December 19,2001

 

 

Main Living Cavern

Melodic laughter rings throughout the spacious cavern as riders socialize with one another, boasting of adventures a-dragonback, and gossiping about stodgy wingleaders and sordid affairs. Drudges rush past you, their arms laden with dishes and mugs of Klah, desperate to relieve themselves of their burden while pesky 'lizards inhibit their progress.

The light from the glows warmly illuminates the domed cavern and shimmers off the walls as miniscule mineral particles reflect the soft lighting like twinkling stars blanketed in a wintry gray sky. Numerous tables lie scattered across the room, some large enough to hold a whole wing of riders while others were made only for two.  Towards the back, a large hearth breathes soul soothing warmth into weary bodies as its flames dance with hypnotic grace and puppet flickering shadows across the spacious stone stage.   

 Sultry, mouth-watering aromas float in from a small archway that leads to the kitchens while chattering can be heard emanating from a wide hallway.

Flopped atop various perches are Repugno, Sanctus, and Fallon.

You see S'am here.

Tarlin is here.

From here you can go:

Lower Caverns             Bowl                       Infirmary                

Kitchen                   Gaming Room                                          

 

Sk'lar steps into the caverns, and is immediately handed quite a handfull of 'things' by an assistant to the headwoman. "These are to go to Igen." And she is bustling off, leaving Sky just standing there. Guess he is going to Igen. "Errr," he anounces to the cavern at large. "Anyone want to go to Igen? Happening to be heading that way."

 

Kahlendroth) Saoirth lands lightly on the ground and furls her wings.

 

Tarlin wipes her hands on her apron then slips it over her head. "I'd like to go!" she calls out, and approaches the young bronzer with a grin.

 

Sk'lar smiles onto Tarlin, "And that makes my trip all the better." And so, with hands full, he cocks his head in the direction of the bowl before heading out as well.

 

Northern Curve of the Bowl

A symphony of sounds resonate off the weathered face of the cliff as raucous activity dominates this side of the bowl. Wisps of conversations can be heard as weyrfolk to and from the living cavern while riders, brandishing full stomachs, head back to restless lifemates. Shallow grooves, made by powerful talons, mar the sandy floor and make walking a bit tricky as you try to navigate through patchy crowds of people in search of your next destination.

Soft fluffy clouds are gathering idly overhead.  Belior has a small sliver of light and Timor is slightly more than three-quarters full.  It is a fall night.

Flittering around, you see Gnare.

The following dragons are here: Nhetoth, Zorath, Sazarith, Lyssath, Khaleth,

 Yveseth, Dezaith, Aramyth, Daemoth, Njordth, Kahlendroth, and Saoirth

From here you can go:

Central Bowl              Tunnel                     Eastern Curve            

Living Cavern             Western Curve              Ground Weyrs             

 

 

Tarlin seems to glide, with a gentle bounce in her step, toward Northern Curve of the Bowl.

 

Tarlin giggles.  "Well, I'd hate to think that it makes the trip worse," she retorts glibly, rolling down the sleeves of her kitchen coat.  "You've done the betweening thing a bit, right?" she teases.

 

Sk'lar comes from the caverns, Tarlin following along behind. He spots Saoirth and El'ana, approaching them. "I just got handed a pile of hide... want to take some for me?" he requests while looking up to the fellow weyrling. "We're off to Igen." As he hands them to her, he glances back to Tarlin, "Just a bit," he teases right back.

 

Tarlin grins and turns to El'ana.  "He hasn't lost anyone yet, has he?" she asks, continuing the taunt as she waits for Sk'lar's permission to mount Kahlendroth.

 

Kahlendroth drops low to the ground as Sky and Tarlin approach him. "Well, there was that Smith. But, trust me, nobody will miss that one at all." After a wink and a chuckle, he moves to mount the waiting bronze.

 

You climb onto Kahlendroth's forelimb only to have the bronze launch you into the air to land squarely bestride the bronze's neck.

 

Astride Saoirth, El'ana hails Sk'lar as he approaches, absently tossing her riding helmet into the air and catching it. She dismounts Saoirth agiley to receive the pile of hides from the other weyrling. "Hullo, Tarlin," she greets, "Why're you off to Igen?" She smirks at Tarlin's query; "Weeell, he hasn't had much chance to. You see, you're his first victim."

 

Tarlin climbs onto Kahlendroth's forelimb only to have the bronze launch her into the air to land squarely bestride the bronze's neck.

 

Astride Kahlendroth, Tarlin shrugs at El'ana as she gets her straps buckled.  "Me?"  She giggles.  "I'm going for the ride."  She prods Sk'lar.  "And, if he loses me, he'll never get another sweet from the kitchens."

 

Astride Kahlendroth, Sk'lar chuckles as he secures himself on the dragon, glancing around to make sure Tarlin is doing so as well. El'ana is grinned to, "I don't think she'll mind being my first." With another chuckle, he braces and gives the command to rise.

 

Sky Above Northern Curve of the Bowl

A splattering of colors coalesce into a harmony of brilliant hues, as dragons ferry passengers down to the entrance of the living cavern... the rapid motion of their wings swirling up small clouds of dust that seem to dance to the rythmic thrummings of contented lifemates.  Shadowy entrances to various weyrs look on with morbid silence, their darkened mouths little testimony that life abounds within.

Type 'ledges' to see a list of connected weyrs.

Soft fluffy clouds are gathering idly overhead.  Belior has a small sliver of light and Timor is slightly more than three-quarters full. 

 It is a fall night.

From here you can go:

Down                      Central Bowl               Up         

             

Eastern Curve             Western Curve                         

             

From Northern Curve of the Bowl, Saoirth shoves on her riding helmet and affixes the hides securely to the dragon, giving the green a pat when she's finished. She grins once more at Sk'lar general choice of words and urges her dragon upwards.

 

Saoirth launches up from the ground and steadies herself into a smooth glide.

 

Astride Kahlendroth, Tarlin chuckles as she wraps her arms around Sk'lar, pressing her cheek against his back.  "That would be a first," she mutters, amused... and then they're aloft.

 

You drop into the very depths of ::between:: with a thud more felt than heard.

 

**Travel to Igen**

 

NorthWest Bowl

 

A shelter from the stronger desert winds that strike across much of the rest of the bowl, the original founders of the weyr found the lee a suitable location for the most active area of the weyr.  A gaping stone awning provides covered protection and suitable sunning space for the occupants of the dragon infirmary. Shallow steps lead into a recessed entrance to the guest weyr. A much smaller entrance leads to the living caverns.

 

The following dragons are here: Dagath, Fereth, Nunth, Braeth, Saereth, Zheryth, Xuxakeirth, Tirelth, and Orimith

From here you can go:

Living Cavern             Infirmary                  Center Bowl

             

Guest Weyr                Stairs Up                  Weyr Entrance            

 

Sk'lar slides from Kahlendroth's tilted shoulder, bounces over the bulge of the dragon's foreleg, and then lands upon the ground with a *thump*.

 

El'ana stalks in from Center Bowl Area.

 

Tarlin slides from Kahlendroth's tilted shoulder, bounces over the bulge of the dragon's foreleg, and then lands upon the ground with a *thump*.

 

Tarlin clears her throat as she leans against Kahlendroth for a moment.  "That was.. interesting," she says.  She grins and waves at El'ana.  "Well, he hasn't lost me, yet."  Hides are eyed, and she looks then to Sk'lar.  "Need help?"

 

El'ana jogs towards the bronze, Sk'lar and Tarlin, hefting the hides in her arms. "Left Saoirth to wallow in the lake," she rolls her eyes comically. "I bet she'll implore me to oil her after we've delivered these, indicating the hides. She raises brows at Sk'lar, "Anyway, who -are- we to deliver these to?"

 

Sk'lar casts a glance over to Tarlin, "Well, I suppose we could have gotten a little lost there in between and instead ended up on some hidden cove near to Boll, but..." He jerks a thumb in the direction of the caverns. "All I was told was to bring those to Igen... I /suppose/ to a headwoman or something?" Maybe. Or they could just crack a few open to see what is inside too?

 

Main Living Cavern

The careless glitter of rose quartz reflects and refracts the light from within its bed of granite, each beam bringing a new shifting, a new subtlty of sight. Rows of long trestle table are seated in orderly awareness under the carven vault of the ceiling, centered around a great dais upon which sits the best-made one; this, too, shows the roughness of the others, but a roughness smoothed by time, and accented by the complexity of beams that show Turns-taken tesselation in their upward arch. Neither tapestries nor coverings mar the marbling of wild beauty, leaving unadorned grandeur that in naturalistic simplicity provides comfort to the occupants of the cavern.

One archway, the only covered by a drape of black and gold, shields the entrance to the bowl from the blow of sand; another, almost unobtrusive, marks the entrance to the lower caverns through a short, winding and uncarefully-carved tunnel.

Perched somewhere up high, you see Bunny.

You see Rushweed Basket, Ierie, and Canyon here.

Eve is here.

From here you can go:

Kitchens                  Lower Caverns                                        

Bowl                      Infirmary                                           

 

Tarlin seems to glide, with a gentle bounce in her step, in from NorthWest Bowl.

El'ana stalks in from NorthWest Bowl.

 

 

Tarlin giggles and shakes her head at the young bronzerider.  "You wouldn't do that, Sky.  You like your title too much to jeopardize it like that."  She would tickle him, but he's got his arms full and, well, that just wouldn't be fair.

 

Sk'lar turns a grin to Tarlin, "Is that a challenge that I hear?" He has got a good bit of Bitra blood in him, so be very careful. His handfull of hides and whatnot make it as far as the first table before they are deposited upon it. Now, to find someone around this place in charge... He glances about, spying the hearth. "I don't think they'd mind too much if we make ourselves at home with a bit of a drink or bite to eat 'til someone or another shows up."

 

Hotaru hops energetically in from NorthWest Bowl.

El'ana grins devilishly as she trails after the pair, "And then /I'd/ be Wingleader. Goodness, that would be.. interesting." Need she say more? "So.. we need to give these to the headwoman." She squints slightly and gives a shrug, "Blow me if I can't remember who the headwoman here is." She snorts and lowers her voice, "I generally tend to avoid /their/ type." As Sk'lar mentions food she smirks, "Saoirth is already helping herself."

 

Tarlin rolls her eyes at Sk'lar.  "Challenge you???  Perish the thought!"  She feigns shock for a moment, then pushes the young man.  She flashes a grin at El'ana.  "He wouldn't do it.  He's just being a goob.  Sk'lar.. it's always food with you, isn't it?" she groans the last.

 

Hotaru slips into the caverns without her usual vigor and energy.  Rather, she looks as if she didn't sleep much the night before. Not expecting a huge crowd, she offers a bright, "Hello," before ambling on to get what she came for: water.

 

Sk'lar laughs as he glances back to El'ana. "Is she really? Igen's hospitality is to be commended." He wanders over in the direction of the hearth, stumbling as he is pushed at. "Hey, I like food. It keeps me big and strong... well, active." As they say, a way to a man's heart is thru his stomach. Why do you think he is always around a certain cook? *cough* He is in mid-reach for something or another as a rather familiar voice is heard. *blinkblink* He comes about. Totally forgot she was here. "Good day, Hotaru."

 

Why, indeed, he's always around two certain cooks. Well, a cook and a cook-turned-weyrling. El'ana snorts in mockery as Sk'lar replies to Tarlin, "It's a wonder you didn't eat those horses you used to work with." she jibes, slinking forward to swipe a mug of klah. She turns on her heel as Hotaru enters and nods to her, brows slightly elevated in surprise.

 

Kaytie has arrived.

 

Tarlin always thought it was because he LIKED her.  *jab*  The cheery hello from Hotaru causes the cook to swing about with a delighted squeak. "Hottie!" She quickly closes the distance between them and catches up the young goldrider in an embrace before she remembers her 'delicate' condition.

 

Hotaru giggles, folding her own arms around Tarlin, "Tartar!"  Slyly, she adds, "Thank you for the gift last night, though it did run away from me."  E'liana and Sk'lar are given a nod and a smile, before she turns back to finish pouring her water, wrinkling her nose at the food around her.  "What brings you to Igen?""

 

And in saunters the senior apprentice, arms full of hides, and a warm scowl on her face.  Kaytie is given something of a pause by the seeming Telgar take-over happening in front of her, though a wry grin does quirk her lips when she spots former fellow candi-baits.  And... surprise, surprise.  Where there's a Sk'lar, can a Tarlin be far behind...?  Setting the hides down on a table, she crosses her arms casually over her chest and watches.  Let's play 'How Observant are the Telgarites?'.

 

Oh sure. Now Sky gets it. He was just being used. All Tarlin wanted to do was come up here to see Hottie. And now he is quickly left behind as the cook fairly leaps into the goldrider's arms. Sky glances to El'ana, chuckling, "I doubt I'd have much of a job then. Runner meat? For shame, El'ana." *wink* He plucks a redfruit from the tray before moving back about to quirk an eyebrow at Tarlin, "And you were just here last nite?" As for Kaytie, he hasn't exactly noticed her yet. Naughty boy.

 

El'ana watches Tarlin and Hotaru, dark brows still arched slightly. She's heard the rumours about the Telgar Junior Weyrwoman, of course, but didn't take stock of them, but her sceptical eye notes Hotaru's burgeoning form. She takes a swig of klah and dives for a redfruit herself. Munching on it she eyes Sk'lar, "You and your insatiable hunger." she tsks. Eyes rove to fall on Kaytie and she almost drops the remainder of the fruit, "Kay!" she greets the Harper.

 

Tarlin giggles, ducking her head at the thanks from the young goldrider.  "Ah, Hottie..  I'd hoped he'd be able ta cheer you up.  An' he said you were doin' well an' that you went to the healers.."  She grins and eyes Hotaru. "At least the healers part is right.  It is, isn't it?"  Amusement is overtaken by concern.  The cook sticks her tongue out at Sk'lar.  "No," she retorts, "I sent a friend of mine to see how Weyrwoman Hotaru was doing."  Used, indeed. And here he was talking of kidnapping her...

Again.

 

Kaytie immediately beams like the good little Kay she is (coughhackchoke), and meanders towards the riders, hides conveniently forgotten where she set them. "El!" she greets the greenrider in turn, falling back on the first short version of the younger woman's name she can think of.  Just be happy no one thinks to greet Em or En next.  "Why are Telgar riders taking over Igen?"

 

Hotaru bites her lip, "Um.. well.. I /saw/ a healer?"  That doesn't necessarily mean that the healer saw her mind you.  Kaytie is given a glance as well as E'liana and Sk'lar, but her attention remains focused upon Tarlin. "He was nice.  I think I ended up helping him more than him helping me."  She winks, "But that's okay.  I really don't need to be allowing myself to be helped too much."  She pats her belly, "No more of these."

 

Sk'lar clucks his tongue at Tarlin before taking a bite of his fruit and crunching away at it. With a wink to her, he glances back at El'ana. "I'm always hungry. Nothing wrong with trying things that are tasty." He is looking most amused now, before he blinks at the name and then glances to the side to spy the old clutchmate. "Why, look at this... If it isn't Kaytie, in the flesh." *grin*

 

Kaytie overhears the bronzerider's remark about trying tasty things, and gives him a perfectly innocent look.  "Well, now.  I'd think if you were going for something tasty, you'd talk to a cook."  See that halo over her head?  Ignore the red streak in it.  "And it most certainly is.  I *like* myself in the flesh.  It makes everyday living so much easier."  She flashes a grin and a more or less courteous nod towards the somewhat aforementioned cook and the goldrider.

 

Tarlin wrinkles her nose and waggles a finger at Hotaru.  "You.  I'm surprised G'min didn't /make/ you see one, if he didn't... and disappointed, as well."  The scowl is erased, however, and goldgirl's arm taken to lead her to join the others. "Well, I brought you a fresh breath of home.  See?  We've got weyrlings who are finally able to between."  She giggles and waves a 'hello' to Kaytie.

 

Hotaru is pulled along to the group, her fingers clutching her glass of water. "Ah.. well.. I don't think G'min knows I promised you.  And I will get around to seeing a healer, just not today.."  Maybe once the child is delivered?  Eyes flick to Sk'lar and El'ana, "Ahh, yes, a breath of home."  Kaytie is also given a quick grin as now attention's pulled away from her increasing middle and thinning limbs.  "Any news from home?"

 

El'ana grins appreciatively at Kaytie's jibing--Sk'lar is thick-skinned enough to stand it, so where's the harm? She spares a smirk for Tarlin's words too, "Aye, that we are. And Sk'lar's the Wingleader, too. Pity he doesn't lose himself between, then I'd be the wingleader." Not that this is a repeat of an earlier conversation or anything. "We're graduating soon," she notes brightly to the Junior Weyrwoman.

 

Sk'lar happily chews upon his bite of redfruit as he just /grins/ at Kaytie. Once swallowed, he speaks, "Oh, that I have. In fact, I-" But he abruptly cuts off as they are joined by Tarlin and Hotaru. So, the weyrling's grin widens as he moves to wrap an arm about the Telgarian cook. "News? Its been rather boring since we've lost the pleasure of your company back home, Hotaru. A pity, it is." And El'ana's words earn her a wry grin. "This is what I get for promoting her to WingSecond.... greedy thing."

 

Leave it to a harper to have a choice word or three always at the ready.  Kaytie merely smirks at Sk'lar's movement, dropping rather gracelessly into the nearest chair as she observes the group.  There's a song in this, somewhere, but the lyricist hasn't found it yet.  This is probably a good thing for all involved.  "Faranth, graduating already?  Have I really been back at Igen that long?"  Now look, they've gone and made Kay feel old.

 

Tarlin gets an arm around her?  She stares at Sk'lar and then grins at the others.  Well, isn't this a surprise, but one she won't mind taking advantage of...  "You'd better not lose yourself between."  Not like there's anything she can do.  She reaches a hand out to Hotaru.  "Yeah, Hottie.  We miss you lots."

 

Hotaru winks at Sk'lar, "Ahh, I miss home too.  Even that over-bearing, egotistical Rosalth.  I'm glad you're close to graduating.. weyrlinghood is so much more fun once you're free to do what you want."  She knows, she caused enough mischief.  The arm around Tarlin is noted with a waggle of eyebrows and she grasps the girl's outstretched hand. "I miss Telgar.  I miss home.  I miss my weyr.  My bed..."  Voice drifts off almost sadly.

 

El'ana browraises at Sk'lar's actions too, though she merely reaches for another redfruit and is content to listen to the chattering of the others. She surpresses a laugh as Hotaru describes Toria's lifemate, "Saoirth thoroughly agrees, Hotaru. She says Ceayrth is better company." Giving a toss of her head that sends raven hair shimmering she eyes Kay. "It doesn't seem that long ago that we were all breaking our backs in candidacy together."

 

See, they aren't in Telgar now, are they? Makes a bit of a difference. Sk'lar nods his head to Hotaru, "Well, I don't suppose you will be stuck here all that much longer? Just a couple more months?" He isn't exactly all that up on his knowledge of pregnancy, so is just winging it here. "Yes, graduating. But I don't expect that'll happen for another month or two. Which is why we are on messenger duty right now." Thus the reason the weyrlings are here today. At mention of candidacy, all he does is grin.

 

Tarlin giggles and gives Hotaru's hand a squeeze.  It's about time to change the subject, or they might convince the junior goldrider to sneak back home.  "You'll be home soon enough," she almost echoes Sk'lar.  She glances back at the bronzerider with an impish grin.  "Probably before /they/ manage to get themselves graduated."

 

Kaytie snickers, twining a strand of her own long copper hair around one finger.  "Except now you have dragons to break your backs with during weyrlinghood.  I'm stuck with rather quiet stacks of hides.  Though, it's only my journeyman project to go, so I suppose it's worth it," she muses.  Hotaru gets another long look, though this one is considering.  "I don't know much about riding and going ::between::, but couldn't you fly straight back to Telgar?"  Never mind how long *that* would take.

 

Hotaru giggles at El'ana, "Very true.  Ceayrth is much nicer."  One hand instinctively touches her middle while she quickly ponders Sk'lar's question. "Hmm.  I'm about four and a half months along.  I'm to stay this way for 9 months total.."  Gaze narrows in thought, her voice couched in nostalgia, "At least you guys are almost done."  Home...

 

Hotaru hmms at Kaytie, "That would be a long trip.."  Of course, she could go like she was going to fly straight and then do just an eensy, weensy little between trip.

 

Tarlin wrinkles her nose at Kaytie with a look that says 'don't encourage her!!!'  She shakes her head at Hotaru.  "Didn't Toria say you were grounded?"

 

Kaytie arches a brow.  "It would be, but I'm assuming it'd be safer than any amount of time between."  This is not, of course, to say that the harper has developed the ability to read thoughts.  She nods minutely to acknowledge Tarlin, and settles back to avoid further involvement in this particular discussion.

 

Sk'lar glances down at his partially eaten redfruit, before peeking back at Tarlin, "There is something to say for graduating together as a class." Or at least that has been pounded into him by weyrlingmasters galore. So, it'll be another couple of months. He frowns across to Hotaru, blinking at Tarlin, "That is the rumor that I heard. That she actually grounded you." But if she sneaks her way back to Telgar, what are they gonna do? Send her back to Igen?

 

El'ana waves a hand at Tarlin dismissively, "We're nearly there, I tell you! And goodness, the Weyrlingmasters want shot of us as soon as possible." She beams darkly, if such a thing is possible-- and knowing her, it probably is. "So, yes, we're pretty much free to do as we please." A broad smirk, "And M'ud and Pieth are easy enough to manip-- er, easy-going. Why, I spent last night on one of the beaches down at Southern."

 

Tarlin sniggers, a flush spreading across her cheeks as she catches herself saying, "Not free enough, nor /close/ enough."  She gives Sk'lar a squeeze and eyes Hotaru speculatively, wondering if the girl is actually considering the temptations.  After all, she's already done it once.

 

Hotaru tilts her head, the little gears in her mind beginning to whir.  "Hmm. Yes. Toria did ground me."  Thought processes aren't hard to deduce as Sk'lar's own thought seems to have dawned on her as well.  "Anyway.." she says cheerily, covering herself, "..It's good that you're beginning to graduate.  Ahh.. Yes. The beaches of Southern."

 

Kaytie has the distinct sense of being perfectly unable to contribute in any useful way to this discussion.  This is not an unfamiliar feeling, but it is a little odd for the harper to be the quietest person in the room.  "Did you get your weyrs yet?  I'd think, after all, the dragons are too big for the barracks now."  There.  Innocuous and not completely inane.

 

"Yes," grins El'ana, turning her attention upon the harper, "Not very long ago, mind you. Mine's up above the lake. Saoirth insisted, vain thing that she is." She chuckles darkly, "And Sk'lar and Ri have weyrs as far apart from each other as is possible. Saoirth tells me that tiny Liuth of Ri's can't stand our Kahlendroth." She shakes her head in mock-puzzlement, "Though I couldn't for the life of me say why."

 

Sk'lar is just sneaky and always happy to thwart The Man. His grin grows as he smiles to Hotaru, before squeezing Tarlin right on back in teasing. Nothing wrong with giving Hotaru ideas. He glances askance to Kaytie, bobbing his head, "Yes. For a couple of months now. Everyone has been busy working to clean their's out. Just yesterday, Tarlin and I were hunting out snakes in mine." And if one more person takes that as a euphemism...He doesn't really care. And El'ana's words garner quite the grin, "She's just been uppity since birth." *wink*

 

Tarlin frowns slightly in Hotaru's direction, then decides that, like before, she can't keep the goldgirl from doing what she wants.  With a sigh, she prods Sk'lar.  "Did you ever finish cleaning that out?" she asks, glad for another topic to discuss.

 

Hotaru has fallen silent to her own thoughts, though she does lift her head to regard El'ana, "They don't like each other?  The dragons don't get along?"  Oh, how she misses home!  "I shall have to visit your new weyrs when I can."  Weyrgirl has many, many ideas and none of them good.

 

"Oh?  Hunting tunnelsnakes?  Did you catch any, Tarlin?"  Euphanism?  What euphanism?  Kaytie is just the cute, innocent apprentice sitting there with her tail and cloven hooves neatly hidden.  "Somehow, anything connected to Ri being a little uppity doesn't surprise me," she continues mildly, studying her hands.  "But congratulations on having your own little spots to call home, anyway."

 

Sk'lar smiles and turns to Hotaru, "Only upon the part of Liuth. Kahlen would be more than happy to make friends with her." But, like rider, like dragon. He nods to Tarlin, "Well, not entirely. But I'm fairly sure all the snakes are gone now." He quirks a grin to Kaytie as he says this, before looking back to the cook under his arm. "I'll have to take you up there again." He glances back up, "When it does get all cleaned out, you all will have to visit." This including all those present, naturally. "But I draw the line at any weyrwarming gifts that involved potted plants, doilies, or throw rugs."

 

El'ana's snicker of approval is quickly turned into a none-too-convincing cough and she busies herself by sipping at her quickly cooling klah. "Thank you," she murmurs to Kaytie when she has sufficiently recovered. The girl nods vigourously towards Hottie, "Ohhh yes. Kahlen has a, er, way with greens. Rather like Sky there," she adds, not-so-subtly.

 

Tarlin grins wickedly at Kaytie.  "Yes, and I cut its head off," she states with a slash of her hand.  Euphemism?  What Euphemism?  The comments that abound involving Sk'lar, his lifemate and females, are ignored, like the multitude of others that she tends to hear--or overhear.  She smiles, allowing her own arm to snake around Sk'lar's waist.  "I was going to ask you what was in the chest, but I'll have to find out for myself, then."  Buried treasure!  Arrr!

 

Kaytie is just getting her own treasure-trove here, in the form of various statements made by cook and bronzerider, and she spares a moment to wink mischievously at El'ana.  "Cut off it's head.  And did Sk'lar enjoy witnessing that?  I don't doubt you'd like to explore his chest, either."  At some point, she knows, she's going to have to duck, and probably quite quickly.  "Speaking of greens, has anyone taken the joyous distinction of first to rise yet?"

 

Hotaru listens with only half an ear to the conversations around her.  Is she plotting?  Taking a sip, she moves to find herself a seat, greatful to sit down.  Even emitting a low, "Ahhhh" once her weight is off her feet.  However, Tarlin's arm around Sk'lar causes yet another eyebrow wagle from the weyrgirl.

 

Sk'lar continues to keep an eye on Hotaru, keeping his peace as he watches the wheels in her head turn. Words are for the conversation at hand, "No, I haven't looked through everything since I got called away for wingduties and you were gone from the weyr." Just how did she escape from that kidnapping? "No, none of the greens have rose yet. But I'm fairly sure that Brit'ni will do her fardling best to be the first."

 

Kaytie, meanwhile, climbs easily to her feet, grinning at Sk'lar's guess.  "I don't doubt it," she agrees, remembering the person in question just enough to offer her opinion.  "On that note, however, I really do need to get back to work on my project, lest I end up an apprentice forever.  And that would mean permanent M'doc restriction."  And we can't have *that,* can we?  "It was nice seeing all of you again.  Goldrider, a word of advice.  Be careful.  If only for the sake of your friends and your dragon."  With that little gem, and a quick wave, she retreats to scoop up previously abandoned hides and head off.

 

Kaytie goes home.

 

El'ana scowls at the mention of Brit'ni, though Saoirth, done feeding, consoles her rider smugly with the fact that El' was made wingsecond over her. "Yes. She /would/," comments the girl, rolling her eyes, "But it's partly the fault of all you bronze riders. T'rec can't keep his eyes off her." She snorts derisively and puts back the rest of her klah. "Liuth will probably be the last," she notes ungenerously, waving Kaytie off.

 

Tarlin scowls.  "Isn't she Spearth's rider?"  The girlish weyrling celebrity comes to mind and she wrinkles her nose, but doesn't comment.  Hotaru receives another concerned look when the cook hears the slight sigh.

 

Sk'lar has noticed Brit'ni, ayep. Who couldn't? "I really should find someone to give these hides to." He glances over at the pile of hides that they brought in. That and this would be the ideal place to skip out of the conversation before he gets incriminated. With a final squeeze to Tarlin, the takes the pile up and starts down into the lower caverns.