A New Friend?

[Xennai]

Zigana sat, staring at the rough-hewn stone floor, dark eyes tracing the patterns within the surface. The cot was slightly worn beneath him, supple from the backs of the other girls and boys who would been through this room, waiting for their chance of glory, waiting for the hand of a new life to reach out to them and grab them up.

Zigana was waiting for that same chance.

She brushed the hair back from her face, lost in thoughts. She was still getting used to the idea that fate or chance had provided her with this opportunity. The reality of it all hadn't quite set in yet, even here, even when she was in the weyr, sitting in the candidate barracks. It was a dream come true but Zigana had that nauseous feeling in her stomach, now that she was alone and actually here. It was the feeling that was nerves, was fright, that was her shyness rearing up to grip her about the throat, whispering words in her ear, words that discouraged and depressed her.

The voice told her that she was a wherry for doing this and who did she think she was? She wasn't going to Impress. She wasn't going to do anything but get laughed at, get harassed just as she had at home. It told her that she was just a stupid, stupid girl, believing in a childhood dream that was never going to happen to her--not her. She was slow, she was lazy, she was stupid, she was ugly, she was fat, she wasn't worthy of Meka, let alone a dragon.

Zigana gulped in air, trying to still her nerves and the tears that rose in dark, expressive eyes. It was going to be okay. It was going to be fine. If she didn't Impress, she could go home, back to her goats. Mama and Papa would still be proud of her. Jashani, the best brother anyone could have, would be happy and proud of her, so proud, simply because she had been Searched. The thought of her brother helped uncoil the knot that was inside her, it helped to settle her queasiness.

It was going to be okay.

Meka crawled into her lap, staring up at her with his beautiful rainbow eyes. The girl smiled, stroking his little blue body, feeling him settling her down too. He crooned, nudging against her, his gaze adoring. She laughed and smiled. "Thanks, sweetie. I love you too..." She looked up then, smile disappearing, as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

[panther]

ooc:**I think this is supposed to be in the lower caverns seen as the barracks are currently shut cos of the hurricane**

Kalyr rubbed his forehead, he’d had a long day covering over hides with new ones, and shards but it was a tedious job. Now he had been left to navigate his way back down to the lower caverns.

The task in itself was not the problem, it was the procedure. This weyr was one of the largest single buildings he had ever been part of! The Weyr was near enough all joined, there was passages from east to west and north to south. Or, so it felt. He exhaled heavily, scratching at his bare arms, all nicked with dyes, hands all darkly stained from handling the dyes, and he smelt a little odd too, an odd smell of dye, an ammonia compound (used to settle the dye), and sweat. It was hot work! He scratched and picked at the dye that was settling into his forearms – sleeveless shirt displaying, rather well, muscled and messy arms (certainly for his age). Just because he was a good craftsman didn’t mean he was particularly neat with respect to himself with his craft!

Halting picking for a moment, he took a long draught from his wineskin – though there was no wine present, he could only dream that, nay it was water. So a waterskin, technically. But he did like to pretend, even at this age it was not dead in him, his boyish antics that was. He smirked as he danced a lively jig of a walk forward once more. Sure he was tired, but he still had the vigour of youth behind him! He would not rest for a while, but when he did, he would sleep the sleep of the gods!

The stones passed beneath his soft leather boots, soft as slippers, very nice piece of crafting. Soon, he was at his door, twisting down the handle, and moving inside as the hinges swung open. He had not noticed for a moment, and then froze, still. His mouth opened as though words would come, but they didn’t. So his mouth shut again. Brows furrowing, he took a look between the floor, the corridor, the door, and back to the floor.

“Uh… mmm” He tried, failing at words at the presence before him.
“uhm – s..sorry, f-f-forgive my intrusion.” He fought fiercely to control the blush that threatened his cheeks, having just wandered into some girls room. His brow furrowed tightly, yet even with this concentration and averted gaze, his mind did not quite make the sense to make his legs move in as little a way as his stuttering tongue had managed. He stood motionless, door handle still in his hand, as though waiting for himself to vanish to the between.

[Xennai]

Zigana looked up as the door swung open. That it was a boy, one who looked more like a man, made her brows rise high. Meka made a sound of warning, crawling to Zigana's shoulder, almost hissing at this new person. Zigana sat stock still, the blush Kalyr was trying to fight off blooming in her own cheeks, barely perceptible.

"I..." She stopped, feeling the ridiculous urge to smile because they were both uncomfortable, stuttering and tripping over their own words. She bit at her lip, feeling Meka at the side of her neck. She took comfort, and strength from that.

"Am...am I in the right place? I'm sorry. I was told to come here, but I might be in the wrong place." She stood, feeling awkward, big. He was rather good-looking in an odd, almost intriguing way. Zigana wasn't that at all. She was far from pretty and she noticed it especially at moments like now.

[panther]

His brow relaxed a tad as he looked at her, “likely you are.” He sounded quite detached, trying to desperately pry the shroud embarrassment away from himself, cutting off his emotion until a situation was possible, within which he could talk like a normal person. yeah right, as though that is ever going to happen. He thought disdainfully to himself. He scratched idly at one of his scars as he fumbled in his mind to string together some words. He thought about what he had said, then announced;

“Oh shards, I don’t mean that… I mean, argh” He looked bewildered for a flash, eyes wide and apologetic, he paused, stopped, breathed deep, and heaved out his breath with jut as much effort as it took to take it. “No, you are likely in the right place. I’m just inept at finding my way around this dratted place, its far too large.” He let go of the door handle as though it had just shocked him, then gave a quirk of a smile, eyes still apologising for his inaptitude. “Sorry… I’m not very good at this.” He looked to the ground again, averting his gaze awkwardly from her, still lingering in the doorway.

Having not really looked at her properly yet, he was in no mind to comment on whether she was attractive or otherwise, he simply noticed she was just that. Female. Shards he didn’t even have to look, he just had this unnerving sense that just knew when to make him completely freeze up, even before he’d lain eyes upon the female in question. “I’ve likely got the wrong room… I’m only recently arrived –“ He paused, looked lost again for a moment (his plan of being devoid of emotion until he had it under control vanished with his panic), “Pardon, I’m Kalyr, journeyman tanner, hence the state of disrepair that I’m in” He blew casually at his disarray of hair that was a dark mess, casually plopped on his head, damp with sweat and dust.

[Xennai]

Zigana didn't say anything. She felt awkward enough as it was, just standing there, saying nothing as he fumbled along. Despite the hard time he was having, he talking fast and she couldn't get in a word in edgewise once she'd gotten up the courage to do so.

Zigana looked over this newcomer to her life more thoroughly as she listened to him ramble on. She wasn't meaning to be rude or unhelpful. She just wanted him to get it out of his system so maybe they could perhaps begin to have a conversation, despite what appeared to be a shortcoming both of them had.

He was rather good-looking, in a weird way that she couldn't tell if she liked or not. He was big, rather muscled, and long in the leg, something she wasn't used to seeing a man be. He was a mess too, covered with sweat and lurid colors that seemed to be sticking to his skin. She didn't know why they were there, but it was odd. Despite it though, he did look rather good. Zigana shrugged mentally. Not that it really mattered.

Finally, he came to an end. She nodded, watching him with cautious eyes, suddenly realizing it was her turn to speak. She inhaled deeply, eyes closing for a moment. "I'm Zigana. I...I'm a goatherder. I've just come here too..."

She floundered, wondering what else she could say. What had taken him a while to spit out had taken her all of a few seconds. When she got the urge to speak, she wasn't bad at it. It was just the fact of overcoming her awkwardness and fear to get there, that was the problem. She bit her lip, shifting to side to side. She tugged at her loose tunic, eyes downcast. Meka crooned softly into her ear, hiding behind the curtain of silken black her hair offered.

"Oh." She looked up again, appearing more at ease. She always was when this certain topic came up. "This is Meka." She gently drew aside her hair to reveal the blue nestled there. He squeaked, head ducking behind her neck. "He's a bit shy of people, but he usually warms up. Eventually." She stood there again, awkward, wondering if she was supposed to say anything else. She licked her lips and then shrugged. "I...just got here too so I might be the one who is in the wrong place..." She finished lamely, head hanging.

[panther]

He smiled as she introduced meka, he gave a mental thought towards ‘Zar, calling him from where ever he was hiding at current.
The brown flicked into existence soon after.

“Well then Meka, this here’s Zelizar – or just Zar. He casually began to pet Zar who crooned, eyes vivid blue swirling fast, “Zigana’s a pretty unusual name, you’re not a northerner are you?” He commented idly, forgetting himself for a little while, “As I said, tanner, so I come from the north, this here’s my first visit south, but journeyman and all, what needs must as they say.” The brown, having had enough of a fuss, trilled, nipped at Kalyr’s finger swiftly and flew in darting motions around the room.

“Anyway, I’m pretty sure it’s me who’s wrong, I think I was further down the corridor, and again, I’m sorry for the intrusion, though it could have been much worse…” He trailed off, his words more of a personal thought that a serious comment. Rubbing his finger where the miniature brown had nicked him. He squeezed his finger, pushing the blood from the shallow wound, popping it into his mouth, before swiftly withdrawing it, tasting the dyes on his fingers. His lips curled with distaste.

“I’ve been tanning hides and binding back hides all day, forgive the mess I’m in Zigana.” He bowed a little, “well I’ll be off then” He said waving a hand then calling to Zar, But Zar refused. He had nestled himself into the large unused cot and was sending all sorts of thought of stubbornness to his master.

“Oh shards… sorry but Zar seems to have gotten himself remarkably comfortable in your cot. He’s such an embarrassment. I’m so sorry.” His apologies flowing like a river. He cursed under his breath about his brown. Most places he’d jut leave the flitter creature, but here? He could not leave the brown in the company of a stranger, and in her cot no less!!! Shards why did the creature have to be so awkward!

[Xennai]

Meka became much less shy when he saw the other firelizard. They seemed to be the way to lure him from his own awkwardness. His tiny blue head poked out from Zigana's hair, his eyes whirling vividly with curiousity. He crooned softly at the brown, watching the motions of his fellow kinsman.

"Uhm..." She shrugged. "Kind of, I guess. It's an old family name. Supposedly I'm named after my great grandmother...or something." She watched the other flitter as Meka peeked a little further out from his hiding place. She almost laughed when the brown bit his master and took off.

But then she was blushing profusely, thinking of just how bad it could have been. Suppose she'd been changing? Her blush deepened, her cheeks well and truly red now. That would have been the worst thing that had happened to her recently. It would have been horrific. She was sure he would have been digusted.

"Yes..." she said awkwardly, still thinking of what could have happened. "Oh...it's okay. I don't mind. I'm a mess when I'm done with the goats back home." She shrugged, turning to look at the brown as it settled into her cot. She smiled and laughed softly, watching the little creature make himself comfortable.

"Don't worry about it. He's welcome to stay...You are too, if you'd rather...I wasn't doing anything...Just kind of sitting and..." She felt her cheeks flame again, head ducking, her hair falling to cover her face and hopefully the marks of her embarrassment.

[panther]

He looked over at her, her embarrassment seemed almost equivalent to his own, she looked down and away, her dark hair suddenly hiding her face, “Working with goats must be difficult, there’s only one part of a goat I can work with,” He smirked, “I’m all for animals though, I’m more on the runner’s side of tanning usually, I get along well with runner’s they’re simple. I prefer to make tack for ‘em.” His accent beginning to push through as he spoke.

Cautiously he took a few steps into the room – she certainly hadn’t been here long at all, no signs of inhabitancy, at all. He looked around, “You’re certainly not in my room, my room’s got more of a mess about her than this.” Though it was his partner come roommate he had to blame for the aforementioned mess, he’d omit that fact. Even if it only earned a smile from her.

“You’re probably the fifth person who’s actually stopped to talk to me here,.” He paused to think, “Are you here to be a candidate? Or … are you here on some goat herding… eh… expedition?” He tried to phrase it in such a way that made it sound atleast a little adventurous. Despite the fact that goat herding was a rather dull job (in his mind anyway), but then he daresay tanning was boring in the minds of others.

He smiled at her in an absent way, his mind was always else where. Swinging the door shut he surveyed the room again before taking another pace forwards and coming to an abrupt stop. “uh.” He tried to come up with some intelligent conversation but all that was in his head was tanning, flitters and rock. So he simply turned his head and began observing Zelizar once more. “He’s far too cheeky, he thinks the entirety of pern is there for the sole purpose of his amusement.” He did envy the flitter slightly. It couldn’t be a hard life now could it? That of a flitter? He mused on the idea for a while.

Zelizar rolled onto his back, splaying his wings wide about him as though to prove his bonded’s ideas correct. He gave a high whistle over to the hiding blue. Greeting the other firelizard finaly, noticing his presence through the browns own never ending quest for amusement.

[Spirithawk]

OOC: The Candidates Barracks are currently closed after the hurricane. The Candidates and Weyrlings are staying in the ground floor of the Weyr. Weyrlings are in the ground floor weyrs, Candidates are in some of the empty craftsmen rooms. Boys in two rooms, girls in two rooms. About 5 to a room.

Sorry, forgot to mention all that before someone started a topic here.

[panther]

ooc: had a funny feeling that was the case - but i only realised that yesterday and Kalyr's meant to be staying in around the put up candidates barracks for 'tanner hospitality' so he could have easily opened the wrong door (he's an idiot) - uhm other than that - perhaps the topic could be moved? I've read through it again, and i dont see anything immediately wrong with it - however if you decide otherwise, give us a shout and we can edit appropriately.

Perhaps you could edit the board settings for the barracks? and obviously the location that they've been moved too...

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] to stop further idiots like ourselves making the same mistake.[/i]

[Spirithawk]

OOC: Yeah I was thinking of doing that (editing the board description for now) I can easily move it into the Lower Caverns. I'll do so as soon as I give you two a chance to see this message.

[Xennai]

OoC: And of course, Xen is late at seeing it. xD

Zigana glanced up through her covering of lashes and hair. He was at least making an attempt at conversation about her job, as it were, which was much more than most people did. Zigana had learned that when she told people that she was a goatherder, they could be separated into two different categories.

Group A tried to act cool about it, as if it were an every day type of thing. Well, back at Lokan it was, but she meant every day like, like...a tanner or a rider, scarce though they were, or a runner. Something that many people did. Not many people were goatherders. Group A tried to pretend they knew all about it, as if they were having a conversation about firelizards and not Terran creatures that in themselves were their own contradiction.

Group B contained the people that Zigana felt the most uncomfortable around, which was saying something. Group B had all the people that felt like goatherding was a dirty job, as if she were no better than a druge. They came along with raised, wrinkled noses and supercilious attitudes that had the girl tugging at her large shirts and hiding behind her own hair like her flitter did. Those were the kind of people that mocked her, that told her she ought to bathe more thoroughly. They were the people who didn't see the goat hair, but the color of her coppery skin.

So Zigana very much appreciated Kalyr's attempts. They seemed genuine enough and for now he was his own polar body, unattached to either Group A or B. He was his own island and for the moment, she was happy just for that.

"A goatherding expedition?" Her lips quirked, a hand rising to stiffle laughter. She wasn't really laughing at him. It just sounded so...ridiculous. A goatherding expedition. She shook her head, dark hair swinging. "No, no, I'm a candidate. You are too, right?" Zigana was feeling more comfortable, at least marginally. It was a welcomed feeling.

The girl turned to look at the other firelizard that wasn't hers. She snickered, smiling in truth now. She bent down carefully beside the brown, moving slowly. She reached out to scratch at his belly, eyes alight. "Hello there, handsome. Don't you just look all nice and cozy, don't you? Don't mind that boy there. He just doesn't know what fun is, eh?"

Meka strained against his mistress's shoulder, revealed fully for the first time in the presence of the two strangers. He chattered at the brown quickly, the sound playful and light, nothing like the angry tone he'd used earlier. Zigana laughed softly, reaching up to gently disentangle the blue from his perch. She set him down beside Zelizar, stroking his little head tenderly. "Why don't you play, darling? I'm sure you'll have fun."

[panther]

ooc - kinda pands but it is 1am


Kalyr looked deftly away as she looked at him, stifling her laughter, but he replied anyway; “sorry, I didn’t know… uhm… no I’m not a candidate, as I said, jounreyman tanner, I’d love to see the hatching though, that could be interesting.” Again he managed to open his mouth before he had thought.

“So, when you impress, after weyrling training, will you stay here and herd goats? Or will you herd goats at home on a dragon? I can imagine a dragon would prefer to eat the goats than herd them. I’m surprised you don’t have a canine as opposed to a flitter” His mouth was now running away with his nerves.

Zar chirruped, pleased as he quickly righted himself and nuzzled into Zigana’s hands, in quick jittered motions. His eyes averted to the blue who showed himself at last. He twittered back to the blue creature, bounced on his front legs as he looked at his own bonded, standing awkwardly across the room, before the small brown threw himself back into the cot, looking around him as though he were watching a fly.

Disapproving, Kalyr tutted, “I’m so sorry.” But then mild offence was taken, he felt challenged “I know how to have fun, thank you.” He said, suddenly standing up rather straight. And he did! He just didn’t have a great deal of free time these days, most of his free time was spent learning and practicing his skills. But he needed to! He was not a master craftsman yet for a reason. He needed to get the skills so he could move on. Some were happy to stay at this level, but he felt as though he needed to move on, he felt he was so close to master, it was within his grasp if he just worked a little harder.

[Xennai]

Zigana nodded, brushing strands of dark hair behind her ears. Her blush was faint this time and hardly noticeable, though she had made a mistake. She hated making mistakes. "Right," the girl murmured, "I remember."

She was conveniently placed to play with the flitters and talk facing him, as it was all in the same direction, thankfully. She stroked the brown, the same smile of delighted happiness blooming, a smile that people rarely saw but animals did.

"No, I don't think I'll go back home to herd goats with my dragon." She glanced up at Kalyr, her eyes alight with humor. "I'll probably stay here and maybe pick up a runner or something..." She actually hadn't thought that far and doing so made nerves prick at her new, shiny confidence. She'd only been thinking of the hatching, of just getting through that well and alive. She was burning for a dragon with an insatiable urge, but she was more focused on just making it through the hatching. She didn't think she'd be mauled or anything--she could be, who knew?--but she also didn't think she'd Impress.

Considering the possibility that she could, and what she might do afterward, was staggering.

Her head bent under the onslaught of new possibilities, hands stroking at the playful little brown until his attention skittered to Meka. The blue stretched forward, tiny sinuous neck pushing forward as he observed the brown as close as he felt comfortable. He creeled softly, dancing forward. What was Zelizar doing...

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]

Zigana glanced up and noticed Kaylr's expression and stance. She blushed furiously, the color staining her cheeks cherry red, a vivid contrast. Her head fell, almost jerked, down, her dark hair almost covering her entire face. All that could be seen were lowered eyes and slivers of copper and scarlet. "I'-I-I'm sorry! I d-didn't mean to imply anything! I just meant...I mean....I didn't...Oh shards." She covered her face with her hands, too embarrassed to even speak.

[panther]

Kalyr panicked slightly and tried to cover over her embarrassment with a continuation of the same conversation, “But, yes, as a Tanner I’ve never really had a chance to see a hatching – wouldn’t it be marvellous to see one of those Southern-famed mutation dragons,” His eyes were alight with curiosity. He hoped that Zigana would rise to this, and allow their conversation to become a pleasant one where both of them were filled with the magic and mystery that surrounded dragons. Well… those two certainly perplexed him.

He watched as her smile changed, warming to Zar. He looked on, the little brown was certainly a charmer. Zar was now approaching Meka, sniffing tentatively at the air, rustling his wings, and dipping his position to show in a very animalistic way that he did not wish to claim for any dominance. The brown’s eyes whirred with curiosity, looking at the blue waiting for something to happen, as though the brown knew there were something going to happen. This often lead to Zar’s disappointment, but for now he was quite content to expect.

“Ah,” Kalyr sounded pleased, “You like runners? Well if you ever need tack or such, don’t hesitate to ask, I’m one of the finest Tanner’s in southern – certainly at the moment.” He hint of pride bloomed in his words, and upon his lips, a strange air of confidence piqued about him. “I like runners, they’re good creatures generally, I’ve spent quite a few turns around them. I like saddle craft and such.” He smiled, that was his preferred task among the many a Tanner could adopt.

Shards. Now, he had made her withdraw. By the first egg, but this was one of the most difficult conversations he had ever held! “Zigana, don’t worry, forget it, it’s not important. Hey…” He said as he approached her, awkwardness reaching breaking point as his hand reached to move the curtain of hair. He faltered for a moment before he regained his motivation. “Forgiven, you’re forgiven. M-my life’s been naught but the Tanner’s and I guess for someone who’s lived detached, and with a herd of goats, exploring all the while, it could be considered quite dull.” He tried to explain her own reasons, and explain away her and consequently his guilt.

[Xennai]

Meka stretched toward the brown, sniffing as tentatively as the other firelizard did. He creeled highly, dancing forward, eyes whirling fast. He didn't care about being any sort of a leader, he just wanted to play! He danced around the brown, reaching out to nudge him with his nose. Meka creeled again, hunkering down, rump in the air as his tail slashed through the air. He seemed to be demanding for Zelizar to play.

Zigana, meanwhile, peeked up from her curtain of hair as Kalyr approached, her hands falling from her face slowly. She bit at her lip awkwardly, watching him. She slowly brushed her hair back, revealing her face and eyes again--her cheeks were still red but fading. She watched him with dark, cautious eyes. "I think I'm the one with the dull life," she murmured. "I just watch the goats and make sure nothing untoward happens to them. There's really no exploring about it."

She inhaled deeply, trying to put away the last of her embarrassment. She hated making mistakes and she hated making people angry. It was two of the most important aims in her life not to do. She had to realize, as she'd told herself dozens of times, that she wasn't perfect and offending someone was prone to happen. She inhaled again and looked up at him smiling.

"I love animals. I don't mind what kind. Small, big, hairy, smelly. Whatever. It doesn't matter. I just like animals. Runners are some of my favorites. They're almost as intelligent as goats and flitters." She smiled, a curving of lips that was a sign of her true delight and happiness. The way to this girl's heart was through animals, that's for sure.

Zigana cast her thoughts back to his earlier words, trying to collect them through the haze of her embarrassment. She thought dragons was what he'd been talking about, wasn't it? "Seeing a mutation dragon would be...magnificent." Eyes glittered with the thought, her lips curving higher. "I'd heard the descriptions about them and it just nowhere near matched the reality that I saw her. They're absolutely beautiful because of their unqiueness. The cannon colors are gorgeous too, of course, don't get me wrong, but...shards...the others are just magnificent." She glanced up at Kalyr, grinning, her awkwardness forgotten in the face of such a topic of conversation.

[panther]

‘Zar puffed at the smaller blue, as he so indignantly fought for the brown to play. Zat gave an air of uncaring before little Meka nudged him with his nose. Zar gave a disgruntled squeak, not expecting of this. Zar curled himself back on his own body, sprung forward into Meka, getting quite close before he flared his wings and barrelled away, twirling around in the air, like a frivolous sprite.

He tried to continue on the same lines of the conversation. “Aye, all manner of creatures are good, though ‘Zar’s a lot of trouble – Runners are easy to deal with” But he could feel it going nowhere.

Kalyr looked at the female, sat upon the floor. He sighed, his honour getting the better of him. He may have been a joker, but he knew when a girl was hurt, and even his severe embarrassment wouldn’t let that go unnoticed. And , she may have herded goats, but she seemingly was a respectable person.

“Zigana, please, stand?” He asked her offering a hand so she could right herself. Kalyr ignore the antics of his flitter.

He to joined her smile as she responded to the mutations.

“We non-dragonmen tend to have a completely different opinion of it to those in the north. A lot of weyrs – by my ear anyway – are rather unkind to the impressors of mutations. And refuse to keep them much further out of weyrlinghood. Or so Jermir painted it to me. And aye, I’ve heard tales. Personally, I would like to hear of the darker ones, Pern sees colours befitting a rainbow ‘dorned by a dragon’s hide. Yet, more of them are cropping up. It’s a sin to ignore it. It’s a Miracle.” He smiled fondly. He had strong opinions of Dragons. Despite the fact he was very unsure of his facts in most areas where dragons were concerned, he was not a dragonman in any respect. Tanning was his art, his forte. But that was neither here nor there in this conversation. And surprisingly, he was comfortable with it.

[Xennai]

Zigana glanced up at Kaylr with big, dark eyes. She frowned uncertainly for a moment and then accepted his hand, using it to help herself up. She stood, dusting off her backside and peering up at him. She hooked a large section of her hair behind an ear as she listened to him thoughtfully.

"It is sad, isn't it, that the mutants are so misunderstood and rejected? They're beautiful creatures, most even more beautiful than the traditional colors. In my opinion." She glanced down, not sure if she was going to receive retribution for her comments or not, whether from him or others. She knew she, too, had a rather radical view, but really, the "mutant" dragons were stupendous in her eyes. Any dragon was though.

She glanced over at the two firelizards, chuckling lightly before she glanced back to her companion with avid eyes. "Did you have runners?" she asked, remembering another topic from their rather confusing conversation. "I think they're gorgeous really. And so smart! Wouldn't you agree?"

Meka crooned sadly. He'd thought Zelizar had wanted to play! He blinked, squawking, falling back as the brown sprang at him and then he let out a small trumpet and jumped into midair, wings snapping out as he gave chase, surprisingly light and agile. Zigana had always found it amusing that people assumed that just because Meka's foot was exactly up to par that he couldn't fly, when he could fly magnificently. He nipped after the brown, quickly catching up to the brown. He crowed his delight, coasting from one side to the other just above the other creature.

[Torva Anian]

The hunt was on. A small flash of a metallic sheen. A low questioning chirup. They were all clues that he followed like a master huntsman. Deep, deep into the tunnels he drudged follow the elusive dangerous beas... A large squawk came from ahead and he had to duck quickly to avoid wings.

Fine, fine not a beast. A-a magnificent creature.

Anyway, following the elusive Magnificent Creature into the deep, dark caves he... He heard voices. Kallan blinked and stood from his crouch, game forgotten. Who was that? He hadn't noticed he'd been walking past the temperary Candidate barracks as he played with Quiote. He opened the door and saw two people inside talking. His mouth dropped open and he gasped before quickly closing the board. "Sorry," he called through the door before he proceeded to knock on the door and wait (in)patiently for them to open it or say Come in. If his mom had seen him then, oh shard 'n shells would he have been in trouble.

[panther]

He watched as she stood, he smiled a little as she did take his hand, but he relinquished the contact swiftly, he bowed low, “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to embarrass you Miss Zigana, but it would seem you are as awkward as I.

“Aye, some of them are much more beautiful than the regular sort. Moonstreaks and Midnights skies are wonderous looking creatures. I’d like to see a silver live long enough. There are such tales of sorrow around that colour.” He smiled, “Maybe it is not the way Pern wants it, perhaps there should only be one clutchmother of Pern. “ He sighed, he liked dragons, he always had – but every Pernesian man did.

He smiled as he thought back to when he was an apprentice at the tanner’s hall. He had cared for the runners, but none had ever been his, and he could not afford to purchase one on the measly wages hea earned. “No, unfortunately, I’ve never actually owned a Runner, though I would like too, and I have cared for several, attentively, as though they were my own. Runners are magnificent creatures, only bested by dragons. And aye, they are intelligent, for non-dragon creatures. They have a fantastic memory. Canines and Felines, flitters even pale in comparison” He nodded his head towards the two flitters.

Zar twirled and dived and rose, he enjoyed his wings thoroughly, he preferred intricate displays to speed, using his space to its fullest. Dancing to and away from the small blue , chirruping and bugling his happiness to his kinsman.

Kalyr jumped a little – the fading tension sitting in the room, lesser but not unapparent, had not allowed his senses to perceive the concept of others in the weyr, let alone at the door. Shard it.

“Who’s there?” He said automatically before realising he had just accepted the company form outside to a room that was not his own! How very rude of him, he turned to Zigana swiftly, “I – I’m sorry, its too automatic to me, knocking at the tanners, everythings open, there’s not really… girls… there. Much.” He failed to clarify to her his own inadequacies.