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Benden Hold's Tithe Train


Date:  April 4, 1997
Place:  Benden Weyr's Southern Bowl
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:  It's weird to realize how many times it seems I've RPed
about Benden Hold's tithe but how few about anywhere else's.  In this
case, Kassi helps unload a little, but Lysseth is a bigger contributor;
she provides a grotesque floor show when she decides to feed, and a
*wonderful* example for young Pleiath while she's at it.

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The Log:

Meli returns from her brief foray to the north bowl, clutching a bit of
hide. "Well, tithe train's here f'Benden. Best see to th'unloadin'. They'll
be cold an' tired."

Meli disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Benden Caldera.

Pleiath finds a place to recline with Juliath. She's at the stage where
she's imitating adult dragons, watching them constantly. Her pose as seh
stretches out is a mirror of the older green's.

Kassima watches after Meli, and sighs, reaching up to the sky in a stretch.
"Unloading tithe trains is an experience," she chuckles. "All of 'em came
during my Candidacy, as I recall, and that was one of our duties. *I* just
feel sorry for the people who have to run inventory on all that stuff."

Emlyn listens to Kassima, then, inexplicably grins. She's lost for a moment
in a memory, a fond smile playing on her face, before she nods to Kassima.
"I unloaded tithe wagons in plenty at the Reaches. Don't think I've done it
here."

Tithe Train emerges from the passage to the entrance cavern.

Tithe Train rumbles up. Reane, the driver, settles the team of
burdenbeasts, then goes to check the wagons.

Meli emerges from the passage to the entrance cavern.

Savran quickly hops of the wagon.

Mirala quickly hops of the wagon.

Meli follows along the side of the train, giving directions a bit and
laughing with the drivers.

Emlyn is waiting with a slowly growing body of weyr residents as the tithe
train rumbles up. She's dressed warmly.

Kassima grins. "Well, things shouldn't be much different here than at the
'Reaches--except for the important fact that the wine we'll unload will be
*fine* stuff, so we have to be more careful with it." She winks, and puts a
hand on Lysseth's shoulder. "Back up, ladylove. They've got to have room."
The green, eyeing the beasts who pull the train with an almost predatory
eye, does as requested. "Greetings!" Kassi calls over. "Benden's duties to
Benden!"

Telrin quickly hops of the wagon.

Snow continues to swirl down.

Savran nods to the many riders saying Benden's duty to Benden more times
then it has ever been said before.

Benden Weyr> Emlyn guffaws! Do it!

Mirala smiles and nods. "Hold's duties to the Weyr."

Benden Weyr> Meli snorfs. "Sounds fun."

Telrin clambers out in an ungainly manner, trying not to bump his already
sore head on anything wooden. Once on his own two feet again, he stands up
straight, and gives a polite nod to the assembled Weyrfolk.

Meli finishes chatting and moves back to the head of the train. "I hope
th'weather wasn't too bad in th'pass?"

Emlyn returns all the smiles and nods. She does a double take as she sees
the elaborate knot on Mirala's shoulder.

Kassima glances up at her dragon, and nods almost imperceptibly. "Go ahead,
Lyss," she murmurs. The green backs up, spreading her wings to get room for
launching, as Kassi turns her attention back to the Holderfolk. "Hope your
trip was decent, even though the weather's been rather chilled of late.
Where should we begin with the unloading?"

Savran makes his way to Meli, "No, we had great weather a bit snowy
perhaps, but, all in all it was quite cheerful."

Reane grins, nodding to Meli. "Well, the normal snow, snow, and more snow.
Not bad."

Lysseth spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with a
rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air.

Lysseth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her
aloft.

Above, Lysseth flies downward towards the feeding grounds.

Meli's smile grows, and she chuckles at both. "Well, we'll get y'unloaded
fast as we can, an' then you're welcome t'come into the living cavern for
some food an' hot drinks, or even soak in th'springs if you've th'mind."
She casts a glance at the group of residents, and then back at the holders.
"If y'have th'records hide, we'll get started."

Pleiath watches Lysseth lift into the sky, then descend into the feeding
grounds.

Mirala grins at Emlyn, noticing her gaze. "Heyla."

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth circles over the feeding grounds a few
times, searching out likely prey. She's apparently a discerning dragon, as
it takes her a bit of time before she abruptly folds her wings to dive
towards a fat and bleating cow. A *snap* that echoes across the bowl
announces the breaking of the beast's back as it meets the weight of a
fully-grown green dragon, and loses.

Benden Weyr> P'tran waves briefly :)

Savran nods, and whispers something to a passing drudge with a Benden Hold
knot she returns shortly with a few scrolls.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Hey, boss, Benden's here with their tithe!"

Benden Weyr> Emlyn salutes the WL briefly. :-)

Benden Weyr> P'tran nods and knows, but I won't be able to stay on long
this evening ...

Kassima nods to Meli. "There'll be cider and klah aplenty--hey, S'cot!" She
hails the green weyrling, who runs up to see what's required of him. "Go to
the Cavern, and tell Salless to be sure t'have hot food and drinks aplenty
prepared." The boy snaps the rider a salute, which of course elicits a sigh
from her, and jogs northward, his lifemate Kilth lumbering after him.

Emlyn returns Mirala's smile and says, "I don't think I've met you before,
Ma'am. My foster-mum is Bryena." Yes, she calls the 15 turn old 'ma'am'.

Savran hands the scrolls to Meli, "Here you are."

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins and is treating the Holders to the sight of a
dragon dining. Woo-hoo. ;) Heya, kemosabe. :)

Telrin furrows his brows, looking untrustingly at the wagon. Seemingly in a
grumbling mood, he mutters something about wagons, boats, and how he'd much
rather spend his time in one than the other. Realising that he's being
impolite, he rolls up his sleeves and addresses Meli, "Ready to set to,
ma'am. Just you get the official things ready, then we can heave-ho..."

Meli nods, taking the scrolls. An assistant steward steps forward to accept
the scrolls from her, already starting to mutter with some of the holders
as they go over the list and decipher the best way to unload and store the
various goods.

Benden Weyr> P'tran smirks at Kassima. "Try to leave them with a *little*
of their sanity intact, not to mention their lunch :)"

"Looks s'if you've had a good Turn, neh?" Meli says, nodding at Telrin and
the others. "We appreciate th'promptness of th'tithe."

In the Feeding Grounds, The next sounds audible are those of claw tearing
through bovine flesh, as Lysseth grips the beast in her talons. The dragon
tugs at the beast's spine, managing to pull it out of place with a distinct
ripping noise, and tosses it out of the way before lowering her head to
feed. "Good catch, Lyss!" her lifemate calls over from the Bowl.

Mirala chuckles. "Call me Mirala, or Mira if you will. I'm Benden Hold's
Baker and Head Cook. I don't believe I've met you, either." She smiles,
extending her hand. "Ah, the fair CraftMaster Bryena. May her bread ever
rise."

Kassima turns her attention back to the Holders after watching her
lifemate's display of gore for a moment. She steps up to stand beside Meli,
nodding agreement with the other rider. "Very much so, aye. And there'll be
plenty of hands to help unload, rest assured--I'm sure the Weyrlings will
be delighted to aid. Wouldn't you say so, Meli?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Sanity I can manage, but I'm not sure about the
lunch part. ;)"

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "Oh, really? I kinda thought it would be the
other way around :)"

Meli replies to Kassi, without even turning her head to look at the other
greenrider. "Of course, Kassi. Weyrlings /live/ t'unload wagons."

Emlyn is focusing on her conversation with the baker, not on the green
dragon ripping apart some of the weyrling's favorite animals on Pern. She
covers Mirala's extended hand and smiles. "Pleased to meet you, Mirala. My
name's Emlyn." She nods at the small green who's trying to mirror Juliath's
languid pose. "That's Pleiath."

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "If they were watching *me* eat, it probably
would be. As it's Lyss, though.... :)"

Emlyn hears the comments about weyrlings helping unload and shakes her head
with a resigned grin.

Kassima hrms, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Do they, Meli? I thought they
lived to muck couches and boil numbweed, with tithe-unloading merely a
favorite hobby. Live and learn!"

Savran grins as he listens to Kassima, and Meli.

Mirala smiles. "Well met, Emlyn. And Pleiath," she nods to the green.
"Hold's duties and such."

Meli hrms in kind, turning her head to call over towards Emlyn, who just
happens to be the nearest weyrling. "Pardon me, master," she prefaces to
Mirala, "but I need t'ask Emlyn to clear up a small matter f'us. Do
weyrlings live t'unload wagons, or live t'muck couches an' boil numbweed?"
And all this with a straight face, though a sly wink for the holders still
near the wagons.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth removes the beast's head from its neck with
a distinct *pop*, setting it aside for later. The only thing good about the
devouring of the herdbeast is that it doesn't take long; the green is,
apparently, famished. Snapping up the head with a satisfied rumble, she
springs up from the blood-soaked grounds in search of another victim.

Mirala nods to Meli, sitfling a grin.

Emlyn looks uncomfortable at Mirala's statement about duty, but turns to
answer Meli with an attempt at a straight face. "Weyrlings live to feed,
bathe, and oil, Ma'am. The rest is simply a distraction." She nods earnestly.

Telrin merely stays in the background, since Mirala seems to be doing such
a good job mixing with the Weyrfolk. He smiles in an attempt to look
friendly, but manages to appear slightly dimwitted with it. Noticing this,
and eager to dispel this untruth, he returns his mouth to the formal,
straight position.

Savran chuckles making his way back to the wagons to talk to a asst.
Steward about unloading the wagons.

"Well said, weyrling" Meli replies, then turns back to the gentlemen, as
various residents start moving between the wagons, taking directions from
the holders on what items to unload first, and checking with the weyr
stewards on where to place them. "Well, m'glad that's cleared up."

Emlyn winks at Mirala, then goes to join the group of people waiting to
carry. She says as she joins the line, "Never thought that when my Da was
raising draybeasts at Four Pines I'd be doing the same labor for the weyr
later."

Kassima chuckles. "I still say that a Weyrling's life is properly centered
around muck," she murmurs under her breath. "But my memory *is* skewed.
Meli, did I ever tell you of the time Vidarth tried to convince Lysseth and
Prefeth that R'val would be overjoyed if he found lots of dragon-muck in
his weyr?"

Pleiath has lost interest in simply lying there like Juliath. She's now
watching Lysseth destroy the herdbeast.

Meli crosses her arms over her chest, considering this new information.
"Really? Hmm. Yeh, I think I c'n imagine that about Vidarth, knowin' Uri
an' all." And she finally breaks down, chuckling and moving over to help
with the cargo shifting.

Mirala chuckles, walking over to to eye some of the food being unloaded.

Juliath lifts a lazy lid to watch the younger green, her eyes rolling a
slow and sleepy bluegreen.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth dives towards the wherry fortunate enough
to be her chosen one this time, executing her landing so that she is
sitting on the wherry's tail and hind legs--breaking the latter in the
process, of course. While the avian desperately tries to somehow escape,
she reaches down to crunch off a wing. Maybe it's a spark of pity that
causes her to slice its throat with her talons next, or maybe it's just
that she was sick of listening to it scream; no one will ever know.

Benden Weyr> Emlyn says, "Ugh. Kassi. Is Lysseth really that bloodthirsty?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Yeppers. She likes to play with her food. You
should just see her at flights sometime."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Gah, I'm glad Juliath's a bit neater ;)"

Benden Weyr> F'nar introduces the Herders to Lysseth as Pern's first
cutting dragon?

Kassima chuckles and shakes her head. "'Tis just a good thing that they
were too young to fly up to his weyr to fulfill his wishes, I still say."
She motions to V'dan standing nearby, and both greenriders set to work
unloading one of the wagons.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Only if the Herders wouldn't mind their stock
having broken legs and clawmarks, F'nar. ;)"

Benden Weyr> F'nar darns.

Emlyn smiles at the other holders who've accompanied the wagon. She asks
Telrin, "Is this your first trip to the weyr?"

"Oof" Meli says, with a particularly heavy box. "Forgot how diff'rent
square crates are from 'stone bags." With all due caution, she shuffles off
to set the box down in the designated spot, mindful of the snowy bowl floor.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth tugs some of the wherry's entrails out of
its previously plump belly, acting for all the world like a small child
with a forkful of spaghetti. Once she's freed all of her favorite tidbits
from the beast, including the head, she gulps the rest of it and crunches
the bones while surveying the herd once more.

Kassima chuckles as she hefts one of the boxes up, carrying over it to the
pile of similar boxes. "Aye, but at least we won't have to *throw* these,"
she points out.

One of the weyrfolk, despite turns of experience with feeding dragons, can
be heard to retch as the poor man sees Lysseth's dininghabits.

Telrin looks up as Emlyn addresses him. Respectfully, he replies, "No,
ma'am, been here once or twice. Run boats up the river, special deliveries
and the like. Useful for delicate cargo when one of you good folk isn't
available to transport it. Rickety things, them wagons, you know."

Benden Weyr> Kassima ROTFLs at that @emit.

Mirala carefully helps some drudges unload sacks of what must be the
dreaded tubers, watching the bowl. She pales at little at the feeding
dragon, but keeps her eyes on the load.

Kassima strides back over to the wagon, passing V'dan, who has a
medium-sized box in his arms. Chymeth's rider, perhaps distracted by the
need to sidestep Kassi, slips on a patch of snow and falls on his rump with
an audible oof--just barely maintaining his grip on the box. "Careful,
V'dan!" Kassi yells over. "You might've broken the crate!" A laugh can be
heard from her direction, and there's some grumbling from V'dan, before
both riders set back to working diligently at unloading.

In the Feeding Grounds, A green tail lashes out with blinding speed to hit
a second wherry, the bird flying across the grounds to crash against the
gate. It is most certainly dead. That is fortunate for it, because Lysseth
seems to be intent on pulling it apart before she consents to dine

Kassima glances over at her lifemate's bloody luncheon, and shakes her
head. "That's enough!" she yells towards the dragon. "Any more than that,
and you'll be too heavy to fly in the display later. Finish up that poor
bird and be done with it."

Emlyn has literally never been called 'ma'am' before. She blinks at the man
and nods reflexively at what he's saying. Before long she realizes she's
doing that and stops abruptly. "Er, rickety? The wagons in this tithe train
are handsomely-constructed and sturdy. Your boat must be amazingly sound."

The weyr resident who was sick earlier finds new reason to be ill. It seems
some of the unfortunate wherry's vital fluids sprayed on him.

Meli continues to move back and forth, content now to let the stewards from
both sites direct her activity. She natters away with the holders as time
and effort permits, keeping an eye on the weyrlings as needed. "F'rosti!"
she calls over at one point. "Don' /dance/ w'that crate, store it!"

Emlyn is carrying sacks as she carries on her conversation with Telrin.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lysseth grumbles, but finishes snacking on the
disemboweled corpse limb-by-limb. In a flurry of hide-bits and feathers,
she paces to the gate, rather liberally blood-spattered by now.

Lysseth comes here from the direction of the feeding grounds.

Telrin appears slightly embarrassed, unsure of whether he's offended
anyone, but decides to continue nonetheless. "Well-built they are, for
sure. Just don't hold with wagons, really. All depends on what you're used
to."

Adonith backwings for a landing.

Mirala hefts a tightly woven sack of flour over her back, pointing out
things to the Hold's drudges to carry.

Alyssa slides down the beautiful purplish blue flank of her lifemate to
come to a rest on the ground, Adonith swinging his head around to regard
her adoringly.

Kassima eyes F'rosti dubiously, from where she's working in relative
silence. "A crate can't make a very good dancing partner," she quips dryly.
"I think I'll just stick to hauling them about, rather than dancing...."
She trails off as she sees the retching weyrman. "What, man, never seen a
green eat before? Sheesh! Remind me t'tell you to flee next time she
bloods, or you're likely to faint or some such thing. Evening, Lys!"

Pleiath rises, wings rustling. She turns her muzzle from watching Lysseth
toward Emlyn. The weyrling pauses in her work to look at the green. She
frowns mightily and says, "No, you may not 'rip apart the feather bags,
Pleiath."

"Good even, Kassima, Meli, Weyrling." Alyssa glances at the other two and
adds softly, "And our duty to Bakercraft."

Adonith eases his richly hued form between the two adult greens and croons
softly to the younest of the dragons.

Meli waves a momentarily empty hand at Alyssa, then turns to resume the
load/unload cycle. "Least all th'extra work means we'll be fully stocked
again" she mutters to herself.

Lysseth licks blood from her muzzle and sets to work on her foreclaws,
rumbling agreement with her rider. She does lift her head long enough to
warble a pleased greeting to Adonith. "Rip apart the feather bags, Emlyn?"
Kassi just has to ask as she sets down a large crate.

Alyssa presses her lips together briefly. "Might I help?" she inquires.

Mirala chuckles, nodding to Alyssa. "Benden, and the BakerCraft's, duties."
She blinks and scoulds a hand who was dragging a sack on the ground, and
resumes hauling.

Emlyn salutes Alyssa, then says to Kassima, "Pleiath's description of
Lysseth's dining on wherries, I'm afraid. She says it looks like fun." The
weyrling's disapproval is palpable.

Telrin looks inside the wagon, and hefts a sizable barrel of fish from one
corner, and places it along with the other foodstuffs for later storage.
"Good catch this season, Weyrfolks. Tasty ones, too, by the looks of them."

Benden Weyr> Asrai snugs her mentor and anyone else interested :)

Alyssa notices Telrin's knot and the Benden Hold knots and realization
dawns, albeit belatedly. "Tithing...how could I have forgotten?" she chides
herself softly. "Your pardon, all."

Benden Weyr> Meli salutes Alyssa and yells at Asrai. "Weyrling! Report to
the south bowl for unloadin' duty pronto!"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "No no no salutes!"

Kassima laughs silently. "Lysseth would agree; she seems to enjoy it,
certes. 'Twill nay be *too* long ere Pleiath's hunting on her own, I think,
but until then she'll have to wait... be grateful." One dark green eye
closes in a brief wink. "The first time I watched Lysseth eat, I nearly
lost all that *I* had ate!" Belatedly remembering to salute Alyssa, she
smiles. "A'course you can, Lys--Faranth knows, the more the merrier."

Emlyn wrinkles her nose to sniff at the barrel she's attempting to lift. Of
course, there is no fish smell coming from it, for if there were, the
contents would be spoiled.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Eek, saluted her into oblivion."

Kassima glances over at the man hauling fish, and grins. "I'truth? That's
fair t'hear; I'm certain Ofira and Emne will be able to do wonders with
'em. Tell me, does Benden's fishing source have as many shoes in it as
Bitra's river seems to?" She is naturally still unloading and stacking
boxes and barrels as she asks this.

Asrai comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Cygnith comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Alyssa follows suit as she makes note of the rhythm of the unloading and
stacking and moving of goods, quietly falling in line to assist in moving
the tithe.

Emlyn keeps working while the snow swirls down from above. When Asrai joins
the group, Emlyn grins at her fellow weyrling.

Somewhere in the midst of all that, of course, Alyssa remembers to return
Emlyn's salute neatly.

Asrai comes out, Cyg in tow. As she approaches she finishes tucking in her
shirt with one hand, saluting the present riders with the other. slightly
out of breath she gasps, "Sorry for being late, Ma'ams. Cygnith needed a
dry patch oiled and I didn't want to let it go until later.

Telrin chuckles to Kassima, his eyes just visible over the top of the
barrel. (Luckily, he /can/ see where he's going) "A few shoes, found a
dragonrider's boot once. Must have come loose during flight, I'd say!"

Mirala nods over to Kassima. "I'm sure Emne and Ofira can do wonders with
anything, some of the finest Bakers in the land. And I'm not just saying so
since she's the CoCraftMaster, nope." A grins tugs on Mirala's mouth, and
she winks.

A frown briefly flickers across Meli's face, but then she nods at Asrai's
explanation. "Well, then, get t'work, there's still plenty t'do. We'll have
a look at th'spot later."

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Pleiath warbles happily, her thoughts
resonating with images of Lysseth ripping wherries apart in a shower of
feathers and blood, << I cannot wait to eat live food. I want to rip apart
the feather bags like Lysseth. >>

Alyssa returns Asrai's salute as well when she's a hand free, then she
resumes the tote-that-barge, lift-that-bale routine.

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Juliath rumbles deeply << You do not
eat live food? >> puzzlingly, then adds << I like the *wherry* but the
*feathers* >> and with this comes a feeling of scratchiness and tickling in
the maw.

Kassima nods to Asrai, and gestures towards the stacks of boxes and the
wagons as well. "There's still plenty to be done, never fear." Smiling, she
turns back to the Holders. "My personal theory is that the rivers are where
Aphrael dumps all of the clothes she steals from folk! The shoes are just
the only things that manage to sink." She quirks a grin and returns
Mirala's wink mischievously, "A'course nay! Now, why would *that* have any
bearing? Besides, 'tis naught but the absolute truth that you speak. You
should try some of their stuffed mushrooms while you're here--I swear,
they're simply marvelous!"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "T! :)"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "ACK!"

Benden Weyr> Meli mwahs her weyrmate.

Alyssa comments on passing by, with a wink at Kassima, "Sometimes I think I
live on Ofira's tuber casserole. It's truly divine."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa didn't get a MWAH.

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with <<  The little ones are such
silly creatures. >>

Benden Weyr> Merla hugs :)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa  . o O ( Least since the flight...)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Merlath!!!!"

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Lysseth rumblechuckles, her own
thoughts still overlayed with the bright red of hunger and blood. This is
slowly fading to be replaced with the cool jewel-shades of a contented and
very well-fed dragon. << It is great fun to feed on wherries, and the
feathers always catch in my throat. I do not know how you stomach them,
Juliath. >>

On hearing Alyssa's comment, Meli smothers a chuckle, waiting for the
expected reply from Kassi.

Asrai grabs up a sack and starts to toe it over in the general dirrection
of the others, Cygnith goes off to play, rumbling happily to the other
Dragons.

Benden Weyr> T'lar sweeps his weyrmate off her feet and into a passionate
kiss. "Hi, everyone else."

Dragon> Juliath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << I do not like the
*feathers*. >>

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << I want a big fat Bovine,
all to myself. >>

Mirala grins and nods. "I believe you, I helped with the themed meal a
while back, Not that I'd miss a chance to try them again."

Kassima sets down the sack--coincidentally, of tubers--that she is hefting
long enough to stick a finger down her throat and pantomime gagging. "Even
they can't do anything to make a tuber taste like aught but a tuber!" she
declares.

An assistant steward frowns at Asrai, admonishing her a bit with a wag of
his finger, as he feels 'important.' "Don't toss it, you. Set it down
gently or you'll break it open!"

Benden Weyr> Kassima snugs Merlath muchly, and hrmphs at T'lar. Hi? Hrmph.
She gets a smooch, we get a hi. What a world. ;)

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "All well and proper, I'd say."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Everyone is, of course, invited to the bowl to
help unload the tithe. :)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar puts Meli down and grabs Merla and Kassima for a round
of snugs and kisses.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa ahems.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa is hugging Merlath anyways, so THERE.

Benden Weyr> T'lar wonders if this was pointed in his direction.

Benden Weyr> T'lar snugs and kisses Alyssa and anyone else he missed.

Benden Weyr> Merla groans, all her energy having been sapped out by the RL
Social :}

Emlyn finds a barrel far too heavy to move by herself. She waits until
Telrin's got empty hands, then nods at the burden. "Shall we?"

Benden Weyr> Meli was being generic. ;)

Benden Weyr> Kassima woo-hoos! Now *that's* more like it, T. ;)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "T'lar, you couldn't reach me to kiss me ICly. ;)"

Asrai meeps and is much carefull with the next one...of course she is now
going at half the pace of the others.

Meli steps over to bow heads with the stewards, glancing over the record
hides and gesturing at the various stacks, keeping track of what's moved
where and when.

T'lar walks here from the north.

Alyssa places a crate atop its twin and pauses to mop her brow, then
returns to the carts to pluck a flour sack.

Nicoth lumbers here from the north.

Adonith rumbles at T'lar where he's happily ensconced between Juliath and
Lysseth.

Juliath rumbles to Nicoth, without even unlidding.

Nicoth whuffles Lysseth before taking up a place next to Juliath. He misses
stepping on a blue tail by inches.

T'lar says "Anyone need some help?"

Dragon> Adonith bespoke Lysseth, Juliath, and Nicoth with << Watch it,
bronzebutt. >>

Meli lifts her head up, gesturing at a cluster of wine casks, and spots
T'lar arriving. "Heyla!" she calls over, before the steward grabs her
attention again.

Pleiath makes that snort that children make who aren't allowed to do
something they're sure would be the Funnest Thing of All. She turns a
circle and drops down into a lump, her back to the feeding grounds.

Telrin waits for a second to check that his last barrel is sitting on
steady ground, then returns to the wagon. Noting Emlyn's request, he nods,
"Course. Looks heavy for sure. Shifts easily enough with two, so let's
slide it to the edge first, then each take a side. All ready?"

Lysseth whuffles Nicoth lightly in return, then turns her head to nuzzle
Adonith. She is, quite clearly, perfectly content to be surrounded by such
fine male dragons--even if she *does* have to share them with that
clutchmate of hers.

As she doffs her riding jacket, Alyssa calls to T'lar, "Evening, wingmate."

Adonith touches his muzzle to Lysseth and warbles softly, a wing folding
over her pine green body.

Emlyn is ready and nods to Telrin. She hefts her part of the load.

T'lar chuckles and moves over to the casks. He begins to heft them easily,
moving them from the wagon to the area set aside for them. He checks in
with the steward checking inventory before stacking his with the rest. "Hi,
Lyssa, Meli, Kassi." He nods to others.

Juliath unlids, snorts at Lysseth and Adonith, and relids, letting her head
fall to her forelegs, her breath steaming out her nostrils in the wintry air.

Kassima shifts a box to a one-armed grip long enough to wave to T'lar.
"You're more than welcome to help, Faranth knows!" Carting her crate over
to the pile, she calls over to Mirala, "Mind, I didn't mean to look like
'twas being critical of Ofira and Emne's work. I simply have *nay* fondness
for tubers. They do well with everything else, though I still say Master
Gwennar's lemon bread is the best specimen of its kind on all of Pern."

Asrai continues her slow pace across the bowl, shells, if she drops it she
might have to answer to *GULP* Felinar. Cygnith rumbles in a discorded note
that matches his clutchsis'...then proceeds to play with her tail.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "You know, that's Marissa's lemon bread. Gwenn just
bakes a lot of it ;b"

Lysseth snuggles closer to her favored blue, after checking to make sure
that she's gotten all those unsightly blood splatters from her hide. She
has, though a feather or two still cling tenaciously to her wings and
foreclaws.

Alyssa pauses; even she shows some interest in food when this is discussed.
"Master Gwennar's lemon bread," she comments seriously, "is the most
wonderful food on Pern. Along with the tuber casserole."

Nicoth lies down close to Juliath, his tail curling over and around hers.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Well, Kassi hardly knows that. ;)"

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "And, I guess since Marissa's dead, it doesn't
really matter :b"

T'lar walks back for another cask, managing to pass behind his weyrmate.
Gauging the moment so she is carrying nothing, he pats her behind gently.
Knowing her likely reaction, he moves quickly out of range.

Asrai sets down the sack carefully and rushes over to get another one.
alright, more then once she is required to dodge out of the way of some
poor unsuspecting helper.

Jumping down from the wagon, Telrin takes the opposite side of the
offending barrel, which turns out to be remarkably heavy even with two
sharing the load. The markings on the top indicate that this is yet another
barrel of the Hold's finest fish. Addressing Emlyn, he says, "Got it, now
let's not drop this anywhere..." He starts to shuffle over to where the
other barrels are arranged, being meticulously careful all the time.

"Oof," Meli says again. "S'too bad..." puff puff "tha' these casks an'
sacks" grunt "are to delicate f'th'dragons to shift. Wouldn't it be nice
f'they could jus' pick them up in their jaws and move 'em?" *thunk* She
straightens, dusting her hands together and rolling her shoulders a moment.
When T'lar pats her posterior, she jumps a bit, turns and swings a hand out
automatically, fortunately missing since the bronzerider knows enough not
to be there.

Kassima smiles at Lys, surprised. "I didn't know you were fond of the bread
too, Lys. 'Tis my dessert treat of choice, always--though that baked
rivergrain pudding comes in a close second, and Gwennar's cinnamon rolls a
third. Next time I go to Ruatha, I'll have to bring you back a slice. 'Twas
just speaking with Gwenn yesterday; maybe I'll ask her if'n she'd ever
consider coming up here to bake a load of it for us."

Mirala, hauling a roughly woven sack of nuts, chuckles at Kassima. "Oh, I
understand, the sharding things are a dread to most holders I know," she
calls. And nods at the lemon bread comment. "Mmm, I haven't had the
pleasure of trying her recipe. I'm particular to Bubbly pies, myself."

Pleiath flips her tail tip out of Cygnith's reach and turns her muzzle to
peer at the young blue.

T'lar hefts another cask. "Perhaps we could teach the weyrlings to do it.
They're still small and not at full strength." He considers this as he sets
it down. "Of course, they're also clumsier."

Alyssa murmurs to T'lar as she angles past with more flour, "I won't throw
stones where clumsy goes."

Kassima picks up a barrel of wine very carefully and *very* respectfully,
watching her step all the way to the area designated for such things.
"Bubbly pies? Oh, they're all right. Nay always my dessert of choice, but
that doesn't mean they're nay good once in awhile. As to nay trying
Gwennar's recipe...." She pats the wine barrel fondly before abandoning it
to seek out another bag, crate, barrel, or box to unload. "You haven't
*lived* until you've tasted her lemon bread."

Meli sticks her tongue out at her weyrmate since she couldn't quite catch
him. She mutters to herself, "...hard 'nough... human weyrlings... not...
break... " 

T'lar stands and looks at Alyssa's back as she continues past. "Excuse me,
bluerider. Did you mumble something?"

Cygnith looks back at the Green, funny how even a dragon can look sweet and
innocent when he wants to.

"No, just something a little unkind and honest about myself," Alyssa
answers as she wipes her brow again. "My apologies."

Emlyn shuffles along with a sideways gait that would be familiar to
beachcombers and lovers of spiderclaws everywhere. The barrel is really too
heavy for her, but she's valiantly holding up her end. When she and Telrin
reach the place the other barrels are being placed, she lets her side down
a bit abruptly.

Asrai gets another 'look' from one of the assistant stewards. somewhere in
all this she finds a happy medium...somewhere.

Mirala nods to Kassima, and can't help but to burst out laughing. "Oh ho,"
she chuckles, "yes, they're good once in a while." She grins. "I'll be sure
to try her bread, next time I make it to Ruatha."

T'lar smiles. "You? Nah. You're not clumsy. Just too tall." He grabs
another cask. "Is this wine or ale?"

As the wagons clear of their loads, and the piles grow on the weyr side
under watchful stewards' eyes, some of the residents and drudges are set to
the task of helping the holders settle their beasts and find their way to
the living cavern for refreshments.

Pleiath turns a circle again and plops back down in the wallow her body
heat has created in the snow. She places her muzzle on her forelimbs and
peers at Cygnith.

Telrin chuckles as his half of the barrel touches the ground, as he feels
the sudden extra weight. "Let's be getting the next one, then... I think
there are only two more like that."

Cygnith gives a dragonic sigh as his 'plaything' is removed from easy reach.

Kassima sings to herself as she pulls a crate from its resting place inside
a wagon, "There's nay time t'kill between the cradle and the grave; Father
Time still takes a toll on every minute that we save. Marks're never going
to change the number of your days; the highest cost of living's
dying--that's one everybody pays...." She hums a few more bars, sounding
cheerful despite the nature of what she's singing, and sets down her crate.
"Once in awhile, they're very good indeed," she agrees. "I've just more of
a fondness for cinnamon rolls, baked pudding, cake, muffins, cookies, lemon
bread, and the like m'self."

Adonith sighs slightly, moving his muzzle in the icky cold white stuff,
then blows a few flakes at Lysseth.

Asrai continues to help, trying her best to stay out of eyesight of the
assistant stewards for the rest of the time she helps..she is small...its
possible.

Emlyn frowns to herself when she hears there are two more barrels like the
one she just nearly broke her fingers trying to carry. She nods to Terlin
and manages a smile. "Well, let's get them moved."

Putting down the cast, T'lar eyes it specutively. "Hmmmmm, maybe we should
have a tasting party?"

Lysseth warbles as a few of those flakes land smack-dab between her eyes,
and she isn't having much luck at seeing them. She rumbles, dipping her
muzzle into the snow to gather up a tiny pile of the stuff. She deposits
this pile squarely on Adonith's head.

Mirala's eyes dance with mirth while she keeps a hand over her mouth. She
bobs her head, "Yes, yes, it's always good to vary deserts. Bubblies are
fine... once in a while," she chuckles, and shakes her head slightly,
leaning against a wagon.

Cygnith turns his head slightly so he can watch the larger dragons, his
eyes whirling a bot faster as he senses...a game.

Adonith sits straight up and bugles, takes his foreclaws, and tosses snow
right onto Lysseth.

Kassima puts one hand on her hip and rests the other against a tall barrel,
which she's just set upright beside her. "Sounds like a notion. I'll kidnap
Gwennar, you kidnap Ofira, and we'll talk." Grinning, she turns to pick up
a smaller box and set it atop another. "Aye... is something funny about
that, that I'm missing?" she asks Mirala with a faint chuckle.

Alyssa pauses as she totes a small barrel. "Adonith, stop that. You hate
snow. Remember?"

Telrin nods to T'lar with a grin that signifies his definite approval.
Returning to the wagons, he slides another of the large barrels to one
side, and is pleased to note that this one isn't quite so weighty as the
last. "Not quite so bad, this one. Won't be so hard to move, I'll warrant."
Taking one side he beckons to Emlyn to take her position at the other end.
"Ready?"

Emlyn flexes her fingers once before grinning at Terlin. "Lift away,
Sailor-man."

Lysseth bugles as the snow crashes onto her green hide and turns her into a
partially white dragon. She unfurls one wing and sweeps it forward along
the ground, catching a drift and firing it towards the blue at her side.

Adonith flattens himself so that, sadly, the snow catapults over his torso
and in the direction of Juliath and Nicoth. Hopefully Nicoth.

T'lar sneaks up behind Meli for another try. This time, he tries for a
quick tickle.

Nicoth roars as the snow comes down on his back. Raising his head, he peers
over Juliath at the little blue boy.

Zing. Spin. Slap. Meli's eyes widen, as she realizes who is tickling her.
"Oops, sorry luv" she offers.

Telrin takes his portion of the weight of the barrel, and once again adopts
that shuffling movement as he and Emlyn move the barrel to the store. Those
hot drinks will be well deserved!

Adonith in turn looks at Lysseth. Pointedly.

Mirala grins, and shakes her head at Kassima. "Oh, no; it's just that the
Hold has them a bit more than that... It's Baker is well know mostly for
her Bubbly pies."

"A*don*ith." Alyssa's voice is rather sharp.

Lysseth assumes her angelic expression, which is quite noticeably a match
to Kassi's. Who learned it from whom is anyone's guess.

T'lar stands there with one hand to his cheek. A look of total shock on his
face. "Uh, s'okay, sweeting." Beneath his hand, the skin is quite red.

Asrai is concentrating to hard on not dropping anything to see that
Cygnith's tail is now sweeping back and forth in a dangerous fashion...but
she does hear the *roar*, barely keeping the sack in her arms. Cygnith
takes the oportunity to flick a spadefull of snow towards Pleiath.

T'lar jerks his head around to look at the dragons. "Calm down, Nicoth.
It's only Adonith. No eating the blue."

Meli's eyes widen further, and she reaches out her hand to pull T'lar's
face away from his cheek. Eyeing the results of her actions, she leans
forward and kisses it.

Alyssa is in turn saying to her blue, "I know, love, I know it wasn't your
fault, but just ignore him. He does it to get under your hide." Pause.
"Yes, love. I know he's just a bronze. But I like him."

T'lar's smile returns in full force. "Luv. If that's what you're gonna do
when you hit me, hit away."

Telrin raises an eyebrow as Mirala's comment flutters across to him from
the wagon. In a mischievous voice designed intently to annoy the Hold's
prized bubbly-smith, he says, "Mmm... those bubblies, can't move for the
sharding things..."

Kassima laughs and points to Mirala. "And that would be you, wouldn't it?
Forgive my social faux pas! Which isn't to say that I'm in love with bubbly
pies, but I shouldn't have mentioned it." She winks, hefting a fairly light
box and balancing it partially on top of her head, partially betwen her
hands. "Y'know, all this conversation, and I still haven't introduced
m'self? My manners must have left me; I think I last saw them sitting in
the Living Cavern, drinking and singing trios with m'mind and m'wits.
Haven't seen *them* in awhile, either. I'm Kassima, rider of yon green
lump--she calls herself Lysseth."

Juliath somehow manages to stay out of the way of the flying snow, only
lifting a wing to deflect a bit when needed.

Mouth open to add another comment, Alyssa turns to look with surprise at
Nicoth.

Nicoth scoops up snow with his tail and flips it onto Adonith in an attempt
to bury the bothersome creature.

Lysseth is hard-put to contain her amusement, and she decides to continue
her innocent act by simply going back to snuggling with Adonith. *She*
didn't throw any snow. No, no--how could she? She's too busy being
lovey-dovey with the blue. Yep. That's her story, and she's sticking to it.

Emlyn listens to Mirala's friends tease her. She flexes her fingers and
rubs them on her pants leg while waiting to move the last barrel.

Eyes tinging a red just a trifling, Adonith roars and tosses snow back at
Nicoth, followed by a tail-slap of ice. So *there*.

T'lar turns his hand to catch Meli's. Bringing to his lips, he kisses the
wrist where it peaks out between glove and coat.

Asrai's voilet eyes widen, "they are going to hurt each other."

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Adonith, Lysseth, and Juliath with <<  I'm going to
bury that blue thing under the white stuff. >>

Lysseth trumpets with surprise as some of the snow Nicoth throws lands on
her, and shakes the showering of white stuff off. Gathering a large
draconic snowball between her foreclaws, she passes it surreptitiously to
Adonith.

T'lar looks over at Asrai. "We won't let them get into a real fight. Dont'
worry."

Telrin looks at the afore-mentioned last barrel, and brushes off some of
the dust accumulated during transit. "Wouldn't want it to slip, for
sure..." Repeating his ritual of sliding it to one edge of the wagon so
that both sides can be gripped, he informs Emlyn, "About the same as the
last, not too heavy. Still needs the both of us, though."

Meli chuckles, reaching her other hand up to ruffle the T'lar's hair. At
Asrai's comment, she turns her head towards the dragons. "Hmm?" Eyes
narrowing, she calls over to Alyssa and T'lar. "Now, really, don' set bad
examples in front of th'weyrlings, it'll take us f'ever to unlearn 'em."

Alyssa excuses herself to stride to her blue's side and stand before him,
hands on her hips. "Knock it off now. He's only doing it to get you
annoyed. Love, listen...."

Mirala smiles. "Ah, but it's alright. A wee bit funny, though." She grins
and glares at Telrin, shaking her head; before turning back to the
greenrider. She chuckles. "Oh, but I've forgotten too, you we'd be even.
Mirala, the Hold's Head Cook, and Master Bubbly Baker." Mirala winks, and
smiles. "Well met, Kassima, Lysseth."

T'lar uses his teeth to pull off one of Meli's gloves. "Yes, ma'am. I'll
tell Nicoth to behave." He kisses her palm. "Do I have to behave as well?"

Emlyn nods to Terlin and lifts her side with determination. She and Terlin
do their odd side-step shuffle to where the other barrels have been placed.
Once again, she lets her side down more quickly.

Adonith lowers his head a little shamefully and whuffles his rider, who
caresses his head tenderly. "Good, love, good..."

Caitria pats the neck of M'nar's mint green Gelth, thanking them for the
ride from Dulath's Ledge.

Meli rolls her eyes, carefully retrieving her glove. 'Silly Male' she
replies ritualistically, and gives him a very gentle shove towards the last
few sacks.

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with <<  My rider has asked that I
say I'm sorry for my actions in the bowl. But that little blue butt started
it. >>

Somebody notices Caitria's arrival and mutters, "Good timing, Herder."

T'lar smiles impishly as he lifts one sack over each shoulder. "All males
are silly when we have such wonderful females to make us so."

Caitria yawns, and shoots a quizzical look at that conveniently NPC
somebody. "What, am I late?....oh. Tithe train. Gee. Is it too late to help
unload?" She looks just...crushed. ;)

Kassima yells over to Lysseth, "Hey! You've already set enough bad examples
today, lump--try nay to do any more corrupting until tomorrow, eh? Aye, I
know 'twas nay you throwing the snow. But still...." Shaking her head, she
smiles sheepishly at Mirala. "Well met indeed, and Benden's duties and all.
Forgive my dragon. She thinks she's Veyath, or some such thing."

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << No, it was the Green.
Blues wouldn't start anything. >>

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with <<  THAT blue one does. >>

Pleiath croons happily. The adult dragons have provided her with some
wonderful examples of conduct tonight. When she grows up, she can rip
wherries apart like Lysseth, and she get into snowfights like Nicoth and
Adonith. She warbles this good news to her rider. Emlyn frowns.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa really likes Pleiath. :)

Telrin brushes his hands off as the last barrel is set down. "About the
lot, I'd say. Looks like you folk won't need another tithe for a while,
plenty there!"

Benden Weyr> Caitria grins. So do I.

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Lysseth snorts. << Adonith is a fine
blue, Nicoth. >> She does not, however, refute the claim that he started it.

Asrai nods, somewhat reasured. she settles the last of the sacks in line
with the others.

Alyssa's golden brows narrow suddenly. "What candlemark is it? We're
suppsed to be at Boll tonight!"

Caitria squints up at the sky. "Late," she informs Lys helpfully.

Benden Weyr> Kindre heyla's :/ :)

"Shards an' Shells!" Meli exclaims, glancing up at the stars.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Kindre!!!"

T'lar dusts off his hands. "Great. No more unloading. Not that I'm lazy or
nothing."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa snuggabugglies!

Benden Weyr> T'lar recruits Kindre.

"Anything," Alyssa corrects absently. "Excuse me...be right back."

Mirala nods, smiling. "Benden and the BakerCraft's." She glances over to
the green, and chuckles. "I can imagine, my fair's quite trouble; and they
aren't as large, or cunning, as your 'lump' over there." She grins.

Benden Weyr> Kindre is sorry...we went rollerblading far off and I just got
back *hugs 'round!* :)

Alyssa walks north.

Benden Weyr> Merla hugs Kindre :)

Kassima straightens up with an exclamation of, "Shard it, Lys, you're
right! We've got to get ready--where're the bags of stuff?" As Lys walks
off, she hrms. "Maybe she's gone to get them."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Ewwwwww"

Benden Weyr> Kindre says, "recruit me? :)"

Emlyn listens to the riders realize they've got places to be. She says to
the Benden Hold folk, "I can take all of you to the living cavern. Salless,
I'm sure, has those hot drinks ready."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Aerial display"

Benden Weyr> Kindre says, "just what I came back for :)"

Meli zips about, collecting her things and finishing up her tasks best she
can. Seeing Emlyn take over, she smiles and nods. "Good, see tha' they're
well situated. Show 'em th'springs even, if they're too sore."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Cool. Two golds and one bronze -- Nicoth likes
those odds."

Kassima flashes Mirala a grin. "You should see *my* fair sometime... please
excuse me. I should get ready for my trip to Boll. 'Twas a pleasure meeting
you, and I do hope I'll talk with you again." With a quick smile, she
sprints over to Lysseth to check her straps and dust off some of the snow
from her grey-green hide.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "And two greens, T'lar, don't forget us. :P :)"

Benden Weyr> <Meli> Juliath << Pthhbtt. >>

A collection of drudges arrive with bags of material from the riders. "From
Alyssa," one pants. "She says the night grows late and that the wing is due
at Boll soon."

Telrin looks at Mirala as he hears Emlyn's offer. "Hot drink sounds just
the thing, Mir... you coming along? Not as if we're needed back home for a
while..."

Asrai frowns a bit, "Meli, err Ma'am...that spot on Cygnith...you will come
look at it later then?"

Benden Weyr> <Alyssa> Adonith ahems. << My greens. >>

Nicoth lumbers to his feet, shaking off the snow.

Benden Weyr> <T'lar> <<Nicoth>>Mine, you stupid blue!

Herath lumbers here from the north.

Kindre walks here from the north.

Meli calls over her shoulder "Definitely, Asrai, but if y'still worried,
ask one o'th'dragonhealers t'check him in th'meantime" as she heads to
Juliath.

Mirala looks over to Emlyn and nods. She grins and gives a wave to Kassima,
heading back over to the main wagons.

Benden Weyr> Kindre aie's at contents :}

Nicoth warbles a welcome to Herath.

Adonith lifts his head to bugle happily at Herath.

Kassima sighs with relief and takes the bags of stuff, attaching them to
Lysseth's fine black riding straps with their red trim. "Just glad we're
both suited up already," she comments to the green. Then she pauses.
"Lyss... you *did* get all the blood off of you, didn't you?" She reaches
up to pluck off a feather, and scans her dragon for a glimpse of other
signs of gore.

Asrai nods in understanding, giving off a quick salute to the riders as
they leave.

Emlyn points northward, toward the light spilling out of the tunnel
entrance to the living cavern. The snow continues to swirl down in silent,
spinning flakes. "This way, Guests."

Meli runs a hand through her hair, then sighs, as it has frozen a bit at
the edges where it was still wet from the springs. Fortunately, it'll soon
be under her riding helmet. Checking Jul quickly, she takes her own bag and
gets set to go.

T'lar walks over and checks Nicoth's straps which are similar to the ones
on Lysseth. He pats Juliath affectionately.

Mirala chuckles at Telrin. "As if I'd go all the way back to the Hold, in
the snow, without so much as klah? Of course I'm coming." She grins and
follows after Emlyn.

Herath warblesnorts greetings as she lumbers ahead of her rider. Kindre
simply waves, "Evening!"

Alyssa walks here from the north.

Caitria rakes a hand through her hair, stifling another yawn. "Drink," she
ponders. "Mm." What a gifted conversationalist she is.

Juliath also looks spiffy in the straps T'lar made for her so many Turns
ago, the ones kept safe in their chest between special occasions.

Emlyn walks north.

Benden Weyr> Kindre will just be slowish, depending on spammage...

Alyssa just shakes her head and mumbles to herself as she reappears with
her riding gear. "I must be getting senile. I forgot the tithing and lost
track of time...All right....those of you who are coming with us, can we be
ready to go in a few moments?"

Mirala walks north.

Telrin nods, smiling as Mirala echoes his own thoughts exactly. "On we go
then."

Telrin walks north.

Meli climbs smoothly up Juliath's extended foreleg and settles herself
between the neck ridges, as the green gives a welcome rumble from deep in
her throat.

Pleiath gets up to follow her rider. Sure, there's excitement here with the
dragons leaving for Boll, but there goes Emlyn. Wait for me!

Pleiath lumbers north.

T'lar is catapulted up by a quick movement of Nicoth's snout. He gets the
bronze an affectionate slap.

Kindre gives Herath a soft, loving pat on the side. Humbling her oft
high-held muzzle, Herath dips close to the ground and Kindre half-steps,
half-tugs herself up with courtly ease. An unusally easy and contented
glint is in her eyes as her lifemate bestrides her.

Kassima grabs a handful of snow and scrubs at some blood that found its way
to the carved leather Thunderbolt patch on Lysseth's straps. "Dragon," she
remonstrates lightly, "you need to be less of a messy eater, I swear it.
I'll be ready in half a moment, Lys! Well, all right--a full moment, more
like, but nay long 'tany rate."

Caitria grins at Alyssa. "Nah, not senile. Just too busy. I keep telling
you to get more rest." With that, she lifts a hand and strides after the
Benden contingent, in search of something to drink.

Caitria walks north.

Alyssa smiles affectionately at Caitria. "You sound like my weyrm...well,
good even then!"

From her gold Herath, "I missed the last aerial," Kindre calls while
buckling herself in, "so forgive me if I'm a bit anxious here." Grinning,
she fits her helmet atop her head and buckles that as well.

Astride Juliath, Meli settles herself and her bags, and gives Alyssa a
ready signal, waiting for the signal to launch.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly.
You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered
foreleg.

<*> Alyssa fastens up her riding gear and double-checks Adonith's straps
quickly.

<*> Nicoth give Juliath a muzzle to muzzle nuzzle.

<*> Asrai walks off towards the Weyrling Barracks.

<*> Cygnith waddles through the entrance into the Weyrling Barracks.

<*> Above, Iridith flies over from the north end of the bowl.

<*> Iridith backwings for a landing.

<*> Alyssa uses the oiled straps and an extended foreleg to mount Adonith
and, once settled between his neckridges, she rubs his hide adoringly and
receives, in return, a loving warblecroon.

<*> Kimbrith lumbers here from the north.

<*> Kimbrith rumbles.

<*> Settled between Adonith's neckridges, Alyssa looks around with a proud
smile and lifts her fist, giving the signal to rise.

<*> Adonith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry
him aloft.

<*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up
dust as she takes to the skies.

You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor
to carry you aloft.