Summer's Here Again
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Xanadu Weyr - Shore of Lake Caspian
The cliffs that run along the shore come and go, various weyrs nestled along the tops of them or dug into the walls, but eventually they recede enough to expose a beach. The white sand echoes the rise and fall of the cliffs with a multitude of sandy dunes, endlessly creating tiny valleys that are constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of dragons. The dunes smooth out as the gentle slope approaches the edge of the deep blue water. The sand darkens, and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect.
The beach narrows to the southwest, leaving a path barely wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to a smaller, more sheltered cove. The sands are the same white, the waters the same blue, but they're calmer and more tranquil, more protected from the winds that ruffle Lake Caspian and the currents that tug beneath the surface.
Rough, wide stairs lead up to the meadow above and the road that runs along the top of the cliffs, passing through the fields and heading for the river mouth that can be just barely seen from here. The largest of the staircases up the cliff is located near the docks that jut out onto the peaceful blue waters.


Summer is well and truly here, and it's hot. At least the breeze off lake Caspian provides some amount of cooling for the day, and the waters lapping up on shore do the same for those splashing and playing in them. There's plenty of people out on the beach, but Soriana's gone a bit further from the heart of the Weyr than most of them, far enough along the shore that it's relatively quiet. She's perched on a boulder at the water's edge, legs curled beneath her as the waves splash up around the base of the rock. Out on the waters, dragons and dolphins play, and a bit closer to shore, a fair of firelizards dive and fish in the shallows. Soriana seems to be watching those, at the moment… or at least vaguely staring at them as she thinks.

Mur'dah comes jogging down the beach in swim trunks and shoes, moving at a good clip in the wet, packed sand along the shore line. Putting distance between himself and the crowds, his attention is briefly captured by the dolphins in the water and the teen stumbles before catching himself with a laugh. "Typical." Slowing, he bends to tighten a shoe and stretch, and the he glances up and around and spots Soriana. "Hey!" he calls breathlessly, with a wave.

Idrissa is often found on the beach, lets face is she doesn't live /that/ far from the Lake after all, and who could not hang around this place in there free time? She wanders along, on her own save for a few firelizards that are following close by, that is until they catch sight of the others and are soon zipping off to catch up to them in the shallows. Rissa seems alright with it and continues her treck down the beach, heading closer towards where Mur'dah and Soriana happen to be.

Soriana may be in the quieter part of the beach, but it's certainly not empty, and so while a sound gets her attention, she's not particularly surprised. Neither is she surprised by seeing more firelizards flit out to join the fisherfair! Soriana smiles as she looks over to Mur'dah and waves back to him. "Heya!" she says, then grins. "You're watching out for crates, right?"

Mur'dah rolls his eyes with a laugh as he walks closer, leaning against the boulder she's sitting on so he can remove a shoe and dump sand out of it. "Trying to, but there are other hazards on the beach to watch out for. How're you? Beautiful day." Ahh, summer. He loves this time of turn.

Idrissa continues along the path that brings her closer to the boulder where the two are now at. A glance is sent over the area before she looks back to them. "Hey guys.." Is offered after a moment, a slight wave even seen.

"Well, keep an eye out for those, too," Soriana says with a grin to Mur'dah, then nods. "It's being nice, yeah. Bit warm, but…" she shrugs. That's summer for you?" She looks up to Idrissa and waves cheerfully to her. "Hey there!" she says, then looks back to Mur'dah as she adds, "I'm doing well, just…" She smiles. "…taking a bit of time to relax." She stretches, as if to demonstrate. "What about you?" Soriana asks it to Mur'dah, then glances to Idrissa as well.

Mur'dah turns, grinning wide over at Idrissa as she approaches. "Hey! How's it going?" He gestures her closer, shifting aside and leaning against the boulder again to dump out the sand from his other shoe. "Have to keep an eye out for everything," he chuckles, stretching and then slouching against the warm rock. "Relaxing is essential to health. I'm great, just out for a run." Obviously. "Swim later, most likely."

Idrissa moves onwards and pauses long enough to hop up on the side of the boulder and looks out towards the water a few moments while the firelizards zip around the area. She soon looks back to the two, a soft smile seen. "I'm alright, how you both been?" This questioned before she pushes back a bit of hair that has fallen across her face thanks to the breeze from the lake.

"Everything?" Soriana asks, and laughs as she looks out along the beach. Maybe she's trying to see the everything. "Well, better keep that eye. And an eye for relaxing, too. Good thing you've got two eyes?" She looks back to Mur'dah, and nods. "Seems like a nice day for it. Well, maybe a bit warm for the run, but that's why the swim after, right?" Out in the water, the firelizards chase a school of minnows, and Soriana smiles to Idrissa. "Oh, pretty well. A bit busy, but, well… that happens."

Mur'dah watches Idrissa with a touch of concern when she seems so distant, but when she looks back he's smiling. "I've been great. Actually got to go riding yesterday, and it felt great to be back in the saddle." He grins back at Soriana. "Yeah, everything. Holes, critters, kids, firelizards, sunbathers, rocks, shells, driftwood…everything! And exactly. Run, then swim, then done. Enjoy my day off."

Idrissa isn't that distant, though at this point in time it could seem like that to the others as she hasn't actually done this in some time, hang out with them that is. "That's good, yeah I could bet you've been busy." She chuckles and smiles to Soriana. "How's Skyler liking the little unliving Nugget? I was wonering how well it had stood up to him playing with it."

"I'm sure they're grateful to not be fallen on, too," Soriana says. "Not to mention the sand!" As well as the lack of sand (i.e. holes) and everything else in the sand. She grins about his time in the saddle, "Nice," then looks to Idrissa. "How's Red Feathers doing, anyhow?" The question about the substitute-Nugget makes her laugh. "Well, hasn't broken yet! And it doesn't complain when he chews on it, either." Unlike the living one! "He's been having fun with it."

Mur'dah just chuckles quietly, shrugging a shoulder and hopping up onto the boulder to perch with his clutchmates. "I'm guessing it's a toy?" he interjects with a grin.

Idrissa smiles and nods to Mur'dah. "Yeah, I got him a little bronze figure when I was out at Irene Weyr a while back for his turnday. It has 'chomping' action." This said with an amused tone at the thought. "I'm glad to hear your both doing alright. Been a while since…" There is a pause and she shrugs a bit. "Since we've talked and all like this."

Soriana nods to Mur'dah's question and Idrissa's answer to it, then laughs. "He hasn't quite figured out how to make it chomp yet, but I'm sure he'll get there. He likes it when it 'eats' his clay animals, though." Even if that still requires a parent's hands to do. She tilts her head a bit as Idrissa continues, then hehs. "I guess we all sort of got busy, didn't we? With… various things."

Mur'dah laughs. "Sounds like he's the one doing the chomping, though." Another quiet chuckle. "Very busy, with…well. I'd say life." He grins, flicking a bit of the boulder down onto the sand beneath them.

Idrissa chuckles and nods looking amused. "I bet he will, then Nugget should watch out as he might make the little figure chomp on him or something along those likes." She offers with an amused tone. A nod is seen about the busy bits and she glances out to the waves once more. "Indeed so."

"Nugget should always watch out," Soriana says, and grins before adding, more seriously, "…though we're working on playing nice and only pretend-chomping." She grins to Mur'dah. "Skyler… mostly… gets it." Sometimes. "I think he mostly likes the silly noises." She laughs and shrugs, then grins wryly. "Just like life, isn't it? Going and giving us things to do. Important things, even!"

Mur'dah chuckles. "It's a good skill for everyone to have, I think. Playing nice and pretend-chomping." His grin is crooked, wry there. "At least until he's much older." Then there are more silly noises too! "Eh, forget all the important things, it's a beautiful day and we're out here on the beach. Life can't get much better than this."

Idrissa grins at the bit on Nugget watching on and she nods while looking amused over the idea. "I'll just make sure Ripley never comes around." Last thing they need is for the grouchy blue lizard to get near a curious little cute Skyler after all. A nod is seen while she hears Mur'dah. "That is so very true. I'm glad it's such a nice day and no rain wandered by."

"Can probably get along with only half of it if you have to," Soriana says to Mur'dah with a grin, then winces a little at Idrissa's mention of her blue and nods. "I think that's for the best." There's… really no universe where Skyler and Ripley would actually be friends. Because Ripley. Soriana glances out to where the various firelizards are playing in the water, and smiles. "We're probably due for some rain." She grins. "It can't be sunny on everyone's restday."

Mur'dah looks skyward and laughs. "Why can't it be sunny on everyone's turnday?" he asks, light and teasing. As if the weather would pay attention to him. "Though swimming in the rain can be a lot of fun too, long as you mind the lightning.

Idrissa is about the only one that Ripley will deal with, for one reason or another that blue lizard is just not right. She chuckles softly. "Nothing wrong with swiming in the rain." There is a pause at the thought and she looks amused "Well, without the lightning really.."

"The farmcrafters would be sad." Soriana grins. "But, you're welcome to try arguing with the clouds." Just look at them, being white and fluffy (and not listening). The lightning part garners somewhat of a concerned look from her. "…if you're careful, I suppose. The rain's fine, just…" Lightning, not so friendly! …just like Ripley. "Today seems nice, anyway."

Mur'dah nods at the ladies with a grin, looking towards the sky once again. He hops off the boulder. "All this talk of swimming, I'm going to go do it. I'll see you guys later okay?" With a wave, the brownrider sheds his shoes and darts into the ocean, swimming out towards the dolphins.

Idrissa nods and grins a bit before she glances after Mur'dah as he moves off to go for that swim it seems. "Talk to you later Mur'dah." She offers before leaning back to settle upon her elbows on the boulder and is once more watching the water. "Naw.. Not arging with the clouds, they always win."

Soriana waves to Mur'dah. "Have fun!" she says, then looks back to Idrissa and laughs. "Yeah, they really do. It's like they don't listen or something. Up there, floating around, being… cloudy…" As clouds do. Soriana glances to Idrissa, then looks out over the water too, watching firelizards, dolphins, dragons, and now Mur'dah.

Idrissa grins at that an nods as she looks a bit amused. "One can just imagen what the cloud would say back it if could… I bet a lot of rattling and grumbling from thunder and the like honestly."

"Y'know, wouldn't surprise me if the clouds do talk back. The thunder, the wind… they're probably just the clouds complaining about things." Soriana laughs. "Probably for the best we can't actually understand them. I doubt they have a very high opinion of us, going and flying though them and hiding under roofs…"

Idrissa grins at the thought and nods. "Oh I bet they think rather poorly of us then. Swishes through them, breaking them up and not caring about the rain while we do such things." Oh such silly talks about clouds.

"Yup, that's us. The poor clouds!" Soriana looks almost serious for a moment, then laughs. "…okay, maybe not." She grins, then tilts her head to look sidewise at Idrissa. "So… you been up to anything fun lately?" A crooked smile. "Besides checking out the toy stores of Pern?"

Idrissa smiles at that while watching the sky a bit more before she glances over to the other. "Not really." Honestly, what does she do? Who knows, half the time she just finds things to keep her busy honestly. "Going here and there for deliveries."

Soriana nods. "I suppose you do kind of have a lot of good opportunities to find stuff, don't you?" She smiles. "What with going around on those deliveries, it's… a good chance to take a look around at places." Soriana hehs. "Before you come back to take care of runner and canine and firelizards and chickens." Did she miss any?

Idrissa nods at that and smiles still. "Pretty much… Though I think I'll be sticking around Xanadu a bit more now. Tahryth is still interested in exploring but, I've been away to long." She grins and glances over to her. "Runner, two canines, the firelizards and chickens."

Soriana tilts her head curiously, then nods. "There's still things to explore close to home," she says with a smile. The reported creatures make her nod, then… wait. "Two canines?" She laughs. "I know Asher, but… when'd you get a second?"

Idrissa nods a bit to the bit on two canines. "I got her a little while ago. Picked her up when I was off on a delivery near a colthold. Little scraggly mutt honestly, still rather young. Figure Asher would enjoy the company."

Soriana laughs and nods. "I suspect he will." Company is good, after all! "And it's probably for the best that she's small, two big dogs like Asher… I'm not sure where you'd keep them. Or what you'd do with them besides maybe have them pull a cart around the Weyr." She grins.

Idrissa chuckles and shrugs. "I'd let them live out in the stable with Feathers honestly." This said with an amused tone. "She's young, still might grow somewhat but I don't think anything close to Asher."

"One actual runner, two canines big enough that they might as well be?" Soriana suggests, and laughs. "Seems reasonable enough to me!" For some values of reasonable. "I'm not entirely sure what Asher's got in him that made him grow that big, for that matter."

Idrissa nods at this and is grinning. "I'm thinking he is part runner honestly, or at least pony I suppose." She offers with a soft laugh at the thought of /that/ happening.

Soriana nods to this in all seriousness except for the lingering grin. "I hear they make extensive use of ponydogs up in the Reaches." Or maybe she just means that they're really reaching with this comparison. "They carry blankets and drinks to marooned travelers after avalanches."

Idrissa ahs and snaps her fingers at this. "Well that makes total sense now honestly. I should get him a little barrel for his neck and everything. That is where they store the drinks I do believe. A harness with packs filled with blankets and the like."

Soriana laughs. "Yes. That is definitely what you should do. Except… well, maybe not the blankets for another couple of months. But you can include… oh, some folding fans, maybe? Grab one as he passes in case his wagging tail doesn't do the job well enough…"

Idrissa laughs at that and grins. "Well that isn't a bad idea in the least. The other canine can carry a pack full of snacks and they could go around making all sorts of friends." Or marks perhaps.

"We'll rename them," Soriana says. "Instead of Asher and…" uh, whatever the female's name is… "They'll be Drinks and Nibbles." Gulpy and Chompy? "It'll be great. They'll be the canine heroes of Xanadu."

Idrissa has yet to name the other canine it seems. "Drinks and Nibbles." This said with a laugh escaping her. "At the next turnday party we're have to get them out and about to make the masses all happy I'm thinking."

"Out there to… lick face and give treats?" Soriana grins. "At least until they figure out how to get into their own packs, and then… you'll have a pair of very happy canines?" And sad masses who don't get their snacks delivered.

Idrissa grins and nods. "Well now that is a thought." She offers with an amused tone before she brushes her hands off and hops down to the sands. "I should get going, tend to thinks before dinner and all." Which /she/ might actually wander out too join other for such things. "I'll see you later."

Soriana nods. "Yeah, okay," she says. "I should probably do the same." Not that she starts moving immediately, because… should and will are sometimes very different concepts! But she does smile to Idrissa, and wave with a, "See you later. Say hi to the critters for me! …and Tahryth!"


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