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****Travelling in Wagon from Gar to Ista****

Main Beach
This long stretch of white sandy beach is one of the main gathering spots at Ista Hold. A large uprooted tree, felled in the big storm, makes for a great bench, for people or firelizards alike. To the east, the crystal blue waters of the Hold cove roll up in gentle waves onto the beach, hissing softly as they ebb and flow.
To the south, Ista Hold juts out of the cliff. Just west of here, a low bluff leads up to the grassy field that serves as the Hold's main gather grounds. Beaches stretch away to the north and south.
It is a winter late night. Fog has set in, and it's nearly impossible to see anything more than a few feet away. The air is calm and cool, though not as cold as it's been on previous nights, thanks to the clouds in the sky.

Sudanna, Jathen, Aerrin, and Rezalla are here.

Sudanna says, "Thank you Jathen. I take that as a personal and public apology to all the things you have said to me about the little bit of mindhealing I have studied to further my work in midwifery."

Jathen shrugs and sighs, smelling his wine for a moment, "Take it as you will then..." He smiles, almost good naturedly now.

Liseria tugs feebly at her sweater, which only serves to spring travel dust from the frayed fibers into the air. Squinting through the light fog as she wanders onto the beach, returning what may have passed as a smile back to it's sender with a cheery smile of her own.

Sudanna watches the starng woman with raised eyebrows. Not sure exactly why or what she had wanted, she is sure there was /some/ intent there. "Hey Aerrin, the tubers are cool enough to eat, want one?"

Sudanna says, "o, Jathen am I to assume you are hoping one of use will volunteer to let you test this oil on us?

Aerrin glares at Jathen. "Sorry! Just trying to be /nice/!" She nods to Sudanna. "Yeah, sure. They aren't burnt, are they?" She grins broadly, hiding a laugh.

As the starcrafter makes her way closer, Rez grins even wider, chancing a glance at the tight circle of healers. "How're you this fine eve?" Fine eh? Well, fine in Rezalla's eyes apparently. Even through the growing mist, those brillian azure eyes twinkle behind a strand of blonde. Absently, she reaches a slender hand up, shoving it neatly behind her ear.

Sudanna says, "Nope, not this batch.." giggles andpokes at those odd rocks about the fire. "Here......"

Jathen stays pleasant and takes a couple more sips of his wine...

Aerrin takes one, still grinning, and shuffles it for a moment so as not to burn herself. A tiny bite is taken, then a soft sigh released. "Quite good! Want one, Jathen?"

"Cold'n dusty?" is Liseria's slightly whiny answer. Another shiver tickes her body, eliciting more sweater-tugging to no avail."'M Liseria, by the way," she states in a roundabout introductory way. The eating, drinking people - especially the fire - are given a wistful look, if only just for a moment.

Jathen shakes his head, "..no thanks..."

Aerrin glances towards the others. "Did you guys want some tubers? We have extra since Jathen's not eating!" Her voice is raised a bit to call to them.

Rezalla smiles tolerantly, not missing the look in the least. "Liseria? I'm Rezalla, but you can call me Rez, or Reza, or whatever tickles your fancy." A grin follows the introduction before she moves briskly on, rubbing more feeling into her arms, "Well met. Say, they look all merry and warm and well fed...whaddya say we ask for a little hospitality?" An almost malicious, mishcheivious glint flickers throughout Rez's eyes, as they flick back and forth between Lis and the healers.

Liseria arches her brows innocently at the proposition this Rezalla brings up... but they /did/ offer free tubers. "Why not? Anything warm seems good at this point, even tubers." Skirts are hiked ankle-high as she sets forth in a determined plod over the sand dunes.

Sudanna looks up at the two further away from the fire. "PLease join us, lots of tubers, I have hot klah in a skin.."

Bully drops Snow.

Jathen goes home.
Jathen walks briskly in from the courtyard.

Rezalla grins, already starting toward the merry bonfire. "Off we go then! It's unanimous." The girl hikes up her skirt, rushing, though seemingly not, over the numerous dunes and hills of the beach.

Sudanna releases Willow, who launches into the air.

Willow swoops about the air, then heads for the water.. divebombing in and bringing up little silverfish in his claws... FOOD!

Willow flys about the Rezalla humanpet and offers her his very fresh fish, unfortunately dripping some of the water on her as he does so. Chirping sorries, he pulls away..

Liseria finds herself a nice hollow of sand to plop into, doing so with little inhibition. With a muffled "Oof", - since it /is/ a long way from standing to the ground - Lis crosses her legs 'neath her skirt and makes herself comfortable.

Snow walks in from the courtyard.

Willow next swoops to Liseria pet and offers her the same, but no mess, he learned from the first time and keeps a nice distance away.

Aerrin offers a nod to the two girls, indicating the tubers. "Help yourselves. I'm Aerrin." She nods toward Dana. " And that's Sudanna."

Snow slinks around the camp fire, chittering playfully and stands up on her hind legs.

Sudanna says, "Hi."

Rezalla ducks, neck dissapearing into the recesses of her high-necked dress. "What the?" The girl asks, totally confused as she looks up only to see a sillowet against the darkened sky. Fortunately, Rez gathers her bearings in enough time to catch the fish, a grateful grin turned upward at the flit. How nice! Wonder whos he is...Keeping with the company she already knows, Reza makes herself comfortabel near Liseria, "Thanks..." She murmers gratefully. "'m Rezalla. But you can call me Rez or Reza or whatever else strikes your fancy. Well met." It's all said like it was almost recited...an exact copy of the previously uttered greeting. Then, that done, she takes a huge bite out of the fish, face lighting up with the lovely, savory taste.

Lachien walks in from the courtyard.

Sudanna says, "Would either of you like some hot klah? I've a whole skin of it."

"Well met," Liseria replies in a general way, avoiding the tedious process of repeating names for everyone around her. "I'm Liseria, or Lis, if you'd like." The 'lizard-offered fish is given a skeptical eye, but she puts it at the edge of the fire in the hopes it cooks. "Uh, sure, I'll have klah," the girl answers with an amiable shrug as her gaze glances for tubers.

Willow now flies over to Elspeit and settles by her, and offers the glowing green some of his precious fresh fish. He caught it himself and is very happy to share.

Elspeit stirs, awakened by the noise of the group. She wings toward the fire to light on a handy log and peers at the group. Then notices the brown. The firelight highlights her glowing green hide as she sneaks a tail up to polish already-spotless eyeridges. Fish?

Jathen smiks from where she sits, looking at the woman eating a raw fish and takes a sip of his wine...

Sudanna says, "Well, Willow got rather generous all of a sudden, but I notice he didn't bring any fish to me, or you Aerrin.. Or Jathen. Hmmmm"

Lachien drifts laconically into the edge of the crowd, a mostly thoughtful expression on his face. "Hey there." is offered to vaguely familiar people, automatic smiles accompaining them.

Sudanna waves yet another one over. What is one more when the tubers are hot?

Bastiaan glides in from the courtyard.

Sudanna waves and heads back to the Hall. "I have the late shift, lucky me.. Night all.. well met !"

Sudanna calls to Willow, who flies over and lands on her shoulder.
Sudanna walks off the beach towards the courtyard.

Jathen walks out.

Liseria carefully bats a tuber away from the pile, carrying it in her hands until the intense heat radiating from the dusty-skinned root forces her to drop it into her lap. The meandering newcomer is given a friendly if shy grin in greeting, one slightly overheated hand lifting its fingers in a wave. Lis finally turns back to her tuber, noticing Sudanna and Jathen leaving just in time to waggle fingers in their direction.

Drallo wades out of the water.

Aerrin stands, stretching a bit. "I've got to get going, too. But feel free to finish the cooked tubers - just be careful of the burnt ones, k?" She nods to the fire. "It was nice to have met all of you."

Kilavina walks in from the courtyard.

Kilavina waves to sudanna

Kilavina walks to the Gather Meadow.

Aerrin moves away from the fire and toward the courtyard with a definate stride across the sands. She pauses for a moment to wave to the ever-growing group, then dissapears.

Aerrin slips off the beach towards the courtyard.

"Mmmhmm. Sure, g'night! And thanks for the tubers!" Lis mumbles, states and calls out all in one breath. A pocket is searched in for something sharp, and the Starcrafter manages to find a slightly sharp piece of metal - probably something more useful as parts of machinery than a knife. Unfazed by any notion of such, Liseria dutifully begins slicing the skin on her tuber.

Lachien
Casual and light on his feet, Lachien initially appears somewhat ordinary. Built lean, he's added to that frame with solid muscle that enhances his quietly fit and healthy appearance. Short hair is mostly straight, with only a hint of a curl at the tip of a mid brown strands and hazel eyes are set firmly to hold a measuring curiosity about his world. He nose a little too large, his chin somewhat too strong and square. Rough, unrefined describe his features fairly accurately but there 'tis an attractiveness in the warmth of frequent smiles.
Dressed neatly, Lachien's plain clothes may sometimes cause him to seem even less notable. Plain dark brown trews match a well worn but heavy wherhide vest. His light cream shirt is reasonably neat and tidy and his solid knee high boots aren't dusty for once. A well cared for beltknife joins a couple of ordinary pouches looped to a wide and solid belt. With all the many loops, said belt bears some resemblances to a rider's but it lacks their strength. Clinging watchfully to Lachien's shoulder is Prulg. Twined about Lachien's wrist and forearm is Lessis.
A badge marks him as a Minecrafter and the crest above that showing his posting to be Tillek Hold. A complex knot on his shoulder proper denotes his rank as Master.
Lachien is 33 Turns, 2 months, and 20 days old.

Lachien sighs softly as he scans the crowd. Whoever he is looking is not there and he mutters something mostly unrepeatable about peopel who are impossible to find. But as his gaze sweeps the beach once more, he settles on Liseria for a long moment. Or rather, her knot. "Excuse me?" is spoken softly as he appears beside the Sr. Apprentice. "Starcrafter?"

Drallo says, "Hello."

An audible gulp bubbles up from Liseria's throat as Lachien nears and the girl notices his knot - a Master's knot. "Yes?" she responds in her best rendition of a reverent, Apprentice-to-Master voice. "I am a Starcrafter...." The tuber is put down for now, doing its best to heat a hole through her skirt.

Lachien chuckles softly then, shakeing his head slightly. "Don't have a fit. Really. I just wanted to ask if you knew where Journeywoman Lyana is?" Hopeful; perhaps that's who he's looking for? "And I would recommend not getting your clothes burnt. I know I'd chew my own apprentices out for it." Teasing. Yes, really, he is teasing and should one turn to look at him, there is a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and laughter dancing in his eyes.

Drallo hearing his friends name, looks over at the two crafters.

Liseria relaxes at the humor in his voice, un-clenching muscles she didn't even know were tense. "Oh, Journeyman Lyana! She'd be at the hall now, since she's working on something that she needed these certain books for." Her cheeks redden at the mention of burning clothes, the girl sheepishly plopping the tuber on a rock near the fire. Eyes glance in the direction of another - easily distracted, Lis is.

Drallo smiles.

Lachien mms softly, toying with a wide bracelet on his wrist. "At the Hall. Oh well, I'll corner her another time I imagine... And you are?" Expectant, he waits for a name. Names are useful.

Drallo looks around wonering if he is the one being talked to.

"Liseria," Lis answers with a polite nod, adding a soft, "sir" for lack of a better thing to say. Brown eyes are slowly slid back onto the Master's form, peering up somewhere near his eyes as she shifts a little on the sand.

Drallo sits down on the sand, close to the fire but not to close to give him away.

Lachien ahs softly, storing the name away for future reference. "Lachien. Minecraft." he returns cheerfully, finding a seat on a handy rock. "I think you've already figured out the rank... life was easier when I was a mere journeyman."

Drallo pulls out a pouch of meatrolls, and begins to munch on one. Remembering his maners, "Would eather of you like a meatroll."

Liseria picks up half of her neatly sliced tuber, using the makeshift knife now as a spoon. "'M sorry about that. The whole Master thing, I mean," she starts to apologize in a stumbling way. "Some Masters tend to expect a sort of cowering awe from their charges." The apprentice shrugs again, scooping a mashed bit of tuber into her mouth. With that full of food, she declines Drallo's offer with a shake of her head.

Araxanthe walks in from the courtyard.

Kilavina walks in from the courtyard.
Kilavina smiles to everyone

Araxanthe says, "Hi, y'all, I'm Ara."

Malapert blinks in from ::between::!

Kilavina says, "And I'm Kila"

Drallofrom his spot on the sand, "Hi."

Kilavina says, "mind if we join??"

Drallo smiles, "i don't mind.", and stuffs another meatroll in his mouth.

Liseria tries to instill a reverent sense of respect for the miner master, but his mannerisms are just too much like the other apprentices that she can't help but be at ease - politely of course. "That's good to hear." The pair strolling from the courtyard are givena cheery little waggling of fingers. "If you'd like..." she responds to the question.

Kadol walks in from the Gather Meadow.

Araxanthe smiles, "Sorry, she had something important to do... Thanks." She takes a meatroll.

Drallo smiles "welcome."

Araxanthe says, "Thanks... I'm Ara. And you...?"

Malapert edges up towards the fire. Fish; he has always loved fish and he doesnt hesitate to snatch away the abandoned looking meal left too far away from the heat to actually cook. Lachien ignores him; Malapert is incorrigible. Just like his human. "Well, if I interfered with other crafts, I'd be stuck with just holders or weyrfolk for company. Weyrfolk are mostly alright, but I can't say the same of holders I fear. Too many bad tempered old aunties in the holds."

Drallo remembering his manners, "The names Drallo."

Araxanthe says, "Well met."

Drallo says, "Same here."

Liseria lets out a delicate giggle at the mention of old aunties, still trying to remember manners - or at least what little of them she actually learned. "I'd have to agree with you there. At least there aren't too many old aunties in the hall. Just some strict masters." The tuber is scooped at again, already mostly devoid of mush.

Araxanthe
Araxanthe is a 6f 2 girl and of a medium build. She has soft facial features that give her a serene look, when she's in a good mood. She has blond hair that falls around her muscular shoulders, and bright blue eyes. Her complexion is pale, almost white.
She is wearing a light blue satin dress, with a faded print. It hangs to just above her knees. About her neck hangs Ara's silver pendant, and over her shoulder hangs a single length of chord, tied in a single loop. Araxanthe's Rucksack hangs loosely over Araxanthe's shoulder.
Araxanthe is 15 Turns, 5 months, and 27 days old.

R'sli walks in from the courtyard.

Lachien chuckles softly, before glancing up at the new comner. A familiar face, though from somewhere quite different to Ista. "R'sli!" He's right, isn't he? Nuff introduced the greenrider some time a long time ago. Before the avalanche. "Every Hall needs it's Masters."

Araxanthe says, "Hey, I guess your R'sli. I'm Ara."

Drallo finishes his meatrolls, stands and says, "I was nice to meet you all, but I need to get to bed. Bye. :)"

Liseria bobs her head in unfeigntened agreement - there's got to be someone at the top of the hall pecking order. "Mm-hmm." The sudden announcement of a name draws Lis' attention to an approaching rider as she grabs for the other half of her tuber, which is by now dissappointingly chilled.

Araxanthe says, "Does anyone have a pack of cards?"

R'sli
Before you stands a remarkable young man, shrewd and easy-going as a result of his tinker birth. Coal-black hair brushes the very top of his violet eyes, retreating into a tight trim 'round the sides and back. A pair of silver-framed spectacles with small, round lenses perch on his nose, making that violet gaze a bit more intense. Not the biggest rider in the Weyr, his 5'7 frame is tightly packed with ropy muscles. As he catches your gaze, he offers a lopsided grin, leaving the urge to count your teeth to be sure he hasn't charmed any away. Oh yeah. He's one to watch out for, all right.
R'sli wears a linen shirt, dyed royal blue, tucked loosely into black wherhide pants that hug his thighs and disappear into calf-high black boots.
Double cords of blue and black, woven with green ribbon and silver thread twist into three loops, a single tassle hanging from his shoulder indicating him to be the Weyrsecond at the High Reaches.
R'sli is 22 Turns, 8 months, and 20 days old.

Araxanthe says, "Oh, my. By the egg, I must tell you all what happened at my gather yesterday!"

Araxanthe says, "I was down here, and a girl, about 17 turns, walked down..."

"Well, who else would it be?" Lachien's amiable response, as quietly shoose Malapert away again. "Very nice night... and I wish I could stay. But I'm afraid work calls me away. Minecraft's duty to High Reaches.... and nice to meet you Liseria." That said, he vanishes, seeking his rider back to Tillek.

Araxanthe says, "And, a man, a journeyman from Benden, was here too. And they were talking, and found out that he was going to marry her mother, who died a long time ago. And he had a cask of her wine for her! It was so wonderful..."

R'sli listens to the story, grinning at the end result. "I do like a happy ending," he says drolly. Glancing at Liseria, he smiles. "And what of you, Liseria, was it? What brings you to a moonlit beach on such a nice night?"

Araxanthe looks sadly into the fire. "I wonder where my parents are... if they are..."

Between one mouthful of tuber and another, Liseria manages her usual bidding of "G'night!" to Lachien as he's called away the by enigma of work that masters are subjected to. Nodding her head a bit absently at the mention of her name, she explains. "I was running errands for one of the journeymen, and, well, there were free, hot tubers after a long, cold wagonride. So I kind of got sidetracked," she finsishes with a sheepish gaze at the last of the said tuber.

Kryll suddenly blinks in from ::between:: and let's out a strangled warble. Is it possible that he doesn't like that cold, black place any more then 'pets'?

Araxanthe says, "I guess none of you have cards...? Are you a dragonrider, R'sli? Wow! I've always wanted to impress."

R'sli chuckles, and hunkers down next to the fire, peering after Araxanthe for a moment. She seems all right, so he turns back to the Starcrafter. "I always loved hot tubers when my clan made camp for the night," he admits. "They taste so good, especially when it's cold." He nods to Araxanthe. "Aye, I ride for the Reaches. My Zaqith is around here somewhere," he waves at the sky. "Most likely gossiping with the watchdragon."

Araxanthe says, "Wow. I wish I had a dragon... I love between, don't you?"

Kryll warbles quietly as he looks around the beach, blue eyes wide at the sight of so much water. So, what he had been told was right! Or...maybe he'd just forgotten since the last time he was here. Either way....The blue takes to an ungraceful dive into the sea.

Araxanthe says, "I once had an experience of sorts... I just knew the name of a dragon... I wonder, d'you think it's significant?"

Liseria bobs her head in another nod of agreement - the easiest thing to do when one's trying to scrape all the last bits of the tuber from the skin. "Yeah. Only, I know I'll be punished for staying over at the Hold. I'm not about to ride a wagon back, again, in the middle of the night." A rueful sigh gives an extra 'oomph' to her scraping, and she tears the skin, sending a few tuber-bits flying.. "Shards, shells and tuber-skins," she can be heard to mutter under her breath.

R'sli shrugs. "I couldn't say," he says simply, and turns back to Liseria. "I'd hate for you to get in trouble," he says sympathetically. "Can I offer you a ride back to the Hall?

Eyebrows raise with thinly veiled hope at R'sli's suggestion. "Really? Well, I s'pose coming home a few hours after sunset beats coming home next sunrise, punishment-wise anyway," Liseria states in a dry sort of tone, though her mouth curls a wry hint of a grin.

R'sli grins. "You forget. A-dragonback will get you back in seconds," he notes. "And I promise to speak on your behalf to your master." He grins, and waves at the sky. "As soon as my ride arrives, we can leave on your mark."

Zaqith glides in for a landing.

Coming, literally, out of the surf, a waterlogged firelizard lets out little disgruntled chirps and lands on the edge of the sandy beach, shaking out his wings and staring down at his empty talons. So fishing wasn't as easy as he had thought it would be.

Liseria stands with just the hint of shaking in her legs; a combined effect of sitting cross-legged on the sand for a good deal of time and the idea of facing an irate, tired master. Even /with/ a dragorider. "Um, d'ya think you could maybe help me, getting up?" Zaqith is given an up-and-down look as the starcrafter gauges the height of the dragon - still a long, awkward hop up.

Kadol wades out into the shallows.

R'sli grins, and nods, standing and brushing sand from his leathers. "That I can do," he says with a chuckle. "See those loops along her straps?" he asks, pointing. "Those are there to help you clamber up. And Zaqith is usually pretty helpful." Zaqith, for her part, swings that jeweled head around to peer at her newest passenger-to-be, her eyes whirling slowly. "Any time you're ready, let me know," the greenrider adds, checking straps and buckles. All check out, safe and snug, and he leans against the dragon, a smile on his face.

"I just clamber up, huh?" The rhetorical question flows a bit more skeptical from Liseria's lips than she would've prefered, but she does step closer to the dragon. R'sli's checking of the straps seemed convincing enough, and she puts out one hand towards one. "'M ready. Just grab on, and pull myself up?" she asks, fingers sliding into a clench around one of the loops.

R'sli nods, and moves to her side, scrambling up ahead of her. "It's easier if I help pull you up," he explains, reaching down. "That way, you maintain your dignity." He grins down at her and offers his hand. "Up you go, then."

R'sli climbs up a preferred forelimb to settle between two of Zaqith's neckridges.

You clamber up Zaqith's neck and set yourself between two neckridges.

Zaqith [Main Beach]
Stellar-gilt jade surges over her diminutive frame, the endlessly deep hue cracked and shattered by the force of diaphanous volatility. Within each striation, grains of mica glitter, brassy gold, accentuating her sylphic proportions with their opalescent shimmer and glinting from beneath the verdigris that caps each perfectly defined headknob. Rounded shoulders brace in a wide-set stance, bisected by the rocky 'ridges scattered along the length of her spine as jagged fragments of rougher opacity. Copper trails into bright wheaten quickening along the length of her long, lithe tail; caustic brightness in a resonant contrast to sunlight's subtle charade.
Well oiled cinnamon colored straps encircle Zaqith's neck, stitched together with rose leather. Hand holds hang from the band, and two buckles shine from their respective spots, Zaqith's hide protected by the fleece padding beneath them.
Astride Zaqith is R'sli.

R'sli grins, and waves to Araxanthe on the ground. "It was lovely meeting you, Ara," he calls. "I hope that we will meet again one day." He grins, and checks his passenger. "Are you settled, then?"

Liseria has to do a little re-arragning with her skirt, seeing to it that not too much gets bunched between the neckridges. "Aye, I think I'm ready to go, then." Solid handgrips are taken by her hands on the straps; she's ready.