Xanadu Weyr – Garden
An arch woven from the tendrils of a willow tree stretches overhead lightly creeping with ivy as one steps in from the meadow into this sanctuary of green. Cool gray flagstone carefully spaced enables a soft velvety moss to thrive within the cracks, and creates a single wide pathway that fluidly breaks off into two paths of stone once free of the natural arbor. It is a wonder this place, and meticulously tended from the way it seems not a single leaf is out of place. On either side of the main path expansive grassy patches are trimmed short and edged behind with natural tan colored stone selectively chosen to stack just right. Beyond these are a line of fine puffed shrubberies in vibrant green intermingled with flowering bushes of brilliant pinks varying in hue from the very light to the very dark, which causes the occasional snowy white blossoms of other scattered here and there without worry to simply pop out of the scenery.
Directly in the center of the garden is another wall of intricately stacked stone, this of muted grays, creating what from the air would prove to be a perfect circle. It's been set high for safety, but not so much as one would not be able to lean over it to admire what lies beyond, either standing or sitting at the smattering of benches whose backs are set every four feet along it. Flush to the ground inside it's protective stone outcropping, is an enormous twenty foot wide fish pond. Within one can glean the metallic glint of playful goldfish, the unhurried cruise of fat koi, and even a frog or three among pale yellow and white flowering water lilies and their thick green pads.
The trees surrounding the entire garden were planted to give the impression that they had always been here, not only lending to a rustic look, but also eluding to the beauty that can be found among the wilds if only one might just look for it. Species vary from the ordinary Birch and Pine, but the flaming red capsules of the Indian Shot to the robust orange spokes of the Firewheel tree suggest the spice of the exotic. The two paths leading away from the entrance have come full circle, wrapping around to meet each other on the other side, yet still continue on to the far left and right. One path leads off deeper into the surrounding woods, while the other wider; cheerily decorated with brightly colored slabs of painted stones.
Around midday, many have sought out the caverns to get some lunch, but at least one weyr resident has emerged /from/ those caverns and out into the light of day, Marel now sat occupying one of the grassy areas in the garden, a small stack of two or three slim books set down beside her feet, another text open in her lap. Hands planted behind her to support her, she sits with legs curled and skirts draped to cover all but her feet, her slipper-like shoes poking out from beneath what is, today, a rich blue material. She seems completely engrossed in whatever it is that she's reading, and if not seeking the sun, perhaps she's after the relative quiet of the garden.
Also not one for big crowds, Natalya has slipped away from the cavern after grabing a small sandwhich and has made her way out to the gardens, A large book tucked under her arm, the young dolphineer winds her way thought the gardens looking for a likely spot to sit and read as well.
The sound of footsteps draws Marel's gaze up to find Natalya, the apprentice watched with a subtle cautiousness, focus drifting just past her so that she might look down at her book again and seem never to have looked up at all, should the need arise. When she looks to have decided that the other girl isn't about to bring /loud/ into the garden, she allows her attention to linger not on Natalya herself, but on the book that she carries, curiosity furrowing her brow. "What've you got there?" she calls, voice not so loud as to shatter the peace entirely.
Natalya smiles slightly shyly as she is addressed replying as she glancs down to her book, "This? It is my text on meterology." she scruntches her nose cutely, "Sorta dry reading but my journeyman assigned me a couple of chapters.." noticing the lovely spot Marel choose to sit and read, "Do you mind if I join you here?"
"If you like," Marel invites, lifting one hand to gesture in general to the free space around her, her chosen spot almost entirely free of any shade. "What do they have you studying that for?" she asks, to the point, but not quite entirely dismissive or rude with it. "They've got me and some of the others at Harper lessons today." Now that /is/ said in a far more dismissive manner than one might think for a girl who has bought books outside with her. "I enjoy lessons most of the time, but some of the stuff today is quite… basic. Got to go back later, but…." She smiles slyly and lifts one of the books, title revealing it to be a plain old story book. For now, she'll read what she wants.
Natalya smiles and says softly, "I am studying to be a dolphineer." she smiles, "We gotta learn alot of stuff about the weather, about the dolphins and the ocean and stuff so we can do our job." looking to Marel she nods, "Some of the harper lessons are fun others." she shrugs a bit, "I guess it is like that with anything."
"Oh, so it's to do with the weather affecting the ocean?" Marel assumes, slowly drawing her bookmark from a past page to her present one as she gets drawn more into conversation and away from the land of her story. "Or can the dolphins sense the change in weather or something like that? Some riders say that their dragons can do that before any of us see any change." Her echo of Natalya's shrug is likely subconscious mirroring. "I guess," she agrees, not entirely committed to her words. "At least any lessons are better than laundry."
Natalya smiles and says, "They can sence weather building over the ocean and help let us know about it, they can give us warning before a bit storm comes in.
"Kind of them, really," Marel says thoughtfully. "They could just keep the knowledge to themselves and not tell any of us." And upon that thought, of the link between humans and dolphins, she asks, "Do you have one that looks to you? A dolphin, I mean," in a far more animated manner. "Or do you have to be older for that? Like you have to be old enough to Stand?" Her fingers curl around the edges of her book as she hugs it more closely to her.
Natalya says softly, "I do actually, they didn't use to partner so young but I guess they decided I needed him or he justs likes me or something." she positively beams at the though of her partner, "Its not like impressing a dragon though, we are partners and friends nothing more then that holding us together.
"So he's kind of like… a brother?" Marel supposes, her head tilting slightly. "Maybe you can just out-swim all the others," she tries to tease, awkward and uncertain as it is with one she's only just met, though there's a smile to go with it, tugging at one corner of her mouth. "Looks like it could /feel/ like Impression, if it can make you smile like that," is more gentle, breath taken to continue, yet she's interrupted by the arrival of a small, loopily flying brown firelizard. When he lands on her shoulder and whistles up into her ear, she tells him, "Yes, all right. No, you aren't going to starve. Don't be so dramatic." Chiding softly, for she can't help but smile /at/ him as she gathers her books up and stands, brushing her skirts off. "I'd better leave you to it," she tells Natalya. "I'm Marel, by the way. Nice to meet you!" And then she's off, rushing to get the brown fed before her next lesson.
Natalya smiles and says, "I guess you could say that it is like that in a way." she nods and says, "It was nice to meet you Marel…" remembering, "I am Natalya by the way. I hope to see you again soon."