Ista Weyr - Living Caverns
Large enough to house the entirity of the weyr's population at one time, the cavern set aside to house the very heart of the weyr's life is a grandoise, somewhat circular affair, filled with rows of long tables. Bustling and busy, it is a rare moment indeed when there is not someone at work or leisure in here; the long trestle table by the kitchens is perpetually filled with plates and trays of food, a pot of something always bubbling upon the mahogany hearth, ready to fill the belly of any hungry resident or rider. Although a high table is set aside for seating respected dignitaries on formal occasions, most of the tables here are not designated to any particular group— rather, all levels of Ista's population eat together, intermingled across the broad cavern.
Great tapestries have been flung down the walls, orange and black borders remarking upon Ista's heritage, the age-faded hangings depicting scenes of importance to the Weyr— the erruption of the volcano; the first clutch; the view from the star stones, over forest, dark beach, and glistening waves of blue. Propellor-like fans have been affixed to the ceiling in more modern times, cooling the cavern on the hottest of days. Passageways lead up the stairs to the kitchens, down a second flight of stairs to the lower caverns, and out into the expanse of the broad weyr bowl.
Lingering in the Caverns on this somewhat overcast day, L'ton is talking softly to a middle-aged woman - one who is wearing the knot of assistant headwoman - the Weyrsecond glancing over his shoulder and and them. Their voices remain low until they're finally parting ways, the headwoman towards the offices, and L'ton left behind with four overly large, lumpy bags on the table in front of him.
Overcast days don't stop work, and Iroha's been up for a while if her entrance from the Bowl rather than the inner caverns is any indication. Bare feet patter softly against the stone floor, curls bounce in time with her steps, an off-key and jaunty little hum emerging from long throat. There should really be a law against being this perky. The Caverns are big, though, and she's got her sights set on the section of serving table where the collection of glasses and juice pitchers are located. So lumpy bag guarding Weyrsecond isn't noticed quite yet, even if is the sort of curious sight that would normally send the inquisitive teen over to be nosy. Drink first. Nost later?
L'ton leans against the table, chewing on his lip as he ponders the bags, shifting to test the weight of each of them, and resettling them on the table. A satisfied nod, and he's turning to look over the room, attention pausing on the barefoot, perky Iroha, shaking his head a bit. "Ta early fer this.." He murmurs to himself, before he's moving to get himself a glass of juice, though as he's addressing the Gardener first, perhaps its merely an excuse to head in her direction. "Looking forward to a break?" He asks, absently.
Iroha can't seem to do anything normally. Normal, would be looking over her shoulder to see who's speaking. She just bends backwards at the waist and tips her head back, blinking upside down at L'ton. Grin. "Hi!" chirped before she swings herself forward and upright again. "Just a little one. Still lots to do." And plenty of hours in the day to do it all in, not like there's really any rush. Only so many weeds to pull. "What is it for you? Break, or breakfast?" There's a pause while she pours herself a glass of citrus juice, a narrowing of green eyes as she looks back at him again. "Uhm… sir." Manners. Manners are good.
L'ton blinks down at Iroha as she leans back, staring at her with wide eyes for a moment, her behavior throwing him off, and leaving him to try and recover. Eventually, though, he does, and he's pouring a glass for himself and then glancing back at her. "A bit of a break, a bit of breakfast." He says with a grin, flicking his fingers. "Dun wanna mess with yer break, but if'n when yer done, ya have a bit, Ah could use some help with a few things." He says, even as he tilts his head to make it a question. "No sirs… Ah ain't *that* old even if'n Ah have a daughter whose gotta be older than ya."
Iroha has that effect on people. Curls are set to bobbing again as she nods enthusiastically, "Sure thing!" Freely agreed -before- she thinks to ask, "What is it you need help with?" As she slurps down a gulp of juice, the fingers of her empty hand are wiggled vaguely in a gesture meant to take in his obviously-important-person appearance. "Just being, you know. Proper?" Nose wrinkles briefly. "Who?" is his daughter, the rest of the question left up to her expression rather than her voice.
"Well, Zip's the oldest, she's gotta be older than ya." L'ton says before he's motioning to the bags on the table. "Ah gotta take those with me ta Xanadu, ta give ta some headwoman there. They gots some deal or something. But, Ah need someone ta go look fer yer, cause if'n Ah ask, they'll start ta look at me funny." He offers in explanation, still lingering at the serving table, his drink in hand, as he looks now and then back at his bags, to make sure tey're undisturbed.
"Oh, I know Zip!" Iroha exclaims cheerfully, scattered puzzle pieces falling into place inside her head. "Which means you're Dhonzayth's rider." Human names escape her. Her brows quirk upwards curiously; he doesn't need to go to Xanadu to get funny looks, apparently. "If it's just bags of stuff, who should really care who does the asking?"
"Ah am, though Ah'll admit, ya've got me at a disadvantage.." He comments with a shake of his head, and then a glance back at the bags. "Ah ain't sure what's in 'em. Ain't 'llowed ta look, either. Something between them headwomen, and Ah guess if'n Ysa or Niva find out, they're 'fraid they'll not be headwomen no more." He shrugs a little, and taps his chest. "And Ah dun think things would go over so well, if'n Ah was asking after her, prolly been told Ah ain't 'llowed no where near any of 'em."
Iroha facepalms, finishing the gesture by rubbing at the side of her nose as she looks up at L'ton a bit sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm Iroha." That hand is offered. "I Stood with your daughter." To explain how she knows Zip, and by extension, himself. Other tidbits of past conversations start filtering through her memory, and suddenly she's laughing. "Wait… -you're- the reason Xanadu's Weyrwoman hates Istans?"
"Ah thought ya looked familiar, but ta be honest, its hard fer me ta keep names with faces, specially with candidates coming and going all the time." He takes her hand to give it a firm shake, grinning, and looking a bit sheepish himself as she begins to laugh. "Ah.. Ah may have made her a lil upset a few times. She.. She were ta fond of us before, but, Ah thought things were getting better, but seems like it all fell 'part again." He shakes his head, and then makes a face. "Bad enough that she's on the Sands ta… Figures that Dhon had ta catch that gold *now*."
Iroha doesn't mind being forgotten, or not noticed in the first place. Or so one could safely assume when she doesn't get all huffy about L'ton not being able to keep all the faces straight, instead agreeing, "Seems like faces are changing all the time around here. And you've got way more people to keep track of than just candidates, I bet." The laughter is gone, but the crooked grin remains. "Well, maybe D'son can help with that? F'yr says he really likes it there, so…." Shrug. Politics are a bit above her head. "Seems silly to get mad at someone for something that isn't their fault, though. I mean, I know you can kinda tell, but you can't guess -exactly- when one'll rise, right? And if everyone avoided each other's Weyrs just because of that, well… no one would ever visit anywhere!" The world according to Iroha.
"Ah'm really hoping he can. Tired of having ta sneak around when Ah'm there, ta make sure that she dun get me. But, Ah guess when ya accuse a weyrwoman of sending someone ta kill yer weyrleader, ya dun ferget it, even after turns and turns." L'ton makes a face, shaking his head, but then at the comment of dragons rising, L'ton chuckles. "Oh, it ain't just Dhon catching their greens and golds.." L'ton leaves it at that, waving a hand. "Ya wanna go with? Dhon's itching ta see his eggs. T'would be a good chance fer ya ta see 'em too."
Somewhere amidst all this talking Iroha's finished her glass of juice. There are a few disbelieving blinks, "You -didn't!-" Delightfully scandalized. "K'ael and Laera just made it sound like… um." She stops herself, grinning dementedly again. "Too many women." She finally finishes, green eyes twinkling up at him. Bouncing on her toes, she nods excitedly, "I'd love to come! You wouldn't happen to have a spare jacket or something though, would you?" Because her current outfit and :between: would leave L'ton with an Irocicle.
"Ah promise ya, sweets, Laera knows what she's talkng 'bout. Though, Ah wouldn't say its ta many…" A teasing wink, and L'ton nods his head towards the bowl. "Ah got an extra one, prolly some boots ta, in Dhon's packs. Easier than always having ta scrounge 'em up when Ah end up with an unexpected passenger. Might be a bit big, but." L'ton shrugs a bit, finishing his own juice off, and motioning for her to proceed him, moving to pull a bag over each shoulder, grabbing a third, with a look. "Do ya think ya could grab that last one? Dhon's right outside, ain't ta far ta go.."
Iroha cackles; that's the only way to describe her laugh and have come remotely close to accurate. "Big boots are better; I never wear them, normally, and big hurts less." Oversized jackets aren't a problem, either. She veers around towards the table, and the bags thereon, hefting up a bag without complaint. "Used to carrying stuff farther… have you been out to the new garden, yet? That's really a hike!" And off she trots towards the Bowl.
Ista Weyr - Southern Bowl
Compared to that of other weyrs, Ista's bowl is small, and incomplete - northwards, one wall was blown clear away several millenia ago, leaving the view clear towards the plateau, the jungles, and the ocean beyond that. Somewhat elliptical, the breadth of the bowl seems to run Northwest to Southeast, the bustling epicentre of the weyr being here, towards the southwest. Several large entrances have been dug into the great bowl walls here - north east are the hatching grounds, south the Living Caverns, these being the two largest caverns in the weyr.
To the east, a small entrance leads in to the ground weyrs - the ledges of these line the bowl wall above, often filled with dragons of gold or bronze; westwards is another ledge, but with a staircase built into the wall, allowing access to the Sable Sands. The infirmary is located towards the southwest.
Dhonzayth is settled as near to the living caverns as possible, the brassy bronze clearly antsy, however, as his wings furl and unfurl, and his tail sweeps dangerously from side to side. His straps and packs are already on, and each time someone emerges from the caverns, he spreads his wings, only settling again when its evident its not L'ton.
Once they get outside, Iroha sidesteps and pauses just long enough for L'ton to pass her, so that she can follow him over to Dhonzayth. Hanging back, after directing a wary glance towards that far-too-active tail. She never approaches a dragon without first receiving word or gesture that it's okay to do so from their rider. Or a dragonhealer. Comes from meeting all the grumpy ones.
Dhonzayth trumpets as L'ton passes by Iroha, furling his wings once more, before he's settling, holding still to let L'ton settle the additional bags on his straps, the bronzerider motioning to Iroha to join him. "Come on, lil bit. He's just ansty ta get there, ain't gonna hurt ya." He reassures her, pulling a long riding coat and a pair of folded, fur-lined boots from a pouch, holding them out to exchange her for her bag. "He says hello, ta.." He adds absently.
Iroha trots forward promptly enough at those words, waiting patiently until she pass up the bag in exchance for those articles of clothing. "He likes being a clutch sire, then? I think Ellamariseth forced Azaeth onto the Sands with her… along with the rest of the Weyr." Not willing to hold up the impatient dragon any longer than necessary, she scrambles into boots and jackets with alacrity. "I don't think I've seen him close up since the hatching. Hello, back."
Dhonzayth ducks his nose to snort at Iroha gently, a soft croon, the bronze paying attention to the girl who once stood for his clutch while L'ton is checking and doublechecking the straps and buckles, and then offering Iroha a hand up to Dhonzayth's side. "He says its his job, if'n they chose him, he's gotta see it all the way through. Ah think he loves the lil'ones, ta, playing with 'em, and stuff." He explains, a grin on his face, ruffling his hair before pulling his helmet over his head.
Iroha's not actually sure how to react to a -friendly- dragon. She offers a pat towards Dhonzayth's nose, before skipping forward to accept L'ton's hand up. "Well, it makes sense to me that dragons would like to spend time with their own children. They're not just dumb beasts. More like oddly shaped people." Has he figured out yet that she just babbles out whatever comes into her head as it comes?
L'ton is enjoying Iroha's babbling, though, it seems, for he's grinning as he joins her on Dhonzayth's neck, settling the straps around them, Dhonzayth snorting once more at both of them, before at a pat to Dhonzayth's neck, the bronze is shifting, and pushing off, quickly gaining height over the Istan bowl, happy to finally be on his way.
Ista Weyr - Southeast Sky
Above, the sky is a neverending canvas of blue - mixed with grey and white as the weather changes - but below, the view is just as breathtakingly stunning: Ista Weyr and her environs spreading out in rocky crevices and great peaks. Patches of greenery interrupt volcanic stone, jungles and areas of growth startling in contrast to that - and the great, blue waters that spread further away, against sable sands, visible thanks to the collapse of one wall of the bowl. To the northwest, the further curve of the bowl is visible, whilst beaches and forest spread to the southeast
The weyr walls rise up to the sky, the pock-marks of ledges and personal weyrs beyond visible about all sides of the great caldera. Nearest to the bowl floor are the ramps to the ground weyrs, and the larger entrances to caverns - not to mention the smaller area of the training grounds. Ista's Star Stones, a remnant of times past, sit high against the bowl wall: a sentinal against the peaks of the Weyr.
Iroha laughs as Dhonzayth takes off, her attention torn between looking up at the sky, and peering over the side of his neck at the retreating Weyr below. No clutching gasps or squeaks or squinchy shut eyes from this gardener. L'ton's just made Iro's entire -month.- Whee!
Darkness and cold like you can't imagine. Nothing to see, feel or hear, except the beating of your heart.
<LUB> <DUB>
<LUB> <DUB>
<LUB> <DUB>
Then, as suddenly as you entered the emptiness…
Xanadu Weyr - Clearing Sky
The busiest spot of the Weyr, this is an interesting place to watch if one has a safe vantage point. Dragons and firelizards are almost always in the air here, the latter sometimes an unpredictable swarm flittering in and out of *between*. South is a massive tunnel, beginning at ground level but stretching high enough to be flown into although as yet, there is a strict injunction from Xanadu's Queens that no dragon is the venture down that tunnel without explicit permission. Near the tunnel is a huge ledge, big enough to hold all the Weyr's golds and most of the bronzes at once. The rest of the cliff is pockmarked with ledges marking dragon weyrs and in the nearest, you can just make out the deep gouges made by generations of dragon claws.
Brassy wings beat, and they slide between, and only a few breaths later they emerge over Xanadu Weyr, spiraling down over the forests and meadow, the bronze taking his time, banking gently to ensure that Iroha gets quite a view as they land, L'ton sparing a glance over his shoulder at Iroha to make sure she's doing okay. And then, as the bronze finally is nearing the ground, L'ton chuckles softly. "Ya did good, lil'bit.."
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.
Okay, so there was some squinchy eyes after :between:, a few nervous pats to make sure all her body parts were still intact. But then Iroha was back to leaning, eyes wide and eager as she very much appreciates the view from so high up. "You are so lucky," is said back to L'ton, a grin fit to split her face. Have the Pernese invented paragliding yet? 'Cause she'd be all over that.
"Thanks, lil'bit.. Ah do enjoy it.." L'ton offers as Dhonzayth settles, flipping his wings to his back, and the bronze is turning to look at L'ton as his lifemate slides to the ground, holding out a hand for Iroha to join him. "Ya know, if'n ya want ta try again, ta see if'n yer luck is any better, Ah'd be happy ta get ya a spot in the barracks here. Can't have ta many Istans.." L'ton says with a grin, Dhonzayth offering a croon of agreement.
Satoris is not walking from the Tavern. That's a shock. In fact, he's just stepping out of the resident barracks, stifling a yawn. He clutches a stack of papers in one hand. The miner, apparently, has yet to replace the clipboard that finally broke.
"Thanks," Iroha says for that hand down, which is likely the only thing that saves her from an ungainly tumble and sprawl. "And thank you too, Dhonzayth!" For the ride, and especially the lazy landing. "So, who'm I supposed to be looking for for you?" she asks first, quick to shed borrowed jacket and especially borrowed boots. Once she's wiggling bare feet again, she turns, ready to go back after those sacks. But then, "You mean… here? Leave Ista? I…." Hadn't ever entertained that thought, judging by her thunderstruck expression. "Leave Ista?" she repeats. Yes, that's her sticking point.
"Ah… Her name's like, Delia, Ah think. Dalia, maybe?" L'ton ponders this, before looking over at Satoris as he meanders past, arching his eyebrow, but then soon enough is looking back at Iroha, taking back the jacket and boots to stack them up and put them away. At her surprise, he's shaking his head. "Ah mean here.. Ya dun have ta, if'n ya dun want. Ain't such a bad place, though, and Ah'll be back and forth.. Ah can always take ya back fer a bit, if'n ya want, since Ah'll be going anyway."
Satoris might, maybe, possibly, have some reason to sneer at Istans. Except he's not a Xanadu native, nor really used to Weyrs at all. The only person that's tied to Ista that he may have issue with is L'ton. And that's undrstandable. Okay, okay, maybe not. Entirely. But that doesn't stop the miner from glaring at the bronzerider as he walks past, towards the Caverns proper.
Iroha's taken to chewing on her lower lip, brow furrowed as she scrunches her fingers up into her hair. "I was going to start studying to be a dragonhealer…." is murmured, loud enough to be heard but mostly to herself. She looks around, taking in everything but not really seeing it. The sky, the bronze, the strange paper-holding gent over there. Okay, well, him she actually focuses on, or at least the glare. "They really don't like us, do they?" Small voice. She looks now towards L'ton, wide-eyed and suddenly nervous, but there's something determined about the lift to her chin. "I'd like to try though… to see if, maybe…."
"Well, maybe ya can do that too, they have the Annex here, so ya can learn maybe.." He offers, even as his attention is on the sneering miner, the bronzerider rolling his eyes, and then he looks back to Iroha. "How about ya go find the headwoman, and Ah'll get ya settled. Ya should be fine, most of 'em dun mind us. And, well, Dhon and Ah'll take good care of ya, promise."
Satoris didn't glare at Iroha! Nope, just L'ton. Her, he nods at briefly, before ducking into the Caverns. He just hates that particular bronzerider, but, well, that should be something L'ton is used to, right?
Iroha is still looking uncertainly after that glaring person, but she switches her attention swiftly enough back towards L'ton. "Do you think they'll let me, really?" Eager, that. But then she nods, "Daria, right? Should be easy to find her, really, just a matter of asking. Do you want me to bring her out, or lug the bags inside?" A beat, and she sidesteps closer to him. "You'll explain things to K'ael and F'yr and…? Well. They'll know who all to talk to."
"Well, tis just as much my clutch as theirs, Ah think Ah should be able ta get a few people Ah want out there, ya know?" He grins, and nods. "Daria, Dalia… Ah'm sure if'n ya say it, they'll correct ya." He pauses, looking at the bags, then ponders. "Just tell her we have the stuff, and ask her where we should put it, so that she knows?" He nods and he reaches to pat her shoulder with a grin. "All get everythin' all taken care of. And, we'll get anything ya want ta bring back, ta.."
Iroha smiles, tips her head to one side to brush her cheek against the back of his hand in wordless thanks for his reassurance. "I'll go and find her then. Or, someone who knows her, anyway. Are you gonna wait here or?" And then a confused glance around again, "Uhm… which way do I go?"
L'ton gently turns her towards the cliff and the caverns held within, patting her shoulder. "Dhon'll be here.. if'n Ah'm not, Ah'll be right back. Just gonna take care of getting ya settled, kay?" He grins. "Dun worry, just act like ya know what yer doing, and ya'll be fine." He reassures her with another gentle pat, and is pulling the packs off Dhonzayth to give the bronze a bit of relief, before running to take care of his own arrangements.
Thus pointed in the right direction, Iroha will promptly trot off, looking more like a tourist than anyone who knows what she's on about, but still. "I'll try not to take too long," is called over her shoulder, arm lifted and hand waving back and forth in broad sweeps above her head. And then she's Headwoman Hunting. Skip!