Xanadu Weyr - Forest
In sharp contrast to the treeless, carefully manicured look of the main clearing, the forest is full of trees, and maintains most of its natural look. Wild flowers grow in their seasons, bordering the road leading from the main clearing as weaves its way between the stands of trees - wide enough for traffic of all types, even draconic. Leading off are several smaller, less worn trails, which branch outwards, making their way to private residences and other attractions - the theater for example. The road, though, continues on eastward, to the feeding grounds and the mine, and beyond that, to the coastal road out of Xanadu's territory.
"Icyrith doesn't need a bath today, Nicca, " a bluerider's muttering under his breath as he strides through the forest, heading for the clearing. "And if he did, we have candidates now to help out." Go away, brat. "Don't you have chores to do? Besides, I'm sure your mother could use more help with Kilaueth." Nicca, following behind him, pouts a little. "But I couldn't trade mine off today." The man rolls his eyes and makes a shooing motion with his hand. "Then get to it, child. Stop bothering me about it. It's not like /I/ can do anything to improve your chore situation." As she makes a face and runs off, he sighs, running a hand through his hair distractedly. Onward toward the clearing.
Zekiel pauses in his work as he hears voices coming his way. The young man is currently engaged in setting up a trap off to one side of the path that leads back to the clearing. It's precise, delicate work, so he'll stop for the moment rather than risk being startled at a critical moment. Thoughtful eyes drift in the direction of the voices as he shrinks back against the nearest tree, waiting to see exactly who is coming.
D'eus ambles on down the path, turning slightly to call back over his shoulder, "No, it's fine. C'mon. You can admire the leaves as we head over there." It's not immediately apparent whom he's speaking to until a bulk of blue appears. Icyrith's following his rider, now, lumbering steadily clearing-wards as well. He pauses when they're about halfway there, wedged head turning toward the trees. He stills. "Oh, come on, lump. Probably just an animal. Let's go."
Zekiel relaxes somewhat when it becomes apparently it's not someone who is likely to bother him. He dosn't resume his work though, since that lump of blue is peering into the trees and sometimes dragons like to come investigate. And after you've had a snare disturbed by a dragon's breath a couple of times, the appeal fades. Instead he moves away from the tree, to get a better look.
Icyrith does like to investigate things, especially if they're interesting. And Zekiel is, apparently, interesting, for as the young man steps away from the tree, he moves closer to him, dipping his head down to get a better look, as well. "Icyrith, c'mon. Let him get back to work." D'eus comes up next to him, gesturing apologetically at the hunter. "Sorry about this. He's — " And he motions helplessly at his lifemate. "Incorrigible, " he settles for at last.
"It's alright." Zekiel murmurs to D'eus with a half shrug, peering back at Icyrith as the blue investigates him. "At least he's being polite." There's a pause, before the young man finds something else to fill the silence with. "Anyhow, I'm doing extra at the moment so nobody is going to be mad at me if I take long or it's not too productive."
D'eus raises his eyebrows as Icyrith turns his head a little, enough to place his muzzle fairly close to Zekiel's face. He snorts, releasing a blast of warm air. "Shells and shards, lump, " the rider sighs, fishing around in his pocket. "I know I've got it in here, somewhere … " Ah! He pulls something out and holds it folded in his hand. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced, hunter. I'm D'eus, Icyrith's rider. And Icyrith thinks you should - put hunting to the side for a while and live in the candidate barracks, stand for Mellonath's clutch, all of that." He opens his hand, shaking the white cord out.
Zekiel blinks several times, taken by suprise. Acting on autopilot, he responds with a slightly shaky "Zekiel. Pleased to meet you." There's a long silence then, as if trying to absorb what has just been said. Finally, it's broken as the hunter glances down at that white cord. "D'eus, Icyrith, I'm honored but…" He pauses then, as if a memory has suddenly come from the back of his head to the front. Whatever he was about to say is swallowed down, and he holds his own hand out as though to shake. "I'm honored, and I accept."
Icyrith rumbles happily, whuffling over his candidate again as his rider shakes the offered hand before dropping the knot into it. "Well, here you go, Zekiel. It's all yours." He grins, then. "I don't mean to take you away from whatever it was you were doing, but I can show you where to move your belongings. Fortunately, you live here, so you don't have far to go." He gestures toward the clearing and heads in that direction, expecting him to follow.
Xanadu Weyr - Candidate Barracks
A long, low ceiling room opens off the entrance hall to the arena, one wall slightly curved as it is set against the outer wall of the arena itself. Cots are set evenly the length of the room, in two rows, each with its own small press at the foot, for personal belongings. Wide windows are spaced along the outside wall, letting sunlight in, while other lights are available for the night time hours.
"Barracks, " D'eus says without preamble as he shows Zekiel into the candidate barracks. "Guys to one side, gals on the other. If I remember right, they restrict you on alcohol and discourage, ah, physical relations with others while you're a candidate." Awkward scratching of the neck, there. "Oh, and chores. There will be those. Just pick a cot that strikes your fancy on the guys' side." He turns then with a reminiscient glance about him. "The weyrlingmaster staff will help you get settled in, I think. Got any questions for me?"
Zekiel glances around thoughtfully, eyes drifting to the cots on the guy's side of the room and passing over each in turn. "No questions, no." He replies softly after a moment, still somewhat struck with the suprise of the situation. "I, uh…" He trails off then, scratching the back of his own neck for a moment. "Thanks. To both you and Icyrith. I hope I'll see you both around the place, sometimes?" For someone with as few relationships, of any kind, as Zekiel, something of this importantce forms a sort of bond for him it seems.
Harleanne is sitting on the edge of her cot when D'eus comes in with a new candidate. The look of surprise on her face, primarily expressed in a slightly quirked eyebrow, is enough to say what words she doesn't offer. She doesn't interrupt, instead choosing to busy herself with rearranging things in her press to look busy since there's a rider in the midst.
D'eus looks surprised at the question, giving the lad a friendly smile. "Of course. We'll be rooting for you." And with a snappy salute, he starts to head out, pausing to spare a glance toward the busy Harley. "Go for the cot if a high-ranked one comes in, " he advises cheerfully. "Harder to see through than the press trick." Grin. And then he slips out.