The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) 1967.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	11/12/96

Log Cast:
	Mehlani, Skye, Josef, Jalimax, Felinar, Kassima, Trenan, Lal, Merec,
Asrai, Kindre, Emne

Log Intro:
	With her brother Fahloran gone to study at the Healer Hall, and her
mother and her sister Anra still at the Harper Hall while Melora carries on
her work for her Craft, Mehlani has more or less been left to her own
devices at Benden Weyr. This doesn't particularly trouble the child, as she
is able to spend time helping out her father with the care of his dragon
and fire lizards -- as well as her own fire lizard, the little bronze Holl
that she's recently Impressed.
	'Lani doesn't know, however, that as she's drawn closer to her
tenth Turning Day, the Crafters posted at the Weyr have started to keep an
eye on her....

----------
You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.
Benden Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's 
  population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity 
  here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently 
  for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under 
  Salless' watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets 
  and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its 
  size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the 
  pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder 
  that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. The 
  tables are decorated with a multitude of bright spring flowers.
A short tunnel jaunts eastward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of 
  cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southwest end of 
  the cavern near the westerly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. To 
  the southeast is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured 
  dragons and riders.
Contents:
Salless
Spicy Meal Table
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl

Skye walks into the cavern, really. Once again she has in her hand music 
  written on fine paper and her gitar. A smile graces her face, especially as 
  she notices Mehlani.

Mehlani is sitting at a table, eating a lunch, and sharing it with a small 
  bronze fire lizard.

Skye sits down at the same table as the girl, the music is set neatly in a 
  pile near her and the gitar, too, is rested table-top. "Greetings." It's a 
  pleasant smile.

Before the girl, bronze Holl chirrs sweetly, and peers at the food on the 
  plate before his human. He nibbles carefully from Mehlani's fingers, wings 
  flittering; then, both girl and fire lizard look up at the young woman who 
  joins them. Holl cheeps, but Mehlani bobs her head shyly.

Skye is a medium tall woman, slight of form. She has long silky, but abundant 
  brown hair that hangs in gentle waves to her shoulders and a kind & capable 
  smile. Her silvery grey-green eyes dance with her usual cheerfulness.
 She is wearing a pale cream coloured tunic which shimers in the light and a 
  flowing, silky looking camel colored skirt. On her feet are a pair of fine 
  hide boots with an 'S' tooled into the sides. On her shoulder is a knot 
  which gives her away as a Journeyman Harper.
Carrying:
'Riel
Small gitar

Skye says in her clear voice, full of practiced soprano grace, "Don't you 
  remember meeting me at the hall, Mehlani?" With that, she stands again, 
  walking in a myriad of silken skirts toward the refreshments.
Skye looks at you for a moment.

Mehlani bobs her head again, gravely, as she helps Holl eat a tidbit of meat. 
  The fire lizard croons.

Mehlani(#4177PQace)
This is a young girl-child of about four feet in height, with a build so 
  delicate that she seems composed of very little else save twig-slender limbs 
  and a fine, soft crown of medium auburn hair. Her skin is pale, speaking of 
  unfamiliarity with the sunnier climes of Pern; her eyes, when she chances to 
  direct her gaze straight at someone so that they can be clearly seen, are 
  dusty blue of shade, set at a faint slant -- and enormous in her still 
  childishly rounded face, leaving her tiny nose and mouth almost 
  afterthoughts. Very seldom does this waif speak. When she does, her voice is 
  soft, sweetly toned, and clear of enunciation. But far more often than not, 
  she simply fixes her solemn regard on an object or person of interest, and 
  keeps it there with an attention span uncanny for a child of her apparent 
  age, as though the weight of the world depended on her drinking in every 
  detail of her surroundings through her guileless eyes.
Carrying:
Holl(#6542)
Whereth(#11120)
Callie(#7160)

Skye returns to her seat with a glass and an ewer of juice, "I thought you 
  were living at Harper Hall, Mehlani. No?

Mehlani shakes her head silently.

Skye says, "But Mehlani, I thought you were going to be a harper, no?"

In front of Mehlani, Holl flitters around, peering up with eyes about as 
  earnest as the child's, to peer at the grownup.

Mehlani blinks. Then her small brow furrows, and she explains shyly, "I was 
  visiting Momma."

Skye says, "But surely..." She pauses, eyes on the girl even as she pours 
  some juice into the glass in a cascade of red. Sitting across from the girl, 
  she says, "Your mother was a harper, wasn't she?"

A firm nod from the small head, as Mehlani lets Holl crawl up into her arms.

Skye puts her palms flat on the table, "Sing for me, Mehlani." In her best 
  journeyrank harper voice.

Mehlani blinks.
Mehlani's blue eyes then go very round, and she looks unsurely up at the 
  Journeyman; her small face flushes a little. "Why?" she peeps.

Skye says, "Because I would like to hear your voice. As simple as that."

Josef walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Josef has arrived.

A few more blinks from the little girl. Holl, apparently sensing she's 
  disturbed, perches on her shoulder and coos soothingly, which seems to 
  relieve 'Lani, for the child nods hesitantly. Her brow crinkles. Then she 
  sits up a little in her chair -- Momma says to sit up when you're singing -- 
  and ventures timidly, "What do you want me to sing?"

Skye is sitting across from young Mehlani, hands flat on the table in front 
  of her.

Josef
His eyes are well and truly yellow; when the moon shines, they seem to nearly 
  glow, so pale are they. Set within the stygian darkness of a fine-cheeked 
  face, one is always certain of where Josef is looking, even if one isn't 
  quite sure whether he is amused out of cheerfulness or out of sarcasm. 
  Short, kinked hair covers his head, the broad-chested basso voice fitting 
  the tall, muscular man. Clothed still in simple, sturdy designs, 
  colour-based primarily within the deeper blues, browns, and occasional 
  yellows, he proudly bears the knot of an Apprentice (junior-grade) to the 
  Harper Hall; he has, after all, survived 4 Turns, 7 months, and 21 days of 
  wearing the knot out of 25 Turns, 0 months, and 10 days of life.
 Working well within the Hall, despite his lack of rising through the 
  hierarchy, he enjoys the political and social ramifications of the Harper's 
  job. The instrumentation (his gitar and lute fingering are adequate for his 
  position) and voicework (the mellowness of his basso has been the object of 
  occasional admiring -- or jealous -- glances and glares) is interesting, but 
  he seems to be keeping apace in those areas simply to make certain he can 
  continue within the Hall.
 For OOC, RL reference: Josef's voice and accent are akin to James Earl Jones 
  when he is speaking, and Barry White when he is singing.

Skye says, "Sitting or standing is very important when you sing. The words 
  and the air should come from here..." Her hands go to her midriff. She 
  always has straight posture as if ready to raise her voice in song at any 
  moment. "Sing a song that you like, Mehlani. Something your mother sang to 
  you. Or something that you like." She doesn't notice Josef.

Josef wanders from his point of entry, very Harperly businesslike, greeting 
  and chatting with the weyrfolk, smiling, asking after people who he'd known, 
  six Turns back when he passed through here. His whole attention seems to be 
  on the 'person of the moment', but a trained eye will notice that he spends 
  at least equal time collecting the sense of the crowd.

Jalimax walks in from the bowl.
Jalimax has arrived.
Jalimax waves!

Mehlani nibbles a little at her lip, unconsciously lifting a hand to pat the 
  bronzeling fire lizard on her shoulder, then she considers, and pulls in a 
  little breath, and finally lets it out with:

	The hearts of all the members of our wing must swell with pride
	For the folk of Pern, the cream with which we're flying side by side
	For the clutchings and the Hatchings and the mating flights we share
	And the quaint and curious shoulderknots we're called upon to wear

The child sings very softly, in a sing-song slow tempo.

On Mehlani's shoulder, Holl coos happily and flitters his 
  red-and-yellow-tinged wings against Mehlani's runner-tail.

Mehlani then trails off right there, little mouth clapping shut, and eyes 
  regarding Skye shyly across the table.

Jalimax blinks and leans back against a table, and listens to the singing.

Skye doesn't see Jalimax, either. Her whole attention is concentrated on the 
  youngster in front of her who is singing. It is a smile that tugs at the 
  ellegant harper's mouth, her eyes silvery and bright with pleasure. "Very 
  nice. You know, maybe you should stand when you sing it."

Mehlani blinkblinks several times, apparently utterly surprised by this.
Mehlani hangs on to her bronze, as she slides slowly off her chair.

Felinar walks in, and quietly surveys the scene.

As she gets up, Mehlani slips a glance around the Lower Caverns, noting the 
  presence of a few more grownups than the last time she looked. Then she 
  peeks back at Skye, not sure what this person wants her to do next.

Jalimax smiles and doesn't say anything, letting Skye handle the girl, and 
  finds himself a place to sit.

Felinar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Felinar has left.

Skye says, "Now sing the same thing..." She smiles. "And this time, feel it 
  expell from your lungs." In fact, Skye gets up and walks around the table, 
  her skirts swishing as her hips graze the table's edge. If Mehlani allows 
  it, Skye will put both hands upon the girls rib cage, to demonstrate how it 
  might feel. Her eyes fall on Josef and a thin line mars her usually smooth 
  brow.

Kassima walks in from the bowl.
Kassima has arrived.

Josef returns Skye's gaze with a certain obscure delight, as though he, as an 
  apprentice, had just pulled off a prank that he knew for certain couldn't be 
  traced back to him.

Mehlani wrinkles her tiny nose at Skye; she doesn't shy away or cringe as the 
  young woman comes around the table to join her, but she does look confused. 
  At least for a moment. Apparently willing to go along with this, 'Lani 
  repeats the verse she sang, this time with a little more breath to it. Her 
  notes are more or less on the true, well enough for a child.

Kassima walks in with a wave to everyone, pausing to listen to Mehlani's 
  singing. Smiling at the chosen song, she resists the impulse to whistle 
  along as she heads over to get herself something to drink.

Skye releases the girl and smiles down at her, "Now, didn't that feel better?" 
  Despite Josef's smug expression, Skye seems to be in a good mood. She leans 
  on the table, arms crossed and expression thoughtful. "You should come to my 
  rooms in the mornings, Mehlani, and I can teach you a little more about 
  singing."

Mehlani considers this offer, small brow furrowed anew; then she nods, once, 
  murmuring barely audibly, "Momma showed me some."

Skye who stands straight, who is the picture of a sophisticated harper, and 
  who has forgotten for the moment the badly behaved harper apprentice behind 
  her, says, "Would you like to sing with me a couple times a week, Mehlani?"

Mehlani inches around Skye to get another tidbit of the meal she'd been eating 
  for her bronze, who cheeps sweetly.

Kassima watches 'Lani and her bronze from where she's perched herself in her 
  usual chair at the Thunderbolt table, and comments, "'Twas as fine a 
  rendition of the Fight Song as I've heard sung in quite a while, Mehlani." 
  She smiles, to show her sincerity.

Jalimax waves at Kassi

Skye puts her hand on Mehlani's shoulder, "No? Will you sing with me or no, 
  Mehlani? You know I could write to your mother."

Mehlani peeks over at Kassima; the child's mouth curls up at each end, for an 
  instant. At Skye, then, she looks up, startledly.
Mehlani admits cautiously, "I like singing." This admission, however, is 
  almost muffled by Holl's little bronze head getting in the way, as the fire 
  lizard tries to nuzzle his human -- she's tense!

Trenan has arrived.
Trenan shakes his head to clear his eyes

Trenan
Has a tall stong figure with broad shoulders and a powerful bodymass. He is 
  constantly looking around for somone he might know. He is wearing a weyr 
  hide jacket and weyr hid pants. In his eyes you can see a yearning for 
  adventure but out side is a quiet gentle man.

Trenan looks around the room

Kassima smiles and says, encouragingly, "'Tis good to do something you like, 
  and to practice--that way, when you become better at it, you'll likely like 
  it more. Or even if you don't," she adds, with a grin. Turning, she nods to 
  the newcomer a bit absently.

Trenan says "yes it is"

Skye says, "Then why don't you meet me in my quarters, Mehlani, every other 
  morning?" The gentle harper smiles at the child, perhaps recalling her own 
  first shyness when she was young.

Trenan sits comfortly on the ground
Trenan takes somthing from his pack and beggins to stare at it intently

Another coo from the bronze fire lizard on her little shoulder makes Mehlani 
  glance sideways at her pet; then the child nods twice to Skye, slowly. For 
  another brief instant, each corner of her mouth curls up.

Trenan puts the mysterouis object away
Trenan looks around for some company
Trenan stands up
Trenan says "can I help with anything?"
Trenan says "very well I will be off"
Trenan has left.

Josef looks towards Trenan, then smiles. "What can you do?"

Jalimax stretches and sips his klah.

Kassima blinks as the stranger leaves. "How odd," she murmurs, then shrugs; 
  apparently, she's grown used to odd folk after the time she's lived here.

Josef gives Kassima a nod. "Indeed. A quite abrupt young man."

Skye gives the girls shoulder a squeeze and then smiles back. "It'll be fun." 
  With that, she moves to the opposite side of the table with her 
  self-assurred stride, to gather up a stack of paper, finely etched with a 
  musical score.

Kassima nods agreement. "So he seemed. I'm sorry, I don't think I've caught 
  your name...?" She lifts an eyebrow in inquiry.

Mehlani inches off to sit down with her fire lizard, quietly.

Josef ahs, and extends a thick-calloused hand. "Apprentice Josef, Harper. I 
  used to live here -- well, for a few months -- some Turns back."

Kassima covers the extended hand with her own in the traditional greeting, and 
  smiles. "Well met then, Josef, and Benden's duties to the Harper Hall. I'm 
  Kassima, rider of green Lysseth; you were mayhaps here before I Impressed, 
  if 'twere some Turns ago, which would explain why I don't recall you. Or my 
  memory could be faulty." She grins. "Faranth knows, that's likely enough."

And in the mean time, the journeyman harper has some scoring to do herself. 
  Upon thiny lined paper she makes a firm black dot with an ellegant line 
  upward from it, wings that are fleeting upon the quarter note. A new 
  beginning. It is /then/ the gitar is set in her lap, the note played clear 
  and in tune. A seconf following, until it's a rapid progression of melody.

Josef gives a gentle laugh to Kassima. "Well, I mostly stayed out of 
  everyone's way. Common sense, if you've nothing to offer besides common 
  basic weaving."

Mehlani sits up a little on the chair she's reclaimed, studying Skye earnestly.

Lal walks in from the bowl.
Lal has arrived.
Lal nods to all, and grins at Mehlani.

Kassima grins. "Oh, weaving's naught to be ashamed of; I've a Weaver cousin, 
  and while I'm certainly ashamed of him sometimes," she winks, "'tis nay 
  because of his Craft!" She waves absently to Lal.

Mehlani's head snaps around as she spies Lal, making the bronze fire lizard on 
  her shoulder cheeple. The bronzeling wings up into the air a moment as 
  Mehlani jumps off her seat and hastens over to hug the brown rider's waist; 
  then, the fire lizard zips over to catch up, and peer at this adult his 
  human is charging to.

After this spam of notes, Skye playes the same tune again, this time slower, 
  and repetitive, changing one note for another to see how it sounds. Only 
  after she's played half-a-dozen variations does she write it down upon the 
  precious paper, pausing to blow on the ink. Setting the tune for permanence. 
  Residents of Benden weyr will recognize this tune as one she's been working 
  on for some time now.

Lal gives Mehlani a big hug. "Hey there--nice greetin'!" She grins crookedly.

Mehlani hugs Lal big. The bronze lands on her head and coos up at the brown 
  rider.

Josef glances over towards Skye as she plays, and gives a brief smile before 
  returning to Kassima. "Well, I wasn't a crafter. Just a normal, if you'll 
  forgive me, 'Joe'."

Lal looks down at Mehlani, "What's up, dearie?"
Lal smiles, and scritches the bronze. "And who's yer friend?"

Atop Mehlani's head, Holl trills, eyes whirling bluely. Mehlani confides in 
  her tiny voice, "That's Holl and he's my fire lizard."

Lal says "Well now, he's a beaut. Should prolly meet me friend Brawnzie."

Kassima smiles at 'Lani and Lal, then inclines her head to listen to Skye's 
  notes for awhile as she chuckles. "Ah. Aye, I know a bit of that, mayhaps; 
  'twas the cook for m'family--my small branch of it, anyway--but nay a Baker 
  by any means. I've a lot of things I do for hobbies, but I never had a true 
  Craft. Can't say I regret it; there's naught I regret about m'life now, for 
  true."

Leaving the paper flat and the pen carefully to once side, the gitar is picked 
  up again. It is a serious expression on Skye's face that lends her the next 
  set of notes. She playes the first part, adding to it another half a dozen 
  measures, oblivious to her surroudings. For now.

Mehlani, having relayed the important intelligence of who Holl is to Lal, 
  straightens up a bit. She's not exactly smiling, but her eyes have lightened.

merec has arrived.
merec says "oops"

Lal says "So, what else goes on wi'yeh?"

Asrai walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Asrai has arrived.

merec looks around for somthing'hmm nope'

Mehlani considers Lal's question, then points at Skye.

Asrai comes into the living cavern with a smile and a waves for those she 
  knows, heading over to the serving table for a mug of citron.

Lal flicks a glance at Skye. "Y'gotta help me. Y'helpin' her?"

Time passes when Skye is composing, but after this, she pauses, leavin the 
  gitar to rest against her body and reaching for the juice.

Kassima nods to the newcomer, and leans back in her chair, sipping at her 
  citron. As Asrai comes in, she waves to her friend. "Asrai, heyla! Been a 
  time since I've seen you much about."

Merec makes some weirdo jokes realizes no one is laughing and decides to find 
  another audience

Asrai makes her way over to where the Greenrider is sitting and takes an empty 
  seat, "Been real busy, what with my little ones and helping Tria and all."

Mehlani ohs, without sound, then stands on her tiptoes to whisper up to Lal.
Mehlani mutters to Lal, "... show me how to..."
You whisper "She wants to show me how to sing." to Lal.

Lal bends doen so she can hear....
Lal ohs, nodding. "S'good thing."

Merec Takes a peice of cheese out of his pack looks at it sadly and eats it'do 
  you guys have any extra cheese?

Kassima blinks and nearly drops her mug. "Your little ones?"

Asrai grins and points to the various hatchlings clinging to her clothes and 
  hiding in her wide pockets. She blinks at Kassi's reacton, "what did you 
  think I menat?"

Merec shrugs and continues on his search for more provisions
Merec sorts though his pack to find it empty

Asrai looks over to the stranger then shyly points to the serving table before 
  turing back to Kassi.

Kassima chuckles and regains her composure. "Well, when most people 'round 
  about speak of little ones, they mean children.

Merecs smile nearly explodes of of his face

Merec
Has a tall stong figure with broad shoulders and a powerful bodymass. He is 
  constantly looking around for somone he might know. He is wearing a weyr 
  hide jacket and weyr hid pants. In his eyes you can see a yearning for 
  adventure but out side is a quiet gentle man.

Asrai's eyes widen, "But Kassi I never..umm I mean.." Goes into a furious 
  blush.

Merec take lots of food from the serving table blushing slightly from eating 
  with such fourosity

Skye gathers up her paper manuscripts and her gitar, which she slings over her 
  shoulder. She picks up the ewer and the glass, too, moving through the weyr 
  with purpose, "I'll be in the inner cavern, if I'm needed," she says in a 
  cheerful voice.

Merec bows to all

Lal flicks a glance at the stranger, and has a seat.

Mehlani peers after Skye, thoughtfully.

Merec says "well good day to you all"

Skye walks towards the inner cavern.
Skye has left.

Lal nods. "Yah, 'allo. Whatcha want?"

Merec has left.

Asrai gives a small waves to Skye, even tho her cheeks remained colored..she 
  seems to jump at the distracton of Skye's leaving.

Mehlani waits a few moments, then leans close to Lal again and murmurs.

Lal leans down again.

Kassima laughs lightly. "Well," she says, with another wink to Asrai, "never 
  underestimate the powers of the Water...."

Mehlani mutters to Lal, "... had... picnic... Devlin!"
You whisper "I had a picnic with Devlin!" to Lal.

Asrai shakes her head almost vehemately, "No thanks..I'll stick to citron."

Lal's eyes go wide with mock-shock. "Ohhhhhh, really? Gracious!"

Mehlani bobs her head gravely.

Lal says "Was it fun? Nice?"
Lal leans down, knowing Lani's gonna whisper.

Kassima chuckles. "Wise of you, Asrai. Quite wise."

Mehlani again bobs her head.

Kindre walks in from the bowl.
Kindre has arrived.

Asrai giggles sipping her citron.

Lal waves. "I ain't salutin', Weyrwoman." She grins.

Kindre smiles and lifts a hand to wave, "Evening," she says as she asks a 
  passing drudge to bring her a glass of white. Taking a seat and crossing her 
  legs beneath her, she grins, "What's going on?"

Kassima smiles and waves to Kindre as the goldrider walks in. "Kindre, heyla! 
  How fares?" She grins at Asrai. "So, how *are* the little ones?"

"An' how is....Devlin?" Lal talks to Mehlani, but says to Kindre, "N'much. 
  Lani's got a new friend, it seems."

Asrai grins, "Doing well enough, Mist..the little sick Blue is growing a 
  little stronger even."

Emne walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Emne has arrived.
Emne walks off towards the kitchen.
Emne has left.
From the kitchen, Emne enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Kassima nods. "Very good to hear it! My youngest ones seem to be faring well, 
  also. I'll be relieved when these are past the hatchling stage and 
  full-grown, for true and certain."

Asrai blinks, "Oh Kassi, I forgot something..please excuse me, I'll be right 
  back."
Asrai stands and hurries out of the room.
Asrai walks towards the inner cavern.
Asrai has left.

Mehlani looks up shyly at Kindre.

A drudge quickly places a glass of wine before Kindre and she nods thankfully. 
  "Everything fares well enough...and for you and Lysseth?" she returns to 
  Kassima with a smile. "A 'friend?'" she then queries to Lal before her eyes 
  glance at Mehlani with another smile.

Atop Mehlani's head, no doubt, is the friend in question, a small bronze fire 
  lizard who seems quite comfortably perched, and who coos prettily.

Lal chuckles. "Oh yah, an' that one too." She points to Holl.

Kindre's lips curl down momentarily before turning into a quick smirk, 
  "Firelizards? Jays, mine eats more, I'd caution to guess," her head nods 
  towards the bowl, "than even Herath does!"

Kassima smiles at Kindre. "We're well. Went along with those who went to Bitra 
  to deliver food, wine, dishes, and the like... been a good day, all told."

Mehlani carefully plucks Holl off her head, and cuddles him gently.

Lal says "Jays, me firelizards're eatin' me outaa house an' home! Brawnzie an' 
  Brawnoser're so shardin' BIG."

Josef smiles quietly, standing and moving back from where he came...
Josef walks towards the inner cavern.
Josef has left.

Jalimax walks towards the inner cavern.
Jalimax has left.

Kassima grins at Kindre. "A glutton, is he? Well, they're all bottomless pits 
  when they're young. I think I'm just as glad that most of mine are small 
  size-wise, though."

Kindre smiles at Kassima, "Deliver things? Crackdust, the dust of ages must be 
  affecting my mind...why were you doingng that, Kassi?" Laughing, she nods as 
  she waves to Jalimax, "Cedwyn is a bottomless pit!! I'm surprised Hera's not 
  snorted at him enough to scare him 'tween for another owner...mayhap she 
  knows I love the little spiderclaw disposal," she shrugs and grins. Looking 
  over at Mehlani, she tilts her head, "This is my first 'lizard, 'Lani, any 
  advise?"

Mehlani blinks, startled, from the chair she's climbed back into. "Holl's... 
  my first one too," she murmurs.

Lal says "Y'want advice? I got some."

Asrai walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Asrai has arrived.

Lal says "Since I got three HUGE flits."

Asrai returns shortly later and retakes her seat near her citron mug.

Kassima lifts an eyebrow. "You hadn't heard? Silly question, I guess.... Lord 
  Warder Carow's wife, Master Baker Marissa, died this morning. A kitchen 
  explosion, I'm told." She says this quietly, since it seems somehow 
  disrespectful to just blurt such information.

Mehlani blinks.

Asrai blinks, what news to walk in on, "That's so sad.."

Mehlani snaps her head around to Kassima.

Kindre blinks as well, her head shaking slowly, "Marissa...died...?" Wide eyes 
  seem to slowly comprehend this even as the previous thoughts of firelizard 
  care linger at the back of her mind. "Lord Carow and my father, Rakin, were 
  a bit close...I...hadn't heard..."

Kassima nods solemnly to Asrai. "'Twas, aye, indeed; many of the Hold's folk 
  are grieving, and I think 'tis mostly for that reason that Ely or someone 
  thought of taking them a gift of food. I've seen that before; people tend to 
  give food so that the grieving ones won't have to worry about preparing it. 
  Especially nay given...." Kassi breaks off, then continues, "where... well, 
  you know."

Lal goes quiet. "Well, flit advice ain't th'best thing, I guess...."

From the kitchen, Emne bangs down a pot loudly

Asrai sighs chewing on her lower lip.

Kassima sighs. "'Tis a sorrowful situation, all around," she says sadly. "I 
  just hope we were able to help out, even a bit."

Asrai nods, "Me too."
Asrai sighs and stands, "If you all will please excuse me..I have some more 
  chores to attend to."
Asrai walks towards the inner cavern.
Asrai has left.

Mehlani makes herself very small on her chair.

Kindre sighs a bit heavily, "I wish I had knknown...I would hve liked to have 
  helped..."

Kassima inclines her head. "There'll likely be more chances, Kindre; I'm sure 
  the Bitrans would appreciate just a visit or something. When we went, they 
  said 'twas company that they'd appreciate, rather than being left alone."

Mehlani, very quietly, gets up and creeps out of the cavern.

[End log.]