Pebbles for Keziah

Xanadu Weyr - Beach

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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.
One of the large fire pits has been erected on the beach, mimicking those that are now occupying the clearing, and its around this that a large animal has been spitted and is currently roasting, pulled by a pair of canines who are seemingly well behaved. Various boxes of ice are set around the beach with large glass jars of chilled juices, while flat breads and sliced vegetables are spread on makeshift tables. The beach is lit with various torches, and as dusk is falling, people are starting to mingle.


Neferennu kicks her sandals off at the edge of the grass and pads down onto the sands of the beach. "I heard someone had decided to foster the baby, but I didn't expect it to be you." This is said with a smile as she nears the girl and baby. "May I sit with you?" A bit more quiet this time and she nervously shifts the position of the stylus above her ear, tucking it into her pulled up hair to keep it in place.

Keziah glances up and then nods. "I couldn't let her be abandoned again." she says with a smile, but yes go right ahead, plenty of room on the blanket." she shifts over a little, but she still keeps an eye on the baby. "Mother says she's going to be coming for a visit. She's thrilled to no end." She laughs a little and shakes her head some. Even as she does this, she does cast little glances around.

Neferennu chuckles and carefully sits down on the edge of the blanket so as not to disturb the sands too much. "I can understand that. If I wasn't so busy, or so young, I might've seriously thought about fostering her. My mother would probably be here the next day. I swear she can't wait for me to find someone and start having kids of my own, despite the fact she waited until her mid-twenties to have kids." A roll of the eyes and the notebook she was carrying under her arm is set to the side. "I'm glad she's okay though. How are you doing though?"

Keziah laughs "I really didn't give anyone much of a chance. I went right back after her that night. After all, there's a reason I found her." she notes as she smiles fown at Mirai who's sucking on the leg of the stuffed toy. "We've been doing good." a pause and then a glance at Rennu "Been a bit odd the last few days though."

Neferennu raises her eyebrows and then her brow wrinkles in a frown. "Well, I don't remember much of that night after you found her, but why has it been odd?" She crosses her legs and leans forward a bit to watch the sucking of the stuffed toy for a minute.

Keziah grins "I hear things got a little interesting after I left." she adds and then glances towards the sky a little and then just shakes her head "No reason really I guess, I mean. I dunno if I should say anything to you, but it's sorta worrisome and all, and well." she trails off a little and shrugs "Though I guess it's likely just a prank like the love letters were."

Neferennu looks a bit embarrassed but luckily she doesn't turn bright red. Instead, she avoids talk of what happened that one night by looking concerned about letters. "Oh, a prank like love letters? What did you get?" The infliction on the you makes it seem like she has gotten something as well, but is more curious about what Kez got instead. As she gets more nervous, her left goes up and she begins twisting a strand of hair of the part left down.

Keziah glances curiously at Rennu and doesn't answer the question right away. "Did you get something?" she asks after a moment. As Mirai starts to fuss she picks up the child and holds her in her arms, wincing a little as her hair is pulled.

Neferennu sighs softly. "In returning to my cot to change clothes so I didn't smell like redwort, I found a note on my bunk. Something about the end is near, but no idea where it came from. I'm almost wondering if it was delievered to the wrong cot." A worried look then she shakes her head. "It probably isn't anything. What did you get?"

Keziah stiffens just a little and then shakes her head somewhat "It's what I got. Well, that was the first one I got." she's silent as she lets her finger be grabbed and sucked on. "And then someone well, verbally passed on a message, but they were so quick I never caught who it was."

Neferennu blinks and is at a loss for words for all of a second before she bursts out. "What? You got the same thing? What was the verbal message?" Maybe that was a bit too loud and she bites her lower lip, looking at Mirai just waiting for the crying. "Oh, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have yelled. I just have been trying to ignore it."

Keziah startles at the outburst and bounces Mirai a bit who is blinking owlisly at the moment. She opens her mouth, but instead of a scream a burp comes out making Keziah giggle. A little hysterically almost. But Mirai likes it and she starts to burble and blow spit bubbles. "They just the beach." she murmurs "The other note said something about looking to the skies." she looks up "Which could mean anything really, even meteors or something.

A group of children appear near the top of the beach, giggling and laughing the run down towards the water - their path bringing them dangerously close to Keziah, Neferennu, and Mirai.

Neferennu eases up after Mirai just burps and seems to not have been bothered, letting out a long sigh. "The skies huh? It could mean anything. I hope it is just a prank, I really do." Then the laughs of children are noticed and she leans forward to let her back take any spray of sand that might get kicked up. "Hey you guys, no running or you'll regret it when you get sand in your eyes!"

Keziah shifts a little so that Mirai is away from the kids and any spray coming up. "I never got any sand in my eyes running on the beach." she states with a grin. "It's more like someone else is." She seems to have sorta skipped over the other conversation.

The children turn as one, deliberately running past Neferrenu and Keziah now that there's been the warning shouted. Almost as one they flock towards the group, then off again down the beach. As if on some prearranged signal they split, vanishing off in twos and threes.

Keziah — You feel a tugging on your hand as the children rush past, once they've gone you spot two pebbles lying at your feet which one of them had tried to push into your hand - one black, one white.

Neferennu chuckles. "Well, I did once. In a group like that, I got too close to another of the kids and got sand right in my eye. Luckily I got it out before my vision was compromised. I still get light spots occasionally though, but I think that is from sitting at one of the computers studying for too long." A hearty laugh that then turns into a scrowl as the children deliberately move closer then go away. "Aren't the nannies supposed to be watching those children?"

Keziah is startled as they come close and then as they disappear. "You know kids, they'll be off on their own at times." she murmurs and then looks down on the blanket. A frown appears on her face as she picks up a black and a white pebble. "One of them must of dropped them."

Neferennu shakes her head and straightens back up. "Yes, I know but I wouldn't let young children play in the water unattended. What if one of them gets in trouble?" Now the natural mother instinct seems to show through for a moment but then it is gone. "A black and white pebble? That's odd. I haven't seen one like that before."

Actually two pebbles, one black, one white. Keziah hmms alittle "Well, one never kows. Some of the riders watch their own and maybe they're around here some where." she murmurs as she looks around. "Though, they didn't go in the water, so maybe as long as they stayed out they were allowed to come down." She looks again at the pebbles. "Well, no harm was done."

Neferennu nods slowly and pulls the notebook into her lap and opens up to a blank page. On the other page is a picture of a lavender plant in bloom. "Maybe. Sorry, just don't like the idea of kids in water unattended." The stylus is taken down from her ear and she begins sketching the pebbles at the top of the page, coloring in one side black. "So are you off-duty today?"

Keziah gives a nod "I am now. I had the late shift and was of this morning. There's a couple of mares that need to have an eye kept on them. So I was on call pretty much. So I'm off tonight." she notes "But yeah, playing int he water, that wouldn't be good, but at least they didn't go, and well we were here as well"

Neferennu nods and doesn't look up from her shading. "Well, at least that is good. I was preparing tinctures this morning but I have the rest of the day off unless I'm asked to go weed the garden again. I'm trying to come up with a good formula for perfumes that can be made with the almond oil I already have." Then it dawns on her about mares. "I've noticed a couple of the mares were quite large when I went in to check on my mare my parents got for me. Are they close to giving birth?" She is assuming the mares are pregnant. With this question she looks up at Keziah, with a glance to Mirai to see how the girl is faring.

Mirai is starting to fall asleep. She keeps yawning and then sticking her fist in her mouth. Forget sucking on a finger or thumb. She wants the whole thing. Kex is starting to watch the shading "Oh yeah, they are and these two have a tendency to not carry full term. They're both full sisters as well." she shakes her head a little "Kinda of a good thing though, they've a tendency towards large foals, but then they're both pretty big gals themselves."

Neferennu ahs and nods, then goes back to the shading. It is finished pretty quickly. "I guess that is a good thing then. I don't know anything about runners except that they eat certain foods and can be ridden."

Keziah grins "They also poop a lot as well. But not so messy as bovines, but not as cleanly as caprines." she remarks "But, it's good fertilizer none-the-less." she states with a shrug. "Runners are also good for transport, hauling wagons and the like. Dunno how well they taste though. Caprines taste good, but everyone's adverse to eating a runner and caprines are smarter even."

Neferennu shakes her head. "Now I'm getting confused." A short laugh and then the book is closed and put away, along with the stylus. "I am clueless when it comes to large animals. I only took care of a feline."

Keziah grins "It's okay. I confuse people in general." she notes as she carefully lays Mirai back into the basket. "Runners aren't bed, but I do like caprines. They have such personalities and all. They're not minless like ovines either."

Neferennu hms. "Well, I don't know about that. I deal with dragonkind, which always have different personalities, well I will deal with them anyways." She leans back on her hands.

Keziah can't help but giggle "Yeah, they do have some interesting personalities. Adinaeth is certainly an interesting one." a thoughful look "Course L'alie is as well."

Neferennu snorts. "Well, they can sometimes be a bit stupid too when they push their limits and end up hurting themselves. Especially when they are young."


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