Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
Summer in Xanadu. Hot, humid, and still. Yuck. But at least some people get to travel, and Mur'dah is one of those people. Though right now he looks like he's in a bit of a hurry as Kalsuoth swoops in to land on the hot beach sands, crouching to deposit his rider. Unfastening his jacket and pulling off his helmet, the brownrider cradles something in the nook of his arm as he looks around for someone. Anyone, really.
For once, Kera is doing absolutely nothing. She's stretched out on a towel getting some sun. Hearing a dragon landing not far off, she lifts her head and tips the edge of the widebrim out of her way so she can see. Propping up on her elbows, it's not til the rider removes some of his gear that she rescognizes the rider. Lifting fingers to wave a greeting Mur'dah." She would have spotted Kalsuoth right off if he had shells on his straps.
Mur'dah looks around at the voice, and he grins. "Kera! I have a present for you." A present that is in dire need of some attention, as he hastens forward and crouches down beside the towel, holding out a cloth wrapped bundle. "Careful, careful…"
Kera can't help but grow a little suspicious at the sudden grin from Mur'dah. "Present? What are you going on about?" Sitting up as he crouches next to her, the very slightly pinkened girl (she was working on a tan aftertall), holds out her hands and eyes the cloth curiously, not sure what to make of it. "And I didn't get you anything." Careful? It's a bundled up scarf. Right?
Mur'dah gently places the obect into her hands, and he keeps one hand beneath hers while his other unwraps the scarf to reveal an egg. "I found it on the beach in Western. You take it, I don't want it. It's hatching sooner than I expected…"
Kera blinks as the clothe is pulled away, then her eyes go wide. Staring at it a second then to Mur'dah. "You don…irhh…it moved!" Scared she'll hurt it, she moves as if to offer it back. "It's tapping!" Lowering her hands slowly til the little egg is resting on the towel between her and Mur'dah. She flashes a wide grin to Mur'dah before looking around frantically. "Oh, I had food in my bag. It's gone!" The silly girl is looking everywhere for it, except right behind her.
Mur'dah scoots back once the egg is set down, giving her a grin. "It's behind you," he says with a laugh, pointing as he gets to his feet and moves further back. "I don't want it. Do you have a firelizard already?"
Kera looks to Mur'dah with a hint of a frown beffore her hand reaches out blindly behind her. A couple seconds later, she's pulling all sorts of things out of the bag and tossing them haphazardly back over her head. Shaking her head at his question, she looks from the inner reccesses of her bag to peer at the egg then Mur'dah. "No I don't have a little one." Finally tugging out what she was searching for, the bag follows the rest of it's contents and ends up somewhere behind her. "Sandwiches!" Casting a worried look to the brownrider "Will it eat a sandwich?"
Mur'dah shrugs, "Probably? Pull the meat out. They like meat, not so much bread when they've just hatched. When it hatches, think happy, loving, coaxing thoughts to it. Try to draw it to you, and then stuff it."
Kera nods to the rider's suggestions and quick strips the two sandwiches. "Happy thoughts Happy thoughts." Good things she's typicall a happy person. The excited apprentice gives a little squeal and points to the little egg when the side of it bulges then a little crack appears. "Look, it's coming out." Tearing the meat to bits and wiggles around til she's crouched down closer to the egg. "Come on now. Got something for ya to eat here." Nibbling on her lower lip, she chances a quick peek to Mur'dah and can't help but giggle before peering back to the cracking egg.
Mur'dah takes another step back, but when she looks at him he gives her an encouraging smile and a little 'go on' hand gesture. "That's it," he murmurs reassuringly.
Kera grins back down to the egg tryin not to make too loud a noise as she holds out tiny bits of meet to a cracked egg. Okie, so she's over excited about it. Reaching forward as another crack appears then a little snout pushes through "Ohhh, look at you, come on. Got something tasty for ya." Wiggling the meat in front of the peeking snout is all the encourgement needed as the little hatchling struggles and creel pitifully. Soon the hatchling is free of it's confines and latching onto it's first meal. "It's eating!..He's eating." She clarifies once a better look is had of the little lizard. She's holding out two peices of meat tot he little fellow, which he waste no time in attacking.
Mur'dah grins and nods as he watches. "Brown is a good color," he says proudly. "Keep feeding him until he falls asleep. Then I've got some oil I can give you…" and he starts moving away towards his straps.
Kera keeps offering little bits of meat, and beams over to Mur'dah. "Gee, I wonder why you would say that?" She sends a wink the rider's way before turning her gaze back down to her task. At the mention of oil she watches him head over towards his dragon a few seconds. When all ot a few peices are left, the little brown gives a wide yawn and waddle/crawls across Kera's fingers, causing her to giggle "That tickles." As it settles and curls up practially in her hand, the apprentice smiles back to Mur'dah. "Well, I don't care what ya say, now we're friends. Whether ya like it or not." She nods as if that is that. Her fingers are gently rubbing over the little brown baby.
Mur'dah blinks a bit as he returns, and once he's sure the firelizard has impressed, he crouches down and opens the small tin. "Are we now?" he asks, grin a little crooked. "Dip your fingers in there, and rub it into his hide. All of it, even between his toes. He'll let you know when he itches but some firelizards aren't real good at explaining /where/ they itch, so…but you'll feel it. You'll figure it out."
Kera chuckles and nods agreeably "YeP." She pops the p with a grin and reaches to dip her fingers in the oil. Following Mur'dah's instructions, she smooths oil everywhere she can reach. After a few seconds, she solves the problem of how to oil under the sleeping hatchling. Cupping her free hand over the sleeping lizard, she slowly and gently tilts her cupped hands til the still sleeping little one is now sleeping on his back. Grinning, Kera oils up the bulging little belly and strts carefully working on the toes. Casting a glance to Mur'dah. "Yea, like it or not, we're friends now. But don't worry, I'll still let ya know when ya are being an ass." Kera flashes and amused wink before peering down to the sleeping brown. "You need a name."
Mur'dah snorts, rocking back on his heels and capping the oil when she's finished. "Oh, good, because that's what I need friends for," he says, voice wry and a touch sarcastic. "To tell me when I'm being an ass. Great." Smirk.
Kera lifts a brow at Mur'dah's comment and shrugs "Better a friend tell you than a stranger isn't it?" Not missing the sarcasm, she shrugs "But I won't hold ya to being my friend." Lifting her hatchling filled hand she shows off the sleeping hatchling "Isn't he just the cutest thing ever Mur'dah." Looking between Mur'dah and the firelizard, she suddenly grins "OH, I know. How about Murry. How's that for a name?"
Mur'dah coughs, grinning at her. "Naw, we can be friends." GASP. Someone mark the calendar! Then he blinks. "You're naming your firelizard after me?"
Kera chuckles at Mur'dah's reaction and shrugs "Why not? He's cutey. And don't even try to pretend you don't know you are a cutey." She blinks and she suddenly seems to have a better idea "Nooo, not Murry. Minimur." She grins brightly and repeats the name a couple of times. Rubbing the oily belly of her little sleeping lizard. "What do ya think littleman? How does Mimimur suit ya?" The tiny brown stretches sleepily and yawns, belching around his first meal, and then resettles happily enough. "I think we have a winner Minimur."
Mur'dah gapes at her, coughs, blushes, and stutters. "/Minimur/??!" Oh /Faranth/ he is never going to live this down. "Uh…well…he /is/ cute." And yeah, he thinks he's kind of cute too, so it fits?
Kera smiles and nods as if she's made up her mind "Yep, I think Minimur is perrfect." Canting her head to Mur'dah "Unless you like Murry better?" The apprentice grins and shifts around til she's sitting up again. "So, stuff him silly with food and keep him oiled good." Moving her hand slowly til it rest on her leg, she rubs the tiny wings lightly. "Anything else?"
Mur'dah groans, rubbing a hand over his face. "He's your firelizard, name him what you want," the teen mumbles. Is he blushing? Just a bit. "Well, there's training too. Getting him to obey you and all that. But that'll come later. Right now, it's food and oil."
Kera nods, still smiling, down to her new little friend. "Okay, I think I can manage to keep him fed and oily." Glancing to the rider, she just grins "Thank you Mur'dah." After a few seconds she smirks "Hopefully, I can do a good job training him so he won't won't dive bomb people's plates like I've seen others do in the cavern."
Mur'dah snorts, pushing to his feet again. "I'm sure you'll do fine," he reassures with a smile. "Just give him all the attention you give your craft. That'll be plenty."
Kera grins up to Mur'dah as he stands. Looking past him to the brown, she smiles back to the rider "Unfortunately, I may not be able to get many shells for Kalsuoth for a bit." She sends an amused wink to the brownrider "I know how much that will upset you."
Mur'dah laughs. "I'm devastated, Kera," he grins. "I'll see you around, alright? I've got to get back to my duties."
Kera works to not chuckle. "Yes, I figured you would be heartbroken over it. I'll try to make it up to you." Wiggling her fingers "Alright, thanks again Mur'dah. You two take care."