Xanadu Weyr - Observation Level
Dark blue seats form a semi-circle around the sands below, the lowest row separating from the sands themselves by merely a railing. The seats climb upwards, each row a bit higher then the previous, and they are broken up into sections by 3 sets of staircases. Lights are evenly spaced along the outer wall, lighting the seats and the sands easily, though they tend to be dimmed unless a major event is taking place. A large balcony looms overhead, darkening some of the seats, providing a place for observers of the draconic kind to watch without obstructing the view for others.
When one looks over the railing, the oddly hued sand below can be seen easily, the circle-shaped area of the sands spread out to the far walls, the sand itself a unique mixture of red and white grains.
Despite the early morning hour, Rukbat's rays only beginning to creep over the eastern horizon and leaving much of Xanadu in pre-dawn haze, there is at least one person already settling herself in the upper levels of the Hatching Arena. With Kilaueth upon the Sands, the large gold guarding her clutch of 9 brightly colored eggs, Niva's time has been rededicated to the Sands watch. For now, she has no papers, no reports, and is merely enjoying the quiet at this hour.
Karashi rubs her eyes, unable to sleep though she knew she had a shift early in the evening. She stumbles her way to a quiet spot to wake up, this morning it happens to be the observation level of the sands. Karashi looks up from rubbing her eyes once again to spot the Weyrwoman sitting just ahead of her. "Good Morning Weyrwoman" she greets the woman as she takes a seat near her, a sleepy Katsu curled around her neck.
Niva lifts her gaze from the Sands, the Weyrwoman deep in quiet contemplation at the sound of a voice, and a greeting. A blink or two, her mind clearing enough to register the greeting, and she smiles, slightly, and nods, shifting to sit a little straighter in her chair. "Healer.." She replies softly, even that carrying through the still, empty Arena.
"They're beautiful eggs" Karashi smiles as she leans forward in her seat to rest her arms on the rail, she peers down at the nine eggs with a smile. "I missed the last hatching, so I'm hoping I'll get to see this one" she admits with a smile, duty had kept her from seeing the hatching not that she minded all that much. Duty was pretty much all she ever really though about, so she enjoys this time she has, even though it means less sleep before she has her shift.
"She really out did herself.." Niva comments idly gaze drifting to the mounds on the sands, and the bright hues that stick out here and there from the red and white grained Sands. "T'will be a long while before they hatch - though I hope she gives up more warning than usual." The gold guarding the eggs lifts her head enough to snort at her lifemate, as if to say that would ruin all the fun, before settling back down. "With Avaeth due to clutch in the next few seven days, too, there'll be plenty to stare at."
Karashi yawns softly and gives the Weyrwoman an appologetic look, "I look forwards to seeing the new eggs. I do hope they all find their lifemates when they hatch. Did the others hatch well?" she asks curious to know if the others found their lifemates, she never was one to listen much to gossip of any kind, let alone Weyr gossip.
Niva waves off the apology without a moment of hesitation, staring at the eggs, before slowly she nods, pulling her gaze back to the Healer. "Quite. They're growing up quickly, and quite well. They'll be a valuable addition to the Wings, I'm sure." Niva comments, before looking back to Karashi. "I'm certain none of them would mind a visit on the beach, while they're out and about, if you'd like to see for yourself."
Karashi yawns again and she makes sure to cover her mouth, "Oh no. It's okay. I'm sure I'll see them around" she smiles softly at the Weyrwoman as she remains leant over the rail. "You'll have to forgive my yawning, I have had some trouble sleeping before my next shift this evening" Karashi leans back into her chair and streches slowly so as not to disturb the bronze comfortably wrapped around her neck.
"I'm sure you will. Before you know it, I'm sure you'll have them in and out of the infirmary for strained muscles. They're getting to that point." Niva murmurs, shifting to fold her legs, hands resting lightly on her knee. "I've been there, I assure you. Though, I'd just ignore the shift in the evening, and stay up half the day anyway. Never worked out so well."
"Usually I don't have any trouble, but this morning… Just couldn't shake the feeling I need to be up" Karashi shrugs, sometimes she had those feelings, usually though when something was about to happen at the healer hall she would. It has been months, turns even since the last time she had woken as she had. "Just can't seem to get back to sleep, just glad Katsu here is still asleep. I hate it when I wake him by accident"
"Warm klah, and a warm bath is usually enough to send me back on my way. Though, sitting here can do it too. The warmth, and quiet.." Niva shakes her head a little, leaning back. "They're as bad as children, firelizards.." She makes a face, "My littlest one wakes up at the slightest sound…"
Karashi laughs softly, "Katsu is usually really good, I think he's going through his terrible two's stage." she laughs some more remincing over his most recent escapades. "He stuck himself in the cake at the Healer Hall banquet and just the other day managed to steal my glass of wine and wedge himself inside. How he made it in and out I still wonder." her hand reaches up to scratch him, she smiles at his sleepy croon of happiness in his sleep.
"Rather glad that mine have outgrown most of the… troublesome things. I do think I'm done with babies and firelizards alike." She murmurs, making a face. At the antics of the bronze, Niva just tsks, and shakes her head. "Shards. I don't know what's worse, that, or that beast of Thea's."
Karashi giggles softly, "I think he'll out grow it or at least hope he will.. At least he tolerates the other fire lizards.. I seem to have a talent with them according to some people" Karashi admits as she strokes Katsu's head, happy her baby was still sleeping.
"They will, in time. Some sooner than later.." Niva comments, slowly getting up, and pacing along the from of the gallery, leaning against the rail. "Mm, maybe I'll deliver the next clutch of eggs I find on my Sands to the infirmary for *you* to deal with instead." Niva makes a face, shaking her head. "Belle seems to think that if its good enough for Kilaueth, its good enough for her."
Karashi smiles, "I'm just glad he's not as bad as some I've seen" she sighs softly and pushes up from her chair to stand. Karashi leans against the rail and looks over the ledge surveying the eggs one last time. "Anytime, sometimes a distraction from the infirmary is a welcome thing and I certainly don't mind their company."
"Not so much company as work. Turning them, heating them. Far more work than I care for." Niva shakes her head with a wrinkle of her nose, glancing over at the eggs on the Sands. Kilaueth shifts, slowly nudging one of them into a new spot, recovering the blue shell completely. "I'll certainly remember that, though." Though, with everything else on the woman's mind, its debateable how true it is.
"Sometimes people say I live for the work, but something other than the normal is always good" with a yawn Karashi pushes back from the rail to stand, she bows slightly to Niva and inclines her head towards Kilaueth. "Well I must take my leave Weyrwoman, see if I can't catch a few more candlemarks of sleep before my shift starts. It's been lovely chatting to you" without much more hesitation Karashi leaves, another yawn on her lips. hmm the Weyrwoman was right, the warmth of the sands did make her sleepy, she'd remember that for next time for sure.
"Sleep well, I hope its an uneventful shift." For everyone's sake. As Karashi leaves, Niva hesitates a moment, before heading to the Sands to sit with Kilaueth herself, still enjoying the quiet of the early morn.