When a Darlth Likes a Tequoia

Eastern Weyr - Western Clearing

This clearing finds itself nestled into a hook of the pale sanded beach, between the wide mouth of the Paradise River to the east, Monaco Bay to the north, and the ancient rubble of the extinct vulcano. Warm sand can be found in this sheltered cove where the winds find it difficult to whip through, providing hot sand for basking dragons in nearly any weather, as well as shelter under a lip of stone, worn away by centuries of crashing waves, that juts from the main body of the Weyr. The land has been terraced up from both river and ocean, and a seawall put in place to protect the clearing from storm tides and heavy rains. A multitude of huts tend to crop up here, sheltered as they are between wall and mountain, but still right in the thick of the activity.

At this late hour, the pathways between huts, clearings and wallows are lined with paper lanterns of a multitude of colors, lighting up the pathways of snow white sand as they wind through the trees. Autumn is difficult to tell from summer on this lovely coast as the trees in this tropical paradise are given to little change. The days are once again becoming cooler, but the storms are the worst during this season.


Steam rises from the warmer water of the river, in early predawn morning, against the cooler air, adding to the fog that has permeated the area. The full moons cast an eerie glow through the area that casts things in obscure shadows. Teq is walking along the river, enjoying some quiet time before having to go work under Arania. Bolt is wandering along with, sticking close by and sometimes running off after some critter and then coming back. Barking happily as he plays.

Up right before dawn, Mahlia has completed her first set of craft-duties in the galleries, she's taking advantage of limited personal time by going for a stroll down the river with Tarrin. They walk close together, talking and laughing when Mahl sees Bolt and whistles to him to for a good ol' throw of the stick. Her eyes search through the fog looking for Teq she calls out "You out there in the fog m'lovely dragonhealer friend?"

Tarrin chuckles softly at something Mahlia says as he wanders slowly along the river bank side by side with her, his shoulder pressed lighlty to hers as she walk. At the appearance of the critter running though the fog and Mahlia greating he glance up though the fog trying to make out whom might be nearbye.

There's a small commotion among all the general serenity…as a pair of flits, dark in the nighttime fog, come barrelling through…the slimmer, smaller one is busy harrassing the daylights out of the fatter, larger of the two as they squabble over some bit of food or another…but it all sounds good natured, as they're followed out of the fog by the heavier footsteps of a fully grown Pernese male. He comes from up the river some distance, looming suddenly into visibility. If anything? He seems a bit surprised to see any gathering at all at this time of early morn!

Bolt goes running and barking at Mahlia and bounces around her before running back towards Teq. He's got a lopsided gait, what with missing a leg at all, but it doesn't slow him down one bit. There's a call from the fog "Mahlia!" Shortly after Teq appears through the swirling fog even as Bolt dashes off towards the full-grown Pernese, barking happily. "What brings you out? Aren't you guys kept all busy like?"

Mahlia agrees that this is quite strange indeed, one random earlybird, river-wandering moment for all of them. Maybe it's the beasties, Mahlia's quartet finally flutter up behind them, pretending to be stealthy in the the fog, which is a nice change she thinks. This of course earns her warbles from all four of them as they tail each other to make a wide circle about Teq, helpful with the semi-dull light of a peeking sun against the muggy fog. "Teq! Early morning for ya, they do keep me busy.. that's why m'even up at this hour! Already done my morning chore, on personal time, which I always try to spend doing something productive. Especially since I don't have to shovel poo or clean diapers.. hopefully garden duty is next. Guess I still gotta deal with poo there.. geeze." She chuckles, still a little tired.

Tarrin chuckles softly and says, "For myself I am almost always up this early." he smiles and says, "Be cookin already if not for this." he waves his cast, "Get it off in a few days now though." he seems pleased by this.

Ur'con pauses for a few moments, then chuckles as he finally places faces and voices, "Shards, it's a bit early for any of the likes of you to be up…and about. What's the occasion?"

Tequoia calls Bolt back to her as she joins up with the others. "It ain't that early." she notes with a tilt of her head. "Gotta be getting started in the shop soon as it is. Especially of late. Arania gets up much sooner than Master had." she shrugs a bit "But, what can you do? When you're told to jump you jump. And you better run quick if you ask how high."

Mahlia leans in to Tarrin a bit and says "Now you just gotta make sure t'be careful n'not reinjure it. The next few months are crucial you try n'take it kinda easy. Probably avoid food fights?" she teases before sending an empathetic pout Teq's way, it really sounds like this change has been rough. Mahl, just so happens to have another surprise, she unzips her side pouch and pulls out a compact book, "A Dragonhealer's Guide" it has a shiny gold cover and is full of information. "This book is wonderful, just like your perspective. M'hoping to get S'gam to join us at Eastern for some classes once he's recovered from his concussion." It's been a long moment since what she thinks was a brief interaction with Ur'con, callow green irises are defined by the dilation of her pupils as she studies him through the fog.

Tarrin smiles as he sees Ur'con and says, "morning sir." he gives a half hearted salute to his wingleader and smiles.

Ur'con chuckles a touch, and returns Tarrin's salute as he stumps up closer. The pair of squabbling flits comes to rest on his shoulders, but they don't stop fussing, exactly. "Good morning to you too, Tarrin…mind what she says about your arm. You're better off resting now than regretting it later." He offers a bemused grin, "And early's anyone's perspective. With two wingriders out pregnant and one with a stab wound from a bar-fight? Even I get night shift occasionally."

Tequoia takes the book and goes through it with a soft oh. "Thank you Mahlia.." then there's a pause "My perspective" she asks curiously as she finally looks up "S'gam. I don't think I know him." she says as she thinks for a moment "What happened that he has a concussion." she asks and then she's glance at Ur'con "Stab wound? Are they okay?" There's a pause, then she asks "Do we need to weaver more bandages and soft wraps do you think?"

Mahlia brows furrow in the middle, white Candidate knot has her so wrapped up she's been out of the loop, again grateful she doesn't smell like the stables anymore a stench that will stick with her olfaction sense forever. "Stabbed y'say? That's awful.." hand extends to the Wingleader "Ur'con, correct? I believe we met once briefly when I caught a flight through one of your wingriders. Mahlia…" she offers just in case, looking to Teq she says "S'gam's a true Master dragonhealer, highest grade there is. In fact, he even wrote parts of that book." She flashes her pearly whites Tarrin's direction, but he looks a little out of it.

Ur'con nods to Mahlia as well, but it's avuncular more than perfunctory. "Good to meet you again, lass…Mahlia." He shrugs a bit, "Got into a dust up at a foreign tavern…it was his own damn dumb fault, but it wasn't life threatening." Riders will be riders, sometimes.

Tequoia ohs softly "Really? He's a grade five like H'tor is?' she asks and grins "That's pretty neat, and he also wrote some of the book? Wow." she peers through it again. She glances back over at Ur'con. "Well, that's good. I'm glad he'll be okay then. Was it at Ierne?" she asks curiously. "I'm always hearing interesting things about that place. Makes me almost scared of visiting there."

Mahlia bows her head, golden flecks in her eyes glimmering before her focus fixates, the quad-pack of barreling firelizards nearly collide with other beasties flapping about in the fog. Morning slowly clears as the rich orange red of Rukbat pierces through "You as well Ur'con, Sir. Glad to hear 'es alright at least. M'not sure if you've spoken with Syra lately, but I was wondering.. M'friend Tadarius has been missing for over a sevenday now. Y'may know him, copper haired photography gent? Anyway if y'could put the word out it'd be much appreciated." She looks to Teq and smiles warmly "Yep just like H'tor.. n'mnot sure exactly what happened. Sounded like quite the hubbub around the true story."

Ur'con snorts a bit at the mention of H'tor…but shakes his head, "No, I've not heard any news on Tadarius…that'd be S'dan's realm, as it were…he lives for the hunt in a search and rescue. I'm afraid I'm more concerned about the non tech-crafts in the Weyr…as in keeping them profitable."

Tequoia frowns a little "He still hasn't shown up?" she asks quietly and looks over at Ur'con. "But.. but shouldn't you be concerned as his wingleader?" she asks quietly. "I know Fiona's not concerned now with being a candidate." she frowns a little more at that. "Says it's someone elses job now." She looks imploringly at Ur'con. "Maybe.. maybe put in a word with S'dan as well? It's just well. I umm.. " she shifts a little "He's weird and all, but well he's not a bad guy."

Ur'con chuckles a bit, "I agree, he's not a bad lad…but I've two dozen others to look after…and alas, he's no dragon to have us look for him…which is unfortunate." But it looks like maybe he's just had a slight idea. "At any rate, I will speak to S'dan come breakfast." Honest.

Mahlia shrugs, feeling a little deflated "Well ok, maybe just let me know if ya see him around?" Still she tries, the knot in her stomach stuck there until at least someone says they've seen him, the knot on her shoulder making her extra sensitive. Finally tired out a bit, green lands on Mah's shoulder first, followed by bronze, blue and poor bumbly brown on the other side. "Well guess it became part of m'job. I figure it's m'own free time n'if I didn't follow my instinct and something was wrong, I could never forgive myself. Thanks for listening anyway.."

Tequoia ohs a little and then just nods "I see." she says after a moment and then kneels down next to Bolt and wraps her arms around him. "I guess one person missing isn't really a big deal. But umm, yeah, if you would ask him." she lets out a bit of a sigh.

Ur'con suddenly breaks out of what seems like an abrupt reverie…then again, anyone who spends any time in a Weyr probably gets used to the expression. He clears his throat a bit, and notes, "Darlth's asked around with the watch dragons and the search wing that's up…and there's been no information. I'll…have a longer talk with S'dan…and see if I can find out what's up, alright? I hadn't realised it'd been that long myself." He rubs his face, and offers an apologetic smile, "Forgive an old man…memory's not what it used to be…and time flies."

Mahlia smiles at them both "Looks like it's shaping up to be a nice sunrise, fog is good for that. Try any of that dye yet Teq?" Is asked idly, though she does listen, gaze peering down the beach, not looking for anything in particular. Her focus comes back to the wingleader, she flashes a wide smile, reflected in the shape of prominent eyes as they smile too "I really 'ppreciate it Sir… n' I completely understand only twenty turns in an m'memory fails me all too often!" She chuckles and snorts in an endearing manner, hand reflexively trying to cover it up.

Tequoia watches Ur'con, almost a little warily when he stays silent for so long. She then gives a little nod and an almost shy smile as he asks for forgiveness. After all, he might as well be ancient to someone as young as she is. "Time does." she notes softly. A glance over to Mahlia "No, not yet. I've not had a chance too. Been workin on replenishment of some of the fabrics for the Weyr. That has priority." she notes.

Darlth is a darker shadow in the light of the two moons as they hang high above, swirling around and then through the slowly rising dawn…before he lands on the sands some distance away with all the grace of a boulder falling from a cliff-face. *THUD* But he makes a contented rumble, stretching his neck out towards his lifemate. Ur'con just chuckles, and shakes his head, as the big, pale bronze begins to dig in the sand, adding to the collection of dug-out dragon-sized holes in the sand.

Mahlia's fixation on current company is quickly drawn upwards as the bronze circles above, landing close to them. The following actions between lifemates makes Mahl aww a little and giggle, nodding her head to Tequoia and agreeing "Right gotta get to the real business first, stick to whatever keeps Arania happy really!" She does feel for her friend, all she can is be there for her. The depths of the jungles contained in her irises fixes on the bronze again "Darlth I take it?" her head bows, bounding curls falling off her shoulder.

Mahlia senses that Darlth considers you with his big whirling eyes, set deeply in his pale, pale hide…and then agrees with a sonorous, clay-cool mental touch. « Darlth. »

Ur'con nods a bit, and then chuckles. "Aye, that's the lump…don't let him fool you…he's a sop for attention. You'd think he was starved for it." The bronze turns his head this way and that for a moment, fixing Mahlia with his cool, whirling eyes. Then Ur'con snorts again, "Nay, you winged clod, she's already Searched…what do you know of Searching?" The bronze lifts his heavy, thick chin up into the air a bit, in an air of wounded dignity…and then casts his gaze on the OTHERS there… before he fixes his gaze on Tequoia…this one, this little one, he also knows.

Tequoia jumps a little at the *THUD* and then just blinks at the dragon. "Wow. Graceful." she then grins "It's a wonder there's ever any beach left." she remarks as she watches the bronze dig. "Does he ever dig up anything?" she asks curiously. She then nods a little to Mahlia "Yeah, it's best to be pleasin' her. I see why Tosni doesn't say much. Best to just keep your mouth shut." she murmurs quietly to Mahlia.

Mahlia's sensations tingle, tiny hairs prickling on end, amazingly smooth compared to her last experience with a bronze, she beams and catches the moment his swirling eyes settle on Tequoia. She's a sucker for giving dragon scritches, but holds back to see what might be unfolding. She does make it a point to say "I do love giving scritches.. I think Tequoia does too. Plus you can remind Darlth that Kayla n' I are always looking for a dragon willing to participate in a scritch-off! Even bathing dragons is quite fun, with a lil help." The last few words trail, her quartet humming and cooing.

Ur'con chuckles, "Oh, he digs up plenty. Rocks, sand…actually, he's a boon when I need fresh clay dug up for my kiln…" He smiles, as Darlth pauses his digging to stretch his head out…but that doesn't get him close enough, so he takes a few carefully plodding steps to 'creep' up on the gathered humans. He gives a superior sort of SNORT at Ur'con, and Ur'con does a sort of doubletake. "Augh, don't encourage him, Candidate!" It's not really an order, as the bronze stretches his neck out to its fullest, so he can put his big, broad snout in scritch range, eyes still whirling.

Tequoia can't help but grin at Mahlia. She's well familiar with her friends plans for a scritch-off. "Yeah, I'll say a little help." she notes as she eyes the size of the dragon "I suppose diggin' up clay for ya would certainly be help…" she breaks off suddenly mid-sentence as she does a double take and looks around. Looks at Ur'con and then looks at Darlth. "Did he, did I?…" she blinks as she looks closer at Darlth. "Did you?" Okay, so that's maybe a bit presumptuous of her to speak directly to the dragon, but still. "Tequoia." she finally says after a moment of composing herself.

Mahlia cannot help herself, and she reaches out with both hands to start with the scritching. Nimble fingers begin at snout, to head knobs and moving down strong, sallow-like, bronzen neck. "I really can't help it, for as much as m'mum always wanted m'to deny it, I do find dragons quite likable." Mischievous smirk turns at the corners of her full lips and she peeks around the dragon, head motioning to Teq in scritchings-encouragement. It is easy to tell that Darlth is quite an impressive and /special/ bronze and since Mahl is a fan of flattery, she chooses to share it as well. "A digging dragon you say.. how very unique.."

Darlth looks bemused…his eyelids drooping down one at a time to half-mast. It makes his rider chuckle and shake his head, but then step up closer, as if he might need to intercede between the young women and the dratted creature. But even as he steps up, he nods to Tequoia…and sighs a bit, "There's not going to be any talking him out of this lass, so I might as well just do it. I don't suppose you'd be willing to stand for Arolaeth's clutch, would you?"

Tequoia quirks a little grin as she watches Mahlia and then she's staring at Ur'con "Me?" she asks with almost a squeak. She's actually speechless and then there's a groan "Oh shells. Arania won't be pleased." Then there's a little grin "I'd love to stand." Because as she thinks about it, it might be nice to have Arania doing much of the work and then there's a soft mrr "We still have craft duties to perform though, right?" she asks and seems to waver a little and then she nods. "No. I'm quite willing." She then breaks out in a bright grin.

Ur'con chuckles just a bit, and nods, "I wasn't on formal Search myself, so I don't have a knot to give you just yet, lass, but we can take you over to the barracks to get you settled. In fact, I suspect the Candidate here would love to take you through the paces…" He offers Mahlia a bit of a smile…and then a gesture. Come along with him, instead of pampering that lunk!

Mahlia parties on the inside, she thought maybe for a moment she was on to something of this nature, but holds out till she's absolutely certain a *congratulations* is due. With her brain a bit mushy after the first few days of the Candidate-hustle, hands sweep dreamily across the bronze's smooth hide reaching up towards front quarters and wing joints. Moving back up towards the group and Darlth's mossy-tinted, wedged, head finally calling out "Oh how wonderful! Congratulations, for real this time! N'yes we still have plenty time for craft duties." *Great choice* she thinks, still scrictching away before agreeing to head to the barracks "My pleasure Teq n' Ur'con."

Tequoia grins at Mahlia "This'll be great, I'll get to spend more time with you!" she exclaims "Oh, Shilan will be so happy!" she all but dances. "And Fio and Mio and Kayla.." there's a pause "Oh shards, it's gonna likely take me longer to get that swimsuit finished for Kayla." She mrrs a little and then grins again. She can't help herself. "Oo, yes, lets go see the barracks!"

Mahlia pours smiles and laughter over the girls excitement, so glad she was here to share it with her "I'm so excited for all of us.. in this amazing experience together. You're in for it though, kinda glad I got the stables outta the way already." A bugle and a few notes are added by the group on her shoulders as their pet's hand motions for the newest addition to the Candidate-gruel house, she means Caverns.

Tequoia follows Mahlia to the cavern, having Bolt stay outside. "Shells, I wonder if Simion will keep an eye on him for me." she notes and hmms. "I don't think they'll let me keep him in here with me. Will they?" she hrms as she looks around and hunts out a place to sleep with Mahlia's guidance. "Oh, I'm so excited. Hey, do you know where Shi's bunkin? I wanna be near him."

Mahlia hasn't been told anything directly about pets, though Wharf the not so-kitten anymore is staying with a friend, figuring all of us n'all of our pets might be too much "I dunno Teq, I've gone over the rules but didn't see anything like that. I figured firelizards get a pass?" She points out the bulletin board, and suggests "Start chores right away, they'll change and there's some extra projects, but I don't think those start till everyone's in." Keenly aware of the time of day, she gathers a few things "Speaking of, I got shadowing with the Flame Wing. Gotta run.. see ya soon!" She scatters with a smile and a squeee.

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