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:
	4/29/98
	
Log Cast:
	(People) Mehlani, Ofira, R'val, Jayna, Ro, Halam, Melina, Richenda,
C'vadan, Sandar, Saskia, Meli, A'lex, Kailia, Diar, M'kla, Asrai, Arak

	(Fire lizards) Grape, Starshine, Krill, Tarnish, Twink, Lordie

Log Intro:
	Entirely unexpectedly, if not un-hoped-for, Mehlani has been Searched
for the clutch being laid by gold Leilanth at Telgar Weyr. This event has
delighted brown rider K'star, who has informed her between her newly
assigned Candidate chores that he believes she'll make a splendid green
rider... and Mehlani has found herself more than a little overwhelmed as
she's needed to move into the Candidate Barracks, along with the many new
young people being brought into the Weyr by the Search riders. Between the
new faces and the extra chores she has been assigned, 'Lani has found herself
rather more overwhelmed than usual....

----------
Your location's current time: 12:05 on day 16, month 9, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a autumn afternoon.

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

Fire-lizard free at the moment, Mehlani comes slipping into the kitchen, 
  casting a shy glance about.

Ofira is piping meringue shells with a deft, delicate touch. "'Afternoon," she 
  says, glancing up and then smiling, "Candidate."

Mehlani turns quite pink, ducks her head a little, and offers shyly, "I'm 
  supposed to help you chop vegetables today, Master...?"

Ofira laughs, lifting her hand away from the meringues, "So, nothing much 
  changes, even after being Searched, hmm? Well, you know where the vegetables 
  are and what to do, I think. At least I'll have one who's not slicing their 
  thumbs into the stew."

Mehlani offers a hesitant, small smile, and nods her head, moving first to 
  watch her hands and find an apron before doing anything else. "Yes'm," she 
  murmurs softly.

Ofira turns back to her meringe and forms another shell, swirling it with a 
  twist of her hand, "Does Jorenan know?"

Mehlani can be seen to nibble her lip for a moment, and she murmurs then, "I 
  don't know, ma'am..."

Ofira nods thoughtfully, looking vaguely troubled. "Well, he'll be along soon 
  enough, and you can tell him then. "

The young girl peeks out from under her hat brim, perhaps noticing the 
  Master's expression, though all she says in reply is another soft "Yes'm", 
  along with a single head bob.

Ofira bends over the meringues , her face obscured before Mehlani can get a 
  true gauge of her mood, "What of your family? I imagine they must be very 
  proud."

"I sent letters," Mehlani offers, as she sets to work chopping some greens. 
  "To Father and Mother... and Siara was here last night so she took 
  Fahloran's letter to him."

Ofira stands back to look at the shells, practice eye measuring them. "Siara? 
  Oh, is that his weyrmate's name? I saw them at that gather at Bitra, but I 
  was so surprised to find him so much taller, that I hardly noticed her."

Mehlani bobs her head gravely as Siara is identified.

Ofira takes the shells over to the oven, "Well, I'm sure it must be very 
  exciting for you. Are there many other Candidates with you yet?"

"About five, ma'am," Mehlani murmurs. She doesn't offer any commentary on 
  whether she is excited, but she _is_ blushing. On the other hand, blushing 
  isn't uncommon for her, either.

Ofira nods, washing her hands and getting out a huge basket of hulled berries. 
  "So, now everything is turned upside down for a while," she comments 
  absently as she considers the berries.

Mehlani considers this, and then nods once, quite firmly. "Yes, ma'am, it is," 
  she responds, her voice very small.

Ofira nods and gets out some cream next, "Girad will be so jealous," she 
  smiles.

Mehlani's mouth flickers into a momentary smile, perhaps of understanding. She 
  slowly but steadily chops the greens, making a neat and growing pile of 
  vegetable cubes.

Ofira gets out some eggs as well, frowning at the ingredients as if to bring 
  them into line to form a custard on their own. "Did you know that Rylan's 
  wandered off to Igen? I finally found out."

Mehlani blinks, looking up in startlement.

Ofira looks over, "He ran off after the Gather at Boll, and I finally heard 
  that's where he ended up. If he's come back, he's kept it a secret to me." 
  she frowns.

Mehlani blinks a time or two more, and finally pipes, "He was around here last 
  night, ma'am... while I was talking to one of the Igen riders..."

Ofira's frown deepens, "Maybe he came back with them. He's still angry at me I 
  suppose."

From the living cavern, R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

Looking decidedly confused now, Mehlani murmurs a soft, "Oh..." From the look 
  of her, she doesn't know what's been going on with her younger sibling. 
  "Rylan and I... don't really talk much, Master...."

Ofira sighs, getting out a heavy saucepan, "No, He and I don't much either. 
  Odd considering I foster him. Perhaps he's just gottentoo old for fostering."

Mehlani once more nibbles at her lower lip for a moment, not quite sure what 
  to say here. "I wouldn't know, ma'am," she murmurs at last.

Ofira nods, realizing that this is quite true. "You were never fostered , were 
  you?" she asks.

Mehlani shakes her head solemnly.

Ofira nods thoughtfully, "That's what I thought." She adds some cream to the 
  pot to heat it a bit. "Who was it that searched you?" she inquires next.

"Kassima and Lysseth," murmurs the girl in the hat. The greens chopped, she 
  peers around to look for the next pile of vegetables that need the attention 
  of her knife.

Ofira nods, laughing a bit. "I see." She calls over a journeyman to start 
  breaking in the eggs. "Excuse me Mehlani, I just need to check on something 
  in the storeroom."
Ofira pushes her way past scurrying kitchen girls and into the storeroom 
  passageway.
Ofira has left.

[Mehlani settles down for extended working in the kitchens, and is there for
 several hours; out in the living cavern, riders and residents come and go,
 and Mehlani keeps only half an ear on the conversation as it flows....]
 
Your location's current time: 19:03 on day 16, month 9, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a autumn evening.

From the living cavern, Jayna smiles. "Heyla, Halam," she says, lifting her 
  mug in a toast.

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

From the living cavern, Jayna takes another swallow of klah. She looks 
  around. "I wonder...has anybody seen Sandy? Or Arallia, if you know her?" 
  she asks, amiably.

From the living cavern, Halam returns Jayna's toast by lifting his mug in 
  return. "Cleaned any pots lately?

From the living cavern, Melina chuckles, "As I live to tease you?" She 
  grins and takes a sip of her klah. As she does, she spots first Halam then 
  Ro. Her mug goes down at the sight of the latter and she waves to the girl, 
  calling to her, "Afternoon, Rhonneth says that he's glad he could help you 
  with the present for Kassi's ha-err..daughter"

From the living cavern, R'val laughs, "I'v enoticed that you, naughty 
  brownrider, do indeed live to tease me." He slurps his klah.

From the living cavern, Melina chuckles softly, redirecting her attention 
  to the bluerider, "Ah, R'val, you love it"

From the living cavern, Jayna laughs at Halam's comment. "Uh...no, but 
  since you mention it, I am plotting something," she confesses.

From the living cavern, Ro says to Jayna "I haven't seen Sandy since last 
  night." Hearing Melina call to her, she smiles, a tinge of pink coming to 
  her cheeks "He was a very good model." she replies.

From the living cavern, R'val grins, "True. Any attention from you is good 
  attention, Melina m'dear. How's Rhonneth today, anyhow?"

From the living cavern, Melina gets her attention drawn by Ro's comment and 
  she smiles proudly, '

From the living cavern, Halam nods politely to both riders. "How ya doin 
  Mel."

From the living cavern, Jayna nods her thanks to Ro, and smiles.

From the living cavern, Halam grins at Jay. "Plotting or planting?"

From the living cavern, Jayna grins. "A little of both, actually," she says 
  innocently.

From the living cavern, Melina gets her attention drown by Ro's comment, 
  and she smiles proudly, "Thank you. He was happy to pose" Her attention 
  returns to R'val to answer to him, "He's doing well. Happy to be down in the 
  bowl for a rest. We've been on watchriding duty for.. well about all day. 
  I'm glad we got a rest." Another voice cuts off her train of thought and she 
  smiles to Halam, "Doing well, thank you."

From the living cavern, R'val chuckles, "Watchriding! Well, there are worse 
  duties out there, but it's certainly tiring. Today's my day off. "He winks 
  smugly at Melina, teasing her.

From the living cavern, Melina mock glares at R'val, "It would be. So, who 
  did you pay off to get today off?"

From the living cavern, R'val looks affronted, "Pay off? I just asked for 
  the day off, and got it. It helps to be a charmingly handsome bluerider!" HE 
  winks.

From the living cavern, Melina snorts, "Charmingly handsome or just well 
  paid?" She grins and winks and buries her face in her mug again.

From the living cavern, Jayna grins at R'val. "Don't forget modest," she 
  adds quietly.

From the living cavern, R'val nudges Melina in the ribs, and laughs, "Both, 
  dear, both." He sticks out his tongue at Jayna, clearly amused.

From the living cavern, Ro retreats into the kitchen.
From the living cavern, Ro walks off towards the kitchen.
Ro enters the kitchen from the living cavern.
Ro has arrived.

From the living cavern, Halam chuckles at Jayna. "I'll just bet you 
  are.....Fed Rhonneth any cookies lately. he asks Melina, a grin spliting his 
  face.

From the living cavern, Melina sputters klah, both at Jayna's comment and 
  R'val's poking. She coughs, "Shards.. Jayna, you've got him pegged!"

Ro smiles tenatively as she notices Mehlani.

From the living cavern, R'val sighs, "The teasing I endure. You're all  
  such evil women."

Mehlani is wrist-deep, it would seem, in vegetable-chopping. She is 
  fire-lizard-free at the moment, but she's clearly been in here for some 
  time, her face dampened by the heat of the kitchens, tendrils of her hair 
  peeking out from under her hat brim.

From the living cavern, Jayna laughs, winking at Melina.

From the living cavern, Melina looks over at Halam and shakes her head, "He 
  hasn't really asked for any. He's gotten too big for them to be more then 
  just a hint of a taste" She looks at R'val and laughs, "Oh, lecherous 
  bluerider.. have we hurt your feelings, dear?" She leans over and kisses him 
  on the cheek, "There, feel better now?"

Ro murmurs "Wow, looks like you've been workin' hard."

Mehlani starts! And lifts her head, then smiles tinily to Ro, nodding.

From the living cavern, R'val mock-pouts at Melina, "You have. My heart is 
  broken now...cruel brownrider."

Ro says "The headwoman mad at you, too?"

Mehlani blinkblinks, and pauses to wipe her brow, then shakes her head. 
  "Candidate work," she murmurs simply.

From the living cavern, Melina chuckles and shakes her head, "Well, one 
  must protect herself against such charming blueriders.. especially those of 
  the stinky, lecherous persuasion."

From the living cavern, R'val hmphs, "Lecherous, yes. Stinky, no."

From the living cavern, Jayna just grins, sipping at her klah. "And 
  modest," she adds, again, wryly.

From the living cavern, R'val pokes Jayna lightly, grinning, "Hey. I'm 
  perfectly modest!"

Ro blinks, then blushes "Oh yeah, I guess I have to start thinkin' of you 
  as a candidate. It'll takes some gettin' used to."

"For you and me both," Mehlani confides sheepishly to her friend.

From the living cavern, Melina laughs and shakes her head, "Modest, I think 
  not, especially not perfectly"

From the living cavern, R'val tickles Melina's ribs. "Evil!"

Ro nods "So, what'd Kes have to say?"

From the living cavern, Jayna blinks. "Well, he could actually be perfectly 
  modest, if he's a lot better than he says he is," she adds. Logically. Ayup.

From the living cavern, Melina chuckles and nods, "Well, I try" She leans 
  into R'val and gets up, "Unfortunately, I've got to get back up to my post. 
  My relief is getting anxious to get some klah into himself"

From the living cavern, R'val grins at Jayna, "Oh, I admit, I'm not 
  perfect! Just..nearly?" He winks.
From the living cavern, R'val squeezes Melina's hand gently and smiles, 
  "I'll see you later, Melina. take care."

From the living cavern, Halam sits and watches the girls tease R'val. 
  "R'val you just need to swear off wonen like I have and then you'll have 
  nothing to fear.

From the living cavern, Melina leans down and gives R'val another kiss on 
  the cheek, "You too. I hope that mended your wounded pride some" She tosses 
  a wave around the cavern and walks out.
From the living cavern, Melina walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, R'val chuckles at Halam.
From the living cavern, R'val smiles after Melina, and turns to Jayna. 'So 
  how was your day?"

'Lani blushes pinkly, and then leans closer to Ro and murmurs, "He... um... 
  told me he thought I'd make a very good green rider..."

From the living cavern, Jayna sighs, still chuckling. "I'm sorry for 
  teasing," she says, not sounding particularly repentant. "My day's been 
  busy," she adds, with a bit of a grimace. "I've been doing laundry."

From the living cavern, R'val chuckles, with a wink, "I don't mind, Jayna, 
  really. Laundry...doesn't sound like fun to me."

Ro nods "I think so too." she declares.

The notion of herself on a green dragon apparently flusters Mehlani. A lot. 
  She blushes more deeply, and murmurs, "I'm, oh, I'm just not sure...!"

From the living cavern, Jayna laughs. "I can't blame you," she says. 
  "Laundry's the -worst-." She drains her klah. "So tell me what you did 
  today. Had to be better than that, eh?"

From the living cavern, R'val chortles, "I admit, it was! So far today, 
  i've done sweet nothing! I took the day off." he admits.

Ro points out "Look at all the green firelizards you have. They love you."
Ro finds a knife for herself and moves to aid her friend, favoring her left 
  hand.

From the living cavern, Jayna sighs, smiling. "Nothing," she says, a bit 
  dreamily. Then she chuckles. "Actually, it'd probably drive me to 
  distraction," she says ruefully.

"Ro," Mehlani points out, "I _also_ have a bronze and a brown and two 
  blues...!"

From the living cavern, Grape glides in from the bowl.
From the living cavern, Grape perches herself on a table near the center of 
  the room. She lifts one leg then the next, examining her claws.
From the living cavern, Grape hophophops and examines a mug up close, with 
  her snout.

Ro murmurs "I don't think you'll impress a bronze, 'lani."

Mehlani gives a choked little giggle, at that, and murmurs, "Well, no..."

From the living cavern, Jayna notes the little green. "Uh-oh," she says, 
  pulling her mug in close. "That one again," she mutters, with a smile.

From the living cavern, R'val glances at the green, "That one?"

Ro grins "At least I got you to smile."

From the living cavern, Halam watches the little green firelizard and then 
  coo's to her. "Where's your pet little one?

From the living cavern, Grape chitters anxiously and moves to follow that 
  mug. With an imperious chirp she shoves her head into the mug's mouth and 
  into the liquid.

From the living cavern, Jayna nods. "She looks cute and innocent. Don't 
  believe it," she warns. "She's murder around clean socks and cooking 
  implements." She laughs. "See what I mean?"

From the living cavern, Halam retrives a meatroll from the hearth and 
  breaks it up. He holds out a portion to the little green. "You hungry?" he 
  asks

"I'm _very_ nervous," Mehlani ventures anxiously to her friend.

From the living cavern, "Who's is she? Yours?" Halam asks Jayna

From the living cavern, Grape burbles with her head under some cooled 
  drink. Bubbles foam in what liquid that didn't dribble over the side of the 
  mug. She lifts her head up and drips on the table.

From the living cavern, R'val chortles, "Firelizards. They're such pains!"

From the living cavern, Starshine glides in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Grape tilts her head a little and as some of the 
  drink drips into her whirling eye she whirrrs and rapidly shakes her head 
  from side to side, splattering the other riders.

From the living cavern, From Halam's shoulder, Krill lifts his head and 
  chirples a geeting to the green

From the living cavern, Jayna grins, and shrugs to Halam. "I'm not sure who 
  she looks to," she confesses, then nods to R'val. "I've got a blue who's 
  cute as a button, but he doesn't have the brains of a redfruit."

From the living cavern, Starshine flies in from the bowl, flittering from 
  person to person.

From the living cavern, R'val chuckles, "I don't know too many firelizards 
  who have much brains at all."

From the living cavern, Grape snorts a little and folds her wings back 
  daintily as she peers back int that mug of attention. Seems the scent in her 
  nose masks foodsmells fairly well.. whatever was being drunk.

From the living cavern, Starshine flies close to the people. Apparently, 
  what she wants is on laps, because that is where she is looking....on 
  everyone's lap.

From the living cavern, Jayna laughs at R'val. "Well, I hear they've got 
  brains. Problem is, they all share the same one."

From the living cavern, Halam continues to off the partial meat roll to the 
  green even as he feeds a piece of it to his own Krill.

From the living cavern, R'val laughs. "That makes sense."

From the living cavern, Halam nods "What one knows they all seem to 
  know...and will tell anyone who asks."

From the living cavern, Grape spies that meatroll and makes a quick snap at 
  it. Food? Looks like... at least it looks like it looks like it might be 
  maybe food. Maybe food maybe fuzzy no-food, but this looks like real food 
  even if it smells like wet stuff.

From the living cavern, Jayna nods at Halam's comment. "Yep. What I meant," 
  she says, grinning.

From the living cavern, Halam lets go of the meatroll as the green snaps at 
  it. "Easy! littleone "Theres plenty more where that came from.

From the living cavern, Grape tilts her head again and sees that other 
  lizard. That, while it's a stranger lizard, at least gets a trilling of 
  greeting from the green. The green's head is still dripping slightly from 
  the mug-exploration.

From the living cavern, Starshine daintily trills back a greeting to the 
  little green, landing nearby but not too close.

From the living cavern, Jayna drains her klah. "Well, there's something I 
  have to do before it gets too late," she says, with a bit of a chuckle. 
  "Thanks for the company," she adds, depositing her mug on a tray full of 
  dirty dishes.

From the living cavern, Halam says "How many do you have Jay?"

From the living cavern, Grape launches up and lands on that tray of dirty 
  dishes. She then grasps that mug in her foreclaws and with a biiiig effort 
  lifts and drags it across the table after Jayna.

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

From the living cavern, Pierron nods with a modicum of respect as the 
  headwoman walks in.

From the living cavern, Jayna smiles at Halam. "Just the one," she says as 
  she heads for the inner caverns. "See you later?" She groans at the little 
  green's antics. "Good luck," she adds to all the victims in the living 
  cavern. "Oh, heya, ma'am," she says happily.

From the living cavern, R'val smiles, nodding, "See you, Jayna."

From the living cavern, Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.

From the living cavern, Richenda glances behind her as Jayna departs, 
  frowns a bit, and glances about her consideringly. "Ah well. Hey, R'val, 
  m'dear. How're you?"

From the living cavern, Grape gets to the end of the table with the mug and 
  her wurbling goes into a squawk of surprise as suddenly she's plummeting to 
  the floor of the cavern. The mug's just too heavy for her little body. The 
  mug chips.

From the living cavern, R'val smiles at Richenda, "Just fine, Richenda. 
  Yourself?"

From the living cavern, A drudge shoos the layabouts out of the Living 
  Cavern, getting them out of her way.

From the living cavern, Krill unwraps himself from around Halam's neck and 
  stands on his shoulder. He keeps his tail twined around Halam's neck for 
  security as he stretches his wings.

From the living cavern, "Oh, all ri..." Richenda glares at the firelizards 
  and just taps her foot, watching.

From the living cavern, R'val hides a grin. Richenda and firelizards...

From the living cavern, Grape untangles her wing and her tail and 
  straightens her neck. She looks around like she's trying to figure out 
  'how'd the floor get so close?'. The mug looks forgotten for the moment.

From the living cavern, A drudge shoos the layabouts out of the Living 
  Cavern, getting them out of her way.

From the living cavern, Starshine chitters angrily at the world, or at 
  least the people present, for not having what she was looking for.

From the living cavern, Richenda takes in a deep, deep breath, and, darting 
  a glance at R'val, mumbles, "Winged tunnelsnakes they are...and as useful as 
  a weewee on a hundred-Turn man. I'm going to say R-e-d S-t-a-r in a moment, 
  I am."

Mehlani keeps quietly working on getting that sizeable mound of greens and 
  legumes and other vegetables chopped for the evening meal, occasionally 
  pausing to wipe her face with her apron. The girl's considerably-sized fair 
  doesn't appear to be in the vicinity, and with Ro at her side to help with 
  the chopping, the girl seems to be residing in the middle of a small bubble 
  of tranquility.

From the living cavern, Grape takes that moment to use a foreclaw to 
  scritch at the side of a forward ridge, closing her eyes and leaning 
  slightly to the right as she does so. With that she shakes her head a little 
  and hops atop the handle of the mug.

From the living cavern, R'val shrugs one shoulder, and smiles at Richenda, 
  "I'd tend to agree. They're pests. I can't see having one, let alone as many 
  as certain people in this weyr seem to have."

From the living cavern, With a little trill, the green named Grape launches 
  again and slowly and determinedly drags that mug with her out into the bowl 
  on two wings and alot of panting pulling.

From the living cavern, Richenda studies the little green critter as she 
  flops down near R'val, happy as ever to get a load off her feet. "I'm going 
  to have a word with Kassima about that. Aunt Gussie's garters, but that 
  girl's critters eat an entire bovine a sevenday, I swear, and we're not here 
  to .... RED STAR!!!!"

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

From the living cavern, Grape fwips between in a half a moment, leaving 
  behind that poor dear departing mug.

From the living cavern, Starshine looks over at the little green, with a 
  slight upturned snout that could be perceived as arrogance.

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

From the living cavern, R'val stands, "Good idea, Richenda. Take care."
From the living cavern, R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Jayna wanders into the living cavern, whistling a 
  bit. Over her arm is draped a rag, and she's carrying a tiny ceramic pot and 
  a small gardening tool. She smiles again at Richenda and Halam. "Heya, 
  ma'am," she says, "Halam."

From the living cavern, C'vadan walks in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Grape

From the living cavern, Starshine trills to the small green as she choses 
  to leave.

From the living cavern, Halam waves at Jayna "Hey Jay, Back I see. What you 
  got there?"

From the living cavern, Richenda bounces to her feet again, though the mug 
  that the little-flying-green-tunnelsnake was trying to carry gets a 
  once-over. "Jayna, my dear...just the -- hello, Halam! -- just the lady I 
  wanted to see. Fancy learning a bit about wings? I have a brown with an ache 
  that wants looking over."

From the living cavern, Jayna looks up in surprise as the green flits out. 
  Noting the mug the green'd been playing with still on the floor, she wanders 
  over and picks it up, shaking her head and tsking. She smiles at Halam and 
  starts to answer, but hears Richena start to say someth...."Wings, ma'am?" 
  she asks, delighted. "Oh, absolutely," she says enthusiastically.

From the living cavern, C'vadan strides in, gloves slapping on his thigh. 
  "Hey all," he says as he heads for the juice pitcher. "I'm thinking of 
  popping over to Igen Hold for something for Tria. Anyone interested in 
  going?"

From the living cavern, Richenda gives C'vadan both a sweet smile and a 
  once-over, as if assuring herself that he's well-fed, well-dressed, 
  well-tended. "Oh! Oh, are you really? Can you take a note from me for their 
  headwoman? They have some of the best citrons in their parts, and I'd love 
  for us to have some."

From the living cavern, Starshine looks over the new rider entering the 
  room. Then, she flies back to her spot with a loud set of chittering.

From the living cavern, C'vadan sips at his juice and then nods to the 
  Headwoman. "I'd be happy to."

From the living cavern, Richenda snaps her fingers. "You're as cuddly and 
  sweet as your weyrmate says, my dear wingsecond! Let me fetch...oh, bother. 
  Jayna, give me a moment, will you? I'll meet you in the bowl."

From the living cavern, Jayna gently deposits her pot and gardening tool 
  onto a table and rubs her hands on the rag while Richenda gathers her note. 
  "Certainly, ma'am," she smiles, heading in that direction. "Heya, guard 
  that, will you, Halam?" she says, pointing to the pot with a grin.
From the living cavern, Jayna walks down the short tunnel and out into the 
  bowl.

From the living cavern, Starshine flits through the short tunnel and out 
  into the bowl.

From the living cavern, Halam nods to C'vadan. "I'd love to go with you 
  Sir. I have a friend who is a weyrling over there I've not seen in a while."

From the living cavern, Richenda walks towards the inner cavern.

From the living cavern, Sandar walks here from the Inner Cavern.
From the living cavern, Sandar wanders in, looking all puckered out. 
  "Evening," he waves tiredly.

From the living cavern, Halam sits at his usual corner table sippin klah. 
  He looks up smiles and waves as he sees you walk in.

From the living cavern, Sandar sighs a bit. "I've been pulling weeds today. 
  Not to mention that I've still been doing my Stewardly duties... Rennick 
  seems to have forgotten that I'm a Candidate now, either that or he ignored 
  me when I told him." He takes a mug of juice from the counter and takes a 
  healthy swig.

From the living cavern, Halam smiles in sympthaty. "Well I'm sure things 
  will change once all the candidates are searched.

From the living cavern, Sandar waves to C'vadan. "Evening, sir," he says 
  pleasantly.

From the living cavern, C'vadan nods to Sandar on his way out.
From the living cavern, C'vadan walks down the short tunnel and out into 
  the bowl.

From the living cavern, Halam stands and stretches with a yawn. "Got ot get 
  back down to the stables to get the heard up to the upper pasture for the 
  night. See ya Sandy."

From the living cavern, Sandar nods to Halam. "Nite," he tells his friend.

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

From the living cavern, Sandar settles back into his chair and yawns.

Saskia strolls in with some other baker apprentices and waves to Mehlani.

From the living cavern, Sandar smiles over at Saskia and Mehlani.

Mehlani, who appears to be in the middle of chopping a veritable mountain 
  of vegetables, bobs her head tiredly to Saskia and the others' arrival.

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

Saskia walks near Mehlani and peers at her chopping. "Whatcha making?" she 
  asks in a curious, but friendly tone. Another baker apprentice nudges her 
  elbow, and whispers loudly to her, "That's Mehlani. She's F'hlan's 
  daughter." However this piece of information does not seem to have any 
  discernable effect on Saskia.

Mehlani blinkblinks and looks up, with a slightly bleary, tired blue gaze. 
  "I'm supposed to chop vegetables for the evening meal today," she murmurs.

Saskia
Chestnut brown hair forms a glossy halo about her square-jawed face. Her 
  olive tanned skin limns the delicate contours and high cheekbones of her 
  expressive face. Bright periwinkle eyes gaze with keen perpection and a 
  glint of mischief while a freckled upturned nose softens the stubborness of 
  her chin. Her broad shoulders and hips and sturdy long limbs move with fluid 
  elan and her mouth often curves into a quioxtic smile. She's clad in simple 
  rust coloured trous and an olive shirt that fit her tall and solidly built 
  frame.

Saskia ohs softly, looking more closely at Mehlani, "Your chopping's not 
  bad. You're a candidate, aren't you? Does one say congratulations? I just 
  got here, so I'm not really up on Weyr etiquette. In fact you're the first 
  candidate I ever met, except for Ren, and he got sent back home. But I guess 
  you already are home." During this speech, she picks up a knife herself and 
  begins dicing fingerroots at a rapid pace.

Mehlani blinkblinks again, smiles timidly, and just bobs her head to all of 
  Saskia's words, her only reply a softly murmured, "Thank you..."

Saskia smiles at Mehlani and rambles on in cheery tones. Her knife glints 
  with each slice and a soft swicking sound serves as an counterpoint to her 
  words which flow with a Southern accent. "You seem tired. Do they work you 
  really hard? Ren said they give you chores day and night, but I can't 
  believe that, because he was always was a bit of a layabout. So far I 
  haven't worked too hard yet, but I was just apprenticed yesterday. And I 
  didn't know where they're going to place me yet."

Mehlani quietly nods again; evidently, she's been worked rather hard today. 
  There's already a sizeable pile of chopped greens and legumes near here, and 
  another kitchen lass has taken off with a pile of what she's chopped to 
  ferry them off to their destined final resting place: stew.

Saskia frowns a bit, "Be careful of slicing when you're too tired. Your 
  eyes could droop closed and you could cut yourself." though she herself is 
  looking at Mehlani and not looking where she's cutting. Still she keeps 
  dicing the fingerroots with calm efficiency.

From the living cavern, Tarnish appears from *between* with a puff of cold 
  air.
From the living cavern, Tarnish flies off towards the inner cavern.

Mehlani bobs her head again to Saskia; this seems to be a common reply for 
  many things said to her. But she also smiles a little, acknowledging the 
  concern in the remark.

From the living cavern, Sandar walks in from the bowl.
From the living cavern, Sandar walks towards the inner cavern.

From the living cavern, Meli walks in from the bowl.
From the living cavern, Meli pauses, realizing she's lost her Candidate 
  already. Toe tapping, she hmmms to herself.

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

From the living cavern, Rather pale, still, Jayna heads toward the inner 
  caverns to gather her things.

From the living cavern, Meli grins as Jayna arrives, though she might have 
  been trying for a scowl at first, hard to say.
From the living cavern, Meli walks towards the inner cavern.

From the living cavern, Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.

Saskia grins, "Was that girl just Searched?"

Mehlani peers out into the caverns, as Meli and Jayna go by, and quirks her 
  head. "Possibly," she murmurs solemnly. "I'm sure I'll find out soon 
  enough..."

Saskia nods, "I guess you will. How were you Searched?"

From the living cavern, A'lex walks in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Have the earthquakes from down south suddenly 
  reached Telgar? No, that's just Nraith snoring...
From the living cavern, Oh, that was good...
From the living cavern, *snooooore*

Saskia blinks and peers out at the living cavern entrance.

Mehlani blows out a sigh, straightening up tiredly, and blinking in slight 
  startlement as she realizes... there are no more vegetables before her to be 
  chopped.

From the living cavern, A'lex sips from his class of citron as he glances 
  over a hide...

From the living cavern, Starshine glides in from the bowl.

From the living cavern, Pierron sits down and wipes the beads of sweat from 
  his forehead with a big red handkerchief.

From the living cavern, A'lex looks up at the Flit as it enters.

From the living cavern, Twink goes home.

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

From the living cavern, Starshine flits through the short tunnel and out 
  into the bowl.
From the living cavern, Starshine glides in from the bowl.
From the living cavern, Starshine quickly flies tothe new person in order 
  to find....something.

From the living cavern, A'lex grins at the Nanny as she enters, "Evening."

From the living cavern, Kailia waves, "Evening. Ahh, there you are, Lordie."

Mehlani stretches, and finally trundles out into the living cavern, craving 
  klah. Excused by the kitchen staff for the time being, the lass looks rather 
  drained, and heads straight for the klah pot.

You walk into the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Starshine
Kailia
A'lex
Pierron
Lordie
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl

Starshine chitters a greetings, but clearly is looking around the young 
  woman for something else.

Starshine
This little golden lady is quite the dainty and gentle little firelizard. 
  Her color is a lustrous yellow-gold along most of her body. Her wings slowly 
  lighten to a bright, white-gold towards the tips and foresail. This 
  contrasts the slowly darkening legs which reach a deep rose-gold by the 
  dainty little feet of this lady. Starshine is banded with the forest green 
  and white of the WoodCrafters.

Starshine is 10 Turns, 8 months, and 21 days old and is 49 centimeters in 
  length with a wingspan of 81 cm.

A'lex nods at Lani as she comes in. "So, I hear Lysseth nabbed you 
  Mehlani..."

Kailia looks to the little gold, "Hello, little one. Are you looking for 
  something?"

Mehlani blinkblinks owlishly and then offers A'lex a small, tremulous 
  smile. She bobs her behatted head, pouring herself some klah with hands that 
  seem heavy and weighted from her hours of vegetable chopping.

Kailia looks up, "Yes, how is candidate life, Mehlani?"

Starshine flitters over to Mehlani. She proceeds to fly two circles around 
  the girl before returning to a central location with as close to a snort as 
  a firelizard can make.

A'lex watches the Flit and snickers, "How odd..."

Mehlani gulps down klah without even bothering to sit down. Once the stuff 
  starts hitting her system, the girl lowers the mug again, and then peers 
  with somewhat more alertness at Kailia, to whom she murmurs tiredly, "I have 
  to sleep in the Barracks, and I am assigned more work, and -- oh--" This, a 
  brief pause of startlement as she's circled by the unfamiliar gold. "--um... 
  S'lah and Sh'roun are keeping my fair distracted for me... and E'rian is 
  taking care of Nightsong..."

A'lex grins at Mehlani, "Are you having fun though?"

Kailia nods, "If you need any help, lest me know..."

Mehlani considers the question; it needs, she thinks, more klah. She gulps 
  down some more, and then smiles shyly to both A'lex and Kailia. "I'm fine," 
  she says earnestly to the latter. To A'lex, she adds, "It's all... still 
  very new."

A'lex just smiles, "Remember it well, lass, you'll not have more fun 
  ever..."

Mehlani, looking just a trifle wobbly, sinks down into a chair and clutches 
  her klah mug to her, breathing in the steam out of it as if hoping it'll 
  further clear her head. She bobs her head silently to the bronze rider.

A'lex says "You okay, or are they working you too hard?"

"I'm alright," is Mehlani's prompt and earnest reply.

A'lex eyes the girl, "You sure?"

Mehlani steadily bobs her head.

A'lex nods, "Ok, I'll trust you to know your own limits."

Kailia nods, "How's that rider friend of your's feel about this?"

Mehlani nods again to A'lex, and then glances sidelong at Kailia. The girl 
  pauses a moment, and can be seen to blush -- though perhaps it's the heat 
  off the klah, or her general tired state? Regardless, she asks tentatively, 
  "Um... which one?"

Kailia shakes her head, "Ahhhh, can't remember his name. The one in your 
  bed?"

Diar walks in from the bowl.
Diar has arrived.

Starshine flies over to Diar and inspects yet another arrival to the room.

A'lex walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
A'lex has left.

Mehlani, fortunately, is in between klah swallows, for the look she gives 
  Kailia at the other young woman's query suggests that if there had been klah 
  in her mouth, she'd have just spit it out. 'Lani also promptly turns 
  crimson, and offers the short identification of the individual in question 
  for Kailia of, "K'star...?"

Kailia nods, "Ahh, I think that'd be the one...Sorry Mehlani, didn't mean to 
  embarrass you..."

Mehlani, distracted by Starshine's wheeling about Diar, registers that someone 
  has arrived, and leaps awkwardly to her feet. "Um... Telgar's duties," she 
  offers shyly. Then, to Kailia, she murmurs, still blushing crimson, "It's 
  alright..."

Diar smiles to Mehlani and Kailia. "Thank you. And the Starsmith's duties to 
  Telgar." He extends a hand towards either of the girls. "My name is Diar, 
  apprentice Starsmith."

Starshine apparently didn't find what she was looking for on Diar, so goes 
  back again to her central location.

Diar
When you look at Diar, you notice one thing right away. How big he is. For 
  only 16 Turns, he is very tall. he is already around 6'0, and has broad 
  shoulders which are set forward in a proud, disctinctive manner. He is very 
  intelligent, and when you peer into his blue eyes, you notice this right 
  away. He has dark features, which many call attractive. His short black hair 
  will occasionally, but rarely, fall to his face and hide his eyes, making 
  him look mysterious in an attractive way. His skin is dark from the Igen 
  sun, and he can occasionally be seen wearing a white shirt and beige-colored 
  pants. Over his shirt, he wears a beige tunic with a white sash. He also has 
  a pair of well-worn light brown boots. On his shoulder, he wears the red & 
  white apprentice knot of the starsmith hall.

Kailia nods, "Welcome to Telgar...I'm Kailia."

Lordie chirples at the gold, curiously.

"My name is Mehlani," murmurs the still slightly blushing girl in the hat, who 
  goes on, "Would you, um, like any klah?" She's got a mug in her hands 
  already, but she glances at the klah pot anyway.

Kailia looks at you for a moment.

Diar shakes his head. "No, thank you. I'm quite fine."

Mehlani nods uncertainly, and then blurts, "Can, ah, we help you with 
  anything?"

Diar looks at you for a moment.
Diar shakes his head. "Um, no, I was just here visiting the starsmith. I'm not 
  interrupting, am I? If so, I can leave..."

Mehlani shakes her head rapidly, murmruing, "It's alright..." She sinks rather 
  bemusedly back down onto the chair she'd just vacated, and gulps down 
  another mouthful of her klah.

Diar nods, then takes a seat. "If you're sure..."

Mehlani nods. From the look of her, she's apparently rather nervous. Her blush 
  fades, though, as she occupies herself with segueing from gulps of klah to 
  mere sips.

Diar looks around uncomfortably, then says to neither in particular, "Do you 
  like it at Telgar?"

Mehlani manages a timid smile and bobs her head at the visitor, over her klah 
  mug.

Kailia nods, "Love it. Nicest place in the area to live. Good eating, and 
  other assorted benifits." She winks at the young man.

Diar quirks an eyebrow and grins. "Such as...?"

Kailia grins, "Wellllll, things are very relaxed. There isn't much sun to get 
  burned by. We have a nice Weyrwoman. The kids are fairly well behaved. And, 
  we're having a hatching!"

Diar sits up straight. "Yes, I know. It must be wonderful here. The closest 
  thing I've been to dragons is my firelizards. Until today, that is. When I 
  was transported here adragonback."

Mehlani nods earnestly, in silent agreement with Kailia's cheerful 
  conversation. Yes. What she said. The girl in the hat keeps her gaze mostly 
  demurely fastened on her klah, however.

Kailia peers, "Ahh, are you a candidate?"

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

Diar looks to Kailia. "Who, me? A candidate?"

Kailia shrugs, "Well, there's been quite a few arriving."

Diar shakes his head. "No, no. I'm far from being a candidate, I assure you."

Mehlani glances silently towards Ro, as the other girl arrives on the scene.

Ro smiles at Mehlani "We certainly got a ton of veggies chopped up."

Mehlani murmurs softly to the new arrival, "Thank you for your help."

Ro waves off the thanks with her bandaged hand "It was no trouble. Kept me out 
  of Richenda's sight, anyhow."

Ro
        Rosarrah stands little more than 5'4" tall, her lean frame graced with 
  an athletic musculature and not so modest curves. Her skin is the color one 
  would get by mixing equal parts of klah and milk, in sharp contrast to wavy 
  locks of deep klah brown shot through with highlights of dark reddish gold. 
  Her hair is currently pulled back into a ponytail that falls to the middle 
  of her back. A few tendrils have worked their way free to frame her face, 
  somehow emphasizing the changeable luster of her large, thick-lashed gray 
  eyes -- almond shaped eyes set in a heart-shaped face complete with pointed 
  chin and widow's peak. Touches of antique rose accent her youthfully rounded 
  cheeks and the full curve of her 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. Her left wrist, as 
  well as part of her hand, is wrapped in a light gauze bandage.

Mehlani bobs her head slowly, blue gaze flickering in query to that hand, then 
  back to Ro's face.

Ro glances at her hand "Haven't seen the healer around yet, to check and see 
  if I can get the bandages off."

"What happened?" questions 'Lani, lowering her klah mug. Evidently, the sight 
  of Ro is enough to coax a few more words out of this quiet lass. "I forgot 
  to ask, before..."

Kailia looks at the young woman's bandaged hand and looks up, curiously.

Ro says "I burned myself boilin' numbweed. Didn't have anyone to take over for 
  me, so it was pretty bad by the time I got away to have a healer look at it."

Diar looks over at Ro with a grimace at her situation, then smiles, recovering 
  his manners. "My name is Diar, apprentice Starsmith."

Ro mutters to Mehlani, ""The idea... batch... myself..."
Ro whispers ""The idea of me watching a batch all by myself was Richenda's.""
Ro nods politely to the starsmith "I'm Rosarrah. Telgar's duties to you hall."

A drudge shoos the layabouts out of the Living Cavern, getting them out of her 
  way.

Mehlani chews briefly at her lip, and then nods silently to Ro, returning to 
  drinking down the rest of her klah.

From the kitchen, Saskia walks into the Living Cavern.
Saskia walks in from the kitchen.
Saskia has arrived.
Saskia ambles out, carrying a big bowl of stew.

Ro asks quietly "You want some more klah, Mehlani?"

Starshine flutters over to Saskia, and quickly flies around her looking for 
  .... something.....She does not seem to be interested in the stew, but 
  rather something else is what she wants.

Mehlani rubs a slender hand across her eyes, then shakes her head to Ro, 
  smiling a little. "I'd better not," she murmurs.

Ro blinks "Oh?"

Saskia blinks at Starshine, "Hey" then looks at Mehlani, "You look exhausted. 
  Want some stew?"

Given that tonight's stew has a significant portion of vegetables chopped by 
  Mehlani, as well as Ro and Saskia herself, Mehlani looks vaguely startled at 
  the notion of eating it. Then, she muses distractedly, "I should eat a 
  little something... um... do any of you want food?" she asks, glancing 
  around, with that shy gaze of hers, as she gets up.

Saskia smiles at Mehlani, and walks over to her "You sit down, and I'll get 
  you some stew. You need to rest." And with that pronouncement she ladles out 
  a bowl of stew and places it on the table before Mehlani.

Ro nods "Yes, but I'll get my own." She walks over to ladle herself a bowl of 
  stew, then she pours a mug of klah for herself.

Kailia wavies, "I'll take some..."

"Um... alright.... I'm fine, though," Mehlani protests softly to Saskia, 
  looking rather askance at her, as if the apprentice baker had just turned 
  into Ofira. Or Richenda.

Saskia shrugs at Ro, "Suit yourself" then serves Kailia some stew. Noticing 
  Mehlani, she chuckles, "Don't worry, Mehlani. I'm only this way about 
  feeding people especially people who seem dazed from hunger. I'm just a 
  regular girl otherwise."

"I'm only just a little tired," Mehlani murmurs.

Ro settles herself next to the candidate and takes a sip of klah "You do look 
  pretty tired, 'lani."

Mehlani's brow crinkles under her hat, as she glances from face to face, 
  looking progressively more confused.

Saskia nods, "Well maybe you're just naturally quiet. I dunno, but I do think 
  you need to eat. You chopped a lot of vegetables, and you looked tired when 
  I first saw you which was a couple hours ago."

Mehlani blinkblinks owlishly to Saskia, then dips her attention to the stew 
  that's been placed before her. She does begin to eat it, though she also 
  murmurs between swallowed mouthfuls, "I really _am_ fine..."

Kailia nods in thanks for the stew, "I'm Kailia, nanny here."

R'val walks in from the bowl.
R'val has arrived.

Ro nods to the bluerider "Evenin' sir."

R'val waves amiably to Ro and the others, "Evenin..."

Starshine flies over to the new person entering the room. After a couple of 
  circles around R'val, she flies back to her post, her nose in the air and a 
  loud angry trill heard throughout the room.

Kailia nods and blushes at R'val.

Mehlani glances up from the stew Saskia has given her, swallows down her 
  current spoonful, and bobs her head silently to R'val.

R'val blinks at Starshine and frowns, "Git away, pest." He catches Kailia's 
  smile, and smiles back at her.

Saskia nods to Mehlani, "never said you weren't. Just said you should eat. 
  Especially after you helped make it." She turns and nods politely to R'val, 
  then ladles herself a bowl of stew and sits down next to Mehlani. "how is 
  it?" she asks then spoons some into her mouth.

Mehlani smiles tentatively to Saskia and murmurs, "It's very good..."

Saskia gazes carefully at Mehlani, assessing the candidate's reaction, "You 
  really think so?" trying hard not to sound too hopeful. A glint of humour 
  shimmers in her eyes, "Because you seem like the sort of girl to say a 
  compliment, just so's I'll leave you alone. I'm just a chatter box. At least 
  that's what Auntie Tira says, and you're the first person I've met since I 
  got here that acts in a way that I can totally understand. In fact you 
  remind me a lot of my cousin Ella. She's kinda quiet and hard-working like 
  you."

R'val glances as Saskia as he slips into a seat, klah in hand.

Mehlani blinkblinks, looking up again to Saskia, looking a bit overwhelmed by 
  the garrulous young lady. But she replies quite earnestly, "It's alright, I 
  don't mind being talked to... and yes, it's very good...!" By way of 
  demonstration, she daintily consumes a few more mouthfuls of the stew.

Kailia stands, streaching, "Well, I'm off to the nurserys. See you all later."
Kailia walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Kailia has left.

Ro grabs herself a few slices of bread and commences devouring her stew.

Starshine lifts her little head at the mention of a nursery. She quickly takes 
  off and flies in the same direction that Kailia left.
Starshine flies off towards the inner cavern.
Starshine has left.

Saskia perhaps glad to find someone who will actually listen to her, or 
  perhaps simply happy to be complimented on the stew beams at Mehlhani, "Oh, 
  I'm so glad!" She looks over at Ro, "I guess you're hungry. I'm still not 
  used to cooking the quantities needed for a Weyr. last time I didn't put 
  enough spices in." then glances at R'val, "Would you like some stew, sir?"

R'val looks up from his klah and blinks, "Huh? Oh! Yes, I'd love some..err..." 
  He regards Saskia closely, "Are you a new helper of Ofira's?"

R'val
R'val stands before you, a muscular man of thirty Turns or so. Standing at 
  5'9, he is an imposing figure with klah-dark skin, tanned by nature. His 
  dark brown eyes glint in amusement at the world around him, and his dark 
  black hair is short, cropped close to his skull, framing a thin, perhaps 
  overly long face. He is a rather muscular man, slim but wiry and strong. He 
  wears functional clothing: rider's leather leggings, a thick wherhide tunic, 
  and he holds riding gloves and usually a riding helmet. Tied to his shoulder 
  is a knot, of black and white cord braided with a thinner one of blue, 
  denoting his position as a rider and his dragon's colour, at Telgar Weyr. A 
  patch on his tunic marks him as a rider in the Thunderbolt Wing.

Saskia nods to R'val, "Aye, I'm the newest apprentice baker. I'm here until 
  Master Ofira and Lathen decide what to do with me." she says happily, barely 
  pausing for breath as she ladles out some stew for R'val. "This is my second 
  batch of stew for the Weyr. I made my first batch last night in front of 
  both of them. I think Master Lathen added more spices later on, so I hope 
  this one is okay."

Ro nods "It can take some doin'." She says between bites, "You should see how 
  much cookie dough Sandy has to make for those dragon cookies he makes.

Mehlani, while Saskia chatters away to R'val, just quietly eats, and looks 
  relieved to be getting something hot into her belly.

R'val grins crookedly at Saskia, "Ofira'd not have you here if you weren't 
  good, I'm sure." He takes a mouthful of the stew, and swallows thoughtfully, 
  smiling, "Mmm. And you do make good stew, miss..err..you didn't give your 
  name. I'm R'val, blue Vidarth's rider."

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

Pierron glances up as the weyrsecond enters.

Asrai walks in from the bowl.
Asrai has arrived.

M'kla comes in, helping the bluerider Yanny herd a group of about 8 new 
  candidates in. Yanny takes over, and chases the lot to the lower caverns.

Ro smiles at the riders as they come in "Evenin' ma'ams."

Mehlani, in the midst of quietly eating her stew, blinks and stares at the 
  crowd of young people coming in in the wake of M'kla.

Saskia blushes, "Well, I do my best. I'm still pretty new." She looks over and 
  nods politely to the new arrivals.

Asrai follows M'kla inside, along with the new Candidates. "Its exciting now 
  that they are starting to arrive. The candidates, that is." She smiles over 
  at the others. "Heya Ro."

R'val smiles at the blush, "It's a pleasure to meet you, but I mean it 
  sincerely, this is very nice stew. Are you new to your craft?"

M'kla waits until the last disappears with their packages towards the caverns, 
  and turns to grin at Asrai. "Aye...I think so."

Mehlani flicks a tiny, fleeting smile to Asrai and M'kla.

Ro watches all the new candidates, wide eyed. Then she murmurs to Mehlani 
  "Guess you have company, now."

Looking rather daunted, 'Lani nods slowly to Ro, murmuring back only, "Much..."

M'kla slumps into a chair, and comments, "There...my duty to the weyr's newest 
  eggs. That's 10 for the whole Searchwing, if anyone wants to tell Kassima."

Saskia smiles proudly at R'val, blushing a deeper red, "Thank you very much! I 
  just apprenticed last night. Right here in this very living cavern." then 
  leans over and nudges Mehlani, "More candidates to share your dorm, eh?"

Mehlani blushes pinkly, and offers Saskia a wan, nervous smile. It would seem 
  that the girl in the battered brown hat is _quite_ daunted by this influx of 
  strangers.

R'val blinks, "Just last night? Goodness! You're /very/ new then. Well, you're 
  welcome to Telgar if your stew is always this good." He winks.

Asrai chuckles, sliding into the seat next to M'kla and assuming a mock-stern 
  expression. "I hope that you did not exert yourself too much in that duty, 
  M'kla."

M'kla chuckles up at Asrai as she gets comfortable, "What could possibly be 
  stressful about Search? Screaming holder's wives, strutting holder's sons, 
  hand-wringing crafters as I steal their best students..."
M'kla grins, downright devilishly.

Asrai waggles a finger at M'kla, her lips pursing. "Now M'kla!"

R'val grins towards M'kla, at her expression.

M'kla ohs, "An taking people between for the first time!"
M'kla says "But I got my revenge...two taken from healer hall...""

Mehlani glances after the departed youngsters, mentally counting heads. The 
  total at which she arrives makes her blush noticeably red.

Ro asks her friend, noticing the blush "Somethin' wrong?"

R'val spots Mehlani and her blush, and smiles, "Are you looking forward to 
  having so many bunkmates, Mehlani? You must be excited."

Saskia matches Mehlani's shade of red, "Thanks again, um.." she holds out her 
  hand to R'val, "I'm Saskia." then murmurs to Mehlani, "I'm sure you'll do 
  fine."

R'val clasps Saskia's hand and squeezes it as he shakes, grinning, "A 
  pleasure, Saskia. Welcome to my second-favorite craft." He winks, "I was a 
  healer, so I'm obligated to say second-favorite..."

"It's... all _very_ new," Mehlani murmurs awkwardly to R'val, then manages to 
  glance at Saskia and Ro as well, trying to assure them all at once. "And... 
  it's really not too different from the main dorm..."

M'kla ehs a bit, "Well...we'll need more..with thirty-two new dragons wanting 
  lifemates...we'll need at least sixty, if not seventy candidates."

Saskia giggles a bit, "Thanks...um, what did you say your name was?" She 
  grins, "I couldn't abide dealing with all those stinky potions. I like to 
  make stuff that people want to eat."

R'val nods sympathetically at Mehlani, his expression understanding, "It's a 
  bit less of a change for you, you've always been here, but still..."

Asrai nods, still glaring at M'kla. "Yes, of course..they will need choices."

R'val grins, "One thing's for sure, food done right never smells like anything 
  a healer makes. R'val, Saskia. Blue Vidarth's rider."

Mehlani nodnods mutely, trying to look a little less nervous. She is not 
  entirely successful.

Saskia chuckles, "Well, I should hope not, R'val!" then gives Mehlani a little 
  friendly nudge. "From what Ren told me, you just get to do chores and stand 
  around when the eggs hatch. Easy! You can definitely do that." she states 
  far more confidence than she feels. After all she herself has only been at a 
  Weyr for a couple days.

R'val chortles at Saskia, "It's a bit harder than that! Being a candidate can 
  be really nerve-wracking."

Mehlani smiles wanly to Saskia, aware that the girl means well, and thus, her 
  expression lightens somewhat in reaction. She doesn't say anything, though, 
  as she works on finishing off the stew, in silent and delicate movements.

Asrai glances out towards the bowl, giving a humph. "Really do wish he'd 
  settle down." she looks back to M'kla. "Seriously, though M'kla..after that 
  volcano thing..I want you to take special care of yourself."
Asrai smirks, "Besides..you owe me for not telling Richenda, about it."

Arak walks in from the bowl.
Arak has arrived.

M'kla chuckles some, "I'm fine, lass...really. The Healers gave me clearance 
  and aught else."

Arak walks off towards the kitchen.
Arak has left.
From the kitchen, Arak enters the kitchen from the living cavern.

Saskia blinks at R'val, "really?" Her gaze darts to Mehlani and her expression 
  softens with sympathy, "Well, I'll help you chop vegetables anytime."

Ro finishes her stew and bread, and settles herself into sipping her klah.

From the kitchen, Arak walks into the Living Cavern.
Arak walks in from the kitchen.
Arak has arrived.
Arak walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Arak has left.

R'val nods to Saskia, "Well, your future is very much up in the air if you're 
  a candidate. You don't know what you'll be when those eggs are through..."

From the bowl area one can here an impatient rumble that is definitly dragon 
  born.

Mehlani's mouth quirks up on either side, and she smiles hesitantly to Saskia, 
  murmuring, "Thank you..."

Asrai gives a sigh, looking towards M'kla with a look that patently says, 'Why 
  me.' "Does Torinth ever give you problems about things she can't quite 
  explain?"

Saskia nods slowly, clearly never having thought about it before, "I guess so, 
  R'val." She peers at Mehlani, "But you've always been here, right?"

R'val hrms, "It's worse if you're new to the weyr you're Searched at, though, 
  because you're totally out of your element. But they all adjust eventually."

"For two Turns or so," Mehlani murmurs, clearing the last of her stew out of 
  her bowl by lightly scraping her spoon along through it.

M'kla chuckles, and looks at Asrai, "Constantly...she's got a mind like a 
  sieve."

From the bowl area another impertentant rumble can be heard.

Saskia nods to R'val, "I can't imagine that. I'm having some adjusting to do, 
  and I'm just here doing something I've always wanted to and been training to 
  do for a while." She looks over at Mehlani, "Want some more stew?"

Asrai chuckles. "He says he will tell me once he knows for sure. But it is 
  /important/."

R'val smiles at Saskia, nodding, "And think, most candidates never expect it, 
  ever, and when they find themselves here...well, it's a total shock! I 
  wouldn't go through it again. But it was also a really exciting experience."

Mehlani rises, and shakes her head to Saskia, preparing to turn and take her 
  dishes off towards the kitchen. As she does, however, there can be heard 
  from the direction of the inner caverns a very LOUD and very startled 
  squeal, and Mehlani's head snaps in that direction. She can be seen to go 
  pale, and she breathes in dismay, "Oh no... Arki...!" The lass hastily sets 
  her dishes down on the table again, and blurts out, "Oh, please excuse me, 
  everyone...!"
Mehlani, with that, grabs onto her hat and bolts into the inner cavern, crying 
  out, "Arki, oh no, bad, _bad_ fire lizard, let her go...!" And with that, 
  the girl is gone.

Asrai blinks, "Everything alright, 'Lani?" She asks with some concern.

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

[End log.]