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 this and sharp border to the north. Where the ground is less trampled, tiny flowers poke their delicate heads out from their shaded hiding places with upturned petals to wave to whoever may be looking.
The cliff looms imposingly on three sides, stretching upwards all the way up the side of the mountain where, high above, Xanadu's Star Stones and the ever present watchdragon sit on a lonely peak. Directly south is a massive tunnel, fully wide enough for even the largest dragon to fly down. 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 Tavern. Southwest lies the low ledges currently belonging to Xanadu's queens while north and west a broad path cut by the side of the cliff leads to the Feeding Grounds and due north is the spacious trail that leads to the rest of the Weyr.
For such an early afternoon the bowl seems quite quiet and empty, those people that are milling about are either on their way back to work after a break or relaxing in the sun. The weather is beautiful, the skies are clear and the sun is bright and warm with a cool breeze drifting in to keep temperatures comfortable. Most people are taking the chance to enjoy it, stopping to talk, having a picnic… That is most people except Kinzie… At one corner of the clearing Kinzie can be seen surrounded by what can only be described as a jumble sale; clothes, shoes, bags, runner gear, sleeping furs, everything is in a heap around her and she is sniffing, yes /sniffing/ each individual item with a look of confusion and anyone who comes near her will soon be able to smell why.
Coming down the path from the forest is a small four wheeled cart being pulled by a pair of caprines in harness. Walking alongside it are a pair of women. One younger and the other much older. The two women are conversing about the spring weather and the coming summer and other little odds and ends as they get further into the clearing and to the caverns, the older lady breaks off and heads in while the younger one, Keziah, stays outside with the cart. She looks down into the cart and pulls up the corner of a blanket and restates it. Satisfied that all is well, she then looks around and spotting Kinzie she looks curious and leads the cart over and then stops. There's an odd look on her face. "What is that smell?"
Soriana emerges from the caverns with a roll sprinkled with cheese in one hand. She's by herself, two steps behind a cluster of chatting weyrfolk, and once out in the open she slips off from them. Her plan at first seems to be to head off to the forest, but that brings her near enough to the pile of clothes that she can't help but notice, and from their, curiosity takes over. The young teen drifts in that direction, not saying anything yet but just looking.
The smell surrounding Kinzie is the sickly sweet smell of animal feed, specifically runners, but there is an odd sour addition and all in all it is definitely enough to make most people stop and say /urgh/. Kinzie's face is pretty flushed with embarrassment but she just couldn't stomach carrying anything further hense her current predicament of being in the middle of the clearing where poeple come and go. Noticing Kezziah she looks up, sighs heavily and shrugs looking utterly defeated "I just don't know where it's coming from" she says to the greenrider "I've been through everything" and she picks up her bag, sniffs it, and puts it back down with the rest of her stuff "I think the boys from the stables played a practical joke but when I get my hands on em…." and she leaves that threat hanging as she picks up another item of clothing, sniffs and abandons it.
Keziah glancing once more at the cart, and if one were to look inside, there's the trio of babies that are almost two months old. "Boys can be that way. Especially if they can see how much it gets to you." she notes and then she looks back to the girl "Well, best be getting it all washed unless you've found some things that smell okay. And best be puttin' a lock on things. I'm sure Ocelara could set you up with one if need be." she notes. There's a glance over towards Soriana and nods to the young girl.
So much for actually eating that roll, at least at the moment. Soriana's nose twitches, and she tucks the food away into her pocket before putting her hands behind her back and continuing to watch. She seems less disturbed by the scent than some, though - certainly not enough to overcome her curiosity. She returns the glance from the green-rider with a polite nod. "Soakin' them first helps," she volunteers. "But don't do it inside."
"I was hoping to find the offending item and wash it seperately…" Kinzie says sniffing again and putting another item on to what seems to be the 'clean' pile, she looks over towards Soriana with a smile of gratitude "sorry I didn't mean to put anyone off their food it's just, I was hoping I could find whatever it is quickly but they have really hidden…. well whatever it is" sniff, sort, pile and another item is sorted "I have to give em marks for igenuity" and she does actually look slightly impressed, even if still annoyed.
Keziah chuckles a little and then shakes her head "Well, likely would be best, especially if there's something actually stuffed into a pocket, or even sewn into the lining of say a jacket or something." she notes "Make a real fine mess then." She hmms a little "Course, be best to find it before taking the clothes back to the barracks or whichever place you're staying."
Soriana shrugs at Kinzie's apology. "Could be worse," she says, and smiles before adding matter-of-factly, "Could be muck."
Kinzie nods at Keziah then Soriana "That's what i'm concerned about, it could be anything anywhere" she says looking about her belongings with a look of dismay, another item is sorted in the clean pile where as a few other items get placed in the suspect pile "I don't want to wash everything because it could just make the smell worse" she says with an exhasperated sigh "But I can't carry on like this it could take me till I'm old and grey it's so well hidden" she picks up a riding jerkin and waves it under her nose before waving it near Kezziah "Does that smell like it to you? shards it would be so much easier if everything I owned didn't smell like stable".
Keziah chuckles a little and then hmms as she sniffs "I think what you're going to be looking for is going to quite easy to tell. It's a strong enough smell. Tell you what. Split the pile in half. Sniff the piles themselves. Whichever one is stronger, split that pile in half. And so on silage nd so forth. Unless you spend time rolling around in soured silage or manure it shouldn't be too difficult." she suggests. She grins at Soriana "Hey, you should see my clothes from time to time. I often end up in swamp muck."
Soriana grins somewhat as she watches the search. It's rather funny… well, since she isn't the one whose stuff got stinked, anyhow. At Keziah's comments to her, she sticks out her tongue and makes a face. "That stuff always stinks worse than it has any right. I'd rather clean out the stables than have one'f those big bubbles pop in my face."
"That sounds like an idea" Kinzie says smiling at Keziah, trying not to look deflated at the hope she's found the offending article, in fact she new she hadn't it was just very much wishful thinking. She bundles everything up in to a pile, splits it in two and then starts sniffing, anyone watching this from a distance would think candidacy had addled the stablehands brain "I hate it when that happens" she says to Soriana in between her sniffs before she chooses the worst smelling pile and splits it in two again.
Keziah chuckles and then shrugs "Ahh, you get used to the smell after being dumped in it a few dozen times. Hauling critters out from it makes it nigh on impossible to not get covered in muck. Worse though when one of them critters gets the runs cause their so dang scared. Plain swamp muck ain't nothin' in comparison to what it can smell like when mixed with a ton of.. well a ton of liquid fertilizer." she smirks a little and then smiles to Kenzie. "Just don't let it get to you. Just wait. If you Impress a dragon, you'll get a chance to learn how to cut and carve your own meat. Carving's easy. Guttin the beasties.. that's nasty."
Soriana gives a theatrical sort of shudder at Keziah's description. "Prob'ly half that already, from all the wild animals," she mutters, and shoves one hand into her pouch and the other into a pocket as she watches. At the other bit, her eyes widen slightly, and she looks over Kinzie again. So this is a candidate, huh? "I saw a half-eaten wherry once," she volunteers. "It was spillin' out all over."
Kinzie smiles and even laughs a little at the stories of silage and mud and she shrugs "It doesn't bother me so much if I was just going back to my own room" and she is still sniffing at piles of clothing as she speaks, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment and she has noticed people crossing the clearing giving her some mighty odd looks "I just thought it best not to subject the other candidates to this… aroma" she says deciding that another pile is safe and packing it back into a cleared and checked bag.
Keziah smiles "Well, there are worse things than how your clothes smell, and might as well see who are the ones with a weak stomach. After all, the smell of dragon manure ain't nothing like this. Nothin' at all." she notes "Imagine how bad them herdbeasts smell.. and that's just rotted vegetation. Now a dragon be a meat eater. meate eaters always smell worse when it comes back out again."
Soriana frowns a bit, considering. "They'd probably still be mean 'bout it," she says, and then glances down to her pouch as it shifts, and wiggles her fingers around in it some.
"I remember, my father used to keep canines at the hold" Kinzie says in agreement about meat eaters "What a stink!…. but they were good for tunnelsnakes" she says still sniffing, seeming to have narrowed it down to only a few items "Well hopefully the other candidates will see it that way if I can't find what's been hidden, I can just tell them it's good prectice for if we impress" she chuckles and nods to Keziah and gets out her belt knife; loosening the thread aroun the hem of the items, a jerkin, before routing about inside the lining but finding nothing she puts it in a seperate bag to be mending ""Plus I don't like ruining good clothes if I can help it" she says as an addition to Soriana's comment about the others being mean.
Jeniosa emerges from the caverns, finally free from chores, at least for a little while. "Man I hate doing laundry, my hands are as wrinkled as an old auntie's." She's talking to, well, apparently no one as she moves along, pausing when she spots the small group of folk. Keziah and Kinzie she recognizes, so they get a little fingerwiggle of greeting each, and Soriana who is unfamiliar at this time, gets a little nod of greeting. "Hello…Ew..what's that smell?" She asks as she arrives near enough to get a whiff or..something.
Keziah gives a little nod "No, ruinin' good clothe's ain't nothin' more than a waste. I'll be talkin' with Yina. I'mn sure she can find a suitable punishment for 'em all. Anything you might have done to upset them?" she asks with a tilt of her head. "Course, I'm needin' some critters herded through the swamp over towards Mire. Need to replenish my stock there, been too long since I've been able to head over that way." There's a smile for Jeniosa "Well, it ain't my boys. They been good so far."
Soriana looks up at the sound of Jeniosa's voice, and returns a small nod in that direction before returning her attention to her pouch. It keeps shifting, far more than her finger-movements would seem to indicate. …and did it just chirp? She looks up again, watching Kinzie in the final stages (hopefully) of her searching. "They're the ruiners, not you. Just… roundaboutly."
Kinzie smiles an apologetic smile to Jeniosa as she arrives, looking at her scattered but organised pile of belongings and still being able to smell the acrid smell makes her more determined and she picks at another seam "Someone has put something in my clothes, or soaked my clothes in something" Kinzie explains, the flush on her face now becoming mainly frustration as she sniffs inside the un-picked item "I didn't do anything to them…. well nothing that was really my fault" she says with a shrug to Keziah "This was before I was searched mind you" she says flashing a smile "But they bet that I couldn't make it from the meadow to the ridge and back on that new Bay mare that came in with the last shipment… she's lean but well made…. anyway they reckoned Sebian could beat me hands down on his runner" this is becoming a bit of an epic tale and Kinzie flushes again "Anyway long story short, I won and they're sore losers" she says descarding another item as clear but needing a wash.
Jeniosa will take a few steps back away from poor Kinzie and her stinky clothes. "Other candidates? Or just other folk? I thought we had a pretty good group of candidates here, I haven't heard about any pranks." Of course, she doesn't really socialize so that could be why she hadn't heard. Beastcrafter's attention is on Soriana and the chirping bag a moment. "Whatcha got there?" She asks, curiously.
Keziah is looking at Soriana and she arches a brow now at the chirping sound. "You know, critters really shouldn't be kept in bags, usually it's not good for them and can stress some of them out." she murmurs and then she nods to Kinzie "Aye, some are sore losers an all. Sometimes it can all depend on how you win as well. Yer own attitude. It sucks sometimes, but it's a good skill to learn. "Nah, not other candi's but some of the stablehands." she notes to Jeniosa as she smiles at the girl.
Distracted by her pouch as she may be, Soriana's interest is caught by the actual tale. New bay mare… wait, was that… "The runner… from Ierne?" she asks. "One of the ones with Sorrin?" Not that she's been paying attention to _all_ the runners coming and going, but… she does remember a bay. Might be the same, might be different. Her fingers stop as she asks the question, and with her thus distracted, the top of the pouch lifts and a sleek-bodied tunnelcat peeks out his head… and then climbs right up Soriana's arm to perch on her shoulder. The girl makes a small wince at the claws, though she seems quite familiar with it, and then turns to look at Jeniosa with a slightly abashed smile. "This's Inkfoot," she says, indicating the ferret with a tilt of her head. He promptly noses at her ear in response. Soriana looks over to Keziah, and shakes her head. "He's used to goin' around there. He was sleepin', before…" Not that he seems sleepy now, oh no. Not him. Chirp!
Kinzie smiles to Jeniosa "No I think this is left over from the stablehands playing a practical joke" she says with a grimace, deciding that the final five items just need to be washed and aired "I'v only just finished moving my things over to the barracks and that's when I noticed it. She sniffs them again before putting them in a seperate bag, seperated from her 'clean' clothing. Now she's made her decision on what needs to be washed she is finally able to concentrate on what's going on around her and the Tunnelcat catches her off guard "He's lovely" she says softly before her mind, as always, quickly returns to the talk of runners "Yes! That's the one, she came in lame off the boat, we were all worried it was a sprain or fracture frm travel but a few days boxrest and she's been doing fantastic… she's my little project" she says proudly before picking up her bags "I must go get this washed before I put everyone off their food" she says heading off towards the caverns with a waves to all and a smile as she departs.
Jeniosa watches as the ittle tunnelcat emerges and she grins. "Cute. It's nice that there are others interested in little critters here. Back at eastern, the only one really interested was Kestilran, he's got this cute little thing called Fuzzball, we're not sure what it is." Then Kinzie is responding and the woman nods. "Ah, pranks, never really did quite understand why people'd do such things, silly nonsense if you ask me." She eyes the baf of smelly clothes and smirks, "Well, I hope I'm not still on laundry duty when those go through to be washed." She winks.
Soriana beams happily at Kinzie and Jeniosa's compliment to her pet, who continues for his part to be fascinated with her ear. It's like he's never seen it before, or at least not for, oh, a couple hours. "Thank you," she says, and then grins as Kinzie continues on about the runner, nodding happily. "She's a good one. Her sire was really fast, only kinda with a jarring pace… but she's better'n him." When Kinzie turns to depart, Soriana waves happily, and then turns to look back to the other two. She reaches up to pet the tunnelcat behind his ears. "I found him when he was just a little baby."
Jeniosa smiles softly, she likes critters. "I've a bunch of felines, myself, back at Eastern. I'm a Beastcrafter by trade, felines and other small mammals are my specialty. I did some studies on some of the jungle creatures back home." But, she doesn't want to bore people with her craft talk so she grins and quiets, watching the tunnelcat. "Iforian and I found a litter of pups the other day by the clocktower, we'll be taking care of them until they get healthy and big enough for us to find homes for." Yay for new best projects, a workaholic's dream come true.
Fl'ynn, with his dragon noticeably absent, it hoofing it from the main areas of Xanadu Weyr back to his place out on the coastal road. He has one very flat manpurse and one very heavily laden burlap sack supported over either shoulder. Head bowed slightly, he trudges along 'til voices cause the teen's head to lift, spying out candidates. Infesting everywhere, they are. Two fingers touch to his brow in a half-assed waving salute as he moves along.
Keziah eyes the little critter warily and then she's excusing herself for a little as one of the triplets starts to whimper and she snags him up before it can turn into a full blown howl and thus get the full trio going. Course at this time Cora's returned with some bottles filled with fresh caprine's milk "GOod timing as always Cora." she murmurs as she takes one to feed the one's she's holding while Cora tucks a bottle with one and then picks up the other. There's a glance around and a FLy'nn is spotted "PLease tell me you're not lost, or your dragon, and speaking of lost, maybe you should train with V'dim some more. So we don't lose you Between…" she states almost too sweetly.
Jeniosa gives Fl'ynn a smile of greeting along with a little shy fingerwiggling wave. "Hi Fl'ynn, Sir." Oops, she forgot the salute this time, of course, she kinda forgot the salute for Keziah too, oops, she'll lecture herself later. And then when Keziah speaks to the bluerider, Jen's attention is briefly on the triplets as they get their bottles, she slips over towards them to peek at each little one. "They're so little." Daww, mommaJen. Then she's slipping beside Kaziah. "I can help give them their bottle if you want, Ma'am." Because, well, they're babies! And hers is a toddler and too big for bottle cuddling anymore.
Fl'ynn will take this moment to look rather disgruntled at the implications of Keziah's words. "Hey now… I know where I live. Kagenaith is sleeping off a good buck, all fat and warm in his barn. Considering how I like nothing more than to be fat and comfortable after a good meal, I'm leaving the bloke to his snooze." He flashes her a grin, then allows dark eyes to move on to Jeniosa with a wink as well.
Keziah snorts a bit at Fl'ynn "Sure. You can find your way home, but if you lose yourself going elsewhere. I heard about your not visualizing well enough and ending up at the wrong Weyr. Not that it wasn't a profitable mistake, but I'd hate to lose you." she murmurs softly "You wouldn't want to do that to me now would you?" she asks and then she's smiling at Jeni "Oh yes, please, I take all the help I can get "The one still in there is Aezlan. Cora has Ierlan and this one is Kelahn." she notes softly.
Jeniosa blushes a little at the wink from Fl'ynn, but luckily she has the possibility of snuggling little Aezlan to distract her from that wink and she doesn't have to stutter and try to avoid looking at the teen because, well, cute as Fl'ynn is, babies are just, well, irresistable! And she moves over to lift Aezlan in her arms lightly, cradling him gently. "So warm and soft, I remember when Rysha was this size." And then she's moving back beside Keziah as she holds Aezlan's bottle for him. Daww.
Fl'ynn looks more shocked now than disgruntled following Keziah's words, actually pouncing in place. The heavy pack smacks hard against his arse. "I was given the wrong picture!" Seriously, it sounds almost like a kid talking to his mom. "They gave me eastern when it was supposed to be western," he protests further, only to purse his lips in annoyance and glance away. The teen rallies though. It is hardly a breath later when a thoughtful smile turns at his lips, dark eyes slant back to look first to Jeniosa and then to Keziah from beyond the fringe of his dark hair "Very, very profitable." The young man moves as if to sidle up behind Jeniosa, but then she has a kid in her hands and that is pretty much as good as birthcontrol as bluerider-bane.
Oh yes, babies are adorable and these three are just the most adorable in Kezi's opinion. "Fl'ynn. I know we went over each Weyr during training." she sighs a little "Still, I'm glad you made it." she notes quietly. "Wrong images are nothing to be taken lightly. Perhaps you should let me know who it was that gave you a bad image and I should have a talk with them as well." she notes. There's a glance between Fl'ynn and then Jeni and she just shakes her head. "Course, perhaps I should talk to Xe'ter about doing more than just escorting candi's. I should see about teaching again, and perhaps have you do a talk on betweening and proper images." Ooo, she likes that idea
Soriana smiles as she listens to Jeniosa talk about her own critters, and nods. Before she can really put an answer together, though, there's a baby crying out. Soriana looks over that way, but she doesn't approach… somehow, she suspects babies and tunnelcats aren't the best of friends. Inkfoot is not so smart, and starts to jump down… but Soriana catches him, and holds him in her hands to pet (and distract) him.
Jeniosa was gonna have a bluerider sidle up behind her? Well, maybe it's a good thing she has the bluerider-repellant AKA baby at the moment because she'd probably run away otherwise. She glances from Fl'ynn to Keziah at the talk of betweening and teaching. "I think you'd make a fine teacher, Keziah ma'am." Because, well, you know, it never hurts to butter up a rider when you're a candidate right? Aezlan is glanced to a moment, and the bottle is rearranged. "How old are they? If you've told me I've forgotton." Blush. The tunnelcat interception gets a little bit of a grin from the woman, Good catch." She quips.
"Yes, mom," Fl'ynn near to sing-songs, glancing over Jeniosa's shoulder to Keziah, a smile still curling at his lips. "How about we just forget it happens and I swear it'll never happen again and I'll be an absolute model of rider perfection from now on. I'll be an example of all that is right and true for Xanadu. Comet will be proud. You'll weep in all of my glory." Oh, the grin that follows. Sh*t-eating. But he glances to Jeniosa and the kid, and is backing off a bit.
Oh my, it has been awhile since Fl'ynn has called Kezi mom and she just rolls her eyes at him "Honestly. I sometimes wonder about you. You hit on me at time and other times call me mom. Makes me wonder about you." she notes ever so sweetly. "But I don't want to forget, I like the idea of you lecturing." she admits with a grin and shrugs "I never said I was nice."
Soriana grins to Jeniosa. "He's friendly," she does insist, though honesty forces her to add a, "Mostly." Still, even friendly tunnelcats tend to bite things.. as he's doing now to Soriana, with little play-nips. Not friendly but not good for a baby… and there's no saying what the ferret would do when startled by, say, someone screaming in his ear.
From the depths of the weyr comeths Esiae, blonde hair askew, eyes feverish, nose all but pressed against a stack of papers in her hands. Judging by her rumpled clothes, whatever she's up to, she's been at it for a while and has probably been forcibly ousted. If she's bothered, however, the girl doesn't show it. Brown eyes skim the bars and notes on her pages, humming under her breath and frowning, head shaking, before trying again. Hum hum hum, growl, hum hu— "Oh, shardit!" It's not one of gathered party of riders and candidates, but Esiae totally collides with someone nearby, and her sheets go scattering. Hopefully she didn't freak Soriana's ferret out. "Honestly, doesn't anyone look where they're going?," she asks with typical hypocrisy, staring at the mess in dismay. "Er, I mean… Sorry." Head shaking, Es crouches down and starts gathering up her scribbled-upon sheet music, inching along to sweep up the ones that have blown near Keziah and company. "'Scuse me, ma'am, I just need to—" But whatever she needed is cut off with a snort, Esiae very clearly catching the tail end of Fl'ynn's declaration. She says nothing, but suddenly it's really rather hard to keep her expression neutral.
Jeniosa peeks behind her at the backing off Fl'ynn, and she can't help but giggle softly. "Why Fl'ynny..are you afraid of a lil baby?" Did she just tease the bluerider? Wow, don't tell anyone that happened(nevermind there are plenty of witnesses). At Soriana's remark about the tunnelcat, the woman grins, "So are my felines back home, unless you startle them or somehow tick them off." At Kezi's words, she grins. "I bet if you make Fl'ynn one of the teachers, the weyrlings will pay attention for sure." Eep, oh wait, did she say that outloud? Oops! And, thankfully, there's the distraction of flying sheet music and jen's eyes turn towards Esiae. "You alright?" She asks. She would offer to help gather the sheets, but she's too busy cuddling Aezlan at the moment.
Fl'ynn's smile is absolutely huge, with dimples bordering it rather deeply, following Kezi's response to him, and he isn't a bit repentant. The teen chuckles, comes around Jeniosa as if to come up to Keziah, lean in close and if allowed plant a smooch to her cheek. Oh yes, very cheeky. "Anything to keep you on your toes." His head lifts, looking back at Jeniosa, "Very afraid. Very. I hear they are contagious." The teen backs up a couple of steps, dark eyes widening a tad. "Teachers? Shells no. Although I like the idea of having people giving me redfruit. Teaches still get those right?" The young man backs up a few more paces, mostly in the vague direction he was heading before. Mahogany-dark eyes move to the approaching Esiae briefly.
Keziah is holding the oldest of the twins, Kelahn, Cora has the youngest Ierlan, while Jeni has the middle child, Aezlan. "Oh, you asked their age, I'm so sorry. They're almost two months old now." she notes as she then eyes Fl'ynn balefully, though there's a smirk on her face that sorta ruins the effect. "Tell you what, if Xe'ter allows me to assist, then I'll bring you a whole basket of redfruit personally if I can get a lecture out of you." she notes ever so sweetly. "Just think. Jeniosa here might be a weyrling." Yeah, she's not blind "And well, they do grow on you, you never know, You might grow to like one. I'll let you hold Kehlahn here if you want." she notes softly and then there's a worried look for Essi. "Oh, do hold him Fl'ynn so I can go help her." and she's holding the baby out to him…
Yep, Jeniosa's got that about right. Soriana nods to her, and keeps on playing with her ferret. When the music-papers go flying, she blinks, and then bends down to start picking some of them up. It's not the most-effective, what with having to do it one-handed while keeping a grip on Inkfoot and also keeping him far enough from the pages that he doesn't try to chew them, but she does manage to get a few of them together before the wind catches them.
Oh thank goodness, an excuse to smile! Esiae veritably beams over at Jeniosa, head bobbing in a reassuring fashion as she gathers up a few wayward sheets of music. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Can't say so much for the music, but…" She shrugs, eyeing the little boy in the candidate's lap curiously. Similarly-sized children are being held by Keziah and another person she doesn't know, so perhaps these are the triplets she's heard her foster family speak of… hmm. Apparently not worried about it enough to comment, she lets her attention be snagged by Kezi's words, mouth opening to tell her not to worry about it. You know. Until she sees what the greenrider did there. Deprive them of the chance to make Fl'ynn hold a baby, when they've so obviously been teasing him about it? Never. Instead she pretends to go deaf to what Kezi said, smiling over at Soriana when the girl helps out. "Thanks so much, I was worried about those blowing away." She blinks and pauses mid-reach, perhaps just realizing Inkfoot isn't the cat she first assumed him to be. "Oh! My, that's an interesting pet you have."
Fl'ynn dodges, like a very unPernese ninja. Baby avoided. In fact, he flat out backs away, both hands coming off as if trying to ward off a charging 'beast. "Oh, how I wish I could. I really wish I could, but… but Kagenaith is waking up now and I swore I'd give him a good oiling when he woke. I'd hate to break my promise. Remember, I'm being a perfect example of all a rider can be. Can't be disappointing my 'mate." Notice that he also didn't commit to a damn thing considering this whole teaching silliness. "I'll get back to you on that though. Come visit me. Alone. Have a good day, ladies." A bow is quickly sketched. Of course, with that heavy pack over his shoulder, it nearly causes the teen to topple forward -but a couple of quick steps forward and all is well. The teen shoots off another salute (with a smile), then comes about and heads for home.
Jeniosa pouts cutely, or so she hopes it's cutely, as Fl'ynn moves further away. "I don't think they're contagious, Fl'ynn, otherwise we'd all be pregnant from our turn with childcare for a chore." She grins. "If you held one you might like it, they're cute. You like cute things right?" She's trying to tease the bluerider, but likely failing at it as he moves off. Then she's back to the others, trying to listen to everyone and pay attention to the baby in her arms. "I hope your music didn't get ruined." She looks from Esiae to the sheets briefly.
Keziah awws a little at Fl'ynn "What a shame. And here I thought you would get along so well too." she sighs as she cuddles Kelahn. "So now I'll just have to help pick up music with a baby in hand. It'll be on your head if I drop him since you couldn't help a convalescing rider. After all, the healers haven't cleared me for duty yet." she notes softly and then she smiles at Esiae "You look like you need a break dear."
Interesting does not necessarily mean good. Not when said in that tone of voice. "His name's Inkfoot," says Soriana to Esiae, her voice determined and maybe just a touch defiant. "He's a tunnelcat." The papers continue to be held out… and Inkfoot leans out as well, his bright little eyes so eager to say hello and his whiskers just plain twitching.
Esiae looks more as though she'd like to giggle at Fl'ynn's hasty retreat, but she manages to keep it to a bright grin and an overly amused wave for his sudden depature. Boys. Oi vey. "Nah, they don't look too bad. No worse off than I made them anyways," she says towards Jeniosa, displaying a retrieved sheet that had been smudged and blackened by what was probably an ink spill. "It's just something I'm fiddling with, anyways." That's mumbled, the words dwindling down into silence as though she's said too much. "Anyways, don't worry about it, Miss Keziah. I've got the last one, no need to endanger the baby, seeing as your valiant bluerider has run for the hills." Esiae returns the greenie's smile, hers a bit impish as she folds the notes from Soriana into her neat, if unorganized, stack. "Hm? A break? Oh, well… maybe. It's just… one of those songs that haunts you until you finish it. Trouble is, I don't know how it ends." Obviously displeased, Esi shakes her head to clear the thoughts, and ends up looking back over at Soriana in a very confused fashion. "I didn't mean that badly," the Harper-candidate explains, catching on to the Beastcrafter's defiant tone. "I just haven't seen something like him before. Inkfoot, did you say?" Those twitching whiskers are eyed, fingers hesitantly extended for the tunnelcat's inspection should he so choose.
Jeniosa gives a nod and a brief smile to Esiae as the papers are gathered. And then she realizes the baby in her arms has quieted..and stopped suckling the bottle. Aww, he's all asleep, so cute. "Oh, look how sweet he is, all sleepylike. Do you want me to put him back in the crib over there, Keziah ma'am?" She asks of the greenrider. "I actually should go get cleaned up before I have my turn with puppysitting." AKA playing mommy to the five little pups her and Iforian found.
Keziah smiles softly "Oh, I wouldn't endanger him, he's easily settled down, and I can pick things up off the ground with a baby in hand. It's a learned skill." she notes "Still, a break from writing it may give you a chance to umm, I guess hear the ending in your head? Or perhaps you'll hear something that'll give you inspiration. Sometimes it's easier to let a skittish animal come your way than to chase it." she offers with a shrug. She nods to Jeniosa "Yes, just lay him back on the mat in the cart there."
Inkfoot leans forward and sniffs at Esiae's fingers, making little chirping noises as he does. Soriana smiles, and nods. "Yeah, Inkfoot. I raised him from a baby… he's good at catchin' tunnelsnakes." ..and at getting into places he shouldn't be, but let's not mention that one just now. Positive traits only!
Something written into the majority of the female genetic code causes Esiae to perk at the mention of cute things, peering up and over to where Aezlan has fallen asleep on Jeniosa. "D'aww," she concedes with a little grin, finally rising to her feet. "Wait, puppysitting?" A little behind on the news, our Esi is, but that's not entirely unusual. Curious she may be, but brown eyes do drift back to Keziah when the woman speaks, one side of her mouth curling up in a smile. "Ah, one of those grand tricks one learns when becoming a mother? I hear those, and eyes in the back of your head, are some of the more useful things you pick up," she says with an amused wrinkle of her nose. "Anyways, maybe you're right. It's just so…" Her gaze drifts off towards the sands, perhaps revealing a little of her inspiration. "Well, regardless, I will try that. Letting it come my way, I mean. Maybe it just needs time." The sheets are promptly rolled into a neat tube and put into a pocket in her dress, as though out of sight also meant out of mind. Besides, there were more interesting things here than music - like the ferret for example, whose noises elicit a bright grin from Esiae. "Aww! I bet he was adorable when small. Not that he isn't now," she clarifies. "Still, would be useful, that. Shardin' tunnelsnakes. How old is he now?"
Keziah shakes her head a little at puppies. "Honestly, as if they didn't have enough to do. Course, what am I saying, we had a little caprine one time while I was a candidate." she notes with a laugh. She does glance a little at Inkfoot every now and then, but she's also laying Kehlahn down now next to his brothers since Cora as also laid Ierlan down. Least they're milk drugged sleepy. "Time is all you can give it sometimes."
Jeniosa gets Aezlan settled into the carriage and tucks him in, the look on her face that of a doting mother, even if he's not hers. Then she's straightening and turning back to the others. "Aye, pups, Idorian and I found a bunch of half-starved pups outside the clock tower, we're gonna nurse them back to health and then find homes for them. It'll kinda be like a candidate project. We're gonna get Fl'ynn to take one too, I know he likes the bigger male we found." She grins.
Soriana smiles as her pet is treated with the appreciation he deserves! "He's four turns. That's about to middle-aged, for a tunnelcat… but he's still real playful." As Inkfoot decides to demonstrate, attempting to lunge out and wrassle at Esiae's hand with his forelegs. Ooops! Soriana forgot to get a better grip!
Esiae oohs when Jeniosa explains the puppy situation, head tilting to one side. "Aww, poor little things. I wish you luck in rehoming them. Especially if one's going to Fl'ynn." She grins, clearly not meaning that in the slightest. Poor man. Barely met her and Esi's already teasing him when he's not there to defend himself. The horror. "Anyways, I guess you're right, Miss Keziah. I'm just stubborn," she says in a tone that hints she's stating the obvious. And then… squeak! There's no holding back the noise, though it's more surprised than scared in quality when there's suddenly a tunnelcat lunging at her hand. "Of all the things I was expecting…," Esi trails off with a self-depricating laugh, mentally chiding herself for being so easily spooked. "Well, for being middle-aged, he sure has a lot of vivacity to him." This is decided with a firm nod. "But anyways, it was nice to meet you, Mister Inkfoot, but I'm late in getting home," the girl says, carefully extracting herself from the critter. "I hope we meet again." This is aimed at Soriana too, and then Esi turns and gives Keziah a nod. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon enough Miss Keziah, and you, Jeniosa. I hope the rest of your day goes well." And with a wave, she's off as abruptly as she arrived, this time paying attention as she trots off through the clearing towards the coastal road.
Jeniosa got distracted by babies and talk of puppies and blushes suddenly. "Oh yeah, I was gonna have a quick bath before my puppy time. I'd better go before Iforian hunts me down." She giggles a little. And with a brief wave, she's headed towards the barracks to grab some clean clothes before seeking out the springs for a bath.
Keziah hmms "Do you know what kinda pups they are? I'm likely gonne be on the look out for a new herdin' canine. One that'll be good with caprines and runners." she notes as she smiles at her brood. Yeah, she's a happy mama. "Well, you all just make sure to care for 'em proper, though I'm sure that won't be an issue." She notes with a smile. After all, beastcrafters are known for caring for critters. She then nods to Essi. You take care and don't stress too much over it. It'll come or it won't. ANd you know, maybe you should teach that pup a little so that it'll always find Fl'ynn and home."
Jeniosa tosses behind her, in response to Kexiah, "They're gonna be big, I'll let Iforian know you might be in need of a herder." And then she's gone, poof!
Soriana scrambles to catch Inkfoot again, and holds him securely. "Bye!" she says to Esiae, and then peers down at her ferret. "Don't do that," she scolds him. "You mighta scared her, and then you'll never make friends." Not that it ever does much good. Or does this time, to judge how he dooks cheerfully at her.
Keziah is left alone with the youngster and the long skinny snake killer. "Well, he's certainly an active little thing, isn't he?" she asks with a tilt of her head. "Inkfoot I think I heard you call it?"
Soriana can't even stay annoyed at her pet for long. He dooks again, and she pets between his ears as she looks up at Keziah. "Yeah, Inkfoot," she says, and then laughs. "He sleeps half the time, and the rest of it… he's like this." The ferret twists on himself and scrambles up her arm again, perching on a shoulder. "Sorta like a feline, I guess."
Keziah laughs brightly "Oh, I dunno about that. He seems a little more wiggly than a feline." she states "Still, long as you're both happy, and he doesn't cause too much mischief." she adds. "Course, is he litter trained at all?"
Well, there is that. Inkfoot is busily nosing at Soriana's hair, and then he puts his forepaws on her head to nip up at a buzzy insect. Chirp! Soriana doesn't seem to mind, nodding (carefully) to Kaziah's question. "Yeah. I've got a box for him… or he just goes in the woods while we're out." Most of the time, anyway. And she's sure to clean up the accidents the rest of the time!
Keziah gives a nod "That's always a good thing. Anything small enough to spend time indoors should be trained like that." she notes softly. "Forgive me, but I don't think I've seen you around at all? I though I knew most of the youngsters that are close to Mirai's age." she notes thoughtfully.
Soriana nods, with the expression of one who's heard that more than once. Hardly surprising. At the other question, she ducks her head a moment. "Oh, uhm… I haven't been here for long. I came with my mother… Sorrin, Yumeth's rider."
Keziah ohs a little and then nods "Ah, yes, the new goldrider with the runner stock." she notes and then smiles "So, how are you finding Xanadu then?" she asks curiously "I'm afraid it's likely wetter here than Ierne." she notes.
Soriana nods. "Yeah," she agrees. "I'm Soriana." Right, getting her own introduction in too, that's how you do these things. As opposed to introducing her mother _and_ her pet first. Details! Fortunately, it's apparently not awkward beyond repairing, because Keziah's still smiling. Soriana does the same, as Inkfoot settles back onto her shoulder and peers out toward the forest. "It's nice, I think… I don't mind the wet, really. Prob'ly makes the dragons complain, though. All the riders were grumpier if we visited Ierne during a rain."
Keziah smiles "I'm Keziah, you can call me Kez or Kezi though." she notes softly "I'm rider to green Alosynth. I'm currently Wingleader of Galaxy, the Search and REscue, though I'm on leave for the moment due to the trio there and my mate Ers'lan is acting wingleader in my place." she notes softly. "And well, Alosynth doesn't mind the rain so much, though it does get to be a bit tiring to do drills in the rain."
Soriana nods, and she gives a passable sort of salute right up to the point where Inkfoot decides that means her hand needs a playbite, at which point it gets derailed to nudge him aside and yeah. "Maybe that's why, then. Or maybe they just weren't used to it there."
Keziah hmms a little "It's always possible. I know many here that get disgruntled when it snows, though we usually don't see anything near like what Reaches gets. Now those can be bad." she notes softly "It's all a matter of acclimation and some people never really want to acclimate.
Soriana grins. "I'd like t'see the snow," she says. "I suppose I will, now…" Inkfoot scrambles past her neck to the other shoulder, and she hmms to him. "You'd probably get lost in it," she says, and turns back to Keziah. "Would he? How deep _does_ it get?"
Keziah hmms a little "It all depends, sometimes it's only just a few inches, but we've gotten a foot at times. Though this past winter, we had a freak storm that dropped several feet on us and trapped people." she notes. She eyes Inkfoot. "Course, I've watched little canines hopping through it and enjoying themselves, though most felines tend to avoid it. Well, at least of the domestic or feral kind. THe wild ones however will hunt in it.
Soriana grins with the glee of a child at the prospect of snow, and then nods, considering. "He'll probably be fine, then. He doesn't mind water, not like a feline does. He'll even go after spiderclaws… not that he's figured out how to /get/ them yet." She grins again.
Keziah laughs "I bet that's something to see." she notes as she just shakes her head. "Critters can be so much fun to watch as they try to figure things out." she murmurs. "Still, it'll be awhile afore we see snow again." she notes "But we'll likely see a lot of rain."
Soriana smiles, and nods. "Yeah… though…" she peeks over toward the cart. "I guess babies are probably like that too, sort of. At least… once they're a little bigger, and can, like… toddle and stuff." Because really, what could a _baby_ be figuring out? They just lie there and drink milk and poo in diapers, right? Right, according to Soriana.
Keziah laughs "Sort of?" she murmurs and grins "Oh, babies are quite amusing too. You should see their face scrunch up with unfamiliar things. And their face can light up when they recognize something they like." she notes softly. "And then they'll latch onto things. Did you know, that you can actually pick up a newborn when they grip your finger? They lose the reflex fairly quickly, but it's that tight."
Well, but babies. Soriana has a kind of awkward look at the prospect. Clearly, she has not yet entered the stage of girls where they begin cooing over any and all babies. Still, she listens to Keziah's descriptions, and she nods. "Well, okay." She uhms. "Maybe I'll go to the nursery sometime… when I don't have Inkfoot with me."
Keziah nods "Yes, not a good idea to bring critters into the nursery areas. The nannies tend to have issues with that sort of thing. Diseases and messes and fur and smell and all that." she snorts a little "They are very particular about smell."
Soriana says "Well. I guess they're afraid it'll hurt the babies or… something." She peers over at the triplets again, and then shakes her head. "It sorta makes sense. I mean, foals are pretty delicate too, and they can already walk'n stuff."
Keziah gives a nod "That they can be, though foals are born more mature." she murmurs and then tucks in the blanket a little better. "Well, I likely should be getting them back home, and the caprines here need some feed too I'm sure." she notes as she runs her hand over the back of the two animals that are harnessed to the cart.
Soriana nods. "Okay. I'll… see you around, I guess!" She seems a little bemused by this, like she's still not used to living somewhere with so many people she might run into over the course of a day.
I love it when scenes have people moving in and out. A tunnelcat, babies, Fl'ynn - how much more cuteness can one scene hold? ;)