The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967.
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:
	5/28/98

Log Cast:
	(People) Aurian, Meli, Mehlani, Stephan, A'lex, Kassima, Neliea,
R'val, Sionelle, Melina, Saskia, T'lar, Sandar, Asher, Kiyah, Jorenan

	(Firelizards) Sayvel, NPC fast blue and slow blue (emitted by
Jorenan), Arki, Holl, Munki, Enri, Brodi, Jubei

Log Intro:
	It's been about a Turn since Mehlani added six firelizards to her
fair -- all due to an accidental encounter of a hatching clutch while her
_second_ firelizard, green Rianet, had been proddy. Since that time, Mehlani's
green Arki has established herself quite a reputation for being the most
vicious of Mehlani's now-sizable fair, as sharp a contrast as you can expect
for the sweet-tempered young woman. And now Mehlani, who has grown up seeing 
her father labor under the 'luck' of having every single green in _his_ fair
get proddy at the same time, is beginning to wonder if such things are
hereditary, for she's got four of her own greens simultaneously going proddy
this time around. And if this by itself wasn't bad enough... one of those
greens is Arki. Now, Rianet, Elsi, and Wili have all risen, leaving Arki
for the last and the worst. Unnerving enough thus far in the first Turn of her
little life, the ill-tempered, pale-hided green has become for her young
mistress truly terrifying now that she's proddy... and Mehlani is desperately
trying to hang onto her ability to concentrate on her Candidate chores, already
shot by her other greens' risings, and she's waiting as best she can until her 
vicious little pet finally decides to mate...

----------
Your location's current time: 19:37 on day 21, month 1, Turn 23, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a winter evening.

Mehlani(#4177POaceq)
This teenaged girl stands at 5'4" in height, and is of a slender but sweetly 
  curved build. Her skin is pale, speaking of unfamiliarity with Pern's 
  sunnier climes; her hair, cut short in a style that accentuates her delicate 
  cheekbones, is of a medium auburn hue, and sticks up in soft little spikes 
  atop her head, save for a heavy forelock that drapes slightly across her 
  brow. Seldom does this lass speak; when she does, her voice is soft and 
  gravely toned. But far more often than not, she simply fixes her liquid blue 
  gaze on an object or person of interest, and keeps it there with an intense 
  attention that suggests the weight of her world rides upon her drinking in 
  every detail of her surroundings through her guileless eyes.
She is currently clad in a simply-cut and unornamented blue tunic, with 
  buttons at the collar and cuffs; she also wears a pair of neutral brown 
  breeches tucked into workworn, scuffed brown leather boots. Over the tunic 
  is a soft black leather vest, and perched atop her head is a battered brown 
  wherhide hat, its brim typically keeping her face in slight shadow.

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Aurian
Stephan
Neliea
A'lex
Kassima
Pierron
Meli
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Aurian slides her mug near the pitcher that Neliea is weilding, "You wouldn't 
  have envied me yesterday while I was shoveling slush." She grins at Kassima.

"More'n one pitcher, you...you..." Meli mutters under her breath, eyes 
  twinkling from the dancing hearthfire.

A Mehlani whose eyes look entirely uncharacteristically wild and strained 
  wanders into the lower caverns, seeming to barely register her surroundings 
  as she half-dashes towards the kitchens.

Stephan says "Oh sorry, I guess I forgot to introduce myself. My name is 
  Stephan. I come from farther south. Not so much snow!"

A'lex sits at the end of the Skyfire table closest to the rest of the room, 
  "So how's everyone? Hey there Mehlani!"
A'lex says "Me, me, what?"

Kassima teases 'Lex, "As if'n greenriders don't have every right t'drink 
  a'fore bronzeriders, bully-boy? Especially lady-greenriders. Didn't your 
  parents ever teach you any manners?" She admits then to Aurian, "Well... 
  nay. But then, you wouldn't envy me when Lysseth dumped a pile of slush on 
  m'head while she was helping me clear off our ledge, either."

Neliea chuckles as she takes her mug, smiles at A'lex, and crosses over to sit 
  with the other candidates. Glancing back at Stephan, she settles into a 
  chair close to the hearth and nods to him once more. Aurian, missed the 
  pitcher when she had it.

'Lani glances vaguely in A'lex's direction as she passes, croaking out 
  something untelligible that may or may not be a greeting. She arrows 
  straight into the kitchens, as if a flock of rabid wherries were right on 
  her booted heels.

You walk off towards the kitchen.
Kitchen
Contents:
The Baker's Guide to Pernese Cuisine
Obvious exits:
Storeroom Passageway  Living Cavern  

From the living cavern, Aurian wrinkles her nose at the idea of a pile of 
  slush on her head.

From the living cavern, A'lex eyes the oft-behatted Candidate as she streaks 
  into the Kitchens, "She's working too hard..."

From the living cavern, Meli refills her own mug finally, having finished 
  sticking her tongue out at A'lex and having tried to be a gracious hostess. 
  "South, y'said?" she asks Stephan. "Down t'Crom, or out Igen way?"

From the living cavern, With a little sigh, Aurian gets her hands on the cider 
  pitcher at last. After filling her mug, she drops into a seat at the 
  Candidate's table.

From the living cavern, R'val walks in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Pierron nods knowingly as the assistant weyrlingmaster 
  enters.

From the living cavern, R'val wanders into the cavern, waving amiably.

From the living cavern, A'lex takes another sip of cider and nods to R'val, 
  "Bluerider..."

Mehlani, in fact, seems possessed of frenetic speed tonight, and less grace 
  than normal. She almost trips as she heads for a pile of unscrubbed pots, 
  catches herself, and then grabs for a scrub-rag and an apron. With motions 
  that speak of desperation, the behatted lass starts scrubbing for all she's 
  worth.

From the living cavern, R'val flops into a seat, klah in hand, "Hey A'lex..."

From the living cavern, Sionelle walks in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Stephan says "Actually nearer to Igen."

From the living cavern, Pierron glances up as the weyrsecond enters.

From the living cavern, Meli tilts her head to the side, patting at her 
  stomach. "I ate... oh," she says. "Jul's got her mind set t'feed. Best keep 
  an' eye on her, she does tend t'overeat when th'weather's like this."

From the living cavern, Melina walks in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, R'val grins, "Melina!"

From the living cavern, Neliea quietly sips her cider and nods to R'val. 
  "Evening R'val," she says to him and blinks, sitting straighter in her chair 
  as Sionelle walks in. "Evening ma'am."

From the living cavern, Melina plods into the cavern, looking thoroughly bored 
  with the day. She suddenly spots several people, a few whom she knows and 
  manages a smile and a wave.

From the living cavern, "A'course, that *is* just Lyss for you. One comes to 
  expect it." Kassi starts to prop her feet up on her Wing's table, but after 
  a pause, thinks better of it... people have to eat there, after all, and 
  there's still melting slush on her boots. "Giving the lad the inquisition 
  treatment, Meli?" she asks with a wry grin. "And I doubt Riche would let her 
  work *too* hard. Though 'tis debatable what she'd *consider* t'be too hard. 
  Jul, too, Meli?" She glances towards the Bowl, snapping a salute to Sionelle 
  as her gaze passes over the woman briefly. "Aye, Lyss is feeling a mite 
  peckish too."

From the living cavern, Meli smiles at Stephan. "Definitely warmer. F'you'll 
  excuse me, my dragon needs some attention. Feel free t'stay and meet people, 
  an' keep warm!"

From the living cavern, R'val waves Melina over, if she cares to, and grins at 
  Neliea, "How goes, Neliea?"

There _are_ a few other Candidates on kitchen duty, despite Mehlani's apparent 
  frantic conviction that she's singlehandedly responsible for cleaning every 
  pot in sight. The other youngsters peer at her strangely, and exchange a few 
  whispers between them, but 'Lani scrubscrubscrubs at top speed, seemingly 
  oblivious.

From the living cavern, Kassima suggests thoughtfully, eyeing the Candidates, 
  "Actually, it might be good for the Candies t'get a good, long look at 
  feeding dragons, if'n they haven't already. 'Tis one of those things that 
  can take some getting used to. What think you, Meli?"

From the living cavern, A'lex nods and smiles to Melina, and snaps off a 
  rather dry salute to Sionelle.

From the living cavern, Meli rises to her feet, levering herself upright with 
  palms pressed flat to the table. Glancing over at the Candidates, she says 
  to the others, "Think any o'them'd be interested in learnin' how a dragon 
  eats?"

From the living cavern, Saskia walks here from the Inner Cavern.

From the living cavern, Melina gives R'val a speculative look, still 
  remembering the other night. A'lex's salute catches the corner of her eye, 
  though and she looks around nervously. Spotting Sionelle, she snaps a crisp 
  salute.

From the living cavern, Saskia smiles and waves as she strolls in.

From the living cavern, Neliea smiles at R'val, cringing into her seat and 
  hoping that she won't be dressed down by Sionelle again. "I'm fine R'val. 
  And you," she asks, still moving further into her seat.

From the living cavern, Sionelle returns the salutes that are sent in her 
  direction, nodding with approval at A'lex's particularly crisp example. She 
  heads in his direction.

From the living cavern, A'lex blinks, "Oh, so it's to be a group goring then? 
  Nraith is feeling hungry himself..."

From the living cavern, Saskia blinks at A'lex, "A group goring?"

From the living cavern, "*Will* you get out of m'head, old friend?" Kassima 
  demands rhetorically, with just a hint of a groan. "I swear, I don't know 
  how you do it... but 'tis beginning t'frighten me."

From the living cavern, A'lex grins, "You've never seen dragons eat?"

From the living cavern, Melina raises an eyebrow and takes a seat, her mind on 
  how pitiful her salute must have been. Suddenly, 'goring' reaches her ears 
  and she asks, "goring?"

From the living cavern, Meli blinks at A'lex, then grins. "Must be somethin' 
  in th'air." She shrugs into her jacket, pulling on her gloves as well. 
  "Well, she's impatient..." she says needlessly, edging toward the bowl.

From the living cavern, Stephan listens intently, trying to catch everything.

From the living cavern, Saskia makes a face, "Yeah, a few times. It's enough 
  to put even a cook off food."

From the living cavern, A'lex says "Then WHY did you question 'goring' then?" 
  He chuckles, "Silly.""
From the living cavern, A'lex is so intent on his conversation with Saskia 
  that he doesn't notice Sionelle approaching.

Somewhere just above and behind Mehlani, a pair of *pops* signals the arrival 
  of two of her fire lizards: blue Brodi and brown Munki, both of whom zip 
  down towards her and latch onto her back, trying to climb right up her spine 
  and hide under a braid that's no longer there. Both their eyes are whirling 
  deep shades of yellow, and Brodi is creeling tinily.

From the living cavern, R'val smiles at Neliea amiably, shrugging, "Oh, I"m 
  just fine."

From the living cavern, "Well some of us haven't seen that, " Aurian leans her 
  head back against her chair.

From the living cavern, "Well," Meli says, "maybe we should ask Richenda f'we 
  can show 'em what it's like."

From the living cavern, Sionelle pauses in her approach to A'lex, frowns at 
  something unheard, then turns on a heel and strides back out.

From the living cavern, Saskia grins, "Just wasn't quite sure what you were 
  talking about. I just walk in and hear 'group goring'. Who knew if it wasn't 
  some bizarre Weyr ritual?" She turns to peer over at Mehlani, "you okay, 
  'Lani?"

From the living cavern, Kassima, already in her jacket, slides out of her 
  chair and wrinkles her nose at 'Lex. "Just so long as your 
  big-as-a-beasthold bronze doesn't take all the best creatures for himself! 
  Care t'come out with us, then, and watch our lifemates make a mess of 
  themselves?"

From the living cavern, Sionelle walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, R'val murmurs softly to Melina.

From the living cavern, A'lex grabs his coat and gloves, "Big as a beasthold? 
  You underestimate him..."

Distracted by her fire lizards as Brodi and Munki, failing to find hair long 
  enough under which to hide, do their level best to climb right up under 
  'Lani's hat, Mehlani doesn't seem to notice Saskia's call. The girl does 
  blink rapidly, though, nearly dropping a pot as she struggles between doing 
  her chores and comforting her blue and brown.

From the living cavern, Stephan walks off towards the kitchen.
Stephan enters the kitchen from the living cavern.
Stephan has arrived.

From the living cavern, Melina raises an eyebrow at R'val and nods. She turns 
  to A'lex and chuckles, "Aye, much bigger then the beasthold"

From the living cavern, "Come or stay, s'fine w'me," Meli calls, heading off 
  to the central bowl.

From the living cavern, A'lex says "Much bigger.""

From the living cavern, Meli walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Stephan walks into the Living Cavern.
Stephan has left.
From the living cavern, Stephan walks in from the kitchen.
From the living cavern, Stephan walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Saskia smiles, "He's my favourite dragon. if it 
  werne't for him, I wouldn't be here."

From the living cavern, "Easier to underestimate him than overestimate him, 
  given the size of him," Kassi retorts, already following after Meli.
From the living cavern, Kassima walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, A'lex laughs, "C'mon then."
From the living cavern, A'lex walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Aurian glances at the other Candidates, "Shall we?"

From the living cavern, Saskia nods, "Might as well. It's something we ma have 
  to get used to."
From the living cavern, Saskia walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Melina hums quietly, "Rhonneth hasn't had a meal in a 
  while"

From the living cavern, Aurian walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Neliea finishes off her cider and nods, "Why not?" She 
  stands and follows the others.
From the living cavern, Neliea walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, R'val sighs, "Melina, can we talk?"

From the living cavern, Melina turns back to the bluerider and raises an 
  eyebrow. She nods slightly and replies, "I suppose"

From the living cavern, R'val sighs, "Melina, what'd I say to make you so 
  angry at me?"

From the living cavern, Melina frown, "It's not something you /said/.. it's 
  just... well, you seem to have a reputation about you"

From the living cavern, R'val sighs, "I know I have a reputation Melina, but 
  please don't judge me by it."

[It's oddly appropos, the apparent argument in the Living Caverns and the
 mass dragon-feeding being witnessed by the Candidates. This is exactly the
 kind of atmosphere in which one would expect a bloodthirsty firelizard like
 Arki to rise... but because it's Arki, Mehlani notices hardly anything
 else in the Weyr until mounting tension in her head signals unmistakably
 that she should run with all speed for the Weyr lake. Her chores forgotten,
 the young Candidate bolts out into the winter evening, looking for her
 rising green...]

Your location's current time: 20:54 on day 21, month 1, Turn 23, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a winter evening.

'Lani comes bolting out of the lower caverns, without a coat, her hat askew on 
  her head. The girl's eyes are wild and vacant, and she goes staggering 
  through the snow to the northern half of the bowl, apparently trying to run 
  at top speed.

You walk north.
Central Bowl(#298RL$)
A stony field is the center of this great caldera, the size of which is 
  unmatched at any other weyr--for the whole complement of all the wings at 
  Telgar could rest comfortably within its towering cliffs. Shaped in a 
  perfect oval, the rock walls seem perfect for keeping the usual chill winds 
  stirring about. The ground is mostly made of pebbles and rocks, some hued 
  the milky shades of old quartz, though there are patches where softer dirt 
  and even trees sprout up from the ground. Southerly, the bowl opens onto the 
  living caverns and the weyrleaders' quarters; the immense entrance to the 
  hatching grounds lies to the northwest. Heading southwest will lead one back 
  out into the rocky mountain ranges around Telgar's protective walls. Dragons 
  may be seen, relaxing or fresh from feeding, to the north, as well as the 
  soft lapping sounds of Telgar's lake touching the sandy shore. The weyrling 
  barracks, always aflutter with activity, is to the direct west. The training 
  grounds and the meadow are both covered with a blanket of pure white snow, 
  though it is trodden down in dragon-wide paths where the dragons move.
Snow swirls lightly around you from out of an overcast winter sky.
Contents:
Nraith
T'lar
Nicoth(#7847JOaeps)
R'val
Aurian
A'lex
Kassima
Meli
Ochitsuki
Flour Pot
Dragon Snowscape
Obvious exits:
Weyrling Barracks  Southern Bowl  Lake Shore  Hatching Cavern  Feeding Grounds 
   Runner Pasture  Weyr Entrance  

T'lar puts up a stuggle...for, about, .000005 minutes.

'Being pursued by rabid, bloodthirsty, slavering wherries.' If an artist were 
  drawing Mehlani in motion as the girl bolts through the central stretch of 
  the Bowl, that is doubtless the title that artist would be using for the 
  piece. She has no coat on, and one hand is holding onto her hat for dear 
  life as she passes.

Aurian waves over at Mehlani. "Heyla 'Lani!"

You head in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the central bowl 
  area of the Weyr.
Telgar Weyr Lake Shore
The vegetation thickens near the lake, becoming a meadow that runs along the 
  edge of a narrow, sandy beach. The sands spill down into a crystal lake to 
  the north, lapping against the crater walls to the north and west. A fence 
  runs northwest-southeast, blocking off the lake from the feeding grounds. 
  The meadow by the lake is covered with snow, and only the trail to the hot 
  springs has been much trod upon. The trees make black, leafless shadows 
  against the sky, each wearing a blanket of white. The herbs in the herb 
  garden have all been cut back to wait for spring, and the water lilies are 
  dead. The water of the lake is frozen over, forming a glassy sheet with only 
  small cracks in it in places. Lines across the ice indicate that occasional 
  ice-skating has occured in places. The air smells of frost. The lake is cast 
  into dark shadows, though it reflects the lights from the weyrs and the sky 
  overhead, making a constellation in the waters.
Snow swirls lightly around you from out of an overcast winter sky.
Obvious exits:
Lake  Bowl

Sayvel darts in from the central bowl.
Sayvel has arrived.

Sayvel
This little blue creels and chirples happily. His tail swishes all about him. 
  He's an obvious charmer. His whirling eyes speak with curioustiy and 
  happiness. He has an obvious goal in life and that is to make his pink happy 
  with him. He is the blue of the sea in the early morning, dark and 
  mysterious. His tummy is a lighter shade of blue and just a touch rounded 
  from all the meatrolls he snitches. 
Sayvel is 3 Turns, 7 months, and 25 days old and is 36 centimeters in length 
  with a wingspan of 60 cm.

Sayvel preens lightly.

A pair of blues flit over the lake waters and land in unison. Clearly from the 
  same faire, they croon.

Sayvel bounces into a couple patches of snow, creeling happily.

Diving headlong towards a hole in the icy lake, her hide an incandescent shade 
  of green-white and her eyes twin points of scarlet fire, green Arki is on 
  the hunt.... and from the look of the males beginning to cluster around her, 
  bronze Holl and brown Munki and blue Enri and Brodi, their eyes whirling in 
  mingled shades of yellow-fear and purple-lust, her hunt can mean only one 
  thing.

Sayvel toss himself into the air until he finds himself on the edge of the 
  group. His eyes whirling and tiltsing his head.

One of the blues begins digging nearly straight down. The second of them finds 
  an open patch of water and disappears into it.

One thing... and that thing is blood. With a screech that slices the wintry 
  air, Arki plunges into the water and then explodes upward again, her claws 
  gripping a wriggling, bleeding fish, which she proceeds to savage even as 
  her wings beat at the air. Brodi, by far the most timid of the males of 
  Mehlani's fair, squeals in panic, on the verge of backing away from the 
  gathering pack, just barely held there by his instincts as he joins the 
  bolder Holl and Enri and Munki in trying to hunt prey of their own to blood.

Sayvel just watches with whirling eyes, he feasted well tonight. Almost to 
  well.

And on the shore, Mehlani comes bolting to the edge of the water, falling over 
  to the ground as her boots slide out from under her on the ice. She barely 
  manages to catch herself, unaware of the way her bare palms slam against the 
  snowy ground. Her arrival startles poor Brodi even more, and Munki, too, for 
  that matter; Brodi flitterhops sideways... and is unfortunately right in the 
  path of Arki as she chooses to land with her kill. The glowing green snarls 
  in fury, leaping at the hapless blue.

The blue who was under water returns with a prize differing only in size from 
  Arki's. He lands well away from Arki, and rather close to Mehlani. His 
  screeel of anger is likely from her ungainly landing.

"Arki, _no_!" Mehlani coughs out wildly, making it to her knees, her arms 
  wrapping around herself. She has no idea whether she can control the little 
  creature -- but she has to try, she has to, what kind of dragonrider would 
  she be if she can't impose her will on one tiny green fire lizard, no matter 
  how vicious? With every fiber of her being, she hurls her mental orders at 
  Arki, who succeeds only in slashing Brodi's flank before she snakes back 
  from him, scattering Munki and Enri as she goes, to bury her beak in her 
  still-oozing kill.

Sayvel twitches his tail watching with wild whirling eyes.

The first blue has found nothing in his digging. After a shrieking dive at 
  another firelizard's catch, he dives into the water as well. He returns with 
  a small fish and gulps it down whole. Soon he is diving for another.

Among the males of Mehlani's fair, only Holl seems undaunted by Arki's 
  wrathful blooding, adroitly keeping out of her way, and barely even looking 
  at her -- save occasionally from the side, in a kind of awestruck 
  fascination. Holl makes his kill... while Enri issues a surprisingly 
  thunderous bugle for a blue, in challenge to the other blue trying to steal 
  his catch from him. Brodi, creeling in terror, goes flit-skittering to 
  Mehlani on the shore. And in the middle of it all, Arki takes flight 
  again... and plunges unerringly, with deadly swiftness, into the water to 
  bring up her second kill.

_Blood,_ urges Mehlani dazedly, only half-aware of her own motions to take up 
  the frightened Brodi in her arms, not aware at all of how she's still on her 
  knees in the snow by the lake's edge. _Just blood, little one, just blood, 
  just blood..._

Sayvel shrieks at the green with an angry impatience.

The blue with the larger fish has rent it sufficiently, and pushes the 
  remnants away with his feet. They leave bloody tracks in the snow. Then he 
  snakes his neck around and croons at the green.

What? Some male _dares_ to challenge her in the middle of her hunt?! Releasing 
  a piercing shriek of her own, Arki flares into the air again, diving at 
  Sayvel, talons splayed. Munki is in her path, and the brown squeals, 
  dropping his own kill and blipping *between* just as Arki grazes him in 
  passing. Before Arki can close in on Sayvel, however, she abruptly wheels 
  about in the air, her attention shifting to the white-faced girl kneeling 
  there in the snow... and Arki lets forth a defiant scream. Mehlani, her eyes 
  clamped tightly shut, seems unmoved... and after hanging there in the air 
  for an eternal moment, Arki suddenly launches herself skyward, a winged form 
  of green-white flame shooting at top speed into the sky.

Sayvel flings himself into the air, not far behind the streak. But she is far 
  enough ahead that it won't be an easy flight.

The first blue, ready and waiting for the mark, makes it off the ground in 
  record time. His cry is very nearly ear-splitting as he rises. The second 
  blue fares poorly. He rends the second fish once more, shrieks furious 
  annoyance, and then sets off even if there is still trailing fish gut in one 
  talon.

The rest of the pack includes bronze Holl -- launching himself with speed and 
  grace, and more than a little caution tempering his instinctual desire. Enri 
  -- younger than Holl, and swifter, pulling ahead of the bronze. And Munki -- 
  trailing the other two, a drop of ichor glinting on his wingsail as he tries 
  to build speed. Brodi has attached himself to Mehlani's chest, and seems to 
  be trying to curl up in a tiny ball of pain and fear.

And indeed, Arki seems to intend that this flight will be neither easy nor 
  short. With punishing speed, she climbs higher, higher, higher, only to whip 
  about in the air and finally plummet back the way she came... but her dive 
  is abrupt, too, for she snaps skyward again almost immediately, almost 
  blazing a sinuous, glowing trail in her wake.

Sayvel creels and whips about trying to get to that green, spreading his wings 
  as wide as he can.

The faster blue zips along beside Holl for a moment, though the bronze's speed 
  pulls him away now and again. Arki's diving turns are easier for the blue to 
  follow, though. And follow he does, neck and tail stretched straight out in 
  a full-on race for the green. The slow blue, still far behind, catches up 
  some by missing all of the diving and re-ascent. He still trails nearly 
  every other lizard in the sky, though.

Sayvel catches a thermal moving him far above Akri, he dives down a bit 
  finding himself much closer.

_Can't let her go *between*!_ Mehlani clings to this thought and hardly any 
  other, managing to remember it from several Turns of watching her father's 
  greens rising. But none of the greens that look to F'hlan, bronze Tzornth's 
  rider, have in their position Arki's streak of viciousness, and none of 
  F'hlan's greens would slice a circle through the air, charging right around 
  to the back end of her pack of pursuers and slicing at poor Munki as she 
  goes. Munki shrieks in dismay and shock and startlement, and falls 
  groundward, desperately trying to right himself.

Sayvel hisses and flaps towards that wretched green.

Sandar heads over from the central bowl.
Sandar has arrived.
Sandar waves to 'Lani. "Hey there," he says pleasantly. Then, after a pause 
  and a brief sizing up of the girl, "you alright?"

It's clear Munki's quite out of the flight. The wounded brown drops towards 
  Mehlani, creeling in exhaustion and a fair amount of fright. 'Lani, still 
  kneeling there in the snow by the water, seems to barely notice her brown's 
  descent -- and she most assuredly does not register Sandar. Her gaze is 
  locked skyward, as Arki snaps her course skyward once more, Enri and Holl 
  and the rest of her pursuers doggedly continuing the chase.

Sandar acks at the scene up in the air, then at his shoulder, where a certain 
  bronze's eyes are swirling slowly, neck arched as he watches the green. 
  "Uh... Jubei... you don't wanna join this one," the lad says worriedly.

Sayvel creels as he begins to pull closer to the green, his whole attention on 
  her.

Sandar watches Munki fall to the ground, and mumbles something... sounds sorta 
  like "bad dates", but that couldn't be it, must have been something else. 
  Unfortunately, Jubei isn't going to listen to his sillypet - he soars into 
  the sky after the beautiful carnage-causer.

The slow blue finds himself in a desperately odd situation -- pursued by the 
  very green he wants. He tries cutting up and back, nearly flipping end over 
  end, to get at her. And gets very close in the process.

Jubei darts into the sky, having a bit of catching up to do. He dodges the 
  falling form of a wounded brown drifting from the sky, then pumps steadily 
  upward to where the green is chasing her chasers.

Sandar plumps down into the snow, looking part dazed, part confused, and real 
  worried. He rests his head in his hands and shakes it back and forth.

With Brodi already huddled in terror in his human's arms, Munki is forced to 
  land unsteadily on 'Lani's shoulder, ducking his head around behind her neck 
  and shaking in reaction, ichor continuing to ooze forth from the slashes 
  he's been dealt. High overhead, Arki unleashes another piercing cry that 
  echoes chillingly through the air, and unleashes her talons on the slow blue 
  with the misfortune to be in her way. And then, the blindingly glowing green 
  angles off in another direction entirely, her mood shifting as mercurially 
  as the thermals in the air.

Jubei heads after the green, eyes whirling. A spattering of ichor lands on his 
  nose, and his tongue curls out to lick it off. This seems to break him out 
  of his trance, as he gives a peculiar look at the tip of his tongue, but the 
  effect doesn't last for long - a moment later and he's winging upwards again.

The slow blue is not so fortunate as the others. His wing is torn from edge to 
  edge, useless now for flying. He drops like a stone. Bare moments before 
  impact, he disappears *between*.

Sandar moans.

Sayvel pulls his wings closer speeding himself closer.

The fast blue, now in the midst of the main pack, jostles for position with 
  other males. There seems to be a growing anger there, a vengeful sorft of 
  anger.

Jubei watches the wounded blue pop into *between*, and something registers. 
  Something... isn't quite... right... here, but hey, that sure is a pretty 
  green up there causing all that damage, wouldn't mind a piece of that. He 
  catches an updraft which takes him into the midst of the pack, chasing that 
  tail.

Mehlani, still kneeling, is trembling violently from her behatted head to her 
  snow-soaked knees. Her face has turned ashen, and the girl looks as if she's 
  in danger of collapsing at any second. Somehow, Mehlani keeps herself from 
  doing so, the one thought of _Don't go -between- don't go -between- don't go 
  -between-_ hammering through her thoughts... leaving no mental energy left 
  over to urge Arki to keep from injuring her own suitors.

Arki lets out another scream of defiance -- perhaps to the girl on the ground, 
  and perhaps to the remaining males pursuing her. As both Sayvel and Holl 
  seem to close in on her at once, she fluidly whips around and darts off at 
  yet another angle, close to Enri -- but speeding past him without inflicting 
  damage. Slowly, subtly, the green's tactics are beginning to change, as she 
  pours more and more power into simply getting _away_ from her pursuers, 
  rather than confronting them.

Jubei bats with his wing at a silly blue trying to nibble at his tail to get 
  the bronze out of the way, and it goes spinning out of control away from the 
  pack. Jubei gives a mischievous little snort and muscles his way to the 
  front of the group, tail lashing this way and that to keep the other 
  pursuers off his back.

Sayvel hisses at Holl and waps his tail against the bronze, as he tries to 
  whirl around to start soaring after that green.

The fast blue, shrieking in rage by now, darts around a brown and puts on a 
  surge of speed. He begins gaining on the green.

Holl seems thoroughly unmoved by Sayvel's attention to throw him off course -- 
  after a Turn of being in the same fair with Arki, hardly anything phases 
  this plucky bronze. As the wrathful green leads them all on, however, it 
  begins to seem that Holl's larger size and better stamina are giving him the 
  edge on blue Enri, as the little fellow begins falling behind.

Sayvel pulls his wings in and speeds like a shooting star, it brings him 
  closer but Akri still has her edge.

Jubei glides upward to a spot just above Holl, very nearly cutting off Enri in 
  the process. The fast blue gaining on the green gets a wary eye but that's 
  about it, the bronze is too concentrated on increasing his speed above and 
  beyond the range of the other firelizards. Back and forth, his nose and 
  Holl's nose vie for attention, but there's that ever present Sayvel again...

Enri is about as plucky as Holl -- you'd think they hailed from the same 
  clutch, for the blue's tactics in the air are much like the bronze's, daring 
  without being entirely foolhardy. But still, Enri _is_ a blue... and his 
  strength is flagging. Finally, with a disconsolate rumbling creel, he drops 
  out of the race, heading for the shore and the girl to whom he looks.

Left as the sole representative of the male half of Mehlani's fair, Holl pours 
  everything he has into his flight now, racing neck and neck with Jubei... 
  and Sayvel. The few other contenders remaining in the flight are hardly 
  worth Holl's time, and if it weren't for the fact that Jubei and Sayvel are 
  indeed giving him a run for his money, Holl would be ignoring them, too, in 
  his quest to obtain that rare prize slashing a green-white streak across the 
  sky.

Sayvel spreads his wings pushing himself forward through the air, closer and 
  closer.

It would seem that Arki's inferno of temper and strength and fury is beginning 
  to ebb as well... for the green, for all she's still pumping everything she 
  has into the blur of her near-white wings, has started to slacken off in 
  speed, letting her foremost pursuers gain precious lengths to close in on 
  her. And all the while, on the shore, Mehlani remains a frozen, kneeling 
  figure, her face gone grey, her cheeks and brow streaked with sweat.

Jubei takes long pumps, followed by what seem to be longish moments of folding 
  his wings beside his body and darting through the air without any wings 
  holding him aloft at all. At each pump he gains some height, then tucks for 
  the darting movement, gaining some speed each time. Arki's tiring form looms 
  ahead of him and he starts making a move to a spot where he can find himself 
  atop her.

Sandar watches Jubei and the others going for the same smallish spot behind 
  the green and winces as wing tips start hitting each other. His hands are 
  over his ears for some reason - strange, that.

Sayvel throws himself forward, his color starting to fade, the blue finally 
  starting to feel his strength ebb. With one last valiant effort, he reaches 
  out to grab at her.

The fast blue is flagging some, but he's still in the pack, having blooded 
  very well. He eyes a knot of tangling wings for a split second, and then 
  arcs above them to make his own try at the green he wants. Either to mate 
  with or to take vengeance upon. It's hard to say which.

'Lani's eyes clamp shut, every last remaining facet of her own strength 
  focused on the dire need to keep Arki from vanishing *between* before the 
  flight can be completed. _Don't look at her, don't go *between*, don't look 
  at her, keep your eyes shut, don't go *between*, don't go..._

And overhead, at last, Holl creels in startlement and profound alarm, as he 
  falls just a fraction behind Jubei... enough to give Jubei and Sayvel and 
  that swift blue the edge over him. Arki snaps her head around to issue a 
  final hissing challenge over her shoulder, but her baleful eyes have 
  lessened ever so slightly in their rage. And as that speedy blue arcs up... 
  and then down, seemingly out of nowhere, to close the gap between them and 
  claim her as his own, the cessation of her shrieking makes her seem 
  almost.... content.

Sayvel shrieks in defeat and hovers for an annoyed moment.
Sayvel has left.

Jubei screeches at that speedy blue, perhaps now wishing that he'd used an 
  underhanded tactic after all - but it's too late now. The bronze raises his 
  wings to loop in the air, then swoops to the ground - in one piece, much to 
  the delight of his still dazed pet.

It's a close thing, one might guess, on whether the blue clamps down with 
  talons or twines a neck around Arki's. His last lunge is accompanied by a 
  furious shriek. It only slowly dies down into something else as the two 
  finally make their peace.

Sandar sits on the ground beside the exhausted Jubei, who is laying flat in 
  the snow, never minding the cold. The boy lets out a long sigh, and draws 
  little figures in the snow somewhat absently.

Mehlani doesn't seem to move, even as the exhausted Holl and Enri clamber down 
  to try to claim perches upon her shivering person. With four fire lizards 
  thus all trying to burden her at once, and two of them wounded, the girl 
  seems horribly dazed, and she's still quite grey of face.

Sandar gets up, places Jubei on his shoulder (the bronze just lays there, 
  limp) and goes over to give 'Lani a hand back to the Living Cavern where she 
  can get warmed up.

Slowly, as if her neck has turned to stone and it can barely move, Mehlani 
  lifts her gaze up to Sandar. Her blue eyes are nearly black, and she stares 
  at her fellow Candidate as if not quite registering what she's seeing, while 
  Holl and Munki and Enri all try to twine around her neck and shoulders at 
  the same time.

Sandar doesn't reach for 'Lani - he doesn't want to intrude on her personal 
  space, not at this moment. But he does glance over at the bowl, then says, 
  "c'mon."

The girl stares unseeingly at Sandar for what seems like an eternity. Then, 
  still stiffly, moving as if every bone in her slender body aches, she hauls 
  herself laboriously to her feet. The fire lizards trying to use her as their 
  living perch creel in tiny, exhausted pipings, and Holl flutters feebly, to 
  keep his purchase on her shoulder.

Sandar wanders back to the Living Cavern, mumbling something to the limp 
  lizard whose head is dangling on his chest, obviously not registering 
  whatever he's being told, making sure 'Lani is only a step or two away.
Sandar heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.
Sandar has left.

[And soon...]

You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Sandar
Aurian
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Aurian places her blue on her shoulder, he looks more grey than blue at the 
  moment. She steps into the kitchen.
Aurian walks off towards the kitchen.
Aurian has left.
From the kitchen, Aurian enters the kitchen from the living cavern.
From the kitchen, Aurian says "Ash, do you need a hand?"

As Mehlani stumbles into the living cavern, the girl seems an absolute fright. 
  Her breeches are snow-soaked from the knees down, her face is entirely 
  drained of color, and four exhausted fire lizards are clinging to her neck 
  and shoulders and arms. Streaks of ichor might be spotted in a few places on 
  her shirt. Mechnically, she keeps stumbling, apparently intending to head 
  for the inner caverns.

Sandar wanders in, gives Aurian a weak smile, then goes for the pitcher of 
  redfruit juice and some mugs. He pours them as he checks the hearth, gives a 
  small grunt of approval, and thunks the mugs down in front of Mehlani and 
  the spot where Aurian previously sat. To 'Lani, he nods, then starts 
  drinking from his own mug, the color slowly coming back to his cheeks at the 
  warmth of the beverage - it's a mulled juice.

From the kitchen, Asher turns around swiftly, and a plate spins out of his wet 
  fingers and falls to the floor, shattering. In the noise of tinkling shards, 
  the boy smiles nervously and stammers, "A-ah...of ccourse not."

Sandar leaves his mug on the table and goes to help lead the girl.

From the kitchen, Aurian steps back watching the shards bounce against her 
  booted feet. She leans over to a corner and picks up a broom she's rather 
  familiar with. Silently she starts to sweep.

Sandar jumps a bit at the noise, then for some reason looks at the ceiling. He 
  sighs with a bit of relief, then trundles on.
Sandar walks towards the inner cavern.
Sandar has left.

You walk towards the inner cavern.
Inner Cavern(#1272RJL$)
Contents:
Sandar
Jorenan
Kiyah
Obvious exits:
Steam Baths  INFirmary  Candidate Barracks  Corridor  Weyrfolk Quarters  
  Living Cavern  

Kiyah smiles slightly. "No klah for me. Not when I'm pregnant. Juice, perhaps. 
  Well met, Jorenan. Baker, eh? My cousin's a baker. I'm Kiyah, Journeywoman 
  Healer."

Asher walks in from the living caverns.
Asher has arrived.

Sandar ambles in, leading Mehlani. As he sees Jor he gives the lad a nod, then 
  twists his head to look back at the dazed Candidate behind him. Kiyah also 
  gets a weak smile.

Mehlani, if she's noticing Sandar leading her, is giving no sign of it. In the 
  midst of tiny noises of dismay and exhaustion from the fire lizards all 
  clinging to her soaked form, the grey-faced girl stumbles into view, and 
  unseeingly right past everyone else in the corridor, apparently headed for 
  the candidate barracks.

Asher walks off towards the Outer Infirmary.
Asher has left.

Jorenan's mouth falls open, and then snaps shut. "Again so soon?" he mutters. 
  "Sheesh. Mehlani!" he calls. "You're soaked!"

Sandar looks over to the hot springs, then back to the barracks, looking 
  somewhat undecided about where would be the best place to take the cold, 
  soaked girl.

Kiyah raises her brow looking towards the girl. "I think the springs is good."

Bronze Holl has claimed 'Lani's right shoulder, blue Enri her left, and brown 
  Munki is clinging for dear life to the back of her shirt and neck; blue 
  Brodi is huddled in a tiny curled up ball of fear and pain in her arms. 
  Mehlani pauses and turns her head slowly and dazedly in Jorenan's direction, 
  her eyes practically black against her ashen features, and she proclaims in 
  a soft, grave, bizarrely calm voice, "Arki is done rising now."

Sandar nods to Kiyah. "Springs," he murmurs. The limp bronze drooped over his 
  shoulder raises his head and gives a small creel.

Jorenan appears to be rather lost, here. Last time was quite enough. He looks 
  at Kiyah and asks, frankly curious and out of his depth, "D'you know 
  anything that'll reduce the effects of firelizard flights?"

Sandar nods to Jor. "When greens start glowin', bop 'em on the head."

Aurian walks in from the living caverns.
Aurian has arrived.
Aurian says "Anyone seen Asher?"

Kiyah considers thoughtfully. "That I'm not sure obout. Heyla, Aurian, you 
  have a clue what is good for reducing the effects of a firelizard flight?"

Apparently, Mehlani hasn't registered any of the words being exchanged, for 
  she wanders in slow and dogged determination straight into the Candidate 
  Barracks.
You part the curtain and step into the Candidate Barracks.
Candidate Barracks(#258RAHJ$)
Contents:
Tola
Danae
Flutterby
Harper
Candidate Supervisor Roster
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  

Aurian emerges from behind the curtain across the entrance.
Aurian has arrived.
Aurian watches Mehlani with some concern and then steps out again.
Aurian heads through the entrance to the inner cavern.
Aurian has left.

Mehlani's Cot(#15942Dabe)
You settle down on your cot.

[Mehlani, exhausted, barely notices Aurian as she collapses onto her
 cot. Her equally exhausted firelizards -- at least the male half of
 the fair -- curl up around her, and in moments, the girl is asleep.
 End log.]