worried about ...
Faye arrives from deeper in the Weyr.
Faye heads north into the redolent depths of the kitchens.
Oorla walks in from the Central Bowl.
Pyrene gives Lis a measured look and edges carefully away. Just in case
 her waters break or something. "Lis... it's not.... /time/, is it?"
 Time for Pyrene to jump ship with the sweetsticks and head for the
 hills? "It's not... /coming/? Oh, shells..."
Zali nods at Anely, laughing softly. Her eyes dart to Lis, her hand
 reaching out to grab Anely's arm. "Ane...look! Your a healer, go...do
 something!" Her sapphire eyes rest on Lis as she half stands from her
 chair, her hand batting in her friends' direction. Klah hand searches
 for a place to rest the mug as she turns to Anely agian. "Oh, dear..."
Oorla strolls into the caverns, bringing half of the ice and snow from
 outside with her.
That's blueriders for you. 
Anely skids to a stop, twisting her head to peer quietly at the
 greenrider said the healer's name. "Hmmm?" She inquires and then
 blinks a bit at Zali, as if the other apprentice is some sort of pet
 or something. "I'll bring her back! I promise, I just wanted to show
 her my--" Oorla's entering form is caught and the healer drops
 whatever it was she was going to say. "--Oorla!" She chimes wildly
 before looking back to Lis and blinking quietly. "Oh no, you /aren't/
 having that baby right now Lis! No you aren't, I'm only a Senior
 Apprentice, I can't deliver a baby alone." The healet lets out a bit
 of a whimper before tugging Zali towards her room. "We can make it out
 before she pops... really..." She whispers to Zali in a joking manner.
 No, Lis can't have her baby now. No!
"Umm... Umm..." Lis is reduced to a helpless, babbling semblance of
 herself, looking at Pyrene as fingers nervously go to tug at her hair.
 "Well, Py, I dunno. It might be? I don't know!" The greenrider's voice
 shrills up in pitch as she whines at Pyrene, then Anely. "Anely! Where
 in Faranth's name do you think you and your healer rear are going?!"
 demands the greenrider in a bellow across the cavern.
Kalla arrives from deeper in the Weyr.
Pyrene gingerly pats Lis on the shoulder. "Don't call me Py," she
 informs the rider in a sudden desperate calm. "And you'll be fine...
 don't worry. Hundreds of women survive this perfectly well...." She
 flashes a dry smile to Oorla. Events like this, even a bluerider can't
 make worse. "Good timing Oorla. No cookies, and we may have a
 labouring woman here..." And thank Faranth, here's an extra nanny.
Adora stands up, beckoning at Zali.  "Can you come with me, please?  It
 looks like Anely is going to be busy for a few minutes, and I need to
 ask you about those dolphins.  Do they bite?  Or..anything like that?"
  The brownrider contines to talk as she edges backwards, pleading with
 Zali to come with her.
Oorla raises her eyebrows and looks innocently at the head nanny.  "Now
 when have I ever made anything worse?"  
Anely gaps for words, her pristine alabaster face turning a shade that
 rivals that of cherry. "Me? No where Lis! No where..." Tug tug tug,
 the healer keeps pulling on her friend, trying, oh is she trying to
 get away from the pregnant greenlet now. "She can't have it now! She
 can't!" The healer whines nearly silently to Zali before turning to
 Pyrene, "No! We don't! She's /not/ going to have that baby today!
 Today is one of my few days off, she /can't/ have it!" And as Adora
 pops up and goes to steal her friend away the poor healer lets out a
 whine. "But... but..." Her /Zali/! No, Adora can't take her Zali away!
Zali shakes her head wildly. "We can't /leave/! /You/ can't leave!" Now
 fully standing, with her klah mug deposited safely on a table, she
 stares at Anely. "Go /help/ her!" What a way to spend her visit.
 She'll probably never get to talk to Anely now. The dolphincrafter's
 hand reaches up to tug on a curl, the hand still slightly numb from
 the cold. She blinks at Adora, then nods, with one last look at Anely.
 "I'll try and find you before I leave..." She mumbles as she follows
 Adora.
Candidate Barracks (#6388)
Serviceable, this low-ceiling'd room runs right and left from the heavy
 canvas curtains that function as a door:  relatively bare of
 ornamentation, tidy glows light the few worn tapestries that adorn the
 walls and depict a variety of dragons in flight or at rest.  But it is
 the cots, lots and lots of cots, that distinguish this room from the
 others, their blue or black coverlets tucked neatly over relatively
 fresh rushes.
Candidate's haven, this is their escape from the bustling world of
 chores and Weyr; visitors are welcome if invited.
Resting atop the doorframe are Rennlet, Vedra, and Larson.
You see Name Board here.
Adora is here.
Obvious exits:
Caverns
Adora ducks behind a curtain.  "Ahh, yes, here we go.   It's nice and
 quiet in here.  So you like dolphins, I suppose. But how do you feel
 about dragons?"  It's a loaded question, yes, it is.
Zali glances about the room as she enters, a small frown still playing
 about her face as she glance back toward the door and the direction of
 her friend. "Dragons? Oh, they're lovely. Some are kinda big, but I
 like them well enough. Especially some of the ones I've met." Her eyes
 turn back to focus on the rider as she speaks, tilting her head a bit.
 "Why though? I thought you wanted to know about dolphins. And the
 don't bite by the way."
Adora mms. "Neither do dragons."  Bite, that is.  "You remember at the
 Hall, when Lisulath sort of..sniffed..at you?"  Of course she
 remembers.  The weyrsecond babbles on, "Well, he seems to think you'd
 be a nice candidate for those eggs Tiareth laid not a sevenday ago. 
 Would you stay up here and stand for the clutch of eggs?  We'll have
 to get you some warmer clothes, though.." her voice trails off as she
 regards Zali expectantly.
Zali raises a hand to her mouth, glanicing about the room agian. "Me?
 But I stood last time. And I didn't impress." A small step is taken
 backward, as her brows wrinkle in concern agian. "And I'm not special,
 don't riders have to be special?" The same complaint, agian? But
 Zali's stubborness wins out as she waves her hand a bit. "Although, if
 you really /want/, or if Lisulth does,  I guess I could stay." Her
 frown melts away, leaving a tentitive smile in its place. What could
 be bad? Anely, plus dragons all at once? How could she refuse?
Adora sends a drudge running for a cot.  After a few minutes the drudge
 returns dragging a big heavy cot for Zali.
Adora winks slowly.  "Well, you know sometimes people have to stand
 many times before they Impress.  Sometimes the perfect dragon just
 hasn't been shelled.  And if Sulath likes you, well then, that means
 you are definately special."  So there.  Don't argue with the
 weyrsecond.
Zali opens her mouth to protest, but stops herself, nodding. "Thank
 you," She comments softly, then shivers slightly. "Um, I guess this
 means I'll be here for a while...so do you think, I could maybe get
 some warm clothes?" She pauses, then continues, "I mean, I have more
 cloths at home, but they aren't very warm either..."
Adora chuckles.  "Just catch the weyr weaver.  I'm sure we've some
 things in storage you can wear while waiting for your clothes to be
 done."
Lylia escapes in from the bustling activity of caverns and Weyr.
Pia escapes in from the bustling activity of caverns and Weyr.
Pia offers a slight smile to the other girl, trailing as she is behind
 Lylia.
Pia (#19393)
Her form is slender self-importance, a svelte self of pride and bronzed
 skin. Cast upon her oval, sun-blushed face is a set of insidiously
 charming features -- rather appealing at least 'til she opens her
 mouth. Her pale green eyes, wide set against the urbane arch of her
 nose, suggest a depth of character denied by the soft pouty curve of
 her lips. Thick waves of gold kissed russet frame her face, blowzy
 predisposition firmly supressed by the artificial creation of those
 perfectly sleek curls.
Spotless tan trous, crafted of a sturdy, yet soft --expensive-- cloth,
 sheath the Apprentice's legs, perfect cuffs brushing the tops of her
 buffed klah-colored boots. A pale blue hooded windbreaker, thick and
 rainproof, covers a delicious cream hued shirt, unseen save for the
 tips of the collar. Red hair is in a long braid, tip tied with a bowed
 blue ribbon. A flash of golden hide coils around her neck.
She is awake and looks alert.
Pia is 17 Turns and 9 months old.
"And /here/," Lylia trumpets, arms waving. "Is the barracks. Welcome.
 There's a cot over there you can use and I'm /sure/ there's a knot
 around somewhere..." Mumbling, the rider takes off, darting to a chest
 in the corner and searching through it with blinding speed. "Here!"
 Triumphantly, she yanks out a slightly ratty white knot, tossing it at
 Pia. And the other girl gets a brightened stare. "Oh! Hi! I'm Lylia...
 Haven't seen you before. New candidate?"
With the /very/ ratty knot held with the tips of Pia's fingers, she
 smiles weakly and fastens it to her shoulder. Ugh. "I can use any
 cot?" asks the Apprentice.
Zali glances up from the midst of her cot and its nice, and most
 importantly -- warm, blankets. "Hello,' She offers to the other girl,
 undoubtedly a candidate. "Me? Oh, yes, yes. I just got here too." She
 glances down at her cuccon of blankets and grins. "I'm a little cold,
 and waiting for some warmer clothes."
"Sure thing." Lylia beams brightly, nodding. "Welcome to the 'Reaches,
 both of you." Beam.
Lylia sends a drudge running for a cot.  After a few minutes the drudge
 returns dragging a big heavy cot for Pia.
"Settle in well, you two!" Beaming, Lylia flounces off.