The Dragonriders of PernŽ is a trademark, Registered U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, of Anne McCaffrey. This is a recorded session, generated by Harper's Tale MOO in December, 1998, for the benefit of members unable to attend. Logged by Pyrene.
An Unexpected Visitor
[I can't remember the reasoning behind this log, but I remember how quiet High Reaches was around now. So many of my friends had Impressed and the others were idle. Ginnie who features in this log was one of the many new additions to High Reaches at the time who idled out soon after Christmas. Again... I'd love to know what became of her, and any other people from the logs of this period.]
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.
Clinging to footholds in the boulder-mound are Gunwalloe, Roy-`el, and Tremeyre.
Brown Pilloeth is here.
You see a wagonmaster and Wagon Three here.
Flarra is here.
Obvious exits:
Pens Northern Bowl Caverns Ground Weyrs Lakeside
Flarra
A young woman about five feet, eight inches tall with a well muscled medium to large frame. Her face is softly framed with rich dark brown colored hair, which only reaches to her shoulders, tickling the back of her neck. Her somewhat close-set eyes are a deep emerald color and burn with a mysterious intensity, set on a oval shaped face. Just below her eyes is a small well-shaped nose, although her skin is fair, there is a faint sprinkling of freckles spreading from her nose to her cheeks.
The brilliance of a tropical sunrise is dyed into soft cotton; shades of red fire merge with vivid yellows in a roughly circular pattern over an oversized, open-front tunic with long loose sleeves. Worn over a plain white shirt that stretches taut over Flarra's chest, a crimson ribbon laces across the front in a criss-cross pattern between the vermillion-swirled panels. A black belt of shiny, smooth leather catches the loose overtunic around her slender waist before it falls to mid-thigh over the baggy scarlet trous that billow around her legs. The light cotton pants are gathered at her ankles, where a braided band of brightly-coloured twine separates them from the plain hemp sandals on her feet. A fine silver necklet surrounds her neck. On the necklet is a silver Runner charm with a piece of Tigereye. This necklet is worn proudly to display the fact that a certain Journeywoman Mentors Flarra. Strapped around Flarra's waist is a belt with an attached knife and pouch. Flarra's Pack hangs heavily from Flarra's shoulder. Perched silently on Flarra's shoulder with his long tail wrapped gently around her neck is Taman. Perched atop Flarra's other shoulder with tail wrapped tightly around her neck and clinging on as if for dear life is Harlan.
She is awake and looks alert.
Carrying:
R Charm Harlan
Flarra's Knife Flarra's Storage Chest
Flarra's Pack Risli's Pup Pen
Taman Felis
Flarra is 17 Turns, 10 months, and 12 days old.
Flarra slowly dismounts from an undestinguishable colored dragon's neckridges, sliding quietly down and thanking the tall Ista Rider, "Thank you for the ride.. I'll see to it you get payment or something.." She offers quietly, tears still visible in her eyes but most are dried thanks to the high winds of dragonback.. "Oh, Wal.. Hi.." She adds softly as the little blue suddenly lands on her shoulder, reaching a hand up to stroke small eyeridges, "Where's your Pet?"
Prompted by Wal, Pyrene comes out into the bowl and blinks startled at the figure she finds there, "Flarra? What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She moves forward in delight to hug her cousin, then draws back slightly noticing the tears, "Something's wrong?"
Flarra shakes her head softly, wiping the tears from her eyes and then leaning forward to hug her cousin back, tightly, "Oh Pyrene.. I.. I.. I left.. Left Blacksands.. Left.. Mother.." She whispers softly, voice trembling slighly as new tears start to form in her eyes, "I need a place to stay.. If only for the night.. This was the only place I could think of to go.."
Pyrene stares at her friend absolutely speechless for a moment, "Left? You left Blacksands? And Damista?" She shakes her head briefly in an attempt to get a coherent thought, "But why?? Back when the eggs hatched and everything, you were fine! Really happy. I don't und-- oh!" She throws her hands up helplessly and takes Flarra by the arm, "It's cold out here, and you've just been between. Lets go inside and talk, I'll get you some klah."
Living Caverns
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 Kate, Han, Sobrinita, Gwen, Shavira, Tristano, Mercutio, Kynance, Pacem, Noropolo, Boyd, Phoenix, and Dougal.
You see Jarrelle's handcarved dragon dice here.
Flarra is here.
Obvious exits:
Bowl Kitchens Inner Caverns Crafting Area
Flarra is led in by Pyrene.
Gunwalloe arrows in from the Central Bowl.
Pyrene sets Flarra firmly in a chair by the fire with Wal and also Ky crooning gently at her, while she pours a cup of klah and brings it back. "Now /why/ did you leave? you were so happy when I last saw you!" Repetitive but she's saying what she feels.
Flarra just allows herself to be led and set down, shivering slightly as she takes the mug of klah and sips a bit of it.. Though its not clear whether the shivering is from the cold itself or from holding back tears, "I'm sorry Pyrene.. I didn't mean to just show up without warning, but this was the only place I could think of to go.. You are family and R'sli is here too.. And its far enough away from Ista and Blacksands so I don't have to worry.." She adds quietly, taking one more sip, though bigger this time and almost something of a gulp before turning back to Pyrene and continuing, "Why did I leave? Because its whats best.. I /had/ to leave.. I just did.." She says softly, before turning back to her mug again, not quite sure if she can continue any further.. At least not at the moment.. The emotions are still very strong and her leaving very new..
Pyrene sits down next to her cousin, resting her hands on her arm. "Well, you can stay here as long as you like. There's a couple spare cots in the nurseries if you don't mind sharing your room with screaming kids. The nannies probably won't even notice you let alone mind..." she trails off, looking anxiously up into the other girls face. "Don't worry Flarra, you'll be fine here. In fact, it'll be fun! We can have snow fights again and everything." She bites her lip, staring at Flarra with concern.
Flarra nods quietly, taking one last big gulp of her klah and looking back to her cousin, "I could stay? You mean that?" She asks softly, voice turning a shade more optimistic as she thinks about that, "You wouldn't mind either? Me staying there?" She asks softly, faint smile flickering slightly on her lips as she listens to the last part, snow fights.. Now there's something he hasn't done in quite a while.. And with her cousin too, "Snow fights? Like last time?" She asks, voice barely a whisper now, but its clear she's beginning to feel better.. Yup, always count on her little cousin for a bit of cheering up.. Or at least to help her forget some of the unpleasentries of Hold and Hall life..
Pyrene smiles enthusiastically, "Well of course you can stay! As long as you like! You can meet all my friends and see R'sli again-- although weyrlings are /always/ busy," quite the little expert she is, now that she's seen it all at least once, "It'll be great, you'll see!" She emphasises this with a firm hug and little regard for the klah Flarra's holding.
Flarra hugs her cousin back, almost as equally firm and carefully sets the mug down.. Lucky for her and Pyrene she finished her klah just before the hug and so none of the hot liquid was left to spill over or onto either of them, "Thanks 'Rene! You're the best!" She says softly, though voice definately having a happier lilt to it, "I would like that.. To see R'sli and everyone again.. And having dragons around constantly won't be too bad.. Are you sure I won't be a bother to you or anyone?" She asks quietly, then turning back to give a smile to the two crooning flitters near her, "And having them around will be nice too.. Harlan and Taman could always use some other flitter company.. Its often lonely for them back..." She pauses momentarily as if not able to continue, but just manages anyhow, "Back at the Hold.."
Kynance and Wal immediately redouble their crooning as they try to assure the girl that they welcome her and her flits to the weyr. Pyrene giggles softly at the pair, "Oh, you'll all be fine here. Even Wal, Pol and Ky can cope with blues and browns if I really want them too." A rather disdainful trill emerges from Ky at that, while Wal just snorts. Pyrene gets up, "Want me to show you to um, your room?" She grins wryly, luxury accomodation it's not.
Flarra smiles slightly and nods, getting up carefully from her seat and stretching.. Her shivering from earlier seeming to have stopped for the moment, hopefully for good, "Sure.. If you can. Its been so long since I've been around in the caverns so I'm sure I'd lose my way.." She says quietly, turning to give the little flitters a small smile and then directing the smile towards her wonderful little cousin, "Thank you Pyrene.. For everything.."
Pyrene smiles back gently and takes Flarra's hand, "It's not that hard... This way..." Motioning to her flits to stay, (she knows what they're like when you want to unpack) she heads out.
[I show Flarra to the Children's Sleeping Quarters]
Children's Sleeping Quarters
Cots line the room, comfy chairs and such scattered 'tween to create a pleasantly homey atmosphere. Clothes chests, and such are leaned against the walls, off to the side and out the of the way. Wide doorway, screened off by rough cloth -- colorfully dyed -- serving as a barrier, separating and giving a bit more privacy to room adjoining playroom. Toys are still scattered, idling placed about room, taken in from the playroom despite all her warnings.
To the southwest, you see one person.
On the perch is Dromio.
You notice Adriann, Tiberia, and Lassar asleep here.
Obvious exits:
Play Room
Flarra wanders in, pushing aside curtain and blinking at renewed light.
Flarra drops Flarra's Storage Chest with a heavy *thud!*
Pyrene gestures to a spare cot, "You can dump your stuff there. Used to belong to one of the current weyrlings, I believe," she whispers, ignoring a few muted groans as sleeping children are woken by their entrance.
Flarra nods quietly, making sure to make as little noise as possible when setting a few of her things down, but the chest slips just out of her grasp and lands with a heavier thud then she had expected or wanted, "Oh.. I'm sorry, that was loud.. Hope I didn't wake anyone.." she says softly, keeping her voice low and down to a whisper as she peers around, "Nice and cozy.. Hope the nannies don't notice me here.. After all, I'm not exactly a child anymore and certainly couldn't pass for one.."
[Flarra drops all (and I mean /all/) her things]
Varcol rolls over and eyes Flarra with a glance that goes from sleepy to intent in moments. She definitely can't pass for a child. Pyrene casually throws a pillow at the precocious boy before helping flarra sort out her stuff. "Wow, you really came prepared didn't you?" she murmurs, again wondering what on Pern drove flarra away from Blacksands.
Flarra nods quietly, and then looks around making sure her stuff is undamaged from the trip and checking up on R'sli's pets before turning back to Pyrene again, "Well yeah.. I brought everything I own with me.. And I had to bring R'sli's pets.. He put them under my care when he got searched and I wasn't about to leave them behind.." She says quietly, turning away to check on a few more things, "Only thing I left behind was my runner.. Ginger.. I wanted so to bring her but I couldn't.. She's terrified of dragons so she couldn't be brought that way.. I guess I'll just have to send for her by ship.." She says quietly, looking back up at her cousin once more and then giving a small sigh, "I'm sorry.. I still haven't told you why.. Why I left.." She adds, obviously sensing the girls wonderment and then giving another small sigh, "Its a long story and I want to tell you, but I don't think I can just yet.. Its still so new and I have to settle first.." is whispered softly with a small shrug.. Hopefully Pyrene can understand what she's trying to say.. Though she herself isn't quite sure she understands what she's saying..
Pyrene regards Flarra for a long moment before pointed snoring from Ewyrpin's cot reminds her that they've got no business in here except sleeping, "Well, don't worry about it. Do you want to go back to the living caverns and get a bite to eat? Or do you need some rest? you can change behind that curtain over there, don't worry." Varcol mutters something and rolls back over in disgust.
Taman suddenly swoops silently up and into *between*..
Flarra just smiles slightly, turning to watch Varcol and Ewyrpin for a moment before turning back to Pyrene and nodding, "Something to eat might be nice.. I haven't eaten since the morning.. I couldn't.." She adds softly, frowning briefly but then covering it up with a smile, "Well, we might as well leave anyway.. I don't want to wake anybody.."
Pyrene nods and heads back the way they came.
[Back to the living caverns...]
Living Caverns
Flarra arrives from deeper in the Weyr.
Ginnie walks in from the Central Bowl.
Pyrene flops into a seat at the table with a sigh, "and there you go then!" She notices the newcomer and waves, "Evening." Snagging a plate each for her and Flarra, she helps herself to assorted leftovers.
Ginnie
A rather tallish girl, with long dark hair that goes to her waist in a neat ponytail is Ginnie. Her eyes match her hair with the exact same shade of brown, more the color of dry dirt than anything else. Her face is roundish, but elongated into an oval, and her forehead is framed by two wisps of bangs that split in the middle. Her body, lean but not muscular, seems as if it's been bent over for a long period of time, working at something that was too low for her height.
She wears a simple grey tunic belted with a braided wherhide belt at the waist and long brownish pants, both pieces of clothing looking rather new or at least well-kept. On her feet are a simple pair of boots, and around her neck hangs a small metal necklace.
She is awake, but has been staring off into space for a minute.
Ginnie is 17 Turns old.
Ginnie looks around with a grin. "Evening," she replies.
Flarra nods quietly, striding forward to take a seat at the table and taking the plate gratefully, "Thanks 'Rene.." She says softly, taking a bit of the food, though cold and eats hungerily at it, almost not noticing the newcomer until she hears her cousin speak, "Oh.. Umm.. G'eve.." She offers quietly, trying to hide the food in her mouth.. Yup, she's hungry! But even then she doesn't want to be rude and talk with her mouth stuffed, or just ignore the girl either.. *shrug*
Pyrene motions Ginnie towards an empty seat nearby, "If you want some food, help yourself." It's just going cold now anyway, "I'm Pyrene by the way, and this is Flarra." She grins gently at her cousin, "Eat! you look starved!" Besides, Pyrene can easily talk for two (and frequently does).
Ginnie smiles at the offer and heads over towards the motioned-to seat. She gets a small plate of food, while saying, "Thank you. I'm Ginnie. Nice to meet you," and other such related greeting stuff.
Pyrene eats a meatroll with little decorum, watching Flarra still, but talking to Ginnie, "Where're you from? Not another starcrafter are you?" There've been far too many people appearing at the weyr without her having been informed of it lately.
Flarra grins once and then proceeds to do as told and eat. Wow, either this food is really good or she's really been neglecting herself recently.. Both could be equally true though she suspects the latter, either way there's food here now and she's hungry. She starts as if to talk and then just shrugs and forgets it. She has to eat now and everything, though her manners aren't forgotten as she still tries to eat as neatly as possible and listen to the converstation at the same time..
Ginnie nibbles at a meatroll, and answers, "Oh, not a starcrafter. I'm from High Reaches hold, and over with my brother, who's bringing in some supplies or something from who knows where. I don't really listen when he gets to talking about all his trading, but came along this time because I've always wanted to see the weyr, and, well, it's better than sitting around at home and doing chores."
Pyrene grins, "It certainly is! And the weyr's beautiful, especially at this time of year in all the snow." Cold, yes, but beautiful, "You got up here all right in the snow then?" Well, obviously, so she continues, "Enjoy your visit anyway."
Ginnie says, "The snow wasn't that bad. Actually, it made it more fun. We sledded a lot of the way, just letting the runners run behind us with the supplies, and rode on them only when going uphill. And thanks, I think I will...it is really pretty here."
Pyrene sighs contentedly, pushing away her empty plate, "Don't forget, there's always klah warming on the hearth in here. We tend to be prepared for the cold." she winks at Ginnie before looking back to Flarra, "Especially since we get so many thin skinned Istan's visiting."
Ginnie perks up at the mention of klah, stuffs the last of her first meatroll into her mouth and stands up, walking over to pour herself a cup. She then puts in a huge amount of sweetener and sits back down, taking a sip.
Flarra stops eating for a moment and then turns to give her cousin a mock glare and then a grin, "Thin skinned? You of all people know I'm northern born.." She says quietly, still grinning as she stops to take one last bite of a cold meatroll and turn to Ginnie, "High Reaches Hold eh? Oh, M'name's Flarra if you were wondering.."
Ginnie smiles at the dialogue and then says to Flarra, "She told me," while pointing to Pyrene.
Pyrene nudges Flarra good-naturedly, relieved her cousin seems better, "I already told her that." You can count on Pyrene to do the right things every now and then you know. Not often, but every now and then.
Flarra chuckles lightly and then shrugs, "Did she? Well I must not have heard then, I'm sorry.." She says softly and then turns to Pyrene again, flashing another grin, her previous tears and bad mood seem to have disappeared.. At least for now.. "Anyway.. Despite what she says, I'm not thin-skinned nor even Ista born.. I was born up at Fort, right 'Rene?" She says quietly, almost proud in a way but still a bit unsure.. She hadn't found that out but just recently, thanks to a trip to Redsands and a certain brownrider..
Pyrene shrugs, "Fort or somewhere close by. That's definitely where that branch of the family's from. I haven't seen my granma in a while but if I do, I'll ask her about it."
Ginnie sips on her klah to keep from giggling at the cousin's intercourse.
Flarra nods quietly and then pushes the now-empty plate from in front of her and grins slightly up at her cousin, "Well, at least you have someone to ask.. I don't have a grandmother for whom to go to.." She says quietly, though grin fading slightly as she thinks about something, then continues, "Nor a mother either.. Nobody.."
Pyrene grips Flarra's arm again, "Yes, you do. My gran's near enough your gran to make no difference. you can always come to me and--" She breaks off before mentioning Damista's name, still unsure of what circumstances brought her here. For once in her life, Pyrene will /not/ be tactless. As it is she has no choice as a nanny making the rounds appears and beckons her to bed, "You can stay here awhile, Flarra, but I better go." She's already had to clean the pots today. A nod to Ginnie and she's gone.
