Xanadu Weyr - Clearing
A wide clearing stretches from east to west, the ground packed hard although grass grows across most of it. Trees are strictly forbidden in this space, their danger to the constant draconic traffic reason enough to banish them to the forest that creates a border to the north. Where the ground is less trampled, tiny flowers poke their delicate heads out from their shaded hiding places.
The cliff looms imposingly on three sides, stretching upwards all the way up the side of the rock edifice where, high above on Xanadu's Star Stones, the ever-present watchdragon sits on the lonely peak. Directly south is the hatching arena, the large round complex taking up a large portion of the perimeter, a line of trees visible beyond it. Southeast are wide steps leading up to the caverns and eastwards is the large entrance to the Infirmary. Somewhat north of the infirmary is a human-sized archway that has a frequent quantity of traffic — it leads to the Wandering Wherry Tavern. Tucked neatly under the arch, to one side is a tiny wood-frame shop bearing the name 'Petals and Pots Garden Shop'. Southwest lies cliffs where windows for the administrative offices have been cut. Underneath them are the entrances to the crafters complex while north and west along the cliff's base, a broad path leads to the feeding grounds. Due north is the spacious trail that leads to the rest of the Weyr - the meadow, the forest beyond. At the far edge of the clearing, beside the trail leading to the forest sits a clocktower.
Autumn is cool and crisp, swirls of dry leaves moving around the clearing and piling up in drifts against the buildings. Mur'dah is here, among those drifts, selecting interesting looking leaves and putting them carefully into a box he has tucked beneath his arm. Kalsuoth moves with him, a short distance away, hop-walking in his awkward gait as he 'assists' in the finding of leaves. At least that's what it looks like.
Just another face in the crowd, heading off to one task or another, except that one over there that turns out to be Kera. Splitting off from a couple other weyrlings, she gives the girls she was chatting with a wave and turns her steps toward one of the cavern entrances. Hitching her shoulder satchel to sit a little higher on her shoulder, the greenling healer notices Kalsuoth and then Mur'dah scouting around wind-gathered leaf piles. Kera's steps slow to a stop as she observes the brown pair then when her curiosity gets the best of her, she starts there way and gives a polite dip of her head to the brown dragon if he sees her approaching. "G'day sir…lose something?" Her attention drifts along the ground by the asst. weyrlingmaster as if to help spot a lost item.
Kalsuoth wuffles softly to Kera, a happy and light greeting despite the softness of it. Mur'dah looks up, a little grin tugging at his lips. "Ah, no. Not exactly. I mean…no. No I haven't. Just gathering some interesting looking leaves. I though…well. They're for a project. How're you?"
Kera nods and steps back since nothing was lost to be found. She gives a quick salute to Mur'dah. "I'm doin well, mostly." A little smirk slips over her features briefly "Second guessing some of my answers from the exams…but I'll stress over them til we get results back no matter what I do." Watching the breeze pick up a few leaves and twirl them in a short aerial display right by the brown rider. "What kinda project? If you don't mind me asking."
Mur'dah returns the salute with a little smile. "What, just mostly?" he asks, tilting his head and giving her a quick up-and-down glance. "What's wrong? Ah. Well, yeah. It's done, so try not to stress over it." He watches the leaves go by and apparently none of them catch his interest because he doesn't go running after them. "Just a few ideas for leaves and things. Some things Marel might be able to sell, or the twins might like. I don't know, just seems silly to just…let them all go away when they're so neat looking."
Kera chuckles and shifts her weight to lean against the building. "Easier said than done I'm afraid. I've always stressed more after tests than the time before them." Scanning the leaves once more and nodding at the thoughts Mur'dah has for them. "Maybe paint them. Something little ones can have fun doin while they get all messy." A shrug lifts her shoulders. "If they like that sorta thing." Hard to say since she doesn't know the twins, only met them in passing a time or two.
Mur'dah looks a bit perplexed by that. "Why? Now is the time to relax. Nothing you can do about your scores. It's over. I'm always so relieved after exams, it's like a weight off my shoulders and my mind." He glances into his box with a nod. "Paint them, that might be an idea. Or trace them, the ones that're still flexible enough to handle that. Not sure Kiena would be thrilled with paint everywhere though…" But it sounds like fun just the same.
Kera grins and starts fumbling in her satchel. "Maybe a project of painting their walls. Could trace each leaf onto it's place on a tree or something." Finding what she was looking for, Kera tugs out a small bag of meat strips. Taking one for herself, she offers some to the brownrider. "But like you said, depends on how flexible the leaves are. That's probably a better idea for spring."
Mur'dah reaches out for a meat strip, smiling. "Thanks. And…ah. I think I'd have to ask Kiena about that…" Though the idea of her coming home to her weyr's walls painted, Mur'dah and the twins having fun…no. Best to ask her first. He knows /that/ much. "Or you could do all four seasons on the tree. Like…" he moves his arm around to demonstrate, "Spring, summer, autumn and then winter. That'd be neat."
Kera tears off a bite and chews on it, trying to soften it some. "You never know, she may decide it looks like a heap of fun and grab a brush herself. Or she could go nuts and make you repaint everything." With a quick grin, her head shakes "I think she might find the whole scene funny though. As long as the painting is kept to the walls and not a mess everywhere." A few more chews on the dried meat then another bite is torn off. "Keep in mind, it will take a turn to finish since you'ld need to gather leaves throughout the seasons."
Mur'dah chuckles, shaking his head. "I think it's better to ask." Though…the mental images are entertaining. "They're four and I'm…me. Of course there'd be a mess everywhere." He laughs, shaking his head. "It's a neat project idea though. An ongoing one, yeah, but that's fine. Makes it more…unique."
Kera nods agreeably "Especially if it's their own room they are making the little tree scene in." grinning and gesturing to the box of leaves Mur'dah has collected so far "And let them pick a couple leaves too. Add to the personalization of it." Shoulders lift and drop briefly "My mom always said that messes are made whether ya intend them or not so why worry about it?" Thinking a moment she rolls her eyes skyward at some amusing thought "Then again, the same could be said for stressing over a test you already took."
Mur'dah looks at his box and then grins. "From these? No. They'd have to go find their own." These are…his, apparently? "Well, that's true but if you're making the mess in someone else's home, doesn't really apply." He grins. "There is that, too."
Kera ponders as her attention drifts around the clearing, sending a casual headnod and wave to someone she recognizes before focusing on Mur'dah with a little grin. "But, if it's the twin's home, and you are simply helping them…then it's not really 'your' mess, tis theirs isn't it?" Tossing the last bit of dried meat in her mouth, she chews on it thoughtfully and gestures towards the brown "Are you trying to get Kalsuoth to give over his shell collecting in favor of unique looking leaves?"
Mur'dah snorts. "That's even worse! Giving them an idea, helping them with it, then letting them take the fall?" Glancing at Kalsuoth, the brownrider laughs, shaking his head. "No…he doesn't just collect shells though. Anything shiny usually catches his attention."
Kera chuckles "You must have trouble getting him away from windows of sparkly glass shops." Holding up a hand as if to stall an argument "Not that I think you do alot of glass shopping." Looking to Kalsuoth "I'll keep my eye out for shiny bits for ya both." A pleasant dip of her head as she smiles from dragon to his rider. "Whenever I can come across something intersting looking that is."
Mur'dah laughs, shaking his head. "No, he knows better than to go near glass. Don't you?" He smirks at his dragon, who just snorts at him in reply. "Oh, you really don't have to, but…thanks," Mur'dah says, smiling a little.
Kera 's brow lifts at Mur'dah's cryptic comment. "Now that sounds like a funny story just waiting to be told." Looking from rider to dragon then rider again, Kera grins. "Was there an incedent with an unfortunate glass shop somewhere?" Do tell do tell. "I hope neither of you were injured…if there 'was' an incedent."
Mur'dah chuckles, shaking his head. "Oh, once we were visiting this hold - can't remember where, now - and they had this /huge/ window. Really was remarkable. Must've taken them forever to make it, and, well. He almost flew into it." Thank Faranth he didn't, else…yeah. Diplomatic disaster and injured dragon.
Kera 's grins fades, and she winces at the near disaster that was averted, head shaking. "Good thing it was avoided in time." Diplomocy may not be high on Kera's important list, but the injuries that were avoided are. "I can see why you would want to avoid large windows." Nodding slightly she pushes off from the wall. "Well, I should be getting something to eat while I can. Was told to report to the storage caverns in about a candlemark." She looks curiously to Mur'dah, perhaps he knows what the task is about and will give a hint…or not.
Mur'dah just grins at her. "Right." Soooo…not. No hint from him. "Have fun!"
Kera watches the brownrider for a couple of seconds and huffs "Fun, right. Fun doesn't include the words…'and bring a bucket'." Grinning, she waves to both rider and dragon "G'day you two." Then she's off to get herself something to eat before her next chores.