Exploration
<< You sense that Mneoth has awakened. >>Mneoth
Myrrh and mahogany fuse together across muzzle and headknobs, entwine about prominent eyeridges, and sweep all silk and sisal down the grand lengths of this broad and ponderous dragon. Lighter klah-brown erodes the sharp edges of his powerful neckridges before dissolving into the brooding layers of umber sweeping his belly and forelegs. His smooth, suave hide speckles to bronze across the rounded curves of his withers, as if momentarily blessed by the sun. Wingsails - wide and high - are cloaked in a marbling of black, gray, and fawn, to create a secretive cove of shadows and covert camouflage.
Mneoth is 1 month and 6 days old.
He is 9 feet (3m) long, with a wingspan of 15 feet (5m).
Mneoth thinks to you, << Good afternoon, Khena >>
Mneoth senses that Khena swallow a large chunk of wherry meat, having hoped to finished her lunch meal before you woke up. >>Mneoth.. Sleep well, my dear?<< Licking her fingers, she turns to you, leaning forward on her elbows to study your form. >>You're growing so fast..<<
You sense Mneoth cranes his neck around to glance down at his legs, his tail, even his back. >> Not too quickly, I hope << he comments, voice a splash of cinnamon and a worried hint of pepper. >> I have heard that your hide can become cracked when that happens... << Evil Miravith, filling young minds with horror stories.
Mneoth senses that Khena chuckles, her mind sending positive thought as she inches closer to you, >>that's why I oil you so often<< she mentions, running a hand down soft hide along your neck. >>So your hide doesn't crack... Where'd you hear that anyway?<< A tone commanding an answer covers the amusement she feels over your worry.
You sense Mneoth relaxes slowly, that peppery scent dissipating as quickly as it appeared. >> A green dragon told me that. The old one with the happy rider. << He shifts slightly, the tip of his nose pushing against your shoulder gently. >> It is no matter, you take good care of me, Khena << he adds, subtle admiration cloaked in warm tones of green.
Mneoth senses that Khena hmms, glancing out of your shared couch at the rest of the Weyrling barracks. A green dragon with a happy rider could describe just about /any/ green pair in the Weyr. >>Don't listen too much to green dragons, Mneo.. They're not.. Trustworthy.<< At least not according to Necha�s experiences in her more than two turns living in the Weyr. Brightening as an idea comes to her mind, she smiles to you, tilting her head. >>How would you like to come outside with me? They've given us permission to go out.<< They being the Weyrlingmaster and assistants, of course.
You sense Mneoth brightens almost immediately as he turns calm whirling eyes of green to study your own. >> I would like that, Khena. I do not remember much between here and the sands. << Yes, dragons remember their hatchings. >> Khena, I hope I will not always be so tired. I always fear I am missing things. <<
Mneoth senses that Khena breathes a sigh of relief. It's been far too long since she'd been outside herself, >>It's wonderful out there, Mneo<< Pulling on her boots, she turns to look you in the eye >>And I'm sure you won't always be tired, love. Now, come. And I'll show you what the world looks like outside the Weyrling barracks.<<
You sense Mneoth brings himself to his feet quickly, quite eager to be off now that a new mission has been given him. >> Yes, I do not mind being in this place, since you are here. But fresh air would be so good right now << he comments patiently, waiting for your lead. After all, he has no clue where they'll be going.
Weyrling Barracks
The large covered entryways open into two immense U-shaped caverns that stretch back deep into the rock of the cliffside. Glow baskets lining the cavern walls cast a soft light dispelling the shadows and illuminating the home of all High Reaches weyrlings. Stone couches, some smaller for the greens and blues and some, for bronzes and the occasional gold, so large they have to be climbed into, rise up to loom over the walkways of well-packed dirt.
Along the walls nearest the entrances, shelves and pegs sport several sets of leathers and various books and tools needed when teaching and practicing; crates and supplies also take up residence in various nooks and crannies. Toward the back, a large, man-dug pool for use by the dragonets and their lifemates and several large containers kept full of fresh meat serve as conveniences for the busy residents of these barracks.
Snuggled in with the leather supplies and tools are fourteen firelizards.
Green Yajisarath, blue Qelketh, and blue Cerdith are here.
You see Weyrling Progress Record, Dragon Wing, and Star Studded Sky here.
Reiko is here.
Mneoth clambers out from Mneoth's couch.
"This way," Khena says, guiding Mneoth toward the exit, moving slowly so that the brown may follow at an easy pace. "It may seem a bit... There may seem to be a lot of space out there," she explains, her hand layed gently on Mneoth's head, "but it's nothing to be scared off. I'll be with you all the time."
Mneoth follows after Khena, moving almost languidly as he studies Reiko and his clutchmates on the way to the exit, talons making muted clicking sounds on the ground. Mneoth thinks to you, << I am not scared really. Not exactly... >>
Mneoth senses that Khena takes a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly on the top of your head. Perhaps she's more nervous about this trip than you are. >>Let's go then<< she thinks to you, then takes that step outside.
Training Grounds
The marks of thousands of claws give testament to the shuffling of the young dragons that have torn up what little grass once grew in this corner of the bowl. Tucked in between the feeding pens to the south and the curve of the Weyrleader's complex, the training grounds are home to daily exercises and classes, all taking place well out of the way of the hectic bustle of the rest of the bowl. Cut deep into the cliff face, the large, covered openings leading into the extensive weyrling barracks rise high over the heads of any who come near, although the height of the caldera's spindles far above cast their own reaching shadows across the hard packed earth.
It is a summer afternoon.
To the north, you see Yajisarath, Qelketh, Cerdith, Mneoth, and one person.
Green Miravith, green Niamhyth, brown Druseth, and bronze Soquilith are here.
R'ave is here.
Mneoth has arrived.
Nezdarvyth has arrived.
Loe has arrived.
Ayamizureth has arrived.
Farleth has arrived.
T'am has arrived.
Mneoth follows slowly, placing his feet with care while trying to look at everything at once. Not hesitant really, just thoughtful. Mneoth thinks to you, << And... what is this place? >>
X'ner stretches his arms above his head a bit after he exits the barracks, then turns around, grinning as he looks at Nez. Yep, gotta see his lifemate's reaction to the 'world'. "Well Nez? What do you think?"
Loe and Ayamizureth wander Out. It's the World! Shriek. 'ling and dragonet look relatively unperturbed, though, Loe letting out the appropriate Tour Guide Points of Interest. "See? This is dirt. You can make mud out of dirt, which you can't do with the stone in the barracks." A sage nod, and they move on. "This is a bug. Bugs crawl. ... no. Bugs don't taste good." Wander, wander. Le joy.
Khena slows her pace to a near stop waiting for Mneoth to catch up with her. Looking up and around herself, she smiles, taking another deep breath of the fresh air. "D'you like it, Mneo? This is the Training Grounds. I expect we'll be spending lots of time here.." Looking over her shoulder, she notices how many of the other weyrlings had follow. And here she thought she'd get this moment alone with Mneoth.
R'ave is loitering. There were no signs, officer. Really. He's slouched up against the rather stout post of Soquilith's forearm, an eyebrow hiking toward the weyrlets. An arm lifts in greeting, though he's uncommonly quiet.
Nezdarvyth didn't exactly come out of the barracks completely. Just his head and shoulder can be seen peeking around the edge the bronze pausing in careful consideration of this new place. A sniff of the air and he moves out a little farther his little stumble walk as gracefull as a feline with two broken legs. Ner gets a look as teh dragonet spreads his wings with practiced ease as if to say yes this is the world and now I know what I want
T'am strides out onto the grounds, glad to stretch his legs and get some fresh air after what seems like so long. Farleth seems to be taking to his new surroundings, head twising this way and that to see everything. Everything is regarded with interest, even the hard-packed dirt. T'am makes sure his bronze is doing fine before waving to the others, "Good to be out of there!" he grins, motioning back in the general direction of the barracks.
Mneoth has noticed as well, the brown offering soft croons of welcome while at the same time quickening his steps to catch up to his rider. Large eyes regard Khena quickly.
You sense Mneoth's mindvoice floods with a wash of spicy, almost sharp tastes and scents, only accenting by the zing of color. >> Then we will see this place often. Perhaps some other part of outside.... <<
Loe peers over at T'am and Farleth, Ayamizureth prodding a passing insect with a claw. It's so squishy. "Yup." Pause, blink. "No, Aya, you can't eat the bug." A pause, and a huff, and she peers around the bowl. Peer. "It seems a lot different." Not that she came here much before Impression, anyway. "Hmm." And with that, greenlet and dragon in a new direction and towards a different bug.
X'ner tilts his head a bit to the side, grinning, and stays close to Nezdarvyth. Not because Nez needs the comfort, oh nooooo, of course not. But a loyal henchman must stay close to the boss. Oh yes. After all, Ner is Number One. The right hand man. The siiiidekick. Sniff. And no spandex. Maybe someone will be nice enough to give him some? Woooo.
Nezdarvyth whuffles his approval of The Ner maybe not spandex.. How about oh just settling for being the little me? Wings are settled back into place before he's off on a rambling walk to inspect this new domain of his. A whirring sort of sound issues from the bronze and oh the HenchFlits arrive promptly this time at least. Good Henchflits lots of cookies.
Khena chuckles, crouching next to her lifemate, arm going around his neck as she glances around at the Grounds, then eyes wander toward the northern bowl. More quiet there, perhaps?
Mneoth senses that Khena that your lifemate agrees to leave this place in a hurry, a need to get some alone-time with you away from all the other weyrlings and dragonets. >>This way, Mneoth,<< she comments, thought projecting the way out of the Grounds.
R'ave looks relatively silly. He's trying to -not- appear as if he's spying, while that's exactly what he's attempting to do. They're just so cute when they're little. A glance sides to Soq. And then they get big and smelly. Sigh.
Heading west, you wander back across the bowl 'neath spires' spikes.
Northern Bowl
Seasonal winds lash up against the wall of the bowl, whipping the already hard-packed dirt into tiny dervishes of dust and debris: grit catches in the narrow clefts that crack upwards, branching out around ornate arch of the Council chambers to the north and higher about Weyrleaders' ledges and Riders' more distant niches and nooks. Westward, the junior queens' weyrs slant to the bowl floor, while to the northwest, wind roars through the tunnels that lead into the Hatching Sands. Off to the east lie the equally well-tended Weyrling grounds.
It is a summer afternoon.
Clinging wind-blasted to Council arch are Orphan, Rocky, and Vsevolod.
Gold Rhyath and Brown Dsalth are here.
You see A group of random brats here.
Mneoth survives the trek across the weyrling grounds.
Mneoth follows quickly, steps coming a little quicker now as he's more than happy to escape the sudden crowds behind them. You sense Mneoth gazes up, up UP, eyes whirling quickly as he turns about, curiosity plain before he turns back to you. >> And this? This place is very large. And I smell more of us. << As if to emphasize, he sits up on his back haunches and sniffs the air experimentally. >> More dragons. Other than those sleeping there... <<
Khena chuckles, crouching down beside Mneoth again, hand leaning against his side, as she follows his gaze upward, glancing at the ledges and weyrs carved into the wall. Nodding she smiles, eyes unfocusing as she communicates with her lifemate, arm coming up to point out different localities. You think to Mneoth, >> this is called the Northern Bowl, the Weyrleaders live there.. The junior queens there.. And those two sleeping there are Rhyath and Dsalth. <<
You sense Mneoth leans into you slightly, his eyes still taking in anything and everything all at once as if memorizing every detail. >> Ah, of course. The weyrs are in bowls. But the bowls are in a weyr... << Poor young thing, such confusing details at times. >> Will we live in one of those? It would be nice sometimes to have a place all our own, other than just the couch. <<
Khena nods, lowering her eyes to observe her lifemate closely. Impatient? Already thinking about a home of their own. Shaking her head she grins, eyes seeking out other features it might be important for Mneoth to know at this point in time. You think to Mneoth, >> Yes, we will have a weyr of our own some day. But first you'll need to learn how to fly, or you won't be able to get up there. And neither will I.... See there, way up there? Those are called the Seven Spindles. No other Weyr has such beautiful heights. <<
Mneoth gets to all four feet and takes a step or two forward, glancing this way and that before looking back at Khena. Mneoth thinks to you, << They are indeed. And we will see them upclose someday. >> Stated as fact, confident that you and he will someday achieve this feat. >>
Khena laughs, eyes wandering back to the Training Grounds, the look in them slightly worried as they return to Mneoth, though the smile lingers on her lips. You think to Mneoth, >> I think we better head back now, Mneo. We shouldn't stay out to long, and you're too big to carry if you fall asleep out here... <<
You sense Mneoth turns an amused look right back at you, but nods after a long moment. << You are right, I had not noticed... Perhaps just a short nap. Or longer. Tomorrow we can explore a little more of this Weyr...? >>
Mneoth senses that Khena chuckling deep down as she leads you back toward the Training Grounds. >>It is a big places. Lots of places left for you to explore<<
You click your heels three times.