Xanadu Weyr - Meadow
A large, slightly rolling meadow is set high enough above the riverbank on both sides to avoid suffering from flooding, healthy ground cover and grass spreading out from either side of the dividing river. Scattered amongst the meadow are a variety of weyrs, each with a narrow path leading up to it from a main, winding road. Some are set under a few trees, while others sit by themselves. The meadow continues with gentle rolls and dips, grass tall and short waving in the slightest of breezes, and eventually those hills grow higher and steeper, ending in a large rige that provides a fine view of that meadow and the rest of the Weyr, gazing out over the multicolored roofs of the houses and the cliff that holds the caverns.
Runner stables with the paddock beyond are to the south beyond the meadow weyrs, and a smithy and a woodcraft shop are settled closer in towards the path to the clearing. Trees border the northern side of the meadow, and more of those low, rolling hills can be seen to the northwest. A road passes through the meadow, coming from the east and used by traders and crafters alike. Wagons laden with felled trees from the forests or ore from the mountains are hauled by burden beast up the road through the meadow, over the bridge spanning the river to be processed in the appropriate workshops.
Pride. That is what Zalulia is radiating at the moment, sheer, unbridled pride. She has been working on her whittling since her encounter with Esiae and now, late in the afternoon on one spring day, she feels like she's finally accomplished something. The redhead sits in the middle of the meadow wearing slightly grubby clothes. Surrounding her are bits of wood shavings and discarded attempts at whittling. However, that isn't the point of her focus at the moment. In her hand is a fairly unattractive whittled-down stick, roughly two fingers across. Just like she was instructed to do. Success! Or, at least, the first small success-tasting step leading to proper success. It's enough to make her grin like a goof either way.
At least she isn't baking this time? Kiena's not about to forget THAT experience with the young woman anytime soon. Finding her with whittling tools? Now that will draw her attention! In a sort of wary, curious, way. "Taking up Woodcrafting and leaving Baker behind, huh? Wait —- I thought you were Harper?" she drawls while levelling her with as flat a look as possible. Should she be worried?
No one can just let the baking incident drop, can they? Zalulia is no mind reader but she also isn't deaf to the occassional smokey disaster related rumor. At least the general public doesn't know it was her? She thinks. Dear Faranth, please don't let the general public know it was her. It's not that she's too concerned with what people think of her, although she kind of is, it's just… well sometimes you don't want to end up known for just one thing. Or get into too much trouble. Oh, hi, Kiena! "This does have to do with harpering," she defends. "I'm learning how to make flutes!" As she speaks she proudly lifts up the stick with one splinter-ridden hand. A frown before she sheepishly adds, "well, I'm starting to learn how to make flutes. Esiae said to whittle a stick to about that size, then she'd show me the rest."
It's a story that will go down in history! At least as gossip goes. The general public probably doesn't have Zalulia's name tied to it though and Kiena's nice enough to keep her mouth shut on that part. As the stick is held up, she leans forwards just enough to peer at it curiously. "Uh huh…" Forgive her if she sounds a little skeptical! "Guess it makes sense that you Harpers would learn to make your own instruments. Shouldn't it be your Journeymen who teach you though?" The last bit is said in a teasing tone.
Truly, Kiena is a merciful soul. Also one with a point. Zalulia frowns before admitting, "maybe, but the urge to learn how can on really quick and kind of out of the bluish. I want to learn now and traking down a Journeyman just seemed so… like it would take up so mjuch time. Time that could be spent grinding stuff into other stuff." She emphasises this with a wave of her splintery stick. It was once a larger stick, now it is now. "Besides, I think I've got a hand of it." Kind of. As much as she has anything under control, really.
"Y'know… Impatience doesn't get you far in any Craft?" Kiena counters with a smirk, crossing her arms across her chest as she shifts her weight to one hip. She's not scolding Zalulia, but she's definitely amused! One hand is extended outwards. "Mind if I take a look?" Just how much does this young woman trust the bluerider? It could be a trap!
"I might not be a great crafter then," she conceeds. Zalulia doesn't appear particular shameful about this fact. She knows that she's good at some things, just maybe not particularly common things. Or things that people might expect. Or useful things in general, but, hey, don't go around underestimating her! Or calling her useless. "My folks wanted me to do something. Harpering is, well, I have a pretty alright voice." She shrugs before handing the stick over to Kiena. Apparently she trust her quite a bit! Hopefully said trust won't lead to something terrible.
Kiena snorts, "You're probably just fine, Apprentice. Just impatient! It's not entirely a fault." Just one that sometimes leads to (mis)adventure! Chuckling, she tilts her head a bit. "Pretty alright? Is that another way of saying mediocre or are you just being humble?" she muses. Ooh, how she loves to tease! Her old habits are returning. Taking the stick from Zalulia, Kiena observes it up close and she hands it back, undamaged, with a click of her tongue. "Good for a start." Not that she's any expert with whittling! "Harpers do more than just 'sing', though. Think you're going to do instrument making then?"
"Well, I don't see a point to patience," Zalulia remarks. "All it seems to do is make things go slower." Plus it doesn't lead to shenanigans nearly as often. Not that she would know, for the redhead has been fairly impatient all her life. Her compliment recieves a grin and, "thank you!" She stands up then, wobbling briefly on sleepy legs and burshing her hands off on her shirt. "'Pretty alright' is another way of saying I'm not really sure. I've been told I'm good but… eh. I'm not really into it, to be honest." A shrug. "Same with instrument making. I've just started but it seems really… splinter-y. Kinda hurts. I want to try and get at least one flute done, though! If I don't I got all covered in wood bits for nothing." It's a matter of pride, really. Pride and not making all this time have been spent in vain.
"There's a reason for things to go slower," Kiena counters again but now one has to wonder if she isn't just doing it to see how far she can get under Zalulia's skin. Brows lift as Zalulia further explains her reason for whittling that roughly carved flute to begin with. "So… you're not certain if being a Harper is even what you want?" she asks slowly, seeking clarification. While her arms cross again and her focus is entirely on the young woman, a lithe looking cerulean blue dragon comes stalking out of the shadows — well, kind of. He WAS resting there but now he stretches and simply sits there, sentinel-like, but definitely watching this exchange from afar.
"What reason?" comes Zalulia counter-counter. She likes things fast. Kiena thinks there's a reason for some things to go slower? Explain! Really, she does like learning, even if she doesn't always use the information or go by set standards in the future. To get under Zalulia's skin you first need to crack through a thick shell of combined stubbornness and eagerness. The question, though, that throws her for a loop. Why does Kiena care about that? "Yeah," she slowly confirms. "I mean, it's something, which I suppose it's better than nothing, but it's not really a interesting or fulfilling something, as least not to me, if that makes sense. It just… is." Singing is easy for her. Where's the challenge in dedicating yourself to something that comes easy to you? Zalulia likes a challenge. She doesn't notice the lurking dragon as she explains. The shadowdragon.
Kiena wasn't quite expecting to be countered and caught! She shrugs her shoulders, "Well, if you're impatient in Smithing, it usually ends up with explosions or worse. Chemical burns, getting your hand sliced…" To demonstrate, she'll show the palm of her one hand where some faint scarring crosses the skin. See? "Guess for you, it means your work will always have a rushed feel to it. Can't always go charging in — even if it's FUN that way." Is that a grin? Maybe. She didn't hear that last but from her though! Chuckling, she nods. "Nah, it makes sense. So why stick with Harpering then? Why not switch out and try something else?" What's with all those questions? And Ujinath seems to be a smidgen closer now. Shadow dragon? Or creeper dragon?
Zalulia winces at Kiena's scar. Still, she's not a smith. Some of the stuff she goes may touch that area, but at the time time it touches many areas while managing to fit into none. Either way, Kiena wins in that round. Kinda. Maybe it's a tie? Whatever it may be she lets her have her point, ony murmuring, "fun is fun though." Isn't rushed fun in a way? Does it even count as rushed if it's the sort of thing that happens quickly anyway? So many questions and so few people with the patience to answer them all. The least she can do is answer some of her questions in return. "I don't know, really. I don't know why I have and I don't know what I'd do. I mean, I do bits and bobs but I don't really have interest in any one craft in particular." Can 'learning' and 'doing stuff' be classiufied as crafts? She'd be all over those. By now the inching dragon is noticed, resulting in a surprised look. Creeper dragon indeed.
Kiena laughs this time, "True. Fun IS fun… but not if you lose a limb in the process." How long is this game of countering going to go on? Amusement aside, the bluerider does sober up a bit and gives the young woman a reassuring look. "Don't fret over it. I was just curious… Honestly, if there's one thing I know, you just gotta do what you enjoy. End story, really." Noticing her surprised look, Kiena is puzzled until she turns her head and spies Ujinath lurking not far behind her. With a huff, she faces Zalulia again and juts her thumb over her shoulder. "Don't worry about him. Ujinath's got his quirks." No kidding.
Zalulia… doesn't have something to counter that with. Kiena wins, limb loss is terrible! As the bluerider sobers up so does the redhead, a relieved look briefly touching her face. No fretting? She can do not fretting. "It's just a matter of finding something I enjoy that's doable. I know I like learning, and action, and, well, trying things. New things. Oh, and people! I think I like people most of that time." Like a light flickering on and off, that peppiness is back. She moves onto the balls of her feet to peer over Kiena's shoulder at Ujinath. "What kind of quirks? Is being sneaky one of 'em?" Because he does seem like an awfully sneaky dragon.
"Yeah… you could say being sneaky is one of them." Kiena admits while Ujinath rumbles from behind her in a manner that sounds almost impatient. With a roll of her eyes, the bluerider mutters something under her breath and starts to reach into her jacket pocket. There's a grin as Zalulia shares what she does love and perhaps it's half to tease the woman and perhaps a test to see if she has any sort of reflexes in her because she'll end up tossing the item she pulls from her pocket right at her. Not that it's dangerous! Or even heavy enough to cause damage. No, it's just an innocent white knot! "Innocent".
She knew it! Zalulia is good at sensing sneaky sneaks when they're being sneaky around her. However, she barely has any time to bask in her accomplishment, because before she knows it there's something being thrown her way. A white something! The apprentice sqeuaks in surprise as she jerks forward to catch the item. Once it has been secured she moves to hold it carefully in front of her, and then… bam. Zalulia has been rendered speechless. It's a miracle! Her lips form a slight 'o'. When she remembers how to make intelligent sounds she askes, "am… am I being searched?" Kiena knows that might result in her impressing, right?
Kiena knows all too well but she's learned not to argue with Ujinath when he's deemed someone Searchable. She laughs again, "You are!" That was too much fun and Zalulia's expression and reaction probably made it all worth it. "Ujinath here senses something in you. So it's up to you, if you'd like to accept the offer to Stand for Kairoikyriath and Saburath's clutch! You'll have to let your Journeyman know but you don't have to quit being a Harper entirely. You will be doing new stuff though." Chores, mostly, but… she'll just forget to mention that.
Zalulia is searchable. Zalulia is searchable? Zalulia is searchable! The apprentice harper is trying to prosess to many things, and in her attempt to process those things her face has settled into a very interesting expressiom. However, as surprising as it all is it doesn't take her long to make her decision. "Yes!" Did she properly think this through? Who knows! But it's new, it's a challenge, and she is definitely up for it. "Thank you, and yes, I would love to stand." Another glance at Ujinath. "You can't hug dragons, right? Could you tell him that I'd hug him if I could?" Words are spilling out of her mouth but her mind is still swirling. Candidate! Her! Dragons! Eggs! Things! Things that involve settling in. Looks like the rest of her day's just been booked.
"Perfect!" Kiena answers with a wider grin and then she bursts out laughing when Zalulia makes her request. Ujinath, however, is retreating. This blue does not like hugs! Or affection (unless it's from Kiena)! No hugs. No. He makes a hasty retreat back to his "shadows" where he hunkers down and lurks. Waiting, perhaps, to spring on another target or pin one for further tracking and observation. Such is his way! "Some dragons don't mind. Ujinath? … he appreciates the gesture." Uh huh. She grimaces, slightly apologetic. "Glad you're excited about it though. You best get yourself organized! Settle with your Craft, get moved into the barracks, sign in with the Headwoman — all that fun stuff."
Zalulia starts grinning like a dork, eyes briefly darting over to Ujinath when Kiena claims his appreciation. Those eyes? Those are the eyes of someone she's going to hug themselves a dragon one day. However, she has things to do right now. "Yes, you're right, I'll… I'll go do that!" So many things! Zalulia heads about doing those things with fervor, officially marking one more for the upcoming clutch.