Guards Headquarters
Set aside from the main caverns of the Weyr, this room is rarely silent. It's dominated by the public area near the wide arch of a doorway, where there are chairs and tables set in little groups, availible as work desks and chatting spots. Further back into the mountain is several curtained alcoves, used for such things as a private office for the Captain, storage for paperwork, records and miscellanea. Continueing into the rock, the last section is sheilded by heavy curtains that, when pushed aside to let someone pass, shows the cots for the Guards to sleep.
On the perch is Erzulie.
You see Nee's Hidden in a Corner Multicolored Cot, OOC HRW Guard Etiquette Book , and Taffy's Sybaritic Cotlet here.
You notice Nefertiti asleep here.
Tafne is here.

Living Caverns
The rough-hewn majesty of this cavern far outpaces any delight in the multitudes of curves that form its enclosure. The glabrous grey granite is shot through with translucent obsidian, lending subtly-veined sparkle to the walls and the foot-trodden smoothness of the floor that shows centuries-old placements of the scarred trestle tables; carven hollows give homes for the glow baskets and the coat-pegs that line the walls. No mosaics, no painting, no tiles: just a few well-done tapestries mark the pathway that lead to the kitchen to the north and the inner caverns to the west, and frame the nighthearth's stew and snacks, while a heavier strip of oiled canvas shields the unwary from the wind in the bowl.
Scattered about in various perches and niches are thirty-two firelizards.
You see Old Auntie sit-by-the-fire, OOC NOTICE (look sign), Hobbes, Generic Sign-Up Sheet, and Kageri here.

Jayra arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

P'rru marches with clipped steps in from the Central Bowl.
Three batty firelizards sitting in a row- one in his hair, one in his coat and one dangling from his elbow. Yup, it's Purr. And he's looking quite uncomfortable, klah-mission Go as he strides towards the hearth.

Jayra is also moving for the klah pot, humming some song to herself. She grins like.. well.. like she's very happy. She snatches up a mug pouring herself some of the miracle liquid.

Kinecha is at the far wall, having her usual klah, and a redfruit. Noticing the rider come in with his fair, she grins a little and takes another sip of the steaming klah.

P'rru jiggles a few klah pots, and finding them rather on the luke-warm and empty side, grumbles at a poor passing drudge. "More klah, now thanks..." eyes lift and he just watches Jayra merrily pass him. Hmmm.

Jayra still merrily humms to herself. She sits down, her legs crossed under her, in her usual place. On her way she grabs a roast wherry sandwich. She eats a bit of the sandwich, washing it down with some of the klah.

Kinecha is just quiet. More so than usual, and just sits there watching people come in and out of the caverns. She looking for someone it seems.

Skylark arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

P'rru finally gets his klah as the drudge returns, bringing with her a whole load of fresh klah. Brownrider takes a heart reviving slake from his mug and ambles over towards Kinecha, a glance spared for Jayra as he passes by. "Your still worried, Kinecha?" he asks, taking the seat beside her.

Kinecha nods slowly, looking up at the 'rider. "I s'pose so. I thought I saw someone I know yesterday. Someone /not/ from the Weyr..." She glances toward the entrance, still hoping she'd been wrong about it.
From afar, Ranawkin wakes Reiko so player can see channel talk. Mwah.

Jayra is still being perky, and anyone that has seen her more than one time knows, that's not her norm. She continues eating and drinking, just watching the people, but this time, seems to look for someone.

Skylark wanders in, shooting a polite smile and wave to Jayra and a more chumly one to Kinecha while she makes her way passed her father, resting her hands breifly on his shoulders, smiling and quickly plopping a little peck of a kiss on the crown of his wise -though very young still, mind you- head. "'Ello P'rru, Necha-" pause.. and that's where the sentence ends, for now. Swift steps bring her to the klah pot where she delivers a generous amount of the deliciously smelling liquid into a deep mug. Lark then slips into a chair where she can give glances to all in the room and still guard the cookies from those nasty lil' brats. "What's this about someone not from the Weyr here?"

Saisukei arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

P'rru smiles up at his daughter, "Skylark-your alright?" he says quickly, before eyes shift and he sighs. "Someone not from around here? Does that have anything to do with your bad feelings lately, Kinecha?" klah is supped almost every second word as the brownrider leans back in his chair.

Jayra perks right up every time someone comes into the caverns, but every time looks slightly disappointed. She finally finishes her sandwich and works on the klah. Her eyes are locked on the entrances.

Skylark takes a long, well-awaited sip of the klah in her own mug, sharing a liking -whether tis an actual attachment or just plain addiction to the stuff- to klah with P'rru. She laughs lightly, "Of course I'm alright, what might make you think otherwise?" she asks, her forehead dripping slightly as she glances from the Guard to her brownrider of a father and back again, "Is everything okay?"
From afar, P'rru noddlers.

Saisukei, stepping into the Living Caverns immedietly heads for the Klah. She pours herself some and finds a place to sit, pulling out some hides to write on. She hugs her knees to her chest, and begins to scribble on the hide. From time to time glaring at it.

Kinecha nods to P'rru as she glances over to Skylark giving her a welcoming nod. "Afternoon, Lark. I think I might have seen one of my family-members. But I might have just been hallucinating." The last bit directed to the rider.
No new messages.

P'rru shrugs in answer to Skylark, "How's your fosterchild..what was her name again?" he's terrible with names, and faces...and a lot of other things we wont go into right now. But he's good with the sympathy as he drops soft focus on the guard beside him. "Kinecha, who would it be if you did indeed, see them?" he presses, fingers wrapping round his mug "And don't fear too much, we'll keep you safe.."

Saisukei looks up from her hide, only just catching the conversation, she begins to say something, but stops. It's really none of her business. She busies herself with her writing.

Kinecha shrugs, "it'd prolly be a cousin or an uncle," she mumbles. Looking back up at the 'rider her eyes show gratitude, "thanks, P'rru, I'm sure I'll be safe enough." She just couldn't shake that feeling.

"Pandame," Skylark laughs as she lifts her mug to her lips again, downing a large amount of it easily. "She's taking good care of herself. TO tell you the truth, I haven't seen her in two days now." A motherly frown of worry momentairly crawls over her lips but she shakes it off almost as quickly as it appeared. Pandame's a bigger girl than she looks and doesn't even need Lark, to say the truth. Change of cubject. "Is this a good thing or a bad thing, Nech?" she asks, "And what do you mean 'I'll be safe enough'?! Safe?! From who!?" Her voice raises into a fit of alert as she throws herself into the air. "There will be /no/ acts of violence unless /I'm/ the one doin' the violent act!" she stammers, quickly glancing to
P'rru and seating herself, taggin on the 'rest' of her sentence, "-But.. I wouldn't do that."

P'rru eyes his daughter for a milisecond. "Not even Dsalth would think of being violent to anything other than a wherry..even then he'll take the bare minimum" ratheer proud you think? Probably. But the brownrider simply shifts uncomfortably in his leathers, eyes flickering from person to person round the cavern.

"Nothing," Kinecha says to Skylark. "Just my overactive imagination." She hopes, and proceeds to explain, in short terms to Lark. "I just though I saw somebody from my family here." A person that she'd rather not meet again, ever!

Skylark pushes her uncomfort behind a mental wall and coolly studies her klah, eyes flicking up to Kinecha, "And that's all?" she asks, expecting more from the Guard. "I hardly think it's your overactive imagination, dear. And if it is, simply put yourself to sleep early for the next sevenday and things'll be fine," she comments with a shrug. And Lark is one to talk about going to bed early...

Kinecha blinks, she hadn't expected Lark to start on her like this. "That's a bit of a problem see, I've got the evening shift. Which means I'm on duty till midnight." She takes a sip of klah, and glances to the entrance yet again. Sure, she might /say/ that it's nothing, but she's still worried.

Skylark blushes lightly and giggles nervously. "Right, a'course," she says softly and takes a looong sip of her klah to drown out the red tint to her cheeks. Ahem.

P'rru chuckles. "Dsalth agrees to sit guard on the guards if you'd like.." he offers, hazel eyes suddenly shifting to nothingness as he is relayed messages from his lifemate. "And Skylark, he says I must tell you that he flew and caught a proddy green the other day...he's too proud of it, the great lughead..."

Saisukei shoves her hides into her bag, and silently leaves the Caverns.
Saisukei exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

Skylark laughs and grins, "Green, hmm? I'm very proud of him too," she notes, sighing softly. "That ol' charmer's got enough snuff in him to last a hundred lifetimes, as do you, P'rru," she chuckles. Faranth knows how many women talk about her father on a day to day basis. Roll.

Kinecha chuckles, at both P'rru's comments, "thank him for me, will ya?" To think that she, a simple recruit, has a dragon watching over her. And she starts to relax a bit, muscles by muscles, suddenly discovering that she'd been tensing them.

Jayra is still watching the cavern entrance. She humms a lullaby to herself as she seems to wait for someone to walk by.

P'rru feels his cheeks pinken under his stubble and shakes his head "We are both much to old for the rigours of flights, Skylark- flattering as it may be...it's more complications I'd like to get over in my old age" rather. And women talk about him? Faranth's sake, why oh why?

Skylark seems rather proud of her Knight On Shining Armour P'rru and his equally gallant steed (or is it the other way around?). "Old age? Hardly. That greying Telgar Weyrleader is old. Nearly hitting his 80's I've heard," she argues for sake of conversation to get Necha's mind off everything rather than anything else.
"P'rru isn't old, now is he, Necha? He and Dsalth /certainly/ still have the stuff. They don't realize just /how/ famous they are with the women. Even /apprentices/!"

Kinecha grins, shaking her head, "Naw, he's not old at all. He even has Herder apprentices chasing after him," she says, her eyes actually sparkling now.

P'rru stands straight up. "Shells, fardling, faranth's shells!" he exclaims. "Something's upset Dsalth...I have to go" and he strides right out, muttering under his breath.....too bad about those women, he's a one dragon minded man.

Meanwhile in the Bowl (from Ranawkins PoW)

Ranawkin takes a good, long look at the strangers in the bowl, cold eyes fixing on each one in turn. A scowl twists his face. Disappointed again. He stalks across the outer edge of the bowl, gaze flickering about, searching... not finding.

Loren shuffles in from the caverns, sniffling and rubbing her temples in melodramatic depression. Kya is perched comfortably on the bakerlet's head, green bulk rotating carefully -- disco ball-esque, this helped along by the fact that she's.. glowing. And quite happy about it. Glow, glow, glow. "It's all your fault, Kya. /More/ babies. Ooooh.." Sniff, weep, sniff.

Dsalth cracks open an eyelid, rumbling mustily. He cranes out, sniffing gently at the air around the folk and finally lumbers his heavy belly towards one in particular. Sniff, sniff, grumble. Ranawkin. Your it.

Erzulie glides in from the Guards Headquarters.

R'ave is very simply watching Soquilith -- who is, as usual, trudging in a swift pace 'round the bowl, head cocked and tail flailing like a posessed bronze garden hose. "Babies?" Loren gets a hevay look from both bronze and bronzer, brow raising.

Ranawkin spots movement from the corner of his eye, and turns to see a dragon lumbering towards him. Eyes narrow as he considers his options...

Dsalth pulls up short, tail flickering. Best option is no sudden movements perhaps? But he's just taking an interest you see, nostrils flaring as his sorrel muzzle prods closer to Ranawkin...

Loren just sniffles in the general direction of R'ave, carefully changing direction and shuffling towards him. "Kya. She's all.. /proddy./ And.. and.. she's gonna have /babies./" Another sniffle, and a chubby finger is pointed towards the disco-ball green. Groove, baby -- Kya's being all nice and.. glowing like a good little disco-lizard-freak. Uh-huh.

R'ave just blinks a few more times, mismatched 'brows coming together to form a deep crease, Soquilith's broad, ungainly muzzle hanging close to his rider's side -- the rotating colors in his swarthy eyes turning toward Kya. "No, you can't chase firelizards," R'ave mumbles in an aside to the dragon, eyes rolling. "How long has she been proddy?"

Ranawkin glares narrowly at the brown, resentful of the unwanted attention. And turns deliberately toward the pens and the barn beyond, cold eyes flickering around the bowl even while keeping the dragon firmly in his peripheral vision. Watching.

Dsalth simply ambles after Ranawkin. Where is the fun in having someone /interesting/ disappear? He rumbles more vocally, wings rustling. And all the while sniffing the man's airspace. There's something odd here.

Kya stares at Soquilith -- even as she attempts to keep turning. Loren just sniffles again, toddling as close to R'ave as she can manage before peering up at him with a slight shrug. "..um. Not long, I don't think? I just noticed it today. She was sort of shiny, and she kept turning around and around and around.. and, you, know, around. And she was nice to Tee and the others." A semi-sage headbob, even as Kya rotates -- the movement causes the green to falter for a moment, but not much. "So.. not long, I don't think. How come?"

R'ave rubs the back of his palm against a crevice of the bronze's face, eyeing Kya cautiously. "I was just wondering," he answers slowly, hips slung into an absent sway from side to side. "It's just a kind of.. scary thought, you know. Scary." It's Kya.

Loren contents herself with watching R'ave's hips. Because they're there, and all, you know. Yeah. "..ooh, she's had /one/ baby before. Now there's.. /two./ I don't like that. They're gonna be scary." Kya eyes R'ave back, pausing in her spinning long enough to caw -- and then it's back to disco ballness.

Erzulie glides to the Guards HQ.

Ranawkin growls. He hadn't counted on /dragons/ - here he curses himself - interfering. Gah! He stalks off along the outer edge of the bowl toward the caverns. That beast can't follow him /there/.

Yajuu steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Dsalth is big. And a few of his steps lead him around in front of Ranawkin, his large bulk shifting in front of the cavern entrance. This is rather fun. Soreel 'n' khaki throat bellows, just to scare the man a little. And sniiiiiif.

R'ave shakes his head, losing his buttress as Soquilith catches sight of some wonderful thing, and promptly side-steps that way. "Alright, then," the bronzeling calls after his attention-lacking lifemate, mouth contorting into a semi-surfaced grin. "Aww.. they can't be any worse than Lihai's babies."

"..I guess so.. but lookit! She's spinning. It's making me queasy." Loren sniffles again, attempting to peer up at the green on her head with little success -- after which attempt she goes back to looking at R'ave. "I guess I should be glad Kya didn't have as many babies. I wanna know who she had babies with, though. Maybe it'll be a normal 'lizard." And then they'll only be half-discofreak.

Saisukei steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Ranawkin stops short on his way to the caverns, scowling even as he draws back a bit. The man's not stupid. Only driven. One hand instinctively goes to his belt knife, before he can even formulate the relative effectiveness of such a weapon against a dragon.

Dsalth snorts. A glint of metal? Who in Faranth's name would draw a knife- on a big brown dragon...shells, any dragon for that matter? Rumbles turn more gruff as rusted tail flickers out and curls around Ranawkin's legs, just a little tightly. And surging forwards comes that rosewood muzzle, to blast stale dragonbreath in the man's face. Mwah. Smell the musty wherry from yesterday!

R'ave spreads his hands before him slightly, discarding them in his pockets after a moment if useless hanging. "I dunno -- I was out all day --" But before R'a can finish, Soquilith's figuratively vomiting a brassy roar, clanging in his deep throat, huge head swung around, acid-yellow eyes gleaming at Ranawkin. It's the little things that piss him off. "Um.. Soq? Is there a problem?"

Loren pivots in time with Kya, ringlets bouncing as the bakerlet tilts her head to peer in the general direction of Soquilith and Ranawkin. "Soquilith?" Indigo optics blink, and she peeks over her shoulder at R'ave. "What happened? Something wrong? Is'e okay?" Blink-blink. Blink.

Even Saisukei managed to get a whiff of that dragon breath. She covers her nose, and finds a place to stand, upwind from the dragon. Trying to calm a tiny blue flit on her shoulder. Seems something has scared him.

Dsalth unravels his tail and crouches, low to the ground. Eyes lift, watching Soquilith for a bare moment before he scuttles, away from the doorway, away from Ranawkin to sulk in the shadows of the bowl. Thanks for the help and all. But he was only /sniffing/ Ranawkin afterall. Sulk.

Ranawkin's hand relaxes, falling away from his still-sheathed knife, as dragontail retreats. Frightened? Perhaps a bit, but the scowl is intact. The search continues... a bit more cautiously... and he takes the opportunity to enter the caverns. Mwah.

P'rru steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Back in the Caverns

P'rru exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

Ranawkin skulks in from the Central Bowl.
Ranawkin backs into the caverns, eyes still on the dragon outside and the rider who passed him.

Ranawkin
He is not a tall man, but his square jaw and solid build make him a formidable presence. Broad shoulders and strong limbs ripple with powerful muscles. Cold gray eyes peer from a swarthy face lined with years and hard living, and white-blond hair is cropped short in uneven spikes, clearly maintained for convenience rather than style. A long scar crosses his forehead, and the abrupt changes in the angle of his nose would seem to indicate that it's been broken more than once.
A heavy, well-worn wherhide jerkin covers his upper body, straining at the seams, worn over a thick woven shirt which was probably once dyed deep maroon. The collar and cuffs are frayed, giving him a disheveled appearance overall. Dark brown trousers cover his legs, and square-toed boots with a thick heel protect his feet from the elements.
He is awake, but has been staring off into space for 4 minutes.
Ranawkin is 38 Turns and 21 days old.

Kinecha eyes follows P'rru as he leaves and comes to rest on the figure coming in. She shrinks back into the shadows, as much is allowed by the chair she's sitting in. "I knew it," she whisperes, her voice betraying fear.

Skylark smiles politely to the newcomre and takes a long sip of her klah. Idly, she eyes a firelizard as it limps across the floor, it's wings hiked up like a skirt as it wabbles about adoribly. Lark wiggles her nose in distaste. Flits. Ick.

Ranawkin turns slowly, cold eyes flicking about the caverns before settling on the girl looking at him. Scowl becomes a leer and he steps a bit closer.

MoniqueBean glides in from the Central Bowl.

Kinecha comes out of her chair, so fast that it falls behind her. "Ran? What're you doing here?" Her hand moves to her knife, leaving it in its sheath for now, but who knew if she might need it?

Skylark watches Kinecha's movements, her eyes brushing by the hand's position over her knife without startlment. Lark softens her delicate smile under well-defined cheekbones. Her eyes drift down the stranger, searching out a knot or anything of the kind, coming back to his face unsatisfied in finding nothing.

Saisukei walks in from the Central Bowl.

Ranawkin swings his head in the direction of the voice, scowl returning. "Necha." Not a question. More of a threat. She knows what he's doing there. He keeps his hands at his sides, but his fingers twitch, ready to move at a moment's notice.

Kinecha moves along the wall, her movements fluent and unhurried. Her eyes seems to be glued to the white-blond man, seemingly unaware of anything else happening in the caverns. "I'm not going back," she hisses. She'd die before going back to them, and that's probably the way they'd have it too.

Skylark rises from her chair and steps casually -not to mention smoothly- around the reuniting -er- people. She gives another glance at 'Ran', watching his stance and then Necha's and giving her head a shake, snatching up a cookie from it's plate and seating herself on the side of the table, casually.

MoniqueBean screeches and flutters down to land on Skylark's shoulder, shivering. Plus Dsalth is tearing images around..and her humanpet is upset. Could today get anyworse?

The others in the cavern are noted, then ignored. Ranawkin's cold eyes are glued on his ... prey. "Nobody leaves, Necha." His voice turns colder than his eyes. "Nobody."

Jayra stands and clears away from the two meeting people. She back away slowly, but one of her sandals catch on her pants and she falls right down on the floor.

Saisukei edges away from Ran, and Kinecha. Then kneels to help Jayra up. She's not too interested in being stuck in this conflict either.

Kinecha blinks, only once. She knew the rule, perfectly well, but had set it aside when she'd left. Moving a couple of steps closer to Ran, she nods. "I know," she says, but doesn't give him any explanation as to /why/ she'd left.

Jayra stands up with Saisukei's help. She smiles softly, "Thanks." She stands where she is though, sure she is far enough away.

Skylark blinks at the crazy MoniqueBean, her attention breifly drawn from the relatives and their slight arguement. "Aw, honey, what's got you shivering?" she asks softly, reaching a hand up to comfort the flit. Perhaps this is the only firelizard she'll ever tolerate. Curious eyes drift back to Ranawkin and Kinecha.

Ranawkin doesn't care why. Loyalty is demanded. Unwavering, unquestioning loyalty. No excuses can stand in the face of her transgression. He extends a hand, giving her a chance. Just one chance. To save herself. "Wagon's waiting." Voice gruff, eyes narrow. He's waiting, too.

MoniqueBean clambers down to curl in Skylark's arms. And shiver. And shiver. Dsalth is really going to eat her now. And none of it was her fault!

"No," is the only word coming from Kinecha. She's staying here whether they liked it or not. And no-one was going to take her back. They could send the whole family to get her and she'd still not come. "I'm staying." Still speaking in hushed tones, she moves around him, looking him over.

"Necha's not leaving," Skylark speaks up, pushing herself from the table's protection towards Ranawkin a few steps, her arms wrapped about MoniqueBean to keep her from shivering yet her eyes are glued on Ran. Their gaze isn't cold but calm instead, almost tauntingly like a smirk while her lips her held in an emotionless line. "If she doesn't want to go, she isn't."

Kinecha's eyes flick toward Lark, "stay away, Lark," she warns her friend.

Jayra nods a bit, opening her mouth to say something, but shuts it quickly enough. She crosses her arms, and watches, knowing good enough not to interfere, they wouldn't listen to the girl probably anyway.

Saisukei wrings her hands nervously. These kind of things put her on edge, even if its not her thats in danger. She sighs deeply and moves to the wall. Not knowing wether to bolt or stay.

Skylark smiles falsely innocent. "Necha, I'll butt in when I feel like buttin' in," she comments, cocking a hip idly, "And right now, I feel like buttin' in." Her eyes flashing dangerously towards Ran and back to Kinecha, her voice falling dry and unamused, "Have a problem with that?"

The hand is lowered. Slowly. Ranawkin glares coldly at Kinecha. So she's going to make this difficult, is she? Then another voice. Meddling. The barest glance at the speaker, before eyes return to Necha. He sneers. "Friend, Necha?" The word sounds like an insult. Still his hand doesn't go to his knife. Not yet.

"I don't," Kinecha says to Skylark, tone still hushed, "but he might." Her eyes are quickly back on Ranawkin. "So don't get too close, okay?" She glances quickly to his hands, seeing that he's not making a move for his knife, and relaxes her own hand a little. "I have many friends here, Ran. Dragon-friends too..." Now was that a threat? Not that he was likely to be intimidated by words. In his world all that mattered was action. And family, which was why he was here. But she wasn't going back with him. Never!

Skylark points a finger at Ranawkin, "Hey, lay off," she snaps. "Saying things to Necha is one thing, talking about /me/ is another." And no, that's not selfishness.. that's... dignity. There's a difference. "If she chooses to turn her back on you or whoever, let her. It's her pride, her life, her mistake and she's already paying for it," she explains, idly scritching MoniqueBean's angular head. "This degrates you, comin' in here and making a scene."

P'rru marches with clipped steps in from the Central Bowl.

Tamashi glides in from the Central Bowl.

R'ave skulks broodily in from the Central Bowl.

Tamashi flaps in, and stops screeching, falling silent from the tension in the caverns. He flutters down to land on a chair.

P'rru is peeved, he really is. And it takes him about 3 seconds to assess the situation, add two and two together and gravitate right towards his daughter. "Skylark, shush" he tells her, one arm wrapping around her shoulders protectively. "Someone just threatened my Dsalth..." he continues to explain, voice increasing slightly in volume "And neither of us really appreciate that much...plus it rather disturbed one of our weyrlings, a bronze in fact..."

R'ave stalks into the caverns, a hand rushed through his dishevled tangerine locks, mouth wilted into a tight frown. Disturbed? The expression darkening the bronzeling's damson eyes makes disturbing look inviting. He allows P'rru to talk, however, hands clenching and releasing at his sides.

"Lark, please," Necha says, knowing that Ran might overreact and hurt her friend. "Stay away from him." Her eyes still locked in Ranawkin as she says so. She picks up P'rru's voice and his words. "Lemme handle this." Family matter. And they'd never leave her alone if she had help. If she got rid of him herself there was a chance they might not come again.

Ashtyn arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

Jayra moves back to stand near the entrance to the inner caverns. Her eyes fixated on the scene going on in front of her.

Cold eyes flicker about the caverns at the gathering crowd. More witnesses. Ranawkin's scowl deepens as his eyes return to Kinecha. The others are ignored as irrelevant. "Well?" he growls. Just what is Necha going to do? The threat looms large behind his eyes.

Skylark's jaw drops. "/Excuse me/?! Someone threatened Dsalth!?" Her eyes flicker to the doorway, coldly. She drops her voice slightly and, in her displeasure about hearing someone disturbing a dragon let alone /her father's/ dragon, her eyes flicker dangerously to Ranawkin. "I'll come as close to him as I like," she snarls to Kinecha. Straightening her posture and regaining her calm attitude, she lifts her chin. "I'm warning you, sir," she comments, her distaste hardly noticable in the words, "And you as well, Kinecha. If this goes any further than what you two have brought it to, I /will/ alert the Weyrguards-" a quick glance is given to Necha, "Or any other figure of athority and you will .not. like it." Lark gives MoniqueBean a gentle look, "Just a though you might want to keep in mind as you, sir, are in a place which you do not reside and you, Kinecha, are a Guard therefore it is your duty to keep the peace around here."

P'rru clears his throat "Alright, Skylark" large hands clasp his daughter's shoulders and draw her back. "Leave it be...leave it be, I'm not having you upset Dsalth anymore by getting yourself into trouble, do you understand?" poor P'rru. He's no knight in shining armour, just a brownrider trying to keep /his/ people safe. Hazel eyes watch the scene carefully. What can he do about it?

Kinecha /is/ trying to keep the peace. But Lark isn't making it easy, by interfering. "P'rru, could you /please/ keep her away!" Still looking at Ranawkin her head moves slightly from side to side, and she moves just one step closer to him, her eyes locking with his. "I think you'd better leave, Ran. Now!

R'ave simply hovers where he paused, frustration personfied. He makes no comment, taking great pains to repress the urge to lunge. "May I be /so rude/ to ask /why/ a knife threat was inferred toward a /dragon/?" The cutting bite of his snarl is angled at Ranawkin, chest beginning to heave.

Ashtyn looks around, wondering if he's come at a bad time.

Skylark twists out of her father's grip and sends Kinecha a cold stare, tossing one to P'rru as well as she backs towards the doorway to the Bowl. "Obviously I can't care about a friend -anyone- without being belittled," she growls and slips outside silently, releasing MoniqueBean as she does.

Jayra looks over to Ashtyn, "Hey, be careful." She points to Ranawkin. "That guy's a few bubbly pies short of a gather.."

Skylark exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

Ranawkin doesn't back down, even though he finds himself forced to look /up/ to keep contact with Kinecha's eyes. This only increases his annoyance, and his mass seems to increase as he bristles with anger. Bronzerider is ignored. Reflexes can't be explained, and he's in no mood to trifle. He's here on more important business. "Not. Alone." Each word punctuated with a sneer.

Saisukei moves silently along the walls over to Ashtyn and Jayra. "She's not kidding." She adds in a hushed tone.

Ashtyn nods his head quietly and pours himself a mug of klah.

Kinecha nods, one very slight up and down motion, which she knows Ranawkin will pick up on. Every nerve in her body is tensed, and her mind is reeling with anger. He'd even threatened a /dragon/?! "Alone," she whisperes, words that belongs to his ears only. "Now!"

P'rru shifts in his leathers. "This used to be a simple family affair...but once you've insulted and upset a few dragons, it grows a little broader" he snaps before giving R'ave an imploring look on his way out. Where his children go, so does his nation basically. He's not good with confrontation, don't make him deal with it.
P'rru exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

R'ave is roiled further by dismissal, miscolored brow sunken into a dark, heavy scowl. "This is not acceptable," he says very softly, baneful expression paired with a deadpan glare. P'rru is tilted a nod as he shifts a step closer to the source of irritation. "Kinecha? Do you need help?"

Jayra grabs herself a mug as well, adding in a bit of cream and sugar. She shakes her head, mummbling softly enough so only those near her can hear. "Yea.. I'm sure he could hurt a dragon, get himself killed.."

"No," Kinecha comments to R'ave, "this is what I trained for after all. See the knot, Ran? I'm a guard now." A well-trained guard are her unsaid words.

Ranawkin's scowl deepens, his eyes still fixed on his kin. "Mind your business, 'rider," he sneers derisively. "NOW, woman." Even more derision in his tone now for her gender than for the other's ... profession. Muscles tense, rippling against his worn clothing, and a beefy hand darts out, lightning quick, to seize her upper arm.

"No," her voice still calm, as she lets him seize her arm. Selfcontrol was one of the first things Kinecha had learned in training. Her other hand calmly closes around his wrist, while her eyes narrow and she stares into his cold gray eyes. "Let go," she says, her voice icy.

R'ave raises an eyebrow slowly, shoulders flexing tensely. "Her name is Kinecha," he points out dryly, unable to stay out of it -- far too irritated. "You can be apprehended, sir." The bronzerider's voice is faint, though it lilts vaguely when Kinecha is physically seized.

Ashtyn looks up nervously. How he would like to protect his friend but, this is her job. Still he stands up and crosses his arm, glaring at the man.

Saisukei eeps, and watches as the conflict becomes a bit more than verbal. She take a step back, and begins to busy herself with Klah, Klah mugs, anything to stop her from hitting somebody. She continues to mutter to herself, that she has no business in this. But when this happens in a weyr, it becomes everyones busines...

Ranawkin's grip only tightens, a taunting sneer contorting his face. "Now, Kinecha." If possible, his inflection even /more/ of an insult at the use of her full name. The fingers of his free hand twitch, inches from his belt knife.

Jayra puts down her mug, crossing her arms, face locked into a bit of a scowl. "You leave her alone. This isn't just some place you can march into and start demanding things."

"You're outnumbered, Ran," Kinecha says, feeling only a slight pain as his grip tightens. Her fingers tightens too, finding places in his wrist that will inflict pain on him. Hopefully enough to make him let go. She's seen his hand move to his knife and will have to get out of his reach in a hurry. "Please, R'ave, I don't want you to get hurt," she manages to tell the 'rider.

Ashtyn finally finds his courage. Job or no, she is a lady "I don't know who you are or what this is about, but you will release her arm" he says, his eyes darkening as he speaks.

"And you shouldn't get hurt on my account," R'ave murmurs quietly, poised now to lunge at the hand that rests on the Ranawkin's knife. "Let her go." It's not a plea, and it's not a question -- it is a final, acerbic command.

Saisukei hasn't found her courage just yet, but something is about to burst. She only remembers one time when she lost control, and she ended up hurting herself, as well as some others. She doesn't want that to happen again.

"Tell the boy, Necha." Ranawkin ignores the pain in his wrist as long as he can. "Tell 'em all what you done. And why I'm here." Cold eyes fix on each stranger in turn, glowering. Not one of them his match. Not the children... not the bronzeling. They'll only delay his purpose, not prevent it.

Ashtyn steps another foot forward, still unsure of what he will do. He keeps his arms crossed to his chest "You will let her go now!" he says strongly.

Jayra quickly step forward as well, one of her hands dipping inside of her vest. "Don't you dare hurt her!" Her voice is rather stern, any semblence of the giggly girl from earlier gone.

Saisukei grits her teeth, and glances out of the corner of her eyes at Ranawkin. Is there nothing that will shut this man up? Slowly she turns around to rest against the wall, breathing in deeply, eyes flashing. Still she doesn't lose her control.

Kinecha's fingers tightens on different spots on his wrist. Spots that will make him let go whether he likes it or not. "Leave, Ran. Now!" Her fingers still locked on his wrist, and eyes still locked on his. "There're dragons out there, who'll stop you." If he manages to get her to get that far. "You'll not get out of the Weyr with me." A statement of fact, not probability.

R'ave will prevent it. Petite as he seems, he is not delicate, and neither is the lifemate that's currently pacing -- thundering -- just outside the cavern's entryway. The weyrling's brow creases again, lines etched into his face as his expression falls to a dark glower. "She's right, /boy/," he snarls hotly, though his vague facade is largely unchanged.

Loren strides confidently, hips swinging, in from the Central Bowl.

G'deon quietly strides in from the Central Bowl.
G'deon slowly saunters into the caverns, in that way that only he can, as winter-grey eyes scan the area. He stops midstride though and frowns, eyes narrowing before he resumes his steps, long legs quickly taking him over to the group.

Eiri blinks in from ::between::!

Ranawkin's fingers loosen. "Gah!" He takes an involuntary step back, shaking feeling back into his hand, scowling at Kinecha. "Not. Without. YOU." He notes the gathering crowd with increased annoyance. How /could/ she have rallied so many to her defense in such a short time?! But he has no choice. He /can't/ return alone... any more than he can let her stay. He lunges toward her, intent on dragging her bodily out of the caverns.

Pia pads in from the Central Bowl.

Tatia slips in from the Central Bowl.

Tipped off by Tatia, Pia slinks into the caverns with a rather wary expression on her pointed features. Can't be too careful, here.

As the man lunges toward Kinecha, Ashtyn attempts to tackle him. Hoping.. praying, that the other men will back him up.

R'ave smoothers a glare, the taut line of a grimace tilted numbly toward G'deon and the entering Loren. "Damn it, that's it," he manages, slinking toward Kinecha -- who's side he's nearly at anyway. "Leave her /alone/," he rumbles softly, placing himself in the center of chaos, against Ranawkin. Common sense is not a strong point at the moment.

Kinecha sidesteps, reactions having been peaked in those long hours of drilling, which she's grateful for now. Her knife comes out and she crouches slightly in a fighting stance. "You'll have to, Ran. I'm staying here." A defensive position is taken, as a guard she can't attack people, even people who're in her hated family.

Tatia's gaze swings wildly around the caverns, mind floating with the vague images that may or may not have been exagerated by her lifemate. Feet carry her directly toward fellow weyrlings, and her helmet is discarded somewhere along the way.

Loren sways in, Kya draped over her arm and a random blue perched on her shoulder. "Shut up, shut up -- no, Kya, I'm not throwing sweetrolls at anywone." And then a blink towards Kinecha -- and the lunging Ranawkin. Lunge equals bad. Even Loren can figure that out. The bakerlet scuttles speedily over, expression alarmed and the squawk of firelizards equably so. "R'ave? R'ave! /R'avey./" Grammar Teacher Loren: she can go through /three/ -- count them, /three/ -- levels of emphasis. "Kinecha-a-a? ..shut up, Kya. What's going /ooon?/" Kya rotates once, eyes whirling. Trouble. And for once, it isn't her. "Careful, careful!" A random warning, and the bakerlet skids to a stop near her weyrmate. "Careful."

"What's all this?" G'deon calls out, his normally mellow baritone carrying a tint of ice tonight. The one-time Smith can still tower over most of the others in the room, and he uses it to his advantage, though he remains conservative for the moment.

R'ave falls asleep.

Kinecha has no time to explain, all her attention is focused on Ranawkin, and she only vaguely picks up on the fact that people are trying to step in.

P'rru marches with clipped steps in from the Central Bowl.

Jayra plucks her own small belt knife from her vest. She just keeps it at her side just in case. "Kinecha! Be careful!" She actually runs over to the woman, like she could really do anything.

Skylark meanders in soft step in from the Central Bowl.

Saisukei holds herself back from the fighting, and pulls herself into the farthest possible place, /away/ from Ranawkin and Kinecha. At G'deon's bellow, she shrinks and stays in her corner.

Knives, scuffles, anger, oh my. Disapproval blazes from Pia's green eyes as she focuses on the knife-wielding lass. "What's going on?"

P'rru returns, face red. "Dsalth is going crazy, the weyrlings are upset....and there are knives in the caverns...what is going on?" he thought if he just didn't look it would go away. Tough luck eh? Brownrider rounds behind green and bronzelings, lips twitching nervously. He's the oldest one here. He should do something.

Ranawkin rolls as he hits the ground, his lunge having missed, and quickly regains his footing. The gathering crowd is noted, then disregarded. A flash of steel as his own knife appears in his hand, and he crouches into a menacing posture, silent steps bringing him closer... closer... He attacks! With a slashing blow, aimed at Kinecha's midsection. She won't come, she must die.

Tatia stops near G'deon, feet skidding to a halt in her haste. Despite hearing his question - along with the rest of the cavern - the greenling tilts her head toward him, though her eyes fix on the knife-bearing pair. "Gid. What's going on?" Perhaps if one more person asks, an answer will be forthcoming.

Ashtyn tries once again to tackle the man and pin him to the ground. He may be unarmed, but Kinecha is his friend. He rushes full on, hoping the weight of his body will be enough.

Saisukei shakes her head at the fighting, gritting her teeth, and without even thinking reaches into her bag, searching for something.

Ranawkin is momentarily swayed, his blow misses... but his greater mass prevails. Arm lashes out to knock the boy away, even as his eyes return to his kin.

Only just managing to avoid Ranawkin's lunge, Kinecha feels a burning sensation at her midsection. Furious that he'd managed to draw first blood, she moves quickly toward him, and tries to tackle him as he goes after her friends.

Skylark follows P'rru in, her gaze immedietly flickering to Kinecha and Ranawkin. Her anger and frustration hits the roof and she slips alongside her father, grabbing hold of his hand to keep her from going after both fighting folks. "P'rru, please do something," she begs quietly, wanting to stop the two but having been clearly told she's not to get hurt in any way. "They will be paying for this if I can help it.." she mutters and disapears into the Inner Caverns, silently.
Skylark steps into the shadows that lead back into the Weyr.

G'deon takes another step towards the apparent kinfolk, his stance loose, but ready. "Somebody might want to get a Healer," he calls out to anyone who wants to listen. After a pause. "And a Harper as well." Somebody's got to do the paperwork after this.

Loren sways again as R'ave nearly topples into her, sniffling quietly and murmuring a concerned goodbye as he departs -- hopefully to calm Soquilith. A glower towards Ranawkin, and the bakerlet nearly shrieks, but manages to direct herself in the general direction of someone -- or two. She scuttles towards G'deon and Tatia, consoling a pair of 'lizards and looking, for the most part, distraught. "Ta-a-atia-a-a.. G'deo-o-on. He's being /mean./ He's scaring the 'lizards, and R'ave went away, and.." Twitch. "Help?" Squeak-squawk, a half-pleading glance, and the bakerlet sends herself Kinecha-wards. Sort of. "Oh, dear, oh dear." And Grammar Teacher Loren can even make herself.. useful. Hah, hah. Really.

Ashtyn rolls as the man tosses him aside, hiting his head on a table. he is able to get up though and he does, his body pumping with adrenaline as he tries to force his way between Ranawkin and Kinecha.

Pia glances from P'rru to G'deon and then back to the pair. "One of you had better do something before someone dies," she notes quickly. "And fast."

Skylark arrives from deeper in the Weyr.

Jayra looks very nervous now backing away from the fighting pair. "Ashtyn.. be careful!" Did she just? Oh my she did.

Ranawkin's blood boils, and he curses the boy who distracted him, even as he's tackled by Kinecha. Growling, he forces his greater body mass off the ground to attempt to pin her instead, knife in hand moving towards her throat... then the boy is back. A glancing blow with the knife-handle aimed at the back of his head, and the knife is aimed at Necha again. Gah!

Skylark comes back in, returning to her father's side, a look of cold, dry distaste on her face. Just as a fight breaks out and Kinecha ends up hurt the staff decides to go off from the Weyr?? She eyes her father somemore, hoping either he will do something or she'll involve herself.

G'deon glances at Pia and nods, wary eyes returning to the guard and her attacker. "Just /what/ is going on here?" he again asks, taking a couple steps closer to the sparring people. He stoops to help out Ashtyn, but his eyes don't leave the knives. He was a Smith for too long to ignore those.

"I noticed," Tatia quips toward Loren, tensing herself - though she's not sure for what. Other 'riders are much larger than the greenling, but the situation is enough to make anyone ready themselves.. just in case. "Healer first," she murmurs in quiet response to G'deon. Amazingly level headed for Tat - in any situation. "I'll go.. Kariel's got to be around somewhere...Gid, /do/ something!" And with that, the greenrider slides away, strides breaking into a run as she disappears toward the infirmary.

Saisukei drops her bag, and pulls, yes - probably the most unlikely item that Saisukei would have- a very small carving knife. Apparently more than just gaurds carry knives around the weyr these days. She eyes Ranawkin warily. Waiting for her own time to strike. She finds it as Ranawkin becomes preoccupied with Kinecha again, and she lunges blindly.

Prru isn't a violent man. But it's not his fight. Even if his dragon says it is. And his daughter wants him to. Oh the travesty, forcing the brownrider to act so out of character. "Enough" he finally bellows, eyes shifting uncontrollably, "Everyone calm down and back off, or Faranth help you when Dsalth gets the entire weyr involved" and the brown is threatening just that. Throat is cleared as he heads towards the sparring parr, literally throwing one punch, squarely at Ranawkin's jaw. And he hope it at least connects.

Kinecha rolls out of the way of the plunging knife, seeing it hit the cavern-floor out of the corner of her eye. Getting up on her knee and then her feet with lightening speed, she's once again ready to face her uncle. "Give it up, Ran. There's no way you can win," she almost snarls.

Ashtyn puts his hand to the back of his head and looks down at his fingers, seeing the blood. He wavers for a moment and holds himself up, turning to look at the man again. "It doesn't matter what you do. You are not leaving here with Kinecha." he says sternly.

G'deon keeps out of Kinecha and Ranawkin's way. It's their fight after all. He does however move to restrain Saisukei and Ashtyn. "Kinecha... and P'rru are handling this. You two just... stay alive." That might work. He turns back to the slashing pair, ready to back up P'rru if need be.

Skylark eyes Saisukei, warningly. Her eyes flicker as she notices her father's figure move from beside her, gawking as she notices him go after Ran.. or along the lines of go after. She hurries to haul Kinecha back -way back- from her relative, careful of her wounds or the ones she's aware of. "What in Faranth's name do you think you're doing?!" she harshly growls to Kinecha. A worried glance is given to Ashtyn and she glances around for help, any help, to break this up. It's no one's fight but it isn't right to sit by and watch two people lashing out either.

Jayra tries to put herself in front of Ashtyn, "Stop it. You're only going to distract Kinecha." She shakes her head, "Please.. just stay back."

Ranawkin staggers to his feet. A sharp pain in his shoulder, what? He strikes blindly out at the child with the toy knife, angered more than injured. The move just barely takes him out of range of the dragonrider's fist, and he whirls to find where Necha's got to. His eyes are dead-cold now, filled with hate and rage. "Nobody. Leaves." His chest is heaving.

Loren sways a bit more, expression concerned and attitude almost melodramatically frightened -- forgive her for the melodrama. "R'avey-y-y. He went away." And to Loren and her.. groupie-esque self, that's bad. "What's wrong with Kinecha? Leave her alone." And a random glower towards Ranawkin as the bakerlet directs herself to the safety of Away. "Don't hurt Kinecha!" And as an aside to a random weyrbrat: "..and now all the 'lizards and dragons're upset, and /we/'ve got to put up with them." 'We' being the 'lizard-dragon involved Weyr Collective. Or something. Yah.

Saisukei is perhaps restrained, but not before she's sliced and been sliced by Ranawkin. A hand goes up to cover right arm, she reels in pain, and steps away from the man. She drops her knife, and glares at Ranawkin. She kneels and attempts to tend to her wounds. She deffinatly doesn't want this to escalate anymore. And she knows she didn't help it either.

G'deon swiftly moves behind Ranawkin, waiting for a chance to take that weapon from him... or catch the man if he keels over, which ever comes first...

Kinecha gets herself loose from Lark grasp, and steps forward again, "somebody has to be the first," she hisses. "And you'd better leave /now/" she says, "before anybody gets killed, or you'll /never/ leave," she warns, still focusing all her attention on him, forgetting everybody around her who're actually trying to help.

Ashtyn tries to offer Jayra an assuring smile, though not quite so assured himself as he feels the trinkle of blood down his next. He looks to G'deon "I thank you friend. I just hope she can stay alive" he says indicating to Kinecha.

P'rru composes himself. It wasn't his fight. So sorry Kinecha, but when someone threatens your lifemate, you tend to get rather annoyed. And less than yourself. Brownrider is quick to position himself slightly beside Kinecha, afterall he is without a knife here, just a rather angry dragon sending images of squishing Ranawkin into his head. "Leave it be and walk away now...before things get worse.." he tells the man, dry throat grating out the words. And next time he wont miss a punch.

Tatia returns at a run, again skidding to a halt near G'deon. "Ok. Kariel. Is not there," she informs him between breathes that come shortly in anxiousness. "Do you think... that is, we're still grounded, Gid, but I could go get..." Eyes widen first at Ashtyn's trickle of blood, then further as G'deon moves into place. Perhaps the wingsecond is not the best person to ask...

Jayra walks up closer to Ashtyn, offering him a bit of a smile of her own. She looks at the trickle of blood, shaking her head, "We need to get that wrapped up."

Ashtyn nods to Jayra, still fixing his eyes on Kinecha and her uncle. "We will. We just need to stop him first." he says as he prepares to move through the crowd again.

Saisukei whimpers as she removes her hand from her arm. A gash across her right arm, bleeding quite freely, is hard to ignore, but she tries. And moves away from the fight, back out to the bowl. "Just, better to get away..." She mutters weakly.

Saisukei exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

"Nobody leaves." Ranawkin cannot see past his mission, even at the risk of his life. Knife in hand, he lumbers closer, cold eyes taking in the new adversaries. Sharding children, more trouble than he'd expected. He lashes out again, his momentum carrying him forward to drive a stabbing blow at his kinswoman's chest. Hopefully a killing blow.

Jayra puts her hand on Ashryn's shoulder, "No, Kinecha can do this. This is her job." She shakes her head slowly brushing away a lock of brown hair.

Skylark dives forward towards Ranawkin, hoping to throw him back before he hits Kinecha -or her for that matter. "Stop it!!" she screams, her entire being thrown into pushing him away from hurting anymore.

P'rru is no hero. He's never felt the need to be. But he reaches out, arms catching Skylark about the waist, yanking her back towards him. It's just instinct. Yah, the fatherly type.

Kinecha sidesteps neatly, almost gracefully and gets a hold of her uncle arm in the same fluent motion. Wringing it behind him and up, she gets him to the floor, and staps her knee in her back. Leaning down close to his ear, she whispers, "Leave." And before, he can manage to use his other arm to get a hold of her, she grabs it and takes a strong hold of it. Looking up at the crowd, her eyes widen in surprise, "Anybody got a piece of rope?" That all she can say at the moment, and she /does/ need to immobilize him.

G'deon may not have rope, but he's got arms. He kneels beside the guard, nodding to her. "I'll just help you here, is that okay?" he asks, obvious respect thawing those icy blue eyes as he watches the young woman.

Ashtyn wants to listen to Jayra. He really does. But he also doesn't want to be a coward. Still he is relieved to see Kinecha wrestle the man to the ground. He immediately goes to his belt, pulling it off his tunic and holding it off to Kinecha, seeming not to care that his check is now exposed. (still g-rated)

Loren sniffles once, shooting a glance outside and, despite the warnings about not leaving, she feels, Kya and blue in tow. "/Ooh/.. this is bad. Where's R'ave when I need him?" And then she's gone -- feel free to rejoice later.
Loren goes home.

P'rru snaps eyes at Tatia. "Want to help me?" he asks, releasing Skylark swiftly. "We need healers...." he replies. "Dsalth says someone's bleeding in the bowl...and he casts a glance over Ranawkin, head shaken. Teach him to upset Reacher folk.

Ranawkin struggles vainly as both arms are twisted uncomfortably behind his back. "Gah!" He might have been able to wrench free from his kin, but when the 'rider steps in as well, he knows he's beaten. His eyes seem to go dead in defeat.

P'rru exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

"Thank you, Gid," Kinecha says, getting off her uncle's back and hauls him to his feet, taking the belt from Ahstyn, and tying Ran's hands tightly behind his back. "I don't wanna see you here again, hear me?" she whispers to him, and pushes him toward the caverns exit.

Skylark takes in a large amount of air in shock as she's grasped from her drive by her father, almost choking on her own breath. She immedietly reaches to grab the arms about her waist, the restraints, her breath shaking and her chest tight and uncomfortable. Her face has gone deathly pale by now and her legs numb and wobbly from shock underneath her. Slowly, she regains her self and stands on her own ust as P'rru lets go. She turns to him. "I'll help the girl outside.."
Skylark exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.
You sense that Ranawkin is looking for you in Living Caverns (#392).

Tatia remains ackwardly standing, eyes widened as the scene in the 'Caverns - until P'rru gives her a focus. "Of course," she agrees shortly, striding swiftly to follow the brownrider."
Tatia exchanges the protection of stone for the bowl outside.

Central Bowl
Seven spindles brush the clouds -- quite literally -- overhead, a jagged, spired cotillion grey-stoned majesty. The bowl from here is expansively large, extending a full half mile in both directions, and although sometimes a bit of a stretch, most of the hubs of activity can be easily observed. Hard-packed ground shows the common pathways, all of them meandering about the craggy bunch of boulders that form a centerpiece: carven, hand-worn and foothold-full, it gives a bit of centerpoint to the otherwise vast emptiness of the area.
To the north lie the hatching grounds and leadership weyrs, while the lows of herdbeasts mark the feeding pens to the northeast. A flurry of ever-present activity marks the living caverns to the west, and another time-traveled path the ground weyrs just adjacent to the southwest. Southeast, a glint of blue shows the lake, glittering and cold.
It is a spring afternoon.
Clinging to footholds in the boulder-mound are thirteen firelizards.
Brown Revnath, blue Lainnoth, bronze Soquilith, green Vespurath, and Brown Dsalth are here.
You see a wagonmaster, Cattysaur, Box, Dustina, and Nacoma here.
Saisukei, Elehu, P'rru, Skylark, and Tatia are here.
Obvious exits:
Pens Northern Bowl Caverns Ground Weyrs Lakeside Guards HQ

Pia steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

P'rru heads for Dsalth, who seems to be snuffling and whuffling an injured folk. "Saisukei...shells, that is your own blood?" he notes, pushing sorrel muzzle out of the way as he leans down to inspect it. But another voice brings his eyes up "Your a healer? There's been an incident...quite a few seem injured..."

Ranawkin steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Ashtyn steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Jayra steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Elehu nods quickly to Skylark. "Aye, that I am," she replies, eyeing the others as they enter. At each new face her eyebrows climb higher on her forehead. "Just what has been going on? Gideon, what's all this?"

Saisukei removes her hand from her arm, to see if the wounds still bleeding. And it is. "Yes...mine" She moves to stand, but can't. "I cant see very well..." She adds nervously.

"There're dragons out here, Ran," Kinecha says, turning him around to look him in the eyes. "Want me to leave you here? Or will you take your wagon and go back?"

Skylark glances to Kinecha worriedly, as well as Ran. "HOw's everyone else? Is everyone ok?" Her voice is calmer now that she's outside in the fresh air.

P'rru bends down, easily catching Saisukei under the knees and around the waist. "We'll get you to the infirmary, dear" he says gently lifting her from the ground. Dsalth smells /him/ again and lumbers to tower of Kinecha, eyes yellow. Kinda intimidating, isn't it?

G'deon makes sure Kinecha has the old man secured before hurrying over to the Healer. "Ele! Shards am I glad to see you. This... man has injured quite a few of our folk," he adds, voice chilling as he glares at the man.

Ashtyn steps out after the group slowly. his breathing finally returning to normal as he watches the procession. Afer a moment, he suddently becomes aware of his cut again and groans as he movies his fingers to the back of his head, feeling a little faint.

Ehkotiah steps out from the Weyr's living caverns.

Tatia exits the caverns quickly, on the heels of P'rru. Her head tilts toward the entrance as eyes move to Elehu. A healer. A good sight. "P'rru?" she questions, sliding toward him. "You've got her?"

Tamashi, at the moment a very distraught 'lizard, screeches. Flapping around P'rru and Saisukei, but he knows to stay out of the way, and simply waits to follow.

Elehu takes a deep breath and tries to raise her voice. She's been getting better at it, but it's still too petite... "Who needs help here? Can you all move to the infirmary, or should we start here?" She lowers her baggage to the ground and begins rolling up her sleeves, eyes assessing the damage as it were.

Ehkotiah blinks, just strolling in. "What's all the hullaballoo about?" she asks, giving each person a look. Infirmary? "Do you need Healers?" she asks, stepping forward.

Jayra runs up to Ashtyn, "C'mon, sit down." She stands in front of him yet again. "I told you we need to get that wrapped." Why is she so concerned over him... hmm..?

P'rru smiles down at the greenrider. "Tatia, don't suppose you'd mind wrapping this kerchief around her arm?" he asks, motioning to the cloth that dangles from his coat pocket. Seems his arms are full. "I can take her to the infirmary, Elehu..not a problem..." he says, voice carrying to the healer.

Ranawkin's eyes flicker about the bowl at the mass of weyrfolk rallying around his kin, keenly aware of the presence of the dragons. He turns dead eyes to Kinecha. "Aye," he mumbles. He won't be wishing her well.

Skylark moves to Ashtyn's side, "You don't look so well," she murmurs to him, glancing around for some help.

Saisukei nods slowly, and winces as she's picked up. She gives Ranawkin one last glance before she closes her eyes from the pain. He hit her harder than she thought.

G'deon moves to help Elehu with her bundles then turns. "Anyone need help to the infirmary? Let's clear this place out. We're upsetting the dragons." Or at least one rather huffy one up on a ledge. He turns back to Kinecha again. "Kinecha, you should get help for that wound as well. Do you want help with... him?"

Ehkotiah rubs her forehead. "Does anyone need any further help?" she asks, not knowing much else to do. Healer Apprentice eyes everyone gathered. "What on Pern happened?!"

Ashtyn pulls his hand away from the back of his head, showing his bloody fingers "I don't think its that bad.. I think Kinecha and Saisukei need help first." he smiles at Jayre, once again tring to reassure her. He tries to keep that confident smile as he lowers himself slowly to the ground.

Tatia nods once, and her hands reach for the kercheif with some vestige of memory her parents gave her Turns ago. Swiftly and surely, she knots it around Saisukei's arm, eyes lifting to fix on hers. "I'm sure she'll just need to clean it," the greenrider murmurs in her best approximation of a soothing tone. Her hands drop to her side, and eyes study the make-shift bandage once before she nods in approval. "Infirmary?"

P'rru nods "Aye Tatia..."he agrees before giving Saisukei a slight smile "You'll be alright, love, just sit tight" eyes shift, and Dsalth backs off to the shadows, rumbling gratingly before the brownrider carries the patient inside.

The front of Necha's shirt is soaking through, the blue cloth getting darker as blood wettens it. She nods slowly, her eyes narrow, and still holding his, wondering if she can trust him enough to take off the bonds. Attention drawn, slighty by G'deon, but her eyes still on Ran, she says, "he'll be leaving now." And she turns him around again to untie the belt from his wrists, nodding to the dragons here. "Don't try anything," she warns him.

Elehu waves her hands, trying to get attention. Why couldn't she be a little bit taller. "Everyone who needs help, please move to the infirmary. If you can't move to the infirmary, stay here. Sit down if you need to. You!" she adds, pointing to the Healer Apprentice, "go with to the infirmary and wash up. You'll need it." She glances at G'deon for support, then back to the crowd.

P'rru marches with clipped steps to the Caverns.

Ehkotiah glances at Elehu and nods, rushing in.

Saisukei walks to the Caverns.

Ehkotiah quietly steps to the Caverns.

Jayra crosses her arms as she looks down at Ashtyn, "Yea, just sit for now. It's not bad, but that's not a good place to get hit, even I know that."

G'deon stays for a moment longer, cold eyes watching Ranawkin like a hawk. He moves towards Kinecha slowly, holding out a hand. "Do you want help?" he asks her softly, holding out an arm though his eyes never leave the older man.

P'rru appears from ground weyr's overhung shadows.

Tatia watches P'rru's exit with something rather resembling helplessness.. and despite the urge to follow the crowd toward the infirmary, the greenrider sets her shoulders and remains firmly put.. crowds and healing don't generally mix. Her mother drummed at least that into her head. Eyes turn instead to the remaining gathered, faintly focusing on the bound man.

Ranawkin shakes out his arms as the bond is released, but no further move is made toward his kin. Not with all these folks around... and all these dragons. He stalks off to the wagonmaster without a backward glance.

With a soft sigh, Pia drifts off to sleep.

Elehu releases Ref, who quickly launches himself to a high perch, carefully watching from above.

P'rru trudges to his lifemate, mounting quickly. "Skylark, want to come?" he offers as Dsalth bugles low and long.

The wagonmaster sends off a firelizard to hail the nearest wagon.

P'rru swings up to ease himself between defined neckridges

A dusty wagon rolls up along the road. The driver pulls on the reins and the wagon stops.
Ranawkin says, "Hail wagon."

P'rru pages, "sorry to have to run, have erm, fun"

Ranawkin hops in the back of Wagon Two.

Elehu abandons the bowl for ground weyr's shelter.

The wagon driver shakes the reins and clucks to the runners, and the wagon rolls off down the road.

Skylark swings up to ease herself between defined neckridges

Dsalth takes off.
Above, Dsalth takes off from Central Bowl
Above, Dsalth circles leisurely towards the lake.

Ashtyn shakes his head "I will be ok Jayre." he smiles, happy that everything turned out OK . His smile is week though and he looks maybe a little ashamed as he looks over thhe girls who took alot more cutz than he.

Kinecha straightens her back and shakes her head at Gideon, "he's leaving now..." And suddenly the pain in her abdomen calls for attention and she groans slightly, looking around her with a sad look on her face. "I'm really sorry..." She can't help it, so many people hurt and injured because of her.

G'deon holds out his hands to Kinecha once more. "Here, let me help you to the infirmary," he offers quietly, eyes scanning the bowl once more after Ranawkin leaves. "You really need that taken care of."

Jayra crouches down to be on eye level with Ashtyn, one of the corners of her mouth curled up in a smirk. "Don't let me see you tackling anyone barehanded when they have a knife."

Kinecha's eyes follow the path of G'deon's, down the road Ran had taken and tears come unbidding to them. "I'm really sorry about all this," she says, her voice brimming over with emotions she didn't know she had. "I never wanted anyone else to get hurt."

Ashtyn smiles foolishly "I suppose I need to get myself a knife then, eh?" he says to the girl with a smile as he wraps whats left of his tunic around his neck. He give s her a concerned look "Are you OK? I hope I didn't frighten you"

"You did the best you could," G'deon quickly reassures the guard, taking a step closer to stand beside the young woman. "You couldn't prevent it, just stop the damage from being worse that it was, than it could have been. I'll admit, even old master Evan couldn't have moved as well as you did," he adds, a gentle smile on his face. "Now, let's get to the infirmary, alright?"

Kinecha nods, and spots Ashtyn on her way back across the Bowl. "Ashtyn, are you allright?" she asks, with wide eyes.

Jayra blushes a bit, "Ahh.. I..." She just nods a bit, "Um.. Yea, you did." She laughs a little uneasily. She holds out her hands, "C'mon, I'll help you to the infirmary."

Ashtyn stands up slowly, leaning a little on Jayre, though not so much as to hurt her. He smiles at Kinecha :I'll be ok. Just a little cut" he says "You get yourself to the infirmary. Have him carry you if you need" he indicates to G'deon with a wink.

G'deon knows better than that, and just holds out a helping hand, or arm, for the guard.

Kinecha grins, tears still in her eyes though, "I can walk," she says but accept G'deon's hand for support, and gives him a look of gratitude, "thanks, Gid." Forgetting his rider-name for the moment.

Jayra laughs, "C'mon, I'm a big girl, grew up with a bunch of boys. I can take a little work." She nods a bit and winks.

G'deon smiles at Kinecha and starts heading for the ground weyrs. "I know a short cut," he tells her with a wink.

G'deon abandons the bowl for ground weyr's shelter.

Ground Weyrs
Once a mere overhang in the bowl wall, this arched stone enclave was deepened in aeons past by who-knows-what to provide shelter for injured dragons and their mates. Craggy walls loom high to dwarf rider and dragon alike, sloping back from the weather-open entrance to a low opening into the infirmary itself. Stacked under rock-shaded cover are low supply chests of sturdy timber, flanked with long tables. Other openings are shaded by wherhide curtains, leading to smaller, private caverns for the dragonhealers' patients.
It is a spring afternoon.
Settled on rough-hewn ledge is Bow-Wow.
You see Generic Egg Pot here.
G'deon is here.
Obvious exits:
Bowl Inner Ground Weyr Infirmary

Ashtyn comes into shelter from bowl's wide open spaces.

G'deon pushes open double doors to enter the infirmary.

Jayra comes into shelter from bowl's wide open spaces.

Shining steel and redwort tang assault the senses on entry to the infirmary.
Infirmary
Echoing and austere, blank stone walls are vaulted high to overshadow the row of white-curtained cots along the back wall. Ancient metal gleams steel-bright in the form of sinks and examination table, lit relentlessly by bright glows and reflecting the colours of bottles and jars shelved above. Padlocked cabinets hide the more dangerous drugs and implements, whilst healer paraphenalia litters one solid oak table with sweetly-fragranced herbs and tattered scrolls. A small hearth contains a fire usually banked low, several cauldrons set ready nearby to for heating water. A dark staircase twists up from one corner to the dragonhealer's lair; one low door leads into the lower caverns, another to weyrhealers' quarters. Barn-sized doors open inwards with creak of hinges from the ground weyr.
Comfortable on top of a cupboard are Sploink, Solo, Filia, Mercury, Izyndyl, Caerulus, Tamashi, and Donner.
You see Girta here.
You notice Donavan, Kevlar, and Ehkotiah asleep here.
Saisukei, Elehu, and G'deon are here.
Obvious exits:
Ground Weyrs Inner Caverns Healers' Quarters

Ashtyn pushes his way in from the ground weyrs.

Jayra pushes her way in from the ground weyrs.

Ashtyn walks in, leaning on Jayra as he walks, looking a little white.

Jayra helps Ashtyn over to some place he can sit down, "Here you go.. just take it easy."

Elehu first takes one of the jars, reddish watery liquid inside, and soaks a cloth in it. She nods to the others as they enter, a worried frown instantly on her face as she sees Kinecha. "Kinecha! Oh my, sit down, dear." Fussing? Ele? She continues to bustle around the infirmary, then turns to G'deon. "Gids, go wash your hands and arms in redwort. I'll need your help."

G'deon helps Kinecha in, then grins at the Healer, simply nodding. He's obviously been recruited like this before.

"Thanks again, Gid," Kinecha says, still leaning on his arm, but finds a place to sit. Tears are stilling running down her cheeks and she wipes them away with one hand. Not only had she had a huge shock when Ran had suddenly showed up, but people are now fussing around her, which she is most definately not used to.

G'deon winks at Kinecha, then starts washing his hands. He can be encouraging if he wants to. "Clean up duty again?" he asks the Healer.
activity marks the living caverns to the west, and another time-traveled path the ground weyrs just adjacent to the southwest. Southeast, a glint of blue shows the lake, glittering and cold.

Saisukei turns her head to Ashtyn, Jayra, and Kinecha. Trying to see if they're okay. But she can't see, thats part of the problem. She's dizzy and too tired. Turning away she manages to mutter something about her concern for everyone else. It might have sounded something like: "Are you all okay?" But it was pretty inaudible.

Ashtyn nods "Im ok. I think I just got a little worked up is all." he smiles a little bit and looks at Jayre "but she insisted"

Elehu notices Saisukei out of the corner of her eye. "You," so she's not good with names, "you should lie down. Don't worry about the others, I've got them. Gid, could you please see to that arm? It should be cleaned with redwort, /carefully/ mind you." She then turns to Ashtyn and Kinecha.

Jayra smiles a bit, blushing, "That was brave what you did back there, ya' know?" She laughs very softly, "How about a roast wherry sandwhich later?"

G'deon hands Ashtyn a bundle of bandages, nodding towards his wound. "Just hold this against the back of your head," he says quickly, the mellow tone back in his voice. "And lie down." Yeah, what the Healer said. He then moves to stand beside Saisukei and begins doing as Elehu told him. He's obviously done this before, no doubt about it.

Kinecha takes a deep breath, which hurts the gash in her bellyskin a little. "I'll be alright," she says, having seen worse, and having been knifed before. She's more worried about other people, who she's responsible for getting hurt, and that makes her doubt her duty as a guard.

Saisukei lays back down on the table, and watches whatever it is G'deon has to do to her arm. There isn't much else to do, now is there...?

Ashtyn holds the bandages against his head, looking better already. As he lays his tunic across his lap, he is relieved to notice that there is not alot of blood. "I don't think the blade got me" he says "Otherwise it would have been more blood" he looks at the healer and asks "right?"

Seeing that Ashtyn and Saisukei are being taken care of for the moment, Elehu moves over to Kinecha, a soft smile on her face. "Good to see you again, 'Necha," she says softly, carefully eyeing the gash through the guard's tunic. "You'd better just lie back for now," she adds, quickly back to business. "You'll want to relax those abdomen muscles." She nods to Ashtyn in response to his question and smiles encouragingly. "Just keep that pressed to your head... um, sir. Oh, that reminds me, my name is Elehu. If you need anything."

G'deon dips a bandage in some redwort solution and smiles at Saisukei. "I'm just going to clean this up a bit, alright?" he says softly, moving a stool over to take a seat. "Let me know if it hurts. Well, more than it does now anyway." Smiths weren't meant to be Healers, ex-Smiths included. "How do you feel, other than the cut? Dizzy? Sick?" he continues.

Jayra grins softly and sits down near Ashtyn, grinning in a rather silly way. She looks around at the others her, offering them both bright smiles. "You have a hard head.."

Kinecha's eyes refocus on someone she knows. "Ele! What're you doing here? She hadn't been in the cavern during the fight, had she?" She lies down, only because she feels drained of strengh and has no energy to argue.

Saisukei eyes her wound, and nods in response to G'deon, then replies weakly. "I'm dizzy, and looking at /that/" she refers to the wound in a rather annoyed tone. "Is making me sick to my stomach..." She trails off.

Ashtyn chuckles at Jayra "I guess before this evening I wouldn't have considered that a compliment" he says with a blush. He looks up to Elehu and realizes how rude he has been "Well met Elehu. I'm Ashtyn.. or Ash for short" he smiles.

Elehu smiles softly, gaze returning to the guard as she also soaks a small cloth in her jar of redwort juice. "No, apparently I missed the whole thing. My chance to see you in action, gone!" she replies regretfully. Perhaps she's kidding. Or maybe insanity runs in the family. "Okay, let's start with that cut there," she adds, nimble fingers moving the shred of clothing away from the wound.

Jayra nods to the healer as well, even though she's just here, just to be here. "My name's Jayra, but I just get called Jay." She gives another half smirk.

G'deon slowly but surely begins clearing away the already drying blood from Saisukei's wound. "Is this the only cut, or were you hurt somewhere else?" he asks idly, though his attention is clearly on the task at hand.

Saisukei shakes her head a bit. "No...that's the only place."

Kinecha lays her arm across her eyes, taking deep breaths to hide the sobs coming forth deep within her. She's not at all happy about this situation and doubts very much that she'd kept her head cool, when faced with Ran.

Ashtyn sits up, pretty sure he's ok, but still a little shaky. He smiles as he stands and walks to stand near G'deon "Do you need any help?" he asks

Jayra stands up, looking very stern, tapping her foot against te ground, "Sit back down before you fall over and bust your head even worse." She crosses her arms ver her chest, looking rather indignant.

G'deon grins at Ashtyn and waves him back. "Nah, just sit tight. I've got this covered."

Ashtyn sits back down, realizing now would be a bad time to anger Jayre. Still, he throws a concerned look at Kinecha and Saisukei, wishing he could do more.

Elehu gently places a hand on Kinecha's shoulder as her other begins carefully cleaning up the knife wound. "This is quite a gash," she comments after a moment. "It might need stitches... luckily that's something I've gotten very good at. Probably won't even leave a scar... Not that that'd be a bad place for a scar." Yes, she's rambling.

G'deon finally finishes cleaning Saisukei's wound and inspects it closely. "Ele, you might want to look at his. It's still bleading a bit... might need, um... sewing up." He glances over to the Healer, a neutral look on his face. "Stitches, right, that's the word."

Jayra smiles at Ashtyn, sitting down herself as well. "Always gotta play the hero. C'mon I think what you did in the caverns was bravery enough to last you a long time."

Arm still across her eyes, Kinecha smiles lopsidedly, "I don't mind scars. Have plenty of them to begin with," she says, sobs having stilled off a bit. Now she's just broody again, wondering if she'll get thrown out of the Weyr for getting people involved in her personal dealings. And getting others hurt at that. She's almost inclined to leave on her own accord.

Jayra slips through the door to the inner caverns.

Saisukei eeps at the word 'stitches'. Not those! She begins to protest, but then shuts her mouth. This is what you get for fighting with people much older than you. But it was her own fault, and she's just gonna have to deal with it.

Ashtyn smiles "Well, I guess its a good thing Im not a guard" he looks to Kinecha :I imagine Id make a lousy one" he giggles.

Elehu's pressure on the guard's shoulder increases slightly, a gentle smile on her face. "And not all are always the ones we see," she mumbles quietly, barely above a whisper, probably not even meant for anyone to hear the words. She finishes up cleaning the wound before glancing over at G'deon. "Just try to hold that arm still. We don't want the wound opening again. I'll be there in a minute." She looks back at Kinecha, inspecting the woman's wound closely. "This one will definitely need stitches. You ready for that, 'Necha?" she asks, smiling again at the woman. Not waiting though, she grabs a needle and sterilizes it in redwort, then gathers the necessary threads.

Kinecha hadn't been paying much attention to what others had done, during the fight, but turns her tear-streakened face toward Ashtyn. "I've had more training, Ash." And she doubts if she could've taken Ran out if it hadn't been for that traning. "Sure, Ele, I'll be alright." Having tried that before as well.

G'deon winks at Saisukei. How encouraging. "Ah, they're nothing to worry about," he almost drawls. "Besides, it's not quite as deep as some I saw as a Smith. Couple o' those more careless apprentices lost fingers. And worse."

Saisukei give G'deon a sidelong glance, and smiles /almost/ placatingly. "Thanks." She makes a mental note, not to become a smith craft apprentice. Or careless...

Elehu nods slowly to Kinecha and hands her a small cloth before getting ready to stitch up her wound. She gestures towards the woman's cheeks and smiles gently, hazel eyes soft. Without a word, she turns her attention to the gash in Kinecha's abdomen and gently smooths numbweed into the wound, then waiting a moment or two for the salve to set in, she looks to G'deon. "Sorry, Gid, I totally forgot about the numbweed. Both Ashtyn and... your patient there could probably use it." She turns back to Kinecha, giving the woman one last encouraging smile, and starts working.

Ashtyn looks around, wondering if he has taken too much of the healers time. "Is there anything I can help with?" he asks timidly.

G'deon winces at Elehu's reminder. "Numbweed. Of course." He grabs one of the jars, so helpfully labelled as such, and turns to Saisukei. "This'll do wonders," he tells her, taking a large glob of the stuff in his fingers.

Saisukei raises her left hand - her good hand - weakly. "Saisukei" She points to herself.

Kinecha smiles gratefully as Elehu hands a cloth and wipes away the tears from her face, 'thanks' she mouths to the Healer, and then bites her teeth for the stitching. Probably gonna need a lot of 'em, she thinks.

Elehu carefully finishes her quick, but small and straight stitches, swiftly tying the thread and cutting it, then she grins over at Saisukei and nods, then glances at Ashtyn. "Is your head still bleeding, she asks before turning back to Kinecha. "I'll just bandage this up. If you have any bruises, you can use the numbweed on it. Just soak your fingers in redwort first," she instructs gently, reaching out a hand for a moment towards Kinecha, but pausing, turning instead to inspect the other patients.

Looking at G'deon again, with that menacing glob of...what? /Numb/Weed?...She can't seem to figure out if 'wonders' is a good or a bad thing at this point. (Saisukei)

G'deon moves out of Elehu's way and walks over towards Ashtyn. "How ye feeling?" he asks curiously, neck craning around to peer at the young man's wound. "Sorry about earlier, but... yeah."

Ashtyn nods "I think the bleeding is stopped. It just throbs a little. I don't thinkI should take up space here for it" he smiles, trying to look brave though his eyes still show worry.
Ashtyn nods his head "sorry for what?" he asks innocently.

"For pushing you out of the way," G'deon replies, a blank stare given the other man. "I just didn't want things to get out of hand. It's a good thing we had her there though," he adds more softly, nodding towards Kinecha. "Saved the rest of us."

Elehu hears Ashtyn's comment and points to him, though her eyes are soft with amusement. "You sit right there, young man. Any hit to the head is serious business." She turns back to Saisukei and peers at the wound. "Hmm... not /terribly/ bad, but that's always relative. Probably only five stitches or so. Has the numbweed set in? Can you feel this?" she rambles on, gently prodding the skin near the cut.

Kinecha sighs. Nothing would have happened if it hadn't been for her, so she puts her arm across her eyes again, taking deep breaths again.

Saisukei shakes her head. "I can't feel anything in that arm." So that's what numbweed does! eureka.

Ashtyn sits down quickly, not quite brave enough to argue with the healer. Anyways, his head really does hurt and the room spins slightly with the quick movements. The brave smile disapears for a moment and he lays down on the cot. closing his eyes.

Elehu nods to the young weyrfolk and again sterilizes a needle and gathers some thread, then quickly begins stitching up the wound. And before you know it, loop, loop, tie, cut. "There we go. I'll just bandage it up... and you're done. Any other wounds?"

G'deon eyes Ashtyn curiously, standing a bit straighter. "Ash, you alright?" he asks the young messenger. "Aye, just sit tight. I think Elehu's almost done over there..."

Saisukei gawks at the stitches. No pain? She doesn't mind that. She shakes her head slowly. "No wound other than that."

Ashtyn opens his eyes and looks at G'deon "Im OK. Just a little dizzy is all. I think I hit my head on one of the chairs when he threw me the firs time." he looks to Saisukei "Is she doing OK?"

Kinecha sits up again, wiping her cheeks once more, "I'm alright," she says. "How many stitches did ya put in there, Ele?" she asks, referring to her bellyskin.

Saisukei trys to sit up, and this time does manage it. She looks at her bandage, still not to inclined to touch it. She sighs, and with her good arm scoops up Yajuu, and Tamashi, encouraging them that she's okay.

Elehu grins at Saisukei and nods. "Be sure to stop by the infirmary in a few days to have those stitches inspected. They shouldn't be needed longer than that." She eyes Kinecha for a moment, a touch of worry in her voice, though still calm. "Well... I could have gone with fewer, but I gave you twenty stitches," she replies carefully, glancing at the others. "I didn't want to give you another scar if I could help it," she adds softly, then making sure the guard is alright, she walks over to join G'deon and Ashtyn. "Ashtyn, correct?" So she can remember names after all. "Aye, I think Saisukei will be good, as long as that cut doesn't get infected. Now, let's take a look at this. You hit your head twice? Is that what happened?"

Saisukei pages, "understood. I'm gonna have to sleep before checking mail. ^.^ Or doing anything for tha matter."

Ashtyn nods as he rolls over, seeming to really enjoy the feel of the pillow "I tried to tackle the man. First he threw meoff and then he hit me with his knife. I guess I didn't do a very good job" he smiles, a little shamefully.

Kinecha nods, most stitches she's had so far. Looking up at Ashtyn for a while, she swallows hard, still feeling the guilt of having gotten people hurt.

Saisukei nods an affirmative to Elehu's checkup remark. Then proceeds to inspect her bandage, still not touching.

"What, are you kidding?" G'deon says with a grin. "You almost got him the first time, he just had more experience that's all." He glances at Elehu. "Do you still need me? Nylanth's wondering where I've been?..."

Elehu gives Kinecha one last measuring look before turning back to Ashtyn. "Oh... right, go on, Gideon. Maybe I'll stop by later," she says distractedly, bending to quickly look at Ashtyn's wound. "Okay, Ashtyn... can I call you Ash? I'm going to press my fingers on a couple places on your head. Let me know if it hurts, or feels out of the ordinary."

"Thanks again, G'deon," Kinecha says, remembering his ridername now she's calmed down a little. "I appreciate the help."

G'deon nods to Elehu, then waves to the others, smiling at Kinecha. "You did a good job out there, Kinecha. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you." Riders are good for something, after all.

G'deon wrenches open the double doors that lead outside.

Ashtyn smiles to G'deon "Thanks." he says, happy that not everyone thinks him a fool. He returns his attention to Elehu "Ok." he says a little timidly.

Elehu finishes washing her hands in redwort once more, then dries of her hands before applying rather cool fingers to the area near Ashtyn's temples. "Just shout out if anything really hurts," she says quietly, fingers gradually moving towards the base of the man's head, near the back of his neck.

Sitting up, watching the healer do her job, Kinecha doesn't say anything at all. Her eyes seem to be constantly brimming with tears, that she wipes away every now and then. G'deon might say that she'd done a good job, but it'd been /her/ uncle causing the trouble and hence if it hadn't been for her these people wouldn't have gotten hurt. And now she's wondering just /how/ she'll explain the whole thing to Tafne.

Ashtyn winces a little but doesn't make any sound. His eyes roll a little bit and he seems to be falling asleep on his cot.

Elehu frowns slightly, for the moment having practically forgotten the other two patients... though not really, she's just overly focused sometimes. "Alright, I'm going to take this glowtube," she begins, pulling a small tube from her belt pouch which she carefully uncaps, "and shine it in each of your eyes. Just stare straight ahead."

Ashtyn sits up a littel bit to look at the tube and nods agreeably at her.

Saisukei sits up slowly, having been lying on the table this entire time. Her head spins but she manages to stay up straight...well...maybe not straight.

Elehu quickly but steadily shines the small light in each of the man's eyes, then nods to herself shortly. "Thought so," she says softly, smiling at the man. "I'm afraid you've had a concussion. Not enough to knock you out, but a concussion all the same. You might notice it's hard to focus on objects...?" she offers, then just keeps talking. "As long as you're not bleeding in back anymore, I'm just going to have you stay here for the night. The whole night mind you. In the morning have one of the Healers take another look. It's probably nothing, but it's better to be safe than sorry." A Healer's favorite motto. She leans over to grab a few more cloths. "Just use one of these if anything starts bleeding again." Okay, her bedside manner isn't the best, but she's young... She glances over at

Saisukei then and frowns. "You're sure you're okay?"

Ashtyn nods his head and follows her eyes to Saisukei, feeling ashamed of himself once again. He whispers to the healer "How is she?"

Saisukei really at this point, doesn't know. She looks at the wound then back at
Elehu. "I think I'm okay...But I'm still kinda dizzy." She shrugs. Not to sure of what that could mean. Then adds "I feel really tired and drained."

Kinecha is now just staring off into space, feeling an enourmous amount of guilt. Sure, she'd hurt people before, but only people that were /meant/ to be hurt. She'd never been the cause of somebody innocent getting hurt. She should have handled the situation more speedely, so they hadn't tried to interfere and gotten hurt like that. Or maybe she should've just gone with Ran?

Elehu nods slowly and makes her way back over to the woman. "You just got that cut in the arm, right? Did it bleed quite a bit? If so, all you'll really need to do is go to the kitchens, order a nice big bowl of soup or stew... and have a cookie or two," she adds with a wink. "Then get plenty of sleep." She glances from the weyrfolk to Ashtyn, then back again. "Anything else?" She looks at Kinecha out of the corner of her eye, and there's definitely a worried note to her voice at the moment.

Ashtyn smiles "I'll be ok. All boys need to be bruised once in awhile" he says to the healer, though it is obviously meant for Kinecha as well.

Kinecha takes a deep breath, and fiddles a little with her ruined shirt. Just /how/ was she gonna explain this to Tafne? Half the Weyr had been in that cavern, and hadn't she heard something about Ran, threatening a dragon?! Surely they couldn't forgive that? And getting riders and dragon alike upset? She might as well leave right away, and go somewhere else.

Elehu nods to Ashtyn and Saisukei, then turns back to stand beside Kinecha. "How ye feelin'?" she asks softly, fingers quickly checking the bandage for further bleeding, then moving back to the Healer's side. "Sounds like you really saved the day," she adds, eyes sparkling softly. "And he was your uncle? Is that what I heard?" she asks, taking a nearby stool and scooting it over to take a seat.

Ashtyn looks over to the two women as they converse, hoping to fill in all the blanks. At least his ears are working better than his eyes, except for that annoying ringing noise, of course.

Kinecha nods slowly, "he came to bring me back to the band." Nobody leaves! That was the one most important rule there. "I thought I saw 'im the other day, and it turns out I was right... If only I'd gone after 'im all this wouldn't have happened. Nobody'd have to get hurt." She rambles now, needing to get all this off her chest. "I shoulda just gone after him."

Elehu frowns slightly and shakes her head quickly. "You couldn't have foreseen this," she quietly interjects. "And in the living caverns of all places." She smiles over at Saisukei and Ashtyn before looking at the guard once more. "I'm sure we can all just be glad you handled things so well, from what Gid was saying." She laughs softly and gently lays a hand on the cot. "He'd know too. 'Master' Evan was always tutoring his apprentices in knifework and acrobatics. And Arakiel... well, yes. My point being, he'd know. And if he says you did a good job, you did a good job." There, done rambling for the moment. Her eyes study

Saisukei slips through the door to the inner caverns.

Kinecha turns her head, looking at Elehu with eyes that are mostly gray at the moment. "Thanl, Ele. But that fight upset half the Weyr, and I have no idea how to explain it to Tafne, let alone the Weyrleaders..."

Ashtyn smiles as he begins to doze off on the couch "She did an excellent job. And I don't think she should be so upset that people want to protect her.."

Elehu shrugs softly and smiles. "Just tell them what happened. Your uncle came... for whatever reason. He attacked you, you handled it." Her smile turns even softer after a moment. "It's not like they'd throw you out of the Weyr," she adds, winking at Kinecha quickly.

Kinecha smiles weakly, "you don't think so then? I didn't do my job well enough, as people got hurt," and here she gives Ashtyn a glance. He didn't look too good. "I'm really sorry, Ash."

Ashtyn smiles "Im ok" he says, still half dozing "And why are you sorry? You didn't force me to do anything. I chose to" he opens his eyes and tries to focus on the woman "If not this, Id probably find another way to hurt myself trying to look brave in front of women" he winks.

Elehu glances back at Ashtyn, then leans an elbow on Kinecha's cot, and her chin on her hand. "He's got a point," she says, winking teasingly at the messenger before eyes turn sober again and return to study Kinecha. "And I don't think anyone could have done a better job, or have been prepared enough for what happened."

Kinecha sighs, not as easily convinced, but is too tired to argue the point at the moment. She gets up from her cot, feeling her legs almost falter beneath her, although she manages to stay standing. "I should go explain this to Tafne," she says, looking back at the two. "When should I come back to get these stitches out, Ele?"

Ashtyn's eyes widen as he watches the young woman rise "Wait!" he yells to her and then looks helplessly back to the healer "Canshe just walk out? I mean, she could hurt herself.." his complains are stifled by a grown as the room gets blurry again.

Elehu smiles softly, standing as well, holding out a hand for support. "Oh, in three to five days," she answers. "Whenever you think the cut is beginning to heal." Her head tilts slightly as she studies the other woman. "Do you want any help? I could come along if you want..." She glances at Ashtyn and smiles, softly waving away his concerns. Kinecha's tough. Anyone could see that after today.

Kinecha waves the healer off, nodding toward Ashtyn, "I think he needs you more than I do. I'll be fine, Ash," she says to reassure him. "It's just a cut." With that she's out the door, taking a deep breath to prepare herself for Tafne.