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) Mehlani, Erdrick, Ptodek, Ro, Saskia, Chilhowee, Kassima,
D'thon

	(Dragons) Lysseth, Wroxath

	(Firelizards) Mehlani's fair, Fahloran's gold, F'hlan's fair, Melora's
fair, Harper, Buttons, D'thon's fair, Kyril

Log Intro:
	The Hatching has finally happened -- and Mehlani was not been among
those Candidates that Impressed. Her friends Jayna and Aurian were, but her
friends Ro and Saskia and Ptodek were not. In the aftermath of it all,
the young people who have been left without dragons have been trying to 
find appropriate ways to deal with their individual failures to become
dragonriders. Tonight, several of the former Candidates have gathered in
the Weyr hot springs...

----------
Your location's current time: 20:55 on day 21, month 2, Turn 23, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a winter evening.

About nine different fire lizards come winging into the cavern, shortly 
  followed thereafter by ten more, all of them chittering in piping voices, 
  several of them apparently herding Mehlani into the cavern. The girl's 
  looking rather bleary-eyed, and she is clad in her bathing shift; she has a 
  large, fluffy towel draped over one arm, and with her other hand, she's 
  scrubbing her eyes, trying to focus on where she's going.

Erdrick blinks noting the firelizards and calls out "Hi Lani." Before she 
  quite comes into his view. Who else would have such an escort?

Harper flies into the room.
Harper has arrived.

If the bandings on these creatures are any indication -- the colors of three 
  different Weyrs, the Harper Hall, and the Minecraft -- four different fairs' 
  worth of 'lizards are urging Mehlani towards the nearest pool. Foremost 
  among them are no less than two golds and two bronzes, including 'Lani's own 
  Holl. The lass bats feebly at the air, trying to scatter enough of the flock 
  to give herself a clear view of the baths, and she calls out hoarsely, 
  "Hello," towards Erdrick.

Harper trumpets triumphantly at having found Ptodek. He dives straight for the 
  spring where the boy sits, landing in the water with a huge splash. Ptodek 
  can't help laughing as he rubs water out of his eyes.

Ptodek grabs at the little blue and scritches his eyeridges affectionately. 
  "Hey, Harper."

Ro gets a mischievious gleam in her eye and splashes Erdrick.

Erdrick blinks and splashes Ro back, getting Lani as well, without meaning to.

Mehlani pauses at the edge of the pool, in the middle of that cloud of 
  multihued fire lizards. Her brow crinkles up, and her eyes close a moment, 
  and she abruptly pipes out at the top of her lungs, "RED STAR!"

The effect is instantaneous. Twenty fire lizards squeal in dismay and vanish.

And Mehlani, who apparently doesn't mind that her legs got splashed, sets her 
  towel down and sinks stiffly into the water. Relief begins to ease the lines 
  of her face.

Erdrick nearly drowns himself in his own reaction to her yell and blinks at 
  her, then realizes why she did that and relaxes.

Ro giggles, blocking a fraction of the splash with an outheld hand "That 
  worked pretty good."

Mehlani mumbles plaintively, "They weren't helping..."

Erdrick nods, "That's for sure, I ought to have thought of that earlier!"

Ro says more seriously "You doin' okay, 'lani?"

Erdrick looks a bit concerned at Ro's question, looking at Lani closely, as if 
  to see if she's too tired out.

Harper reappears suddenly, and circles to land on Ptodek's shoulder, scolding 
  Mehlani the whole time.
Harper has left.
Ptodek winces as Harper swoops down at he and lands on his shoulder, digging 
  in sharply with his claws.

Ptodek winces. "Yow!" It hurts enough when he has clothes on.

Slumping backward along the edge of the pool behind her, her eyebrows 
  twitching a little -- as if the muscles of her face can't decide to relax or 
  remain taut and tense, and Harper's annoyed chitterings are probably 
  weighing the scale in favor of 'tense' -- Mehlani murmurs only, "I'll be 
  alright." She opens one blue eye, peers in Ptodek's direction, and appends 
  sheepishly, "I'm sorry..."

Ro nearly winces in sympathy for Ptod "Ooo, that looks like it hurts."

Ptodek dislodges Harper, who falls into the spring again. He rubs his 
  scratched shoulder. "'Sokay," he grunts, mostly to Mehlani.

Erdrick winces himself at Ptodek and the firelizard.

Ptodek grumbles. "He always does that. Has to hang on like he's afraid to fall 
  off."

Harper has arrived.
Ptodek jumps slightly as Harper launches himself from his shoulder with a 
  raucous shriek!

Erdrick blinks, "Guess I'm lucky Buttons isn't like that."

Harper paddles toward Erdrick and sniffs at him curiously.

Ptodek shrugs, and then grins faintly. "Oh well, he's the most fun of the lot 
  when he isn't pinching and scratching. Rest only want to eat and sleep and 
  lay in the sun."

Ro nods "That doesn't seem too pleasant.

Erdrick looks at Harper warily, remembering how he treated Ptodek, "Hello 
  there."

One side of Mehlani's mouth curls upward for a moment, then lowers again. She 
  makes a tiny noise of wordless acknowledgement to Ptodek, and then sinks 
  back again, closing her eyes.

Ro says "Not rise and chase?"

Ptodek laughs, grinning in earnest now. "Not yet, except for Harper they're 
  all pretty young."

Erdrick blinks at Ro in confusion at her statement, "Chase?"

Mehlani puts in gravely, "Mating flights."

Ro rolls her eyes "How d'you think the firelizards that rise get caught, if 
  the others don't chase them?"

Harper bobs in the water, and finally seems to reach an affirmative conclusion 
  in his inspection of Erdrick. He chirps and fans his wings, splashing water 
  all over the man.

Erdrick blinks, having forgotten about that, "Oh yeah." He looks at his fair 
  warily, "Come to think about it, Buttons, Darin and Karin are over a turn 
  now." He looks a bit daunted by the prospect of his flits flying in a mating 
  flight.

Ro giggles and says to Ptod "I like him."

Ptodek frowns. "Darn it, Harper!" He grabs for the 'lizard, but it eludes him 
  by diving underwater, and surfaces near Ro, wrapping his tail around her arm 
  as if for protection from his master.

Ro smiles and moves to gently stroke the creature's neck.

Mehlani opens her eyes briefly, but says nothing more on the topic of 'lizard 
  flights. Harper's antics get a bit of a smile out of her, though.

Erdrick chuckles a bit at the firelizard's antics, "Don't worry 'bout it 
  Ptodek, nothing worse then what Buttons' and company have done."

Ptodek smiles thankfully at Erdrick. "Okay, I'm glad you don't mind. Sometimes 
  he annoys people.. he got me in trouble earlier, poking his silly nose in 
  the weyrling barracks."

Saskia walks in from outside the room.
Saskia has arrived.
Saskia steps in, stops at the entranceway and blinks, "Firelizard eggs in 
  here?"

Ro lifts an eyebrow "Hmm?"

Mehlani opens her eyes at the sound of Saskia's voice. She smiles wearily to 
  the other girl, then blinks a few times, too.

Saskia smiles, "Hi Mehlani. You should relax now that the waiting is over."

"I'll try," is Mehlani's solemnly murmured promise.

Saskia smiles, "Hey Ro." then wades over to Mehlani, "I Impressed another 
  firelizard yesterday. A better tempered one, but still demanding."

Erdrick looks over at Saskia, "Hello."

Ro tilts her head, betraying her curiosity "How many does that make now?"

Mehlani gives Saskia another grave, shy little smile, by way of 
  congratulations. She stays where she is, lying there against the pool's 
  edge, her eyes half open, her features quietly weary.

Saskia waves to Erdrick, then grins a bit sheepishly at Ro, "Two. Things in my 
  life do seem to happen in pairs. I was apprenticed one day as a baker and 
  the next day Searched. I tihnk I can just about handle two hatchlings, but 
  I'm glad it's after candidacy. Are you two holding up okay?"

Erdrick splashes water at Lani, "You'd probably be more comfortable relaxing 
  in the water." He looks over at Saskia, "I don't think we've met, I'm 
  Erdrick, a stablehand here."

Ro shrugs "I spent the day sorting herbs for Riche."

Ptodek shakes his head in amazement. "Two hatchlings at once? Phew."

Saskia nods to Erdrick, "Well met Erdrick. I'm Saskia. I'm here. I'm not sure 
  what I'm doing yet, but it feels right to stay here."

Erdrick chuckles and nods, "I understand."

Saskia grins, "Mehlani's dealt with a few more than that. I don't know how she 
  did. I'm exhausted. They both are incredibly loud and demanding."

Ro says "Well, at least Rain is three months old, with me havin' the new 
  little one."

Mehlani just smiles a little at Saskia's query to her, the only answer she 
  offers.

Ptodek nods. "Yeah, I'm glad Lightning had a chance to grow up some before I 
  Impressed the egg K'tyn gave me.

Saskia smiles, "Well, I really appreciate K'tyn's gift. What hatchlings did 
  you get?"

Ro says "I got a real pretty, delicate little bronze."

Erdrick leans back in the water, enjoying the warmth.

Ptodek grins. "I got a green, and I named her Crystal. What did you get?"

Saskia smiles, "I got a graceful gold and I named her Leila at K'tyn's 
  suggestion, because she looks a lot like Leilanth."

Erdrick nods at Saskia, "Bet Jehrina'd be proud." Maybe?

Ptodek grins. "So it was you got the gold! I wondered."

Chilhowee walks in from outside the room.
Chilhowee has arrived.

Ro says "I'm sure she'll be happier than when Sandy thought he was Leilanth."

Mehlani, reclining where she's resting, just listens wordlessly to the others. 
  Her tired expression eases a little, as she takes in Saskia describing the 
  new little gold.

Saskia giggles, "I dunno. I don't think she knows about it. My other 
  firelizard is named after Sionelle. I hope they both aren't offended, or I 
  guess I'll be hiding a lot."

Chilhowee walks in..glancing around before sitting down in the 
  water...glancing every so often at those gathered around..

Ptodek snickers.

Saskia smiles, "I just picked an egg at random like everyone else, Ptodek."

Erdrick chuckles, "I'd not worry about that." He waves over at the newcommer.

Chilhowee
Short hair, brown as the softwoods of Lemos, sets off the leafy green of his 
  eyes, and suits the tan that lends warmth to his skin. Though tall and thin, 
  there is a certain wiry strength about him, and a smoothness to his 
  movements.
The green shirt he wears goes farther to compliment his green eyes. It makes 
  him look like a moving tree almost. His pants are made of cotton and are 
  dyed to a dark brown. Around his waist is a belt clasped by a small bronze 
  buckle. His boots are made of wherhide and are tanned almost to a black but 
  not quite. In his shirt is a built in pad for the firelizards to perch on.
 He appears to be about 14 Turns, 7 months, and 20 days old.

Mehlani, resting in one of the pools, sitting in water up to her chin, turns a 
  grave blue gaze to Chilhowee without moving her head. Then she bobs her head 
  a little, by way of greeting.

Saskia waves to Chilhowee then looks down to see if her two young firelizards 
  are still sleeping peacefully.

Chilhowee slides into a hot spring.

Ptodek smiles in greeting to the boy his age. "Hi, I'm Ptodek, who're you?"

Ro nods to the stranger with a trace of a smile on her lips "Hi. You new 
  here?" the tilt of her head betrays her curiosity.

Chilhowee grins at Ptodek.. "Chilhowee.." he turns his attention to Ro.. 
  "Yeah.."

Ro's lips curl into a full smiles "I'm Rosarrah. Everyone calls me Ro, though."

Saskia eeps as one of her firelizards awakens and begins to squawk loudly. 
  Saskia grimaces, "it's feeding time again. See you folks later." and wades 
  out of the water.

Mehlani gives another silent little head bob to Saskia.

Chilhowee smiles at Ro.. "its nice to meet you.."

Erdrick waves, "Bye Saskia."

Saskia waves to everyone then hurries out quickly.

Ro nods "The pleasure is mine. You just visiting, or here to stay?"

Saskia walks off towards the Inner Cavern.
Saskia has left.

Chilhowee says "Here to stay..I want to become a dragonhealer someday"

Ptodek says "hey, that's neat!"

Ro blinks "Really? I'm a trainee myself."

Ptodek climbs out of the pool and grabs for a towel. "I think I better go feed 
  my fair, too." He waves.
Ptodek winces as Harper swoops down at he and lands on his shoulder, digging 
  in sharply with his claws.
Ptodek walks off towards the Inner Cavern.
Ptodek has left.

Mehlani smiles a little, just a little, to Chilhowee's declaration of his 
  career of choice; to Ptodek, she bobs her head again as he goes. The girl 
  seems content with simply soaking there in the pool, her short auburn hair 
  curling in slight tendrils along her face.

Chilhowee grins.. "Cool.."

Erdrick leans back in the water, staring up at the sky, "So relaxing."

Ro grabs the nearest jar of sweetsand and pours some into her hand, then sets 
  it down and pulls out the thong that binds her hair.

Lysseth flies over the edges of rock and lands on the far end of the springs.
Lysseth has arrived.

Ro works the sweetsand into a lather, then works the lather through her hair, 
  her eyes closing.

Erdrick stares up at the sky, "I do like it when the Weyr is peaceful like 
  this."

With a rush of wind that stirs the surface of the nearby dragon pool, Lysseth 
  alights on an area of clear ground, sans straps but still carrying her 
  rider. She lowers one wing to allow Kassi to slide down, her gaze already 
  turned towards the pool in an almost longing fashion. "Aye, beast, I know, I 
  know... you have got t'be *the* most impatient creature on the face of Pern 
  at times, I'll readily swear it."

Kassima slides down from Lysseth's neckridges to land beside her with ease. 
  Lysseth cocks her head at her rider, rumbling quietly as Kassi gives her 
  eyeridges a grateful scratching.
Kassima has arrived.

Mehlani doesn't comment on Erdrick's observation, but she does glance over 
  tiredly at him, and there's still a bit of a smile curling her mouth. Then, 
  as Lysseth lands, bringing in her rider with her, Mehlani starts in the 
  pool, distracted out of her near doze. She blinks glassily up at the rider 
  and dragon.

Once Ro's hair is thoroughly lathered, she sends a big wave of water his way. 
  *sploosh!*

Erdrick chuckles, "Evening Kassi, Lysseth."
Erdrick splashes water back at Ro.

Ro grins....the fun way to get ones hair rinsed. She merrily starts up a 
  splashing war with the stablehand.

Kassima lands in a twinkling behind her lifemate, using the green's slender, 
  grey-touched bulk as a shield behind which to change clothing. "Crowded 
  Springs tonight," she can be heard to comment, her voice somewhat muffled. 
  "I hope we're nay bothering any of you, but Lyss is *most* insistant about 
  getting the last of the ash from drills off of her hide *immediately.*"

Mehlani, glassy eyes or no, sits up in the pool and asks gravely, "Does she 
  need us to help wash her?"

Erdrick grins impishly and continues splashing back, getting a bit of water at 
  Lani as well. He gives a whistle and his flits join in thier favorite game, 
  'Splash the pet' though it's Ro they're splashing not Erdrick. He blinks at 
  Lani, "If she wants help I'd scrub her, but you ought to relax Lani."

Ro laughs. After a bit, the lather rinsed from her hair, she declares a truce.

Erdrick grins over towards, Kassi, "You're not bothering us Kassi." He 
  whistles and his flits go back to thier own games. He does give Ro one last 
  splash though.

Mehlani glances over at Erdrick, her bleary gaze more or less unreadable. 
  "Thank you," she replies soberly, softly, "but I'm fine."

Kassima steps out from behind her dragon, garbed in her usual towel and with 
  bare feet padding lightly over the stone. "Thankee, but nay... Lyss doesn't 
  much care for being handled by others. *I* think she does that just t'make 
  m'life more difficult. Aigh! Watch it with that splashing, would you?" The 
  chide is lighthearted, and accompanied by a grin as both green dragon and 
  Wingleader slide into the steaming pool.
Kassima slides into the dragon pool.

Lysseth slides into the dragon pool.

Mehlani then glances back to Kassima, listening to the woman's reply, and when 
  she's finished speaking, 'Lani merely bobs her head and sinks back down into 
  the water.

Ro yawns, surprising herself. "Mmm, I'd better get to bed b'fore I fall asleep 
  in here. Good night, everyone." she says as she climbs out of the pool and 
  puts her robe on.

Erdrick says "Good night Ro. Don't let the tunnelsnakes bite."
Erdrick impish grin.

Mehlani murmurs huskily, "Good night, Ro."

Ro says "That's what Thunder's for. He loves huntin' those critters." over her 
  shoulder as she retreats from the room.
Ro walks off towards the Inner Cavern.
Ro has left.

"Bright *stars*, but this is a pleasant change," Kassi sighs. She leans back 
  against a convenient rock, sinking up to her chin in the steaming 
  stew-water. Lyss is content to follow suit, submerging herself almost the 
  instant her green hide comes in contact with the Spring. "Clear skies, Ro," 
  Kassi calls, opening her green eyes to peer towards the young woman. 
  "G'night, too... dream well."
"Blast," the greenrider then mutters. She just sounds resigned, not truly 
  upset. "Missed *again.*"

Telgar Hot Springs
Nestled between several rock outcroppings lie several pools of water and 
  smoothed, flat rocks angled towards the sky. Immediately, the warmth of 
  geothermally heated water reaches you, and you see steam rising from the 
  springs pools.
Two smaller pools with another, much larger pool past them, rest here. A cliff 
  rises over one end of the large pool, with steps to climb up to the top. 
  (Use 'places' to see the various springs.)
A large tunnel works its way back into the innards of the Weyr, eventually 
  leading those without wings to the inner caverns. Those who do can fly up 
  and over the rim to Telgar's southern bowl.
Contents:
Kassima
Lysseth
Pile O' Sand
Erdrick(#13651PVce)
Obvious exits:
Inner Cavern  Bowl  

Mehlani sinks down into the water until little more than her nose, her eyes, 
  and the top of her hair is visible. "Does Lysseth fare well?" she inquires 
  gravely. "And your daughters?"

Erdrick chuckles at ro's parting words and leans back against the edge of the 
  pool, resting his head there, content with soaking for now.

Kassima nods towards the lounging green. "Lysseth," she replies wryly, "is 
  perfectly content now that I've acceded t'her demands. The spawnlings... 
  gah. Kaylira threw the worst tantrum right after the Hatching; she wanted 
  t'know why she couldn't have a brown dragon *now*. Which, naturally, upset 
  Khari. Why did I ever decide t'go ahead and have children?" The rhetorical 
  question is amused-sounding. The black-haired greenrider shakes her head 
  slightly, causing ripples to form in the water about her. "Ah, well. What of 
  you, 'Lani? Erdrick?"

"Fine," murmurs Mehlani simply, very softly.

Erdrick grins, still staring at the stars, "On a night like this, I am 
  content." He sneaks a quick glance at Lani when she's not looking in his 
  direction.

Kassima cracks open one eye to regard Mehlani for a moment. "Good," she 
  finally says. "I'd thought 'twould be one of those who'd be all right. I'll 
  pass that on t'Kes; he'll be relieved, I'm certain." Craning her head, she 
  follows Erdrick's gaze towards the stars. "'Tis a night just like any 
  other," she observes.

Erdrick chuckles at Kassi, "Ahh, but I'm not usually lazing about star 
  watching."

Mehlani's eyes might be noted to turn slightly liquid for a moment; she is 
  silent for a long moment, before she finally murmurs to Kassima, "Thank 
  you..."

Wroxath flies over the edges of rock and lands on the far end of the springs.
Wroxath has arrived.

Erdrick grins absently as he closes his eyes and almost falls asleep.

Wroxath deposits himself on the ground with a decided lack of gracefulness.

D'thon slides off Wroxath's back to the ground, landing lightly.
D'thon has arrived.

Mehlani starts a little at Wroxath and D'thon's arrival, as she'd done at the 
  coming of Kassi and Lyss. The girl's head jerks stiffly in the direction of 
  the rider and the blue, before she subsides again, lifting a hand to rub at 
  the back of her neck.

Erdrick's eyes open slightly at the thump of the dragon and he waves, "Evening 
  D'thon."

Kassima returns simply, "You're welcome. I think he'd ask you himself, poor 
  lad, but he's nay quite certain what t'say t'you that would be of help... 
  don't tell him I said so, though. He'd probably kill me." She turns her head 
  to see who's arrived, and hails, "G'deve, D'thon, Wroxath." Her dragon blows 
  a few bubbles in the water under which she's submerged herself--her own form 
  of greeting, perhaps. "I leave the starwatching to m'cousin Triene," she 
  then confesses to Erdrick.

Erdrick notes Lani's start and nods slightly, sympatheticly, having an idea 
  what she's going through, he chuckles at Kassi's words, "I got interested at 
  Bitra, they had a farviewer at the StarSmith's tent and I was looking at 
  some of the star constellations."

Mehlani peers over bemusedly at Kassi, then murmurs again, reflexively, 
  stoically, "Tell him... I'm fine, please..." She then bobs her head a time 
  or two to D'thon and Wroxath, before sinking back down deeply into the pool.

Erdrick he sighs slightly, "Doubt I could raise the marks to buy one, and 'tis 
  just a curiousity. 'Twas more thinking of the star's beauty tonight." Among 
  other things left unsaid. :)

Kassima nods again. There's sympathy in her shadowed gaze, one may be sure, 
  but she's not the sort to go into greater depth on possibly painful topics 
  without cause. "Will do. Aye, Erdrick... 'twould likely be expensive. 
  Mayhaps you should seek an apprenticeship in the Starcraft if'n you've a 
  true interest?"

*Pop*. *Pop*. *Pop pop pop*. Bronze Holl, blue Enri, green Rianet, a gold 
  banded in the colors of Igen Weyr, and a brown banded in the hues of the 
  Minecraft pop out of *between*. They circle several times overhead, whirling 
  eyes seeking out 'Lani's form in the pool, before descending to claim perchs 
  not too far away... but this time, giving the girl some distance.

Erdrick chuckles, "'Tis just curiousity, I'm not wanting to apprentice myself 
  there." He glances over at the firelizards, "Uh oh, you all again?" Some he 
  recognizes, some he doesn't.

Mehlani blows out a soundless sigh, gaze shifting in the direction of those 
  fire lizards, though she doesn't turn her head.

Kassima's eyes, too, travel towards the fire-lizards as her own fair chitters 
  greetings to the new arrivals. "That gold's new," she observes. "Is it 
  another of Devlin's?"

"My brother's," murmurs Mehlani lowly.

Erdrick looks at Lani curiously, "Why're his flits doing this anyways?"

*Pop pop pop pop!* As if an all-clear of some kind has been signalled, four 
  greens banded in the hues of Benden Weyr appear overhead, cooing tinily, and 
  coming in for a landing on the surface of one of the pools.

"Fahloran," Kassi surmises at once. "Makes sense. How's he been doing lately, 
  anyway? Word has it that he has a child now? Some of the Wingriders are 
  trying t'claim the babe falls under the F'hlan-Spawn pool."

Erdrick sighs, "You all again." Buttons however greets the arrival of the 
  greens with a flitatious croon.

Wroxath makes a grmph? noise at the arrival of the smallones.

Mehlani just considers Erdrick for a moment, not answering his question; 
  instead, she murmurs to Kassima, "Fahloran and Siara have a daughter named 
  Sahra now. She was born before I was Se--" Beat. Beat. "--Many sevendays 
  ago."

D'thon blinks as he emerges to the surface of the pool from an extended dip, 
  glancing to 'Lani's visitors. "...wha?...oh."

In the meantime, four more *pops* above herald the coming of blue Brodi, brown 
  Munki, green Elsi, and green Wili.

Kassima nods, eyes half-closing for a moment. "Sahra," she repeats. "Pretty 
  name. I doubt 'twill get up t'Igen any time soon, but 'twill extend him 
  m'congratulations when I do. Have you any news from the rest of your family?"

From various positions on and around Wroxath, a quartet of flits begins to 
  trill at the newcomers.

Erdrick blinks at all the firelizards and mutters, more to himself then anyone 
  else, "Half tempted to say it myself."

*Pop*, *pop*, *pop pop pop pop pop*. Four fire lizards banded in Harper Hall 
  colors this time, two more Benden-banded greens, and, surprisingly, Arki. 
  Even more surprisingly, all of the incoming fire lizards appear fairly 
  remarkably subdued, all perching on the walls and rocks around the area, far 
  away from Mehlani, but watching her with mutedly whirling eyes. Mehlani is 
  apparently trying not to notice, as she murmurs a quiet "No... they did not 
  stay too long," to Kassima.

D'thon furrows his brow, apparently deciding to remain silent at the sight of 
  the arriving hordes.

Erdrick groans and counts to ten quietly, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10."

Kassima watches with passive curiousity as a fair to rival her own arrives 
  from *between.* "'Twould nay, if'n 'twere you," she comments leisurely to 
  Erdrick. "Nay unless you want the other 'lizard pets in the Springs t'be 
  irked with you." She eyes the fair again, though. "Mightily glum bunch, 
  aren't they?"

"I already Red-Starred them," mumbles Mehlani sheepishly.

Three of the Benden-banded greens, the ones nearest Mehlani and therefore the 
  ones who managed to pick up that mumble, squeal and vanish.

Kassima smiles suddenly, her eyebrows lifting up several notches. "Ah... 'tis 
  bright news. Bright news indeed!" Even Lysseth stirs her lackadaisical self 
  to warble a short, joyful note, eyes whirling a brilliant cerulean.

D'thon blinks. "Oh!" He glances to Kassi. "I heard."

Mehlani blinks.

Erdrick blinks at Kassi and D'thon, "What news?"

Kassima grins over at the others. "Ursa," she explains. "She had her babe 
  tonight--a lass, Lysseth tells me, by the name of Rulyn."

Erdrick blinkblinks, "Congratulations Ursa!" he calls out, forgetting she 
  can't hear him.

A tremulous sort of smile wavers its way into being along Mehlani's mouth. 
  "Please... relay my congratulations?" she whispers.

D'thon blinks. "Surely you mean a lad, Kassi?..." He looks mildly confused.

Kassima blinks, too, and groans. "Did I say lass? Shells, shards, and fardles, 
  but I'm going senile at twenty and six. Lad. Lad. The lad's a lad. Will one 
  of you kindly drown me now and put me out of m'misery?"

Wroxath waddles over to Kassi and THWAPS his tail into the water obligingly.

Erdrick grins at Kassi, "I think 'twould be better if we kept you around, for 
  now."

Mehlani smiles tinily.

D'thon blinks and tries to stifle a sigh-chuckle.

Kassima opens her mouth to reply to that, but is interrupted by the sudden 
  wash of water over her person that's caused by Wroxath's tail. "Thanks, 
  blueboy," she sputters, wiping water from her eyes. "I clearly needed that." 
  Apparently so, since Lysseth just rumblesnickers amused approval rather than 
  retaliating on her rider's behalf.

Erdrick yawns and swims to the side of the pool and gets out. He grabs his 
  clothes up and slips them on, nodding about, and yawning again, "Night all."

Mehlani glances towards Erdrick, then murmurs, "Good night..."

Erdrick grins over at Lani, yawning again, waves at the others and walks 
  toward the exit, his flits filing about him.

D'thon nods. "Night," he appends.

Kassima gets up out of the spring, her braid and towel dripping liberally on 
  the rocky floor. With a faint sigh, she seats herself on a rock and takes up 
  a second towel to work on drying her hair. "How've Ceria and--Adaria? 'Tis 
  Adaria, isn't it? Anyway, how've they been of late, D'thon?"

Erdrick slips quietly out.
Erdrick walks off towards the Inner Cavern.
Erdrick has left.

Mehlani flicks her gaze over to D'thon, fastening her attention there. There's 
  a brief hint of a slightly strained avidness in her gaze, as she listens.

D'thon nods. "Ceria's well, but still busy." A slight sigh. "Typical... having 
  to feed Pern, and all that. Adaria's getting along well too."

Kassima shrugs philosophically. "Show me someone who's nay busy most of the 
  time, and I'll show you someone who's managed a miracle... ah, well, 'tis 
  good t'be hearing. I've nay seen either of them about in a bit. What of you 
  and your lifemate?"

Wroxath mrphs, sitting down and triggering waves.

D'thon chuckles. "Same as ever, for some reason." He thumps the blue's haunch 
  affectionately.

Several of the silent fire lizards start flittering hopefully towards Mehlani; 
  among them, however, only Holl is brave enough to actually alight at her 
  side on the pool's edge. The girl peeks sidelong at the little bronze and 
  mutters at him plaintively, in a hoarse whisper, "Tell them to go home..."

Kassima wrinkles her nose. "Same as ever... how boring. Y'know, something 
  needs t'be done t'shake things up a bit. Mayhaps we should all go on another 
  round of the Nine--or the Six, whichever--some night." Quirking an eyebrow 
  up at Mehlani, she asks, "Are they bothering you, lass?"

Her lower lip tucks under her teeth for a moment, as Mehlani peeks timidly 
  over to Kassima. "I... I think they mean well, but..."

Wroxath makes a snorting noise; his rider chuckles. "I don't think he likes 
  being described as boring."

"But they're being pains in the kertuckus," Kassi finishes. "If'n the R-S 
  word's nay scaring 'em away, I can have Zabre or Lyss try and shoo 'em if'n 
  you like. Just say the word." Draping the second towel over her shoulders, 
  she flashes Wroxath an apologetic grin. "Eh, didn't mean you, Wroxath. But 
  even the finest things in life can become better if'n you throw in a bit of 
  variety. 'Tis like, oh... being back home at Benden. Even when I lived 
  there, and found it the most perfect place on Pern, that didn't mean I 
  didn't still visit other places."

"If... if Lysseth can just tell them... I'm alright," Mehlani mumbles 
  abashedly, shrinking down a little where she sits. She keeps watching 
  Kassima, drinking in the woman's words with the same sort of hollow-eyed 
  avidness she'd done D'thon's.

D'thon chuckles. "He understands," he notes.

Lysseth turns a steady, unwavering gaze on the 'lizards, fulfilling her 
  rider's silent request with the simple, firm insistence with which she does 
  so many things. Kassi remarks while her dragon does this, "She can, 
  certes--though, if'n you'll pardon me saying so, you don't look all right. 
  D'you nay want t'speak of what's troubling you?"
Kassima notes as a rueful addendum to D'thon, "A'course... *some* variety, I 
  could do without. Take having a proddy Wingsecond, for example. I begin 
  t'have a whole new appreciation for Jal's patience when the situation was 
  reversed."

D'thon makes a surprised noise. "That's... candid..."

A steady dragon gaze's first immediate result is several tiny creels of 
  protest. However, the horde starts getting the message. In twos and threes, 
  they start sneaking off *between*, even Mehlani's own fair. The girl, in the 
  meantime, repeats hoarsely, "I'm fine." She sounds suspiciously like her 
  father. And about as convincing. "J-J'lyn's pro... Lorieth's proddy?"

Kassima blinks at D'thon in surprise. "Is it? I just meant that I now have 
  t'do most of his hidework and such, and he had t'do most of mine when 'twas 
  proddy m'self... that's candid? Color me enlightened." To Mehlani, she 
  directs one dubious glance before dropping the first subject and simply 
  nodding. "Aye. 'Twill nay be long ere she rises, though, thank Faranth."

"I-if you need help copying anything," Mehlani blurts out, "I-I could do 
  that..."

D'thon blinks right back. "Oh."

Kassima just has to ask. "What did you *think* I meant, if'n I might inquire?" 
  Mehlani's offer earns her a thoughtful look from Kassi. "I know nay whether 
  'twill need much more copywork done ere Lorieth finally rises. I *do* have a 
  few personal projects I could use aid with, copying wise, but... I know nay 
  whether they'd be of interest t'you."

D'thon shakes his head. "Uh... nothing really."

"I, I'd be happy to help with anything," 'Lani avows, though not very loudly.

Kassima arcs an eyebrow at D'thon. "Well, if'n you're sure... 'twas just 
  curious, that's all. Think you that I should put marks on Wroxath when 
  flight-time comes?" Hiding a grin, she refocuses on Mehlani. "They're really 
  naught of Pern-shaking import. 'Twould just be of aid t'me if'n some of 
  m'notes were transcribed in a legible manner. Prior Turnday gifts given, 
  flight records, draconic bloodlines... things like that. I keep the stuff I 
  do for Wing business clear and up t'date, but the things that are of more 
  use in personal matters or m'wagering are a real mess. I wouldn't want 
  t'burden you with it, unless you're positive you'd want t'help."

D'thon blinks. "You might try," he comments, "but I'll make no guarantees."

Kassima nods, turning slightly more businesslike. "I'll have t'see who's 
  chasing, a'course, t'see who has the best record and suchlike, but flights 
  are simply too lucrative for me t'pass up when I know the green and rider."

Mehlani remains silent at Kassi and D'thon's exchange, then whispers gravely, 
  "I would be happy t-to do the work."

Kassima gives Mehlani a grateful smile. "In that case, you've m'eternal, 
  undying gratitude, y'may be certain... and 'twill pay you for it, rest 
  assured. There's nay so *very* much that needs doing, but there's also just 
  nay so very much time t'be doing it in." She gives an amused snort. "Perhaps 
  I should get pregnant again so that I'll have all the time in the world I 
  need, and then some." She's *clearly* not serious.

D'thon sighs. "And who," he suggests in jest, "would you find to help you with 
  that?"

'Lani smiles wanly, and just bobs her head a little, not speaking.

Kassima snorts again, more drolly this time. "A very good question. I suppose 
  L'cher would... Faranth knows, the man would sleep with anyone else who let 
  him. Somehow, though, I think I'd rather just go without the extra time."

D'thon chuckles. "Wise decision, I s'pose," he replies.

Kassima says facetiously, "Or mayhaps I'd just drink Water constantly until it 
  really did achieve the impossible, and skip this father business entirely. 
  Now, *that'd* be interesting t'try to explain."

D'thon looks admiringly at Lysseth, who gazes at D'thon levelly for a moment 
  before giving a slight snort.

Kyril has arrived.
Kassima suppresses a chuckle as Kyril spreads his wings dramatically before 
  leaping into the air.

After a time, when she nearly goes underwater without meaning to, Mehlani 
  frowns softly to herself and moves to pull herself out of the pool. Her 
  motions are slow ones, but she makes it up out of the water, and immediately 
  reaches to wrap the towel around herself, her head hanging down a little.

Kassima sighs and finally conceeds herself to the fact that she's going to 
  have to drag Lyss out of the pool. It takes a few moments, but the green is 
  tired too and does eventually accede to her rider, allowing herself to be 
  used once again as a changing screen. Once Kassi has her riding gear back 
  on, she starts to climb carefully up the slippery green neck. "Oh, 
  Mehlani..." she calls down, seemingly offhandedly. "There've been many 
  people--wonderful, worthwhile people--who don't Impress dragons. If'n you 
  consider yourself less now than you did a'fore, then you're also mentally 
  insulting your own brother, Ro, and myriad others. I can't believe you the 
  sort to think less of 'em because the dragons passed them by... so don't 
  think it of yourself, either, eh?" And with that parting phrase, she heads 
  out.
Kassima climbs up to Lysseth's lower neckridges with the aid of the riding 
  straps and the green's thoughtfully offered foreleg. She gives her lifemate 
  a fond pat on the neck once she is aboard.
Kassima has left.

Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as 
  she takes to the skies.
Lysseth rises up from the steamy waters heading north over the rim of the Weyr.
Lysseth has left.

[End log.]