A late night arrivel

[jane]

Thick billowing clouds covered most of the dark sky, hiding the silver moon from sight. Occasionally one could catch a glimpse of her between the clouds but it would be no more then a glimpse.
Mist hung heavily on the night air, clear droplets of water formed and hung on the lush vegetation all around. Nuria hoped that it would rain anytime soon. She was only half way up the winding road that lead to the Weyr and it would take her an hour to reach shelter either way.
The girl pulled her cloak tighter around her thin frame as a strong gust of wind chilled her and brought the bottom of it whipping round her. Azalia squeaked as Nuria stumbled on the trail, almost falling to the ground but catching herself before. The little green flitt was curled around the girls neck, protected from most of the weather but the hood Nuria wore and her neck. The little flitt hate the cold and the wet. Nuria brought a hand up to scratch Azalia’s eye ridges in an effort to reassure the flitt. The long journey was taking its toll on the fragile creature.
Next to Nuria was Dusk. The brown Wher had the job of carrying all their belongings. Well most of them for Nuria had a bag which contained food, water and the like.
The Wher moved slowly in order to keep up with its trainer. Dusk, like most Whers, could go very fast if he wanted but liked to stay with Nuria, helping her along the zig zag road. It was so dark that Nuria could hardly see what was right in front of her but her connection with the Wher made travelling at night so much easier.
They were used to it by now for the three of them had been travelling for about four days now, only at night for Dusk couldn’t stand the daylight. It badly hurt and damaged his sensitive eyes.
Nuria had grown sick of the teasing and her home life in general which had led to the daring escape that led her to be on a mountain side path which would take her all the way to a Weyr.
She hoped that she would be aloud to stay at the Weyr once she arrived. Nuria didn’t know what she would do if they sent her home again. It had taken her so long to get here, to get away.
Nuria nervously ran her fingers through her hair, making sure that it kept the right side of her face hidden despite the fact it was night and she was alone. For many years the hidden part of her face had been the bane of Nuria’s life. It was severly scared and burnt after an accident involving, obviously, fire.
Since she was planning to start a new life at Dark Moon Nuria planned to try and keep that little fact a secret and her long wavey hair was just perfect to keep it hidden. She just hoped that no one found out there…What would they say if they did? Probably what everyone at home had.
Sharp pain ran up Nuria’s legs as they began to demand her to stop. That they needed to rest. She hadn’t stopped or rested since she had set out at dusk and the moon was starting to set, well it would be if she could see it.
But Nuria could see that she was nearly there. Oh at last. Nuria forced her weary legs to carry her further, to carry her at least to the Weyr bowl.
As Nuria reached the edge of the Weyrbowl, her cloak was thoroughly soaked, as was she. It had started to pour down about ten minutes before.
Her breath caught in her chest as Nuria saw just how large the Weyr bowl was. Nuria quickly scurried over to the nearest wall on the inside of the Weyrbowl where she promptly collapsed, her legs not being able to hold her up anymore.
Nuria was breathing rapidly now as she lay on the wet, sandy ground. This was partly due to exhustion and partly to fear. Nuria didn’t like open spaces almost as much as she didn’t like fire. Though normally Nuria could control her fear of open spaces but not tonight. It was too much for her tonight. But she was here. At least she was here. As she lay there, Nuria wondered what she should do now. She couldn’t just lay in the sand for the rest of the night, the little that was left of it and wait for someone to find her. She was cold and wet enough as it was. Plus Dusk needed to be…somewhere. Anywhere. Just not outside when the sun rose.
Nuria forced herself to sit up with much protesting from her tired body. She looked a right state now. Bits of wet sand stuck to her clothes and her dripping wet hair hung limply before her. Luckily a lot of it was plastered to her face, hiding what she wanted hidden.
Carefully Nuria pulled Azalia from around her neck, not hard since her hood had fallen down.
“Find some one. We need to get inside but…I don’t know where the entrance is or whether we can stay.” Nuria told Azalia. And with that the little green flitt took to the air and quickly went between, in search of anyone.
Meanwhile Dusk came as close as he could to Nuria in order to help keep her warm which she much appreciated as she went down to her knees and huddled close to the brown Wher.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith raised her wedge-shaped head from her couch in the Weyrleader's weyr. Her chosen was sleeping peacefully, as was her mate's rider. Her bronzen mate was also sleeping soundly near her. She rose as quitely as her large golden body would allow. She was already turning the burnished gold of pregnancy and soon her belly would be heavy with egg.

She peered out through the rain, her great jewel-faceted eyes whirling idly with curiosity. Kaith sensed the approach of travelers. She was curious to see why they were traveling here at night, and in the dismal rain. The gold looked to the Watchdragon. The old brown was on the alert, just as she was. He had seen the travelers approaching from the road.

Wilarth, who is there?

A girl, a flitter and a wher. Kaith now realized the need for the trio to travel at night. Whers were nocturnal creatures. Kaith's head swung towards the horizon, where the sun would rise within a couple of hours.

Cousin, you may take shelter in one of the ground floor weyrs. My rider will tend to you presently. Kaith spoke directly to the watch-wher. Then she turned her attention to the little flitt that had popped from between near her. Little cousin, go here. The Queen gave the flitt an image of the Lower Caverns, empty at this late hour.

Birinj, go to lead our guest to the Lower Caverns Christae's bronze flitt woke from his spot near the head of his mistress and obeyed the Queen with a chirp. Kaith then turned to her sleeping rider. Beloved, we have guests. You must wake up. They are waiting for you in the Lower Caverns.

Christae woke from her deep sleep with a start. Her first instinct was to check on her son and then her weyrmate, then the words that her dragon had spoken hit her. She slid out of bed, trying not to wake her weyrmate. She pulled on her breeches and a tunic and tied back her brown hair.

Take a cape. It is wet outside. Christae went to her dragon to scratch her eye ridges and then grabbed an oiled cape to protect her from the driving rain. ~Thank you love.~ Kaith nudged her fondly and then went back to her couch. Christae ran down the stairs of her weyr and into the Lower Caverns.

[jane]

Dusk turned his head to look in the direction of the Weyrwoman's Weyr as Kaith spoke to him. He knew that sun would be up soon. He also knew that he would have to be in a dark place by then. Bbut he didn't want to leave his trainer. Nuria needed him. She was cold and wet and needed him to look after her and protect her. He didn't know if these people would look after her at all. The brown Wher didn't know if they intended to see to Nuria at all.
He relayed ruffly want was said to Nuria, not sure of what to do.
"Go Dusk. You will be fine. I will be fine. You need to get inside before the sun comes up" Nuria said weakly to the watch-Wher who stared at her a moment before heading to one of the ground floor weyrs. He paused to look back at her, leaving Nuria didn't feel right but she had told him too so off he went.
Azalia did exactly what she was told by the dragon Queen and headed straight to the lower caverns where she waited for someone, prefrably Nuria.

Nuria sat outside by herself in the rain, eyes half closed as she hugged herself to keep warm. She wished that Dusk was still with her. She wish that she was inside even more. Nuria sat in a daze almost, not noticing anything until a bronze appeared before her.
Nuria had to frown. Where on Pern had that come from. It seemed to want her to follow it so that is what she did. Nuria forced her weary legs to support her weight yet again and slowly followed the bronze flitt, half stumbling as she went.
It wasn't long until they reached the lower caverns. Nuria was somewhat more aware of her surrounds and pulled more hair infront of her face. It was a good thing she did for when Nuria arrived she saw a woman was already standing there. Nuriameekly looked at the woman who seemed so...fine and suddenly realised just how wet she was as water dripped from her hair, clothes and nose to the floor below

[Spirithawk]

Kaith sent reassuring thoughts to the watch-wher as she showed him one of the darkest ground weyrs with her mind. Christae smiled her approval. Her dragon was a good Weyr Queen. Christae took her oiled cloak off and hung the dripping garment on the hooks at the entrance of the hall.

She turned and was startled to see a dripping wet young woman standing in front of her. "Oh dear. We can't have this. You are going to catch a chill." Her tone was motherly.

Beloved, you might want to tell her your name. Christae laughed. Birinj chirped and went to land on the young Weyrwoman's shoulder. "Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Weyrwoman Christae of Sr. Queen Kaith. My flitt is Birinj."

Christae strode over to where pots of klah and stew were kept warming on the hearth. "Come and get some warm klah into you lass while I go get you some dry clothes." Christae insisted that the girl sit as she poured warm klah and set a bowl of hot stew in front of the sodden girl. She brought cold rolls and sweetrolls as well. Christae served some for herself, realizing that she had missed dinner because something had come up.

The young Weyrwoman vanished into a corridor and soon returned bearing tan breeches and a white tunic. "These should fit you until your own things can dry. I hope you have more clothes than that but if you don't we will provide you with some."

~Kaith, is she suitable?~ I am not sure. She is a Wher Handler. ~Nevertheless, she will have a place here for as long as she desires it. I will not turn anyone away.~ Nor would I want you too.

[jane]

Nuria looked quite sheepish as she stared at the floor. The Weyrwoman herself had come to see to her. She hadn't expected that. Not at all. Nuria smiled slightly as Christae insisted that she sat down while she set klah and stew out before her. Azalia came chirping over to Nuria and sat on her shoulder, concered about the wet girl.
As Christea disappeared out of the room, to fetch dry clothes apparently, Nuria began to eat some of the stew. It was by far the best food she had eaten in the past few days. It filled her with warmth too, on the inside at least.
"Thank you." The watch-wher handler said as Christae returned with dry clothes. Her voice sound a little horse so Nuria tried to make it better by drinking some of the Klah that Christae had kindly gotten her.
"Dusk has most of my belongings with him, including a few clothes. They are probably soaked also by now." Nuria said with a smile as she continued to eat. She hadn't realised just how hungry she had been. Then she suddenly realised that she hadn't introduced herself yet. Shards.
"I'm Nuria by the way and this is Azalia. My Wher is called Dusk." She told Christae, sub conciously running her fingers though the hair that hung infront of her face. She then quickly finished eating the stew.
Nuria then stood up and shrugged off the wet cloak she had been wearing and looked round to see where Christea had put hers and hung it up beside the Weyrwomans.

[Spirithawk]

Christae gave the girl a reassuring smile. "You are quite welcome." She listened attentively when the girl spoke. Christae figured that Dusk was the wher Kaith had sent into one of the ground-floor weyrs.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Nuria." Birinj chirped at Azalia. "I can get you some meat for Azalia if you wish. You and Dusk will be most welcome here for as long as you wish to remain among us." Birinj sent her hungry thoughts, and Christae turned to the Kitchens.

"If you wish to change there is a small room right at the beginning of that corridor. You can use that and just bundle your wet things next to the cloaks. The drudges will wash them and set them to dry for you. I am going to get food for the flitters. Birinj is rather hungry."

The young Weyrwoman walked into the Kitchens and prepared a bowl of meat from the carcass reserved for flitt owners. She returned with two bowls full of small goblets and sat down to eat her own food while Nuria went to change.

"If your things are wet I can get you more clothes to wear until they are dry. You can give your things to the drudges and they will see to it that they dry. They go up to the fireheights and put the clothes out on the black rock to dry faster. They can get your things clean and dry when they do the rest of the Weyr's things."

[Tenma]

Eyelids pulled away from the sleepy eyes as the boy woke up. He sat up, his mouth opening in a noisy yawn. A grumble sounded from Jakel's stomach. The boy looked down at the noise and laughed as quietly as he could. The candidate stood up and quickly changed into a pair of leggings and a top. He listened and heard rain pounding outside. Jakel quickly threw on a coat and ran out of the barracks.

Hungrily, he hurried down stairs and outside into the pouring rain. He ran quickly, trying to stay as dry as possible, though his coat and hair got soaked. Upon arriving inside the lower caverns he took off his coat and shook his hair like an animal. He smoothed out his hair so that it wasn't sticking out in every direction. Then he made his way toward some left over meatrolls and hopefully some Klah. He noticed others were in the room so he hung his coat beside theirs. "Hey." He smiled broadly looking directly at their food.

He immediately turned toward the left over food and grabbed a cold meatroll and poured himself a cup of Klah. He gobbled up the first meatroll and took another before gulping down some Klah. Satisfied, he turned to the other. He bowed a quick apology. "Excuse me Weyrwoman, I didn't see you there." He then noticed that one was the weyrwoman then turned to the new comer. "Hello, are you a new candidate?" He asked hopefully.

[Dragon]

(ack sry it took so long Jane. *won't mention he was lazy up until now to post)

G'han walked in to get himself something to eat. Grabbing what was left over and some hot klah to warm him up he noticed the Weyrwoman and Jakel with someone new. "Hello. Lovely weather we are having", G'han said to all as he sat down and began to scarf down one of the meatrolls on his plate.

[Spirithawk]

((Hey is not a greeting for a Weyrwoman...especially for a Candidate and Candidates live in the Barracks not in a weyr..stomach doesn't have an e and immediately doesnt have an antly at the end.and G'han, if you dont know how to spell a character's name...copy and paste the name so that it is spelled right....))

Christae looked up. She smiled a greeting to Jakel. "Up rather late don't you think Jakel?" She turned to Nuria. "Jakel is a Candidate. Jakel, Nuria is a Wher-handler. She has just arrived." The Weyrwoman added sweetner to her klah and held it between her hands to warm them.

Christae looked up crossly at the quip about the weather and saw the bronzerider. "What will the whole weyr wake up?" She asked sarcastically. She watched with distaste as he began to stuff food into his mouth. His table manners were rather crude. He was very much a bronzerider. His arrogance sometimes annoyed Christae. She was glad that Sh'iron was not like normal bronzeriders.

"I do not believe Nuria will be a Candidate. She is a wher-handler. She has a watch-wher named Dusk in one of the ground weyrs. If she wishes to stand for Kaith's upcoming clutch, she is more than welcome to but if she does not she is still welcome to stay here." She smiled, brushing aside her annoyance at the other two's disruption of the quiet. "Nuria, when you are ready I can show you to the weyr that Kaith sent Dusk to."

[Dragon]

"Well if you really must know oh Weyrwoman of Darkmoon. I have been having trouble sleeping every night recently. The weather just doesn't help but I don't mind", he said to her, not caring if he annoyed her or not. He took a sip of klah and looked at the new person. "So your name is Nuria is it? I am G'han of bronze Gerenanth", he said to her. He took another bite of the meatroll and washed it down with some klah.

[Spirithawk]

The young Weyrwoman raised her eyebrows at the tone of the bronzerider's voice. Christae wanted to reprimand him but she would not do that in front of a Candidate or the newcomer. If she needed to she would set Kaith on the dragons of the riders who were rude to her or to others. G'han wasn't the only one who lacked manners every once in a while. Some were worse than him. She watched Nuria's face and ignored G'han. She felt sorry for Rhia even though the brownrider seemed content. Perhaps she knew how to ignore his annoying quirks.

[jane]

( It's seems to have gotten a little busy here <3)

"It's also a pleasure to meet you Weyrwoman. And thank you for the clothes and the meat and everything. I wasn't expecting this at all." Nuria said with a smile "I would love to stay here. Thank you." And with that she got up and left the room, going to change in the room that Christae had mentioned. All of her clothes felt sticky and clung to her damp body. It made it diffcult to change really. It felt good to be in dry clothes again. And to be warm.
Nuria plonked her wet clothes down where Christae had suggested before sitting down and drinking some klah. All the good food and warmth were making her a little sleepy but didn't want to go to bed yet.
Azalia soon spotted the bowl of meat that the Weyrwoman had gotten for her and started gobbling it up.
"I'm sure the rest of my stuff is fine. I don't want to be a bother to anyone." Nuria said before a boy walked in. He seemed rather hungry as he started eating quite fast.
"Hello Jakel." Nuria said in a quiet voice as Christae introduced them. Then came a rider whod started doing more or less the same as Jakel. Only he seemed to annoy the Weyrwoman somewhat.
Nuria blinked in surprise as Christae mentioned her maybe standing at a clutch. "I'm more then happy with Dusk and wouldn't like to stand at a hatching. Oh no. We can help with watch duty if you like. I wouldn't feel right staying here and not helping." She said. "And I'm sure Dusk is fine for now. He can show me where he is, I don't want to take up your time Weyrwoman." Nuria stared into her mug of Klah before draining the remainly liquid.
"Greetings G'han." Nuria said, surprised that the bronze rider was talking to her. "MY name is Nuria. If you can't sleep, why not have a little felis juice? That helps sleep doesn't it? Or maybe it doesn't...I can't quite remember. Maybe its just best to ignore me." Nuria's face had turned slightly red as she couldn't quite remember what it was that helped sleep or not...

[Dragon]

G'han gave a bit of a chuckle and said, "Yes I suppose that would help. Thank you for the suggestion Nurie". He gave her a kind smile and took a sip of klah.

[Tenma]

((I fixed the last post.))

"I know it is late Weyrwoman. I woke up because I was starved, I didn't have a very big dinner." He smiled and bit into another meatroll. "Excuse my manners." He laughed after he had swallowed.

Jakel smiled to G'han, but noticed he wasn't in the best mood. He then turned to Nuria as she mentioned not wanting to stand. "You really should give it a try, we don't have too many candidates yet, so our weyrling group probably won't be too big. I guess it depends on how many eggs Kaith lays, right?" He asked Christae.

"Don't worry about the Felis juice. You aren't a healer, besides, I have had my share of embarrassing moments." He laughed again.

[jane]

The reddness of Nuria's face gradually faded as she listened to both G'han and Jakel. She couldn't help but smile, both seemed so nice. To her anyway.
"I really am just happy with Azalia and Dusk. They are both more then I could have wanted. And anyway, I don't know if I'd be suited to being a Rider. I doubt it some how." Nuria said as she gazed into the bottom of her empty mug. Nuria had two major fears, fire and open spaces. Now she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination but the sky seemed to have a whole lot of open spaces. It was full of them really. Nuria wasn't sure if she'd be able to cope with flying. No. She was more then happy with being a Wher-handler.
"Anyway, if I did stand and impress, I'd get less time with Dusk which wouldn't be good." She shook her head a little.

[Dragon]

"Well to each his or her own. If you don't want to stand then that is ok with me, it is completely your choice", G'han said to her trying to reassure her. He took another sip of the hot klah and began to get lost in his thoughts for a moment and gave a shiver as he thought about his nightmares. He shook his head slightly and took another sip and took another bite of meatroll.

[jane]

"Thank you G'han. Anyway it would also mean being more active in the day time. Being with Dusk has made me...somewhat nocturnal." Nuria said with a laugh. "We'd probably be of more use as we are. Dusk is a very good watch wher and I'm sure we can help in some way." She picked up a meat roll and began munching on it as her stomach grumbled. She looked up at the bronze rider just in time to see him shiver.
"Are you okay G'han?" Nuria asked, concerned.

[Dragon]

"Huh? Oh yes I am quite alright. Nothing wrong at all", he said to her with a reassuring smile. Although it was a lie, truth be told G'han had always had these nightmares ever since he lost his family, it seemed the event had scarred him but it only seemed to show up so bad in his unconscious mind, perhaps from supressing all the emotions and confusion he felt.

[jane]

Nuria dipped her head as a sign of understanding. She didn't fully believe G'han but who was she to say that the bronze rider was lying? And what with that reasuring smile and all, she didn't really have any reason to doubt him.
Water still occasionally dripped from Nuria's hair. She had tried to get the worse out when she had changed but it was near impossible to get rid of it all. There was a wet patch forming on her back from the damp hair but it didn't bother her. Soon she would go to bed and anyway, Dusk had all her stuff and she could change into some of that.
Absentmindedly, Nuria went to brush the hair that hung infront of her face away and only stopped herself just before she did. The Wher handler quickly scratched her nose, acting like that was what she had raised her hand for in the first place.
Azalia came over, chirping happily as she curled round the girls neck, forming a loop almost.

[Tenma]

"Well, if you really don't want to..." Jakel began with a smile, but left the sentence hanging. He noticed Nuria was about to move her soaking hair but then her hand changed direction to scratch her nose. This made him curious but he knew that this probably wasn't the best time to pursue his curiosity.

"Can I meet Dusk?" He asked. "Or would this not be the best time? You probably want to actually sleep." Jakel laughed as he put his empty plate and empty cup away as he had been taught to.