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:
	6/4/98

Log Cast:
	(People) Jorenan, Mehlani, Ro, Erdrick, Kyria

	(Firelizards) Assorted firelizards looking to Mehlani, members of
her family, and Devlin

Log Intro:
	The Hatching at Telgar Weyr is over and done -- and among those
who did not Impress are Mehlani and her friend Ro. The two have them, like
many a failed Candidate before them, have opted to try to console themselves
by getting drunk in the beasthold... and now, the day after the Hatching,
Mehlani has stoically ignored her hangover with the goal of drowning herself
in the only other way she knows to make it through emotional turmoil:
work and lots of it. So with the diligence she'd had even before her
Candidacy -- which her Candidacy had only sharpened -- she's applied herself
to cleaning the beasthold. With a vengeance.
	So far it's only been the enormous gathering of firelizards that 
look to her various family members and loved ones that have been keeping
a worried eye on her, but it doesn't take long for various concerned folk
to track her down in person, either...

----------
Your location's current time: 14:05 on day 21, month 2, Turn 23, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

Jorenan comes in from the runner pasture.
Jorenan has arrived.
Jorenan steps in and stops. He blinks a few times and waits for his eyes to 
  adjust.

It's arguable that the beasthold has never been quite this immaculate, even 
  with an entire squad of Candidates going to work on it. The floor underfoot 
  has been strewn with fresh straw -- or at least as fresh as it's possible to 
  get in the middle of a winter in Telgar Weyr. The place is full of the scent 
  of hot mash in the feed bins of every runner in the place, and the walls of 
  the various stalls practically gleam, having been wiped down. And back 
  towards the back of the place, in the middle of a veritable swarm of fire 
  lizards perched on, near, around, above, and beside her, a dirty, rumpled, 
  flush-faced Mehlani is busily working on oiling a green banded in the hues 
  of Benden Weyr.

Ro comes in from the runner pasture.
Ro has arrived.

Fahlina comes in from the runner pasture.
Fahlina has arrived.
Fahlina looks at you for a moment.
Fahlina jumps up and down excitedly, "Hat! Hat! Lani?"

Jorenan is just coming in, himself, and has stopped to gaze 'round in some 
  surprise. "Don't remember it looking like this," he mutters. He runs a hand 
  through his hair and starts to go over to Mehlani, but before he moves more 
  than a foot, Ro and someone he doesn't know have come in as well.

Ro smiles and calls out softly "Mehlani? I brought you a visitor." She takes a 
  memnt or two to look around the stables in surprise.

Fahlina waves extreamly fast at Jorenan, and asks, "Like Dolly? She Toowoo."

Seven different fire lizards let out warbles at the noise of new arrivals at 
  the entrance of the beasthold. The young woman seated on a hay bale against 
  the back wall blinkblinks, first at the fire lizard congregration gathered 
  all around her, and then up towards the newcomers. Holl, perched on the wall 
  of Nightsong's stall, trumpets his approval, and the black mare pokes her 
  head out to peer past the bronze.

Fahlina
This little girl seems to be a toddler around three turns of age. All the 
  features of a small kid that makes them cute are present, from buttoned 
  nose, big smile and ears. Her hair is a gentle redish-blond.. She has cute 
  little blue eyes, filled with joy on most cases, and an insatable curiosity. 
  Today her hair is in small pony tails with cute little curls and she wears a 
  pretty small winter-dress that is blue. A jacket, fairly light, yet warm 
  made of a bit of hide and yarn covers the dress.

Mehlani blinks a few more times under her hat brim, a tremulous smile crooking 
  across her face. She considers, then sets Twyr down; the green flutters, and 
  promptly starts trying to nuzzle up against blue Enri, who will have none of 
  it. "Hello," she calls to the others. Her voice is a trifle rusty-sounding.

Fahlina wobble-runs towards Mehlani, stopping a little too close, "Sissy! Want 
  to meet Toowoo?"

Fire lizards scatter in all directions as Fahlina charges to the back of the 
  hold, in a cloud of multihued wings; there's even a gold in the midst of 
  them all. Mehlani's eyes crumple closed for a moment at the din of warbles 
  and creels, before she refocuses on the child and smiles lopsidedly at her. 
  "Alright," she murmurs.

Fahlina holds up a fairly new-looking doll that soft.. although... the foot is 
  a bit chewed, "She Fali's dolly."

Ro takes a moment to stroke Nightsong's velvety nose, absently watching those 
  before her.

Erdrick comes in from the runner pasture.
Erdrick has arrived.
Erdrick walks quietly in, dressed for work.

Nightsong, like the beasthold itself, seems to... gleam. Her ebon coat 
  practically glows with extensive grooming; her mane adorns the top of her 
  head like a Lady Holder's tiara, and she whickers her profound satisfaction 
  at Ro's attentions. She's got hot food in her bin, and she's been brushed! 
  Though she probably wouldn't mind it if Ro brushed her again.

There doesn't appear to be much work to _do_ in the beasthold, as it happens. 
  The place is spotless, the floor strewn with straw as fresh as can be 
  obtained in the middle of winter, the walls of every beast's stall gleaming, 
  the beasts themselves contentedly consuming hot mash or lapping up the water 
  they've been allotted.

Erdrick blinks as he looks about, "Um, hi." He looks around the stables, 
  looking rather surprised.

And Mehlani, sitting there slightly tiltedly on a hay bale at the back of the 
  hold, smiles blearily down at the little girl presenting her doll for 
  inspection. "Glad to meet you," she murmurs to the doll, gravely.

Fahlina blinks, "You sad sound.." she frowns a moment, "Good name? Toowoo?"

Erdrick looks at you for a moment.

There's at least twenty different fire lizards present in the beasthold, too, 
  and as Erdrick comes in, a flurry of chitters is his greeting. Mehlani 
  blinkblinks distractedly up at the noise, her brow crinkling under her hat 
  brim, but most of her attention is still on the child. Returning her blue 
  gaze to Fahlina, 'Lani steadies her smile, and whispers to her little 
  half-sib, "A very good name."

Ro smiles and slips into Nightsong's stall, picking up a brush she happens to 
  spot and starts to brush, though it soon becomes obvious that there is more 
  petting than brushing going on.

This is just fine with Nightsong, who swishes her tail regally at Ro. Yes. 
  Yes. Brush her back, and then brush her face, and then pet her back some 
  more! And while we're on the topic, do you have any apples?

Jorenan smiles slowly. "Hullo," he says to the person whose name appears to be 
  Fali. "That's Toowoo, hm? Nice name." He nods to Erdrick as well; surprising 
  lot of folk in here all of a sudden. He goes over towards Mehlani and the 
  scads of firelizards and just stands.

Fahlina jumps up and down seemingly excited, and goes to hug 'lani's leg.

Mehlani leans slowly and stiffly over to hug Fahlina, and then as Jorenan 
  approaches, heralded by yet more fire lizard chitters from overhead (half 
  the creatures present appear to be finding perches high up on the walls), 
  Mehlani looks up and smiles tinily at him. "Hello, Jorenan... um... this is 
  Fahlina..." She indicates the child.

Erdrick grins absently, noting Fahlina, as he wanders around the stables in 
  bemusement, "So much for cleaning the stables." He tosses a quick glance 
  over at Lani, wondering if she's been here all night and finds somewhere out 
  of the way to sit as he decides what to do next.

Fahlina says "Dowan?" she asks Mehlani, having trouble prounouncing it, 
  "Dowenan?"

Jorenan nods to Fahlina solemnly and holds out a hand in a gesture 
  considerably more adult than her age might warrant. He squats down so's 
  they're at the same level, more or less. "That's right, Jorenan."

Fahlina smiles, "Dowenan! Good boy, Dowenan? Not like Tribby? No kill dolly?"

From the look of Mehlani, if she hasn't been in here all night, she has at the 
  very least been in here for hours. In addition to her usual hat and black 
  suede vest, she's adorned with a goodly amount of straw, dirt, and the 
  inevitable result of stable-mucking. She keeps her seat on the hay bale, 
  smiling wanly, as Jorenan hunkers down before the little girl. "Fahlina is 
  my sister," she murmurs to the Baker.

Jorenan blinks. "Kill dolly? Me? Never." He risks a glance at Mehlani and 
  smiles at her. "In fact, I usually try to protect dollies."

Erdrick looks around then at Jorenan and Lani, "You two been doing my job for 
  me?" He asks, sounding amused.

Fahlina grins deeply, "Want to hold dolly, then?"

Jorenan's lips twitch. "I'd love to," he says to Fahlina. To Erdrick, he 
  shakes his head. "Not me," he says. "I've got work enough of my own."

Fahlina says "She say she like Dowenan." she points at 'Toowoo' and the looks 
  at his knot, "Cookie-man?"

At Erdrick's query, Mehlani might be heard to murmur, "I just thought I'd 
  clean up a bit..." Her voice still sounds a bit rusty, and she doesn't quite 
  focus on the young stablehand. To Fahlina, she adds, "Jorenan makes good 
  cookies."

Fahlina tugs on Jore's pant leg after hearing that, "Got cookies?"

Erdrick chuckles at Lina then looks over at Lani, "You might want to..." He 
  trails off as she takes the words from his mouth, "It's not to late, you 
  could always take a dip in the springs." He pauses thoughtfully, "Come to 
  think about it, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, I might take a dip 
  myself."

Mehlani's eyes are still mostly shadowed by the brim of her hat, which has 
  managed to look even more battered than usual. But she turns her head in the 
  direction of Erdrick's voice, and seems to consider. She doesn't nod. But 
  she does murmur out a hoarse, "Yes... perhaps..."

Charm comes in from the runner pasture.
Charm has arrived.
Charm takes her spot high in the rafters to stately observe her charge, 
  Mehlani.

Gracious, but there's a lot of fire lizards in here. Banded in the colors of 
  both Benden and Telgar Weyrs, as well as the Harper Hall, Igen Weyr, and the 
  Minecraft. The lot of them keep up an undercurrent of noise, rustlings, 
  chitterings, warblings... at least, the ones inclined to make noise. Some, 
  like Arki, simply lurk in the shadows, peering out with silently whirling 
  eyes.

Erdrick glances around, "What's with all the flits here? They holding a flit 
  convention or something?"

Fahlina nodnods.

Erdrick chuckles at Lina but doesn't look quite convinced, he glances from the 
  flits to Lani back to the flits and then to his own flits, looking slightly 
  confused.

"They're my family's," Mehlani mumbles huskily, leaning back against the wall 
  behind her.

Four of the Benden-banded greens, possibly four of the most adorable green 
  fire lizards on Pern, let out a string of piping croons. Perhaps they're 
  aware they're getting attention.

Erdrick blinks, still not sure why all her family's flits are watching her and 
  nods sagely, as if he understands completely, "I see. Should I get us some 
  klah or wi-uh something?" Some conversationalist he turned out to be. :)

Fahlina pokes her head about, peering at various things.

Jorenan looks at the greens. Actually, it's more of a jump and a sudden 
  terror, quickly contained. He blinks a couple of times, and then re-focuses 
  on Fahlani. "I actually don't make cookies very often, I'm sorry. They're 
  expensive."

If Mehlani knows why this horde of 'lizards has decided to take up residence 
  in the beasthold, she's not saying. She does appear to consider Erdrick's 
  suggestion, her face settling into solemn, stoic lines, and she murmurs 
  absently, "It would probably be better to go to the klah."

Erdrick looks about then at Lani, restraining a sudden impulse to brush a bit 
  of straw out of her hair near her eyes and nods, "Shall we then?" He 
  gestures towards the door and apparently the LC across the bowl as he 
  glances around.

Jorenan watches Erdrick with Lani for a long moment, and then just shakes his 
  head. "Enjoy the klah," he says with a quiet smile. "I've duty, so I can't 
  join you." Did they ask? Well, that's all right either way. He gives Toowoo 
  back to Fahlani and says, "it was nice to make your acquaintance, Fahlani. 
  We'll have to talk again sometime."

Fahlina giggles.

Well, what hair is near Mehlani's eyes are the few short spikes sticking out 
  from under her hat brim -- but on the other hand, there _is_ straw sticking 
  out of there, too. One probably doesn't want to know how exactly straw got 
  stuck there. Mehlani is apparently still considering klah, a small 
  distracted furrow between her eyebrows.

Jorenan grins and stands up. He dusts off his hands and gives Mehlani and 
  Erdrick a wave. "See you."

Erdrick blinks, "Duty? Here? Thought you were a baker not a stablehand." One 
  would wonder what a baker is doing in the stables anyways, especially if 
  Lani's there. ;) "I'm all for going and getting something to drink, and 
  maybe a dip in the springs."

Mehlani blinkblinks at Jorenan, then, apparently startled. Oh. Um. "Alright," 
  she mumbles. She still hasn't moved.

Jorenan frowns at Erdrick. "No. I came to check on Mehlani. Duty at Bitra for 
  me today." He gives the other a cool look and then turns to head out.
Jorenan heads out towards the pasture.
Jorenan has left.

Erdrick blinks at the baker's sudden departure and stands up, "Well Lani, 
  Lina?" He doesn't seem to notice his use of his new nickname for Fahlina as 
  it's mostly unconsious.

Fahlina pouts, "Fali."

Erdrick blinks, chuckles, then realizes what he said and replies, "Alright 
  then, Fali. And of course Toowoo." Guess who had a younger sister? :)

Fahlina giggles again.

Mehlani's slight absent frown remains on her face. Her gaze shifts from 
  Erdrick to the door beyond him, and her frown deepens. Slowly, cautiously, 
  she leans forward from the wall, shifting her weight forward onto her booted 
  feet. Then, stiffly, she begins to rise to a standing position. This process 
  involves almost rolling forward onto her knees, before she seems to steady 
  herself and make it into something resembling standing... and it also 
  involves a sharp drain of color out of her features.

Erdrick blinks, "You alright Lani?" He's at her side in a flash, remembering 
  the last time something like this happened.

Eight different fire lizards creel at Mehlani at once, and Holl, Rianet, Enri, 
  Aeyri, Vachon, and Koei all wrestle at one another in the air for a moment, 
  apparently arguing over which of them gets to claim the girl's shoulder. 
  It's Holl who finally wins, and although his croon and his landing on 
  'Lani's shoulder are both gentle, her features crinkle up in reaction, 
  nevertheless. When she opens her eyes again, her gaze shifting blearily to 
  Erdrick -- rather than risking actually turning her head -- the girl mumbles 
  hoarsely, "I'm fine." And with that, she totters towards the door.

Erdrick walks with her, "No you're not, anyone can see that."
Erdrick blinks as a thought occurse to him, "Too much wine last night?"

Charm hisses chitterscolds Erdrick.

'Lani does not appear inclined to argue with the young man. Moving at a pace 
  with which Fahlina can easily keep up, Mehlani pauses at Nightsong's stall 
  and peers in glassily at Ro, smiling tinily at the sight of the other girl 
  and the mare. Nightsong promptly whinnies.

Erdrick quietly, "Want a shoulder to lean on Lani?" He's got two and is quite 
  prepared to offer them both if needed.

Fahlina follows quickly.

"I'm fine," Mehlani maintains stoically. She adds to Ro, "Do you want to come?"

Erdrick nods at Lani's words, expecting nothing less, he still looks a bit 
  concerned but trys to hide it, Buttons on the other hand watches Lani 
  intently with yellow tinged eyes.

Ro slips out of Nightsong's stall, giving the filly a gentle pat.

Erdrick looks at Nightsong for a moment.

Nightsong whinnies again, tossing her head up and down, and Mehlani considers 
  the mare with the sort of melting look she generally reserves for all beasts 
  of fur and wing. As Ro joins her, she flicks a bit of a smile at the other 
  girl, and then glances down to mark the location of Fahlina.

Fahlina is keeping up fairly well.

Mehlani smiles absently at the child, and then sets herself to the daunting 
  task of traversing the rest of the distance to the door out into the 
  pasture. She stops only once, to fetch the riding jacket she'd worn on the 
  way out here -- some time night, though she doesn't put too much thought 
  into exactly -when- -- and then, she slips out, holding the door open for 
  the child.

Erdrick keeps to Lani's side quietly.

You head out towards the pasture.
Runner Pasture
Obvious exits:
Feeding Grounds  Beast Hold  Bowl  

Erdrick emerges from the beast hold.
Erdrick has arrived.

Ro emerges from the beast hold.
Ro has arrived.

Fahlina emerges from the beast hold.
Fahlina has arrived.
Fahlina toddles up in wandering directions.

A lot of the fire lizards that had been within the beasthold abruptly arrive 
  out of *between* as Mehlani steps outside -- taking the shortcut to keep up 
  with the slow-moving girl in the hat. Once they're in the open air, the 
  cloud of them spreads out a bit, jostling for position, numerous pairs of 
  whirling eyes remaining on 'Lani. Mehlani herself simply trudges along with 
  Holl on her shoulder, and she muses to Ro as she goes, "Do you think Steward 
  Rennick will want a replacement for S'dar?"

Mehlani, as she's not moving all that quickly, is easy to keep up with as she 
  trudges out to the main stretch of the Bowl.

You open the gate and head northwest towards the main Bowl.
Central Bowl(#298RL$)
Obvious exits:
Weyrling Barracks  Southern Bowl  Lake Shore  Hatching Cavern  Feeding Grounds 
   Runner Pasture  Weyr Entrance  

Erdrick comes here from the direction of the runner pasture.
Erdrick has arrived.
Erdrick blinks as he happens to hear Lani's comment as he swlks along with her.

Ro comes here from the direction of the runner pasture.
Ro has arrived.
Ro blinks, silent for a moment. Finally she replies "I don't know. I hadn't 
  thought about it."

Fahlina comes here from the direction of the runner pasture.
Fahlina has arrived.

Hrmm. The Bowl is a _lot_ wider than the beasthold. Still, Mehlani is 
  apparently focused on left-foot, right-foot, left-footing her way southward, 
  her head tilted down slightly to keep her face shielded beneath the 
  protective shadow of her hat brim. She murmurs a soft wordless noise of 
  assent to Ro, and continues on her way, trailed by five different hues of 
  fire lizard.

You walk south.
Southern Bowl(#396RJL$)
Contents:
Flour Pot
Obvious exits:
Living Cavern  Central Bowl  Weyrleaders' Complex  Outer Infirmary  Guest Weyr 
   Records Room  

Erdrick walks here from the north.
Erdrick has arrived.

Fahlina walks here from the north.
Fahlina has arrived.

Ro walks here from the north.
Ro has arrived.

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

Erdrick walks in from the bowl.
Erdrick has arrived.
Erdrick mutters more to himself then Lani, "He probaby is."

Ro walks in from the bowl.
Ro has arrived.

Fahlina walks in from the bowl.
Fahlina has arrived.

Erdrick gestures Lani and the others to some nearby chairs, "I'll play host 
  since our resident baker isn't here."

Fifteen... no, sixteen... no, seventeen fire lizards wing, flutter, hover, and 
  *between*-hop their way into the living cavern in Mehlani's wake, as the 
  girl finally makes it in from outside. 'Lani peers around blearily to see if 
  Fahlina is keeping up... wouldn't want the little, or her doll, to get 
  distracted out there in the Bowl, hmm?

Erdrick he walks over to the klah pot and calls back, "What do you all want?"

'Lani doesn't sit down, not quite yet. On her shoulder, Holl chitters his 
  annoyance as three of the Benden greens try to join him in perching on the 
  girl; Mehlani just stands there, brow crinkled to brace herself against the 
  din, as she tries to handle the shift in temperature from the Bowl to the 
  warmer indoor cavern. "I think," she croaks by way of beginning, then pauses 
  to wet her lips before continuing again, "I think that I should... go get 
  cleaned up... please, don't wait for me..."

Kyria looks at you for a moment.

Erdrick looks over at Lani and nods, "I might do the same in a bit, could use 
  a good dip."

Mehlani doesn't try to nod; something tells her it wouldn't be a good idea. 
  She does, however, murmur another soft wordless assent at Erdrick. Then she 
  peers down at little Fahlina, and murmurs to her, "I'll be back, Fali, I 
  have to wash. Maybe you can stay with Erdrick and Ro? They're nice..."
Mehlani manages a fairly steady smile for her tiny sister, and a few of the 
  Benden-banded greens settle down on a chair not far away, cooing at the 
  child. 'Lani then turns off towards the inner cavern, slowly trudging that 
  way. Most of the fire lizards determinedly follow her, though those three 
  greens stay near Fahlina, eyes whirling gently blue. Then, 'Lani's 
  straw-and-muck-and-dirt-bedecked figure is gone.

[End log.]