Difference between revisions of "Logs:Of Impending Battles"

Your location's current time: 19:21 on day 26, month 6, Turn 58, of the Tenth Pass. It is a summer evening.

You suddenly emerge... Sky Above the Red Butte(#6544RJe) The rolling plains of central Keroon spread below you in a hundred shades of green and brown. The wind sweeps across the sea of rolling grass, rippling the green in waves of shining silver. From this height, the land looks fairly flat, but meandering patches of darker green mark valleys and seasonal streams. Overhead, the open sky arches wide, unobstructed from horizon to horizon. The Red Butte rears up from the surrounding land like an island rising from the sea, green vegetation breaking on bulwarks of red stone. Its circular shape is strikingly apparent from above, as are the crevasses and channels that spread from its rounded summit. Encircling sharp ridges drop gradually lower, leaving the center exposed, and darker green traces the lowest points of the maze of radiating ridges and channels, ringing the butte in rough, spreading circles of jumbled, wind-smoothed stone. The Red Butte dominates the landscape, towering above the plains in a sudden and surprising uplift visible for miles around. The terrain atop the butte below is rough and broken, but there is a relatively flat area where a few dragons could land. Obvious exits: Upper Sky Red Butte

» Leiventh emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

You wing downward to land in a relatively flat area on top of the butte, careful of the rough terrain. You hop down Leiventh's side to the ground, the dragon's sparkling eyes watching closely. Red Butte(#6545RJ) Far from any hold, the timeless, monolithic ridges of Pern's Red Butte rise sharply from the rolling plains. A hundred dragonlengths across at its widest point, the massive butte towers above the surrounding plains, dramatic in its isolation. A few hardy plants twine gnarled roots into nooks and crannies of the speckled red granite to cling to the butte's steeply sloping sides as the harsh wind whips past with a hollow sound. The summit of the Red Butte is rocky and treacherous, a relatively flat expanse of reddish stone cut deeply by radial crevasses. Overlooking spreading plains and rolling green-brown hills, the butte offers a magnificent vista to the horizon in each direction. The vast sky arches overhead, majestically empty of all but the lonesome wind. The only way off the butte is by dragon. Contents: Leiventh Ayana Kyreth Obvious exits: Sky

It's early evening, and Ayana and Kyreth are lounging in one of their favorite spots. The brownrider has a large blanket spread out with an open sack next to her filled with a wineskin and fruit. Eyes closed and laying against the brown, she seems to be carrying on a one-sided conversation, as usual, "...and shards, I can't believe I forgot my own turnday! I must be out of it lately or something," she says to the brown, shaking her head. All Kyreth seems to do it snort.

With nothing but the slight displacement of cool air to announce another dragon's arrival from between, it might be easy to miss Leiventh's appearance in the sky. The bronze's wings, spread wide, catch the last of Rukbat's light as he drops downward, reflecting crimson splashes from his wingsails as he circles once before orientating himself. With a backwing that stirs a few of the scattered rocks, the High Reaches dragon touches down, his rider dropping to the ground a few heartbeats later. R'hin divests himself of flying gear, draping his jacket over a nearby rock, before he saunters in Ayana's direction, voice low, amused: "The mindhealers say the first sign of madness is talking to yourself, you know."

Kyreth warbles a greeting in Leiventh's direction right after the bronzerider's comment, casuing Ayana to jump and look in his direction. Blushing, she throws Kyreth a glare before sitting up and grinning at R'hin. "Oh, did they," she muses with a chuckle. "I always talk to Ky, and don't let his blank stare fool you." She scoots over a bit and pats a seat next to her, "Early evening, handsome," she says warmly. "You seem to have found me at one of my hang-outs."

Leiventh returns Kyreth's greeting adroitly, with a low rumble that is not that dissimilar to R'hin's voice, if one were adept enough to tell. There's a hint of amusement about the bronze's demeanor as he settles down, the glowing of his eyes dimming as eyelids close over. R'hin, tossing a grin the dragon's way, saunters over towards the blanket, taking the space next to Ayana with a low chuckle. Instead of a verbal greeting, he settles for leaning in, a hand brushing against Ayana's cheek, lips finding hers in a gentle kiss. "I grilled the Igen watchrider quite thoroughly," he confesses, looking not the least bit chagrined. "He capitulated over the offer of fresh Benden baklava to occupy the rest of his shift."

Ayana leans into the kiss warmly, touching his arm in an intimate gesture. "Now that's a greeting," she purrs softly in approval. Choosing instead to hug against the bronzerider instead of her lifemate, "Poor watchrider, though. You're welcome to have Leiventh bespeak Ky for a location. Ky likes to squeal," she adds wryly. She looks at him for a moment, her gaze lingering on his eyes, down to his nose, then lips, "How you been, and hey, actually I'm glad you're here," she says a bit sheepishly. "I was going to go and tell you, but....well, Bayan's left Fort and he's heading back to the Reaches. He should be there by now," she gives a pointed look. "He's not happy."

"I think he did fairly well out of the deal. The baklava was still warm when I delivered it to him." R'hin responds with a grin, before adding, "I wanted to surprise you. I wasn't sure if Kyreth would tell -you-, or not." His fingers curl absently through her hair, returning the long look in kind, not shying at all from the scrutiny. There's a faint furrowing of brow as she mentions her brother, however, and an exhaled sigh as his hand falls free. "He knows, then? It was inevitable." His voice is unconcerned. It might be difficult to see in the light of the moons, but it almost seems like the bronzerider's eyes are glinting with anticipation. Leaning forward, he selects a slice of the fruit, offering it to Ayana with a twitch of lips. "I wouldn't worry about him."

Ayana chuckles deeply, "I bet he did," she responds, "baklava is a good treat. It's a very good surprise, and needed. Seems like the more I see you, I'm finding it hard to keep away." She glances over at the dragons, "Ky probably wouldn't have," she observes slowly. "He's taking a liking to the two of you. Perhaps that's why he's been so smug since the goldflight, even though he didn't win." The brownrider then returns her gaze to R'hin's face, a faint hint of concern there as she nods, "He came by Igen with the goldrider about a sevenday ago," she explains, "and we got into it. He heard rumors, and he got me so worked up that I confirmed them. He thinks you're doing this to spite him personally....he's very protective." She sees alittle of the anticipation in his eyes, which causes her to grin. "Ah, and you want him after you?" she asks in mild amusement. "You're not a weyrling anymore. He sees you as fair game. I wouldn't put it passed him to try to fight you now." She takes the fruit with a nod, biting into the slice as she wraps an arm about his waist. "I'm not worried about him," she says then, "but you got to admit this will cause some...trouble." A smirk.

"Smug?" R'hin echoes in surprise, glancing over his shoulder at the brown, speculatively. His brow furrows again briefly as she describes her encounter with her brother. "He has a goldrider at his beck and call now? Interesting," he remarks adroitly. His lips twitch, not exactly denying her accusation, easy murmur given, "Trouble... says she who not too long ago had a knife in her gut," he teases, a hand reaching around her waist to brush at her side, fingers finding that scar with easy familiarity. "No, I'm not a weyrling anymore, and he's welcome to fight me on this, if he wants. I can't much blame him; family's family. I expected it ever since the flight."

Ayana chuckles at R'hin's shock, shrugging, "Well, I keep asking him why he's so smug," she nods in Kyreth's direction, "and he won't give a clear answer. He approves of you, I know that much. Or it could be my feelings...I'm feeling things that I shouldn't," she confesses sheepishly. At the mention of the goldrider, her sheepishness gets worse, "Oh, uh...well I didn't meet her, and from the sound of the note he sent...I don't think things worked out....might be my fault," she adds quickly. When he touches the scar at her side, she grin impishly his way, "Well, I am familiar with trouble," she admits, "I'm just wondering if you know what you're getting yourself into. I have two overly-protective brothers and a weyrmate who may accept whatever it is that's going, but well aware you may have intentions on me. That's a big wall to climb, R'hin." She nods at his last comment, "I expected it, too," she agrees, "but if that night was all it was, Bayan would look it over. Problem is, we're still seeing each other."

"He approves of me? That'd be a first." R'hin remarks laughingly, a tilt of head given at her latter words. "Nothing wrong with feelings," he murmurs. "I'm not exactly going to steal you away from your weyrmate, you know," he adds, eyes on hers as he speaks. "She obviously cares for you, and I've no wish to interfere with that. Besides, I think I'm more scared of -her- than your brothers," twist of lips indicates humor, pulling his hand from her waist long enough to dig into the sack, pulling out the wineskin triumphantly as if he'd brought it himself, offering it first to Ayana. "I've never shied away from a challenge," he confesses, visibly unconcerned, "And, I don't know about you, but I think it concerns you, and me. I'm not about to stop seeing you because your brother demands it. Unless you think otherwise..?"

Ayana spares the brown a brief glance, "Like rider, like dragon," she quips on herself. "He knows I'm attracted to you. If it were just the flight, I would have left you well enough alone and moved on." She gives R'hin a tender smile at his words, "I know you won't steal me, exactly," she agrees, using his words in amusement, "and me and her have a long history. She thinks you're good for me, and I can't help but to agree." She laugh at the mention of Delu being scarier, "Oh? Ah, you mean her proddiness? That's over and done with. She's back to her..less sensually direct self now." She grins and winks, looking at the wine and taking it. "I love filching," she says with a contented sigh as she pops the seal and takes a drink. Passing it over, "You're right, this is between me and you," she nods. "They don't own me, and they can't tell me who I can and can't be with." Some anger leaks into her voice at her words, shaking her head, "I don't want to stop seeing you, and I'm not about to let them have their way this time."

"She does, does she? She mustn't know me that well," R'hin quips, amusement largely self-directed. "Ah, good," he breathes, a hint of relief in the words. "I'd worried about coming to Igen and being caught up in her flight. Now -that- would be awkward," he chuckles. "Not that Leiventh tends to show much interest in greens, by and large, but there's bound to be an exception here and there." The words, if they're aimed to get a reaction out of the bronze, seem to do little; the dragon's as statuesque as he ordinarily is. Pale eyes drift back towards Ayana as he takes the wineskin, eyes still on her even as he takes a gulp. "Then it's settled," he says, decisively, a little smile flickering as he leans in to murmur close to her ear, "I like that you get angry about it."

Ayana lays her head on R'hin's shoulder, an amused grin evident as she says "Well, Delu believes you must be something special to capture /my/ interests," she admits. "For turns now, she's been the only one. I'd never thought that would change." She looks into his eyes, "There's something about you, R'hin. I can't help but to want to get to know you." She nods then, "Leiventh's lucky then," she quips, "because I can't keep Ky away from greens. I've pretty much given up now," she adds as though she's been suffering from it. She flashes a smile however and finishes off the slice of fruit. When he murmurs, her smile turns suggestive, "Do you," she returns in a low voice. "Well, it's enough to get me angry. I like you, alot. Baye and Kam can go sit on tacks for all I care. I've given them their way for turns....now it's time to rebel."

R'hin's arm wraps around Ayana's waist again, his thumb idly rubbing against her hip. "Something about me-- you mean my irrepressible charm, wit, good looks, intelligence..." the list trails off into unmistakable grin. At her words, he nods his head imperceptibly, leaning in to press lips against her forehead a moment. Voice is soft as he says, "You do know I'm seeing others, too? I'm not much of one for settling down, truth be told, but if you're happy with that, then I'm happy." He casts a glance over at Kyreth, and says, "Maja says she's the same problem with Vesereth. I think it... it troubles her." His lips quirk, and he says, "I like rebellion, too. But they are family," he adds, as if that should be enough to give her pause.

Ayana leans back against him once his arms wrap around her, returning his grin. "Yes, there's certainly those points," she drawls in agreement. "I like a man who isn't afraid to go after what he wants....ambition is what I was taught. You're bold, like me...can take a challenge. I need someone that can excite like that, even if it spells trouble." A smirk forms as he kisses her forhead, her eyes closing. She nods then, "As long as I can get you into a weyr all alone every now and then, I'm perfectly fine," she answers him with a feral grin. "It's not like I'm looking for another weyrmate or anything, and like you...I'm not afraid of going after what I want, too." She chuckles a bit, "Hm, Maja..." she drawls out the ex-guard's name. "I don't think she approves of me," and if anything, she looks amused by that assessment. "I know they're my brothers," she nods to him, "but sometimes they go too far. I'm very loyal...loyal enough to get knifed, even. If I can be loyal, then they need to learn to trust me more. Not everything I do is aimed to ruin their business. Bayan gets that somewhat, but Kam..."

R'hin leans his chin against the top of her head, his breath stirring her hair slightly as he speaks, "There are things I want, but I'm not ambitious in the sense you mean, I don't think. I've no wish to be a Wingleader, or a Weyrleader. I'm not meant for those things, no matter how much people tell me otherwise." A hint of amusement threads through his tone at that. "I don't think the vixen approves of -me-, either. I wouldn't take it personally. It's because you're Bayan's sister, and she has her suspicions of him." There's not a trace of embarrassment in his tone, despite being the source of those suspicions. "You're loyal to them, but... impressing changes you." His voice goes softer, more distant. "It changes your priorities, your goals, what you -want-. It changes what's important."

Ayana leans her head in the crook of R'hin's neck, idly tracing her fingers up and down his arm. She nods a bit, "I think I can understand," she says soberly. "I don't have a wish to be in any higher position either, which Igen should probably breathe a sigh of relief," she quips dryly in a mock of herself. "If I was Wingleader, they'd probably be afraid I would lead the whole wing into the side of a cliff." She squeezes his arm, "If you don't see it in you, don't do it. Don't let anyone force you into that." She smirks a bit, "Well, Maja can suspect him, but I doubt it would do little good," she says with a shrug. "Kamer would step in if things get too heavy." She pauses at his latter comments as if considering them before nodding. "Yes, impressing does change things," she agrees. "I wonder what my life would have been if I had stuck to the lands instead of stepping foot in the Weyr that day. If anything, I'd probably be running about with my brothers. Back then, I had no control." She grins a bit, "It's something I struggle with everyday...duty to Weyr and family. I can't let go of either one if I tried. My priorities have changed, and I have to deal with it."

"Believe me, I'm the last person to allow myself to be forced into anything." His amusement lingers, but there's a thread of something more besides: uneasiness, perhaps, not something you've ever heard in him, so easy enough to overlook. R'hin shakes his head briefly, the movement felt rather than seen, "I'm sure they'd be much more concerned about you leading the wing into a life of debauchery," he teases, low chuckle felt through her back against his chest. A beat or two, as she mentions Kamer, but he doesn't say anything, that omission perhaps noted. "What do you mean, back then?" he grins, "I don't believe in fate. I think you'd have made the most of it. You'd be happy, because you wouldn't know any other life - and that's not a bad thing. The Weyrs are... mired in tradition. They know no other life, no other way of doing things."

Ayana chuckles at his admition, patting his thigh, "Good to know," she says warmly. "I've seen too many folks easily led these days." While she notes his uneasiness, she doesn't comment on it, and the tease he gives her sends her laughing. "Oh, you have a point there!" she cries, waving it off. "If they had met my ma, too, then they would have more reason to keep me from any position. Lucky for them, my desires lay elsewhere." At his question, she grins, "Back then," she echoes playfully, "I ran away from the Hold, lived on the hand holdless. That wouldn't have been enough for me though. I don't have much care for fate mayself, and I do believe I'd have made the most of it. I was going to settle in with renegades, truth be told, since that's where I was the most comfortable. My family has a long line of both traders and renengades, and I know I could have easily chosen a more honest route like being with the trade, but...back then, that kind of life attracted me. Can't be ashamed to admit because, it's in my blood. Only thing that keeps me alive next to having Kyreth is I got enough sense." She nods, "The Weyrs have their ways, sure...but it's certainly not the only way."

"Oh, please, tell me we have the kind of relationship where I -don't- have to meet your mother?" R'hin says laughingly. "I'm definitely not the bring-home-to-ma type of man." As she speaks more about her past, he seems to grow more reticent, not offering up any of his own history in turn, though he listens intently. "Few of us get given the choice so starkly, left or right, good or bad, you decide," is all he says on that, stretching just enough to reach the wineskin and offering her some. "Hah! Not enough sense to stay away from me though, I'll note," he says, good-naturedly, "As for the Weyrs... well. We'll see what happens. I can feel changes stirring in the air."

Ayana blinks before chuckling and shaking her head, "I'd be happy if I don't have to meet my mother, either," she returns in good humor. "No, she's basically disowned me. She's out on my uncle's trade caravan right now." Perhaps talking about her touches a nerve, since she grimaces a bit and offers no more information on her. She regards him for a moment, a smirk playing on her lips as she shakes her head, "Hm. Never met one who's mysterious about his own past," she observes in a drawl, "Interesting." She doesn't say anymore on it, instead adding "Wasn't that I chose what was good or bad...just at the time, my curiosity with the Weyr happened to have won out." She winks at him before taking the wineskin and drinking. She wipes her hand over her mouth, chuckling and giving it back, "Stay away from you?" she echoes in mock shock before grinning and poking him in the chest, "I believe the same could be said of you, R'hin." She raises an eyebrow at his talk of Weyrs and change, nodding a bit to that, "Mm, change is good I'd say," she says briskly. "Monotny breeds mistakes." She turns to him, "So, what does a girl have to do to see your weyr?" she asks in her most innocent voice.

R'hin senses the reluctance on her part as to the topic of her mother and in kind, lets it pass. A twitch of lips at the mention of his past earns offhand, dismissive comment: "I do it purely to keep women interested. Is it working, do you think?" Brows lift quizzically as he grins at her. "Curiousity is a choice, too." He eventually says, before he flinches back at the poke, arms held out in instant surrender. "The lady is wise," he murmurs, spark of amusement glinting in his eyes. Thoughtful a moment, he looks about to answer her comment on the Weyrs when her very distracting question sidetracks him. "Well, ordinarily I like to be waited on, wined and dined. Since we've fulfilled two out of three, I'll settle for that."

Ayana grins and simply shrugs, "I'm interested, yes," she admits, "but not enough to pry. I keep the worse stuff of mine to myself. I can understand it, and you have that right." As to his last comment, she stares at him for a moment before looking around. Back to him, her expression suggestive, "Would you settle for right now then?" she asks with a smirk. No need to play innocent anyways. "Here you've seen my weyr and I've yet to see yours." She sits up and stretches, "And it's not like I got to be anywhere tonite anyway....unless you have plans to woo another helpless lady to your charming ways?"

Rather than answering immediately, R'hin stands, hands reaching out to draw Ayana to her feet along with him. Head bends down, lips close to her ear as he murmurs, "As if I could refuse an offer like that from such a beautiful and charming lady." He draws back, pale eyes shining, bending enough to press lips against the back of her hand. "Leiventh will show you the way."

Ayana flashes a winsome smile, being drawn to her feet by the bronzerider. She moans to his words, "Now that's what I like to hear," she says in a low intimate voice. "Looks like I'm all yours tonite." She bends to grab up the blanket and pack, nodding to him as she sets the things into the large sack on Kyreth. "We're right behind," she says before mounting.

Ayana mounts Kyreth. Ayana has left.

R'hin's eyes follow Ayana's movements as she packs up, only looking away in order to climb atop Leiventh, the dragon springing up almost as soon as he's in place.

You jump up onto Leiventh's back, the dragon's sparkling eyes watching closely. You spread your wings and leap upward, rising into the vast sky above. » Kyreth flies up from the Red Butte. » Leiventh disappears into Between.

Between You gasp as the icy black nothingness of Between surrounds you! You hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing. The trip takes five heartbeats... Black... Blacker... Blackest!

You suddenly emerge... Sky High in the Bowl, High Reaches Weyr As you soar high above the bowl, you find yourself at a most unique point in the sky; here, near the lip of the bowl, the southeast is fully visible - the open sky stretches to the Western Mountain Range. Behind you, though, to the northwest, you can catch only occassional glimpses of the landscape through the spaces between the Seven Spindles. Through the first and second spires, you can see out to the mountains surrounding the weyr. If you know just where to look, you can also glimpse part of the winding road leading to the Weyr. Ledges are hewn into the rock face in all directions, each with a dragon's weyr behind it. The winds here are usually calm, with the protection of the Weyr's walls to keep the worst gusts at bay. Still, flying can be a little difficult as an errant thermal sometimes crosses the bowl. Views: Weyrs Obvious exits: Lower Western Sky Lower Eastern Sky Star Stones Up

» Leiventh emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! » From a distance, Alcidanth bugles loudly, welcoming Bronze Leiventh home.

» Kyreth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! » From a distance, Alcidanth warbles a greeting to Brown Kyreth of Igen Weyr.

You wing down to a quick landing on Leiventh's ledge. You vault down Leiventh's side to the ground, the dragon's sparkling eyes watching closely. Leiventh's Lookout Ledge The broad, flat ledge of this weyr is unremarkable, just a simple stretch of cool grey stone, a little claw-scraped at the edge. It's the two different sets of stairs that make up its most unusual feature: one series going up, the other down. The steps leading upward are entirely outside, curving up the rock face to end at a small summit - a lookout of sorts. The space is about six feet square; a hammock has been stretched diagonally across the space to take advantage of the almost constant sun this area receives. Other than a dingy, weather-assaulted blanket and a planter full of dead flowers, there's little else up here, though the view downward and across the lake is amazing.

A blanket-laden wallow serves as a comfortable bed for the large bronze that lives here. The second set of stairs from the ledge is covered with heavy canvas more often found in ships' sails, no doubt leading down into the weyr. Contents: Leiventh Obvious exits: Inner Weyr Sky

Kyreth backwings to a neat landing on the ledge. Kyreth has arrived.

Ayana slides down Kyreth's side to the ground. Ayana has arrived.

The High Reaches evening air is slightly more crisp than at the Red Butte, but it's still warm enough that flying gear is a little too stifling. As soon as Leiventh touches down onto his ledge, R'hin climbs down, shrugging off his flying gear and throwing it into a loose, careless pile on the ledge. He steps back to make more room for Kyreth's arrival, watching the brownrider with a grin, moving over ease her passage to the ground with hands to her waist if she'll let him. "Welcome to my home," he murmurs. "It's a slightly better view in the daytime."

Ayana jumps down from the brown with R'hin's help, looking around at the new place with interest. "Nice," she says as she observes, nodding in approval before looking his way, "It suits you. I think you made a good choice." She gives the brown a pat, looking out over the scenery before her eyes lingers on R'hin with a grin. "I think I got the better view before me right now," she returns impishly as she touches his cheek.

"We did," R'hin agrees, a low, amused laugh given at her statement. "You tease," he accuses, hand covering hers and taking hold of it to lead her down the stairs. "Come and see the rest of it, at least."

You climb down the stairs into the inner weyr. Inner Weyr - R'hin The inner weyr is a tidy little space, dominated by its painted walls. Though the baby-blue color has faded slightly and there are numerous scuffs that have taken the paint off in places, it has held up remarkably well, and the current occupant hasn't bothered to change it. A double bed takes up a good deal of the space, positioned under what looks suspiciously like a fishing net. A wardrobe and a press are placed in a corner out of the way, while an antique desk - a little unstable but still serviceable - is matched with a dark-stained chair. Next to the desk, a wine cabinet is piled on top with unused hides.

The heavy canvas that hangs across the exit to the ledge keeps out the cool air of the High Reaches. Obvious exits: Ledge

Ayana comes in from the ledge. Ayana has arrived.

Ayana walks in with the bronzerider, looking as innocent as she could make it, "Me, a tease? Oh, you jest," she waves it off with amusement in her hazel eyes. She takes a moment to give the inner weyr a long look, nodding slowly as she walks. "It almost looks better than mine," she lightly boasts in a tease. "Actually, it feels ..peaceful. You must have been real excited to leave the barracks. I know I was." R'hin reclaims her gaze then, looking him over much like a predator would do prey. "You got my attention, handsome," she says softly, "and I love your home."

The inner weyr doesn't look like it's been personalized all that much - and indeed, one could well suspect that some of the previous occupant's additions have been left in place. "It was nice to get some peace," R'hin agrees, "And some privacy. I think I've a bottle or two left over," he vaguely gestures towards the wine cabinet as they step into the inner weyr, "If you're interested. Or... we could just skip that part for now," he adds, as he catches her look, voice roughening slightly. He steps in close to her, bending his head, mouth finding hers, demanding.

Ayana gives the wine cabinet a fleeting glance as she walks up to him and runs her hands up his back. "I'm sure we could take a drink, afterwards," she muses, noting the change in his voice with a grin. She gives into his demanding kiss, her own emotions just as intense as she pulls him towards the bed.

The heavy canvas that covers the exit does much to keep the chill morning air of the 'Reaches out of the weyr - that, and the heavy furs that cover the bed. R'hin's the first to stir, undoubtedly more used to the timezone than his companion, though his version of stirring mostly consists of moving closer to Ayana, a brief murmur given that seems to be a half-formed word at best.

Ayana stirs just a bit, always been known as a light sleeper. When she feels R'hin against her, she smiles, her eyes staying closed as she yawns. The chills of the Reaches morning causes her shiver when the fur exposes some of her to it, so she cuddles closer to the bronzerider. "Mornin'," she manages to say finally to him, trying to keep her body from shivering.

R'hin hooks a leg over hers, tugging the furs up a bit more around her as he feels her shivering. "Mmm," he murmurs by way of response, exhaling a long breath. "As much as I enjoy my weyr, we really ought to spend nights at yours. At least we wouldn't freeze of a morning," he says, the grin more heard than seen.

Ayana definitely appreciates the bronzerider doing what he could to keep her warm, and it shows by her shifting to face him and lay against his bare chest. She chuckles lazily, "Yes, I have to agree," she responds in amusement. "Igen's mornings are never this cold. You're certainly welcomed to spend nights in mine." She grins, her eyes finally opening as she looks about. "I really enjoyed the surprise," she says warmly to him, "and the night. I'll have to do it in kind now."

Brushing hair back from her face, R'hin presses his lips to her forehead, arms winding around her back. "I look forward to it," he agrees. "Should I scrounge up some klah and breakfast? I'm more inured to the cold. That's one thing I did wish I had - a hearth in my weyr. Would make the mornings easier."

Ayana closes her eyes to his kiss on her forehead, smiling, "So do I," she says before nodding. "I think that would be nice. I won't be able to grab any breakfast once I return to Igen. Thanks." She winks at him and kisses him on the cheek. "A hearth would be useful," she adds, taking another look around, "and it would certainly make the cold bearable. Ky's having the time of his life out there," and she nods towards the ledge. "I think he prefers the cold to Igen's heat anyday."

"Consider it done." The rough pads of R'hin's fingers trace along Ayana's back for a moment before he pulls free, pushing the furs back around the brownrider before he finds his clothes, tugging them on with a hiss at the cool air. "We don't get the sun until mid morning, unfortunately. Probably why no one's claimed this weyr for a while. I'll be back shortly," he says, ducking past the curtain, the sounds of him climbing the steps two at a time quickly followed by Leiventh's rumble of greeting and the snap of wings. It's not that much longer before the pair returns, apparently a regular trip done with the ease of knowing where to find things without asking anyone. The bronzerider reenters the weyr, bearing a covered jug of klah, a mix of pastries and muffins.

Ayana smiles and nods, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. She rouses with a purr at his touch on her back, then cuddles up to the furs tightly when he gets out of bed and leaves. "A peaceful home, but a cold one in the mornings," she manages with a light chuckle. When he returns with breakfast, Ayana is already half-dressed and sitting at the foot of the bed. She beams at him, moving her position to sit further up. "Looks good," she says with interest. "You're spoiling me." She winks and adds, "I need to get use to the cold, considering that I /do/ like the Reaches. I'm still learning to manage the extreme heat in Igen. By mid-day, my weyr's so hot that I'd be running to the lake at times!"

R'hin sets the breakfast down on the table, pouring out two mugs of the klah, glance tossed over his shoulder, lingering on the half-dressed brownrider. "I -am- spoiling you," he agrees, "It's just so you'll think better of me when you hear all the terrible things about me later on." Lips curve into smile, the bronzerider cheerful and fully awake - the trip down to the bowl and back in the chill air serving as a nice wake-up-call. "Oh?" he asks, archly, as he moves over to stand in front of Ayana, offering her the mug, "Are you planning to spend more mornings here?"

Ayana gets fully dressed now, getting up and walking over to the table. "Terrible?" she echoes with a grin, "Oh, I've heard enough from Bayan! You got personality..can't fault you on that. I think I can accept you easy enough because you're familiar to me. You have some traits that I see in myself." She takes the mug of klah and takes a long drink before shrugging. "Well, I might," she playfully says with a grin his way, "because there's only one rider I would want to see here....and if my brothers are in town, I know I can reach them in the mornings or evenings. I'll keep out of trouble, but a meeting's been way overdue." She bites into a muffin, regarding the bronzerider with a lingering smile, "So next time I think I need to wine, dine, and serve you. I got an idea about that, but I need to think on it a bit," she muses.

A low chuckle, as R'hin reaches for his own mug. "Ah, so you've another secret admirer around here, do you?" he teases in turn, reaching for one of the pastries. He munches briefly, looking thoughtful. "Mm. You, keeping out of trouble? You liar," he chastises easily, clearly not believing a word of it. "I imagine I've a meeting with your brothers to look forward to myself, but that'll happen in due time." He polishes off the pastry quickly enough, chuckling, "Oh, I'm definitely looking forward to -that-," he says of her latter idea, pale eyes lingering on her for a time.

Ayana rolls her eyes before chuckling, "Yeah right. Me, another secret admirer. If you mean the bubblies down in the kitchen, then you're correct," she teases before walking over and leaning up to kiss him. "No one claims me easily," she says in a mildly serious tone. "I'm sure you and Delu will keep me on my toes enough." She turns a pout on him, mischief in her eyes, "Well, I could, if I worked hard at keeping out of trouble," she says with a blink. "But I promised Delu I wouldn't get involved with the whole ambush issue, unless indirectly. No more hands-on fun for me," and she holds her hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Besides, she gave me to the end of the turn to be good, and well...think I screwed that up the day after she said it." With a wink his way, the brownrider finishes off the muffin. At hearing R'hin's meet with her brothers, she nods evenly. "Hm. I bet it will," she muses slowly, "and as much as I wish I could be there, I think it best I'm not when the tables start being overthrown...assuming this meet takes place in a very public area." She beams when his gaze is on her, blushing slightly as she nods, "Good. Once I work out the details, I'll let you know about it."

R'hin returns the kiss in kind, free hand finding its way to the small of her back for balance. "Mmmhmm. Then I suppose I oughtn't encourage you, then," he sounds almost disappointed, though it seems deliberate, if the flicker of brows is anything to judge by. With a purse of lips, he observes, "It's all well and good to make a promise, but for some people... they can't go against their nature. I'm one of those people. I'm starting to suspect you're one, too." He drains off the rest of his klah, setting the mug on the table, looking wry, "It won't be public, if I can help it. I'm not one to air my laundry for all to see... and use."

Ayana grins and shakes her head at the tease, "Encouragement makes the heart grow fonder," she simply states in response to that. She pauses at his statement on promises, looking him over before candidly replying "You know what? I believe you're right. Your suspicions may well be correct." She grins then and finishes off her klah in one gulp. "Kam wouldn't let something like that go down in public, either," she agree evenly. "He's all about keeping secrets and information contained."

"I thought as much," R'hin doesn't seem the least bit surprised by her words, knowing smile creeping across his lips. "I suppose... he and I are a lot alike, in some respects," he says, slowly. He exhales slowly, glance going past and lifting briefly. "Leiventh's after a swim, I think. Do you and Kyreth have enough time to join us? Or does duty call?"

Ayana stretches a bit, smirking in response to his knowing smile. She nods then, "Yes, you and him are alike in some ways." She finds amusement in that before looking toward the ledge. "I think we got enough time," she says with a nod, seeming to silently confirm with her lifemate. "I got the extra drills removed, so I think they won't miss until much later."

Grabbing another pastry - for the road so to speak - R'hin chuckles. "Somehow, the way you say that I'm not sure it's a good thing." He looks pleased at her assent, taking a bite of the pastry. "Perfect. Shall we then?" he gestures towards the stairs, moving to hold aside the canvas.

Ayana chuckles, shrugging a bit as she heads toward the ledge, "It does have good and bad connotations," she admits, "but Kamer isn't altogether a bad person." She nods to him, then heads out.

Ayana climbs back up the stairs to the ledge. Ayana has left.

You climb back up the stairs to the ledge. Leiventh's Lookout Ledge The broad, flat ledge of this weyr is unremarkable, just a simple stretch of cool grey stone, a little claw-scraped at the edge. It's the two different sets of stairs that make up its most unusual feature: one series going up, the other down. The steps leading upward are entirely outside, curving up the rock face to end at a small summit - a lookout of sorts. The space is about six feet square; a hammock has been stretched diagonally across the space to take advantage of the almost constant sun this area receives. Other than a dingy, weather-assaulted blanket and a planter full of dead flowers, there's little else up here, though the view downward and across the lake is amazing.

A blanket-laden wallow serves as a comfortable bed for the large bronze that lives here. The second set of stairs from the ledge is covered with heavy canvas more often found in ships' sails, no doubt leading down into the weyr. Contents: Ayana Kyreth Leiventh Obvious exits: Inner Weyr Sky

"Which implies he isn't all together good, either," R'hin points out adroitly as he follows her up the stairs, heading for Leiventh.

Ayana laughs at that, walking over to Kyreth and giving him a skritch. "Well, depends on who you talk to then," she just says before mounting.

Ayana mounts Kyreth. Ayana has left.

You jump up onto Leiventh's back, as the dragon warbles a greeting. » Kyreth springs powerfully into the sky. You rise up into the air. You spiral downward in the bowl, towards the east wall. You wing down and land lightly at the lake shore. You vault down Leiventh's side to the ground, as the dragon warbles a greeting. Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr This shoreline marks the edge of the freshwater lake that fills the southeastern portion of the bowl. The gritty dirt of the bowl gives way to smooth sand. Dragons adore diving from high above into the lake's deep center, often imploring to their lifemates to bathe them with sweetsand. Humans and firelizards alike frequently fish from these clear waters, which are abundantly stocked. Across the lake, the bowl wall rises high into the sky, its face dotted with weyr entrances. A few dragonlengths above the water, glimpses of a level cliff can be seen amidst boulders lining the edge. Just south of here, a smaller pond of water is divided from the main lake by a natural bridge of land. A path leads across the bridge and up to the diving cliffs, winding through a dotting of small boulders on its way. The evening seems darker than usual behind overcast skies. A moderate rain falls, and doesn't look to end anytime soon. There is a strong breeze that creates ripples upon the lake. Contents: Kyreth Leiventh Obvious exits: LAke Pond Diving Cliff Bowl

Ayana slides down Kyreth's side to the ground. Ayana has arrived.

Leiventh makes short work of the glide down, familiar enough with the air currents of the Weyr that he can get away with a short distance glide. Thankfully he's mindful enough of R'hin that he doesn't plunge directly into the lake, landing for a moment on shore for him to dismount before he heads into the chilly waters.

Kyreth quickly follow after Leiventh, landing quick enough for Ayana to jump down and rescue the large sack attached to him before he leaps towards the lake. She simply shakes her head at the brown before coming to stand by the bronzerider as she sighs, "He needs his own lake or something," she quips wryly.

"His -own- lake?" R'hin asks, amused, eyes lingering on Leiventh before the bronze submerges beneath the frigid water. "A Weyr's lake isn't enough?" he gestures towards his usual rock, pacing Ayana with a sidelong, amused grin. "I'm sure you could find something remote, if he really needed his own. Something to keep an eye out for on sweeps - not that you probably have many lakes in the Igen area," he admits, wry.

Harley walks over from the eastern side of the bowl. Harley has arrived.

Ayana grins, following the bronzerider to his rock and sitting. She nods towards the submerged brown, "He likes all kinds, see," she explains, "or, he's just weird." She shakes her head, "No, Igen's mostly sand and heat. I usually leave the area once all the work is done. I like to swim alot myself, so I guess Ky has it honest."

Leiventh's a vague shadow deep in the middle of the lake, surfacing briefly before ducking underneath again. "I'm starting to lean towards the latter," R'hin confesses with low-throated chuckle, settling on the rock next to Ayana and bracing himself with a hand behind him, eyes drifting towards the dragons in the lake. "I don't much thing I'd enjoy the constant heat and sand. The latter can be so... uncomfortable," he says, with amusement.

Harley comes walking along the lake shore, appearing relaxed for the first time in 7days. She's casting stones out to skip across the water until she spots the dragons in the lake. At that point the stones land in her pocket and she looks around, smiling cheerfully. "Hi R'hin!" and she nods to the other rider. "Reaches duties. I'm Harley."

Ayana chuckles, "Yeah, Igen isn't for everyone," she agrees readily. "It is uncomfortable, and I'm amazed how I survive it." She notes the blonde woman's arrival then, nodding a greeting to her, "Igen's duties," she says brightly as she leans against the bronzerider. Kyreth, meanwhile, seems oblivious to what's going on at the shore, simply floating by Leiventh lazily.

"But you seem to like it, now?" R'hin queries of Ayana, head tipped slightly. Pale eyes shift as he catches nearby movement. "Harley," the bronzerider greets warmly, smiling at the woman, "It's good to see you. It's been a while. You'd met Ayana...?" he glances between the two for confirmation, then quickly adds, "Harley, Ayana - Ayana, Harley. I'm surprised you didn't run into each other at the graduation."

C'len goes over from the eastern side of the bowl. C'len has arrived.

In the sky directly above, Vildaeth glides to a swift landing at the lake shore. Vildaeth has arrived.

Harley nods and smiles. "Yes, I remember seeing Ayana." and she nods to the rider "at the graduation. I didn't get to actually meet or chat though. I was a little busy with Leysen." and she shrugs. "He slept through all the noise of the ceremony and everything. He was suddenly wide awake when it got quiet." There's a sparkle in her eyes at the irony of that. "How are you doing? And you Ayana?"

Ayana now looks at Harley closely before recognition hits her face. She snaps a finger, "The hatching too," she says triumphantly. "Yes, I was here with L'sen and Baye. Well met, Harley!" She shrugs a bit to R'hin, "I like it alright," she says lightly, "though it's more common for me and Ky to go off somewhere else. I don't like staying in one place too long." She glances back to Harley with a smile, "I'm doing great, and yourself? How's L'sen?"

"Leysen was there?" R'hin seems surprised, grinning, "I'd have thought, being his father's son, he'd be wide awake, babbling away." He's settled on his usual rock next to Ayana, one hand braced behind him as he talks. "I'm doing well. Though I suspect the lack of punishment laps means I've put on a little extra weight," he jokes, eyes on Harley. "And you? I'm guessing Leysen's kept you busy of late?" A glint of amusement at Ayana's words, as he agrees in a quiet murmur, "Much the same as me, unsurprisingly." Leiventh, in the lake, finally surfaces, floating along the top for a while.

Vildaeth wings over from the feeding grounds, shaded in blood leftover from his messy meal that leaves his rider to walk over. C'len shuffles slowly, stifling a yawn and watching as the dragon begins his dunk in the lake to rinse off. "Evenin'," he calls to the group as he passes by the rock where R'hin sits, idly waving before tucking his hands into his pockets.

Harley chuckles as she turns slowly for a glance across the bowl. Good. No one is waving at her or yelling or anything. The turn also bring C'len into her line of sight when he calls out and she smiles. "Hello." before turning back to R'hin. "No, he woke up and chattered away when it got /quiet/. I think he already knows when it's noisy, he won't be heard." and she shrugs. "L'sen is fine of course. He's thoroughly enjoying himself. Chattering away when the baby isn't."

Ayana chuckles softly, gaze lingering on R'hin for a moment before saying "What is it we /don't/ have in common," she teases him lightly. She nods to Harley, "That's good to know...and Leysen is his?" She blinks, having just realized. "L'sen's a father?" She was about to ask more when C'len arrives. She nods a greeting his way, "Igen's duties," she offers, before her gaze goes towards her lazy brown floating near Leiventh. "Wow, I stop visiting the Reaches for months and I come back and miss all the news," she comments, eyeing Harley with new interest.

"Those two'll make a fine pair." R'hin laughs, "Though you'll never get a word in edgewise." He says, half amused, half sympathetic. Leiventh's the first to spot Vildaeth, rumbling a low greeting to the arriving dragon, which then draws his rider's attention, too. "Hey," he greets C'len, casually. He seems oddly pleased with Ayana's comment and her surprise both, eyeing her sidelong with a quirk of lips. "Bayan hasn't been around to collect all the gossip, I suppose."

C'len casts a quick look over at Vil, who responds to Leiventh's greeting with a soft but brassy bugle. The lake's water drifts over the dragon's hide, sending some amount of gorey bits into the lake but not enough to be a problem. "L'sen's a father?" Like a broken record, C'len repeats it again, his momentary look of blankness turning into a suprised stare in Harley's direction before he mutters something under his breath about needing to spend more time with his weyrling class. "I--didn't know," he then grins at her, making the assumption, "Congratulations." And then there's a grin and nod for both R'hin and Ayana.

A small frown appears on Harley's face and she speaks softly. "L'sen said Bayan had to go to Fort, that Bayan told him to let me know where he was and that he'd be back as soon as he could." and she shrugs again. A mischievous grin lights her face. "We spent the night in L'sen's weyr a few nights back and he found out just late the baby stays wide awake. I actually got a decent sleep that night. The two of them spent the night babbling total nonsense at each other and loving it." She looks over at C'len and nods. "Thank you." She's apparently starting to get used to the surprised reactions.

Kyreth belatedly offers Vildaeth a warble in greeting while Ayana shakes her head to R'hin. "No, apparently not," she says in mild shock. "but I'm sure he knew. If he found out about other certain things, then he knew. Just didn't tell me is all." She looks wry at that for a moment before replacing the expression with one of amusement as she looks to Harley and C'len. "Oh, Baye's coming back any day now," she says easily. "He was there a long time, but I got word." To C'len, "You were the clutchfather for Ista's last clutch, right?" she suddenly asks him.

After a moment, Leiventh once more disappears beneath the water, oblivious to the chill of the lake. "Bayan's been busy at Fort, so I hear," R'hin says, keeping his voice largely even, one would imagine in deference to the woman seated next to him. His lips purse briefly at Ayana's words, nodding a moment, before her latter comment directs his attention to C'len, pale eyes on the man with a furrow of brow. "Huh. Ista's weyrlings are 'Reaches sired? Interesting," is all he says of that.

The talk of Baye--whoever he may be--and his activites largely sails over C'len's head. He's still recovering from the idea that the chatty, bad-cookie-eating bluerider he impressed with has a child. Who probably eats a lot, himself. Ayana's question draws a look from him, the rider grinning lazily as he jabs a thumb in his chest. "Well, I wasn't." A jerk of his head indicates the bronze that's blowing bubbles over in the lake, trying to entertain himself and the other dragons around. "He was." An escape of air as he blows out a breath, almost a sigh. "Vil caught Nala in her first flight. I think he's still recovering from all the heat at Ista. I kind of miss it." The heat and humidity, that is.

Harley's head tilts a little to one side as she thinks about that one. A downright wicked sparkle lights her eyes as she answers "Better to be Reaches sired than Benden." she offers quietly. "They've been bragging too much." and she nods, moving around to another, smaller rock she settles herself on it and relaxes, staring out over the lake at the dragons in it.

While it looks like Kyreth's inclined to copy Leiventh in another dip, he just stays floating away. Ayana notes the eveness in R'hin's voice, and the mildly amused look sent his way lets him know she has an idea of his true feelings. She just chuckles low, not saying anything about it as she once again regards C'len. "Ah, I see," she says then. "Must have been interesting, hm? I'm so glad Ky didn't catch Rohzenth in Igen," she adds in relief. R'hin's comment about Reaches siring gets him a grin before nodding in agreement with Harley.

"I've found Telgar seems to boast of the proficiency of its male dragons most of all," R'hin remarks wryly to Harley. "Which is ironic, since I was being told that at their hatching... which was sired by an Igen dragon." Lips purse briefly, "I'd think 'Reaches' sired dragons would be less given to... hm, what's the polite way to put it? Provincial?" Eyes flicker upwards as he decides on the word with a slight nod, casting a grin to Ayana.

"A former Telgarian is Ista's weyrleader," C'len remarks with a shrug, but says little more about the subject. He does grin, though, "It was a little weird. Teonath's a grandmother? granddragon? --something, now. The weyrlings will be graduating soon, though." Vildaeth seems to have finished with his bathing, not even needing a scrub from his rider. The dragon pulls himself out of the water to stretch along an empty bit of shore, the lazy way to dry. "And how about Leiventh," the rider asks with a slight grin and lift of his brows. "Surely he could help spread the 'Reaches honor about, hmm?"

Ayana snickers at R'hin, shaking her head, "Well, Uralth always knew how to catch them," she comments on the Igen clutchsire. "I keep feeling sorry for his weyrmate." At C'len's question about Leiventh, she just raises an eyebrow in interest and glances at R'hin.

"So I'd heard. And the Fort Weyrleader is Istan. It seems that few Weyrs produce their own Weyrleaders." The remark is made off-hand, R'hin seeming to muse aloud. Brows flicker upwards at C'len's comment, pale eyes glinting in sudden amusement. "The... 'Reaches honor... needs no assistance from the likes of me," he responds with a wry twitch of lips. "Though if you think," a brief pause, no doubt for Leiventh's assistance, "Vildaeth would perform better with the challenge, you're welcome to inform me the next time you hear of a gold close to rising."

Leiventh senses that Vildaeth's touch is lazy, yes, lingering slowness from the evening's sumptuous meal, but there's an undertone of bright spice. « Challenges are always welcome. »

Leiventh> Vildaeth senses that Leiventh's response is a long time in coming, but that seems to be about the way of things from the bronze, crimson tones splashing about thoughtfully. He doesn't seem to share his rider's competitiveness, but agrees nonetheless, « With us, too. »

The stretched out bronze snorts, enough that some of the sandy shore flies up in frot of him. C'len merely laughs, amused at Vildaeth's reaction. "He has no lack of pride in himself that would prohibit standing up to any challenge, sadly." The rider ducks in slightly, voice lowered as if Vil might not be able to hear him any way. "His winning record's about the same as his losing one, though," and this is said with a grin and wink. "Soon it'll be a 'Reachian gold going up again, I'm sure," he remarks, almost mild as his feet shift, hands slipping back into his pockets.

Of mentioned challenges between bronzes, Ayana can only look from one bronzerider to the other. "I'm just glad Ky's on a losing streak," she offers with a smile. She was about to add more before her eyes unfocus and she sighs. "Shard it," she grumbles, rolling her eyes as she gets up from the rock, "I gotta head back. I'll try to be back soon," she delivers this last to R'hin, giving him a hug. "Thanks...for everything." She winks before turning to nod to C'len, "Pleasure meeting you." She calls Kyreth from the water, still in the midsts of grumbling.

"No doubt," R'hin agrees easily to the other bronzerider's assessment, "But the question is - which gold? It's been a while for all of them." His gaze flickers towards Leiventh, who's visible only as a ripple under the surface of the lake. "Yours would probably be more attuned to their moods than Leiventh." A little smile is offered for Ayana, wry, expectant, returning the hug swiftly, hand lingering on her arm a moment. "No need to thank me. Anytime. Have a safe flight back to Igen," he says, eyes lingering on the brownrider.

The exchange between the pair causes C'len to tilt his head to the side, briefly considering, before he nods and waves to Ayana. "Nice to meet you as well. I'm sure we'll see you around again--" more a statement than a question. Vildaeth rubs his belly on the sandy shore, using it to scratch his hide as C'len squats down in the sand, idly reaching to pick up a shiny rock just in front of him. "Perhaps he would be," said with a shrug, "though that matters little when it comes to the flight, I suppose. Sometimes it's luck that plays a larger role."

Ayana grins at C'len and his statement, sliding a knowing look to R'hin before grinning. "Anytime indeed," is all she says before waving to the two bronzeriders and mounting. Once she's settled, Kyreth heads to the sky and Between.

Ayana mounts Kyreth. Ayana has left.

R'hin's eyes follow Kyreth's departure until the brown winks between. Readjusting his position on the rock, he leans back, both hands braced behind him as he regards C'len with curiousity. "Luck... randomness. Some say the dragon's rider can influence her mate. What do you think?" he queries.

"Then Fort's new weyrleader should've won Nala's flight," C'len says, voice matter-of-fact as if he's attempting to take a step back and be analytical. But a moment's warmth slips into his next comment, "But Vil did, and I think it just had to do with where he was at the time the queen gave out. A bit of luck." He runs the rock through his fingers, then holds it flat in his palm, half-turning toward the lake to toss it toward the water. It falls in with a 'plop' noise, completely failing if the rider's intention was to skip it. The ripples spread, holding his attention for a little while until it returns to the sandy-haired man to echo his question back at him. "What do you think?"

There is, if anything, surprise suffusing R'hin's expression at C'len's comments, brows flickered upwards as eyes trace over towards Vildaeth. "Why should he have? Because he's an Istan bronze chasing an Istan queen? The last thing -they- seem to need is -more- of an insular nature," the young bronzerider says pointedly, straightening enough that he can hook one foot up into one of the cracks in the rock, arm wrapping around the bent knee. "I've always been of the opinion that it's random. Whoever happens to be in the right place at the right time. Whichever dragon catches the right thermal. Whichever tail happens to touch the gold's just as she's about to give up. Random." He claps his hands together sharply, the sound ringing out across the lake. "Unfortunately, it makes for a frightening point of view, to think that a person who will hold over three hundred lives in their hands should come down to something so fickle as being in the right place at the right time. History," his tone turns wry, "Seems to bear out the fact that we have seen just as many poor choices as good ones. That speaks to randomness, don't you think?"

C'len droops further down onto the shore so that he's sitting rather than squatting, looking slightly up and over to where R'hin remains on the rock. "Because he and Nolee were quite involved, and their dragons knew each other well because they hatched and were trained together," the rider clarifies. "Perhaps it only seems random, but there's some pattern that we just can't see? It took time for history to figure out the patterns of Thread." The last comment comes with a slight shrug and perhaps a little uncertainty, as the pair impressed after the Interval began. "If the leader is bad, there are others to compensate for him, at least." A bit optimistic, that.

"Mm. Perhaps... Nolee, was it? Perhaps she didn't want him to win. That's if you believe the theory that the dragon's rider can influence her mate." R'hin makes a sharp gesture with his hand, dismissing the other's words, "Considering that dragons have been mating as long as Thread's been falling, I'd think we'd have seen a pattern by now. When it comes to dragons, it seems, all logical basis goes out the window." There's a hint of wry amusement in the words, as he pushes off the rock, dusting his pants down. A level look is sent C'len's way, skeptical: "You believe that?"

C'len spreads his arms wide, hands flat fingers splayed, "I don't know," and that could answer either question. But he continues, "There've surely been bad leaders and the weyr is still here, is it not? We can all cope for as long as needed, if it's required. We're survivors." The weyr, the planet. A fond glance, and grin for the bronze that now dozes along the shore, "And the dragons help us do that, certainly. Perhaps there are many patterns? Or perhaps there's no pattern at all." There are no strong convictions in C'len's words, nothing concrete drawn out.

"Mm." If R'hin's non-committal response is any indication, he doesn't quite agree. Leiventh's shadow resolves itself into cinnamon-bronze form as he departs the lake, water streaming smoothly off his hide. "You think that the best solution then? To simply cope as needed. To survive. Is that what we are to do for the rest of the interval?" In contrast to C'len's lack of conviction, there's an odd kind of intensity to R'hin's questions, as if they seem pointed.

Despite C'len's work ethic, it seems the rider has impressed at the right time, perhaps. "Maybe relax a little, learn some new skills," he says thoughtfully. "More than survive - we have to survive without having a need to do the things that all of Pern knows we are here to do." He's almost suprised at the comment himself, and considers it longer, his last words coming more slowly. "Unless you'd prefer the alternative."

The look R'hin bestows on C'len is a little more favorable, a brief nod given. "Our purpose is to defend Pern from Thread. With that purpose gone..." he trails off, shoulders shrugging. "What are we to do, indeed?" The question, it would seem, is rhetorical, given he doesn't wait around for a response, walking to meet Leiventh near the shoreline. He's not much fussed with parting comments, it would seem, given the bronze lifts the moment his rider's aboard.

You vault up onto Leiventh's back, as the dragon warbles a greeting.