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:
	3/3/98

Log Cast:
	(People) D'ton, Erdrick, Mehlani, K'nan, Devlin, Jaeleka, C'vadan,
Peyra, Pierron (NPC), Asrai, Ofira, Kassima, Richenda, Emlyn, Ceria,
K'star (NPC), Sandar

	(Fire Lizards) Mehlani's six new hatchlings, Buttons, Darin, Karin

Log Intro:
	Mehlani is in the middle of the effects of her green fire lizard
Rianet's first proddy cycle -- a cycle that has brought out the girl's own
usually repressed... well... girlishness. 'Lani has been seen wandering
around the Weyr in far more feminine garb than usual, and has been
particularly affected by the attentions of K'star and E'rian, both of whom
have found themselves startled by her state... and both of whom have kissed
her, though only K'star has felt guilty for taking advantage of her
vulnerability. But Mehlani has dreamily informed K'star that he is handsome,
and the brown rider has continued to dominate her thoughts as she goes
about her business. In the meantime, however, Kes and Eyr aren't the only
lads on hand who feel for 'Lani, and her green Rianet isn't the only
proddy creature at Telgar, either....

----------
Your location's current time: 14:25 on day 11, month 1, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
D'ton
Devlin
Erdrick
K'nan
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

D'ton says carefully to Devlin, "Well enough. We're good."

Erdrick finishes his klah as first Karin, then Darin, then finally Buttons 
  fall asleep, sated for now.

D'ton looks at you for a moment.

Mehlani, a basket on one arm from can be spotted multiple tiny fire lizard 
  heads, comes wandering out into the cavern, her steps light and easy. Her 
  gaze is dreamy under strands of auburn hair falling loose across her face, 
  and she's humming softly as she goes, checking glows hanging on the walls.

K'nan casts a dark look at the..the..bronzerider near the door before tearing 
  his gaze away and returning to his incessant pacing in front of the hearth.

Erdrick nods at Mehlani, "Hello."

Devlin nods again, still with that same wary pose. "It's good to hear. Lily's 
  just completely won over by Kyoteth." That said, and with Mehlani's 
  entrance, Devlin turns to greet her as well, "Good day, 'Lani. I see you've 
  managed to catch yourself an entire fair." Devlin finishes his comment with 
  a quick smile for the girl.

Mehlani, hearing her name, turns towards those in the cavern. She smiles 
  distractedly to Erdrick, and then turns her dewy gaze on Devlin; her eyes 
  _then_ go wider, and she breathes in apparent delight, "_Devlin_!"

Devlin arches a brow, briefly, at 'Lani's greeting. "How're you doing, 
  sunshine?" Some of the wariness that appeared with D'ton's entrance seems to 
  slip away.
Devlin looks at you for a moment.

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

Mehlani promptly sails towards the young Miner, her unbound hair flying out a 
  little around her shoulders, and holds up the basket. It's full of 
  hatchlings; not one, not two, not three, but _six_. And the girl actually 
  giggles, confessing, "I'm afraid they ambushed me... I-I think it was 
  Kassima's clutch, I need to find her and apologize, have you seen her?" The 
  hatchlings in question, one brown, two blues, and three greens, all peek out 
  of the basket, chirruping tinily.

Erdrick looks at you for a moment.

Jaeleka meanders in, pleased about something if the bright lights in her eyes 
  and flush on her cheeks means anything.

Erdrick nods at Jaeleka, "Hello."

Devlin chuckles, eyeing the small 'lizards. "Well. Congratulations. And I 
  haven't seen Kassima, no. I only just arrived myself."

Jaeleka wriggles her fingers at Erdrick as she comes to a complete and abrupt 
  full-stop at sight of Mehlani. Either basket, or lack of cowering behind a 
  hat brim, or..giggling?.. something shocking Jae into silence and gaping.

D'ton just watches Mehlani and Devlin for a while without saying anything. He 
  doesn't even seem to have noticed K'nan agitation or Jaeleka's entrance. A 
  vague smile has found its way onto his face.

"I'm so glad to _see_ you!" Mehlani breathes, gazing limpidly up at the 
  black-haired Journeyman, her expression quite uncharacteristically radiant. 
  "How is Igen? Telgar's duty to her queens...!"

Jaeleka gasps out, or rather fair yells out "'Lani! What are you *doing*?"

D'ton blinks, and looks over at Jaeleka. Then he looks back at Mehlani. Sure, 
  she usually seems more modest. But this is *Devlin*. D'ton has long-formed 
  opinions of Devlin's effect on women.

Devlin's other eyebrow edges up to join with the first somewhere around his 
  hairline. "Oh, Igen's doing well, as are her Queens."

Mehlani blinkblinks guilelessly, turning her head towards Jaeleka. "Um... 
  talking to Devlin!" she pipes to the younger girl.

Devlin offers Mehlani a seat, gallantly. "Must be awfully heavy, that basket 
  there. If you set it down, I'll get some bits of meat for the little beasts."

D'ton says wryly, "Good to see you're still in top form, Devlin. How long will 
  you be visiting for?"

Jaeleka stomps over to Mehlani and shakes her head, thinly vieled disgust 
  filtering through her tones. "You were *not* just talking" she scolds. 
  "Kassi talks about food like that when she's expecting. And," a pointed look 
  is directed at Devlin, affect on females or no. "YOu *don't* like boys."

Erdrick gestures to the half full bowl of scraps in front of him, "Theres's 
  some meat here if ye want it."

Devlin glances over at D'ton. "A day or two, mostly. Some business to discuss 
  with Telgar's miner."

D'ton looks at you for a moment.

There's a flurry of creels from the hatchlings in Mehlani's basket, and the 
  lass abruptly bestows a positively melting look on the small ones and 
  Devlin, in that order. She settles gracefully into the seat, her colorful 
  kilt swirling out briefly and then settling again. To Jaeleka, then, Mehlani 
  blinks again, her brow delicately crinkling. "But... but Devlin isn't a 
  _Boy_," she protests. "He's my friend! I've known him since I was very 
  small, you see." She nods to emphasize her own point, several times.

Erdrick eyebrows raise slightly at Jaeleka.

K'nan's dire attention is finally drawn by the events occuring further over in 
  the 'cavern..and he frowns.

Devlin makes a tsking noise at Jaeleka, "I am not just any boy, I'll have you 
  know." He taps 'Lani's chin. "I've been friends with 'Lani here for ages."

Mehlani giggles again.

Devlin grins at Erdrick and scoops out some of the scraps into a clean bowl 
  for Mehlani's 'lizards. This bowl he hands to the young woman. "Here you go."

Jaeleka's mouth opens and closes several times in rapid succession. "lani! 
  He's a *man* and..you...you..." She just shakes her head and blinks. "You 
  sound icky! LIke..like smooching and stuff."

A look of vague distress seems to have been creeping slowly over D'ton's face 
  as he watches Devlin and Mehlani. "Even when they don't like Boys.." he 
  mutters under his breath, "He still.." He rubs his temple with one hand, as 
  if he has a headache.

Jaeleka turns a serious frown on Devlin. "I don't care how long you've known 
  her. She *never* talks like that to boys. Even when she knows them. And 
  she's wearing girl clothes. You better just go back home now."

Erdrick looks at his sleeping firelizards, Buttons and Darin curled up next to 
  the bowl and Karin in the crook of his arm.

Devlin gives a quick cough - perhaps covering an abrupt laugh? - at Jaeleka's 
  statements. "There hasn't been any smooching here. At least, not today."

D'ton comments dryly, "Not yet."

Jaeleka points a knowing finger at Devlin. "Well, if you stick around here 
  long enough with Mehlani like that? You won't be able to say that anymore."

Erdrick looks at Jaeleka, shakes his head slowly.

Mehlani beams again at Devlin, accepting the scraps, and leaning over to 
  fondly feed them to the small piping creatures in her basket. And then she 
  peers unsurely to Jaeleka, her brow furrowing again. "Hmm. I expect it has 
  to do with Ria being proddy," she surmises, "but I did promise E'rian I'd 
  try on the kilt..." She trails off dreamily at the mention of smooching. Uh 
  oh.

Devlin arches a brow, sternly. "Now, young lady. Are you implying that I would 
  not be able to control myself?"

K'nan calls over sourly, "Hey! You kids..keep it down. Shards.."

C'vadan walks here from the Inner Cavern.
C'vadan has arrived.

K'nan just called someone 'kid'. Jays, he feels old..where'd that wine go? He 
  marches back over towards it, snatching it off the table.

Devlin turns an abrupt look on Mehlani at the mention of proddy greens. "Ah. 
  That would explain a lot. Like Vachon's distraction of late."

C'vadan wanders cluelessly into the pit. "Afternoon, all," he greets.

With doe-eyed worship, a little blueeyed girl trips out of the kitchen to 
  refill K'nan's wine jug. He did save her from those aweful drudges.

Jaeleka isn't cowed by Devlin. She yelled at a Masterharper, she can yell at 
  him too. "No. But Mehlani isn't you. And she...being..." She doesn't say the 
  word, but she wriggles her fingers.

D'ton shakes his head, "Proddy. Riiight," he mutters, then turns cluelessly 
  towards K'nan. "Say, K'nan. Pass the wine?"

Erdrick looks at D'ton then at K'nan, sighs.

K'nan hands the wine jug absently down to the girl..then shoots D'ton a 
  -look-. "No!"

D'ton waves to C'vadan briefly, "Afternoon," he replies.
D'ton just says, "What?"

Mehlani bobs her head wisely to Devlin. "I haven't seen her the last day or 
  two, but I can feel her. I expect Father feels like this when his greens 
  start to glow." She gently feeds each and every single hatchling in her 
  basket, and giggles, sounding bizarrely mischievous. "I've got four greens 
  now. Next Turn they're _all_ going to glow... Father is going to have 
  kittens, oh yes." She waves one hand towards C'vadan, while dotingly 
  stroking one of the greens with the other.

Devlin levels a look at Jaeleka. "I thoroughly resent your implications that I 
  would, in any way, allow Mehlani to get hurt." That said, he sits down next 
  to Mehlani, offering to help her feed the 'lizards, clearly uncowed by 
  Jaeleka's commands.

Mehlani adds to Jaeleka, clearly trying to sound soothing, "I'm _fine_."

K'nan frowns, "No. Get your own shardin' wine, /bronze/rider."

The jug is refilled and handed back up with aclarity, then the impish drudge 
  bounces away, secure in the knowledge she can use 'I'll tell K'nan' as a 
  threat in the future.

C'vadan nods to his wingrider, wondering what mischief the bronzerider has 
  gotten into today. "Not sharing your wine, K'nan?" he asks, smile curling 
  the corners of his mouth.

Devlin glances over towards D'ton. "And you get your mind out of the mine 
  pits."

Jaeleka makes a face... this is worse than just regular smooching. 
  Its..its..the last bastion of non-smooch, talking in a dreamy voice, and 
  talking about glowy greens in a voice that says she's looking *forward* to 
  it.

K'nan more or less doesn't even notice the girl - he's too busy being 
  irritable. "No..I'm not. Why, you want t'make something of it?" He glares at 
  Cav.

Erdrick looks at Jaeleka, pity in his eyes remembering yesterday.

Jaeleka just shakes her head and remarks numbly to Devlin. "Okay... but if she 
  gets distracted and you get to be a father, its not my fault." Yep, Jae grew 
  up in a weyr.

D'ton looks towards Devlin, seeming almost relieved that he's finally said 
  something that can be interpreted as an insult. "Oh, and what does that 
  mean?" he says, sharply.

C'vadan waves a hand, palm towards the obviously proddy greenrider. "Not me, 
  friend," he says softly.

Devlin chokes a bit at Jaeleka's comment, "I don't think we need to worry 
  overly much about me adding to the next generation of F'hlan offspring. Not 
  today, at any rate."

Obviously proddy is a word for it..yes. K'nan snorts in agreement..and turns 
  back to his restless pacing. You'd think he'd have worn a hole in the floor 
  by now.

Jaeleka licks her lips and continues to shake her head, trying *very* hard not 
  to look at 'lani -its too distressing. "Okay..if you say so. But I've seen 
  stranger things happen.."

Devlin shakes his head at D'ton's response, "I'm not going to start a war with 
  you, D'ton."

Mehlani blinkblinks guilelessly once more to Jaeleka, and starts to giggle 
  again; she's not quite far gone that the notion of Devlin as a father, with 
  her involved, does not bring a blush to her cheek. She turns a soft shade of 
  pink, dipping her gaze firmly down to her hatchlings as she blushes.

Devlin pats Mehlani's shoulder comfortingly.

Jaeleka frowns at her friend, giving up on avoiding her. "Well, this is just 
  rotten. I wanted to tell you I was going to Harper Hall, but you went and 
  got all stupid on my 'lani. How come you couldn't be proddy some other way? 
  This is no fun." She actually pouts as she moves closer to hte girl, 
  ignoring any guile sent her way.

Peyra walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Peyra has arrived.
Peyra steps in and looks around quietly.

Mehlani looks up again, the distress in Jaeleka's tone making it through 
  whatever rosy haze has possessed her. Her brow furrows again, and she 
  blurts, "I... I'm sorry..."

Devlin eyes Jaeleka. "Don't go making her feel bad about something that isn't 
  her fault."

D'ton leans forward on a table near Devlin and Mehlani, knuckles pressed down 
  against the wood. "All right," he says, nodding slowly, "I hadn't intended 
  to start one either. But you.." he takes a deep breath at this point, then 
  says, "Ah, what's the point? No matter what I ever say, you end up saying 
  something more noble and gallant and looking like a hero anyway. As if you 
  weren't already always surrounded by women."

Mehlani blinkblinks again, as D'ton's words to Devlin start reaching her, too.
Mehlani lifts her face to D'ton, and cries out in dismay, "Don't you criticize 
  my friend for being kind!"

C'vadan watches D'ton, wondering whether he should get involved or let the 
  bronzerider get in trouble first.

Erdrick watches silently as Buttons wakes up and watches Mehlani and K'nan 
  warily.

K'nan turns with an abrupt snort and slams down into a chair..since he's not 
  apparently getting any peace and quiet today - never mind that it's the 
  living cavern.

D'ton nods approvingly, "See?" he says to Devlin, "It must just be a natural 
  talent."

Jaeleka blinks, first at Devlin, a hurt look coming over her. Then in general 
  as everything gets more confusing. With a sigh she just moves out of range 
  of hte fuss.

Devlin eyes D'ton, snorting slightly. "Uh huh. The endless horde of women who 
  follow me around whereever I go because I'm the heroic miner lad?"

'Lani gets to her feet, her eyes starting to brim over with tears, and she 
  waggles a dainty finger at D'ton. "Just because... just because I'm 
  _proddy_... doesn't mean I'm... I'm going to swoon over anybody like those 
  silly girls do over Father...! Devlin is my _friend_! He always has been!"

Devlin turns a smile on Mehlani and Jaeleka. He offers the bowl of meat over 
  to Jaeleka, "Could you help 'Lani with the 'lizards, please?"

D'ton rolls his eyes at Devlin, "It's not just that," he says in annoyance, 
  "You *always* say the right thing. And do the right thing. Shardit, Devlin, 
  I should just quit while I'm ahead. I never even *thought* you were going to 
  take advantage of her, and already I've pissed her off, and you're her hero."

Devlin then gently presses Mehlani back down in her seat, "It's okay, 
  sunshine. D'ton doesn't mean anything by it. You don't want to upset the 
  hatchlings, now do you? You and the other one," he nods with his chin 
  towards Jaeleka, "Take care of the 'lizards and D'ton and I'll have a talk."

C'vadan clears his throat. "D'ton, may I speak to you for a moment," he says 
  softly, though his deep voice and the authority of his position carry easily.

Jaeleka doesn't return Devlin's smile, the hurt look fully replacing her 
  earlier pleasure. Wordlessly she picks bits of meat out and feeds them to 
  the hatchlings, crooning to the small creatures as she does so.

Erdrick looks over at Jaeleka, walks over and asks quietly, "Are you alright?"

D'ton adds sotto voce, "And I'm in trouble with someone senior again. I feel 
  just like I was back in the Minecraft." He actually smiles ruefully at 
  Devlin before turning to talk to C'vadan.

The two young women handled, Devlin turns towards D'ton and edges away from 
  the girls. Quietly, he states, "Look, 'Lani's not entirely herself at the 
  moment and she's always been quick to come to the defense of her friends." 
  As D'ton walks away, he sighs, shaking his head.

Mehlani rounds her gaze on Devlin, too, her brow still furrowed. "I might be 
  proddy, but I'm not _stupid_!" she pipes. She gets right back up, confusing 
  the poor hatchlings, as they're torn between hunger and the girl's fluid 
  changes in mood. "I-I don't want to cause arguments... please excuse me...."
Mehlani, with that, her eyes still brimming limpidly, runs off into the inner 
  caverns.

[And shortly....]

Dormitories(#1277RA$)
Contents:
Shiva
Lost and Found Cabinet (OOC)
Obvious exits:
Inner Cavern  

Devlin walks in from the inner cavern.
Devlin has arrived.
Devlin calls out, quietly, "'Lani?"
Devlin looks at you for a moment.
Devlin clears his throat, "Mehlani, please. I never thought you were stupid. I 
  just didn't want you to be upset."

The young man can find Mehlani sitting on the floor in the middle of the 
  dormitory, her kilt puddled about her in a circle of black and white 
  cloth.
Mehlani looks up, her gaze liquid with tears, some of them streaking her 
  cheeks. "You were talking to me like I'm a child!" she wails.

Devlin makes his way over to the younger woman. He crouches down. "Look, I'm 
  sorry, okay? D'ton and I... well, there's a bit of history there. It had 
  nothing to do with you. And I'm glad that you stood up for me." He reaches 
  out and touches Mehlani's cheek. "And I didn't mean to speak to you like you 
  were a child."
Devlin sighs, quietly. "You're not a child anymore, and I know that. 
  Sometimes... sometimes it's easier for me to pretend you are, though. It's 
  not fair to you and I promise to try to not do it again."

"Well of _course_ I'd stand up for you!" Mehlani protests, sniffling tinily. 
  "I just... I just... yes, I'm feeling odd, but this doesn't mean I'm 
  _stupid_, m-maybe I just wanted to try on pretty clothes for once...!"

Devlin gives a faint smile, "And you look absolutely lovely, 'Lani. Truly." He 
  uses his thumb to lightly wipe away the young woman's tears. "How about I 
  promise to try to not get all confused by you growing up and we still act 
  like friends?"

The lass breathes, "You think so...?" She sniffles again, teary blue eyes on 
  Dev's features, and she babbles on, "I-I've been so confused lately, I 
  really _need_ friends.... oh, I've upset poor Jaeleka..." She trails off 
  again, apparently deeply anguished.

Devlin kisses Mehlani's forehead lightly. "Why don't we head back out and you 
  can apologize to Jaeleka? And I understand about being confused. Believe 
  me." He flashes a grin, "Shall we?" at the same time as he offers his hand.

A few sniffles punctuate Mehlani's huskily murmured words. "B-between everyone 
  g-giving me gifts.... and being so sweet to me... Jaeleka's been... oh 
  dear...."

Devlin squeezes 'Lani's shoulder. "I know it's hard, hon. Truly I do. No one's 
  going to blame you for being confused, 'Lani."

Mehlani lets Devlin pull her up to her feet, then, as she blinks liquidly up 
  the several inches of height difference between them. "You've gotten... so 
  tall," she murmurs.

Devlin grins and winks. "It happens to the best of us."

Mehlani sniffles again, softly, that odd dreaminess stealing across her eyes, 
  making them even more liquid behind lingering tears. "You're very handsome, 
  Devlin... you _should_ have girls!" She smiles vaguely, scrubs a dainty hand 
  across her face, and then starts, apparently startled. "Oh my... the 
  hatchlings... did... did I leave them in the cavern...?"

Devlin wipes off Mehlani's cheeks again, nodding quietly. "You did, hon. Shall 
  we go out and make sure they're okay?"
Devlin carefully leaves the statement about girls untouched.

Mehlani bobs her head up and down, several times, plaintively.

Devlin gestures for Mehlani to precede him out.

[And back in the living cavern....]

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Peyra
Jaeleka
Erdrick
K'nan
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Erdrick nods at Mehlani, "Hello."

Jaeleka sighs. "I have to do some things..." And with the arrival of Mehlani, 
  makes her exit.
Jaeleka walks towards the inner cavern.
Jaeleka has left.

Mehlani slips back into the cavern, dabbing lightly at her eyes with the backs 
  of her fingers. Devlin is escorting her, and the girl looks anxiously around 
  the room. "My basket... did I leave them... Jaeleka, wait... oh...."

Erdrick says "The basket's over here, and the firelizards have been fed.""

Mehlani's face falls significantly as the younger girl flees. "I wanted to 
  apologize to her," she mumbles mournfully.

Peyra stands. To Mehlani, he says, "Want me to go find her?"

Erdrick looks at Peyra, "No need for that I think."

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

Pierron tosses some dough into the air to make it as thin as a sheet to make 
  baklava.

'Lani blinkblinks tearily, first at Peyra, and then to Erdrick. "I... 
  perhaps... I-I should wait... till I am more myself...." She pushes loose 
  waves of hair out of her face, and then smiles, gravely and sweetly, to the 
  latter lad. "Thank you..." She hastens to the basket, checking on the tiny 
  winged occupants, still sniffling a little.

Erdrick looks at Mehlani, "By the way I'm Erdrick."

Devlin squeezes Mehlani's shoulder. "Things will work out." He looks around 
  the room, thoughtfully, then asks the young woman, "Will you excuse me? I 
  want to go find D'ton and deal with this."

"My name is Mehlani," replies the girl in the kilt, as she sinks into a chair, 
  taking the basket into her lap gently, and counting heads. To Devlin, she 
  bobs her head obediently, piping, "Alright, Devlin!"

Erdrick nods, "Pleased to meet you."

Devlin winks at Mehlani with a grin, then heads out to the bowl.
Devlin walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Devlin has left.

Peyra thinks to add, "I'm Peyra."

Mehlani gives another grave, sweet little smile to Peyra. Finding all six 
  babies accounted for, the lass starts quietly petting the hatchlings, 
  blinking every so often, seeming a trifle disoriented.

Erdrick stands up, yawns slighlty and walks over to the klah pot for a refil.

Asrai walks in from the bowl.
Asrai has arrived.

K'nan sits down at the quiet table by the night hearth.

Erdrick taking his mug of Klah back to his seat nods at Asrai, "Hello."

K'nan sits near the hearth with a dark frown on his face..occasionally taking 
  a swig of wine.

Erdrick quickly glances at K'nan in amazement that he's actually stopped 
  pacing, turns away quickly so as not to be noticed.

Asrai strides in, one of those 'too pleased with the world' smiles on her 
  face. It practically doubles as she sees K'nan, only falling somewhat at 
  seeing K'nan's dark mood. With a quick glance outside and a shake of her 
  head she enters more fully. "Hello all."

Mehlani glances up and blinkblinks dewily at Asrai's arrival. She smiles 
  timidly and ducks her head again, causing her hair to spill forward on 
  either side of her face, and enticing some of her basketful of flits with 
  the dangling ends.

Asrai blinks, "Wow, Lani...more firelizards. Recently hatched ones at the look 
  of it."

Mehlani giggles tinily. "I, um... they were in the Records Room... I sort 
  of... Impressed them all," she confesses. "I think the eggs were 
  Kassima's... h-have you seen her?"

K'nan leans back with a low growl as someone else calls a cheerful 
  greeting..then his look softens a bit at the sight of Asrai, and he ducks 
  back to his anonymity, hoping she hasn't noticed him - he hates it when she 
  sees him like this.

Peyra shakes his head. "I saw her last night," he says, "but not since."

Asrai makes her way over to K'nan, a bit hesitantly if truth be told. But as 
  she gets closer she smiles, "Hello dear." Her smile is one of understanding 
  before turning to Lani. "Kassi, no..I haven't seen her. Well, 
  congratulation..I think." She leans down and kisses K'nan on the 
  forehead...calling for a glass of wine for herself as well.

Mehlani smiles gratefully, if distractedly, to Asrai, and then returns her 
  attention to the basket in her lap. She's stopped sniffling, but the liquid 
  look hasn't left her eyes, and as she settles down to inspect the hides of 
  the hatchlings -- most of whom appear to have dozed off, though the bigger 
  of the blues peers up at her drowsily -- she hums very softly under her 
  breath.

Asrai looks towards the bowl, a dark frown crossing her lips. "What is /she/ 
  doing here?" She mutters darkly to herself before downing the newly arrived 
  wine.

K'nan looks up with a restless sigh..forcing himself into civility and even 
  managing a weak smile, "Hello love."

Asrai drains her wine glass, calling for another. She definitely doesn't look 
  pleased about something.
Asrai drains her second wine glass, definitely not happy about something. The 
  way her eyes narrow as she looks out at the Bowl may give some hint as to 
  the cause.

Mehlani shifts slightly in her seat, her attention wandering around again as 
  the babies in the basket doze off once more. Her gaze alighting on the 
  riders, the girl frowns vaguely at their dark expressions, and she murmurs 
  something soft that might be "Oh my..."

Peyra keeps his mouth shut at the table by the kitchens.

Mehlani rises, her basket on her arm, and padpads softly out to peek into the 
  Bowl. Whatever the girl sees is enough to make her whirl about in a flurry 
  of auburn hair and black-and-white plaid, repeating softly, "Oh my..."

Peyra tries to look out, can't see, so stands up. "What is it?"

Erdrick chuckles at Peyra, "Veyath I'd say."

Asrai's violet eyes narrow. Something gets to her for her hand clenches on the 
  wine glass so tightly that the glass shatters in her hands.

From the kitchen, Ofira walks into the Living Cavern.
Ofira walks in from the kitchen.
Ofira has arrived.

Peyra looks at Erdrick. "Hmm?"

"Dragons are gathering," Mehlani pipes, heading to the wine stores, her 
  expression going noticeably more distracted. 'Oh my... I'd... oh my."

Ofira walks in slowly with a tray of cookies, setting it down on the table, 
  and then absently rubs her lower back.

Erdrick grins at Ofira, "Hello."

Buttons has arrived.
Erdrick shrugs as Buttons takes flight from his shoulder.

Peyra continues to move that way, looking out himself.

Buttons flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Buttons has left.

Asrai looks down at her now bleeding hand. "Shards." She begins to pick the 
  glass peices out of her hand.

K'nan looks up slowly at the bowl..and takes a deep breath, then blinks down 
  to Asrai, "Shards, love, be careful.."

Erdrick looks over at Asrai, "You alright?"

Ofira looks over at Peyra, after greeting the others, "Have you found anyone 
  to give you a ride to Ista yet? If you're having trouble or are too shy, 
  I'll find someone for you."

"Hello, Master Ofira!" blurts Mehlani in passing. Her fire lizard basket 
  secure on her arm, the girl darts to the wine stores and starts getting out 
  skins of Red and White, nibbling her lip and mumbling, "Oh my... Kassima 
  usually goes this... I'm not sure I... oh my..." She gets to her feet, and 
  then blurts, "_Kes_...!" She drops the skins on a table near the door, as 
  she darts back that way. To Peyra, she goes on anxiously, "Do you, do you 
  see brown Indyth out there anywhere?"

Peyra blinks. "Er...I haven't really asked..."

Erdrick looks from Ofira to Peyra, "Ista?"

Asrai looks up and snaps, "I'm just /fine/." She casts another all together 
  evil look towards the bowl.

Peyra looks at Mehlani. "I don't know which dragon's which. Sorry..."
Peyra says "Hold on. I'll be right back."
Peyra steps outside.
Peyra walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Peyra has left.

Ofira nods to Peyra and sighs. "Yes. I'll take care of it..." She looks at 
  Mehlani, surprised. "Hello, Mehlani. Are you okay?" She looks at the wine, 
  "Someone's green rising?"

Erdrick looks at Ofira, "Veyath's rising I think.

Peyra walks in from the bowl.
Peyra has arrived.
Peyra says "I see /a/ brown. But I don't know who it is."

"I'm fine," Mehlani babbles to Ofira distractedly, "but oh dear... if Indyth 
  joins the flight... poor Kes... I'd send Ria to him, but I just don't think 
  she'd want to go right now..." She pushes her hand through her unbound hair, 
  nervously.

Asrai says between clenched teeth, holding her bleeding hand. "That's Nyth."

Ofira nods to Erdrick, "Oh? Veyath? Seems like it was just last sevenday..." 
  She turns to look at Mehlani with some consternation.
Ofira looks at you for a moment.

Erdrick looks at Mehlani, "I don't think Indyth is here, Buttons doesn't see 
  him."

Ofira says quietly to Mehlani, "I'm a little confused. Why don't you want 
  Indyth to chase Veyath?"

Peyra waits more-or-less quietly by the Bowl entrance.

Mehlani quirks her head to Erdrick and asks him guilessly, "Do you, do you 
  know Indyth yet? I mean, if you just moved here..." She blinks then, 
  distracted by Ofira. "Excuse me, Master?"

Erdrick shrugs, "Buttons doesn't see Indyth, I wouldn't recognize him but 
  Buttons might."

Peyra shrugs. "I'm sorry. I don't know any of them by name."

Ofira looks at Mehlani carefully, "I just wondered if you're okay. You seem a 
  little upset."

Asrai finishes taking out the broken glass, what pieces she can see at least. 
  Waving off a concerned drudge she wraps it with the cloth that was until 
  then resting over the drudges shoulder. thankfully it looks mostly clean. 
  Asrai doesn't seem too concerned about it one way or another.

Buttons glides in from the bowl.
Buttons has arrived.

Pierron tosses some dough into the air to make it as thin as a sheet to make 
  baklava.

Peyra adds, "I can see how many there are though."

Buttons has left.
Erdrick smiles as Buttons flies over and lands on his shoulder.

K'nan is torn for a moment..then instinct overpowers concern, and with a tired 
  sigh he pulls himself to his feet, muttering, "I hope this gets taken care 
  of quickly enough."

Peyra steps out, perhaps to go count dragons again.
Peyra walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Peyra has left.

"Everyone keeps asking me that," says Mehlani, fretfully. "Just because Ria is 
  glowing..." She then blinks several times and looks back to Ofira. "Oh, no, 
  ma'am, it's just, it's just that it's so awful when Indyth loses, and Kes 
  gets so miserable, I usually send Rianet or Holl to keep an eye on him, but 
  I'm afraid Ria just won't go right now, ma'am!"

Erdrick looks from Buttons towards the bowl, "I think Kassi's out there, if 
  Buttons is right."

Ofira nods, with one eye watchign K'nan go out, "Oh, I see! " She pats Mehlani 
  on the shoulder, "I'm sure your friend will be alright. Everyone seems to go 
  through it and survive more or less."

Peyra walks in from the bowl.
Peyra has arrived.

Pierron makes a thundering chopping noise as he annihilates a fingerroot.

Asrai gives a snort, the blood already starting to seep through the rough 
  bandage around her hand. She storm out into the bowl with a *humph*

K'nan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
K'nan has left.

Buttons has arrived.
Erdrick shrugs as Buttons takes flight from his shoulder.

"Oh, I hope so," Mehlani breathes plaintively. "I really hate to see Kes 
  miserable. Maybe I'd better go put together a hangover remedy for him..." 
  She starts to wander off, stops herself, and frowns. "Oh, shards. I can't 
  send it if Holl won't answer me... oh..." Her features crinkle up into what 
  might almost be a scowl. Then, it promptly vanishes and she anxiously 
  inquires of Ofira, "Do you think we have enough wine out?"

Buttons flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Buttons has left.

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

Peyra walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Peyra has arrived.
Peyra comes back in to add, "One of them just took off. A blue one."

Ofira looks around, "Well, a few more skins I think. And those unbreakable 
  mugs for the fastidious ones. Why don't you sit down and let me get it, 
  hmmm?"

Kassima walks in from the bowl.
Kassima has arrived.

Mehlani dewily blinks at Ofira and protests, "But, ma'am, I want to help!"

Ofira smiles at Mehlani and lies, "It's good for me to walk around this late 
  in the pregnancy , you'd be doing me a favor." She waves to Kassima.

Peyra steps aside from the Bowl entrance enough to let Kassima in and stands 
  there.

"I would?" Mehlani's brow furrows, in general confusion. "Oh... you're sure?" 
  She looks all wide-eyedly at the Masterbaker, evidently completely caught up 
  in the idea that she really ought to be doing something useful.

"A quarter mark on Nyth!" Kassi calls over to the already congregating group 
  of rabid flight-bettors. "He's flown Veyath a'fore, and I wager he has the 
  stamina to do it again. Heya, all. Thank Faranth for good timing; by the way 
  the males took off nay after I landed, I gather that I've just managed to 
  avoid His Rampant Proddiness?"

Mehlani's gaze snaps in Kassima's direction. Distracted yet again, the girl 
  pipes out worriedly to the green rider, "Kassima... excuse me, Kassima...?"

Ofira mutters to Mehlani, "... what... help... can keep... /and/... did..."
Ofira whispers "You know what would really help me? If you can keep Kassima 
  nice and quiet. Between her betting /and/ the flight, it would really help 
  me if you just sat and did that."

Peyra looks to Kassima. "He's been pacing around all afternoon."

Ofira smiles at Kassima, "I guess we were both lucky. I was holed up in my 
  office all afternoon doing hidework. Just saw him for about five minutes."

Erdrick looks from the bowl exit to Darin, "Blood? What does that mean?"

Peyra blinks. "Lucky you. I got to sit for /hours/ with him glaring at 
  everyone and everything."

Kassima flops into her usual chair, and only then seems to register Mehlani's 
  voice. "Hrm? What can I do for you, 'Lani? Oh, 'tis luck indeed, Ofira. 
  K'nan's proddiness is... notorious, as you've nay doubt heard."

Mehlani blinkblinks to Ofira as the woman leans over to murmur to her, and 
  then bobs her head obediently to her. Darting to Lysseth's rider's side, the 
  young girl holds up her basketfull of hatchlings for Kassi's inspection, and 
  she babbles sheepishly, "Did you leave a clutch in the Records Room? I went 
  in there with E'rian and then they all hatched, but then E'rian left because 
  Milleniuth was arguing with Indyth, and Kes said he thought the eggs might 
  have been yours...?" Without so much as pausing to take a breath, her 
  expression mercurially shifting to deep anxiety once more, she concludes, 
  "Is Indyth out there?"

Erdrick looks over at Ofira seeming confused, "Buttons and Darin are sending 
  me images of blood and dragons, do you know what that means?"

Ofira turns and looks at Peyra rather sharply. "for hours apprentice? How did 
  you come to have /hours/ with nothing to do? Wha tabout your duties?" She 
  nods to Kassima, "Not just heard, you know. I've had him in my kitchen other 
  times..."

Peyra points at the kitchens. "He glared in there too."

Kassima informs Erdrick, "It means that Veyath and her crowd of suitors are 
  going to go out there and drink the blood of a number of animals in order 
  t'have energy aplenty for the flight." She spares Ofira a sympathetic 
  shudder. "In the kitchen? I don't want t'know what he did in there... oh! So 
  *that's* what happened to Kitrine's brood?" The greenrider looks decidedly 
  sheepish. "Um, aye. I meant t'take 'em to Kindre, since 'twas her bronze 
  that sired 'em, but I misplaced 'em along the way when V'dan distracted me 
  with his sweep report. I'm dreadfully sorry, if'n you didn't want any more 
  'lizards. Indyth?" With a glance out towards the Bowl, Kassi swiftly 
  confirms, "Aye, Indyth's chasing."

Peyra looks out himself. "Can I go watch?"

Ofira nods to Erdrick, "Well, it's a little more complicated I think, but 
  Kassima is the greenrider, not me. " She looks at Peyra. "Absolutely not 
  apprentice.It is completely unsuitable."

"I just couldn't let the poor things go _hungry_," Mehlani says plaintively to 
  Kassima. "They were so small and they all wanted on my lap, and E'rian was 
  scared silly of them, which was so strange, since he's so dashing usually, 
  but oh dear, Indyth _is_...?" Mehlani had started to sit down, but she gets 
  up again, nibbling at her low lip. "Oh no. He's going to need the remedy. 
  I'd better..."

Erdrick looks startled, "So that's what blooding means, I've heard the term 
  before but I never knew what it meant before." Shudders slightly.

Ofira says to Erdrick, "Well, for residents at a Weyr, non-riders, I mean, it 
  means a good deal more. It means to take care of yourself when half crazed 
  riders come back in here and drink down all that wine. Usually there's no 
  trouble..."

Peyra shrugs. "All right." He stays put.

"That's only the bare bones of it," Kassima admits readily enough. "I doubt 
  aught bad would come of watching, Peyra... so long as you kept your distance 
  from the feeding grounds. You'd be splattered with blood at best if'n you 
  went too close." Folding her hands, she hides a smile at Mehlani's 
  description of E'rian. "He's spent too much time watching me and m'fair, I 
  think. But if'n you asked him, I'm certain he'd aid you with their care. I 
  suppose Indyth *could* catch Veyath; there's nay real reason why *nay*. My 
  hunch just says Nyth... or Kyoteth, perhaps."

Erdrick mouth drops open slightly, "Oh."

Devlin walks in from the bowl.
Devlin has arrived.

'Lani nods distractedly more or less in Kassi's direction. Basket dangling off 
  her forearm, an occasional glitter of wing from within signaling the 
  movement of the drowsing baby fire lizards, the girl heads straight for the 
  kitchen, her steps full of purpose even if her eyes are foggy.

Peyra stays put anyway, since Ofira told him to.

Devlin strides over to the wine skins, grabs one. That done, he spots a woman 
  from the living caverns that he knows and murmurs something to her. She nods 
  and both Devlin and the woman head back out towards the bowl.
Devlin walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Devlin has left.

Ofira raises an eyebrow in Kassima's directoin, "Not Cygnith?"

Peyra moves away from the Bowl entrance.

Kassima takes stock of the wineskins, mostly out of habit. "I doubt there'll 
  be trouble, really. Though brawls and the like *have* happened after 
  flights." She leans forward on the table then, reaching out to filch a piece 
  of fruit from an untended plate. "Cygnith could very well catch her. He's 
  caught her a'fore. But in flights, that may nay mean aught 'tall; neither 
  might the dragons' usual affection for each other, I would warrant."

Ofira looks over at Peyra, "When I tell you to go to the dormitory, Peyra, you 
  will go right away, understand?" She nods to Kassima, "Oh, I know, I just 
  thought you had some reason to count him out,the way you said that."

Peyra nods, a bit confused by the request. "All right..."

Ofira sighs and beckons the apprentice over for a quiet talk.

Peyra nods and moves over there.

Kassima shakes her head, sending her braid jouncing. "Nay, nay, 'tis nay that! 
  I'm just rooting for Nyth because that's where m'marks are." Settling her 
  chin on her fist and nibbling at that stolen fruit, she gazes out in the 
  direction of the Bowl without really seeing... or at least, not seeing 
  through her own eyes.

Ofira motions to Peyra to sit down by her and commences to speak to him 
  quietly, "I'd hoped to have this talk with you before you went to Ista, but 
  not exactly right now this minute." She sighs again, "One of the rules for 
  apprentices, is no intimate relatiohships. Do you understand?"

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

From the living cavern, Peyra does sit down. "I understand, yes."

From the living cavern, After several minutes, the woman who'd left the cavern 
  in Devlin's company returns -- alone. Looking dejected, but trying to 
  pretend she doesn't, the young lady moves with a swift stride off to return 
  to her duties.

From the living cavern, Ofira nods. "Okay. Good. Now, sometimes, after a 
  flight...feelings get a little out of controll. So...I advise my apprentices 
  who live at Weyrs to make themselves scarce dureing flights, unless they are 
  being directly supervised by a journeyman or master."

From the living cavern, Peyra nods. "So you want me to go to the dormitory 
  now?"

From the living cavern, Ofira looks around, "Well, at the moment things are 
  quiet. We'll see later on."

From the living cavern, Erdrick blinks as he gets another image from Buttons, 
  "It's begun."

Mehlani ferrets through the stores, coming up with several ingredients, herbs 
  and such, and packing them together into a small pouch. She blinks several 
  times in the course of her business, as if trying to keep her eyes focused, 
  and at last, she wanders out again, the pouch in hand, along with her basket.

You walk into the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Kassima(#11005PJMceqs$)
Peyra
Ofira
Erdrick
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Kassima remarks helpfully, "It does get t'be less noticeable in time, though. 
  With all the greens that rise around here, 'twould be a sad thing if'n you 
  couldn't pick up any immunity. Ofira, is there any lemon bread about by any 
  chance? I've been thinking of Gwennar's recipe all day, and at this point, I 
  feel as though I'd nigh kill for a piece. By the way, 'Lani, 'tis a nice 
  kilt that you have there."

Peyra nods. "All right. And about earlier - I didn't know who to ask to how to 
  get to Ista."
Peyra looks at you for a moment.

"Thank you," pipes Mehlani, smiling absently to Kassima, but her brow is still 
  delicately furrowed over her glassy eyes, and her face has taken on a slight 
  flush. "Do you think... do you think I should try to get this up into Kes's 
  weyr? Or should I wait for him? I'm so worried...!"

Erdrick looks from Peyra to Ofira, "What's this about Ista?"

Ofira smiles at Kassima, "I'd be glad to make you some." She nods to Peyra, 
  "That's alright." Turning back to Kassima , she says, "Do you know who's on 
  the roster today for transport. I've got this apprentice here I need to get 
  ovder to Ista."

Buttons appears from *Between*
Buttons has arrived.
Buttons swoops down towards Erdrick.

Ofira smiles at Erdrick, "Oh, that's his posting, he's going to." She looks 
  over at Mehlani worriedly and then at Kassima to see what she says to that.

Buttons has left.

Erdrick smiles as Buttons flies over and lands on his shoulder.
Erdrick nods, "Ista's a nice place, I've got some friends down there."

Kassima closes her eyes as she tries to recall. "V'dan's on errands today, 
  a'course. So's Miryenne, and I think Thera may be as well. I could take him 
  over m'self, but I'd prefer to avoid that flight business; Lyss doesn't seem 
  bothered, but she's close enough to her usual time that I'm nay taking any 
  chances." The greenrider is a bit taken aback by Mehlani's question. "I 
  might wait for him if'n 'twere you, or at least nay try and find a ride 
  until Veyath and her entourage aren't right overhead."

Ofira nods to Kassima, "I'll ask them." She looks a bit relieved at the answer 
  she gives to Mehlani as well. "I'll go start that lemon bread for you Kassi."
Ofira walks off towards the kitchen.
Ofira has left.
From the kitchen, Ofira enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Kassima calls hurriedly after Ofira, "Oh, shells, you hardly have t'trouble 
  yourself so on my account! I'd certes be grateful, a'course, but I didn't 
  mean to imply 'twas asking you to inconvenience yourself on m'behalf."

Mehlani confides plaintively to Kassima, "I can't stand the thought of Kes in 
  pain... I keep thinking of, of, when you told me about Indyth not catching 
  the gold at the Reaches... but.... but do you think I should be here? I..." 
  She trails off, a struggle of some sort crinkling her features. "Ria hasn't 
  risen yet!" she finishes. She sounds desperately confused.

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

Erdrick nods at Richenda, "Hello."

Kassima considers this problem only for a moment before agreeing. "It might 
  nay be the most advisable thing," she concurs as delicately as she may. "I 
  could give it to him, if'n you wanted me to, or take you up t'set it in his 
  Weyr while he's still comforting Indyth. He tends t'do that for awhile, 
  after a lost flight. And if'n he doesn't lose at all, 'tis a'course all a 
  moot point anyway. Evening, Richenda!"

"Good evening," says Richenda in response, a trifle absently before her smile 
  and attention become fully the living cavern's. "Everyone's well, I trust?"

Erdrick nods, "I'm quite well."

"Well enough, and I'll be well indeed if'n Nyth brings in the marks for me by 
  catching Veyath," is Kassima's prompt response. "Feeling better today, 
  Riche?"

Mehlani, seeming at any moment liable to burst into tears at the mere concept 
  of K'star's brown not winning the flight, doesn't look exactly mollified at 
  the notion that Indyth might _win_, either. She bobs her head unsurely to 
  Kassima, and then blinks several times at Richenda, piping, "I'm... fine, 
  ma'am..."

Richenda blushes - yes, actually blushes a bit - and replies to Kassima, 
  "Beter than I was. Erdrick, my dear lad, don't slouch so, hmm? Have a 
  cookie...they were made earlier today. Mehlani..." Large sigh. "Is your 
  firelizard still having such an effect on you, child?"

"Ria hasn't risen yet," blurts the lass in the kilt.

Erdrick blinks, as he is not sitting or, to his knowledge slouching. Bemused 
  he takes a cookie.

Kassima looks rather taken aback by the sight of a blushing Richenda, as might 
  well be expected. "'Tis good t'be hearing it," she comments, amiably enough. 
  "I think he'll be all right, 'Lani. 'Tis nay as though Indyth hasn't chased 
  a'fore; quite a lady's dragon, that brown is."

Richenda hmmms, then nods and remarks, "I'll get you some tea and perhaps a 
  bit of wine to calm you. You're too terribly distressed, my dear. All those 
  tears."

Mehlani considers, then bobs her head at Richenda hesitantly, holding up the 
  pouch she's got in one hand, and explaining, "I made Kes a hangover 
  remedy...."

Erdrick looks at Buttons, tilts his head as he tries to understand the images 
  he's recieving.

Emlyn walks in from the bowl.
Emlyn has arrived.

Erdrick looks over at Emlyn, blinks and smiles, "Hello Emlyn."

Emlyn hurries in from the cold, arms wrapped tightly around her torso. She's 
  wearing an oversized sweater whose workmanship suggests she made it herself.

Richenda taps her finger thoughtfully against her cheek. "We'll see what we 
  can...oh. Emlyn, my girl. How're you? How is your dear weyrmate, hmm?"

Kassima has gotten up from her chair, and is currently pouring herself a mug 
  of hot cider. "Heya, Emlyn," she calls over her shoulder. "Care for some 
  cider? Does anyone else, for that matter?"

Mehlani settles gingerly into a seat, putting her basket of flits in her lap. 
  One of the greens within, the pale one, wakes up long enough to hiss 
  irritably at the blue who accidentally jostles her.

Emlyn returns Erdrick's smile as she moves to the table with drinks displayed. 
  "Afternoon. I hope there's some hot broth here." Hearing Richenda, she 
  pauses to grin. "We're thriving, Headwoman. The cold makes me feel crisp and 
  energetic. Like a colt in his first Spring."

Richenda's eyebrow moves somewhere near her hairline, though she cannot resist 
  smiling. "I see. Well, good and fine, Emlyn, good and fine. Mehlani, 
  sweetling, don't look so petulant, hmm? And Kassima...I'll get that. It's my 
  job, after all. You lot fight Thread, I fight hunger. See how that works?"

Erdrick looks back at Buttons apologeticly, "I don't get it Buttons." Buttons 
  chirps and looks towards the exit.

Mehlani smiles weakly to Richenda's mothering, but her eyes remain full and 
  liquid. The girl sits there fretting, until the pale green in her basket 
  distracts her. She looks awkwardly down at the little creature and 
  immediately starts stroking her, which mollifies the hatchling. Mostly.

Emlyn indeed finds herself a mug of broth and moves near the hearth to enjoy 
  it. She's unusually pleased and announces why: "I heard that there's going 
  to be some fence repairing over the next few days." Her grin suggests she 
  just said 'The bakers are giving away bubblies over the next few days.'

Kassima wrinkles her nose at Richenda, though the gesture is as good-natured 
  as ever. "Aye, but m'Da always had a saying: 'If'n you can't do for 
  yourself, how can you be expected t'do for anyone else, much less do what 
  you have t'do t'be?' Blast if'n I understand the bulk of that, but I've had 
  self-sufficiency ingrained into me over the Turns. I doubt aught will ever 
  exorcise it completely. Now... would you, or would you nay care for cider?"

Ceria walks in from the bowl.
Ceria has arrived.
Ceria walks, or is that waddles, into the living cavern.

The darker of the two blues in 'Lani's basket lifts a drowsy head, issues a 
  single liquid chirp, and then subsides again, briskly tucking his head under 
  his wing. Mehlani sets her pouch by the basket, nibbling at her lip, trying 
  to sit still. She is not entirely successful.

Erdrick's eyebrows raise, "Fence repairing?"
Erdrick nods absently at Ceria.

Ceria sinks into a chair with a quiet sigh.

Sighing, Richenda answers, "Cider, yes...and a meatroll if you're so inclined. 
  I cleaned out two hearths today and am peckish as a drunken Holder in a 
  group of pretty maids. Ceria, lass, sit down, will you? And what, Emlyn, is 
  this about fences, hmm?"

Emlyn nods at Erdrick, still grinning and using that expression as a greeting 
  to Ceria. Emlyn turns to give Richenda a blank look, then winces. "Ah, I 
  suppose that wouldn't be a universal experience, would it." She shifts, then 
  explains.

Ceria smiles slightly at Richenda as she sits down.

"Pleased t'be of service," Kassi replies. She does indeed detour long enough 
  for a meatroll for the Headwoman, which she sets down before Riche with a 
  *click* of ceramic against the tabletop. Unhooking the handle of the mug 
  from her fingers, she places that down as well before ending up back in her 
  seat. Only then does she lean forward to try and catch Emlyn's explanation.

Emlyn says "Fence repairing is what you do every Turn about this time. The 
  bovines have spent the preceding months leaning on every post they can find 
  to scratch itches they can't reach, and since they're heavier than a 
  Bitran's purse, they do serious damage. Since they need to be indoors this 
  time of Turn anyway, you use the first part of the cold season to repair the 
  fences.""

Richenda's munching is as enthusiastic as almost everything else she does, and 
  she listens with interest to what Emlyn's saying. At a pause in the 
  explanation, she notes, "You're really entirely too enamoured of bovines, 
  Emlyn. For someone whose mate eats them, that is." Wink.

Emlyn finishes up, grinning, "And I just love repairing stone fences. It's a 
  great way to meet your neighbors, catch up on gossip, exaggerate the 
  qualities of your latest calves."
Emlyn gives Richenda a nod. "True, both Pleiath and Ursa look on them 
  primarily as dinner on legs."

Richenda says as she sips her cider, "Much as I view bronzeriders, hmm?"

Ceria blinks at Richenda and starts to stand up to get herself something to 
  eat.

Kassima drawls, "Since I know m'neighbors, don't keep bovines, and try and 
  maintain a connection to the gossip-mill all the time anyway... I think I'll 
  pass." She grins, though, and salutes the other greenrider with her mug. "To 
  each her own, and I wish you much joy of it." She then observes to Richenda, 
  "I always thought they were too stringy t'be a proper dinner on legs."

Mehlani pets and pats tiny fire lizard heads in her basket, one booted foot 
  tapping unconsciously against the floor, her lower lip caught under her 
  upper teeth and her brow deeply, anxiously furrowed. She's even rocking back 
  and forth slightly in her chair, gripped by restlessness.

"On the contrary, my dear Kassima," the headwoman counters gaily, "I've 
  met...what was his name? F'laav? Very meaty. P'tran turns a nice leg too. 
  Oh! Shards and shingles and Aunt Susie's somersaults, I have to fly. I've 
  got something to do before sundown. Pardon me, all?"

Mehlani blinkblinks disorientedly at Richenda, clearly having a hard time 
  following the woman's words.

Ceria grabs herself a couple of meatrolls and returns to her seat.

Emlyn waves to Richenda as she surges up to leave.

Kassima just stares at Richenda as though the woman had two heads. "I think I 
  can safely say that I've never noticed," she admits. "A'course you're more 
  than excused, Riche. Good luck with the somersaults and the rest of it."

Richenda adds quietly to Ceria, "And get someone to fetch food for you next 
  time, lass. Sakes and good gracious." A wave to everyone and she's off for 
  the lower caverns, sooty locks bouncing in her haste.

Erdrick waves at Richenda

Richenda walks towards the inner cavern.
Richenda has left.

Emlyn finishes up her broth, looking warmer than she was. She waves to her 
  friends as she heads back to the cavern entry.

Erdrick sighs as everyone is apparently leaving, "Bye Emlyn."

Kassima raises her steaing mug again to Emlyn, then lounges back in her chair 
  with it, eyeing the knot of betting riders consideringly. One might guess 
  that she's probably listening to hear the current odds.

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

Erdrick walks over to the klah pot and refils his mug again, settles down at a 
  nearby table.

Erdrick sips his klah glancing towards the bowl exit, wondering what's going 
  on.

As minutes creep by, Mehlani, caught up in that fretful restlessness, sets her 
  basket and the pouch down on her chair, after standing up. Wringing her 
  slender hands, the girl starts to pace back and forth.

Kassima watches Mehlani with some curiousity. "Is all well with you, 'Lani?" 
  she finally has to ask.

Her head flicking round in the green rider's direction, Mehlani babbles, 
  "Y-yes, Kes -- er, Kassima...... I-I'm fine..."

Ceria watches Mehlani curiously as she slowly munches on her meatrolls.

Erdrick blinks, having never heard 'Lani stutter before but stays quiet as 
  it's not his place to comment.

Peyra walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Peyra has arrived.
Peyra looks around as he shows up, quietly.

Kassima's eyebrows slowly arch upwards, as they're given to do; however, she 
  refrains from mentioning Mehlani's slip of the tongue. "If'n you're 
  certain...." She pauses, making the statement half a question. "Lyss tells 
  me that Veyath looks t'be tiring, by the by."

Peyra looks at you for a moment.

Erdrick looks over at Kassi, nods, "Is everything ready here?"

Mehlani pacepacepaces, but as she does, she bobs her head distractedly to 
  Kassima -- until she mentions Veyath. Her hands drawing up anxiously to her 
  breast, she cries, "Who's winning? Can you tell?"

Ceria blinks at Mehlani in surprise.

"'Tis as you see it," Kassima replies absently, her eyes fogged as she 
  bespeaks her dragon. "Lyss says that from what she can tell--which isn't 
  much, mind--there's a knot of males about her... 'tis too indistinct t'make 
  out who's whom."

Mehlani nods, her features crumpling; she seems to have the barest of holds on 
  her composure, and she starts pacing again, darting limpid blue looks to the 
  Bowl.

Erdrick glances from Mehlani to Kassi, leans back and sips his klah, awaiting 
  the outcome of the flight nervously.

Peyra settles into a random chair, close to the Lower Caverns. "Can you tell 
  me when it's over? Ofira said I should go away then."

Erdrick nods at Kassi, "She'll know I bet."

Ceria glances at Peyra, a slight blush appearing on her face.

Kassima blinks out of her communion with her dragon. "Eh? Oh, when 'tis over? 
  Certainly, but you'll know soon enough when the riders start coming in."

Erdrick looks at Kassi, "I think Ofira want's Peyra to be elsewhere when the 
  riders come in."

Peyra nods. "I think that was the point." Ceria's glance doesn't appear to 
  bother him in the slightest.

Ceria nods. "That's probably a good idea," she comments softly.

Apparently not noticing any of the others' exchanged comments, Mehlani keeps 
  pacing, alternating between pushing her hair out of her worried eyes and 
  wringing her hands together, over and over and over.

"I realize that," Kassima replies serenely. "But by the time I can tell you 
  that the flight's over, riders may well already be coming in... especially 
  if'n Veyath shakes many of her chasers loose, at the end. It wouldn't 
  surprise me. She's always given her suitors a tough chase, by what I've 
  heard; her stamina is remarkable for a green of her size."

Peyra nods. "Oh."

Erdrick sips his klah slowly, "Then Peyra, when the riders start comming in, 
  that's your cue to go."
Erdrick looks at Buttons, "I wonder if I could have Buttons watch the riders? 
  Or would that be a bad idea?"

Ceria glances at Erdrick. "He'll have enough time to leave when the riders 
  start coming in," she says.

"Watch them?" Kassi sounds mildly confused. "What, out in the Bowl? I doubt 
  they'd care. They'll likely be too concerned with the emotions of a lost 
  flight t'notice a 'lizard."

Erdrick looks up at Ceria, nods then turns to Kassi, "I just thought he might 
  be able to warn us when they start to come in, but I guess it's not needed."

Peyra shrugs. "Thanks for the idea, but I'll just wait for people to start 
  coming in."

Kassima's eyes narrow a bit, and then she nods in satisfaction--though not 
  without a sigh of regret. "It looks like Cygnith, Lysseth says; a pity. I 
  can always use more marks." With reasonable grace, the rider tugs a mark 
  piece from her pouch and flips it over to the bettors, ignoring the laughter 
  from some of them at her loss. "Oh, stuff it in your ears! Y'know full well 
  that I'll take your marks again within the sevenday, so you may as well get 
  your gloating in now. Really, riders aren't *that* fearful after a lost 
  flight. Especially with as much wine as we've got here."

Peyra blinks. "That mean it's over? I'll leave then."

Pace. Pace. Pace. Mehlani's pacing, or perhaps more appropriately, the 
  emotions fueling it, eventually make one of the fire lizards peek out of her 
  basket on the chair -- the intelligent-looking blue, and the green with the 
  prettiest voice. The two of them coo unsurely, distracting 'Lani long enough 
  to make her kneel down by the chair and scoop the green out of the basket, 
  to pet her almost frantically. The green creels, more from anxiety than 
  hunger, though she starts to settle down as Mehlani soothes her.

Erdrick looks at Peyra, "Good idea, bye lad."

Ceria sighs and stands up. "I think I'll leave as well," she says.
Ceria walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Ceria has left.

Mehlani looks up then, just as soon as she'd kneeled, hatchling in hand. 
  "Cygnith?" she whispers, to Kassi.

Peyra stands and leaves.
Peyra walks towards the inner cavern.
Peyra has left.

Even as Kassi speaks, a young man does indeed half-stride, half-trudge into 
  the room. A young man wearing a fedora... and recognizable, when he raises 
  his head to seek out the wine with hazy eyes, as K'star. "Bloody long 
  flight, that," he mutters in a voice over-loud for one who's ostensibly 
  talking to himself.

Kassima nods an affirmative, glancing towards the Bowl entrance at the sound 
  of her cousin's voice. "Aye, Cygnith. Mayhaps this will help Asrai in 
  getting her wish for a child; they had luck after the last Veyath-flight 
  that Cygnith won."

Never mind Kassima, then. Mehlani's gaze shoots to K'star, and with a little 
  cry, the girl swiftly returns her hatchling to the basket, seizes up the 
  pouch, and veritably flies at K'star. "Kes!" she calls, the only warning he 
  gets before she flings her arms around him and hugs him frantically. "Oh 
  Kes... I'm so sorry... are you alright? Is Indyth alright?"

Erdrick looks up at the entering rider, not recognizing him.

At this unexpected embrace, K'star very nearly falls over--and his eyes come 
  closer yet to bugging straight out of their sockets. "*Mehlani?*" he asks, 
  his voice hoarse. Involuntarily, he curls his arms around her to hold her 
  just as tightly. "I... I'm fine... as fine as I can be, anyway. Indyth will 
  be all right when he forgets...." The brownrider stares down at the girl he 
  holds, something akin to hunger in his eyes before he remembers who she is 
  and reluctantly lets go of her. "You probably... shouldn't be near me," he 
  warns her raggedly.

'Lani's young face crinkles up again as the behatted, hazel-eyed young man 
  pulls back from her. Disappointment flares up in her expression, but not 
  enough to blot out the profound concern there, and more than a little 
  confusion. "I... yes... alright... " Suddenly, she recalls her pouch, and 
  she seizes K'star's hands, pressing the pouch into them. "Take this... 
  please?"

Erdrick looks around, "Well I'd best to oil these flying flits, bye all."

'Lani, unfortunately, appears to have forgotten anyone else in the cavern. Her 
  basketful of hatchlings, however, gives Erdrick something of an 
  acknowledgement, the abandoned blue and green peeping at him, remembering 
  that they'd gotten food from him.

Kes just stares at 'Lani for a moment, his eyes showing a veritable muddle of 
  emotions. If she is disappointed, so much the more so is he; but he is, as 
  has been made evident many times before, an honorable man. To say nothing of 
  stoic. "Oh... the hangover remedy." He manages a smile upon recognizing it, 
  though it comes out as more of a grimace. "Aye. You are... good, to think of 
  me...." Shaking his head violently, he casts a pleading look to Kassi--who, 
  quite understanding, throws him a wineskin. He has it open and a quarter 
  drained almost within an eyeblink.

Sandar walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Sandar has arrived.
Sandar walks towards the inner cavern.
Sandar has left.

Her hands now free, Mehlani lifts them to cup both of K'star's cheeks, and she 
  cries anxiously, "Well of _course_ I'd think of you... you, you should go to 
  Indyth, he needs you..."

Sandar walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Sandar has arrived.
Sandar walks towards the inner cavern.
Sandar has left.
Sandar walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Sandar has arrived.

K'star reaches one trembling hand out to caress Mehlani's auburn hair, 
  continuing to shake his head in a futile effort to clear his thoughts--until 
  'Lani stops that by taking his face in her hands, that is. "You're right," 
  he murmurs back, baritone voice marred now by a rasp. "Of course you're 
  right. You--" He breaks off, bending down just enough to give 'Lani a kiss 
  that would heat the blood of any woman who didn't have ice in her veins... 
  then breaks free, and turns to go. "You're right," he repeats once more 
  before fleeing out into the Bowl nearly as quickly as his legs can carry him.

Sandar ambles back in absent-mindedly, the bronze on his shoulder chattering 
  into his ear. "Hmm... evening."

Kassima sighs with definite relief when her cousin departs. "Thank Faranth 
  E'rian wasn't the one who Impressed a male," she mutters under her breath. 
  "He never did have half so much sense. Evening, Sandar. Care for wine? You 
  just missed a flight, as you've probably surmised."

'Lani, kissed, staggers backwards when Kes lets her go and flees, and stands 
  there blinking, looking exactly as if someone had just clobbered her over 
  the head with a very large rock.

Sandar whoah-hos!! at K'star's kiss, then he blinks. To Kassi, he shakes his 
  head. "No wine for me thanks. I missed a flight?"

Kassima jerks her thumb in the direction that Kes went. "Aye, a flight--his 
  Indyth chased. Veyath rose, finally... and Cygnith caught, if'n you're 
  curious. Mehlani? Would you care for some wine?" In a voice more gentle than 
  many would give her credit for, she adds, "You look as though you could 
  probably use it."

Mehlani has managed to stay on her feet, but her gaze is unfocused and her 
  face flushed, as she looks blankly towards Kassima. "Wh-what?"

Sandar puts that together in his head. "Veyath... Cygnith... heh. Not too 
  surprising to me."

Erdrick walks back in from the direction of the lower caverns with three 
  freshly oiled firelizards.

"Wine," Kassima repeats patiently. "You look as though you could use some, and 
  there's plenty. Eh, Sandar, mayhaps nay--but I still lost a quarter mark on 
  the deal. Flights are too blasted hard t'predict sometimes."

Erdrick looks around, nods at Kassi, Sandar and Mehlani.

Oh. Right. Wine. Still looking thoroughly dazed, Mehlani wanders over to 
  Kassima, remarking plaintively, "He _had_ to go to Indyth... Indyth needed 
  him...."

Erdrick looks curiously at Kassi, "Wine? Benden wine mayhaps?

Sandar nods to Kassi, though he really doesn't know much about flights. He 
  gives Erdrick a friendly wave, then tries to shut up his firelizard. "I 
  know. Yeah. Uh huh. Geeeez."

Kassima nods, pouring a glass full of rich red liquid--Benden red, 
  probably--for Mehlani. "Mmm-hmm. And he'd nay want t'do aught that would 
  make you resent him later on. You remember how your father was... well, Kes 
  hasn't yet had Turns t'numb him t'what that feels like. Drink up, eh? He and 
  Indyth will be fine. Maleriders and their dragons have survived lost flights 
  since time immemorial, and they'll keep on doing it until the sun and the 
  moons rise together in the West."

It would seem that now that she's accomplished her mission of getting her 
  hangover remedy into K'star's hands, Mehlani is entirely at a loss. Then 
  again, K'star's ardent kiss probably had something to do with it, too. The 
  girl nods mutely to Kassi, obediently accepting the glass, still standing 
  there looking horribly, horribly confused.

Erdrick walks over to Kassi and with a mock-quavery-old uncle voice says, 
  "Would there be enough wine for little old me?" Blinks up at her, innocent 
  as can be.

If there's one thing that Kassi's familiar with, it's proddiness, whether of 
  the draconic or fire-lizard variety. "Care t'sit down a'fore your knees give 
  way?" she invites with a slight grin. "The drink will dull some of it. You'd 
  best nay have too much, though, unless you're a sharding lot more used to 
  drinking than I think. Hrm? Oh, a'course, Erdrick." With a roll of her eyes 
  at the mock-innocence, a trick she tends to see through as readily as she 
  uses, the rider pours a glass of White and sets it before the younger man. 
  "There's nay need for tricks," she adds with a chuckle, "when there's plenty 
  about for the having."

Mehlani peers liquidly into the glass she's now holding, then, quite abruptly, 
  lifts it to her lips and starts drinking down the contents, pausing only 
  once for breath, until she drains it.

Erdrick chuckles at Kassi, "I couldna resist, ye bring out the worst in me 
  m'dear." Takes the wine and takes a drink, grinning at Kassi

Glass emptied, Mehlani stands there a few moments longer, the flush in her 
  cheeks deepening, along with the glaze of her eyes. Then, moving with very 
  careful deliberation, the girl sets the glass down on the nearest table and 
  murmurs, "I think I'd better go lie down now. I hope Rianet rises tonight, I 
  don't like this very much..."

Erdrick looks at Mehlani, then down at his sleeping Karin, wondering...

Kassima's brows rise in admiration this time. "Well. We'll make a lush out of 
  you yet, lass," she jokes, though her smile is sympathetic. "That's likely a 
  good idea. If'n all else fails, try finding someone else with proddy 
  'lizards; the creatures do seem t'set each other off."

Erdrick looks up at Mehlani again, "Good night Mehlani."

Kassima then eyes Erdrick with some bemusement. Apparently, she's hardly used 
  to being called 'dear', especially by people ten Turns her junior. "If'n you 
  say so," she agrees affably.

Mehlani bobs her head slowly to Kassima, vaguely to Erdrick, and with that, 
  she starts to wander off. She pauses long enough to stop to pick up her 
  basket of hatchlings, and then, still moving quite slowly and cautiously, 
  she wanders off.

[And shortly....]

You head towards the corridor to the weyrfolk quarters.
Dormitories(#1277RA$)
Contents:
Peyra
Shiva
Lost and Found Cabinet (OOC)
Obvious exits:
Inner Cavern  

Peyra is sitting on one of the cots, quietly.
Peyra looks at you for a moment.

Mehlani, disheveled and dazed, a basket of hatchlings dangling off her arm, 
  comes wandering into the room. The girl's face is flushed, and her eyes are 
  foggy..

Peyra looks up at Mehlani. "Are you all right, miss?"

Mehlani pauses, blinking at the voice. She slowly turns her head in Peyra's 
  direction, gravely considers the question, and then just as slowly shakes 
  that head. "I'm going to lie down now," she replies solemnly

Peyra nods. "I hope you feel better then."

Mehlani smiles unfocusedly, a smile that doesn't have much effect on her 
  liquid eyes, and wanders off into the girls' side of the dorm. Once she 
  reaches what must be her cot, she half-falls, half-sits down on it, then 
  cradles the basket close beside her. One or two of the hatchlings within 
  start trying to clamber out, in an effort to get closer to the lass, as 
  Mehlani seems to immediately doze off.

[End log.]