Rainstorm arrives

Parria shivered as her Red Mynanth landed in the weyrbowl. Although she hid it deep down, rain of any type frightened her ever since the storm that had destroyed the ship carrying her family’s trading caravan. She tried to distract herself by scanning the jungle trying to see her new home through the raindrops.


<<They tell me it is a fine weyr, with the latest of accommodations>> her soulmate commented <<of course no one asked me what the ‘latest of accommodations’ should be, so how good can it be?>>


“No time like the present to see what this fabulous new weyr looks like,” her rider replied as she slipped down Mynanth’s side.


She saw Maullie entering the weyr. Sharddit! She was supposed to review their quarters before the higher ranking riders entered them. If the quarters were not sufficient, she would make sure they were repaired before they would all move in. She was about to run when she felt a hand on her arm.


“Just a minute there, my lady,” came a familiar voice, “let Maullie finish the introductions.”


Parria turned a fond gaze upon her twin, “But Parrie, It is my job to make sure that everything is in readiness for our arrival! I must assert my position here early or I will be ignored.”


P’ren sighed, he knew his sister too well, she just wanted to get inside where the action was and boss everyone around.

“Parria, we just got here and it is raining,” he said calmly, “I am sure the HeadWoman here has done her work in an admirable manner. Please, sis, give it a day before you go around alienating everyone in sight!” he teased as he gave her a gentle squeeze


To pre-empt Mynanth trying the same thing as her rider, his brown Varyianth lashed his tail around the rose colored Red’s ><Come my twinling! I have learned where are quarters are. Let us get out of the rain and settle in our couches.><


P’ren guided his sister up to the front of the line, “I am pleased to meet you Purplerider,” he said to Oakley when it was their turn, “I am P’ren, rider of brown Varyianth and this is my sister Parria, rider of red Mynanth. We are very pleased to join this beautiful weyr!”

--Parria, P’ren, Varyianth and Mynanth

Maullie flashed a rare grin at her fellow Weyrling as he noticed her shiver, "Right?! When they said jungle, I wasn't expecting this!" The tunnels were surprisingly brightly lit, considering the fact that there were no windows.

She took a sidelong glance at her Wingleader, and noted the expression on his face. It was a faraway look, one that she more than recognized. It was the look of one who was communicating privately with his or her dragon. At that thought, she couldn't help but let her mind reach out to the Silver who was still standing in the Weyrbowl, not far from D'von's Bronze Novith. She could tell that the Silver was talking--as she usually did.

Laurith was a very friendly dragon. In fact, she didn't have the bossy know-it-all streak that tended to alienate people from Maullie herself. The Silver looked at her Bronze companion and asked, So what do you think? It is different, but not bad different, I think.

Maullie found that it wasn't hard to follow the directions that the Purplerider had given her. It hadn't taken long for them to reach the Kitchens, which thankfully was a good deal warmer than the chilly halls. She briefly halted, and allowed D'von to go ahead of her. He was her Wingleader, after all.

That's good mine. See? You are not THAT bossy, spoke her sweet dragonet reassuringly.

Thanks, the Weyrling responded somewhat wryly. She looked about at her surroundings, noticing the more interesting stalagmite formations about the entrance of the Kitchens. It really was quite lovely and decorative in appearance. There was no wonder that they had allowed the structures to remain.

Maullie turned to look at whoever almost bumped her, but didn't say anything once she figured out that it was R'mi. She had come to look at the younger boy as a little brother figure, and was quite fond of him. He took her bossy personality in stride, and didn't seem to be terribly annoyed with her constant desire to answer the Weyrling Master's questions first.

"You got so muddy. How did you manage that so fast?" She said, casting an appraising eye over him, before groaning, "Oh no...that means that Laurith is going to be all muddy, too." It was taking longer and longer for the Weyrling to bathe her lifemate as she grew.

It would take the majority of the afternoon to get her cleaned up...which was not Maullie's idea of a pleasant first afternoon at her new home. No, she would much rather scope out her surroundings. However, if there was work to be done, the young Silverrider was not one to put it off until later. She had the rather obsessive trait of putting work before play...even if it meant she rarely got recreational time to herself. And between her Weyrling lessons, her Wingsecond duties, and taking care of Laurith in her perfectionistic manner, there often wasn't much time for relaxation at all.

At her fellow Weyrling's words, she impatiently brushed past D'von, deciding that she had hung back enough. It wasn't like her, but she did care what he thought of her. Color filled her cheeks as she accidentally knocked into him slightly as she strode forward to look at the posted list of weyr assignments. "Sorry," she murmured embarrassedly, horrified that her cheeks were warm with a blush.

After spending the last Turn with D'von, it was hard for her not to admire him, especially since he was their Wingleader. Lately, however, she began to feel as if her feelings were more than just those of an appropriate measure of respect.

You are a woman, Mine. It is natural for you to have those feelings. Laurith said, picking up on her lifemate's thoughts, And Novith's is a good choice. I wouldn't object. The words were totally innocent--not brazen at all. Laurith had no experience, and had yet to have sexual stirrings, since she was only a Turn old. She had months yet before she would Rise for her maiden flight. Maullie, however, was sexually mature, and was rather more tormented with those usual feelings that young women of her age tend to feel.

Lauri! squealed Maullie, the red tinge to her cheeks darkening.

What? Came the innocent, childlike response, with a hint of a shrug.

The Silverrider resolved to focus on the task at hand, and she examined the list with her brown eyes.

"It looks like we are all housed on the second floor of the riders' weyrs. I'm the fifth one from the left and...ooh, R'mi, you're right next door." She smiled at the younger Weyrling, "C'mon, you and I can head that way together. I'm sure Lauri would like to be dried off, too." She took off decisively to the right--after all, outside of the caves, the weyr ledges could be seen, and so she had a fair idea of where she was headed based on a rather keen sense of direction. This trait had always been a boon to her, and she was quite sure it had aided in the Weyrling Master's decision to made her Wingsecond. Her Wing would never get lost with her around.

She did not extend the same invitation to D'von--she would let him look at the list for himself. She could use a moment to recover herself before facing him again. Maullie did not like to feel like a fool, and rather felt that she had made quite the wherryhead of herself in front of him. Others wouldn't have thought twice of accidentally knocking against another person...but since she was so keen on seeming strong, in charge and composed in front of D'von, it had been mortifying for her.

She forced herself to stop dwelling on the moment of humiliation as she walked, jerking her chin so that it was elevated in her trademark signal of confidence.

Tig Vox

A gangly Purple swerved on wingtip to avoid colliding with one of his siblings as he spiraled down to the Weyrbowl. Day by day the dragon gained confidence in the air and was getting better at executing more precise movements. T'vor on Dokath's back shouted encouragement to his clumsy Lifemate, urging him on. The young man knew that his Dokath was easily embarrassed and tried his best to avoid making a fool of himself. 

So much rain! Dokath chortled as he snaked his face through the raindrops, watching them splatter against his outer lid with merriment. Aren't you glad D'von reminded you to bring your goggles, T'vormine?

Yes. I am glad he reminded me. T'vor reassured his dragon, even though he cringed as he remembered being called to account by the other Weyrling. He would never make that mistake again. The Purplerider learned best from his mistakes, and once made, he'd never repeat a mistake again. He had made a careful list of everything he would need to move to Xian, and he had packed his goggles in the bottom of his rucksack. It was D'von who asked why he wasn't wearing them since it was the rainy season. 

It hadn't rained this much in Nerat and the brief amount of time spent at Southern before and after Impressing Dokat hadn't prepared the young man for the heat and humidity and fickle weather patterns of the deep South. But he would get used to it! He had no other choice.

Dokath landed on the far outside of the group, very careful to avoid the large puddles in the spongy moss. He dipped his shoulder and craned his neck to watch his Mine slide to the ground with his things. A purple wing was extended to keep the rain off T'vor as the young man arranged his packs on his back. 

Thanks, Dokath. You're so clever. The Purple rumbled his approval at the praise. I'll let you know which weyr is ours once I get our assignment. He added as he skirted puddles and hurried to catch up with the rest of his group.

He hung back on the fringe of the group, listening for his weyr number. T'vor usually was very gregarious, but that was back when he was a farmer apprentice and knew everyone from the day he was born. Now he was in a new Weyr and he still hadn't made a good friend yet. He was a bit shy and out of his comfort zone. He had to learn everything about dragons. Back by Nerat on the farm, they didn't even had fire lizards to teach him about the tiny dragon cousins. Also, it was hard to get people excited about plants. As long as they were chopped and on the table, Riders didn't seem to worry about all the hard work it took to get them there. So his conversation topics seemed boring. To avoid embarrassing himself, T'vor refrained from putting himself out there just yet. Once he was more comfortable with his dragon's raising and was used to the people around him, the Purplerider would come out of his shell and resume his more fun-loving attitude.

We're on the second level, dead center, Dokath. Go make yourself comfortable, you have earned it. He smiled at the happiness that flooded through the Bond as his dark purple Lifemate sprang into the air, flinging mud into the air, as he winged off to land on his new ledge. 

We have a great view of everything! Dokath reported cheerily. Make friends! He added, sensing the reticence from his Mine. The Purple was social and couldn't understand why his Mine was having a hard time making friends. 

I will. T'vor promised as he trailed a few steps behind the chatting Green- and Silverrider. They seemed really nice, but he was feeling too self conscious and shy to approach them. 

Vesorth lagged behind the others, thoroughly enjoying splashing her way through puddles and getting mud all over her pale green hide. I like it here, she told her rider cheerfully. Cahirin smiled. She had expected that Vesorth would enjoy moving to another Weyr, since she was always so curious about new things, but it was nice that she seemed to be enjoying herself.

Cahirin followed the other weyrlings to their new quarters. It was exciting to have their own space, almost like they were grown up riders. "Yes, we should definitely have a party!" she echoed R'mi's words, grinning.

Tig Vox Fellis

T'vor tailed the others and listened to their banter. He was determined to jump in, he was a social lad but Faranth! The life of a Rider was so different from what he knew and he didn't want to sound like some farmer bumpkin from the middle of nowhere around these more socially exposed Weyrlings. The mention of a party did get his attention, though.

Parties were definitely one of his strengths. He'd snagged many a bottle of liquor/wine and convinced his musically inclined buds to round up a group of kids their own age and meet them out in the back pasture. They'd laugh, dance and drink the night away surrounded by stalks of produce and lit solely by the light of the moons. He decided that he would find a safe and secluded spot for the Weyrlings to go have some fun some night.

That sounds like fun! Dokath chimed in merrily. I am sure you will make friends before then so there will be plenty of people to join you!

T'vor smiled inwardly, pleased with the backing from his Lifemate. He would make friends and they would have fun, they would have to have fun somehow. Sometimes the lessons bored T'vor to death, but he managed to pay attention since he knew not only his and Dokath's life depended on it, but the others' did as well. He wasn't going to be "that Rider" that screwed things up or made them have to practice a drill more than necessary.

"Um, I'm not sure on all the rules ta Xian." He responded a beat behind the Silverrider, "But I'd guess they'd not be much different from Southern. Probably yer usual no fighting, keep the peace sort." 

Dokath had settled on his new ledge and he peered over at his neighboring Green. I like our weyr! It's so big and we're right next to Fauth her her Mine! 

"It looks like Dokath and I are right next ta R'mi and Fauth, Maullie." T'vor added, picking up the pace to walk closer to his neighbors. He was only aware when he went to Southern that he had an accent, but he would only stammer if he tried to smother it and speak like the big Hold and Weyr folk. No one had mentioned it yet, but he had been careful to refrain from saying much at one time.