Goaded by F'niah, Jenna attempts sack tossing, and thus starts a downward sprial of bad decisions. Zephyr aids and abetts, Sarin heals, L'nan yells, and K'ran visits.

Jenna - Wednesday, May 08, 2002, 8:26 AM
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Your location's current time: 8:39 on day 16, month 3, Turn 40, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring morning.

You step out through the cavern's arch into the open space of the bowl.
Fort Weyr Bowl, by the weyrling barracks
The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, nearly featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out before you. It is vaguely oval in shape, long from the southwest to the northeast; you are standing near the wall northwest of its center. To the west is a cavern, carved into the cliffside, where newly-Impressed dragonriders live with their young dragons before they have been fully trained. When they join a regular fighting Wing, the young riders are ready to inhabit weyrs of their own.
To the south is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept. Along the north rim of the bowl, to the east of here, are the junior queens and weyrleaders weyrs, and the entrance to the Hatching ground. The center of the bowl, off which is the entrance to the large living caverns, stretches out to the southeast.
Contents:
F'niah
Tenkanoth(#16972Vapst$)

Dragon> Niyath senses that Saneth sulks at you, << Branath's Valry says he cannot be with me! >>

Jenna comes out of the barracks with Niyath asking, "Where did you hear that? I can't believe it's true, Niya. I'll have to ask her. -- Well, it just seems like she wouldn't do that. She's a craftmaster after all. Bit unusual of one, but..." She stops then, seeing Sef. "Oh. Morning."

Niyath> Saneth senses that Niyath says reasonably, << I will be with you. We will exercise our wings. >> She takes it for granted that the blue would want to join in this exciting new adventure.

Dragon> Niyath senses that Saneth's a bit taken aback, but after a moment reluctantly agrees. << F'niah says it is a good idea. He exercises his arms, I exercise my wings. I think he should have wings, too. >>

Niyath> Saneth senses that Niyath counters reasonably, << If he had wings, he wouldn't need you to fly. >>

F'niah, cued by Saneth, ties up a sack and turns, straightening the kink from his back. "Morning, Jenna! Wouldn't do what?"

Dragon> Niyath senses that Saneth ripostes, << I cannot fly, and I have wings. Orenth says *NO*. >>

Jenna waves a hand, "Not important. Niyath's just been gossiping is all. Sacking stone? I should go get fitted for my tank soon. It's going to be interesting, getting used to another style of one. Not that I used one much on ground crew. I was always the runner."

F'niah crouches, grasping the full sack in both hands, and -heaves- it toward a small pile of others, set there as target. His makes it the full distance, but curves off to the side, joining the scattershot bags that surround the target. "Oof! Be.. good for you. What's she gossiping 'bout? Come talk to me?"

Niyath> Saneth senses that Niyath is unruffled. << He says no now, but soon he will say yes. He says it only for our own good. We will fly. Soon. >> She seems so certain of it.

Jenna eyes the bluerider. "I'm so glad I don't have to do that. I'd never make it." She wanders over and starts sacking stone, as Niyath spreads her wings and starts exercising them. Ten slow beats, and then ten fast ones. "Oh, just something about Master Baleera - the winey woman, as Niyath calls her."

Larathe walks over from the center of the bowl.
Larathe has arrived.

Zephyr steps out of the Weyrling barracks.
Zephyr has arrived.
Taisoth steps out of the Weyrling barracks.
Taisoth has arrived.

Larathe wanders over. "Hello Jenna! Hello F'niah!" And she glances at Zephyr. "I think we've met.... I'm not sure."

Zephyr smiles brightly as she walks away from the barracks with Taisoth. The little green stares suspiciously at Larathe, while her lifemate cheerfully answers, "Well, if we haven't, I'm Zephyr and this is Taisoth. Good morning." she says also to F'niah and Jenna.

Niyath turns her head to watch Taisoth as the pair leaves the barracks. She is practicing her wing exercises, dutifully doing ten 'reps' slow, then fast, then slow again. Jenna is near F'niah, sacking firestone. She also turns and waves. "Morning Zephyr, and hey Larathe! How're things down at the Hall?"

Larathe smiles "Sima got to you? Great, I was worried that she'd never arrived. Everythings going great."

Larathe nods. "Hello Zephyr and Taisoth." She gestures at Niyath, and asks Jenna "Is this your one?"

F'niah sticks his tongue out at Jenna when her head's turned, then stoops to gather up more 'stone. "H'lo again, Larathe. Hey Zephyr, Taisoth. Any of you heard anything about Master Baleera?"

Zephyr nods at Tai saying, "Yes.. well why wouldn't you? Of course, just go on over.." With that, Taisoth makes her way over to the other dragons to join in their exercises. Zeph, in turn, joins Jenna and Sef. "Only rumors. Something about golden ale.."

Saneth stops practicing long enough to blat subdued greeting to Taisoth. Sef says, "All I know about her is that she was the one with the firelizard clutch, right?"

Zephyr nods to Sef, "Yes, she was. And a Master Vinter. But thats about all that I know either." She looks down at the firestone and the sacks and asks the other Weyrlings quietly, "How much are we supposed to put in each sack?" Taisoth, menewhile, flicks her wings out as she reaches the group, in effort to show off. She regards Saneth with a croon of acceptance and is less amiable toward some of her other clutchsibs.

Jenna shrugs. "Heck if I know. And yeah, her Aria hatched out of my Hal and Terri's gold over at Igen. Norse got a green, I think. Hard to believe she's already had a clutch." Niyath rumbles to the others, pausing for a moment to relax wings and stretch instead. "And yeah, Larathe, she made it just fine. You trained her up nice. So are you settling in and all?"

Larathe nods. "Yeah... I'm over here to do some work for Master Aidan... Grinding stuff, and boiling stuff for dyes, putting threads/wools on shuttles and things like that."

F'niah gives sotto-voice direction to Zephyr on sack-filling before tying and tossing his latest conquest toward the target. This one flies straight, but lands barely outside the target zone. "Shells! That one was better, anyway. You keep on, Saneth. Don't stop because Taisoth waggles her tail at you!"

And waggle her tail she will! Taisoth follows the exercises with ease (shes just begun after all), and yawns to fein bordom. Zephyr follows F'niah's instructions and tosses her sack as he did. Unfortunately, her aim isn't perfect and she is forced to walk over and place it in the right spot. "Well, Baleera seemed nice enough when I'd met her. So what are these rumors going around?"

Jenna asks Larathe, "Is that what you're interested in? All the stuff behind the making of the clothes? Or more then making of the clothes?" She fidgets a bit and looks to Zephyr, "Well, I heard rumors she's leaving. You know she's gathering dirt stores and all - going to be a grower's hall established in Fort's area - I *think* - after the Pass. I'd been talking to her about supplying it with runners."

Larathe shakes her head at Jenna. "No... I'm more interested in the weaving, and sewing of tapestries. I'm also studying with Master Aidan."

Saneth tries a yawn as well, glancing over to Sef to see if his boy's watching. He isn't, but he calls over anyway, "Wing exercises, Saneth. Don't show off."

Zephyr says "Wow.. a grower's hall? That sounds interesting. I always thought winecraft had nice perks to the job." She smiles and muses as she packs more 'stone into her next sack. "I mean, you have an endless suply of wine to taste. I wonder if its possible to tire of the taste after a while.."

Niyath snorts at both the green and the blue. She goes back to her exercises, opening and closing the already large wings slowly and carefully. Jenna finishes sacking and ties off that bag, before moving to the next. She does *not* attempt to toss it. "That sounds interesting. Maybe you can do one for my weyr when I get it, for a project or something to show master Aidan." Then aside to the other weyrlings, "How many of these do we need to sack? And should I try to toss it or not? I think the queens wing lands to get more tanks - I didn't think about that, to be honest." Then she quirks a smile at Zephyr. I don't think Master Baleera could. She's more into ales than wines though."

F'niah looks up from his half-filled bag. "Well, if you throw it, you'll get stronger. That can't hurt. Besides, your aim'll get better, too." Sef's own aim needs quite a lot of work, judging from the sacks scattered around the target area. "I bet you can't ever get tired of wine. Drunk, maybe, but not tired."

Larathe nods at F'niah "You can. I know, I know several people from the Benden cotholding area, who drunk it for about 2 years, and now find it boring."

Taisoth taps her claws as she continues her wing motions and looks as though she won't be able to withstand going on much longer without making trouble. Zeph turns around in an instant and calls over to her lifemate sternly, "Don't even /think/ about it." Distracted, she begins to toss her next finished sack, but she looses her grip and it rolls heavily out of her grasp falling hard, just an inch short of her toe. "That was close..."

Jenna winces at Zephyr, and then asks, "Who could ever get tired of good Benden?" She eyes the sacks doubtfully, and continues to sack stone instead of tossing the sacks. "More likely I'd pull my arms out of the sockets, Sef. There's no way I could get it that far."

Larathe winks at Jenna. "When you have an unlimited supply of it, cheaply? When you have it with your evening meal every day, it gets boring."

Zephyr adds after Jenna. "It'd be a hard task to get me tired of wine.."

F'niah only grins and tosses a few more handfuls of 'stone into the sack before tying it off. "What sort of Weyrwoman're you gonna be, if you can't even throw a sack?" He lobs his toward the target, watches it land a body-length away. "Shells. I've gotta go - Saneth says he's itchy." He lifts a hand farewell to the girls before jogging back toward the barracks, his blue stopping the exercises in relief. "C'mon you, let's go take care of that..."

F'niah enters the weyrling barracks.
F'niah has left.

Jenna scowls faintly after F'niah, but doesn't move to pick up a sack. Yet. Instead she keeps stuffing. "Me too, Zephyr. And I know a few folks fond of it who'd love it as presents."

Zephyr tries to toss another sack, but it dosn't fly nearly far enough. As soon as her hands are free, she waves at Sef. "See you two later."

Larathe laughs. "I can't stand it.. but I have other reasons. A strong bias against it doesn't help. And it's not best benden the cotholders get."

Jenna opinions, "Any Benden's better than Tillek." Then she covers her mouth, looking around. Tillek's more likely what Fort would get. She amends, "I mean, there are some nice Tillek pressings..."

Larathe nods, laughing. "I expect so... but then, I've been brought up prejudiced."

Zephyr looks at Larathe with some disbelief. Suddenly she gets a similar expression that her lifemate often wears. "How is it possible?" she asks the Weaver apprentice. Taisoth does seem dissapointed as Saneth departs, but goes on in her movements. She croons an odd sound toward Niyath and her eyes whirl at the gold dragon with some kind of envy.

Larathe nods, and frowns deeply "'Cause I had to pick grapes for 12 turns. I hate anything to do with grapes or wine."

Niyath is entirely oblivious to any envy, rumbling back a query at the green. She pauses in her exercises, even as Jenna finally hefts a sack, staggering a bit under the weight. "Shells, Zephyr! How're you throwing these? - Well, actually, I think the best is Harper Red, down from southern, but that's just me. The Harper taught me a little about wine,though he's really the expert. And P'ter too."

Zephyr smiles wryly and throws a sack a very short distance, right into another which missed the target. "Well, I suppose you are living proof that one can tire of wine. What about ale?" To Jenna she smiles and says, "Hauling metal farviewer equipment up stairs and hills turn after turn might have something to do with it. But the trick, I think, is in swinging it. You don't need to hold it very long if you swing it and let it fly. Not that its working out very well for me.."

Jenna gives Zephyr a doubtful look, but then starts awkwardly swinging the sack. Niyath stops her exercises to watch. If amusement can show on a dragon's face, it's written all over hers at the moment. Jenna very nearly clocks herself in the head with the hevy sack, and promptly drops it. On one foot. "OOOOH!"

Zephyr spills some of the firestone she was packing as she sees Jenna's mishap. "Oh! Shells! Are you okay Jenna?" she says hopping forward to help. "That looked like it hurt..."

Larathe runs over to Jenna, and pulls the sack of her foot. "Are you ok Jenna?"

Jenna bounces in place a bit, holding her foot. "Yeah - thanks, Larathe - serves me right, letting him goad me like that." Niyath croons in concern, watching her mate as she unlaces the boot. "Just don't tell Sef, Zephyr? I'll never her the end of it." She draws the foot out and grimaces at it. "I'm gonna need some numbweed."

Zephyr suddenly looks very guilty and but looks absurdly at her lifemate and calls to her from afar, "Of course not! Tai, how could she have been trying to throw it at you?" Then looking back at Jenna with concern she says, "I can go get some from the infirmary for you.. I won't tell Sef."

R'dall steps out of the Weyrling barracks.
R'dall has arrived.

R'dall strolls out of the barracks. He heads along the edge of the bowl, towards the living caverns.

Larathe frowns. "Why don't you get your dragons to pull the sacks over? Surely they are capable of doing that, and it would help strengthen some muscles... I'd've thought, anyway."

Dispite their current... problem... Zephyr does take a moment to toss her best smile to the other Weyrling striding by and wiggle her fingers as he passes by, "Hi R'dall."

R'dall makes a polite gesture in Zephyr's direction.

R'dall begins the half-mile trip southeast, towards the center of the bowl.
R'dall has left.

Niyath snorts at Taisoth, and then moves to Jenna's side, crouching lightly. "Niyath's insisting I go check it out in the infirmary myself, Zephyr, though thanks. And the human parts are supposed to be doing the throwing, larathe. We'll have to in Fall. - I don't know if I can walk on it that far though, Niyath, but are you sure..." The gold rumbles, holding out a forelib as a step. Jenna clamors up, muttering something about hoping she doesn't get caught.

Zephyr watches as Jenna moves to mount her young lifemate. She is definitely one of the best people to trust when it comes to doing things that aren't allowed. Hazel eyes wide, she looks around imediately to make sure that no one is watching. Taisoth snorts from afar.

Jenna clings to Niyath's neck. "Okay, let's go - Zephyr? None of the weyrlingmasters are watching, are they?" She looks decidedly nervous about this, as Niyath sets off.

Zephyr drops the firestone she is holding into the sack and steps hurriedly forward to keep up with the gold dragon on the move. "No, none that I can see." she answers promptly.

You head southeast, towards the center of the bowl, covering over a half-mile.
Center of the Fort Weyr Bowl(#200RJ$)
The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out around you. It is approximately oval in shape, about 2700 meters along the long axis running southwest to northeast, and about half that distance across the short axis. You stand in its approximate centre. The soil of the bowl is somewhat sandy.
At the closest point to the living caverns about half of the tables from within that large area are placed outside, here, in the bowl. Rider and resident and guests alike partaking of meals in the open air. Indeed, one of the tables bears blackened marks, and no one seems to want to sit there.
To the northwest is the large cavern used for the Weyrling barracks. To the west is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept, and the lake shore is to the southwest. To the northeast can be seen the ledges for the junior queens and the weyrleaders. The large entrance to the Hatching Grounds can also be seen to the northeast and to the east are the Lower Caverns.
Contents:
Abrieth(#171Jaepq)
Alirath(#909JOaelps)

Zephyr comes from the northwest, by the weyrling barracks.
Zephyr has arrived.

Niyath makes her way to the infirmary door, and Jenna looks decidedly seasick by this point. "I'll be glad when you can fly, love." Niyath snorts faintly, clearly not impressed.

Zephyr follows beside Niyath, trying to keep watch, but her line of sight is blocked by the broad side of the young gold.

Jenna starts to clamor down, more than a bit awkward because of her foot, and the lack of straps. Niyath cranes her neck around to watch anxiously, even as Jenna assures her, "No, no, love, it doesn't hurt that bad, I promise."

Just ahead, the assistand weyrlingmaster Valry appears, having just immerged from the living cavern. Her merry eyes immediately narrow as she catches sight of Niyath, Jenna and Zephyr. No place to run, no place to hide, Valry swiftly marches over toward them with eyebrows furrowed deeply on her forhead.

Zephyr dosen't see Valry and looks up at Jenna with a smile babbling on, "So how does it feel to sit up there?"

Jenna doesn't see the danger either, and grins down at Zephyr. "You know, I was so worried about getting caught, I didn't even think about it." She makes her way down to Niyath's forelimb and then drops gingerly, favoring her hurt foot. Niyath croons softly, and Jenna says, "She says it will feel more right when we're in the air together."

Valry swoops in like a dark cloud and joins in the conversation with a stern tone of voice, "Assuming you'll ever reach that point. Niyath and Jenna... and you! Zephyr! I'd ask you what you think you're doing but I've just seen it!" she says exasperated.

Jenna's shoulders hunch almost automatically, and she doesn't turn around. "That's Valry, isn't it," she asks softly.

You head into the Infirmary.
Infirmary(#935RJ$)
This large cavern, used for healing both humans and dragons, is large enough to hold several dragons comfortably. Now, however, a number of the stone couches have been converted into partioned cubicles in which human patients can recuperate from illnesses or wounds, if they're too weak to return to their weyr, hold or crafthall. One end of the room, nearest the door to the living cavern, is lined with additional cots. A large, white circle, with a purple caduceus in the center has been painted on one wall. Another wall has been painted white. The rest have been left their natural cavern color. A sink with hot and cold running taps is mounted on the wall next to the doorway to the south. Covering half of the eastern wall are several cabinets with glass fronts and storage drawers. Looking in the cabinets you can see a vast collection of herbs and medicines used by the Healers.
Contents:
Sarin

Jenna comes in, favoring her left foot. She has her boot off, and it's nowhere in sight. She looks rather subdued, chewing on her lower lip.

Fortunately, Sarin is looking rather bored - so at least she's not busy. She perks right up from her spot where she's leaning on a counter. "You need something?" Positively cheerful.

Jenna nods. "Yes ma'am. I, uh, some numbweed? I - ah - dropped a full firestone sack on my foot."

"Well, that wasn't very bright." So helpful. Sarin grins slightly and shakes her head. "Numbweed after I take a look at you. Need to be sure you didn't break it." She peers out towards the bowl. "Your girl must be shouting right now."

Jenna admits, "Um, she's being lectured by Valry's Branath. I, um, rode her over here. She didn't want me to walk." It's hard to tell what the weyrling's more embrassed by: dropping the sack on her foot, or getting in trouble for doing something she clearly shouldn't have.

Sarin doesn't seem to care about much beyond the foot. "Well. That'll happen. More than once, I'm sure. Come on over to this cot so I can have a look, and so you can sit down."

Sarin getsures to one of the curtained cubicles.

Jenna moves gingerly to the cot and settles. "I should'nt've been playing around anyway. But Sef was goading me. Asked what kind of weyrwoman I'd be if I couldn't even toss a little sack." She grimaces, sticking her sock-clad foot out in front of her.

Sarin crouches down to carefully take the sock off. "One that uses a thrower like the rest of them, I suspect." She peers at the foot for a moment, before asking, "Does it hurt when you move it? Or just an ache?"

Jenna hazards, "Just an ache? It's tender - and I hate wearing boots anyway. I'd rather be in my running shoes or barefoot, but neither's practical when you're running around after a dragon." A pause and, "I feel *so* stupid."

Sarin carefully moves her foot from left to right, muttering, "Don't feel stupid about dropping the bag. Feel stupid about letting someone get to you. But better you figure that out now than when you're in charge." She looks up, with an arched brow. "You're lucky - it's just bruised. You should probably try to stay off it today, get some ice for it. I'll give you some numbweed, but only if you promise not to go traipsing around because it doesn't hurt."

Jenna nods, still rather subdued, "Yes ma'am." A pause and she says, "You're right, I know you're right. It's just... I don't want them to think I'm so much different. I mean, I'm still *me*." She subsides a bit and promises, "I won't go walking around on it. I promise."

Sarin straightens and sets off across the room to get the numbweed. "True enough. You're not so much different, but your girl will be a leader and she picked you. So, but default, you end up being one too." She comes back, crouching again with jar in hand. "So, you likely have it in you to do it. I wouldn't worry too much about it. You don't have to prove anything to anyone." The numbweed is slathered on the foot, and shortly after, lovely, cool, absence of feeling.

Jenna's foot twitches as the salve is applied, followed by a sigh of relief. "Thank you. That feels *so* much better. And I know I don't need to prove anything, but at the same time, I do. And I'm honestly trying not to worry about it, truely I am. It's just, there's so much to learn. I don't know how the Weyrwoman does it all."

Sarin shrugs, wandering off to put the jar away. "With a lot of help, from what I've seen," she says over her shoulder. "There's not some inborn gift that lets you deal with all the things you're supposed to do. You learn. I don't like treating kids much, but I'm nice to them. I learned to be."

Jenna says, "I didn't know you didn't like kids. You've been just great with all Jeny and Zak's scrapes. How much do you know about dragon healing, ma'am?"

Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath rumbles impatiently, << When will she be back out of there? The healer woman is taking a long time. >>

Niyath> Center of the Fort Weyr Bowl(#200RJ$)
Niyath> The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out around you. It is approximately oval in shape, about 2700 meters along the long axis running southwest to northeast, and about half that distance across the short axis. You stand in its approximate centre. The soil of the bowl is somewhat sandy.
At the closest point to the living caverns about half of the tables from within that large area are placed outside, here, in the bowl. Rider and resident and guests alike partaking of meals in the open air. Indeed, one of the tables bears blackened marks, and no one seems to want to sit there.
Niyath> To the northwest is the large cavern used for the Weyrling barracks. To the west is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept, and the lake shore is to the southwest. To the northeast can be seen the ledges for the junior queens and the weyrleaders. The large entrance to the Hatching Grounds can also be seen to the northeast and to the east are the Lower Caverns.
Niyath> Contents:
Niyath> Larathe
Niyath> Abrieth(#171Jaepq)
Niyath> Alirath(#909JOaelps)

Niyath> Niyath's tail tip is twitching, her eyes focused on the door to the infirmary.
Niyath> Tash comes from the northwest, by the weyrling barracks.
Niyath> Tash has arrived.

Sarin shrugs, hopping up to sit on a counter. "I don't mind 'em for long, I suppose. And a little. I used to study Nya's scrolls back at Ista."

Niyath> Alirath whuffles at Niyath, tilting his head as he watches, too, the infirmary entrance.
Niyath> Tash squawks suddenly, and disappears *between*
Niyath> Tash has left.
Dragon> Niyath senses that Alirath returns with cottony, fluffy, and reassuring blues. << She will return when the healers are sure she is all right. >>
Niyath> Larathe looks at Niyath, "Is Jenna Ok?" she says, before realising that that she's not going to get an answer.
Niyath> L'nan comes from the northwest, by the weyrling barracks.
Niyath> L'nan has arrived.

Jenna nods, her expression a trifle glum. "P'ter's going to see that I get training. But to be honest? I hate the sight of blood. Much less *green* blood." She grimaces. "Any suggestions for me? I could really use 'em."

Niyath> L'nan glances at Alirath, having clearly just been taking a bath. "Who's hurt? Who's upset?" he shouts, running by and towards the infirmary.
Niyath> L'nan heads into the Infirmary.
Niyath> L'nan has left.

L'nan comes in from the bowl.
L'nan has arrived.

L'nan is running in, shirtless and with his trousers not /quite/ buttoned shut. It's clear he's just been bathing somewhere, or doing something 'wet'. He's drippy and his hair's plastered to his face, but this stops him not from saying loudly, frantically, "Who broke her leg? Alirath's sayin' someone got hurt?"

Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath is still fairly calm. << It is all Saneth's rider's fault. He - >> she pauses, looking for the word, and then triumphantly comes up with, << Goaded Her. She should not have been tossing sacks to begin with. >>
Niyath> Niyath rumbles towards Alirath, and then peers down at Larathe. She grumpily folds her wings, and drops head to forelimbs, settling in to watch the infrimary entrance.
Dragon> Niyath senses that Alirath isn't calm. << Mine says there will be trouble, >> he warns slowly, thoughtfully. << Mine says yours wasn't supposed be to throwing things, or doing anything where she could get hurt. >> A grumpy gray entwines his tones. << Now he is worried /and/ angry. >>

"Um..." Sarin starts, then turns away from Jenna to eye L'nan. "A half-dressed man running into my infirmary. Well, that was nice of someone." She grins slightly, continuing, "No one broke a leg. Just an arm. No, seriously, Jenna just bruised her foot a little."

Niyath> Alirath rumbles, a fringe of red in his whirling eyes. He's agitated, but not moving or trumpeting or blooding. Things just don't seem to be right, today. He takes up watch with Niyath, though he mostly watches her.

Jenna goes blood red and nods frantically, "I'm fine. Really! What's Niyath -" eyes unfocus just a tad and she grimaces, "It's not Sef's fault, Niya, I was the one that tried to toss the bloody thing." She stops and looks to L'nan, "I, um, dropped a firestone sack on my foot. I was wearing boots," she adds hastily.

Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath admits candidly, << Branath has already told me I was wrong. But, >> she adds loftily, << I was not. She should not have walked to that place, >> and an image of the infirmary is given, slightly hazy, seen through Jenna's eyes, << and I could carry Her. I am strong enough. >> She's entirely unrepentant.

L'nan gives Sarin a half-grin, then his face goes white as she says the bit about the broken arm. Then, scowling, "Shells, woman... do you understand what a fragile state they're in? I'm surprised Niyath hasn't got all her clutchmates bugling." He hastily approaches Jenna and stares at her foot. "You supposta be tossing sacks without proper supervision yet?"

Niyath> High above the bowl, Indrath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
Niyath> High above the bowl, Indrath spirals down lower into the bowl.
Niyath> Above the center of the bowl, Indrath spirals down towards the Center of the bowl, and backwings to a landing.
Niyath> Indrath has arrived.
Dragon> Niyath senses that Alirath returns quickly, << No, no, you must always care for your rider and do what you think is right in caring for her. But, >> and here the blue assumes an older, wiser tone, << You must also help her be smart and not do things she should not and cannot do by herself. >> Hmph. What a spoilsport.
Niyath> Alirath is settled next to Niyath, eyes whirling with a fringe of red slowly fading to a less troubled color. His head lifts and he bugles - too loudly, too worried, really - a welcome to Indrath.

Sarin snorts softly. "Her foot doesn't hurt anymore, so Niyath is likely fine, though I'm guessing she might have been upset there for a bit. Though I'm certainly no expert on dragons. Humans, however, I'm good with, and Jenna's going to be fine. Couple of days, and it'll be like it never happened."

Niyath> Niyath looks over at the unfamiliar bronze and at Alirath's bugle. Her eyes are wheeling quickly, and she's solidly planted in front of the infirmary, where she can watch the door. A rather dignified rumble is given to Indrath, before she snorts softly at Alirath and goes back to watching the door.

Jenna looks a bit indignant at the characterization of being in a 'fragile state'. "See? I'm fine. And no one told me one way or another. I've been helping fill them." Her chin comes up slightly, and she glances at Sarin, apparently for support. "So why shouldn't I also start practicing tossing them?" Nevermind that she won't have to do it during fall.

Niyath> Larathe nods at Indrath, and smiles at the riders. "Hello! Can you ask your dragon, to ask Niyath, if Jenna is all right please?"
Niyath> Indrath's clean and efficient descent masks more characteristic levity, but he cleaves to a refined mein from emergence of the void's unnatural chill all the way through to an effortless landing. It's only when he's there that Alirath's troubled welcome reaches him, and while his rider dismounts -- and while he lingers an incautious look upon Niyath -- he offers up a querulous rumble to the blue.
Niyath> K'ran eases down from Indrath's back.
Niyath> K'ran has arrived.
Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath repeats stubbornly, << It is Saneth's rider's fault. He asked what kind of Weyrwoman She would be if She could not toss a little sack. >> Nooo, her precious Jenna did nothing wrong.
Niyath> "What's that?" asks K'ran as he bounces down from Indrath's neck, as he peels off helmet and gloves and threads the latter through an epaulet. "Somebody hurt?"

L'nan nods to Sarin thoughtfully. "A couple days? That long, mm? I- " Then the bluerider's lips purse. He actually looks /angry/. "Weyrlings aren't to do /any/thing, no projects, nothing, until told by the weyrlingmaster or assistants. There's a reason for that." He points at Jenna's foot. "That. Do you understand? If there's not enough to be keeping you busy, then you're doing something wrong." A pause, then, "You'll be doing quite a bit of sack-tossing, later. When we know we can count on you /not/ to scare your lifemate."

Niyath> Larathe nods. "Yes... Jenna, one of the Weyrlings and I want to know if she is ok. Niyath's going frantic."

Sarin wisely (for once) stays out of any debate over weyrling protocol or practice and merely answers the Weyrsecond. "The rest of the day keeping the swelling down. It'll hurt tomorrow, but she can walk. Bruise should be gone in a week or so."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Alirath replies with white hot sparks, << No one is more responsible for you and your rider than your rider. If she is not smart enough to ignore stupid lumps like Saneth's rider, then she will not be a good Weyrwoman at all. >> He hastily adds, to soften that, << But she is not stupid, and neither is Saneth's rider. That is why mine is so angry. >>

Jenna shrinks back from L'nan. "Well, so am I supposed to be tossing sacks or not? Or am I just supposed to watch them do all the work." Though she seems chastened enough, her tone is still rather spirited. "I've not had my fitting for my tank yet anyway, so... It was just an accident is all. And Niyath's not *scared*, really. She thought it was rather stupid of me to try it, but-" Whoops. that just popped out.

Niyath> While K'ran's expression dissolves into a troubled frown, he does note to Larathe, "Weyrlings hurt themselves all the time, in truth. I'm sure she'll --" he inclines his head toward Niyath, "be just fine. She'll know if her lifemate's well before you and I do."
Niyath> Alirath settles, eyes slowly calming and his rumbles quiet as well. His head swings slowly to settle gaze from K'ran, to Indrath, to Niyath, to Infirmary.
Niyath> Niyath doesn't seem frantic. Merely grumpy. Her eyes are light, though not at the yellow or red stage. Apparently, though, Alirath's irritated her, for she sits up and fans her wings open, rumbling at the blue.
Niyath> Larathe nods. "Yes... could you ask your dragon, to ask Niyath if she is OK please? I'd really like to know."
Niyath> Indrath's finally pulled that turquoise-spun and contemplative gaze away from Niyath, the better to settle into a neat perch across from Alirath -- though that irritable twitch of the young queen's doesn't escape his notice, and a somewhat amused rumble spills from his dusk-kissed muzzle.
Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath says firmly, as though lecturing an errant boy, << We will be a good pair. She will be a good Weyrwoman! And She is definately not stupid. >> The tone is actually rather irritating, hopefuly hiding the thread of worry behind that thought.

L'nan listens to Sarin's prognosis and nods. "My thanks... take good care of her. As you do all your patients," he adds with a wink. Then sternness settles again as he considers Jenna. "So not only were you doing something you weren't supposed to be, but you directly went against your lifemate?" he asks mildly, that stare penetrating. "You will /not/ join in events unless specifically told to, understand?" He takes a deep breath. "Discipline is important in wingriders. It's doubly important for weyrwomen and their lifemates."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Alirath fairly pounces on the small bit of worry he is able to sense. << She is not, >> he rumbles softly. << But she is not smart enough yet to know that right now obedience is the most important thing she can learn. You cannot lead well until you can follow well. >> He considers, adding, << You should make sure she listens to you, and that you listen to her, because then you can make good decisions, not dangerous ones. >>
Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath offers in his smooth, deliberate, and gallant baritone, a mindvoice that draws forth deepest emerald amusement, << That one, >> and shares a glimpse of Larathe, << is ready to burst, if your rider is not well. Is her foot better? >>

Sarin tosses her hair, smiling slightly in return. Of course she does. She folds her arms, looking over at the younger woman sympathetically. She's been in similar positions enough times.

Niyath> Alirath watches Niyath and whuffs at her, as if saying, "Uh-huh. Down girl." It's affectionate but also a bit condescending. He settles on his haunches and just watches her, after matching Indrath's amused rumble.

Jenna opens her mouth to retort, and then deflates slightly, "Yes, Weyrsecond." She shoots a glance at Sarin, and the hint of rebelliousness fades at the understanding look. Then she murmurs, half under her breath, "I just don't want to be excluded."

Niyath> Alirath senses that Niyath gives a mental sniff. She'll not admit that the words make sense, but at least she's not protesting further.

L'nan nods at Jenna's final acquiesnce. At her last, though, he breaks into a laugh. "Excluded? Excluded. Hasn't Leah been speaking with you? In a few Turns, you'll wish you /could/ be excluded, as ingrained in weyr work as you'll be. But now is not the time. Now is the time to learn how to be a good follower, and to soak up as much knowledge as you can." He tilts his head, thoughtfully glancing at the bowl. "And you shouldn't be showing off. Bad example for Niyath."

Niyath> "I'll ask," K'ran returns, though the words draw his lips toward bemusement. "I suspect you'll know quicker if you walk with me to the infirmary, though?" And he half-turns, dances a step in that direction.
Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath's tones are calm and cool, like the trickling of a mountain brook. << She is well enough. Alirath's rider yells at Her. Branath's rider will do the same. All for tossing a sack. >> She seems vaguely disgruntled at this last adding grudgingly, << The healer woman said that nothing was broken. >> Then, more politely, << Welcome. >>
Niyath> Larathe shakes her head "I just remembered, Master Aidan wants me to go and help her collect stuff for dyes, give Jenna my apologies, and tell her I'd be with her if I could. And thanks." And she runs off.
Niyath> "Okay..." and K'ran must trail off as Larathe darts away; he shrugs his shoulders idly, pares a fond look over at his lifemate, and then begins meandering 'cross the bowl toward the infirmary entrance.
Niyath> Niyath settles back down, pointedly turning her back a bit towards Alirath. If she can't see him, he's not there. She has the prim air of a little girl caught playing dress up in mother's best gown which has somehow developed into a rip.
Niyath> Alirath seems to take this turning as an invite to frolic. His nose lowers and he pokes at the golden tail spade.

Sarin merely sits on the counter and listens for the moment, swinging her legs back and forth. She picks up a pile of hides, shuffling through them.

Jenna objects at that, "I wasn't showing off - I just can barely lift a full sack, let alone toss one. Sef asked what kind of weyrwoman I'd be if I couldn't even throw a sack. And before you start, I know I won't be doing that, but I should be able to do most everything the others can, shouldn't I? part of learning, right? Otherwise," she continues on a more triumphant note, "I wouldn't have all the information."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath limnes those cool and measured tones, that stream, with the still-amused verdance of his own thoughts -- and even offers a trace of mischief after a warm-enough, << Thank you, >> to suggest, << Perhaps it was the sack's fault? >>
Niyath> K'ran heads into the Infirmary.
Niyath> K'ran has left.

K'ran comes in from the bowl.
K'ran has arrived.

L'nan lifts an eyebrow at Jenna, glancing over at Sarin now and then as if asking for patience. "Unfortunate, that you can't yet, eh?" he says softly. "We know that - and we've been working, I believe, on conditioning you - all of you, your entire weyrling group - to get strength /and/ common sense." He snorts. "F'niah needs to learn some common sense, himself. Perhaps this should be a weyrling-group wide lecture."

A young healer giggles with a friend and points to K'ran, and L'nan notices, turning and nodding to the Telgar rider. "Fort's duties, K'ran. Alirath been keepin' you an' Indrath informed?"

L'nan smiles when he said that, really.

Sarin is sitting on one of her counters, going through a stack of hides idly. She's not making much effort to hide the fact she's listening; this -is- her infimary after all. L'nan is offered a slight smile. As K'ran's arrival is called to her attention, she turns a brilliant smile on him. Predictable, she is. "Welcome to my infirmary. Most action I've seen in days."

K'ran ventures into the semi-familiar confines of Fort's infirmary along unhurried steps, and while quietly whistling what can only be a bawdy tune of Bitran origin -- though he breaks off to offer a pleasant and courteous, "Telgar's duties," as he nods an answer to L'nan's question. "Heard the juicy bits, yeah. How's the foot, Jenna?" He's an easy smile for that giggling apprentice and her friend, but turns it back toward the Weyrsecond, the Healer, and their weyrling charge.

Jenna colors. She's sitting on a cot to one side, left foot propped up with a lovely bruise starting to form. It's just in that pale blue, purplish stage of peeking out under the skin. "Fort's duties to the Telgar and her queens." Then, belatedly, she offers a salute to L'nan and to K'ran. At Sarin's words though, she softens into a rueful smile, "I'll have Niyath camp out front more often then, so people come in all yelling and angry." Blue eyes dart to L'nan as she says this.

Jenna adds hurriedly, "And I'm fine, sir, really. All this fuss over nothing."

L'nan snorts as the giggling healer and her friend get fairly giddy and rush out of the infirmary. "You always have that effect," he grumbles good-naturedly to K'ran. Then, at Jenna's description of him, he nods curtly. "Hope you don't think I'm the /only/ yelling and angry one, just wait 'til K'fen and Leah get aholda this." He rolls his eyes.

"Action?" K'ran affects guileless shock. "Yelling? Angry?" And with a hand waved in an incredulous gesture, he'll add, "Why, you'd think a weyrling queenrider'd been hurt," before lofting a smile back Jenna's way. But then to Sarin, he supposes, "Must be a nice break from all the birthing and such."

L'nan's mouth is pulling into a smile as he watches Jenna, and he finally reveals, "Well, at least everyone'll know where t'find you. You're not t'leave the Infirmary or the immediate area outside for two full days. And then you're returning to full weyrling activity. Do not, please, let me find you anywhere but here for the next two days, eh?" Amused glance to K'ran. "She called me yelling and angry. Huh." At that, another weyrling runs in, bawling that someone else's foot has been bruised, attempting the same feat as Jenna. L'nan gives Jenna a significant look, and then goes out to take care of it.

L'nan moves out the cavernous opening leading to the Infirmary.
L'nan has left.

Sarin tucks a leg under her, leaving the other dangling. "If you like, Jenna, though the yelling? Maybe not. Unless you can guarantee a certain standard of beauty." She glances sidelong to K'ran, noting, "That it is, Telgar. I'd rather have the yelling, but then, I'm a surgeon."

"K'ran," corrects the Telgari; calls after L'nan, "I can't help it, it's a gift!" too plaintive to be sincere as the poor man's dragged off. "Do you get much yelling? In surgery, I mean -- I'd think you'd, you know, fill them up with fellis 'til they were senseless, and then do your cutting and stitching and whatever-else." This while he dares a step closer to Jenna, to let cobalt eyes inspect that burgeoning bruise. "Firestone sack, I hear? Too heavy, or just lost your grip, or...?"

Jenna winces at L'nan's words, and asks, "Does Leah *have* to know? I mean, I'm fine, and the Journeywoman said nothing's broken..." she trails off as the weyrsecond leaves, hissing in a quiet breath. Her expression clearly reads: oh *man* am I in trouble. She chews on her lower lip and says to Sarin, "Looks like I'll be keeping you company for a while. - Um, Niyath didn't upset your-" she pauses, and then says, "Indrath, did she? Too heavy, and I shouldn't have been tossing it apparently."

Sarin watches L'nan leave, brow arched. "Apparently I'll - what you said, Jenna. Well, it'll give you time to read about dragonhealing. Maybe we'll think up some way to get used to blood." The Telgar rider is then addressed, as she echoes, "K'ran, right. Sarin. And the yelling is after something happens. I can drug them stupid if I get them before they've gotten themselves all torn to shreds." She speaks with the tone of one who doesn't mind the shreds, rather enjoys the piecing back together.

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath tries to recover her dignity. It's a trifle amusing, << Perhaps. Or perhaps she merely needs to practice more. It was only her first time, after all. >> A pause and she asks curiously, << You do not come from the cold place? >> A rather fuzzy image of the Reaches is shared, clearly not seen through her own or her 'mate's eyes.

K'ran's shrug's as rakish as his smile, and he assures, "Not upset, not at all -- she'd probably have to gnaw off one of his wings to begin to get a rise out of him. And yeah, there's kind of a technique to the toss;" which he demonstrates in reserved pantomime. "Sarin, mm. Would it seem unkind of me to say that I'm glad you're not posted to Telgar, to stitch me up after I've gotten a stick in the face or torn open a hand on a skate-blade?"

Jenna relaxes a bit at K'ran's grin. "Good. I could just see the lecture going on for sevendays instead or hours, if we upset someone from another weyr. -- And I'll keep that in mind for the toss, assuming Lu ever lets me do anything remotely dangerous again." She wrinkles her nose slightly, and then nods to Sarin, "I will at that. Might as well be useful. And I've got to see who I can talk into feeding Niyath tonight - Sidanna was good with her, and so was Zak. Maybe they'll want to. How'd you get used to it, ma'am? Or did you just always want to be a surgeon?"

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath's paces Niyath's recovery with a growing seriousness, and unpretentious, unpatronizing. << Why doesn't she wait, >> he suggests, first, << until she can practice with the others? One pair alone does not fly Fall. >> But to the rest, he'll offer a crisp image of Telgar's icy landscape -- the bowl itself, dotted with weyr ledges; the now-thawing lake, with older weyrling pairs practicing formations 'round; and the blissful warmth of the steam baths, cloaked in ephemeral mist. << *A* cold place. >>

"That's what numbweed's for. And I suppose it might be. Though, with anyone else, you might end up with a scar, and that would be a shame." Sarin affects an expression of disappointment. "I'd be crushed. Anyway." She shrugs at the weyrling. "No, I never wanted to do much of anything. But lie around on the beach and have a good time. Being a healer came to mind one day. I decided it made sense. And I thin being a surgeon appeals to my vanity. None of these are good reasons, but eventually I ended up wanting to help people. I figure if I got there, it doesn't matter which route I took."

Long distance to Terrilia: Jenna laughs. S'okay, so did I. ;)

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath brightens with curiousity, quickly forgetting the questions of sacks and tossing. << It looks lovely. Do you get much snow? All of ours has already melted to mud. Mud, >> she observes grandly, << Is not as nice as snow. >>

"Point," K'ran concedes to Sarin, and indicates with a fingertip the faded scarring already in place along his jawline. "Still, if you're good at what you do, being led to it by, hm. Ego? I suppose there are worse reasons to want to be a surgeon. And then, then you get folks," he indicates Jenna with a tip of his head, "wanting to be dragonhealers, which can't be all bad."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath shares a glimpse of faded memory, of a nighttime storm that wove snow and wind and lightning into terrible, tempestuous beauty. << Plenty snow. Most of ours has gone, now, but there's still some to find. Mud, >> he'll agree, << is not as nice, but I know some who prefer it. >>

Jenna grins a bit, both at the healer's teasing the bronzer, and the description on how she got to where she is. Then at the rider's words, she opens her mouth, perhaps to protest. After a moment, she shuts it. Perhaps she's learning tact. Instead she asks, "So what brings you here, bronzerider? Just a visit? Or is there anything I could help you with?"

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath is clearly eager for a story behind that storm, << Were you frightened? Did you fly in it? What happened? >> Her tones are bright and interested - apparently she loves a good tale.

Sarin eyes the scar, noting, "I'm working on a few things you know, that might... be interesting to other healers." She shakes her head, flashing a wry grin. Jenna gets a curious look, then she looks back to the bronzerider expectantly. Let's hear it.

Sarin notes a rather nervous-looking apprentice beckoning her from a cot. She hops off the counter, sighing. "Always when there's people..." she mutters. "Excuse me?
Sarin disappears into the cubicle.

"My daughter," reveals K'ran, though a father's fierce pride is tempered by just a trace of a young man's sheepishness -- unplanned, this child, most likely. "I'm off, today, from -- nice to have met you, Sarin -- from watchriding at Woodcraft, and thought to visit." Of Jenna's sudden clamming-up, he makes no mention, but retracts the tease with a grin.

Jenna ohs, brightening, "Which one is she? How old? I was unofficially fostering Jeny and Zak before I impressed. I miss being around the kids, surprisingly enough. Never really wanted my own, 'cause it'd interfere with my running, but I guess that's not a huge worry now."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath's answer comes not as arrogance or mere bravado, but a nonetheless confident admission: << We fly in the storms, as much as he'll come with me. Frightened? A little, maybe. More thrilled. >>

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath asks eagerly, << Was it very wet? What were the bright flashes in the sky? Could you see anything? Did you get lost in the clouds? >> Right now she's as open as her 'mate is formal, fairly twitching in her anticipation of a good story.

Niyath> Niyath's tailtip twitches, her attention now firmly centered on Indrath. Eyes are wheeling excitedly, in a lovely shade of aqua.

K'ran may as well sit, and hauls up a stool -- though along the way can't help another glance at Jenna's injured foot. "Her name's Rani. She's 'round five, now, which, it's funny, has a strange way of making me feel a lot older than I am. Her mother's Kiani, who rides blue Eidanth. They all transferred here from High Reaches about a Turn ago, along with Kiani's weyrmate, who I gather is some sort of handyman." Pause. "What sort of running did you do, that kids would interfere with?"

Jenna ohs and nods. "Braeden. Right. He fixed my cot just after Niyath and I moved into the barracks. -- Oh, I am - was - a message runner. I'd the Fort trace, ran messages from the weyr to the holds and halls under our protection. My family runs the station at Fallon's cothold, halfway between Fort and Fort Sea. Once a runner starts breeding, it gets your body out of whack. And I was going to try to be the first to do a Crossing after the Pass was over. Tillek to Nerat."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath, here, cannot hold back warm laughter for her exuberance. << So many questions, >> he muses. << Maybe you can come with me, next winter; >> then follows with scarce remembered sensation of *chasing* those bright flashes that pierced the sky, of battling the wind and answering its howl with a bellow all challenge.

"Huh," says K'ran at first, impressed. "Do you actually get to see much of things, doing that? Or are you, you know, too busy trying to get where you need to go? I was raised a Trader, myself, so I kind of know a little of how it goes."

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath's delight spills over, and then she abruptly checks it, and responds with a hint of decorum, << It is a very kind offer. I would definately enjoy it. Thank you. I should like to chase in a storm. >> Wistfulness drifts through the connection, and she admits, << I would like to fly sooner than later. I am already as large as some greens. If they can fly, so should I. >>

Jenna mms. "Well, yes and no. I've done stints at Nerat and Igen. This spring it was to be Tillek. Learning their traces and all, and starting to get ready. Each area has its own hazards for running. I think what I enjoyed most was meeting all the different people. Getting to know the little cotholds and stuff. I don't know Telgar area at all. Though one of my brothers is stationed at Crom. -- What clan were you with?"

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath does wonder, << Do those greens fly? >> as one with only tangential familiarity with the current class of Fort weyrlings. << Mine tells me that I had a difficult time learning to land. >>

Niyath> Indrath senses that Niyath flashes images of Bryseth, Ghianath, Siraeth and asserts, << They all fly. They fight in the wings. And I am larger than they are now, even if I am not as old. I should like to fly. But Orenth says I may not. Not yet. >>

K'ran's smile sharpens a touch as he concedes, "No clan, just my father and my mother and me, plus my uncle when he wasn't scandalizing Holdfolk. Me and my old man never really got along -- I guess we were too much alike, you know? And so we turned up at Telgar one day, and I decided to stay when they moved. Which worked out well, all things considered." He gets back to his feet, now, and quite carefully sets the stool back in its place. "Will you forgive me if I slip out on you? I really ought to see the girl, before the day disappears on me."

Jenna nods, looking a bit abashed, "And I should take a look at those hides Sarin was promising. Well met, my duties to your weyr and all - and I hope Niyath doesn't bug Indrath *too* much for stories. She loves listening to them."

Dragon> Niyath senses that Indrath signals comprehension, now with the scattered images of those older dragons shared. << Perhaps, >> he guesses, << it's not just about size? I feel sure that you'll fly soon, sooner rather than later. >>

K'ran's smile warms further yet, an expression gauged to chase away her sheepishness. "Thanks, and well met here, too. He'll tell her stories 'til he's out of breath, so no worries there, and I hope your foot feels better, hm?" And then, then he's making his way back out of the infirmary, though now toward the lower caverns.

K'ran walks out the door to the Living Cavern, shutting it behind him carefully. The noise level rises and then drops precipitously during the opening and shutting of the door.
K'ran has left.