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.
Zekiel is walking through the clearing, glancing around every so often as he moves. The young man is either looking for, or trying to avoid, someone. Or possibly both at the same time. He's not especially keeping on exactly where he's going, though there is enough of one to stop short just before he walks into Parra.
Hesketh backwings to a landing, carefully settling his wings in place before lowering himself to the ground so that R'sul can dismount. Sliding down Rus pulls a bag with him, placing it on the ground beside him before moving to release another from Hesketh's riding straps. The edges of several books can just be glimpsed through the opening of the bag on the ground, and from the shape of the bag being released from the straps it would be a safe bet that one is the same.
Her eyes snap up from her journal, slowly closing the book and slipping the pen into a slot in the binding. She glances up at Zekiel, glad that he's topped before he walks into her. "Afternoon," she greets politely from her spot down on the ground, a small smile crossing her face. Ellae pops into the clearing from *between*, sending a wave of cold air down with a sweep of her wings. Parra can't help but shiver as the cold air hits her skin, settling down as Ellae curls around her shoulders. She looks up, watching the just-arrived rider with mild curiosity.
Zekiel just stands there for a moment, embaressed to have almost walked into Parra and pondering if there's any way to escape. Deciding in the negative, he offers quick nod. "Afternoon. Sorry about that." His gaze follows hers then, for a moment, spotting R'sul but not showing as much interest as the younger girl does.
R'sul is oblivious to his audience, which is perhaps a good thing. He mutters as the buckle on the strap refuses to release properly, tugging at it furiously until it finally lets go. Unfortunately it releases so suddenly that he has to make a clumsy grab for the bag, not managing to catch it before it hits the ground.
Golmanth pops out of between in the sky above, circling around smoothly and coming in for a landing in the largest clear area he can spot in the clearing. M'ric has a passenger on board, who appears to be a harper of some kind. Upon landing, he helps the harper dismount, and waves after the man as he runs off, small bundle in hand. M'ric takes his time dismounting, and then glances around the clearing.
Waving a hand in dismissal, Parra sighs and brushes Zekiel's apology aside. "It's alright," she insists, shooting him a small, warm smile. Ellae chirps up at Zekiel, the jade green offering a scolding for the young man where Parra has not. "Shush!" Parra scolds her green, frowning. "Busy, today," she comments offhandedly, gesturing towards the struggling R'sul and then the just-arrived M'ric.
"Thanks." Zekiel murmurs, before looking thoughtfully at the small green. He seems almost amused, though he's doing his best not to show it. "Pretty big noise from a tiny little thing." He remarks to the green, wincing as R'sul fumbles with the bag. Then M'ric has arrived, and the young man's gaze travels over to the brownrider.
R'sul pauses to pick up the bag and look over the contents carefully. A quick nod confirms that there's no damage and he turns round and finally spots people. "Good day to you." A slight polite bow is given towards Parra and Zekiel, before he continues, "Do you think you could point me in the direction of…" he pauses as another dragon wings in, then calls, "M'ric! I heard you'd settled over here."
M'ric waves to Zekiel, and then he's hailed by R'sul. He looks around, and grins. "Hey R'sul! Long time no see. How you and your lifemate doing?" He grins at the other rider, and waves to his bronze.
Ellae seems awfully proud of herself for producing such a noise; she chitters excitedly and jumps into the air, hovering near Zekiel's head. "Oh, Ellae, stop that," Parra scolds once more, standing and reaching around to brush the dirt from her bum. "Sorry about her," Parra offers to Zekiel, shrugging and swatting at her green. "Oh, uh, good day to you sir," Parra hurriedly offers to R'sul, offering him a polite curtsy.
"It's alright, I'm fairly sure this is mostly what they do." Zekiel replies, eyeing the hovering firelizard thoughtfully. R'sul is given a nod, and a greeting of "Sir.", and M'ric's wave is returned before the young man's attention returns to that firelizard, just in case.
"Good, good." R'sul replies, hooking one bag over his shoudler and clutching the other to his chest as he moves towards his clutchmate. "Finally started on my book." His next comment seems to be directed to the group as a whole, "Need to do some digging in the archives here, but need permission first. Who do I speak to?"
M'ric grins. "Good for you. Not sure I can be much help though… I'm pretty new around here still myself. Still a guest, really." He smiles happily. "A welcome one though…" Golmanth rumbles a warm greeting to Hesketh, eyes whirling happily. M'ric glances back at his dragon, snorting a bit. "You don't need to share that Golmanth. Be nice to your brother."
"She should behave herself," Parra insists, swatting at the green again. Ellae heaves a sigh and settles herself back around Parra's shoulders, offering Zekiel an apologetic chirp. "Um, if you're looking for someone in authority, you could try looking for Weyrwoman Niva or Weyrleader C'ian," Parra offers R'sul with a bright smile.
Zekiel offers Ellae a shrug and a sympathetic look in regards to the chirp, as if to say 'Yeah, I know how it is.'. He glances back to the riders, then, now that the firelizard has stopped hovering. He's got nothing to contribute for the moment, though, since Parra has things well in hand.
Hesketh rumbles back to Golmanth, dipping his head in an echo of his rider's earlier bow. R'sul grins back at M'ric and nods, "We should talk later, catch up on things. If you have time, anyway. With any luck I should be around a while." parra's reply is greeted with a huge smile and another little bow. "Perfect, thank you." A glance to Zekiel, then back to Parra before he asks, "Don't suppose you know where either is at the moment?"
M'ric grins. "Yes, we should. Life has been busy for me lately… Be good to sit down and find out how you've been." He glances over to Zekiel and Parra, grinning at them. "And Parra's right… Nive or the weyrleader are your best bet. Ethne might be able to help out too."
"I believe that the Weyrwoman may be on the Sands, but I have no idea as to the Weyrleader's whereabouts," Parra answers with a slight frown at the uncertainty of her reply. "Ethne is most likely in her weyr," Parra offers brightly. "My cousin did say that she had some paperwork to do, I think," she offers R'sul, hoping that she's been helpful.
"I'm afraid I can't offer you any better ideas than she has, sir." Zekiel replies with a shake of his head after a moment, falling silent then and just glancing around thoughtfully between the others present.
"Wonderful, thank you… um…" R'sul blushes slightly, "I'm sorry, I appear to have completely forgotten my manners. R'sul, archivist and transport rider from Ierne." Introductions are made quickly, but his ears still burn red with embarassment.
M'ric grins. "Pretty sure everyone here knows me and Golmanth…" He glances around, and spots Mellonath. "Well, Ethne can't be too far off."
"Zekiel, sir." The young man replies with an inclination of his head towards the bronzerider. "And really, it's fine." He glances to M'ric then, moving slightly closer to the older man. "Are you and your dragon well, M'ric?"
R'sul nods several times over, "I should… I'll just…" he nods in the direction of the sands where Niva allegedly is residing. "Nice meeting you Zekiel. I'll come and find you later M'ric." With another little bow he heads off in search of someone in charge.