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:
	8/9/97

Log Cast:
	Mehlani, T'lar, Alexi, Devlin, E'ryn, Suzot, Emlyn, Kindre, Alyssa,
T'fian

Log Intro:
	Mehlani's childhood friend Devlin, now an apprentice Miner in his
16th Turn, is visiting Benden Weyr; much to Mehlani's surprise, she has
discovered that the boy she's known ever since her own eighth Turn has turned
into a tall and surprisingly arresting-looking young man. Not certain of what
she thinks about this new development regarding her friend's appearance --
for she's been noticing how boys look for some time, and is beginning to
realize what it means for a boy to catch a girl's eye -- Mehlani has been
stricken anew with shyness when dealing with Devlin, but still quite willing
to let him charm conversation out of her....

----------
Silently, as is her wont, Mehlani slips into the lower caverns, her arms 
  wrapped around a pile of Records. Holl rides his usual perch -- her right 
  shoulder.

T'lar says "Hi, Devlin, Mehlani." He continues over to the keg of ale where he 
  fills one of the larger mugs to the brim. "Rita? Could I have a plate of 
  anything that's good and lots of it, please."

'Lani bobs her head gravely to T'lar as she draws within sight and hearing, 
  and as Devlin's name is mentioned, she smiles a little, shyly. She'd already 
  determined his presence in the cavern, and she lingers nearby, now.

From the kitchen, Alexi walks into the Living Cavern.
Alexi walks in from the kitchen.
Alexi has arrived.
Alexi says "g'd evening."

Alexi
Alexi is a bright eyed lad with silver eyes hidden beneath a mop of curly, jet 
  black hair. He wears simple trousers and a long white shirt belted at the 
  waist. His tattered boots come to mid calf. He is well tanned, and his hands 
  are slightly pruned from washing dishes. A thin smile almost always curves 
  one corner of his mouth. Alexi is 16 Turns, 2 months, and 18 days old (more 
  or less). You notice the distinct absence of a shoulder knot on the lad.
Alexi looks at you for a moment.

T'lar takes the plate with a smile. "Thanks, Rita dear." He turns and delivers 
  the plate and mug to one of the tables where he sits. Turning at the 
  greeting, he smiles warmly. "Evening." The word filters off with another 
  yawn. "Sorry."

Standing there with her arms wrapped around her burden of Records, Mehlani 
  glances over, and bobs her head gravely in greeting to the newcomer. She 
  slips quietly into a seat, then, setting down her load, while the bronze 
  fire lizard riding on her shoulder quirks his head at the youth and chirrups.

Devlin looks up and nods to T'lar, "Hello there." As he spots Mehlani, he 
  smiles broadly. "'Lani!"

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

Mehlani smiles a little more, turning back to Devlin. Holl, attention diverted 
  as the unfamiliar lad leaves the cavern, looks back around and croons.

Devlin chuckles, "What, no hello for an old friend, 'Lani?"

Mehlani murmurs, almost wryly, "Hello."

T'lar begins to shovel food into his mouth without any apparent interest. His 
  chewing is punctuated with swallows and yawns.

Devlin pretends to look wounded, stating to the busily eating T'lar, "Go away 
  for a couple of years and when you come back, your friends don't talk to 
  you. Just sit and stare." He looks aggrieved, heaving a heavy sigh. The 
  light in his eyes is silent witness to his teasing.

T'lar looks up and blinks. "You been away?" His brow furrows as he digests 
  this information. "Yeah, I guess you have. Sorry, I tend to forget whose 
  here and whose not." He shrugs. "Shells, I'm gone more than half the time 
  myself it seems.

Mehlani's smile remains small and shy, but her own eyes lighten, and she says 
  softly, "You got bigger."

T'lar looks at you for a moment.

Alexi walks in from the bowl.
Alexi has arrived.

Devlin grins, "I did at that. It's what happens when they stick you in the 
  mine's. You either get bigger or you get eaten!"

Alexi smiles at everyone as he returns.

T'lar smiles at the unfamiliar young man.

Mehlani quirks her head and peers at Devlin. Clearly aware he's teasing, and 
  willing to rise to the bait, she answers, "... eaten?"

Devlin wiggles his fingers around, "Tunnel snakes as big as a green dragon 
  live deep in the mines. They eat the small apprentices!"

T'lar looks up at the young unknoted lad. "Excuse me, but could you get me a 
  refill?" He holds up his ale mug.
T'lar chuckles as he hears Devlin's words. "Maybe that's what happened to that 
  old blue that disappeared when we helped clear out the mines that had 
  collapsed. Always wondered about that."

Lifting a slender hand to scritch Holl, who croons in delight and wriggles 
  under the attention, Mehlani squints, expression the very soul of soberness 
  save for her lightened gaze, up at Devlin. "You've _seen_ them?"

E'ryn walks in from the bowl.
E'ryn has arrived.

Alexi fills T'lars mug.
Alexi smiles at E'ryn. "Anything you need?"

Devlin nods, solemnly, hand going to his heart. "Once. And let me tell you, 
  were it not for my quick ability to run, I'd have been dinner like a hapless 
  wherry spotted in the middle of the feeding grounds."

E'ryn walks into the caverns, one hand straightening his tunic. He glances at 
  Alexi and shakes his head. "No thanks, not at the moment."

T'lar says "Thanks. What's your name? I don't remember seeing you around 
  before." He nods over at E'ryn. "You still here?" he says with a bright 
  smile."

Mehlani's mouth curves up on one end, in something suspiciously resembling a 
  smile.

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

Alexi says "I'm Alexi, sir, I've been here about 2 weeks..."
Alexi waves at Suzot, a grin covering his face.

E'ryn glances sideways at T'lar and then nods his head, "Yes, but I was just 
  leaving. I need to get back to Ista." A grimace curls his lips slightly. "I 
  have a few things to work out before I come back."

Suzot comes back from the lower caverns after showing Ceria to a new cot, 
  waving to Alexi and to everyone else she recognizes.

Devlin shakes his head, sadly. "Can't say my companion was as lucky. Poor lad. 
  Had such a promising hand at jade craft." He shrugs, "But what can I say? 
  Only the best survive the mines." The bright amusement in his eyes is 
  completely at odds with the soberness of his expression.

T'lar nods. "Ah, that explains it. I've been gone most of that time." He yawns 
  again. "Shards. I gotta get more sleep." He looks back over at the 
  brownrider. "Well, come back soon. Don't let me or anyone else run you off. 
  Parth won fair and square and deserves to be here for the fat, pregnant 
  part."

E'ryn chuckles softly and says "Well, I might be back sooner than you think." 
  He sighs. "I can only imagine what my weyrmate will say."

Mehlani's blue gaze slides momentarily around the cavern to register the new 
  arrivals, before she looks back at the black-haired Miner youngster. "Does 
  this mean you're the best?" she asks, deadpan.

T'lar says "Your weyrmate should be used to this by now. I'm sure that fine 
  brown of yours wins many flights."

E'ryn smiles faintly. "Weyrwoman Merellia understands that. However, Parth has 
  never caught a gold." His tone is somewhat wry.

T'lar nods. "Well, I guess that can make things a bit more complicated.

Alexi perks up. "You're Parth's rider? Congratulations! That was the first 
  Flight I'd ever seen. It was spectacular!"

Devlin says, demurely, "Well, not the /best/, maybe. Not yet, anyway." He 
  grins, brightly, fully aware of his own arrogance.

E'ryn seems to be a person who almost dreads returning to his home. "Yes, it 
  will be complicated." He nods, replying "My thanks for the congratulations. 
  I'm happy you enjoyed the manuvers."
E'ryn starts to turn toward the bowl. "I need to head back now."

Devlin says, to the Istan rider, "Clear skies."

Suzot goes to sit in her former seat if it isn't taken, across from Devlin at 
  a slight slant.

E'ryn starts toward the bowl, his steps sure and steady despite what he 
  potentially faces back home.

T'lar returns his attention to Alexi. "So, where are you from and whatever 
  possessed you to come to Benden."

E'ryn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
E'ryn has left.

Mehlani, sitting near Devlin already, gives Suzot a solemn little smile; most 
  of her attention appears to be on the young man, as she listens to him.

Devlin heaves a sigh, "It's a hard burden to bear, but I do my best."

Alexi smiles. "I grew up outside Bended Hold, at one of the outlying 
  vineyards. My family -- all of them -- are Vine Tenders."

The other corner of Mehlani's mouth curls up to accompany the first one, at 
  Devlin's words.

T'lar humms. "Bended Hold? Where's that?"

"I, however, am allergic to grapes." Alexi shrugs, "So I decided to come here."
Alexi says "Sorry, Benden, I have a stuffy nose..."
Alexi says "I figured there'd be less chance of becoming a kitchen drudge here 
  than at the Hold," he says with a odd smile."

T'lar chuckles. "Oh, sorry. I thought my knowledge of Pernese geography was 
  slipping. Being allergic to grapes can be a bad thing for a vintner. I'm 
  from Bayhead myself. Welcome then."

Alexi says "Thanks! I really like it here."

T'lar looks at the young lad with one raised eyebrow. "Wanna bet? I spent 
  almost a year doing every dirty job the headwoman could think of before 
  Nicoth was shelled. You'll have plenty of drudge work to do around here even 
  if you are lucky enough to find your lifemate. Dragons are big babies."

Alexi says "Actually, I'm living in the Kitchen right now..."

You sense Suzot's cool blue gaze traverses the small space between you and 
  Devlin. One brow arches upward ever so slightly.

Alexi asks, "Lifemate? Oh! You mean Dragon! I-- well-- I never really thought 
  about that. I don't think -- me? No, I'd never get Searched..."

T'lar downs a healthy portion of his ale, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "In 
  the kitchens? You could bunk in the dormitory, I would think. Unless you 
  like living in the kitchen." He says the last with a question in his eyes. 
  "And you never know who a dragon with pick."

Devlin grins over at Mehlani, "Think you'd be able to outrun the mine beast?"?

Alexi says "Well, Felinar told me that I was to stay in the Kitchen and work 
  with Ofira until he decided if I could stay permanantly or not..."

Mehlani says very earnestly, "I'm not a miner apprentice."

T'lar raises both hands in surrender. "Well, I am definately not going to 
  gainsay Felinar. He'll have me cleaning latrines if I do."

Alexi chuckles.
Alexi says "I mean, I can read and write, and I know numbers... hopefully 
  he'll find me usefull enough to do something more than knock the dents out 
  of Ofira's frying pans..."
Then he adds quickly, "Of course, not that I mind working with Ofira, she's 
  very nice..."

Devlin lifts his hands, "Well, it sometimes will come out and eat the 
  crafters' kids if they're not fast enough to get away." He fights a grin.

T'lar yawns mightily, managing to politely cover his mouth this time. "So, you 
  liking weyrlife? Finding everything okay? No one bothering you? Any 
  questions?." His smile warms his gray eyes. "I remember what it was like to 
  be a Hold-raised boy suddenly living in a weyr."

Alexi moves closer to T'lar, sitting with a mug of Citron, "I really like it 
  here. Everyone has been very friendly. Questions? Hmmmmmm," he ponders for a 
  moment, "yes, so does E'ryn move here now from Ista, or does he just come 
  visit alot now?"

Devlin looks first at Suzot, then at 'Lani. "I'm only reporting the facts, of 
  course. It's the least I could do."

Mehlani makes a very small noise that sounds, ever so slightly, like a giggle.

T'lar says "Well, that's up to E'ryn, Merla and the Ista weyrleaders. It's 
  considered polite to stay until the hatching but it's not mandatory." He 
  shrugs. "I guess we'll see when it happens. M'rgan lived here for a while 
  before the last hatching."

Suzot picks up her cup, still half-filled with citron juice, and lifts her 
  eyebrow at Devlin. "Aye, to be sure," is her only comment.

Emlyn walks in from the bowl.
Emlyn has arrived.

T'lar waves an ale mug at the arriving greenrider in greeting.

Kindre walks in from the bowl.
Kindre has arrived.

Salless smiles sweetly at the junior queenrider.

Devlin bestows a beatific smile upon Suzot. "Of course. One of my greatness 
  couldn't be caught /lying/. That just wouldn't be acceptable."

Alexi grins and waves at Kindre as she enters.

Emlyn tosses her flying gear in a pile near the tunnel to the bowl. Seeing 
  waves, she returns them and announces to the gathering, "There's no place 
  like home, and may ours ever thrive."

T'lar almost salutes Kindre in his usual fashion. "Evening, ladies." He's 
  sitting with Alexi. "Join us?"

Helpfully, Holl leans over and conceals Mehlani's face as he croons at her and 
  nuzzles her cheek, quite effectively hiding the lass's mouth. Her eyes, 
  though, however, look distinctly amused.

Kindre, as can be expected each time the elderly aunty offers her smile to 
  her, returns the sweet grin with one of her own. Dropping her gear with 
  little care and beside Emlyn's, she grins. "Good eve all! And my sentiments 
  are the same as yours, Emlyn." To T'lar's invitation, she nods, "Sounds 
  lovely to me, if you'd not mind. We're starved."

Suzot nods drily at Devlin and might have made further repartee but for 
  Emlyn's announcement. She turns around to wave to the Rider, then to Kindre, 
  whom she hadn't seen before.

Devlin turns then to grin at Mehlani. "You believe me, don't you?"

T'lar stands and pulls the bench back so that the riders can sit. "I would 
  never mind the company of such lovely women." He motions to a passing 
  server. "Could you be so kind as to get these ladies something to eat?"

Emlyn sees Ursa sitting in a corner with a pile of skins. The greenrider 
  detours to give her weyrmate a hug. They exchange some quiet words and 
  smiles. Ursa, after a bit, tucks her hides under an arm and disappears 
  toward the lower caverns. Emlyn belatedly joins the others.

Alexi scoots over to make more room at the long table for the arriving 
  Weyrwomen.

Alyssa walks in from the bowl.
Alyssa has arrived.

'Lani peers around Holl's craning neck, and bobs her head gravely to Devlin.

Devlin grins and reaches out to ruffle Mehlani's hair. "I knew you would." 
  Vachon chitters a greeting to Holl.

Emlyn always gets her own meals, and tonight is no exception. She brings a 
  plate of salad and bread to the table and takes a seat. She says, "Well, 
  it's good to see all of you this evening." Her good humor radiates like heat 
  off a hearth, or light off a glow.

T'fian walks in from the bowl.
T'fian has arrived.

T'lar waves to the dragonhealer and weyrsecond as he stands behind Kindre. 
  Again, he makes some gesture that resembles a salute. "Lyssa, T'fian. Come 
  join us."

Alyssa enters the living cavern on T'fian's arm, eyes on the weyrsecond's 
  profile.

Alexi smiles at Emlyn, who he believes he hasn't met before...

T'fian comes in, arm in arm with Alyssa. He nods at T'lar's greeting, looking 
  at the man sharply. "Bronzerider, everybody," he says politely, firm voice 
  carrying across the living cavern.

Kindre makes a rather flourishing motion of curtsying, pulling out the corners 
  of a skirt she doesn't wear. "You're too kind, thank you, T'lar." Grinning 
  as Emlyn and Ursa have a few moments alone, she sighs while settling into 
  the offered seat. "We went to see the eggs at Ista and then chatted a bit in 
  the cavern. Both have left me starved." A drudge passes by and idles just 
  long enough to drop a glass of white wine and a plate laden with bread, 
  cheese, and fruit before Kindre, who nods her thanks. "Ah, Alexi, how fares 
  with you? I've not seen you in a day or so."

Emlyn is just peering at Alexi. She puts back down her utensil. "You've an 
  unfamiliar face." She extends her hand, palm up, across the table. "I'm 
  Emlyn."

Alexi returns Emlyn's greeting, "I'm Alexi, well met."

Mehlani gives Devlin an actual smile, then, as other adults enter the cavern, 
  she looks around shyly.

"What do you feel like eating?" Alyssa asks T'fian as she relinquishes her 
  hold on him to remove her riding jacket.

T'lar seats Kindre with a flourish and accepts a refill of ale from the young 
  server girl. He places a quick kiss on the girl's cheek before resuming his 
  seat.

Devlin nudges 'Lani's side. "Hey, remember the pin," he says, quietly, to the 
  younger girl. "No reason whatsoever to be shy, right?"

To Kindre, Alexi says, "Things are going well, I went to visit my parents for 
  a day, and made it back just in time to see the Flight."

Emlyn repeats Alexi's name, to fix it in memory. Not that this will work, 
  since it never has, but the greenrider means well. "Ah, from Nerat, if I get 
  your accent right?" Seeing Mehlani, she winks at the youngster.

T'fian smiles. "I wasn't sure," he says. "Probably some of the spicy stew. Or 
  maybe some slices of roasted herdbeast. Don't really care, actually, as long 
  as it's edible."

Emlyn looks at you for a moment.

Alyssa nods toward the Skyfire table and says, "I'll get us a plate. Sit, 
  T'fian." Then, more generally, "Good evening, all."

Alexi shakes his head, black curls flopping from side to side, "No, actually, 
  I'm from the mountains near Benden Hold. My family are Vine Tenders."

"Oh, well that must have been nice," Kindre remarks to Alexi with a nod and 
  smile. Soon enough, though, the rider can hardly keep from beginninng her 
  meal. Spreading the soft cheese across some bread, she begins to nibble at 
  her dinner. Finishing a bite, she notes to Emlyn, "He's allergic to the 
  grapes."

Amazingly, T'lar's seat happens to be between Kindre and Emlyn. The fatigue he 
  was demostrating earlier the multiple yawns seems to be gone. He seems 
  rather pleased with himself in fact.

Suzot simply sips from her cup and watches interactions, studying them and 
  listening carefully.

T'fian looks at the Skyfire wingsecond strangely, but does as she says, moving 
  over to the Skyfire table. He drapes his riding jacket over the bench at his 
  accustomed seat and sets his helmet down. Glancing towards T'lar, he asks, 
  "Nicoth handle losing okay?"

Emlyn wrinkles her nose as Alexi reveals how wrong she was. At Kindre's 
  revelation, Emlyn blinks, then laughs. "That'd be like a herder finding 
  bovines boring, or a crafter who finds .. " Unable to come up with a good 
  analogy, she grins at Suzot. "Well, -you- know."

Mehlani, nudged by Devlin, smiles at him again, and murmurs, "I remember."

Alexi says "It was rather... difficult... so I came here."

T'lar looks up at T'fian. "He's forgotten about that already. Sharing a ledge 
  with Juliath and Lysseth helps a great deal. That and the fact that Meli and 
  I had a day off together." His smile broadens.

Devlin nods, emphatically. "Good. If you didn't...." He pauses, glancing 
  around in a conspiritorial manner, "If you didn't, I'd have to-- " A 
  dramatic pause is followed by, "tickle you!"

Suzot, caught watching Emlyn and Alexi conversing, nods. "Aye," she agrees, "a 
  Rider who's afraid of heights."

Emlyn points at Suzot and grins. "Exactly!"

Alyssa, back to T'fian, does not see his tendered look and busies herself 
  fixing two plates, one with roast herdbeast, tubers, gravy, and a buttered 
  roll, the second with bread, cheese, and fruit slices. One can guess who 
  gets which plate.

Mehlani's eyes widen, and she scoots away slightly from Devlin, piping, "You 
  better not!"

A blue snout appears in the entrance, followed by a soft croon.

T'lar says "How's Meroth? He was looking good last I saw." He glances at the 
  bowl entrance and laughs heartily."

T'fian shakes his head at T'lar's response, smiling a little. "I see," he 
  replies. "Well, I'm..." he pauses and looks towards the entrance. "We're 
  going to have to widen that entrance one of these days. Is that Adonith?"

Kindre giggles and nods to both Emlyn and Suzot. "Exactly. Or a Seacrafter who 
  gets sea illnes..." she adds her two marks worth. "Oh, Alexi, I didn't mean 
  to bring up a bad subject. Remember, sometimes things like that happen for a 
  reason. Why I'm allergic to mushrooms, though, I've no idea." Shrugging, she 
  then smirks at T'lar. "I'm sure that helped." Only the blue muzzle keeps her 
  from continuing her meal.

As he goes to get himself some more citron and some bread, Alexi chimes in, "A 
  baker afraid of ovens?"

Alyssa stops in her return to Skyfire's table, sighing. "Adonith, please. 
  We've discused this."

T'lar nods. "Nicoth thinks he's being silly again."

The blue snout issues a warble, sad and soft.

On Mehlani's shoulder, Holl peeps in the direction of Adonith's blue nose. 
  Startled, the girl looks over in that direction.

A warning rumble, deep-throated and unhappy, comes from the blue now.

Returning to the table, Alexi says, "It's not a touchy subject, don't worry 
  Kindre. I really don't think I would have made a good Vine Tender anyway."

Emlyn looks over her shoulder at Adonith. A quick look at Alyssa, then back to 
  her salad and bread. At the rumble, she turns again.

T'lar waggles an eyebrow at Kindre. "It sure does." His attention returns to 
  the blue muzzle. "Nicoth! Stop that!"

Mehlani blinkblinks and pipes to Alyssa softly, "Is he okay?"

T'fian looks up at Alyssa. "What's up with him?" he asks, looking towards the 
  bowl entrance.

Kindre continues to study the door, Adonith's rumble causing her eyes to widen 
  a bit. "Shards, they're certainly a bit...uh, playful? This eve..."

T'lar's eyes unfocus for a minute.

Alyssa's brows narrow, and she sets down the plates beside T'fian while a 
  rather stern expression creases her visage. "Yes, you heard me," she 
  mumbles. "Oh, yes, he's fine. He just heard Mehlani's voice. What a silly 
  blue." Pause. "No, you -are- silly."

Alexi glances curiously at T'lar.

T'lar says "Sorry, Lyssa. Nicoth likes to tease Adonith and hasn't seen him in 
  a while."

The muzzle withdraws, without surprise.

Remembering suddenly, Alexi asks, "Was that a real basket of Firelizard eggs I 
  saw in here yesterday?"

Devlin flashes a grin at Mehlani, "I won't have to if you don't let all the 
  people make you curl up inside yourself."

T'lar shrugs and returns to the last of his meal.

T'fian looks down at the plate, then back up at Alyssa. "Thanks," he says with 
  a smile, grabbing the fork and setting to his meal like a man who's not 
  eaten in weeks.

Sadness, blue-tinged with affection, touches your mind from afar.

Emlyn answers Alexi, "No doubt it was. That unruly little creature of 
  Sionelle's had a clutch." Emlyn calling a firelizard unruly elicits laughter 
  from the nearby table.

Mehlani, looking distracted, glances outside.

Alyssa rolls her eyes with a sigh and sits down beside T'fian, nudging him 
  gently. "You'll choke," she admonishes quietly.

Alexi says "I've seen so many things in the last two weeks that I'd never seen 
  before-- it's overwhelming!"

Kindre rolls her eyes, presumably at something her lifemate has said or done. 
  Chuckling, she, too, returns to her meal like someone who's been lost in the 
  Snowy Wastes for a sevenday or three. "Hrm? Oh, did they hatch already," is 
  her added inquiry of Sionelle's firelizard spawn.

Though the bowl is quiet again, a haunted sound, a sad croon, comes from the 
  entrance.

Alexi says "They were here in a basket before the Flight last night..."

Devlin follows Mehlani's gaze to the blue snout. "Heyla, Adonith," he calls 
  out, cheerily.

Emlyn doesn't know the answer to the question about the clutch. She looks at 
  Mehlani. The youngsters usually know the answer to such questions.

T'lar follows a forkful of food with a drink of ale. "I don't know, Alexi. I 
  wasn't in the condition to notice after the flight."

Mehlani, however, simply murmurs, "I didn't see a clutch... I had to take care 
  of Father last night...." She gets to her feet and says softly to Devlin, 
  "Excuse me...."

Kindre nods between bites and sips of her wine. "Herath and I were at Boll 
  until late, and then just crawled into the weyr."

T'fian pauses and sits back in his chair. He sets down his fork and stretches 
  his neck tiredly. "I hate the day after a goldflight," he comments.

Mehlani, with that, pads quietly out, Holl fluttering his bronze wings to keep 
  balance on her shoulder.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
North Bowl(#396RJ$)
The light spills over the over-arching mountains and into the bowl. It 
  illuminates the patched ground, covered with gravel and fine sand. Here and 
  there, the odd piece of greenery struggles up from the ash-based soil. The 
  odor of pickling and preserves emerging from the Living Cavern is strong, a 
  sure sign that the summer fruits and vegetables are being stored for the 
  winter. The northern half of the crater is smaller than the southern one, 
  but still immense. To the west is an opening into the Living Cavern of the 
  weyr. Other openings in the northern cavern lead into the weyrs of the 
  junior queens, weyrleaders, and the massive Hatching Grounds. Storage 
  bunkers of various sorts are stacked against the rough rock walls. The bowl 
  is quiet in the depth of night.
Several entrances lead to the junior queenriders' weyrs. Use '+view 
  queenriders' to see them.
Some puffy clouds skirt across the summer skies.
Contents:
Meroth
Pleiath
Herath
Adonith
Nicoth(#7847JOaeps)
Pliarth
Liath
Chaeth
Neme
Obvious exits:
South Bowl  Weyrleaders' Complex  Hatching Cavern  Outer Infirmary  Guest Weyr 
   Living Cavern  Records Room  

Mehlani emerges from the lower caverns, looking about quietly.

Adonith sits up, bugles happily, and bathes Mehlani in a wonderful 
  wherry-breathed whuffle.

Mehlani goes straight to the blue, giggles a little, and then waggles a small 
  finger. "You're being silly!"

Adonith bumps his nose against Mehlani and warbles, bliss in his rapidly 
  whirling gaze.

The young girl smiles softly and scritches that blue muzzle. "Don't you get 
  scritched enough?" she asks.

Adonith rests his forefeet on either side of Mehlani and holds out his head to 
  her, left eyeridge toward her.

'Lani's little hands come up to scritch that offered eyeridge, and she scolds 
  very gently, "I was talking to Devlin, you know."

Adonith doesn't seem to care and butts Mehlani in the chest, gently. You 
  stopped.

Pleiath watches the blue and the young girl. Her wings are folded neatly to 
  her back.

Devlin comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.
Devlin has arrived.

Mehlani scritches Adonith obligingly, but tells the dragon as she does so, 
  "You're a big silly. I can't scritch you all the time, you know!" Holl, on 
  her shoulder, punctuates her statement with a firm chirp.

Devlin crosses the bowl towards Mehlani and Adonith. "Hey 'Lani, Adonith."

Mehlani looks around, and tells Devlin earnestly, "Adonith was lonely."

Devlin nods, solemnly. "I'd be lonely too if you didn't visit with me." His 
  steps stop by the blue dragon and the younger girl.

Pleiath gets up and turns a slow circle. She peers at the spot where she 
  intends to lie back down. Her innermost lids remained closed, so the green 
  looks like a senescent canine whose mid-day nap has been disturbed. After a 
  long moment of contemplating the sand, she lays herself back down.

Mehlani pauses a moment, considering the tall boy who's come up beside her. 
  "Do you get lonely?" she asks softly.

Devlin shrugs his shoulders, "Sometimes. Everyone does sometimes. I miss 
  Benden, but the Minecrafthall is nice too." He reaches out and pats 
  Adonith's side.

Adonith croons quietly, content.

Devlin looks up as a blue watchdragon from Minecrafthall lands. "Well, that's 
  my cue to head home. Take care, 'Lani. Hopefully I'll see you soon."

Mehlani turns to Devlin, lifting her hands off the dragon, and she smiles 
  shyly. "I hope so," she says softly.

Devlin winks at 'Lani. "It's a promise." He turns then and heads towards the 
  waiting watchrider.

Mehlani bobs her head softly, and Holl trills at the boy, as the apprentice 
  heads off.

[End log.]