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:
	4/4/98

Log Cast:
	(People) Mehlani, K'tyn, A'lex, Rylan, Ro, Sean, Kassima, Jehrina,
M'hryn, Taral, Dandelions, Sandar, Starling, Telmarria, Flynn

	(Dragons) Leilanth, Talibenth, Prometh, Nraith, Spineth

	(Fire Lizards) Holl, Tigros, Sneaker

Log Intro:
	'Tis springtime in Telgar Weyr, and young dragons' fancies lightly
turn to thoughts of rising -- problem is, so do thoughts of somewhat older
dragons, namely, gold Leilanth. And with her dragon proddy, Jehrina has
struck nervousness if not necessarily terror into the hearts of those in the
Weyr who know her well when her dragon is of a mind to mate. Already at
least one incident of riders hiding in mutual sympathy from the Weyrwoman
getting plastered in the Records Room has taken place, during which, much to
everyone's dismay, M'kla fell ill due to a problem with her heart; now,
two of the Weyr's bronze riders are once more finding a dubious refuge in
drink, as Mehlani enters the living cavern....

----------
Your location's current time: 17:48 on day 31, month 5, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a spring afternoon.

Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's 
  population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity 
  here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently 
  for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under 
  Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets 
  and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its 
  size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the 
  pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder 
  that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. The 
  tables are decorated with a multitude of bright spring flowers.
A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of 
  cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of 
  the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. 
  Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for 
  injured dragons and riders.
Contents:
A'lex
K'tyn(#7313PAJOc$)
Rylan
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

'Lani comes slipping quietly as she always does into the cavern, glancing 
  about as she does. It's the ever-loyal Holl who has shoulder duty with her 
  today, the rest of her fair nowhere in evidence.

K'tyn nods at A'lex, nods emphatically, and tosses back the last of his glass 
  of the green. Unsteadily, he refills the glass. "See? Thass why, Rylan." He 
  peers at Mehlani, and smiles at her. "Hello there."

A'lex turns and grins the grin of the stupid at Mehlani, "Tis the Behatted 
  one!"

Rylan snorts, "I don't think that's right still. Maybe if you didn't drink so 
  much before a flight it wouldn't happen", he offers

A'lex shakes his head, "It's just Jehrina and Leilanth's way, son."

Um? Mehlani pauses in her transit out to the Bowl, and smiles timidly to the 
  pair of clearly inebriated bronze riders. "Hello," she murmurs, and gives 
  her little brother a glance that includes him in the greeting as well.

K'tyn shakes his head. "I didn't drink, last time."

A'lex nods, "And I wern't around for it."

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

A'lex raises a recently refilled glass of green to Ro, "Ro! Ro! Ro! Where's 
  yer boat lass?"

Mehlani glances sidelong to Ro, and moves to the other girl, pursing her lips 
  in thought.

Rylan giggles at A'lex

Mehlani leans in close as she intercepts you, and whispers anxiously, She 
  mutters to Ro, "... Leilanth is going to be..." 
Ro senses "Mehlani leans in close as she intercepts you, and whispers 
  anxiously, "I think that Leilanth is going to be rising soon...""

Ro walks into the cavern, not quite her usual self. Her eyes fall upon the 
  bronzerider and a smile appears on her lips, matching the sparkle in her 
  eyes. She crosses the room and ruffles his hair with her fingers "Oh A'lex, 
  you are so silly at times."

Ro
        Rosarrah stands little more than 5'3". Her slender body is tempered 
  with a lean musculature and graced with the budding curves of adolescence. 
  Her skin is the color one would get by mixing equal parts of klah and milk, 
  in contrast with the very wavy locks of her deep klah-brown hair shot 
  through with highlites of reddish bronze. Her hair is currently pulled back 
  into a single thick waist-long braid. A few errant tendrils have worked 
  their way free to frame her face, somehow emphasizing the changeable luster 
  of what may be the largest pair of thick-lashed gray eyes in Telgar Weyr, 
  eyes that are almond in shape and tilted, matching the angle of her 
  cheekbones. Her delicate features are set in a heart shaped face emphasized 
  by a widow's peak, fine jaw and pointed chin, and accented with touches of 
  antique rose at her youthfully rounded cheeks and her full (but not overly 
  so) lips. She appears to be in her mid teens.
        She is wearing a white cotton peasant blouse with a scooped neckline 
  bordered by a wide ruffle and a matching ankle length skirt. Around her trim 
  waist is a snuggly-laced bodice of amethyst velveteen.

A'lex raises his glass again, aparently he's in a toasting mood, "To silly!"

Mehlani stands back slightly from Ro, then, as the girl's demeanor sinks in to 
  her. On her shoulder, Holl, keeping a firm grip on his perch, peers 
  curiously at the girl -- and then, for that matter, to the bronze riders. It 
  would seem the little bronze, like his human, is getting rather bemused by 
  everyone's behavior.

Rylan moves over to hug 'Lani as he watches, "They've been drinking for a 
  while now"

Ro turns and blinks at Mehlani a few moments while her words sink in, then 
  simply replies "Mmm hmm." Her attention swings back to A'lex and she says 
  with a slight pout "But I don't have a glass."

'Lani turns to smile wanly down at Rylan, looping an arm around the boy and 
  hugging him gently; Holl croons, once, though the 'lizard's whirling regard 
  is mostly on K'tyn and A'lex. _Mehlani_ stares at Ro, at the girl's further 
  words, and blinks. Twice.

Drunk, or nearly so, Kiat 'lounges' in a chair. Forsaking the glass he once 
  cradled, he now sips at the flask itself.

Rylan asks of no one in particular, "Why is Ro acting like that?"

"Li...wha'?" K'tyn asks blurrily.

Sean walks in from the bowl.
Sean has arrived.
Sean says "hello"

Rylan waves to Sean

Sean
Sean is a 14 turn old lad. He is well built with brown hair and eyes.

Sean says "the mating flight's today right?"

A'lex swivels his head to look at the newcomer. He nods, slowly, "Greetings, 
  and Telgar's duties to ye. Here to see the flight are ya?" He's obviously a 
  bit tipsy.

Sean says "Yeah"

"Li...wha'?" K'tyn asks again, not trying to focus on one person or one thing; 
  instead, he concentrates on drinking his Green. "Oh, Yea," He nods at that 
  statement. "It's today."

Kassima walks in from the bowl.
Kassima has arrived.

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Mehlani then shifts her bemused gaze from Ro, to the pair of tippling bronze 
  riders, and finally to the newcomer. She bobs her head nervously to the 
  unfamiliar boy, then whispers to the cavern at large, "I... think I'll be 
  going..."

Sean says "okay"

A'lex says "Wingleader Greenrider Kassima! Good Evening!"

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

Rylan says "Where you going Lani?"

Why is A'lex trying to lick the last of the green from his glass? Doesn't he 
  know there's more in the flask at his side? Oh! NOW he remembers! Good boy.

Sean walks in from the bowl.
Sean has arrived.

Pierron adjusts his apron and tugs on his moustache.

"Fear nay more the heat o' the sun, nor the furious winter's rages," Kassi 
  sings quietly to herself as she meanders in, a very *large* satchel slung 
  over her shoulder--one that clinks and sloshes ominously, no less--and an 
  equally large stack of hides in her hand. "Sir," she greets first, with a 
  bob of her head in lieu of a salute, given that her arms are full. "And 
  'Lex... hey, is that Green you're drinking?"

Mehlani can be seen to blush. She turns back to Rylan and blurts to him 
  softly, "I think... I will be going to check on Nightsong..." She pulls in a 
  breath, then turns around again at the sound of Kassima's voice. The 
  behatted lass abruptly darts to the green rider, and lays an anxious hand on 
  her shoulder, murmuring, "Excuse me...?"

"Kass--" K'tyn tries to salute, but instead, raises the flask to his eyes--Oh! 
  Green. Green is good. He takes a big swig.

Rylan blinks after his sister, what crawlie climbed up her trousers

Ro says to the greenrider with somewhat of a pout. "Yes, it is, and he hasn't 
  given me any, yet."

Jehrina walks in from the bowl.
Jehrina has arrived.

Pierron gives a small bow to the Weyrwoman.

A'lex nods proudly, "Our Illustrious Weyrleader (and yes, he prounounces the 
  capital letters) has graciously shared with me."

Rylan wavies to Jehrina, "HeylO"

Jehrina stomps into the cavern, "Now what?"

Ro smiles at the weyrwoman with an expression bordering on adoration 
  "Afternoon, ma'am. Can I get anythin' for you?"

K'tyn is plastered. Utterly. Somehow, though, he manages to get to his feet. 
  "Jeh....Jehrina."

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

"And he'd best nay. Green's too good t'be wasted on one too young to 
  appreciate it," Kassi points out matter-of-factly. "Green's good for getting 
  sloshed, though." Her expression states that certain people have certainly 
  proven to her that this is true. "Aye, Mehlani?"

Mehlani fixes Kassi with an anxious blue gaze, and whispers to her, She 
  mutters to Kassima, "... and Kes... they aren't... Do..." 
Kassima senses "Mehlani fixes Kassi with an anxious blue gaze, and whispers to 
  her, "Indyth... and Kes... they aren't here, are they? Do you know?""

A'lex stands as K'tyn does, "Weyrwoman, ma'am." He's not quite as plastered as 
  his boss is.

Jehrina glares at K'tyn, "Didn't I tell you to stay out of the wine? No wonder 
  you're so wety behind the ears. You're too busy drowning yourself in drink!"

M'hryn walks in from the bowl.
M'hryn has arrived.

Kassima shakes her head, lowering her voice to the level of the younger 
  woman's. She mutters to Mehlani, "... I believe some... Wingmates... drag... 
  as... wishing; they're... the Weyrleader's example and..."  With a brief 
  smile, she nods cautiously to the Weyrwoman and sets her hides down on a 
  convenient table.
You sense Kassima shakes her head, lowering her voice to the level of the 
  younger woman's. "Nay, they're nay. I believe some of their Wingmates helped 
  Kes drag Indyth off t'Boll, as 'twas wishing; they're likely following the 
  Weyrleader's example and... ah... dulling things out." With a brief smile, 
  she nods cautiously to the Weyrwoman and sets her hides down on a convenient 
  table.

Rylan peers amongst all the riders boy this is going to get good /quick/

Taral has arrived.
Taral enters from the Bowl.
Taral wanders in and waves to everyone.

Kassima's murmured reply seems to marginally reassure Mehlani. The girl steps 
  back from Lysseth's rider, bobbing her head gravely in acknowledgement. 
  Then, however, her gaze tracks round to Jehrina. Mehlani can be seen to 
  swallow hard. Without further ado, the lass flees into the Bowl, Holl 
  fluttering for purchase on her shoulder.

M'hryn steps cautiously into the living cavern, side-stepping a group of 
  hurrying riders and moves to where he's outside the main pathway to and from 
  the bowl, looking around.

"A drink, Yes. Had a few. Had a few," K'tyn mutters, then offers the flask to 
  the Senior weyrwoman. "Ya want some, Jehrina?"

[Mehlani flees off through the Bowl towards the beasthold, intending to be
 there to calm the runnerbeasts while the dragons are blooding in the Feeding
 Grounds -- and hoping that it'll prove to be an adequate hiding place against
 flight-addled riders. And meanwhile, back in the lower caverns....]

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

Rylan hops off his table

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

Jehrina smacks at the flask, "No, you stupid wherry, I don't want any. My 
  *dragon* is rising. IF you think you've got a chance of catching her 
  again, you'd better be able to control your dragon better than yourself."

Sandar wanders in. He veers aaaaall the way around the Cavern, putting lots of 
  space between himself and Jehrina, to reach a group on the other side.

Rylan giggles at Jehrina she's too funny

A'lex looks up at the Bronzerider entering, for a moment, dragonlust flares in 
  his eyes, but then he regains himself and nods, "Telgar's duties, sir."

Jehrina shoots more glares at oh.. everyone, and stomps outside.
Jehrina walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Jehrina has left.

Kassima mutters, as she starts to rummage through the satchel of bottles and 
  flasks, "Doesn't take more'n a few, when 'tis Green. Duties to Ista and her 
  queens, Assistant Weyrlingmaster." Her absent attention to protocol suggests 
  that she knows darned well that she's probably not being listened to. "And 
  heya t'you, too, Sandar. Going t'be placing any bets?"

Sandar nods to Kassima. "Leilanth will win. 5 marks on't."

Rylan glares at Kassi, "You bet on everything"

A'lex holds his head, "Is it time? Shards..."

M'hryn blinks at A'lex, just noticing the bronzerider. His eyes have been 
  wandering towards Jehrina, and A'lex's greeting draws his attention slowly. 
  "Uh..." He doesn't finish, eyes following Jehrina as she stomps out.

Taral sighs a bit and heads off back to work.

Ro giggles, favoring the assistant steward with a smile.

K'tyn shakes his head at Jehrina, and with determination, follows after the 
  goldrider. "I've more discipline in my finger than..."
K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
K'tyn has left.

Kassima just snorts at Rylan. "Certes, I do. All know it. And, A'lex, I 
  suggest heavily that you sober up right fast; Nraith will make your life 
  miserable if'n your lack of control makes him lose." Eyeing the Weyrleader 
  and Wingsecond speculatively, she shakes her head. "G'luck, both of you. 
  Remind me t'thank Faranth that Lysseth's nay bronze... and what d'you think 
  I am, Sandar? Everyone knows *she'll* win!"

A'lex mumbles, "Shards."
A'lex walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
A'lex has left.

M'hryn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
M'hryn has left.

Rylan grins at Kassi, "Wanna go watch?"

Sandar mumbles to Kassima, "I saw Prometh doing push-ups in the Bowl when he 
  thought nobody was looking. And Nraith's been practicing his graceful 
  swoops. I dunno. I've got the wine stores sitting by the doorway. I'm ready 
  any way it goes."

Rylan moves to Sandar and Kassi holding up a halfmark
Rylan says "I gots a halfmark on Prometh"

Kassima slaps her satchel of liquor almost affectionately. "I should have 
  enough here t'get m'self and half m'Wing good and schnockered in celebration.
  I always watch these, aye. I'll collect your mark if'n you lose, Rylan--your 
  bet," she says, hastening to tug the wager-sheet from her pocket, "has been 
  noted."

Rylan laughs as he spies the wager sheet, "Do you always carry that?"

Sandar hears wherries screaming from the pen. "And," he says, "I'll bet a mark 
  and a half I know who's going to be helping clean up the mess," he grumbles 
  as he heads outside.

"A'fore flights, aye," Kassi confirms on her way out the door.
Kassima walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Kassima has left.

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

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

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

[And out in the central portion of the Bowl, spectactors are beginning to
 gather, wanting to see the action as the dragons begin to blood....]

Dandelions walks here from the south.
Dandelions has arrived.

Above, Leilanth flies over from the south end of the bowl.

Sean emerges from the passage to the entrance cavern.
Sean has arrived.
Sean says "hello"

Jehrina walks here from the south.
Jehrina has arrived.

Above, Leilanth flies downward towards the feeding grounds.
In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth flies over the feeding grounds from above the 
  bowl.

Above, Talibenth flies over from the south end of the bowl.

In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth rumbles as she lands. Her form shines in the 
  afternoon sun as she drops a herdbeast with one well placed claw. Immediately
  her head drops to drink the blood from it.

Jehrina stops in the center of the bowl, eyes focused on her queen, "Don't you 
  dare do anything but drink, Leilanth. Don't you dare. You'll never outrun 
  them if you do anything but drink."

Sean opens the gate and enters the feeding grounds, closing it behind him.
Sean has left.
In the Feeding Grounds, Sean opens the gate and enters from the central bowl, 
  closing it behind him.

Above, Prometh flies over from the south end of the bowl.

Above, Nraith flies over from the south end of the bowl.

Sean comes here from the direction of the feeding grounds.
Sean has arrived.

Above, Prometh flies downward towards the feeding grounds.
In the Feeding Grounds, Prometh flies over the feeding grounds from above the 
  bowl.

Above, Nraith flies downward towards the feeding grounds.
In the Feeding Grounds, Nraith flies over the feeding grounds from above the 
  bowl.

Above, Talibenth flies downward towards the feeding grounds.
In the Feeding Grounds, Talibenth flies over the feeding grounds from above 
  the bowl.

In the Feeding Grounds, Nraith shrieks as he dives towards a flock of wherry, 
  plucking TWO from the ground. He lands, holding one under a hind leg, while 
  he rips the head from the other, sucking it dry.

Sean opens the gate and enters the feeding grounds, closing it behind him.
Sean has left.
In the Feeding Grounds, Sean opens the gate and enters from the central bowl, 
  closing it behind him.
Sean comes here from the direction of the feeding grounds.
Sean has arrived.

In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth bugles irritation at the approaching males, 
  especially at Nraith as he swipes a wherry close to her. With a swing of her 
  foreleg, she pulls another wherry down to drink the blood from.

In the Feeding Grounds, Nraith half croons half snarls back at the Great 
  Golden One. Ahhhh, what a lovely!

In the Feeding Grounds, Talibenth circles over the feeding grounds, watching 
  Prometh for a moment with whirling eyes that fade quickly to a dark 
  reddish-violet. Then his eyes go towards a group of herdbeasts, panicked by 
  the activities of the other dragons. With a bugle that reverbates across the 
  Telgar bowl, his wings collapse and he drops like a stone upon a small 
  herdbeast, crushing it underneath his bulk. The creature vanishes from sight 
  as Talibenth lowers his muzzle and the sounds of tearing flesh ensue.

Sean Looks awed and says"whoah

Dandelions awed
Dandelions looks awed

Jehrina looks about her, eyes glazed over, forehead furrowed in concentration. 
  "Slowly, love. You need speed to outrun them all."

In the Feeding Grounds, Prometh lifts his head at the gold's cry, neck arching 
  back as he prepares to offer a challenge to the newcomer. The projected hiss 
  dies as his faceted eyes focus, not an a potential challenger, but upon 
  Leilanth's lithe, lustrous form. A deep croon wells up from his throat, 
  paying homage to her boundless grace and beauty. Red swirls deepening to 
  violet in his eyes, he slashes out at a plump herdbeast and fastens his 
  teeth on its throat.

In the skies above, You notice the once clear sky begin to fill with a few 
  clouds.

Dandelions
short blonde 15 turn female from Half-Circle Hold wearing a dark lavender 
  tunic and a faded skirt that goes almost to her toes. Both of these OAitems 
  are somewhat ill-fitting and give the definite impression of being hand-me 
  downsThere is something shy and reticent about her

In the Feeding Grounds, Nraith hucks the whery carcas over one shoulder, and 
  pulls the second screaming one from under his foot. With an evil spark in 
  his eyes, he just clamps his jaws around its neck and begins to draw forth 
  blood.

Dandelions walks off towards the Galleries.
Dandelions has left.
Dandelions walks in from outside the room.
Dandelions has arrived.

In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth bugles once more at the sky, then turns to 
  another hapless heardbeast. With all the efficiency born of a near eighteen 
  turns of life, the senior queen easily dispatches the beast. Hopefully, 
  Caitria hid all her prized ones long before this. With another deft 
  movement, she buries her muzzle in the neck of the beast, eyes whirling 
  speedy violet.

In the Feeding Grounds, Prometh rises back on his haunches with his head 
  proudly arched and wings mantled, displaying exactly that arrogance of which 
  he is known, his amethystine eyes perusing with almost insulting intentness 
  the gilded queen before him. Blood drips down his muzzle and chest, staining 
  the ground a hot pink. The fact that this movement has blocked the view of 
  two leering blues is strictly accidental of course.

Jehrina leans forward, eyes focused on the feeding grounds as her queen begins 
  to glow brighter. "That's it, beautiful."

In the Feeding Grounds, Talibenth raises his muzzle to rumble a warning to a 
  smallish brown who'd drawn too close. Blood drips from his muzzle, pattering 
  onto the red-splattered grass below. Satisfied the brown has moved away, he 
  once again lowers his muzzle to the herdbeast, whipping his neck back and 
  forth as he tears into the poor creature, seeking those last precious drops. 
  Chunks of meat whipsaw this way and that, landing with sickening thuds all 
  around the bronze.

In the Feeding Grounds, Prometh crouches, wings rolling effortlessly away from 
  his back.He extends his large wingsails fully, in an unabashed display of 
  youthful power, before drawing them back to himself in preparation for the 
  crucial moment in which Leilanth will take to the sky.

In the Feeding Grounds, Eyes a whirl with lustfull violet, Nraith finishes and 
  waits for his Queen, none to patiently.

Sean whatches on intently

In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth gathers herself, a glowing molten gold, like 
  fields in the autumn sun wavering in the wind. With effortless ease of 
  action, she crouches, then launches into the air, wings tearing at the sky 
  in earnest. No male will ever catch her!

In the Feeding Grounds, With a roar to rock the very foundations of the weyr 
  itself, Nraith hurls himself skyward.
In the Feeding Grounds, Nraith takes flight, using the thermals rising from 
  the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.
Above, Nraith rises up from the feeding grounds.

In the Feeding Grounds, Leilanth takes flight, using the thermals rising from 
  the bowl to carry her aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.
Above, Leilanth rises up from the feeding grounds.

Starling just watches, jaw dropped at the dragons taking flight.

Dandelions whipsers wow!

In the Feeding Grounds, Prometh takes flight, using the thermals rising from 
  the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.
Above, Prometh rises up from the feeding grounds.
Above, Prometh rises with the others, his wings cutting smoothly through the 
  air like a shipfish's fins through water. Despite being in the middle of the 
  pack of straining suitors, he's hardly aware of the bodies around him, for 
  the scope of his rapidly whirling, violet-tinged gaze is large enough only 
  for himself and the distant, glowing gold he pursues.

In the Feeding Grounds, Talibenth roars as Leilanth launches into the sky, and 
  his tensed hindquarters suddenly release, thrusting the small bronze into 
  the sky.
In the Feeding Grounds, Talibenth takes flight, using the thermals rising from 
  the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.
Above, Talibenth rises up from the feeding grounds.

Jehrina lets out a panting breath as her queen takes flight. She turns to run 
  for her quarters.
Jehrina walks south.
Jehrina has left.

Sean gasps

Telmarria sways as she watches the dragons, her heart starting to beat faster 
  as she licks her dry lips. She opens her mouth to say something, but stops.

Dandelions gazes dreamily into the sky

Sean says "aaahhhhh"

Above, Leilanth bugles again, a challenge. Her glowing form rises higher and 
  higher into the sky, daring the male dragons behind her to follow.

Tigros heads here from the south.
Tigros has arrived.

Sean gazes on in wonderment.

Tigros
His lustrious hide lays over his back like a coat, darkening to nearly black 
  at his forepaws.A brillant bronze mettallic sheen is seen most fully on his 
  hind legs and underhis wings. When those wings are fully displayed, golden 
  and brillant green streaks crisscross their way across the large wings. 
His neck has been banded with the colors of Igen weyr, indicateing his pet's 
  home. 
        
Tigros is 1 Turns, 4 months, and 3 days old and is 46 centimeters in length 
  with a wingspan of 76 cm.

Flynn has arrived.

Above, Spineth flies over from the south end of the bowl.

Dandelions ogles spineth

Sean says "ooooohhhhhh..."

Above, Spineth bursts into the sky from the far end of the feeding grounds. He 
  knows he's not a bronze, but he's big, he's strong, and most of all, he's 
  got blinding faith and confidence.

Sneaker bursts from *between* with a blast of cold air.
Sneaker has arrived.

Above, Prometh's wings furiously pound the air as he struggles 
  with the cold Telgar winds. He veers sharply to one side and bugles 
  triumphantly as he finally manages to blunder into a good thermal, powering 
  his way throught the uncertain winds. He cuts off a brown, getting a roar of 
  rage in response which he ignores completely, his attention captured by 
  Leilanth.

Flynn disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.
Flynn has left.

Above, Talibenth's wings rise and dip in a steady rhythm, following the huge, 
  vibrant queen upward. The brown he rumbled at earlier in the feeding grounds, 
  though, ducks underneath the bronze and comes up before Talibenth, blocking 
  Leilanth from Talibenth's sight. Trumpeting angrily, he pushes forward, 
  dipping a wing slightly to try to move around the brown.

Above, Leilanth flies steadily upward, tail dangling out behind her, a beacon 
  tempting and teasing the males who would catch her, their riders who would be
  Weyrleader. No male is worthy to partner her! Another draconic scream of 
  defiance fills the bowl air, surely reaching across half the continent from 
  the sound of it.

Sean winces from the noise

Telmarria swallows and glances around at the other spectators, then back at 
  the sky, also wincing slightly.

Dandelions covers her ears

Above, Nraith is spurred on by adolescent lust. His powerful wings pound the 
  air like oars pound the ocean. A rumble issues forth from his throat in 
  responce to that scream, and he Chases.

Telmarria smiles nervously to Sean, nodding her head, glancing back up at the 
  flying dragons.

Sean looks over at Telmarria and smiles in Return.

Above, Spineth has his vision focused on nothing but the gold beacon ahead. The 
  bronzes and browns that come between him and her only momentarily enter his 
  awareness. His wings beat on as he rides the Telgar thermals upwards, fueled 
  by his confidence.

Above, Prometh cuts through the air, a fire-tinged arrow in these southern 
  peaks of the Barrier Range, home in the sky to which he newly belongs. 
  Flying now in the fullness of his adult strength and agility, and every wind 
  is a friend and a lift to his wings. Leilanth ahead is a gold gemstone, his 
  whirling eyes never leave her as though he was bound to her by threads 
  invisible. A bugled cry bursts from his throat, defiance to the other males, 
  yearning to the gold ahead.

Above, Talibenth seems to falter for a moment as Leilanth roars and the brown 
  he is competing -- as well as the other dragons -- widen the distance. But 
  his surprise is quickly replaced by an even stronger desire and he surges 
  forward, golden-green wingsails valiantly driving the bronze onward through 
  the air of this unfamilar bowl.

Dandelions is speechless

Telmarria scoots over to stand next to Sean. "Hi,I'mTelmarria,what'syourname?" 
  She ask all in one breath, still swallowing and staring at the dragons in 
  flight.

Above, Leilanth dips a wing, arcing northward to avoid the males, feebly 
  trying to catch her from soooo far behind. With surprising ease for a dragon 
  that didn't grow up in the winds of this bowl, she seems to catch a thermal, 
  carrying her higher and higher.

Sean leans over and whispers "I'm Sean" and returns his attention to the 
  flight.

Telmarria nods, calming down suddenly and simply watching the dragons in the 
  air.

Above, Nraith practically spins mid air, gracefully turning himself to persue 
  that Golden Grail ahead of them. The rhythm of his wingbeats increases as he 
  pulls himself forward, gaining altitude and speed with every stroke.

Above, Prometh folds his wings and dives down after the beauteous gold 
  goddess. Already above the other males, he remains above them in this, as 
  well, pulling smoothly out of the dive several dragonlengths above Leilanth. 
  He dogs her from above, great wings blacking out the sky overhead so that 
  she may shine brightest in the cloudy Telgar sky.

Above, Talibenth's wing dips down, drawing him in a northward arc that almost 
  perfectly mimics Leilanth's. Unfortunately, though, he doesn't find her 
  thermal and settles for pushing onward with brute strength. The small bronze 
  rises upward under his own power, not gaining ground on the object of his 
  desire, but through force of will not losing very much either.

Above, Leilanth does indeed glow, brighter perhaps that she ever has when 
  she's risen. Her form darts quickly, easily, with the suggestion that she 
  will never tire, never be caught, never be anything but the very image of 
  molten precious metals that she is.

Sneaker lands near Telmarria, watching the dragons above in the sky.

Above, Spineth curves broadly, turning in the new direction. Even as she sails 
  further away, his confidence grows--he will not relinquish his chance to 
  catch the golden queen that's led the Weyr all his ten turns of life. His 
  wings continue to take him higher and higher: if not in close pursuit, 
  still, its direct.

Above, Neck arched, hide shining in the light, one would swear that the golden 
  bolts of lightning traced across Nraith's wingsails were actually sparking. 
  He shrieks again and continues on after that Great, Golden hunk of a Dragon 
  leading everyone on this merry chase.

Telmarria smiles at Sneaker. "Heyas."

Sneaker stares at the sky eyes glossy.

Above, Prometh wings steadily on, the seas of Telgari grain rippling below, 
  the Telgari winds beneath his wings. His trumpet is not defiant now, not 
  challenging--more a croon, a reminder to the gold ahead that a steadfast 
  bronze still follows, brilliant flame to her glowing gold light.

Above, Talibenth, like Spineth, has opted for a direct pursuit of Leilanth. 
  Slightly more manueverable than some of the larger bronzes, he continues to 
  mimic Leilanth, wing tips dipping and rising to match the motions of the 
  golden queen, his madly whirling, violet eyes locked on Leilanth's gleaming, 
  molten golden form. He is silent, pursuing with a single-minded determination 
  that leaves him with no enegery for frivolous expenditures of breath.

Above, Spineth leads the pack in his chase--well, except for those bronzes 
  ahead of him, and, well, even that brown that's pulled ahead. Still, those 
  bronzes between him and the gold mean nothing. Only the queen means anything 
  in this dizzying chase, and he has not yet faltered in his belief in his 
  success.

Telmarria shivers slightly in spite of the warmth and squinches her eyes shut 
  for a few moments before opening them again and focusing intently upon the 
  gleaming specks in the sky.

Sean stares on, mesmirized, at the flyin dragons

Above, Prometh folds his wings, arrowing after the gilded beauty-- his 
  wingsails snap back open with a sharp *clap* of sound. He crooons softly, 
  lustily, to her, promising relief even as he resolutely ignores the other 
  would-be suitors, none of them being worthy of the honor which she will soon 
  bestow.

Above, Leilanth begins to slow a bit. Defintiely confident in her own 
  craftiness, this queen. Senior in two weyrs, she's never had a problem with 
  her own ego. She *knows* she can always beat the puny males coming closer to 
  her. She snaps her wings out, creating drag, dropping down towards the pack 
  below. From all appearances, she has the intent of dropping straight 
  *through* them.

Above, Nraith has chased before, he has flown hard, and has even caught a few. 
  Well, okay, no Golds, but still... His sights are set on the glowing form 
  before him, and he'll be stationed to some booney cothold as Watchwher before 
  he lets any of THESE inferior beasts catch her. He backwings sharply as her 
  Golden lovelyness seems to hurl through the midst of all these suitors.

Above, Spineth sees the queen dropping--even though he may not be the closest, 
  he may yet have his chance. His endurance has pulled him ahead of some of the 
  smaller bronzes, and he's there, believing that if she continues to fall as 
  she does--his catch, his triumph, will be now.

Above, Prometh focuses on the luminescent gold gem dropping away from him, the 
  whirling of his eyes slowing as exhaustion begins to take its toll on him. 
  Blood, ichor, passion, and the vigor of youth continue to fuel his wings, 
  and he uses the thermals for an extra boost, darting down--his neck and tail 
  curved toward that sweetest of forms in the sky--Leilanth.

Sean wills for Prometh to catch her.

Above, Talibenth goes home.

Sean says "is it over, did he get her?"

Above, Leilanth drops, then snaps her wings out again, catching the winds 
  below her. Bare winglengths above the males she flies, then drops once more, 
  her form taunting, violet eyes and soaring wings barely visible to those 
  watching far below as she crosses the path of bronze Nraith.

Above, Nraith lashes out with tail and neck and wing and claw, attempting to 
  ensnare the lovliest of Golden beauties ever to grace Pern's skies. 
  Contorting himself into an almost dangerous position, he barely keeps himself 
  from plumeting out of control as he reaches for Leilanth. Oh Leilanth... 
  Leilanth...

Sean waits tensely.

Telmarria swallows as the atmosphere gets almost too intense for her to bear 
  and sits down rather suddenly.

Starling moves about uncomfortably for a moment.

Sean sits next to Telmarria.

Starling
As you gaze at this young man of 17 turns, you notice how tall he stands. 
  Towering above you at an unbelievable 6'4", he has shoulder length brown 
  hair that wisps about his strong face, and deep brown eyes that have a bit 
  of fire hidden deep within them. His body is extremely muscular and trim, 
  which adds all the more to his charm. His clothes consist of a pale yellow 
  shirt that has small ties down the front to keep it closed. It is the color 
  of a pale and distant star shining bright in the night sky. He dons a pair 
  of brown leather pants that fit skin-tight to his attractive muscular legs. 
  They seem a bit faded and worn in spots. Brown boots of soft leather protect 
  his feet from the weather, where ever he may be. They lace up the front of 
  his legs and are decorated with soft fringe about the top. On his wrists are 
  a pair of brown leather cuffs that lace on the bottom to keep tight on his 
  arms.

Above, Spineth's own endurance is starting to flag, but even that is below his 
  awareness. There's bronzes closer to the queen than he, but they'll fail, and 
  he'll get his chance. She's dragonlengths above, yet still, there's a way, 
  he knows there's a way that he will be victorious.

Above, Leilanth bugles, realizing her mistake in coming so close to Nraith. 
  With a heave of golden wings, she lifts upwards once more, unaware of the 
  weyrleader's bronze above her as she practically flies up into him.

Telmarria looks over at Sean and smiles, her eyes getting misty, and she 
  focuses as best she can on the dragons.

Above, Nraith roars with frustration, barely catching himself as Leilanth 
  slips away.

Sean smiles back at her, turning away just in time to watch leilanth slip away 
  from Nraith.

Above, A trumpet of outrage blasts its way from Prometh's throat as he folds 
  his wings in, preparing to plow his way through the mass of browns and 
  bronzes that hide her from him. Wings *snap* open, just in time, as well, as 
  Leilanth rises before him. With tender ferocity, he snares her--carrying her 
  away from the rest of the males.

Above, Nraith continues to roar, anger and feroicity apparent as he hurls 
  himself from the air, and pulls in dangerously fast to land on his ledge.

Above, Leilanth bugles! She's too fast, too smart to be caught. The defiant 
  bugle quickly turns to a croon as the queen entwines her tail with her mate.

Above, Nraith flies towards the south end of the bowl.

Above, Spineth's confidence in his own success is punctured somewhat by 
  Prometh's victorious capture. Exhausted and weary, he turns his flight path 
  into an astonished and bitterly disappointed descent.

[To be continued....]