Blackrock Weyr

[JadeFallon]

The lower halls had been busy working on the meal for tonight. Every stop had been pulled out for the new hatchlings, the literal hope for the weyr. The cooking staff had been busy dusting out the fest hall and making it livable again, banishing the last signs of the plague hospital that it had been a few months ago. The bustle here and there was tremendous as they worked the day through to make sure that the weyrlings would be fed well, both dragon and human.

The head table was set nearest the entrance and those tables the new weyrlings would sit at were nearest the fires, to ward off the chill still in the air. The tables were set with the finest of the feasting day cloths and everyone who was working was talking about the rumors they had heard.

A bronze had chosen a girl child? How? Two had died at the hatching? The news spread as wildfire does as they worked.

After a long day for them, and a hopefully more restful day for the candidates the hall was ready for the feasting for the evening, all it needed were those people who wanted to celebrate, or who needed to forget the goings on of the hatching.

As the weyr residents trickled in, one in particular surprised himself by showing up. Daren had no idea why he was even here. He ran a hand over his eyes and turned to leave.

"D'.."There was a pause and K'thal cleared his throat. "Daren, it is good to see you back." His voice carried a soft note of worry for the dragonless rider. "I did not expect you to return to the weyr, but I thank you for answering my summons."

The man turned to look at the now weyrleader and smiled a bitter little smile, "Once a dragonrider, always. When my weyrleader calls" His voice was bitter, hollow. "I must answer. It is not my day, K'thal, go your new generation will be arriving soon."

[Seraph]

Farilee came in early, still flushed with happiness, and decked out in her best clothing: she wore the same bright fabrics as the others in her clan, and some good bronze and copper jewellry. She carried a guitar over her shoulder, and wore her hair tied back in an orange and violet scarf. Kalinth padded beside her, looking at everything, amazed at the world.

"All these colours! And what's this? Is there going to be food? The bronze dragonet, now dried to a glossy metallic sheen, immediately began to investigate the contents of the room.

Far sighed, deliberately exaggerating, and rolling her eyes, plopped down cross-legged and began to tune her guitar. "Silly." She had to wonder if Tyb still danced, and if there would be Harpers...there were already good food smells, and she and her dragon echoed each other's hunger.

T'balt arrived a while later, carrying a small cloth bag with him, looking much better than he did. He had shaved, redone his hair, and had a long, relaxing bath, taking some time for and by himself. Padding in, he waved at Far, then shed his heavy clothing against the cold. He was dressed for dancing, in loose pants and a long sash, and went over to his cousin. She bounced a little, and strummed her guitar experiementally. It had been a long turn without each other's company.

"You are ready, little Far." T'balt grinned, and shed his boots, waving his feet to dry them before taking some of his own jewellry out, slender chains and small bells for dancing. He glanced over at K'thal and Daren, and frowned slightly. Seeing D'ren...Daren back was surreal, and sad. He had liked the man, and if not for K'thal's charming seriousness, would have courted him. Now, though, he looked like a hollow shell.

"What's wrong, Tybby?" Far cocked her head.

"Nothing, little Far." Tyb shook his head, and finished getting ready, standing up. He began to stretch out, reaching down to touch his wrists to his ankles. "Are the others coming?"

"Ma said that she and pa and Edren and Salli would come." The little girl bobbed her head. "Ma will play while you and Salli dance."

"Good." T'balt nodded, happy to hear it, and continued his warmups, checking now and then to see who else would walk in.

[JadeFallon]

Jade entered the festhall a bit perplexed, she had re-braided her hair back into its normal plait and had worked some oil as she had been instructed by L'lir to, when Chauntath had complained of an itchy hide. She still was trying to get over the shock of impression, much less to something that seemed so perfectly matched to her personality. Her gaze moved quickly though to the left as somebody moved too quickly for her nerves, her hand tensing on the back of Chauntath as her other dropped to her knife briefly.

The brown's eyes flicked everywhere, sensing his rider's nerves on edge, I should have attacked them, Jade-mine. he hissed, his eyes still whirling more yellow than blue.

"Easy..." She murmured, her hand finding his head knobs and stroking them as they walked to their seats.


S'ana entered a while later, dressed again in a long flowing robe looking strangely neither male or female tonight but a combination of both. S/he glanced to Ucith who walked in at his side and had to smirk. His little beautiful green's neck was arched just so and her wings folded back along her back. S/he had to smile as she affected the posture she had tried so hard to affect even at hatching. She was noble, elegant, and he had come to find out undoubtedly morbid. "They will be serving us here, Ucith." S/he murmured as they found their seats, "No more talk about wasting meat." A delicate shudder passed through his frame at the thoughts the dragon had been having about the dead candidates.

There is nothing wrong with what I wanted, is there? Ucith looked at him worriedly, tail flicking back and fourth, even her tail flicked with a regal attitude.

S'ana sighed and had to shake his head, "I... will explain later, no?" he really did not want to have to talk about the finer points of not eating humans while there were others around.


C'ren arrived dressed in the only thing he really owned, he felt odd, almost out of place amongst the other candidates, dressed in the apprentice healers clothing he had. He glanced around before biting his lip and letting Voryth go first. He had to smile fondly as the smallest of the hatchlings swept the room with a brief tilt of its head and moved to a seat with its back near a wall, a good place where it could feel like it could protect its rider. "Voryth..." So strange to speak his dragons name, so strange to think he impressed. "I...I'll be fine I swear."

Voryth turned to look at C'ren, eyes whirling a wierd sort of green, You are mine, C'ren. I must protect what is mine. it tilted its head sideways and watched C'ren for a moment, feeling his thoughts, You wonder if this Danavas person will be happy with me? Why? You are mine, I am yours.

Coren blushed horribly and looked at his plate, muttering something under his breath and sighed, he had been sent to the feast so the senior journeyman could work on the injured...

[Shiori Ailill]

Safira tugged on her woolen dress. A feast, huh? She looked at herself in a looking glass. Her hair was still loose as it was at the hatching earlier in the day and she was wearing the ugly dress she came in on. Mind you it was no longer covered in dirt like before, but the young girl still hated the thing.

"How long are you going to stare at yourself, mine? You look pretty enough for me. Don't we need to go?" Iaboth spoke to the girl's mind as he batted at a curtain in her new room. Safira smiled. That's right, she didn't need to impress anyone, she had her Iaboth.

Although once she reached the festhall she had second thoughts. It seemed everyone was in their finest, and in such a variety of clothing as well. It seemed like there were not only Weyrfolk, but people from caravans, holds and crafthalls. "Most likely families of the candidates," Safira spoke out loud. A sudden pang hit her, she would never see her family again. She shook her head, she wouldn't have been with her family for long anyway as she was to be married off to some random man. At least now she never would be forced into a relationship that she didn't want to be in.

While his rider was musing, Iaboth bounded over to Ucith. "Sister!"he called out, "I'm sorry for earlier. It's just I thought your tail was pretty. I won't do it again."

Safira snapped out of her thoughts when she saw her dragon run off. It had hardly been a day, but she knew that she would have her hands full with Iaboth since he believed anything that moved was some sort of toy to bat his claws at. When she reached him she realized that the odd blue was actually behaving himself and seemed to be conversing mentally with one of his clutch-mates. The young woman turned to the green dragon's rider to apologize when she realized the rider was Diana, and turned beet red.

"I'm glad you got a dragon too, Di..." she stopped. "Um..." Safira looked away, down at the floor, she can't really call her "Diana" now could she?

[JadeFallon]

S'ana turned to look at Safira as she approached, his expression changing rapidly. From pleased, to worried, to closed off, "Ah, yeah. You holding up alright?" He asked softly, his tone of voice wasn't the long practiced higher pitch, but a softer, more natural sounding male tenor.

Ucith, eyed the blue and sniffed a bit, tilting her head in a way she could keep an eye on him and still stay as she had been, she sniffed once but it seemed like yes, she would forgive her silly brother.

S'ana rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Ah, yeah, well..." He looked away, "Please dont think I was trying to be some sort of pervert or anything, Saf. I..." How could he bloody tell her why he did what he did, he didn't even really know.

[Barghest]

Inspecting the claw induced slashes at her shoulders Janus rubbed gingerly at a bruise near her hip. What would her parents say now? Her injured by her very own dragon of all things. She never knew they were so -powerful- at first hatching. And Ormeth was big, he dwarfed several of the hatchlings. No wonder his collision had elicited all sorts of cuts and bruises. While Janus was not used to a delicate sort of life by any means, she had stared long and hard at the now nearly shredded white robe. She didn't have the heart to say anything to Ormeth though. He was just so innocent and he had apologized and she couldn't stay mad at him. Well she was never mad at him in the first place. Impression was a far greater thing than she ever would have suspected. "Just be careful, hm? Not everyone enjoys being tackled by a dragon." Discarding the now less than useful garment Janus gave her dragon a good scratch before changing back into her old clothes. She had since been able to clean up, no longer covered in dust and dirt. Her clothes were far from impressive, she hailed from traders not gypsies after all. The soft navy cloth rubbed annoyingly at her dragon induced scratches, but the long sleeves of her shirt covered her up appreciatively. Ignoring the displeased chatter of some maid towards her dress, Janus belted the silver buckle to her pants. It was as she was rolling up the cuffs that a rumbling voice broke through her thoughts. Quite literally.

Janus! I smell food! Janus! Making sure the folded cuffs of her pants were even, Janus laced her shoes and stood. "Yes, he of one track mind. We're going to a feast." A feast! There'll be a lot of food? With a laugh Janus slipped an old turquoise necklace about her neck. "Aye but it isn't all for you. So you're going to have to learn to share." The stomp of dragon's feet let her know her brown was right beside her. So she reached out a hand and gave him a customary scratch before picking up her coat and heading out the door. "Watch those wings at the doors, love." Okay! The brown bounded after his rider, barely scraping by the doorway. Ormeth wasn't quiet for a second, following after her asking all sorts of questions. Mostly about food. What kind is there I hope there 's more of the stuff we had at hatching. Do you think there'll be lot of it. hey why are your dressed looking like a blue you should wear more brown I like your shoes they're almost the color of my hide. Janus would answer each in turn. "I don't know, feasts always have a lot of food. Okay I'll wear more brown when I get new clothes. This is all I have right now. Yes your hide is a lovely shade, Ormeth."

Finally the hatchling went silent, his senses picking up on the increasing close scent of food, voices of people, and thoughts of other dragons. He had been so excited at hatching to find his Janus that he had ignored all his clutch mates before. But now he was eager to eat, to find someone to play with, to meet people (and beg for more food no doubt). "I don't want you begging Ormeth." Janus piped up, as if able to read his thoughts. Well, maybe she was. Dropping a hand to the dragon's neck she lead him into the feast hall. Abruptly she recalled, she didn't know anyone here, she hadn't had the chance to meet them before they'd all been thrown into the hatching grounds. She doubted her family could be here, they'd been a long way from the weyr. There was only her and Ormeth, well, that was just fine. She didn't need anyone but him, after all. Let's go find the food Janus! Ah well, it seemed she would have her hands full anyways. "Hold it Ormeth. Please don't crash into anyone else with those big feet of yours." Like a spoiled child the dragon gave a 'hmph' and stared down at the aforementioned large feet. Okay... Flexing his claws for a moment he nearly skipped forward as Janus lead him forward to stop blocking the doorway with his bulk.

[Seraph]

Seana walked in a little early, for once: she had groomed, rarely, and her reddish hair was freshly cut and short. She sported her black eye and slightly crooked nose from Aurykoth's flight with a certain degree of pride, and there was an extra swagger in her step as she went in, collected some food, and found a seat. She had her own hipflask, and took a drink from it: extra strength stuff. Leaning back in her chair, she watched the hatchlings and their chosen with a degree of paternal fondness. It was always good to see them running around - new dragons were a new hope for the weyr, however few there might be.

[JadeFallon]

J'som arched an eyebrow as Seana walked in, chuckling at her swagger. He was propped back against a wall, his chair tilted at an angle so he looked relaxed. He wore his nice riding leathers and had actually taken the time to shave. He figured with so many newly minted green riders that he would have to start impressing them early, there were a lot of very hungry looking males already eyeing the candidates. He nodded to the other blue rider as she swaggered in. His eyes closed half way as he thought, he and Seana had been through hell and back this last turn, the only two blue riders left until this hatching. He lifted his own hip flask, some of the same brew she carried, in a toast to her and winked mischievously at her before taking a pull.


L'lir's seat was at the head table, just to the left of the weyr leaders. Though the man never seemed to be in said seat. Currently he was moving through the new weyrlings as they came in, his gaze raking them all, making sure the dragon's hides looked in the best of health and that they seemed to be functioning properly. Truth be told, he already thought of them as his foster children and already was filing away the personalities and names so that when it came to lesson time, he would know how to handle them.

K'thal lifted his hand in greeting to T'balt when he saw him looking in his direction, nodding Daren and clasping his shoulder for a brief moment before he left, "Think on what I have said, man. There will be a hatching at some point, we have a queen and a bronze. I would be honored if you would at least try."

Daren flinched at even the word hatching but he nodded, he needed something to hold onto, something to make him want to stay here. A cheep was heard and the small silver queen appeared on his shoulder chiriping and nudging his face.

K'thal blinked and looked at the little firelizard perplexed, "Friend, what is this?" He stared at the firelizard who stared back, tilting her chin up a notch to eye him as she cold. "She is amazing..."

"I am unsure, weyrleader." Daren shrugged, seeming as hollow as ever, though his hand lifted to stroke the little flitt, "Though she acts like any queen I have met and resting in my quarters is a clutch of her eggs." He looked around the room, "It seems Pern has far more in store for us than we for her..."

K'thal nodded before heading off to continue his rounds, pausing for a couple words with the wait staff, Soon those weyrlings, both humans and dragons, that had arrived were offered their choice of the food and he made his way to the front to sink into the weyrleader's chair. It was strange, as he sat here and thought, a hand running over the carved arm, to be sitting here. He had never once imagined it and now... He shook his head and smiled fondly as the next generation settled down to eat.

[Shiori Ailill]

Safira looked up at the green rider when he spoke, "No! Tha's not whot I mean at all! You've protected me an made sure that I was alright ever since we got here." The girl bit her lower lip and looked away again. Her face went from the bright red to a lighter pink. "It's just that, I don't know what to call you anymore. I can't really call you 'Diana' now," Saff whispered.

Iaboth's eyes whirled happily, knowing that he was forgiven for the time being. "Hey Ucith, more of our siblings are coming in, shall we go say hello?"

[Barghest]

I wanna go. Let's go! Can we go? The brown carried on, abruptly turning about to get a look at the next whoever had entered. Janus was forced to duck beneath his huge wings, and giving a little hop to avoid those claws of his. Clumsy brute, she remarked, her fondness over riding any true sense of annoyance. Janus brushed herself off and straitened up again as he dragon finally sat back on his haunches with a huff. The formerly holdless trader felt awkward in a feast hall with so many people. But her brown would not allow her to stand in one place long, as he finally stood and nudged her a step forward with his broad nose.

"Ok, Ormeth. We'll go." If a dragon could give a grin then Ormeth surely did. Janus reached a hand and pat his nose. "Try not to show off those teeth of your over much. Big as you are some poor drudge will hurt themselves trying to run away." The dragon gave her a look indicating he didn't understand why anyone would think he'd eat them. Can we go, pleeease? I wanna eat and see the others and eat and and and... can we? Janus only laughed in spite of herself. "Yeah yeah. Come on."