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 an early autumn morning, there is no ice on the ground no matter what the +today says. Orla for her part is on her way out of the kitchen at this early stage of the day, she pauses outside for a few moments and takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air before she kicks her pack to the side of the doorway and stoops to stick the package she's carrying into it.
Spiraling down wings catching the light breeze is the large form of Senkyou's cinnamon brown Dulacth. The brown lands, Senkyou dismounting and carrying a package. "We're just staying for a moment." The brown is fidgeting a bit. Walking up the steps and spotting the familiarish face of Orla she says, "You mind taking this we're in a hurry."
Orla finishes packing her lunch away and stands up with the pack in hand, with a well practiced heave she flings it up onto her shoulder before turning to watch the brown coming in to land. Given Senkyou is obviously in a hurry she asks without any form of the usual courtesy titles, "I guess, who is it for?" as Senkyou walks over to her brandishing the package.
Senkyou shrugs her shoulder, as Dulacth has begun to act strangely again. The brown has been acting that way, and he moves towards orla very predatory. The browns chivalorous voice saying «Lady senkyou, I'm hungry.» He is walking towards her, moving to sniff the poor thing and senk says "The masterwoodcrafter, and don't mind him." Senk clearly is getting to use to this, Dulacth whips his tail out, as if he wishes to trip orla or at least knock her down.
Orla's eyes harden as they wander to the dragon who is stalking towards her. "I wouldn't mind so much if he'd just stay right over there." She says pointing at the other side of the small courtyard. "There's not a lot of space for manoeuvring round here you know." She tears her gaze away from the brown to look at the package. "For Varian." She replies back "I'd better go get this to him just now, I've got another dragon to catch this morning." She tells her.
Dulacth is following her, just following along sniffing at her and then making to block her way, where does she think she's going. His big faceted eyes get down to hers, «The lady.. I've found you» Nothing like draconic love, though Senk is less amused saying "Dulacth, leave her alone, come on." Senkyou says to Orla, "He's just been a little upset, we've been under stress." Though the dragon is very intent and says in a flush of green banners «I will rescue you! For you're the one I want, my special maiden I've found the one!» Dulacth croons, and Senkyou sits back laughing, but also in a state of horror. "I am so sorry." She says, though it's through laughter.
Orla is oblivious to the dragons mind and can only see a large brown thing trying to block her path, no matter how friendly it might seem. "Could you ask him to get out of the way please, otherwise this package isn't going to be getting to my master." She asks Senkyou with a hard yet imploring gaze, not quite at the irritated stage yet.
Senkyou chuckles, "He says you're what he wants. That you're his lady.. He wants you to follow him." Dulacth finally retreats a bit, the brown confused and looking at Senkyou for comfort. "You don't like her that much, I mean you've got me." Dulacth snorts, apparently there's been a misunderstanding. Senk frowns, walking up to Orla and saying in a very practiced fashion, "Dulacth has asked me to tell you that he would like you to stand for the clutch of Kilaueth and Hesketh as his special guest, my lady." The my lady is said hesitantly, Dulacth has senk well trained.
Orla is still trying to back up for breathing room here. "He wants to Oh you can probably assure him that I'm no lady." She says with a grin appearing. "Though may I ask where Kilaueth and Hesketh are from? I'll need to get Varians permission again and he'll probably want to know that." She again turns her gaze to Senkyou while she asks.
Senkyou is looking very confused, eyes glazed over "He is very confused by you, he tried to speak to you and you didn't reply.." Looking back at her lifemate, who seems extremely out of sorts wings half open eyes whirling a slow lavender. "The clutch is at Xanadu, but I may have to have someone else come. Dulacth was so sure, but now he's." The browns just out of sorts.
Orla shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not amongst the rare couple of people on all of Pern who can hear dragons I guess." She replies to Senkyou. "You can give him my apologies of course unless he can hear me okay?" She asks querying the exchange between them. "Either way I'd still need to get permission from Varien and arrange my workload to be moved elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to go just now anyway. That and this parcel needs to get delivered still." She adds holding up the package Senkyou brought with her.
Senkyou raises an eyebrow, shaking her head slightly and looking at Dulacth "He'll take you, we can wait." Senk gazes at Orla for a long moment, burshing her hair out of her face so it doesn't impair her vision. "I've met many who can hear them, I guess you just can't." The brownrider asks, "Will you be long? I've got other things to do but I must settle you in"
Orla bobs her head while she ponders a moment, face screwing up with the effort of mentally ticking things off in her head. "Probably about an hour by the time I get my work reallocated and get my stuff packed up." She eventually comes out with. "Most of that will probably be tracking down Varien, wherever he goes off to after breakfast." She rolls her eyes with a conspiratal motion.