Aldesia Weyr Announcements

[Aria]

(Day before Oriath's Flight)

It was warm, but a cool breeze coming down into the valley kept it from getting too hot. The herdbeasts were out, grazing within their confines as the craftsman cleaned out their stalls, laying down fresh bedding and filling bowls full of clean river water and fresh food. L'thin was in the adjacent runnerbeast pen, helping clean the animals while their stalls were being freshened up. L'thin preferred, for tasks like these, to not wear a shirt, a thin sheet of sweat already glistening on his torso as he tossed the scrub brush back into the soap bucket. "There, clean as a whistle." the brownrider mused, patting the roan runnerbeat on the back. The animal turned its head slightly to look back at him for a few moments, then turned away as his caretaker came up, halter in hand. "Thanks for your help, brownrider." L'ithin smiled warmly. "It's nothing. I use to this when I was a little kid. I enjoy working with the other friendly animals of Pern." The caretaker slipped the halter over the runnerbeast's head, then led him back towards the stabling cavern.

L'thin gently led another runnerbeast, a dappled grey mare, over to his 'station.' "Alright, your turn girl." He dumped a bucket of clean water the mare's back to rinse off any of the loose dirt. Once the runnerbeast was thoroughly drenched, he picked the scrub brush up out of the bucket full of soapy water and began to scrub her hide clean.

[Sokon]

The zigzag path taken by the light-footed female as she made her way through the weyr may have seemed like the actions of a lost person, but for Sokon, it was just her way of getting to know the place. Due to there being scant few candidates lurking about the corridors at this particular point in time, Sokon had been relieved of her duties within the weyr for a day, and could think of nothing better then exploring just a little. Hence, the better part of the morning was spent examining corridors that seemed to lead to no-where before, bored of this, the 17 turn old female decided to venture outside of the labyrinth of caverns.

Eventually, her path took on a more direct route as Sokon decided to follow the sounds of herdbeast in the corrals nearby. She grinned as she skipped forwards, making a pattern as the beat danced in her head... -1...2...3...1-2. 1...2...3...1-2- humming a tuneless song under her breath and pausing every so often to ensure she was heading in the right direction.

She knew she was getting close when her ‘beat’ was ruined by the appearance of a rather large clump of poop, forcing her to side step out of the way for fear of ending up with the foul-smelling substance on her bare feet. She paused for a moment, snorting at her ‘close call’ before looking around her. The field was huge, though she wasn’t far from the runners and herd-beast grazing there and the stabling cavern was a few dragon-lengths away. Sokon sighed pleasantly, taking in the earthy smell of the animals nearby and revelling in the serenity of it all. Her smile, soon turned to a frown though, as she saw the back-end of a dappled mare disappearing just out of her sights, and, curiosity taking the better of her, the girl proceeded to follow said mare. She knew the caretakers were around, but she was sure she’d there was only one at a time around, and even more positive on the fact that she’d seen the caretaker just after her close call with the herdbeast crap heading into the stabling caverns... and not even a hunting feline could move without some glimpse of it’s motion... Not on such an open field.

And so, the girl made her way across the field, quickly managing to see where the runner had been taken and taking a sharp breath at the sight of the man who had ruined her almost un-inhabited day off. She almost turned away then, eyes widening as she realised that the person in-front of her was shirtless and feeling quite awkward for having appeared out of the blue somewhat. Shaking her head and pulling a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Sokon cleared her throat, both to get the man’s attention and to, well, clear her throat. She hadn’t spoken at all since she woke up due to her lack of contact with the rest of the weyr so far, and was unsure as to how loud her unused voice would be at that current point in time. “You help out with the runners?” She asked simply, deciding that stating the obvious would be a better tactic then starting an irrelevant conversation without knowing who the man was or something less formal such as ‘who are you.’ No. Sokon was a girl of some brain, and even with her slightly impulsive behaviour, she could be sensible, and within a weyr, you never knew who you were talking to. Even the scrappiest looking piece of a weyrbrat could end up being a dragon-rider. So she was cautious with how she spoke to strangers.

[Aria]

L'thin paused, looking over the mare's back to see who was addressing him. "Oh, hi. Yes, I help take care of the runnerbeasts whenever I have free time." He smiled at the girl, tossing the scrub brush back into the soap bucket. "My name's L'thin, I don't think we've met before. Are you new to Aldesia Weyr?" he asked, adding a short bow to his introduction.

[Sokon]

L'thin paused, looking over the mare's back to see who was addressing him. "Oh, hi. Yes, I help take care of the runnerbeasts whenever I have free time." He smiled at the girl, tossing the scrub brush back into the soap bucket. "My name's L'thin, I don't think we've met before. Are you new to Aldesia Weyr?" he asked, adding a short bow to his introduction.

Sokon nodded at the man's response, focusing her attention to the runnebeast and smiling a little at he little sticky-uppy bits caused by the bath she was getting. Her attention turned to L'thin as he mentioned his name, eyes flickering for a moment to his at the shortened version he used before she looked away, choosing to focus on his neck rather then his face.

She inclined her head at his introduction, unsure of the mannerism she had to adopt when talking to a dragon-rider. "You're a dragon-rider then? My name's Sokon, I got brought here a few days ago. A searchrider came to Cerosia... I happened to be there at the time. His rider said I could come to the weyr if I wanted. I want to impress in the next clutch. It'd be amazing to have a dragon of my own... I've never been able to have a fire-lizard see. 'cause the canine that lives in our cothold is rather snappy when it comes to the things. So I've rarely seen a dragon, let alone met one. But all the stories say there's nothing like being a dragon-rider...." The pause here was only momentary as she looked around her, in an attempt to see the dragon that surely and to be somewhere around. If L'thin was a dragon rider. She was sure that they didn't stray far from eachother.

"Can I help with the runners?" she added as an afterthought, her attention once again on the mare in-front of her. She'd had basic exposure to the beasts, and didn't think she'd do to bad in looking after one. It seemed simple enough. and she was rather restless at the moment and could think of nothing better then to be outside doing something. She didn't feel the urge for solitude she'd had earlier. Perhaps because she'd had no contact with people since she woke up.

[Aria]

L'thin nodded his head. "Yes, I'm a brownrider... and a wingsecond. My dragon's name is Certaneth and I'd ask him to come down and meet you, but... he's not quite the social type." He mused. He smiled at her again, a little amused that she wouldn't look him in the face. "No need to be so formal around here, I won't bite." Hearing her story made him chuckle. "Blue dragons are seldom wrong in their choices for candidates, I'm sure you'll Impress a strong dragon. As for firelizards, you'll find plenty of wild clutches and many of the weyr's residents have their own, I think most of them are female though." No sooner had he said that when his green flitt Cera popped from between, chirping at Sokon curiously, then landing on top of the girl's head, causing L'thin to laugh. "This is Cera, my firelizard. Don't worry, she gets curious around new people." The green flitt chittered again and craned its neck down so it was looking Sokon in the face, upside down.

"Help with the runnerbeasts is always welcome. They're a little short staffed right now, so any help is greatly appreciated. I'll go get an extra brush and bucket." He jogged over to the stables, filling a bucket with water from the trough, then mixing in some sweetsand and grabbing a spare scrub brush before returning. A handler had taken away the mare and left two young stallions in her place, one dark brown and the other a tannish color with a black mane, tail, and black socks. L'thin walked over to the dark brown. "Do you know how to do this Sokon?" He asked politely. Cera, still perched on the girl's head, gave an incredulous trill towards L'thin, who only chuckled in amusement.

[Sokon]

Sokon tilted her head again, venturing another look at L'thin's face as she listened. She smiled at the thought of an anti-social dragon and she once more looked over her shoulder just in case the brown dragon decided to make an appearance. She was both dissapointed and relieved not to see Certaneth, remembering how she had reacted to the blue dragon - a creature well and truley larger then any she had seen previously - and didn't quite want to embarrass herself in much the same way on seeinga dragon hat would have undoubtedly been bigger. It was not that she had done anything incredibly stupid. She had just found herself lost for words and babbling on ten times worse then she normally did.

She grinned at the thought of impressing botha dragon and a flitt, trying to think of the flitts she'd seen around the weyr so far. The next few questions she was about to bombard L'thin with ended up as a short squeal at the little green creature that came into view suddenly and there was only a moment to recognise he little green flit efore a slight weight could be felt atop her head as Cera landed there.

Sokon giggled softly, keeping her neck dead-still as she tried to see the little green. Again, her words were cut off as the flitt's head came into view, and she laughed louder this time as her thoughts ran to licking, poking or stroking the creature. "Hello Cera... Having fun are we?" she giggled, unsure of what to say to a fire-lizard who had decided to perch on top of her head as she waited for L'thin's return.

While he was gone, a handler had removed the mare, and brought back two stallions. Curious, and now deciding that she was allowed to get closer considering she was going to end up helping, Sokon made her way towards the tannish runner. Her steps were rather awkward though, as she was rying her best to keep her head straight so as not to disturb Cera too much and the wight, while not incredibly heavy, was unfamiliar. By the time she reached the runner, L'thin had come back, and she grinned in reply. "I've only only watched. My parents have this thing about letting me near runners. Seem to think they're like those wild felines and would attack you at any given moment. So I rarely get to be near one... These ones are gorgeous. Are they named? Or are they just breeding stock like the herdbeasts?" her words were accompanied by her bending down to reach a scrub brush, shaking out excess water before laying the item on the stallions back. She at least knew how to hold the brush. But beyond that, really she didn't have much of a clue.

[Aria]

"Not that I'm aware of. I'm sure they do." L'thin replied. "Here, rub the brush in a circle when you scrub them, it helps clean out the dirt that's deep in there. Be careful around their heads and try not to get any soap in their eyes, ears or nose." He began scrubbing the stallion's back in a steady pace. Cera chirped lazily and jumped off of Sokon's head, only to come back and perch on her shoulder, tail curling around her neck as she settled down to take a nap.

The sound of wings cause the stallions to stir as Ferth dropped down near the pen, Eva perched on his shoulders. The crimson dragon walked slowly up to the pen, being careful not to startle the stallions. Ferth looked curiously at the girl while Eva smiled and waved at them both. "Hey L'thin! Working hard as usual, aren't you." She noticed the girl and waved at her, not recognizing her. "Hi, I don't believe I've met you before, are you new?" L'thin cast Sokon and nervous look. "That's Eva and her crimson Ferth... I'd be a little cautious around her, Eva's preferences lie in girls, if you get my meaning." He waved back. "Hey Eva, aren't you suppose to be drilling your wing today?" Eva shrugged, "Thanks for reminding me, I'll do it later."

[Sokon]

Sokon watched L'thin's movements for a while before nodding her head firmly and proceeding to scrub the stallions back. She was a little upset when Cera's weight lifted off her head, but relaxed into a grin as the flitt settled on her shoulder, stopping her movements for a moment to stroke the pretty green before continuing her work.

So engrossed in trying to get the runner's coat just right, Sokon only realised that something was approaching when the stallion shifted nervously, and, until she was spoken to, she had started to scold the runner for misbehaving.

Curious, Sokon turned, eyes widening at the dragon nearby before she realised that there was another person there. Mouth opened in surprise, she almost didn't hear L'thin's soft warning. Shaking her head she smiled back at Eva, waving just as she had and inclining her head respectfully. "Yeah. I'm new. Name's Sokon. I'm a candidate for Oraith's clutch when it happens..." She smiled again, just alittle confused at the offhanded manner in which the dragon-rider dismissed her duties but shrugged mentally. It was none of her business anyway, she had no idea how things ran in the weyr.

[Aria]

Eva nodded, "Good, good. Oraith should be rising any day now. Means we'll also have a new Weyrleader on our hands, should be exciting." Ferth rumbled a little, bumping his head against Eva. "Ah, this is Ferth, my dragon. He's a nice guy." Ferth inclined his head. Pleasure to meet you, Sokon. I hope you enjoy yourself here at Aldesia Weyr. He said to her briefly, then turning to Eva again. "Alright, alright, we'll go gather our wing. Have fun you two, L'thin you should show her around the weyr if she hasn't already seen it." Eva commented before scaling up Ferth's foreleg and settling herself behind his shoulders before they took off.

After a few moments, L'thin went back to scrubbing the runner beast. "Eva's the Wingleader of Crimson Glory wing, is a rather well respected rider. She's one of the few who survived the plaque unscathed." L'thin put it. "Sokon, have you seen all of the weyr yet? I can take you on a tour, someone else can handle the runnerbeasts."

[Sokon]

Sokon smiled, looking down at the ground as the other rider spoke. She was certainly surprised by the unhostility of the weyrfolk. Some gut feeling had told her that dragonriders were arrogant and self-centered. But now she had seen two cases in which dragonriders - the heroes of Pern - had given up part of their time to talk to her. The search dragon and his rider were nice... But she just thought it was part of their duty to be nice.

At the introduction to the dragon, Sokon grinned, not scared to meet this particular beings eyes. She marvelled at the whirling colours tilting her head as she took in his name. As another welcome sounded, Sokon turned around, trying to locate the voice with a frown. Then, realising it was the dragon that had spoken she grinned, much wider then before and clearly overjoyed that a /dragon. had spoken to her. The Blue that had searched her had only commented to his rider, and yet here was a dragon, undeniably bigger then the blue which suggested a higher rank, talking to /her/.

As the Crimson returned to the sky once more, Sokon returned to her work. Grinning stupidly from ear to ear as she continued the scrubbing of the tannish stallions coat, head cocked as she took in L'thin's conversation. She clucked her tongue at the mention of the plague before nodding her head fiercly at the thought of a tour. "This one's done. An' at least I know how to do it now. I was suppossed to be exploring the weyr today... Until I got here of course..." She paused for a moment then, placing the brush into th ebucket and leaning on the stallion gently before turning to L'thin. Careful to avoid his eyes. She continued. "Do dragons always talk in your head like that? Is it weird at all? Can you talk to dragons the same way they talk to you? Why doesn't Cera talk like that?" With the speed of which she spurted out those questions, it would be apparent that the thoughts had been clouding her head from the moment Ferth spoke, and for a moemnt, she met L'thin's eyes, hopeful that he wouldn't mind answering some of them.

[Aria]

L'thin grinned back, "Amazing, isn't it? The only way drsgon's can speak is into their rider's mine, though some will speak with others as well. It's al ittle weird at first, but you get use to it after a few moments after Impressing. Dragon's can also feel your emotions." He shrugged at the mention of Cera. "No one's sure why firelizards can't communicate like dragons, but they communicate through images, just takes alittle while to understand what they want." He tossed his brush back into the bucket and a handler came and led the two runnerbeasts back towards the stables. L'thin stretched, arms a little sore. "How about I give you a tour of the weyr? I need to get a shirt on." Hey, can you bring me a shirt? Certaneth was sunning on the ledge of their weyr. Fine....

L'thin vaulted the fence and walked a little ways into the weyrbowl. Certaneth dropped down from their weyr, lazily gliding in a descending circle until he landed before L'thin, a shirt in one of his fore claws. Here. He dropped the shirt, then glanced over at the girl. New friend? L'thin pulled the shirt on. "Sokon, this is Certaneth, my dragon. Certaneth, this is Sokon, a new candidate to Aldesia Weyr." The brown just inclined his head a little, not saying anything.

[Sokon]

Sokon patted the rump of the runner she had been scrubbing as he was taken away, thinking of just how it'd feel to have someone share everything you felt. She nodded at the suggestion, making an affirmative hum as she did so, trying not to appear too enthusiastic at the idea.

She followed the brown rider, ducking under the fence he had vaulted and having to walk just that bi faster to keep up with his stride. It took her a moment to notice the shadow that was slowly getting bigger, circling the weyrbowl. And she looked up to see Certaneth's bulk coming towards her. Fighting the urge to step out of the weyrbowl, Sokon stood a little ways behind L'thin, watching as the dragon, shirt in claw, landed in-front of his rider.

She smiled nervously as the brown dragon looked at her, waving a hand and usure of what to say. The meek "hi" she uttered towards to brown would have to suffice. Besides, she was sure L'thin had said something about this particular dragon being unsocial so it was proberly an appropriate response.

[Aria]

Certaneth regarded the girl with mild curiosity, then settled himself down on the grass. "Taking another nap?" L'thin asked his dragon, not really surprised when Certaneth's only response was the close of his eyes. He turned back to Sokon and smiled, "Come on, I'll show you around. Have you gotten settled in into the Candidate's Barracks yet?"

[Sokon]

Sokon watched unblinking as Certaneth regarded her, not moving until the brown finally settled down in the grass before her attention returned to L'thin. "Yeah, I'm settled there. Not sharin' a room or anythin' yet so all's good. I haven' seen much else. I tend to get a little lost in the corridors and stuff of the weyr you know?" She grinned sheepishly, shrugged, and gave a small laugh at the idea of a dragon rider getting lost in the weyr, sure that no matter what, a dragonrider knew all the in's and out's of the weyr.