Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
The day is hot. Sweltering. Sizzling! This is definitely ka-el’s type of weather! And to make matters better his scorching day happens to be a day of rest for him. Although The Big Scary Test is still looming in his future, Kale has been advised to give his crammed brain a rest and have some fun … and that’s something he needn’t be told twice! The beach has called his name, and the shirtless smith is found flat on his stomach within the shin deep shallows of the water, whizzing along on a body board. The crafters of plastic are geniuses. How they created such a simple yet efficient design is beyond him, but the whos and hows are not important now as sheer sheets of water spray up around him as he goes, a Cheshire cat’s grin on his face. Wheeee!
From deeper in the water n-talya come swiming towards shore laughing as she goes. The dorsal fin of a dolphin can be spotted breaking the surface just beghins her, egging her towards shore. "Echo stop it." she giggles as the dolphin turns to head back out into deeper water.
Kale's water skid begins to slow, and as it does his board turns upside down, tipping him underneath the water. He opens his eyes as bubbles explode around him, hugging into the board like a monkey from another world before he lets go. He sits up soon after, eyes squinted and hair matted before them. His head is given a doggish shake before he wipes his palm over his face, clearing his vision and pushing his hair back. This is done just in time to see someone coming in from deeper water, and he stands up, the water level just above his knee, and peers off, using a hand to shadow his gaze. Is that a … fin he sees? That, and Natalya. The familiar younger girl is grinned at as he waves and arm. "Hey! Look who washed up on shore!" he teases.
Natalya smiles and gives Kale a waves as she get shallow enough to touch bottom and begins to walk towards shore, "Hi Kale." she he smile shy as she reaches up to brush her wet hair off of her forhead.
"Was that a dolphin?" he asks, looking off in the distance, but he can't see anything now. Instead Kale's eyes return to her, his grin still in place. "Maybe I'm in the wrong craft. I should've been a dolphineer! But…" he thinks about it, "that would've meant that I'd know how to swim .. .which I didn't til about a turn or so ago. I would've been the worst dolphineer Xanadu had ever seen." He grins at the thought. "How are you?"
Natalya nods and smiles looking out to the disapearing fin and says, "That was Echo. He is one of the younger member of out pod here." she smiles as she turns back and says, "He seems to have taken a liking to me." looking to Kale she says, "Oh I don't know some of the other apprentices are dreadful…but we need you all too you know.
Kale snickers at the mentioning of less than admirable apprentices, imagining them being chased down by unhappy dolphins. "Echo, huh? .. He likes you?" He pauses, brows raising. "Oh, does that mean that he's Impressed you? Er, or…" he shakes his head briskly. "That isn't the right word, is it? Does that mean that he'll be your new partner now?" That's the word she used a few days before. Partners!
Natalya says softly, "It might mean that. oh I hope so, I really do.." she smilse and turns to look out at the water. A short distances out the large male dolphin breaches for but a moment.
Kale watches her a while with a knowing smirk on his face. "I know how it is to want something so badly," he remarks before he follows her gaze to the water. Ah, and there's a dolphin! He perks then lifts his arm to waves widely. "Hello out there! Are you Echo? You should go and choose this one, she wishes to be with you. Seems like a smart thing to do!" he calls out to the dolphin, grinning soon after. He lifts his body board and taps her arm with an edge of it. "Ever tried one of these before?"
Natalya giggles at Kales reaction to the dolphins antics and says, "Yeah that him, he is such a ham. If he knows he has an audience he will probably play around out there." looking to the board she shakes her head, "No I have never…"
"Play away then, Echo!" laughs Kale. "And give me a ride, if you want. I wouldn't mind." He holds the board out to Natalya. "Here. Give it a try! It's crazy fun, and the best thing is that you needn't any experience at all. Just run, jump on, an' you're off! Just don' be surprised if you flip the first few times. I definitely did the first time I tried. I had water on the brain for days after that.
Natalya giggles and nods, "Why dont you demonstarte first then." he indicates the board, "I wouldn't want to do it wrong.
Kale takes the board as it's handed back, nodding. "Sure! Buuut … I warn you," he says as he positions the board in front of him, "I'm no expert. But I don't really think there's a 'wrong' way to do this." He glances out at the water, catching the frothy foam of a small wave rolling in. "Oh, here we go. It's even more fun when y'have a wave!" He pauses, waiting for the rolling water to get closer. Then he begins to run and hops forward, board on his stomach, and lands so that he catches the flow. "Woooo!!" The wave carries him towards shore.
Natalya giggles as she watches Kale glide toward the shore and says, "That did look fun." as she moves towards shore to join him. "Maybe I could try.."
Kale laughs as his glide slows, the wave bringing him all the way to the sand til the water recedes, leaving him stranded. He kneels on the board now, looking back at her as she approaches. "Oh trust me, it's fun. I wouldn't bother with it if it wasn't." He stands know and picks up the board, offering it to her. "C'mon. Go on! You won't drown. Echo will go out an' save you, I'm sure."
Natalya giggles and nods, "I am a good swimmer to.." she smiles and begins to carry the board out to about where Kale started, "So I just wait for a wave and …" she indicates towards shore.
Kale walks along with her back into the salty sea, nodding. "Yup. And really, you don't even have to wait. Those boards slide pretty good. Not sure what they're made from … some sort've plasticy…soft stuff. Whatever it is, it's good for glidin' even on non-waves." A pause, then a grin. "But … waves make it even better, cuz you can go pretty shardin' fast."
Natalya nods to Kale before glancing back at the wave and jumping forward onto the board, making it a short distance before rolling over into the water.
"Oh, here's a good one comin'…" Kale says, glancing over his shoulder at another small crest rolling onto Xanadu's shore. "Get ready….go!" And there she goes! He grins broadly as she tries out the body board, and successfully at that! Well. Almost successfully. He laughs, splashing in the shallows to catch up with her after she rolls. "Bravo! Bravo!" he cheers, pumping both of his arms in the air.
Natalya giggle and says and says, "That is harder then it looks, keeping it from rolling over." she offers the board back to Kale and begins to stand.
Kale takes the given board and offers a hand to her to help her up. "It's a skill you'll master with time. Especially if you practice often. It bein' summer, it's the best season to practice!" He tilts his head back a bit, looking up at the clear sky. "An' once you're good at it," he continues, looking at her again, "I bet you could find a way to have fun with the dolphins on it too. Have'm pull you out to sea on one an' catch a bigger wave."
Natalya nods and thinks about it for a moment "I am sure i could. We have alot of learning game we are already supose to play with them, teaching seach and rescue and the like.."
"Games like … " Kale pushes the board towards the shore a bit, letting it drift, then flops down into the water. "'Help I'm Drowning, Come Save Me Now'?" he asks, looking up at her before beginning to flail in the shallows, splashing water to and fro with his antics. He really is a clown, as someone loves to remind him. Clowncraft truly is his calling!
Natalya giggles and splash kale and says, "yeah thing like that." she smiles.
Kale grins and stills his splashing, but he doesn't quite get up. The water feels good, and floating on his back seems like a rather keen idea. So he does just that, arms wide and eyes on the sky, then on her, then on the sky again. "Good luck with Echo. If that's what you dolphincrafters do with your days, it's no wonder you wanted to be one. You have any family here?"
Natalya chuckles and says, 'Actually I have alot of studying to do also, Weather, anatomy, rescue techniques…and the like.
"There's always more than what the surface shows, huh?" replies Kale. "Just like smithing isn't all about poundin' away at metal like people think." He closes his eyes, which proves to be a mistake as he gets a bit too comfortable, and the next thing he knows… he's underwater. "Pffathbt!" He splashes back up, snorting out water. Always the master of smooth refinement, this one. -.- But he does in fact collect himself while still solidly holding onto his pride, and it’s not long after before the board is reclaimed and he’s off showing her other ways to ride the waves and make overall good use of a free day and a water toy.
