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.
The chilly air of Xanadu has kept many inside, though it seems that some riders are continuing with their assignments as if they can't feel the cold. Though, given the number of layers that they wear, as well as how much colder between is, they very well may not feel the cold. Vwayath is one of those dragons who is out and about, and he's blinking in from between overhead, before he's spiraling down to the ground. While it originally seems as if he's headed towards the forest, at the last moment, he's sharply correcting his path towards the clearing, elicting a loud yelp from his rider at the sudden directional change, even as he's backwinging to land neatly despite the multitude of packages and bundles strapped to him.
Xarra hugs herself as she hurries into the clearing on an errand and looks up startled when a yelp is heard. Side-stepping instinctively she halts her progress, shivers and wonders as she peers upwards.
Marte is still doing a fair bit of cursing. "Vwayath! What the shards!" And then she's turning to look around her. "Ah ain't hauling all this all the way ta the mine! Ah /told/ ya ta land right there by it!" And there's a few more choice curse words as Vwayath not going completely ignores the ranting of his lifemate, but also seems quite unwilling to head towards the mine. Instead, his attention is on one of the people hurrying across the clearing.
Xarra grins just slightly to herself as she begins to hear the cursings of the rider as they land nearby. Hugging her cloak about her even tighter she starts hurrying on her way again, very aware of the cold that bites at her cheeks as she goes.
Vwayath, it seems, has other plans for Xarra. Even as Marte is giving up on her cursing and undoing her straps to try and get past all the bundles to the ground, the brown sees the young teen starting to move, and is quickly moving to interpose himself in her path. Unfortunately for Marte, this quick movement is enough to send her toppling the rest of the way to the ground, causing another string of curses, though thankfully, she didn't have too far to fall at that point. "Vwayath!" She yelps again, even as the brown is stretching out his muzzle to whuffle warm air in Xarra's direction.
Xarra stops and twirls on her heal with the sudden commotion behind her and the warmth of dragon breath upon her. Seeing Marte has toppled she frowns with confusion at the large Brown and hurries back to help. "Oh dear. Are you alright?" She asks worriedly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Blasted dragon.." Marte curses a bit more, even as she's carefully sitting up, rubbing the back of her head with a soft sigh. While the brown gives his rider a comforting, and perhaps a bit concerned, croon, his large faceted eyes are focused only on Xarra. And then he's turning to whuffle at Marte, giving her a bit of a nudge, trying to urge her up. More was passed with that nudge than just encouragement, however, for now Marte is looking at Xarra with a slightly quizzical expression on her face. "How old are you, girl?"
Xarra offers the Rider a hand up and says, "I am just past fourteen and a half turns. What is up with your Dragon? He's acting rather peculiar. Are you sure you are okay?" She takes a step forward, hand still extended to help.
Marte reaches to take Xarra's hand to get the rest of the way to her feet, even if most of the push comes from her own feet as she rebalances herself. "Fourteen and a half?" And then, Xarra's questions get a nod. "I'll be fine. Just.. got the wind knocked out of me. And, Vwayath wants you to go to the barracks, not wherever you were going. Said you had to join the candidates, for the clutches on the Sands."
Xarra is glad that the Rider was on her feet because her limbs seem to have lost a bit of their strength. Her delicate lips form a perfect O, and she grows very still. All expression draining from her face. Her gaze ever so slowly moves from the rider's eyes to the Brown's, to Vwayath. After an even longer period of time she shakes her head as if to clear it, and turns back. "I…wow." Was all she could manage, and even that came out a bit high in tone, before an excited glow began to dance in her eyes. "Wow!" She fairly yells. "Wait until Mother hears about this! I accept!" Then without thinking she hurries forward to hug the Rider and the dragon too, at least his leg if it did not move.
Marte is chuckling a bit at Xarra's reaction, even as Vwayath is crooning rather joyfully as she accepts. And then, even as the rider is rubbing the back of her head, she's caught in a hug, and she's grinning, patting the girl's back, even as the brown gets one of his own. "Come on, then. We'll get you settled in the barracks. You can get your things soon enough." And then she's waving lightly towards the Hatching Arena, and the barracks housed within, even as she's gently touching the back of her head again.
Xarra does not notice the rider touching her head again as she grins happily and hurries forward to her new home and possibly a new life. "What a wonderful day!" She sings with delight.