Friday, July 12, 2002

Waterfall's Basin

The weyr's fresh-water pool flows clean and clear, almost undisturbed by the river that rests here after crashing down from the heights above. This small bay is neatly surrounded by a series of smooth stone steps and hidden beaches, a haven from the wider lake beyond before the water drops further to the sea below.

One gnarled, ancient tree has survived the ravages of time and Thread, reaching up towards the cliff above and the water below. A set of cruide boards makes the climb an easy one. The beach stretches, wide and warm, the waterfall quite a swim distant.

It is a summer afternoon.

On the perch are four firelizards.

Blue Valanth is here.

Kia and Nadine are here.

Valanth glides down for a smooth landing on the water.Very like one of those water-jet things that just hae the water go splooooosh behind them but not actually get the plane yet. Yeah. Val lands like that. And, of course, pauses by the shore to let his rider off, then sinks back into the basin, dipping down to act all unsuspecting and crocodile-like.

Kia is here and see she even brought along her very on Valanth bath toy. Isn't he cute and sometimes he makes cute little squeeky noises like a little yellow ducky. At least he was nice enough to let her off so she could strip down to her swiming suit the light blue a nice contrast to her tanned skin. Leathers are tucked neatly away where they wno't get wet and then she just stands there as if waiting for something or perhaps just watching her lifemate be himself.

Lyrianna wanders down to the basin, wearing her little plaid Burberry-esque swimsuit and her sarong tied around her waist. Favorite rider (or at least since she rescued her from the corner) is spotted and cheerfully greeted with a wave,"Hey there Kia!" Girl crawls atop a large flat rock to sit on, shedding her towel and sarong and sandals to stay dry up there, then sliding back down to the ground.

Nadine is sitting comfortably in the lower branches of the gnarled and ancient tree, swinging her legs in relaxation and working, yet again, on a tuber sculpture. Seems the old ones started sprouting things and got smelly, as one who passes a certain waste receptacle would know from the mound of them. So Nadine is recarving hers, though the shape it is destined to become is not yet obvious. She hums lightly as she works, a popular Harper tune.

Brid slides down the path, still in her aqua and blue tank swimsuit, large carry-sak slung across her shoulder. Her eyes are at half-mast, the attempt to sleep days is not happening. A smile and a nod is offered the fellow candies, as well as a greeting to the bluerider. Not sure if she knows her or not.

Valanth lurks under the water, only his tail, eyeridges and snout to be seen. Ahah! Three candi victims are spotted, but for now the bloo bides his time.

Kia glances over at the words from Lyrianna and waves cheerfully before she settles down at the edge of the pool letting her feet dangle over in the water. "Looks like we're going to have a party down here Valanth" is noted to the dragon in the water. Fair of firelizards just happens to come swooping down at that moment the green, gold and blues darting about their mistresses head as she watches both her lifemate and those candidates already here

Lyrianna waves to her fellow candie making her way to the basin,"Hi Brid! Have you met Kia?" Bluerider is gestured to as she joins her at the edge of the water, peeing curiously at the dragon. Interesting. Eyes are narrowed in amusement, but no comment is made. "Had a free hour or so, so I thought I'd spend it down here. It's nice than the beach. More trees, rocks, privacy, and spots to hide and read."

Brid blushes, she really doesn't know if she has or not. Silly her, living at a weyr for 5 turns and still not knowing, "Hey Kia? Well, if you have any children, I am sure we have met at some point." Safe answer. "I just needed a quiet place to wake up before I head to the kitchens tonight." Yup, yet more all-night scrubbing.

Valanth continues to lurk in the water. He'll make his entrance eventually.

Kia's eyes gleam thoughtfully at the mention of the children and she just smiles. "No kids so more than likely not. Nice to meet you though Brid though I do seem to remember seeing you around with Izz'y I believe actually" fingers tap on the ground next to her as she ponders this "Aye I do remember that at least, him and Nuadayth talked about you alot." beam there she remembered something. She's having one of those thoughts won't stay in her head days now peeps so give her a break she's been concentrating raelly hard on more than a few little plots of late

Lyrianna shrugs slightly at all of the talk about weyr-people. "Ick. Kitchens? Someone apparantly decided I mopped the living caverns well and have to get some other places mopped too." At least maybe she can find somewhere to mop herself into so she has to perch there until the floor dries. That wasn't tooo bad, although it got sort of boring sitting on a table half of the day and directing people to take off their shoes. "So how've you been, Kia?"

Brid's blus deepens at Kia's words. "Yes, I know Izz'y." Not sure just how much she can say before she starts tearing up. So she avoids the issue completely.. Chores! let's talk chores! "And of course, since I am a nanny, it seems to make sense to have me scrubbing pots and dishes and all that kitchen type stuff." As the flush fades, she can look to Kia and Lyri and wait to hear about the rider's day, pulling a redffruit from her eternal sak. "Anyone want one?"

Valanth finally pops up from his hiding place, drenching Kia and Lyri with a nicely sized wave and leaning his head over to drip on Brid, jaw falling open right in front of the redfruit. Val wants to try one!

Kia won't stretch her little mind into Brid's problem at the moment and sure a change of subject is always good. "I've been good really lately actually, got some things I'm planing and so far they're actually working out" evil grin or semi-evil at least she's in a great mood. Though the drenching from her lifemate doesn't get a scream or even a reprimand just a basking in the water as it puddles down around here "Great job Valanth now I hardly need to get in at all though I think I still might in a minute. We can play that lovely little shipfish game where you try and hide in the water." yeah and Kia can hide on the black sands of ista or something.

Lyrianna opens her mouth to accept the redfruit but....Is suddenly soaked. A strand of hair is peeled out of her eyes and tucked behind her ear as she eyes her rock which still seems to be dry and shrugs. "At least I had my bathing suit on." The blue dragon is eyed. Never seen a dragon attempt to eat a redfruit. This is new.

Kia doesn't really seem surprised by much Valanth does mostly because well they do share thoughts and having been together for almost 3 and a half turns does that to ya. "I'm sure she'll share with you too Valanth just watch that you don't nip any fingers alright?" before she does a little dance and just rolls off the ledge into the water "Good thing you did have that suit on now you can come play with us, you'll need the exercise it's what your chores are for anyway, get you candies in shape to dodge hatchligns."

Brid laughs at the blue's antics and pulls a fresh fruit from her sak. "Here you are, Nuadayth like 'em too, you know." Of course in that blue's case, it may be because Izabril is feeding them to him. "Gee, I'm so glad they are so concerned for our well-being. I wouldn't mind a little less caring, really." But she smiles a sshe speaks, ad ip would be nice. last push to waking.

Lyrianna rolls her eyes as she slips into the water. "Dodge hatchlings. Right." Lyri seems to be skillfully evading questions about her opinion on Impression mostly because...Well...She's not sure what she thinks. Impressing? Cool. Back to her craft? Cooler. Becoming the first dragonriding master starcrafter? Coolest. Anyways. "I'm not in that bad of shape. I've been forced to run around the bowl a couple times already. It's not that bad after the first time." Except she kept /tripping/ dernit. With that the candie girl slips under water and surfaces near the edge,"Want to toss me one of those, Brid?"

Kia laughs delightfully as she ducks under the water completely wetting her hair before resurfacing to splash playfully at the shore and Brid "Sounds intersting though I think Valanth like me will try anything at least once. Like the time I took a dive off the crow's nest of the ship just becase Zeja didn't belive I would. That was long ago though way before I was searched or impressed. I was in the Starcraft then and almost a Journeyman. I sort of do miss it but I'd much rather have Valanth than a better looking knot"

Valanth quickly nabs the fruit, being very careful of Brid's fingers, and disappears under water to the slight sound of crunching fruits.

Brid grabs another redfruit and tosses it Lyri's way.."Catch then!" And she releases the fruit. Finished with hers, she heads out to water as well, slip, dunk and wet sleek hair is plastered against her head. "But.. what about the friends and people you used to know?" That's not such a big issue for the nanni-date, but she has some fears about the time away from Izz and thier daughter. A few strokes bring her a bit closer to the rider and the fellow candidate as well.

Lyrianna does a backwards dive-type thing to catch the redfruit, treading water as she nibbles at it. "Kia's around the hall a lot," she explains to Brid,"That's how I met her..." Glance to the rider,"So I'm sure you keep in touch with people, right?" Lyri, is a starcrafter currently. Or Starcrafter turned Candi, at least. That's closer than starcrafter turned rider. But Lyri is closer to Kia's situation than Brid, so the former-starlet swims over to the rider, attempting to stay above water as she eats the redfruit in her hand.

Kia bobs her head still treading water and keeping one eye on her lifemate "Definately during candidacy and then weyrlinghood was the only time it was rather hard to keep in touch. Even then we sent lots of letters back and forth. Me and Zeja that is she's my best friend and we were searched and impressed together. That was a good thing I guess you'd say" dashing wet hair from her eyes she laughs "Then again sometimes I bet they wish we hadn't been searched together, we caused /alot/ of problems. I don't quiet remember who searched Zeja I think it was Orbit or someone but I do know it was N'ano that searched me. We were uh talking about /keeping/ N'ano busy among other things when his lifemate decided I looked good enough to keep"

Valanth lurks underwater. Bwa!

Brid nods, and as her curious question was answered, she dives, bobbing back up even a bit closer to Kia. "You were after Izz's group, then 'cause N'ano was in the same one." She is trying to keep track, but as everyone knows, with all the candidates/werylings coming and going, it's pretty impossible. "I rememebr how hard those turns were, not being able to see him." Anyway, she shakes her head an dsmiles.. "Now it's my turn to do that to him!"

Lyrianna finds a nice rockjutting out into the basin to lean/sit on while still in the water. "Well, as you know," head bob to the rider,"Sobi's here at least, so maybe it'll be the same case." Fingercrossies that it is. "We're pretty good friends." At least from the same craft. Now all she needs is Kaltia and things can be perfect - she'll have someone to run around and cause mischief with and someone to sit around and bother non-morning-people in the mornings with. That's always fun.

Kia sends a wave of water in the direction of the lurking Valanth before shifting to do a little lap around the area before nodding "Could be Lyri or you could make new friends like I did too, M'er and Baji among those and for some reason that annoying if not definately cute T'am from high reaches." mrow, Kia needs a bath in cold water this doesn't seem to be helping. That's plans for atnoerh day however "So other than being candidates what did you two have in mind for life?"

Brid says, "Well, I have Izz'y and Iza and I enjoy the nannying I do .. um did here. I guess that's where I am still headed if I don't Impress." At least that's the plan, unless Izz get's transferred or posted out as a watchweyr somewhere. "I never was a craft-minded person."

Lyrianna casually nibbles at her redfruit as she mentions, casually, mind you,"Become the the greatest master starcrafter ever and figure out how to tell how far away the stars arefrom Pern. Other than just 'really unimagineably far'." Yup. And this is all said with deapan expression and a cool tone. "And maybe write a book," she tacks on after a pause.

Kia can't help it she has to at least giggle at Lyrianna's plan and then she solemly nods "Sounds like a good plan to me just don't let anyone or anything get in your way. Unless of course it ends up being a lifemate then you're stuck no matter what. But just remember then you'll always be closer to the stars." Brid gets a pondering look "Sounds like you had it make then, I wasn't exactly sure of what I was doing other than heading for my Master knot and what not so I was at loose ends save for missing my craft"

Brid chuckles at Lyri's response as well and then shifts her eyes to study Kia. The nanny really is content with simple things. "I guess I sorta did. But, well, living with a rider isn't always easy, you know. The sweeps, the flights, the fears..." But she stops, no need to dwell on what she /can't/ change. "Hey, as starries, do either of you see a specific pattern in the egg arrangement?" Yet another dodge to another subject change.

Lyrianna ponders Kia's comment for a moment. Hm...A dragon may be greatly useful for her plans. Closer to the stars. Yeees.... Weyrlinghood, of course, may get in her way a bit, but that's not for /that/ long. Only a year and a half or so. And there's the whole thread thing...But it's not like that would take up all of her time. She'd just have to start a library in her weyr. Hm. THis must all be taken into consideration. Brid's comment joggles her from her day dream and she nods a bit to Brid,"Really? You noticed that too? I'm not just day dreaming and being /way/ to into my craft?"

Kia is a good person to talk to it would seem "Yeah weyrmates or whatever tend to cause stress from what I've seen. Tis why I don't have one, I've just got a Zeja who lives in the weyr through the tunnel from mine. She has way to many /friends/ and we throw parties /all/ the time. Very intersting life if you know what I mean, we've rescued her from falling off her ledge drunk many a time." perk at the pattern part and she bobs her head "I saw one too yup"

Brid sighs a deep sigh of relief. "I don't know much about the stars, but I am sure that it means 'something'. I didn't mention it because I thought it was all in my imagination. Do either of you have any idea what it might be?"

Lyrianna imitates Brid in the sigh of relief - she is not insane for seeing star-ish patterns in the eggs."Well, you've got to admit, with the black sands, and the eggs dotting it...It looks a lot like a night sky." A glance back to Kia before Lyri shrugs, chucking her redfruit core towards the trees,"A constellation of some sort, maybe? Maybe the dragons know more about the skies than we think." Or it could just be a coincidince.

Brid says, "Well, you are the starcrafter, don't you recognise the actual pattern?" She isn't crazy, the pattern is there.. But she wants to know /more/ "I mean is it a specific constellation?"

Lyrianna shakes her head as she ducks under the water, resurfacing to pull her hair from her face. "Got me. I'd have to golook at it again...In fact...I may just be mopping the galleries next." A wrinkle of hernose as she climbs up her rock for towel sarong and book and heads towards the path. "I'll go egg-oogle sometime with you and check my starry books to see if we can figure out what it is." And with that she is off.