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Jack Frost Nipping At Your Nose


Date:  February 11, 2000
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Council Room
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  This RP was a prelude of sorts to our snow-rescue 
drills; the idea was for the riders to learn the symptoms and immediate
treatments of common cold-weather perils.  Many thanks go to Nadja for 
being willing to hold this talk for us! :)

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The Log:

You open the door and walk into the room.

J'var waves a hand, one that dips into his jacket to bring out a flask.
"Not bad, little lady, not bad. They tend to blend into each other a bit."
He grins over at Mart wryly. "Hey, I can -hope-, can't I? Fantasize a 
bit..."

"Why do I know fear when I hear the word 'fantasize' coming from someone of
your reputation, J'var?" Kassi wants to know as she slips into the room, a
relieved sigh escaping her after she's scanned its contents. Oh, good.
She's not late after all.

Tamera looks over at Kassima and nods "hello."

Saskia enters the room from the outside corridor.

The tension that comes to M'rgan's jaw, the pinkening of his cheeks and the
slight sound of grinding teeth is the brownrider's only reply to J'var. He
doesn't trust himself to actually speak.

Nadja enters the room from the outside corridor.

Saskia strolls in, carrying a stack of wherhides, and blinks at all the
people here. "Hello."

J'var just... grins... at Mart, though he jumps a little at hearing Kassi.
"Because you know me too well, my dear lady, that's why." Saskia receives
an amiable wave of the flask in greeting, as does Nadja.

M'rgan is at the back of the room, holding up the wall with his shoulders,
looking quite tense with a set jaw and crossed arms, and staring at a spot
above J'var's head.

Nadja strides in looking a little flustered. She's carrying a sheaf of
notes in one hand and a couple of pieces of equiptment in the other,
bandages and such like.

Kassima nods back amiably enough, drawing a mint stick from her pocket and
sticking it in her mouth. "Heyla, yourself. G'deve, all. J'var, I'm nay
anyone's lady, much less yours, much less your dear aught. But do tell me:
what *have* you done that's set Mart's jaw like that?" She uses her foot to
hook and draw out the chair she usually sits in during Weyrmeetings and
whatnot, flopping herself into it, and wiggling her fingers to the newest
arrivals.

Saskia peers at J'var and then M'rgan. "Exactly what I was going to ask,
Kassi."

J'var gestures slightly, completely ignoring the denials of ladyship and
dearship. "Oh, I said something about wishing to know just how good Kena is
with her hands."

Cheeks that were pink before now flush a more bright red and M'rgan turns
his gaze completely away from J'var as if by pointedly ignoring the
greenrider he can make this conversation end also. He turns his attention
to Nadja and nods a greeting to her as she enters the room.

Saskia shrugs "Don't see anything wrong with the question."

"Ah. Shall I pass your interest in that on to the Acting Wingleader, then?"
Kassi's smile hints at teeth, though more through mischief than
maliciousness. "She owns an Emasculator, did you know?" Sobering, she turns
her attention to Mart. "How's Ularrith's wing?" is her quiet inquiry,
spoken with honest concern even as she flicks glances towards the
Weyrhealer. Keeping an eye out for the signal to shush, perhaps.

J'var watches M'rgan, highly amused. "Mart's the jealous type, Saskia, and
it's fun watching him turn col-" He pales, swallowing, his legs moving
closer together. "No, I... didn't know."

Nadja makes her way up to the front of the room and dumps her notes on the
council table in front of her. Smiling at those assembled, she appears to
be oblivious to any topics of conversation, "Sorry I'm late, folks. I've
been stitching up a rather large gash on one of the weyr children's knee.
Didn't think it would be politic to leave the child bleeding," she grins
slightly, "Let me get myself in order and we can begin."

Saskia nods "I wouldn't mess with Kena if I were you."

"Don't wanna -mess- with her," Jav mutters very quietly, taking a drink.
"Though I always did love a challenge..."

"I am /not/ the jealous type," M'rgan insists before once more turning his
attention forcefully away from J'var. Apparently he was listening in even
if he was trying to ignore the greenrider. "Ularrith will be fine. The Fall
and then the flight were just too much for him, I guess."

Saskia smiles at Nadja "Ahh, there you are." and looks a little relieved.

Kassima smiles with utmost sweetness at her Wingrider. "Well... now you
know." Enough said. "Glad t'be hearing it, Mart. Bad enough that Lyss
managed t'be clawing Taralyth; worse if'n she'd taken out a Wingleader's
dragon, too." Tucking her hands away in her pockets, the greenrider bobs
her head to Nadja. "I daresay the child and his or her mother would have
objected t'that," comes her quip.

J'var shakes his head and turns his attention to Nadja, becoming a bit more
serious after a quick assessing once-over of the Healer.

"I rather think they would," is Nadja's dry reply. She still manages to be
oblivious to any tension in the room, "Is that everyone?" she queries,
looking towards the back of the room, waiting for any stragglers to sit 
down.

"Though I'm not glad he was injured, I'm glad he was forced out of that
flight," M'rgan tells the Thunderbolt wingleader, not even realizing that
what he was saying might be interpretted as an insult. "Cymrith seemed to
take pity on him and took him back." The brownrider eases over a foot to
let another person take a spot on the wall next to him.

Kassima arches an eyebrow at Skyfire's Wingleader, giving him a truly droll
look. "What marvelous things that sentiment does for m'ego," she remarks.
"Though I suppose I deserve it after the thing with the pants." Twisting
back around in her chair to face Nadja, she folds her hands in front of her
and sits up straighter, a testimony to attentiveness.

Pants? Jav glances over, and opens his mouth... Naaaah.

Nadja clears her throat, obviously getting into lecturing mode, "We'll
start now. As you may be aware, the weyr will be staging some snow rescue
drills in the near future. I've been asked to go over some of the first aid
you'll need to know in those circumstances. We'll be going over the most
common winter dangers. Many of these ailments can be prevented by taking a
few steps to protect the casualty as soon as possible. We'll be touching
upon; Frostbite, hypothermia, chilblains, and the hazards of water in 
winter."

Nadja adds, "I don't want this to be a stiff boring lecture with me just
standing at the front boring you all to tears. If you've got a question,
just raise your hand or simply shout out. I won't mind."

J'var raises his hand.

Kassima leans forward slightly in her chair, shifting from exaggerated
attentiveness to true quickly. A glance is directed towards the Thunderbolt
riders present--they're listening too, right? V'dan, slouched against the
wall, catches that Look from his Wingleader and straightens a smidge. "The
Water," Kassi murmurs, "is always hazardous, hereabouts."

Nadja nods, "Yes?"

M'rgan glances at the person next to him as the man pulls out a small
notebook and starts to make notes in it. Eyebrows arching as a thought
comes to him, the brownrider slaps at the pockets in his shirt and pants
but doesn't find a notebook or even a scrap of hide. Shrugging and frowning
a touch with disappointment, he turns his attention forwards again and
concentrates on Nadja.

J'var seems to be completely serious. "Yes, I have a question- Will you
accompany me to dinner after this meeting, Healer Nadja?" He ducks
slightly, anticipating thrown things from Kassima's direction.

"*'Twould* suggest you pay attention, J'var," Kassi drawls. "Unless you
want t'be catching frostbite yourself when we fly out and mayhaps having to
have certain extremities removed."

Nadja purses her lips, obviously suspecting a wind-up, "That depends on how
well you score on the test I'll be giving you at the end," she answers,
deadpanned. It's almost impossible to tell whether she's serious or not.
Kassi's statement gets a sardonic smile.

Telgar Weyr> Whinde is distracted, so please ignore my quietness in the
lecture. :)

Telgar Weyr> Whinde says, "course it's a lecture, you're suppoda be quiet.
I'll hush now."

Maylia herds a handfull of weyrlings in, who range themselves in the back
rows. The stern glance the Weyrlingmaster casts over them prompts some to
shift to closer seats. With an appologetic nod towards Nadja, Maylia takes
her own seat.

J'var casts a quick grin toward Kassi. "She's got my full attention,
believe me." Especially her curves, as his roving eyes attest. "That works
for me, Healer."

At the mention of a test, M'rgan's brow furrows even more as he
concentrates on Nadja with complete and glassy-eyed intensity. He hangs on
her every word and his lips move silently as he repeats it in the hopes
that he'll remember it.

Kassima sighs, only sighs, at the antics of her Wingrider--well, no, not
only sighs. She also begins to hum a popular little tune entitled 'The
Twelve Turns of Dawn Sweeps.'

"Moving swiftly on," Nadja picks up a handful of drawings and hands them
around, "I'll talk about frostbite first. If your casualty has been out in
freezing temperatures the most obvious condition he or she is likely to
have is frostbite. Frostbite usually occurs in freezing and often dry and
windy conditions. Casualties who cannot move are particularly vulnerable.
Typically the fingers, toes, ears and noses of people are the most common
parts that usually start to show signs of frostbite. This is because the
tissues of the extremities freeze, causing damage to the tissue, causing
superficial or deep injures. Minor cases recover reasonably quickly, but
with severe cases of frostbite it can sometimes leave permanent damage.

J'var shuts up. He -does- seem to actually pay attention to what the Healer
has to say. (Miseth'd thwap him if he didn't.)

Telgar Weyr> Nadja says, "whoops, spam. Sorry!"

Telgar Weyr> J'var grins. Ah, but it's quality spam.

Telgar Weyr> M'rgan asks, "Are those drawings gross pictures of the 
damage?"

Telgar Weyr> Nadja nods, yup. I'm just writing about them now ;)

Kassima comments, as she takes one of the drawings, "We've had riders
caught in white-outs who've lost fingers to frostbite a'fore. Is there a
way t'be telling at a glance whether someone has frostbite?" Peeking down
at the pictures, one of her brows twitches, and she amends, "A milder case
of it than these."

M'rgan flexes his fingers, looks at his feet, and touches his ears and nose
to remind himself of what the healer said. After a few seconds of these
tricks, he chimes up with, "Frostbite doesn't happen when it's wet? What
about in snow?"

J'var wrinkles his nose as the pictures come his way. And again, as
undoubtedly he recalls Kassi's earlier 'extremities' comment.

Leya enters the room from the outside corridor.

Leya quietly walks in, trying to be as unobtrusive at possible as she finds
a place to sit among her wingmates.

The weyrlings cluster around one of the drawings, muttering amongst
themselves, but hush up quickly as Maylia frowns their way. The
Weyrlingmaster herself shares a drawing with her neighbour, then returns
her attention to the Healer.

Nadja points to the drawings, "This is what your average case of frostbite
looks like, although some of you have got the pictures of the more extreme
cases," she adds at Kassima's comment. "Frostbite happens mostly in dry
powdery snow when the snow is usually too cold to melt. That's what I meant
by dry. Cases do occur after prolonged exposure in wet conditions too. One
of the first signs of frostbite is the feelings of pins and needles.
Everyone knows what it feels like when your foot or leg has fallen

M'rgan takes a few steps forward, reaching out to grab hold of the back of
Kassima's chair. But rather than doing anything dastardly to the
greenrider, he just leans on her chair as he peers over the top of her head
at the drawings. His only reaction to the unpleasant drawings is a slight
twitch of his mouth. He lifts his gaze up as Nadja answers his question and
when she's done the brownrider gives her a grateful smile before dropping
his head back to the drawings.

Leya leans over to peer at J'var's lap to see if he has any pictures
mentioned, "We're learning about bad stuff that can happen out in the
freezing cold?" she whispers to him.

"Everyone knows what it feels like when your foot or leg has fallen asleep,
right? That's the pins and needles we're speaking about. When you feel the
pins and needles in your extremities you should make sure you put gloves or
mittens on or bundle up better. If you are attending a snow rescue
casualty, you should get limbs covered up by any means possible. A blanket,
clothing... whatever. That's the first signs of frostbite. The next few
signs are paleness to the affected areas. Meaning if it's your face,nose,
lips your face and other parts will become paler then usual. Eventually the
affected parts will become totally numb, with the skin starting to feel
hard and stiff, by this time it's imperative that you keep those parts
warm. When parts become numb and start to feel hard or stiff, this means
it's becoming a more serious case of frostbite." Nadja pauses for breath,
giving the folk assembled time to digest this.

Kassima tries to catch Leya's eye and nod towards one of the empty chairs
amongst the Thunderbolt Contingent. Considering the sketch she holds, her
eyebrows draw slightly together to form a crease between them. "'Twould
*hope* this is extreme," she mutters, turning the drawing this way and then
that to study it from different angles. Feeling the faint jarring of her
chair as Mart leans against it, she holds the gruesome pictures up for him
to better be able to see. "Any rider foolish enough t'be going out to the
Northern Range without sufficient protection will probably have vital parts
removed by his or her Wingleader if'n nay by frostbite," she thinks to
mention, with a meaningful look for J'var.

J'var nods slightly to Leya, tapping the seat beside him in invitation and
offering her the pictures. "And that can happen when you tick off your
pregnant Wingleader," he adds in a wry whisper before turning his attention
back to Nadja.

Look? What look? Despite a slight nod at Kassi's words, J'var's eyes remain
facing front.

Nadja points to the more gruesome of the drawings, "Eventually the skin
will turn mottled and blue, and eventually black. Black discoloration is a
result of a component of blood breaking down. In these circumstances,
amputation is usually necessary.

Leya smiles and sits down in the empty seat and taking the pictures from
J'var. "Ewww," she says as looks at them, then grins at her Wingleader and
J'var. "I suppose I'll be extra careful then." She then leans closer to
whisper to just J'var, "At least she's not proddy anymore."

M'rgan lightly places a hand on Kassima's shoulder to let her know that
he's seen enough of the picture. "Luckily the cold of *between* is enough
to convince most riders to be bundled up, no matter what the conditions are
on the other side." He looks up sharply at the mention of amputation and
grimaces, giving his head a slight regretful shake.

J'var's mouth quirks, but he decides not to remark on Leya's latter
comment. "Amputation? Any kind of time frame on that? Like if we're stuck
in a blizzard, knowing how long a person's got to get to a Healer..."

Kassima actually sets the sketch down rather than holding it up even longer
at this indication. She must be honestly repentant about either the
fish-fwapping episode or Ularrith's wing to be behaving herself so well.
"True enough. But that didn't save D'git's toes last winter. What happens
if'n amputation isn't performed right away, Weyrhealer?" As J'var asks this
question a heartbeat ahead of her, she slants him a look of surprise
combined with a hint of respect. She does keep forgetting that the boy has
brains behind all that strutting.

Leya smiles a little to herself, then looks seriously at the healer as she
waits for the answer to the question that they both asked.

"Good question," Nadja responds to both Kassima and J'var, "It is fairly
imperative that a serious case of frostbite is amputated within hours. If
left for days for example, gangrene can set in and spread to other 
tissues."

Leya frowns, peering down at the pictures then looking up to ask, "What do
you if gangrene does set in?"

"So," Kassima asks, clasping her hands and leaning forward enough to rest
her chin on them, "if'n we find a victim with such a severe case and are
nay certain how soon we should get to a Healer, would it be better t'be
waiting and hoping or performing the amputation and cauterizing the wound
ourselves?" Trust her of all people to ask this.

Leya turns wide-eyed to Kassi, her face pale and a little on the green
side. "Do...ourselves?" She swallows, hard.

J'var's lips purse, and he mutters something about keeping his knife sharp,
grimacing.

Nadja leans against the chair she's standing up by while she considers the
wingleader's question, "I'll answer the easy one first," she decides,
grimacing slightly, "If, for example, the fingers have severe frostbite and
need to be amputated but are left to go gangrenous and spread to other
tissues, it might be necessary to remove the entire hand to prevent the
spread and make sure there is only healthy tissue remaining." she glances
briefly at Leya before moving on, "In most cases, I'd recommend waiting for
a healer to arrive, rather than have to deal with an amputation yourselves.
For the time it takes to get a healer flown out to a victim, I'd wait.
Frostbite doesn't kill, it generally just maims at it's worst and that's
better than losing a patient to blood loss if the wound is difficult to
cauterize.

Leya nods to Nadja, listening closely as she answers her questions. She
lets out a sigh of relief at the healer's answer to Kassi's question,
"Thank Faranth. I don't want to be sawing on anyone..."

M'rgan leans further over the top of Kassima's head so that he can peer
upside-down into her face. "Sounds like you're going to have to keep those
knives sheathed," he tells her with a grin. Joking is one way to cope with
such grimness and he grabs onto that lifeline.

Kassima only shrugs to Leya, meeting that look levelly; however, she does
seem somewhat relieved by the Healer's reply. "Makes sense t'me," she
agrees. "'Twould nay precisely be eager t'try it in any event." Making a
face, she pokes at Mart's nose. "I'm nay proddy anymore, y'know--nay
wanting t'chop anyone up. Except mayhaps you, O Exceptional One."

M'rgan snaps his head back with a chuckle as his nose is poked at and he
forces a more solemn expression to his face when he turns his attention
back to the Healer.

J'var nods, looking a bit relieved. "Waiting for a Healer I can do."

Nadja doesn't dwell on the topic of amputations, given the expressions in
the audience, "Now I'll move on to what you should do if you're ever caught
out in such cold conditions or if you have to assisr with a casualty.
Immediately! Immediately get that person to any type of shelter if you can,
be that a snow hole if you're stuck in snow, or in the shelter of rocks
away from the cold wind, or lifting them to safety if it's safe to get out
a-dragonback. Concentrate on getting the patient warm and keeping them
warm. You should never, never thaw a frostbitten part until shelter is
reached, this will harm the tissue more if you warm and then it gets
another case of frostbite all over again, because you're not in a warm
area. Once in some sort of shelter gently remove gloves, rings, boots,
socks, whatever, you can harm a patient if you remove their gloves and
rings roughly. With some of the worse cases the skin is actually frozen to
those clothing items and you'd tear their flesh right off if you tore them
off roughly."

J'var gestures slightly with his flask. "That's one of the nice things
about dragons- they're great sources of heat in an emergency. Make nice
windbreaks too." Again his nose wrinkles. "Not even -I- would go that far
to get somebody out of their clothes."

Leya shudders and closes her eyes at the mental picture she gets at the
last part. She takes a deep breath before she opens her eyes again. She
does roll her eyes at J'var though.

Aurian enters the room from the outside corridor.

Nadja hides a smirk behind one hand as she catches J'var's comment and
continues, "Once the items are removed begin by

Aurian slips in quietly settling near the others. She tries not to yawn a
bit. She's tired yes and terribly busy.

"Almost nay rescues will be done in weather too severe t'be flying in,"
Kassima comments, folding her hands again. "At least, nay by us; the Holds
only call us in if'n searches can be done by air. If'n a dragonpair get
themselves blizzard-bound, chances are that 'twill nay attempt rescue on
wing until conditions at least allow flight. So if'n we assume the dragons
can always get in the air, is there any situation in which 'twould nay be
safe t'be putting them adragonback?"

Aurian glances to Kassima, "One of my first rescues was in weather were
visibilty was non existant. Kid lost thre off his fingers, thought his
dragon was going to have a fit.

Kassima nods at this. "Aye, I remember. But the dragons *could* fly without
breaking wings or being thrown against mountains, aye? Well, obviously
could, since they did. 'Tis what I mean by 'weather too severe t'be flying
in'--the sort where going airborne at all is apt t'end in serious injury."

Nadja thinks on that for a moment before shaking her head, "trips *between*
would aggravate cases of frostbite, yes. However, that has to be weighed
against getting a victim to shelter as quickly as possible. My inclination
is to get the casualty to shelter, that's the most important thing. Leaving
the casualty in the cold makes them susceptable to hypothermia. However, it
would also be a folly to try and get airborne in dangerous winds. Getting a
patient to safety isn't worth risking the lives of a dragonpair."

J'var adds in a murmur, "As well as the patient. No sense in cutting off
one's nose to spite one's face."

Kassima inclines her head slightly. "True t'be saying." Wryly, and directed
mostly to herself, "Now, if'n only everyone would always believe that about
it being folly and never wind up crashing into the Bowl...."

J'var keeps a straight face as he glances back toward Kassi. "Threaten to
emasculate 'em."

Leya stifles her laughter at J'var perfect answer. Once she's gotten
control of herself again, she says, "But that would only work for men..."

Nadja hides an unexpected snort of laughter at J'var's comment and launches
into another pre rehearsed bit of the lecture in an attempt to control
herself, "Once the items of clothing are removed from a frostbite victim,
begin by gently warming the effected area. Usually the best way to begin to
warm their extremities is by warming them in your hands, holding them in
your lap or alternatively in the casualty's armpit. Never rub potentially
frostbitten areas, as tiny ice crystals may be present under the skin and
those tiny crystals will lacerate the layers of flesh beneath the persons
skin."

J'var mutters, "Only men'd be that stupid, Ley," though his eyes remain on
Nadja, and he hmmms. "No rubbing. There goes -that- idea."

Kassima grins at J'var, waggling her brows a touch. "They do tempt me t'do
so. Almost as much as you do." Back to Nadja her attention goes. "Could
'lizards be helping with this part, if'n the rescuer in question needed
hands free t'be tending to another victim or the like? By snuggling up
against the effected area, say?"

Leya looks back at Nadja, her mouth still quirking up in a smile every once
in a while as she thinks back on J'var's comment. She lifts her hand to get
the healer's attention as she thinks of a question. "When we use our hands
to warm them does that mean our bare hands?" She covers her mouth as she
giggles and nods to J'var, "True..."

J'var's mouth twitches into a smirk at Kassi's comment. "Almost. I'm still
on top. Wheeee." Snuggling? He perks up.

Nadja nods, "You get the creative thinking prize. I hadn't thought of
that." she smiles at the idea, "Yes, lizards would be very useful in such
circumstances and your hands don't have to be totally bare, as long as your
body heat can get through whatever you're wearing like, say, woollen
gloves. Hide gloves would be no good as the warmth won't be able to get
through."

Leya smiles at Kassi and nods to Nadja. "So, no riding gloves, but woolen
ones are all right," she murmurs to herself.

Kassima grins at the Weyrhealer, looking over her shoulder towards the
convenient piece of furniture on which her fair is perched. "Have t'find
uses for this lot somehow," she quips. "T'make up for 'em eating the Weyr
nigh out of house and home." Leaning to the nearest Thunderbolt rider, she
murmurs, "We'll need to all be getting woolen gloves a'fore the drill,
then. Pass that down the line."

Leya smiles to herself as the message gets to her. She nods, then leans
over to whisper the message into J'var's ear.

Nadja glances down at her notes, "Right then. I'll move quickly on to
hypothermia. Hypothermia is often caused by prolonged exposure to cold
outdoors, especially in wet and windy conditions. Cold water can also cause
death from hypothermia, rather than drowning. Surrounded by water the body
cools twenty-five times faster than with just air and cold weather. Some
signs of hypothermia are shivering, the skin appearing cold, pale and dry,
apathy, confusion, irrational behavior, lethargy and failing to stay
conscious. Slow and shallow breathing and a weakening pulse are signs of
extreme hypothermia, with cardiac arrest being the most fatal of those."

Aurian tucks her hair out of her eyes.

J'var pauses. "Irrational behavior?" He twitches slightly, trying not to
look toward Kassi, and gives Leya a slight nod, bending to pass it on.

A thoughtful frown tugs at one corner of Kassi's mouth at the mention of
cardiac arrest. "Is it more or less danger than 'tis worth t'be taking
extreme cases *between*, then? Would the shock be too likely t'cause
heart-failure t'be worth it?"

Leya glances sideways at J'var, "If it was just irrational behavior the
whole weyr would be diagnosed with hypothermia." She turns her attention
back the healer and the more serious discussion.

Tamera sits quietly listening to the lecture and those talking around her.

J'var snickers, quickly stifling the sound with a drink from his flask.

Nadja's brows furrow as she thinks on that one, "with extreme cases, it
might be better flying them straight to the nearest shelter, rather than
risking heart failure by taking a casualty *between*. If there is no
shelter within straight flying distance then try to warm the casualty in
whatever shelter you have."

J'var sits back in his chair, stretching his free hand out to lay his arm
across the back of Leya's seat. "Kinda like bundling up 'lizard eggs. Fair
enough."

Kassima nods, eyes half-closing as she assimilates this information. "A
dragon could likely be making a sort of shelter, if'n all else failed," she
speculates. "Cold doesn't affect 'em, though they might nay be thrilled by
the weather."

Leya peers back at J'var arm but doesn't say anything, "Except that I'd
feel a lot worse if I lost the person than the 'lizard eggs." She nods to
Kassima, "A dragon could also help dig out a snow shelter as well."

J'var snorts softly. "Miseth'd just complain about not being able to play
in the snow." He nods to Leya, giving her a wink for the peering. "Sharding
good idea, that. And they'd do it a lot faster than us, too."

Leya rolls her eyes at the wink, but does look pleased at the compliment,
"Thanks. And if they could make it big enough they could get in too and
help keep it warm."

Nadja smiles broadly, "It's that kind of quick thinking that saves lives,"
she continues, "Once you have your casualty in some sort of shelter, wrap
them in blankets, try to feed them warm broths and liquids, to gently
rewarm them. If you do not, rapid warming may send the blood that is needed
by their hearts and brains to the outside of the body that is being warmed.
The inner core needs to be warmed first. Feed them liquids that are high in
energy and sweet, for example sweetened klah."

J'var's smile turns smug at the quick thinking comment. Time to get a
bigger hat size. "Liquids, no problem." He raises his flask as if toasting
the Healer.

Leya eyes the flask disapprovingly, but nods anyways, "So it'd be a good
idea to bring something like that with sweet klah in it you're going on a
snow rescue?" Sweetened klah, not whatever J'var keeps in his flask.

"Warm liquids," Kassima repeats. "Sweetened klahs. Or... are there any
kinds of herbal teas that could be helping, that could be served sweetened?
Faranth knows, the Healers seem t'have a penchant for having us choke down
teas with any sign of a sniffle--ah, nay offense."

"Carrying a flask with warm sweet klah, warm milk, warm tea, whatever would
be an excellent idea," Nadja nods approvingly towards Leya and then casts
an amused glance in Kassima's direction, "Actually, in this case, whether
the liquid was a tea or not doesn't actually matter. It's the warmth that
counts, you'll be glad to know."

J'var is used to being disapproved of, and ignores it. "Gotcha," he nods
toward Nadja. "Warm liquid, shelter, and no rubbing."

Nadja clasps both hands together, "I think I've covered everything that I
wanted to talk about today. I've enjoyed taking this lecture and wish you
the best of luck in your drills. If you have any more questions, feel free
to ask them.

Leya smiles at Nadja, "Thank you for giving us the lecture. What do you
think are the essentials that we should bring with us on a rescue, besides
the warm liquid?"

J'var's hand slips down for a pat on Leya's shoulder, and he nods
approvingly, murmuring, "Good question. Good thinking."

Kassima mutters under her breath, "There's a mercy. Last thing I need is
for Ushu t'be pressing flasks of rose petal tea or what have you on us."
The sad thing is, he probably would, too. "Just one question, Healer--since
m'clever Wingrider has asked the other--" An approving look is shot towards
Leya there. "And thankee indeed for your time. Since alcohol doesn't
freeze, would there be any benefits t'pouring it over frostbitten skin,
mayhaps? T'be protecting against further freezing?"

Leya turns her head to smile at J'var. "Thanks," she murmurs, then looks
back at Nadja for the answer.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima, going through old journals, finds the following quote
she just has to share: "Life is like a box of brown dragons. Sometimes,
when you reach in a hand, all you pull back is a stump."

Telgar Weyr> J'var blinks, and snickers.

Telgar Weyr> Leya blinks, "Implying that brown dragons are apt to chew you
up if you're not careful?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snickers. I don't think it was originally intended to
be a Pernese quote; it was written by a guy whose Usenet persona was a
brown dragon. But it sounds amusing in the context. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Leya ahhs, "Somehow I can't picture Tovith biting off someone
hand..." :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Maybe if you replaced 'brown' with 'proddy
green'...."

Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Now /that/ would definitely work. ;>"

Nadja thinks for a moment then counts off on her fingers, "Blankets, plenty
of them, for layering around the casualty, perhaps warm, dry clothing to
put on the victim. For these types of conditions there isn't any miracle
cure I'm afraid. We just have to use common sense in warming the casualties
up. As for the alcohol, I'm not certain that it would be a good idea.
Alcohol freezes at a lower temperature than water so even if it is still a
liquid, it's going to be just as cold as the surrounding snow. Also,
alcohol dehydrates tissue, which could be a problem with sore, stiff
frostbitten parts of the body.

Kassima bobs her head in acceptance. "Only heard once a bronzerider
quipping to another who was about t'go out on dawn sweeps in winter that
mayhaps he should pour alcohol down his pants if'n he was worried about
aught freezing off," she quips, trying to keep a straight face. "So I
wondered whether 'twould actually work."

J'var snorts softly at hearing Nadja's answer, the foot balanced on the
opposite knee jiggling a bit. He peers back at Kassi. "Um... that's... "
Indescribable, apparently, as he gives up doing so.

Leya pulls out a bit of hide and writes down the essantials in her neat,
angular script. "Lots of blankets, clothes, warm liquid, not alcohol," she
says to herself as she writes each down. She then peers over at Kassima,
"That wasn't anyone I know hopefully."

Nadja actually lets out a guffaw of unprofessional laughter at the
wingleader's words, "I wonder if he tried it," is her mild comment.

Telgar Weyr> Nadja really has to go now. My eyes are burnt holes in my 
head ;)

Telgar Weyr> J'var grins and snugs Nadja. "Thanks!"

Telgar Weyr> Leya snugs Nadja, "Thank you!"

"Woolen gloves, rope," Kassi appends to Leya's list. "Oh, 'twas--G'rignr
had the complaint, and C'row made the suggestion," she explains, naming two
Thunderbolt bronzeriders. "I'm told G'rignr *did* try it. C'row and Servoth
were both laughing about that for days."

Leya just shakes her head, "Bronzers..." She jots down Kassi's additions.
"Anything more you can think off?"

J'var laughs quietly. "Remind me to ask him about that."

Telgar Weyr> Nadja turns the log off, "Thanks for being a great audience.
I'm outta here to get my much needed beauty sleep ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima zhaisnugs a Nadja! Thanks again! :)

Kassima chews her lip in thought. "Blankets, rope, warm drinks, woolen
gloves, fire-lizards--oh. A glowbasket or two, in case we've folk trapped
in cave or crevasse too small for the dragons t'be seeing into. Methinks
that'll cover it. If'n aught else is needed that we forget, at least 'tis
better we find out about it in the drill than in actual practice."

Leya taps each item already on her list with her writing stick, carefully
adding in each one that isn't on there. She looks up and nods to Kassima,
"That's certainly true."

J'var nods his agreement, stretching a bit. "I'd think fire-makin' stuff'd
be good too, but that's just me."

"If'n we can find material t'burn, aye, but that's the challenge," Kassima
agrees, or sort of agrees. "We'd need dry wood and a shelter from snow that
might douse the burning, if'n the weather's bad. Still, couldn't hurt
t'have a tinderbox or a speck of firestone for your 'lizards."

J'var nods thoughtfully. "That's what I was thinking too, but there's no
reason a dragon couldn't pack a load of wood as well."

Aurian tilts her head, "If a dragon can carry a load of stone..."

Leya nods and writes, Tinderbox and/or bit of firestone under the last item
on the list. She holds her writing stick up to her mouth as she scans the
list, "How big of a load do you think all this stuff would be? Would every
dragon have to have all of it?"

Kassima scratches her head, considering. "Nay reason they couldn't, I
suppose--and 'twould nay need so *very* much fire. Assuming we've dragons,
we can likely count on them for warmth, aye? 'Tis warming the broths and
whatnay that we'd need fire for. So m'guess would be that only one dragon
per group of rescuers--in this case, Wing--might need t'be carrying wood.
Sound reasonable t'you, Auri?"

Aurian nods, "I should think so."

J'var mhmmms, taking a drink as he leans forward to peer over Leya's
shoulder. "I can't shake the feeling we're forgetting something."

J'var snaps his fingers. "Numbweed. That get mentioned?"

Leya adds 'wood' beside the other fire making materials on her list. She
turns to J'var, ignoring the flask, "Hmm, what do you think... Numbweed?
But didn't she say that numbness was one of the symptoms?"

"If'n we are, 'twill find out soon enough," Kassi says, around a stifled
yawn. "*Food* might be a good idea, though, come t'be thinking on it, in
case something happened that we had t'stay on a time--numbweed. Hmmm. 'Tis
truth you're speaking, Leya, but if'n the victims sustained other injuries
it could be useful. Nay hard t'be getting yourself hurt in a white-out."

Maylia, having been rather quiet this whole time, finally contributes. "I'd
think that there'd be a good possibility that other injuries might've
happened?" She suggests, nodding to J'var. "Numbweed and other first aid
measures might be in order, for those who know how to use them."

J'var gestures vaguely toward Kassi. "What she said. Food." He looks up,
putting on a look of mock horror. "We -must- have food!"

Aurian nods to Maylia, "Just in case."

Leya giggles at J'var, poking at his stomach with her writing stick, "You
wouldn't starve." She writes both of the suggestions down anyways though,
the list getting longer and her handwriting smaller.

J'var snickers. "Sharding right, I wouldn't. I'd fly a blizzard first,
Emasculator or no."

"If'n all else failed, 'lizards *could* fetch food," Kassima points out,
droll. "So starving isn't likely. Certes naught t'be undergoing
Emasculation t'be preventing."

Leya grins at Kassima, then peers back down at her list before holding it
out toward her Wingleader. "How's it look?"

J'var hmmms. "For those who actually have 'lizards. Those who don't should
probably carry some with 'em."

Leya nods to J'var, "Though it really wouldn't be all that hard for them
acquire a few of the little guys if that wanted to. I should know." Lyra
chitters at her in her ear and Leya reaches up to scritch her eyeridge
elciting a croon of pleasure.

Kassima points out, "Those who do have 'lizards could be sending theirs to
those who don't with food, then. But all the same, 'twould be better t'pack
a few meatrolls in the strap-pouches, aye." Accepting the list, she reads
over it, nodding at each point. "Methinks you have easier handwriting t'be
reading than I, and as t'content, all seems in order. Good work, and good
thoughts, both of you."

J'var grins, nudging an elbow in Leya's direction. "Yes, you should." He
looks back toward Kassi with a nod. "Of course." As if aught else would be
expected from him? *cough*

Leya smiles at Kassi, "Thanks." She reaches up above her head in a stretch,
wrinkling her nose at J'var. "It's hard to resist, they're such cute little
things."

Kassima snorts audibly at that, not dignifying it with other reply;
instead, she quips, "Cute little endless stomachs. 'Tis only grateful I am
that Khari and Kris have none of 'em yet, and Kay only the one. Mayhaps
there's hope for the weyr nay being coverd with a carpet of wall t'wall
'lizards yet."

J'var grins at Leya. "I will -never- forget that day at the Woodcrafthall."
He peers toward Kassi. "You are insane, woman."

A firelizard hatchling sticks her head out of Aurian's pocket as the
brownrider starts to speak, "Aye Kassima. Its why I throw myself in front
of Aumaylia these days to make sure she doesn't impress..."

Leya grins back at J'var as Lyra chirrups proudly, "I don't think I will
either. I think that little bronze picked the right person." She eyes
Kassi, then looks back J'var, "I think she figured that out a long time
ago, J'var." Her smile softens as she sees the little hatchling in Aurian's
pocket, "Oh! How cute! You got one!"

Kassima blinks back at J'var, all innocence. "This is news? But what's
reconfirmed it for you this time?" Waggling a finger at the Dawnslight
Wingleader, she intones, "'Twill wager you, Auri, that she'll someday wind
up with a green of her own while you're away at drills. There's nay moment
of horror like the one when your child runs up t'you with a baby 'lizard in
her hands."

Aurian grins at Leya, "I used to have only three but now.. I can't even
keep track."

Aurian glares at kassima, "I didn't need to hear that."

J'var snickers. "That you might even be close to having wall to wall
'lizards." He laughs heartily, tossing his head back. "Ah, Aurian, calm
down. I'll be happy to show Aumaylia how to deal with her wee green when
she's old enough."

Aurian rubs the bridge of her nose. "Faranth."

Leya giggles, her eyes glinting mischeiviously, "Ah, but does she want you
to do that, J'var? Perhaps that'd just be worse?"

"Didn't you know that if'n you tally up the number I've had over the Turns,
they'd reach over three-score?" Kassi asks, sounding distinctly amused.
"I've still eight and ten, Kay has Lucki, and if'n all the spawn started
their own hordes... shells. One greenrider horde plus three--four!--spawn
hordes. 'Twould be thoroughly doomed. At least you don't need t'worry about
me trying t'give her a green egg, Auri. Too sympathetic t'your plight am 
I."

J'var's eyebrows waggle. "If the girl's got a lick of sense, she will,
Leya, she will."

Aurian glares at J'var, she is definitely keeping her eye on that one.

Leya grins at J'var, showing all her teeth in the process. "Oh, but I
wasn't talking about Aumaylia. I talking about her mother." She gestures
toward the glaring Aurian, smiling innocently.

J'var grins, glancing toward Aurian. "Well, whatta ya say, dear lady? I
heard you needed somebody to get you pregnant again. Not that I'm
volunteering for the job, but we could always practice." A shake of his
flask reveals it's empty, and he tucks it back into a jacket pocket.

Kassima inquires in a drawl, watching this interplay between her Wingriders
and Aurian with scarce-concealed mirth, "So what say you, Aurian? D'you
have 'a lick of sense'? Unlike m'Lord Ruled-By-What's-In-His-Pants over 
here?"

Aurian yelps, "KASSIMA! WHat have you been talking about..."

Kassima holds up her hands to ward off the sonic force of that yelp. "I
haven't! I didn't!" Pause. "At least, I don't *think* I did...."

Leya just leans back in her chair and grins her amusement at the scene in
front of her.

J'var's eyebrows rise. "Is that a 'yes'?" he asks innocently, sending Kassi
a smirk.

Aurian slides her hands into her pockets and glares at J'var, "Faranth boy,
don't you have someone to bed somewhere.." As if the redhead can really
call anyone boy.

J'var nods amiably. "Several, matter of fact. But there's always room in my
schedule to... squeeze you in, Aurian."

Leya folds her lips under her teeth in a vain attempt to not laugh at
Aurian's and J'var's response. She pipes up, "He might even be willing to
do all of you at once. Isn't that right, J'var. Six is your record?"

Kassima eyes J'var. Just eyes him. "You," she tells the greenrider, "are a
prime candidate t'be continuing Thunderbolt's tradition of having the most
prolific dragonriders in its ranks, I see--'all of you,' Leya? All of
*whom*? Or dare I even ask?"

Aurian plants her hands on her hips as she gazes at J'var, "Sorry.. if I
bed anyone.. they don't get to squeeze me in... they'd best have cleared an
entire night.."

Leya lifts her hands in a gesture of innocence, "Not me, though he did
offer before. All the other people in his...schedule," she finishes dryly.
She grins over Aurian, "Thata girl. Never settle for less than you're 
worth."

J'var shakes his head slightly, his twinkling eyes remaining on Aurain. "I
don't think I could handle more than just Aurian at a time, Leya." He grins
over at Kassi, sending her a wink, and looks back to Aurian, eyes lighting
slightly. "Okay. Leya, could you tell Scoa and Hilta they'll have to do
without me tonight?"

Kassima takes a moment to cover her eyes. "Auri, you're a dear friend, but
that's really, really more than I needed t'be knowing about you. And
*please*--if'n you two are going t'be going at it with hammer and tongs,
can you nay do it *here*? I'm just getting *over* the nausea. Having it
come back would be bad."

Aurian snorts at J'var, "Sorry I'm afraid you simply aren't my type."

Leya grins at J'var, but fakes a distressed tone of voice, "What? And break
their poor hearts?"

J'var blinks at Aurian. "Say what? But I'm -everybody's- type!" He sounds
quite serious and confused, and rolls his eyes, batting at Leya with a hand
despite his snicker.

Kassima, at this declaration from J'var, takes a moment to snicker. A long
moment indeed.

Leya bats right back, snorting at his proclamation. "That's quite a
statement..."

Aurian smirks at J'var, "No, everybody's your type.."

J'var wags a finger at his Wingleader. "Now, now, don't knock it til you've
tried it. I'd rock that 'lizard-covered weyr of yours." Eyebrows rise.
"Why, Aurian, are you saying I'm not discriminating in my affections? Now,
why should I deny a girl the chance to have -me- for several hours?" He
nods solemnly to Leya. "And every word of it true."

Leya bursts out laughing at Aurian's response, "You know, I think you may
be right there." She raises an eyebrow at J'var, "So if anyone, ah, /tried/
you you're certain that they'd like you."

Kassima manages to get control of her mirth, albeit with difficulty.
"M'lifestyle of choice is usually chastity, J'var, so the only way you
could be my type would be if'n 'twere a eunuch." Something of an
exaggeration--E'vrin wasn't, after all--but she can't resist, because it
lets her add, "Are you suggesting you are, then?"

Aurian pushes her hair out of her eyes, "How manytimes have you been told
no in your life J'var?"

J'var gives Kassi a scathing look, and merely sniffs his indignation.
"Hardly. And chastity is a waste of that beautiful body of yours." Leya, he
shrugs to. "Well, they might not necessarily -like- me... but they sure as
shells would be quite satisfied." A slight flicker of fingers dismisses
Aurian's implication. "A lot fewer times than I've been told 'yes', 
darlin'."

Leya just smiles and shakes her head at J'var, folding her arms across her
chest as she leans back. "You're just so impossible."

"Why, because I prefer t'be exercising it by practicing techniques in
maiming things rather than other possibilities?" Kassi wants to know, a
knife having flickered into her hand, its tip tapped flatwise against her
chin. "'Tany rate, if'n you're nay, then you're nay m'type and your
argument is refuted. Simple enough. But do remind me t'be starting a
wagering pool on how many spawn you end up with someday. I have the
strangest urge t'be betting on forty and two."

Aurian drops into her seat, "Why is this entire weyr trying to get me to
spawn again.. Faranth you would think I would be hearing this at home..."

J'var -cringes-. "Spawn? -Me-?" he squeaks. "No! No no no no. I'll let
y'all take care of providing the next generation, thanks. Am not, Leya.
Just... truthful." He blinks, and peers at Aurian. "Are they? I mean, we?
Twas merely a rumor that you were looking for the father of your next
spawn..."

Aurian shrugs, "I'd like another baby, but well its nothing that needs to
happen right now. I'm rather busy with the wing right now."

Leya grins at Kassi, "I know better than to be betting against you, Kassi.
Count me out." Her grin twistly wryly at J'var's cringe, "J'var. Where did
you think babies came from? You can't keep living like you have and not
expect to spawn." She smiles at Aurian, "Maybe it's this weyr's weird way
of saying that they like you."

J'var continues almost without pausing, "On the other hand, spawn'd be a
small price to pay for a night with you, Aurian." He winks, and aims a
light smack at Leya's shoulder. "I know where they come from. I go out of
my way to make sure ain't no spawning gonna sprout from my loins, that's 
all."

Kassima gets a turn at being scandalized now: "What, a Thunderbolt rider
without spawn? Are you mad? We *have* t'be spawning! 'Tis in the great
tradition of the first Wingleader, F'hlan himself! Even *I* spawn, as all
good Thunderbolt Wingleaders should, and I'm bloody celibate--" She breaks
off abruptly, and relaxes with a laugh. "Shells, what am I worried about?
You'll spawn. Probably already have, with that lifestyle--Leya has the
right of it. Also in the last, Auri. We want you t'spawn because more
Auri-spawn about would add to the Weyr's evilness factor. Or at least,
that's m'reasoning."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snickers. And lo, a new Sacred Wing Tradition is born.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "...Or spawned, as the case may be. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Leya grins.

Aurian smirks, "Aumie isn't evil.."

"Yet," is Kassi's sweet-voiced appendage.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn fears?

J'var snorts. "She is too! She scared the living daylights outa me,
deciding to come when she did."

Leya just shakes her head at J'var, "Even during flight..." but she doesn't
press any furth she's too busy looking horrified at Kassima. "What...? You
mean everyone in Thunderbolt has to spawn? But, but..." she sputters.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima quotes. "What, a Thunderbolt rider without spawn? Are
you mad? We *have* t'be spawning! 'Tis in the great tradition of the first
Wingleader, F'hlan himself!"

Telgar Weyr> Aurian grins, "And J'lyn helped continue it.. once a
Thunderbolt rider always a thunderbolt rider

Telgar Weyr> Leya paraphrases, "What?!" *passes out*

Kassi's words sink into J'var's head, and he slowly turns, and stands, and
peers at her. "Now Kassi," he says with reasonable desperation, "Do you
-really- want a whole lot of little me's running around here playing healer
with all the girls?"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn has been a Tbolt rider forever. :)

Aurian tilts her head at J'var, "Suppose you have nothing but little 
girls.."

Kassima hastens to assure Leya, "Oh, only once, really. We don't all need
t'be having eight children as F'hlan did, or seven as M'kla did, or even
J'lyn's five--why, P'tran only had the three. Or two. Depends which rumors
you listen to. But we're the Wing of Prolific Dragonriders, and spawning's
our noble and sacred heritage." Judging by the way her eyes are dancing,
she *may* be laying it on a bit thick for terrifying purposes. Just maybe.
"Certes, J'var. 'Twould be giving m'children, who prefer t'be playing with
knives, plenty of opportunity for target practice."

Telgar Weyr> J'raen says, "F'nar helped with it too."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "After all, F'hlan founded Thunderbolt, M'kla
was in it at one point, J'lor was--albeit before he ICly spawned tons of
kids at Benden--R'val was, F'nar was, Flan was, Jal was, Asrai was, Kassi
is... and that's just touting up the number with four or more. Lots and
lots of prolific dragonriders here."

Leya sinks down in her chair, holding her head between her hands. "We don't
have to spawn right away, do we?" she asks in a pitifully frightened voice.
She doesn't even look amused at what Kassi says to J'var.

J'var just coughs. "Girls. Um... I hadn't considered that. Girls... That
could be hit on by the boys around here... I'd shave their heads when they
hit thirteen." He swallows hard at Kassi's words. "And I'd warn off any
boys from Kassi's kids. But not from Mart's," his eyes twinkle, "Cause he
turns neat colors."

Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "So if Leya ICly ended up, like, nine kids she'd be
carrying on the noble tradition of Tbolt? ;>"

Aurian glances to Leya, "Girl you don't ahve to do anything you don't want
to do.."

Kassima shakes her head most emphatically. "Nay, nay. Nay rush on the
spawn, particularly right now--last thing we need is more riders out. You
can wait a long time t'spawn. But with as much bed-hopping as J'var does,
I'm expecting him t'be spawning enough t'be getting a good wagering pool
going." Listening to J'var, she actually beams at him. "Evil t'Mart. *That*
is a good plan."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Exactly. ;)"

Leya looks visiblely relieved at that answer, relaxing and looking back
around again. "Oh, good." She even quirks an eyebrow at J'var, "You'd do
what to your poor girls?"

Aurian shakes her head, "I seriously fear J'var's plans for his 
daughters."

J'var glances toward Leya. "With people like me around, wouldn't -you-?" He
grins faintly, shaking his head. "I wonder how long it'll be before Mart
figures out I say such things on purpose just for his reaction. Ah, Aurian,
you've got nothing to worry about... less'n you'd like me to foster 
Aumaylia?"

Aurian snorts, "For the love of Faranth no.."

Leya leans back and peer at J'var, "So it's all right for /you/ to go sleep
with other mens' daughters, but when it's /your/ daughters they can't sleep
with anyone. And no, I would never shave my daughters heads. Maybe foster
them outside the weyr, but not that."

J'var smirks. "I didn't think so, Auri." He laughs as he nods to Leya. "I
know. Completely unfair, I know. I think it's some sort of weird male 
thing."

"Just train your daughters t'be kicking male rump. That's less
disfiguring," Kassima suggests. "And going by my experience... 'twill be,
oh, fifteen Turns or so. Mayhaps a bit more. He's finally started figuring
out how t'stop flushing at what I say and start tormenting back, which is
good; more of a challenge that way, y'know. Will you shave *J'var's* head
if'n he sleeps with your daughters, Leya?"

Aurian mutters, "I'll shave more than his head if he sleeps with my 
daughter."

Leya shakes her head at J'var, "Very unfair." Her mouth curls up on one
side at Kassi's question, "I don't know... He might like being bald." She
then nods more seriously to Aurian, "Deserve it too."

J'var beams. "Fifteen turns. Great. I don't have a rep for evil, either, so
it should take him even longer to figure me out." There's a distinct 'erk'
sound, and he reaches for his flask, forgetting it's empty. "-My- head?
Don't even suggest it!" Peering at Aurian, he scoots a few steps away from
her.

Aurian smirks, "I'm not suggesting that end.."

Kassima draws the wherry-skewer from her belt, and offers it hilt-first to
Aurian with a bow. "I'd suggest chasing him about the room with this, Auri,
I truly would. In revenge for the Aumaylia-with-green thing, y'know."

Leya stays seated, though she does stage whisper to J'var, "I think now
would be a good time to run away." She looks over at Aurian and the knive
Kassi is offering her eyeing them significantly.

Aurian shakes her head, "No thanks Kassima. Got my own.." She reaches into
her boot.

J'var doesn't even bother nodding to Leya- he shows his total agreement by
fleeing for the door.

J'var exits to the Telgar Records Room.

Kassima replaces the wherry-skewer in her belt, straightens... and then
cracks up. Positively hoots with laughter, in fact. "We've got t'be doing
that more often!" she wheezes through her mirth. "His expression was
*priceless*!"

Aurian slides the knife into her boot, "Honestly. "

Leya watches J'var disapear through the door, then grins at Kassima, "Well,
you shouldn't have to worry about him going after your daughters, at least
for a while yet."

"He wouldn't. He knows I'd slaughter him," Kassima answers, serenely
confident. As well she should be, since it's probably true. "Besides,
Kaylira's still only eleven--if'n he started eyeing her, I'd pick him up
and bounce him against the wall of the Bowl until he learned better."
Leya nods her approval, "Yup, though I don't think he would. I think he
likes his girls older than that."

Aurian glances towards Kassima, "Faranth I would have dropped him into the
wastes from five dragonlenths above the ground.."

Kassima's explanation is almost apologetic: "Thunderbolt can always use
another green, so it had t'be something that'd let him live. Minus a few
parts, but still, live."

Aurian smirks, "I have a green or so I can spare.. I could use another
brown actually."

"Sorry, sorry--can't spare a brown, though I'm tempted t'spare a bronze
if'n you'd like G'rignr and Argoth," Kassi grumbles, leaning back against
her abandoned chair. "An excellent Threadfighter, but he *will* do the
sharding stupidest things outside of Fall. Like pouring wine down his pants
t'keep his masculinity intact."

Leya just sits quietly and watches the two Wingleaders talking about the
composition of their wings. She snorts and laughs quietly at the thought of
G'ringr and the wine.

Aurian blinks, "What??"

"He poured wine down his pants t'try and keep his vital statistics--so
t'speak--from freezing off during winter sweeps," Kassima repeats, shaking
her head as she does so. "And then he complained about having t'fly with
wet pants. 'Twasn't sure whether t'choke laughing or choke him."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima takes a moment to recommend the MiSTing of 'Eye of
Argon,' the basis for G'rignr and Argoth the Unbelievably Stupid.

Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "What is MiSTing?"

Aurian shakes her head, "I didn't need to hear that Kassima.."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "It's when a text item--usually fanfic,
sometimes email or a Usenet post or the like--is re-written as if it were a
script for MST3K. Done well, they're *hilarious*. :)"

Kassima lifts her index finger. "But it did distract you from the horrific
thought of Aumaylia with a green or J'var bedding her, didn't it?"

Aurian laughs, "And my finding myself a grandmother.."

Maylia returns to the council room, this time sans weyrlings. Apparently,
the 'youngsters' have been sent to their beds for chilly dreams of
frostbite and hypothermia, thanks to Healer Nadja. The greenrider pales,
however. "Aumay - on green? J'var's getting nowhere near that girl, no way,
no how, not ever!" She interjects, looking torn between seriousness and
laughter.

Aurian smirks to Maylia, "J'var offered to father my next child this
evening.."

Kassima shudders. Very definitely shudders. "Don't even *say* that, Auri.
By the time you're of age t'be a grandmother, I'll have been so long since.
I'm nay old enough t'be a grandmother, am I?" That request of the room is
rather plaintive. "With a green 'lizard, May--and J'var offered t'teach her
how to... handle it. Frightening thing."

Leya grins at Maylia, "I don't think you'll have to worry about that.
Aurian already chaced him out of the room at knife point." Or something
like that.

Aurian shakes her head, "All I did was threaten to have something other
than his head."

Maylia actually looks proud of Aurian at Leya's statement. "That's a
relief. Wait - Aumay's got a firelizard? What?" She scowls slightly at
Aurian corrects Leya, then shrugs. "Too bad."

"Nay *yet*. But she will," Kassi warns. "Mark m'words. All the children
will be ending up with 'lizards soon enough. I consider it a miracle mine
don't have hordes yet."

Aurian shakes her head, "no I've been throwing myself in front of
firelizards to keep Aumay free of them.." She taps one of her pockets and a
firelizard hatchling sticks his head out grumpily.

Maylia ahs, looking relieved again. "You got yourself another?" She asks,
peering at the little thing wistfully. "My last's quite grown now. Wonder
if Tas'd mind another addition to the weyr."

Leya shrugs, "Well, it look like you were about to go after him with a
knife when he ran out." She grins at the grumpy firelizard hatchling, "How
can they be so awful? They're so cute..." As if all cute things are /good/
things...

Aurian grins, "They can be very nice and others are quite evil... You've
not seen my Maleva.. I'm glad she keeps hiding her clutches. I just keep
seeing her trying to sidle up to Snarl.."

Leya reaches up to pat Lyra as she churrs in her ear, "Well, I don't think
I ended up with any evil ones. Overly curious and mischeivious, but not 
evil."

Maylia bends down, scooping a writing instrument from the floor. "There it
is!" is exclaimed. "NOt all of them are cute, Leya. You've seen Snarl!"
Aurian's words elicit a shudder from the greenrider. "Just imagine what
their clutch'd be like? Shards!"

Kassima slides a glance towards her own fair. "You've never met Darvan or
Koreyn, have you?" Dual hisses from the named duo. "Even Zabreneva's hardly
*cute*--but kidlings are well able t'be getting into trouble on their own
without adding 'lizards to the mix!" Grinning, then, she remarks, "If'n he
can take it in stride when you add random female riders to the weyr,
methinks he could probably handle a 'lizard. They're at least rather 
smaller."

Aurian chuckles.

Maylia tucks the writing tool into her pocket, patting it securely there.
"At any rate, littles really shouldn't impress a firelizard till they've at
least seven or eight turns, I'd say. Ah well. Evening, all - I'm off!"

"That's little enough help," Kassi mourns. "Khari's eight. But she does
remind me that I should be seeking bed a'fore I keel over--the whole
'nodding off at random intervals' thing has t'compete with sickness and
groundedness and roundness for m'least favorite part of pregnancy."

Leya smiles at Kassi, then stands up, "Would you like me to help you?"
Aurian sighs and is quite beat too, "Aye.. I'm too tired... drills and
drills.. how's Kena working out?"

Kassima laughs silently, straightening from her lean. "I can still get to
and onto m'dragon easily, thank Faranth, but thankee kindly for offering.
Kena's doing a fine job, I'd say. I'm considering suggesting she appoint an
Acting Wingsecond, though--strictly temporary, but she needs someone t'be
helping in air as well as on ground."

Aurian nods, "Good idea."

Leya nods to Kassima, but doesn't sit back down. "All right. Yeah, I think
Kena's doing well. Of course, she could never replace you, Kassi. But she's
still good." She just leans her head over to one side at the Wingsecond
news, not saying anything. It's Wing business and she's just a wingrider.

Kassima smiles at the compliment to herself, though there's a hint of
amusement in it. "Well, thankee. I do try t'choose well when I choose
'seconds." With a final grin, she starts towards the Bowl. "Clear skies and
g'night, you two."

Aurian stretches, "And to you.."

You leave the Council Room.