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.
It's shortly after breakfast and much of the traffic coming from the caverns has settled down as people disperse to their various agendas. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue, not a cloud to be seen just the lightest of breezes to tickle the hairs on the skin. Already it's warm and some people murmur as they move past about it likely being a scorcher today. In the sky appears an emerald green who spirals downwards and lands neatly in clearing. Keziah slides down, pulling the her leathers off as she does. "That was fun." sbe notes looking pleased as Alo rumbles "I don't care what anyone else says, but sweeps aren't all that boring. So many interesting things to see." And here speaks the one that explores on foot to just explore.
Faraeth settles into the clearing beside Alosynth with a quiet rumble and M'nol chuckles as he slides down as well, "Faraeth says that there should have been people to save. Personally, after that earthquake I'm glad to be doing sweeps and finding no one in trouble." The first thing off his his helmet, his hair starting to grow back to a more reasonable length, but still short and odd-looking, then goes the jacket and he sighs, "I never knew Pern was so beautiful."
Keziah chuckles "Well, I'm just as glad there is no one that needs saving. I prefer people being safe and healthy." she notes and then shrugs "Course I don't have a, oh what was that Old Terran story again. Oh that's right. White Knight syndrome" she remarks and then she nods "Aye, very beautiful, much different going over it by air though. Whole other perspective."
M'nol nods and chuckles, "I'm with you. I'm just as happy that no one needs our help." He looks around the clearing, then chuckles, "Can you believe it's been nearly two turns? It's almost my turnday again."
Keziah chuckles "Time goes by fast doesn't it?" she asks and then hmms "I had my turn day not too long ago. They just come and go like any other day." she notes and then smiles "So that's gonna make you what 14? No 15 isn't it?"
M'nol nods and smiles, "Yeah, 15. Can't imagine where all the time went. It seems like only yesterday I was a scared kid away from home, and now…" he motions expansively, taking in the Weyr, Faraeth, his fair of firelizards, "There was a time I thought I'd have no choice but to be a miner."
Keziah looks around and then looks back at M'nol "Well, you've come a long way since when I first met ya." she notes and leans back against Alosynth and glances up at the sky. "You know, I can't remember if I was scared or not when I left home. I just remember excitement anymore. Course I was being sent off to do something I loved. Being with the critters." There's a pause "I do remember being scared the first time I got to watch the caprines on the range on my home. It was also exciting as well." She glances over at M'nol "And you, a shy seeming little miner and now you're off on patrols looking out for people."
M'nol chuckles, "Thanks Kez… Yanno, Da sent me down here to keep the harper from trying to send me to the Harper Hall. Didn't want his son to do any of that lazy stuff." He takes on a sagely if mocking tone, "Miners work hard, yanno. Only miners and smiths really do anymore." He nods sagely, "I can say that Da's wrong about that one. Never thought raising a dragon would be harder work than the mines, but it was." He chuckles again, "And you with your critters. You know I used to be even more scared of you than I was of Cen?"
Keziah blinks a moment and looks surprised. "Scared of me?" she asks looking a bit startled "Whyever for would you be scared of me?" She shakes her head a bit at that "Well, I suppose I can have a bit of a temper at times." She hmms thoughfully and then grins "Ya, lots of things require hard work." she pats Alosynth who whuffles a bit "Yes silly. Hard work keepin' up with ya some times. You've settled some though." she leans her head against the green and smiles "Isn't it wonderful to have someone just love you unconditionally no matter what and is many times much larger than you? It's just not the same as canine or caprine affection. Not that Marley and Scamp aren't affectionate when not working, or Nougat iffen he things he can get a treat outt me."
M'nol chuckles, "I know, it's silly, right? But you were so much bigger than me… and good with Runners. Kept having nightmares about being trampled by the things." He reaches up, absently stroking Faraeth's chin and nose with a happy sigh, "Nothing quite like it. Don't know what I would do if something happened to this guy. Just can't imaging being without him anymore." His eyes take on a playful glint, "You had a chance to meet the new whers, yet?"
Keziah looks herself up and down and then snorts "Hard to see myself as so much bigger an all." she remarks and then chuckles "Well, I'd been around runners all me life and all. You learn the knack of workin with 'em. THey're herd animals and seek a leader. Tis their instinct. You become that leader, and be a strong one and they don't challenge that. If the leader isn't strong, they'll challenge that since the want a strong leader." Theres a pause, course she's lookin' curiosuly at M'nol "Actually, no I've not." she notes "Course, wouldnae wanna lose a hand or somethin by gettin' too close, seein as I ain't on of theirs."
M'nol chuckles again, "I was a lot younger then. And runners were a lot bigger. Though I'll still take this brown beastie over a runner any day." His next laugh is almost a bark, "Get bit? Naw, so long as you're polite and their handler's around a wher'll treat you fair. Hysk, my brother's blue, is really nice and polite. Haven't seen him snap at anyone."
Alosynth rumbles softly as she lowers her head to peer at M'nol. Keziah chuckles "She wants to meet a wher as well." she notes and then thumbs the green on her side. "I do enjoy riding her." she notes and then hmms a bit "Maybe I outta let Yina have me runners and all." A pause "Course, the ones that are bred and trained and all do bring in a good price. Perhaps I outta megotiate something with Yina." She hmms a little and then turns her attention back to M'nol "Perhaps we'll have to stop by one of these days." There's a thoughful pause "Don't think I've ever met your brother."
M'nol thinks for a moment, "I dunno if you've met Hyrlon, either… I know Phy and Jessa have. And I think he ran into Tali…" He shrugs, "You'd have to wait until after sunset, but he does enjoy showing the thing off." He chuckles, "Mom still thinks he should've stayed and waited for a bronze. Whers don't work like dragons, color doesn't really mean much in terms of status with whers."
Keziah chuckles "Even in dragons you don't have to let color chose your status." There's a pause "Course, ya can't be Weyrwoman, less you're onna a gold." she chuckles "Course, I'm thinking that fer me. That's a good thing. Though I'm thinking that I wouldn't mind being a wingleader at some point." She looks over at Alo "I think she can do it too. She handled herself pretty well with Zaruath as well too."
M'nol chuckles, "Yeah, but some people still think the shinier the hide the better. She thinks that since I impressed Farry here and my youngest brother managed to bond a brown wher, that Hyrl's fallen behind since he only has a blue." He chuckles, "She's a little status-oriented, though. Personally I think it's amazing that two of my brothers had the opportunity to bond whers at all, it's a great honor among miners."
Keziah head shakes "I'm glad Mother's not like that. She's happy that I'm happy." then there's a rueful look "Course, she's still thinkin I need to provide her with some grandbabies. She want's more than just two, and Casar isn't helpin her any either, what with him and Alimeade only having Cassia so far. And then there's Mirai. I think mother's wantin' a boy."
M'nol shudders, "I'm so glad Ma's not getting on me about that any time soon. 'Course she has 7 others to pester about that." He chuckles, "Ma's proud of all of us, she's just not a miner like da. She's a baker."
Keziah perks up a little "Baker?" she asks and then sighs dreamily "I think if I ever fall in love with a man, I think I want him to be a baker or a cook or something. He has to be really good though." she notes and then she smiles at M'nol "Does she have any specialties? And you're lucky to not be pestered."
M'nol chuckles, "I think she thinks riders don't give their parents grandbabies… something about never really knowing who dad is." He shrugs at that, "She does a bit of everything, kept the whole mine kitchens running. I do miss her bubbly pies, though. The ones here just aren't quite the same."
Keziah chuckles "Well, least you'ld know who the mother is." she remarks with a smirk. "Course, both you and Phy are fairly young and caught up in things. Likely best to wait till Psy's got most of her big trainin' under her belt." she notes
M'nol nods slowly, "Yeah… not that I didn't enjoy… but a kid now would be a lot of trouble. I'm barely past being a kid myself. I'd be happy if she made Journeyman before anything like that developed."
Keziah gives a nod "Would be a smart idea to wait." she notes and then jsut seems at a complete loss for words and hmms.
M'nol nods, "Yeah… no kids for me…" He glances at the caverns, "Think there's still breakfast down there?"
Keziah hmms a bit "Maybe, lets go findout."
M'nol nods and follows