First day of the rest of your life.

[Kino]

Khris looked up quickly when he heard someone call to the small group of candidates he was in. Without waiting to see if the other two had heard as well, he adjusted his direction lightly to step towards the group around the dragon. Each step only made the volume of chaos going on in his head louder, and it was becoming impossible to ignore the individual words. Being this close to one of the dragons, he could actually tell very easily which words belonged to it.

But he was also picking up on everything else that came with the voice. He wasn't sure if he was simply getting another headache or not, but the boy almost felt sick. Even so...it was still strange, because though he had the idea that that was true, he could also tell that he was completely fine. It was just all in his head. Literally.

As Khris stood there with the supplies, he glanced over to the woman who was spreading something all over the dragon's wing, and over to the dragon as well. It was so loud here...she should be able to tell where it was hurting him the most; the fact that she didn't seem to notice the volume wasn't the least bit concerting to Khris, but with all the voices he was picking up on the boy wasn't thinking straight.

"Near the top of his wing." He muttered, though it was loud enough that the women near him would be able to hear; the boy only half realized he'd even said anything. Khris would've been rubbing lightly at his temple again, but his arms were still laden with the various medical supplies.

[Spirithawk]

"Top of the wing you said Kaith?" A look of puzzlement crossed her face momentarily. Then Kaith's voice came into her head.

I didn't say anything yet mine. But yes, the top of his wing is hurting. Kaith's voice was puzzled as well. How did you know that?

Christae waited to answer her dragon as she slathered numbweed on the injured dragon's wing, near the top joint. She turned and saw the Candidate with his arms full of supplies. "Thank you lad. Did you hear someone say something? I could have sworn someone told me the top of his wing was hurting but it wasn't Kaith."

[Kino]

Khris looked up at Christae when she spoke to him. His eyes were unfocused, and he blinked a few times to clear them and look directly at the woman. "Hear...someone?" he repeated, sifting through the various clippets of conversation to get back to his own memories of the past moment.

"Oh," he replied after a moment, squinting his eyes shut to keep them focused, "Yeah, yeah." he opened them, blinking once or twice more an adjusting the supplies in his arms, "I did."

[Not sure if I made it clear or anything, but he's not about to pass out or anything. His eyes are just unfocusing like that because he's not used to picking up on so much dragon speech, and I figured that would make sense enough, considering that when riders are in conversation with their dragons their eyes unfocus, too.]

[Spirithawk]

Christae smiled encouragingly, wondering if the lad was overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle and the grisly sight of the injured dragon and rider. She waited patiently for an answer, reaching forward to take the packet of needles and jars from the Candidate's arms. If she was lucky, the person who had heard Warth speak was a HAD and the weyr needed one, especially now.

"Who did you hear lad?" She began arranging the supplies on a nearby table that the drudges had set up for her, placing the jars and supplies in the arrangement she preferred to keep while working so she didn't have to look to grab what she needed from the table. It made things easier that way and she wasn't always losing things like some people she had worked with that would lose their own head if it was not attached to their shoulders.

"I need to know lad. My name is Christae and I am the Weyrwoman. If there is someone who can hear Warth, he or she is very valuable and I can use that person's help to take care of Warth faster. Hearing dragons is something very special and not many people have it. Riders can hear their own dragons and another's if that dragon chooses to speak to him or her but few can actually hear all dragons whether the dragon is talking to him or her or not.

[Kino]

When the supplies were taken from his arms, Khris' hand quickly went up to rub lightly at his temple. I've never gotten headaches this often before. he thought grudgingly, closing his eyes as he did so before the woman spoke up again. "Who did I..." he repeated again, blinking up to her and not quite understanding what she'd meant for a moment.

Oh... he thought, going on to correct her, "No, I...I meant..." but she'd gone on to say something else then, really catching his attention with her words despite his annoyingly unfocused vision. Valuable? Special? ...Few? Well...that was lucky, in a way. Good news, he wasn't going crazy, and he was apparently pretty darn special. Bad news?...what in the shell was he suppose to do now?

Oh, right. Answer her.

"Eh..." he started, blinking as he realized he was rubbing at his temple once more and purposefully letting his hand fall back down to his side. "I didn't mean I'd heard it said..." he blinked again, "wait..." part of what she'd said had only now hit him fully, and he was suddenly very aware that he was speaking to the Weyrwoman. "Ah, sorry!" he stammered, "I didn't realize who you were. I'm Khris, a new candidate. And...eh...I'm the one who said it."

[Spirithawk]

A light of hope entered Christae's tired brown eyes. "Well met Khris. Welcome to Dark Moon Weyr. I take it you didn't know you were a hear all dragons? It is not unusual for a erson to go without knowing especially if they are not around dragons a lot. I need you to do me a favor Khris. I want you to tell me immediately if you hear Warth talking. If he is hurting or if H'par is hurting. Warth will know and we will be able to treat them both quicker."

((bleh short but im also working on a paper))

[Wolf]

Wolf listened carefully, wanting to be able to prove that she could do this. She nodded after each sentence that Christae spoke, not looking away from the Weyrwoman's face. "Okay," she said in a hush tone. She was nervous, that she wouldn't deny, but being able to help is what she had truly wanted! She moved around J'red to get to wash her hands with the cleansing sand. While she did so she overheard Christae's words of anxiety. 'I must help, and put all worries and hesitations aside. Christae needs me and the Jr. Weyrwoman isn't here...' After she was done a thorough hand wash she soaked her arms in the redwort (having remembered that the numbing was a shocking and disabling feeling). She then took some numbweed salve from the pot and began to cover existing burns as well as other burns on Warth after having traveled to the dragons side. Wolf had spotted Christae attacking these very same burns with the icky stuff. She stuck her tongue out of her mouth in disgust but didn't dare utter a single complaint. She knew that if she was Warth she sure wouldn't appreciate hearing complaints right now-of all things. He was complaining enough himself.

Serinth watched Hers, tilting her head to the side in questioning. Then when her mother's voice came to her she whirled around ungracefully. Me, help with such an important task? she crooned. Well, alright, she rumbled-ever so delighted to be of some use even with her small size. She did exactly what she was shown, paying close attention to the instructions given her, like Wolf had. We're helping Mine! Serinth shouted out.
And that always seems to involve me getting my hands dirty, she smirked. She kept a watchful eye on Christae and the new Bronzerider; her curiosity getting the better of her. Being such a young girl it often did.

(( OOC| Didn't really know what to do other then my instructed job-especially since R'xis wasn't given a job yet and the ones he had been talking to aren't exactly around OOC wise. :x Anywho-yah. ))

[kestrel]

With a nod of assent J'red placed the pitcher of fruit juice where he'd been instructed to do so, and then, as Christae began telling him of her other Jr.Weyrwoman, he simply listened, sympathizing with the situation that the Weyrwoman was now put into because of having to deal with this without the aid of Weyrleader or Jr. to help her. Nonetheless, he looked over as she made mention of the younger Jr. Weywoman-it looked as if she'd impressed a smaller gold-then again, any gold might look smaller to him now that he'd met Kaith, Christae's own gold. He gave the girl and her gold a good look, summing the pair up mentally by what he could see. The girl was younger than Christae-that was a given. Her gold looked to be, from what he could see, an outgoing creature. The girl, however, looked as Christae had said-shyer, though he could also see how she might over come that and be a good Jr. to her Weyrwoman. Yes, there was potential there, to come out of her shell. All this he assumated from a simple look, his attentions once again focused on his Weyrwoman. He might have made a reply to her, but he only got enough time in for a brief nod of agreement before she was instructing him-and apologizing for it?-to aid with Warth's numbweeding. He immediately spoke up, with a reply of some surprise and certainty,
"you need not apologize to me, Weyrwoman. I was feeling a tad out of place with nothing to do, so I should, in fact, be thanking you for making me feel less awkward in allowing me to lend aid." He smiled reassuringly at her, and then went over to the redwort, rolling up sleeves to soak himself in it just below the elbows, and then heading immediately for the numbweed. He braced himself for the feel of the stuff-it not only numbed pain, it numbed one's hands as well. He was grateful that he'd never had to use this on his own dragon-what with the abscence of thread, there was usually no need for numbweed's use on a dragon, at least. More oft than not, it was humans who needed it applied. Perhaps it was used on the odd runner or two, as well-even a wher. But usually not dragons. Accidents like this were not unheard of, but they were few and far between, and almost always associated with training. He was one of those, however, who believed that thread would most certainly fall again...it was only a matter of 'when' to him, not 'if', or a nagging doubt that seemed to plague many of Pern-sadly including some dragonriders, at that.

He slathered the numbweed on Warth gently-though he was used to work, his hands were not the type that callused easily, and his touch could be gentle as that of any woman's, if need be. He was careful in what he was doing-it wasn't very obvious that this was only the second time he'd done this task. J'red was no healer, but he had an adeptness at being careful with what he did. Especially when it came to dragons! He noted the Jr. applying the numbweed on the other side of the WW and himself, and gave her a reassuring smile to let her know she was doing all right-though he himself wasn't a healer, and therefore not able to say much else, he could at least let her know that she need not be so nervous-if she was. He watched her dragon whirl around-and suppressed a chuckle-when Kaith apparently addressed her. Interesting pair, those two, he mused to himself-but it wasn't long before he was watching Christae at work-she looked rather stressed-who could blame her? She had already conceded that she'd been running this Weyr practically on her own. While a WW could very well do so, it wasn't recommended. Usually the WW was mated to a Bronzerider by this time, and they shared in the responsibilities equally, supporting each other. However, she hadn't even her main Jr. here to help her out. He mentally made a promise to himself that he would aid her in any way possible, and Hikanth's mental support of this idea told him that the bronze, too, was concerned for the Weyrwoman's well-being...

~~~~~~

Tikal placed his supplies where he'd been told to, looking around at the people and dragons gathered about. His attention was drawn by Khris' speaking with the Weyrwoman, and his eyes widened not just a little when the WW confirmed that Khris was a 'hear all dragons'. He couldn't imagine hearing everyone's dragons and not knowing what it had been. He gave an involuntary shudder, wondering how that would feel-he himself valued the privacy of his own mind-could the dragons voices be shut out? He thought one dragon to be more than enough for anyone to hear-never mind all dragons! His curiosity was now piqued, but first he wanted to let the Weyrwoman know that he was trained in the healing of both animals, dragons, and people. He was not a journeyman-no, yet he would have been by now if his calling by search dragon had not come. Tikal had more than a little talent whereas healing was concerned. He'd come just in time to overhear the WW's words to Jared, about needing more dragon healers-and when it came to healing, at least, the boy had no problems speaking up. And so, he took a step nearer to the Weyrwoman, not wanting to inturrupt her in her speaking to Khris, but when it seemed her words were through, he cleared his throat to announce he was, indeed, there. He wasn't nervous around dragons or those of higher placements in the Weyr. He even dared a look at the younger gold rider, inspecting both her and her dragon. He would never, however, quite get over Kaith's size. He'd seen dragons, but never one that big. If any dragon would ever intimidate the boy, it would be Kaith. He was sure she was a wonderful gold-her rider was, after all, Weyrwoman. But somehow, the idea that he might be standing for this great gold's clutch...gave him a little shiver down his spine.

~~~~~

Kestrel couldn't quite hide a smile that spread on her lips at Hasima's nervousness. However, she knew the girl was brighter than many must have thought her-including Hasima's own self. She even figured that part of the reason Hasima had problems was because her belief that she wasn't as smart or bright as others. The idea that Hasima was 'slow' didn't quite seem right to Kestrel. The girl spoke more slowly, that was true. But slow...no, she had met slow people. So therefore she was set in her mind that her new friend-was she already considering her that?-was not. So, with a smile at the girl that was all confidence and support, she replied,
"not to worry-it sounds like you remembered it just fine. No need to get worked up. You likely remember it better than I even do!" She wasn't making this up, either-she wasn't intimidated by the WW or her dragon, but being around so many people her concentration on what had been said had wavered. She didn't like large crowds, and she never had. Therefore the gathering of people and dragons, especially with the situation being was...it made the girl uneasy. It wasn't even as if anyone had tried to talk to her. She knew she hadn't much reason to be this antsy. However, lots of things were irrational-and this was certainly one of them. Long years spent mostly alone since her mother's passing had formulated a young woman who preferred the solitude of loneliness, or the company of only one other person. It was no secret that she, Kestrel, was 'choosy' about who the other 'person' was. She was still as uneasy as ever around men, and didn't trust most women. Somewhere in her mind she rationalized that dragonriders must be 'good'. Especially Weyrwomen-but where was this Weyr's Weyrleader? She had yet to see him, and wouldn't he be there, backing his Weyrwoman, in a situation like this? It was not common for a Weyrleader to leave his Weyrmate-with her young son-so what had happened? Not like he had passed away in threadfall-there was no thread. The questions in her mind were so much so that they almost threatened to bubble over-before she realized that her companion would likely know the answers. She almost was refraining from asking now that the thought had crossed her mind, and yet, she couldn't help herself.
"Hasima?" she began, a little tentatively, but then, her tone betraying her curiosity, "where is the Weyrleader? I haven't seen him here-it's not that new Bronzerider, I'm sure, as I've heard people mentioning that he only arrived a sevenday ago..." she trailed off, her golden-colored eyes glancing momentarily at the bronzerider before going back to Hasima's face.

[Kino]

Khris blinked owlishly at the Weyrwoman's words, not quite sure at first of what to make of them. A hear all dragons? He'd never heard the term before...but that wasn't exactly a surprise. It wasn't as if he'd been around dragons very often in his life, or at all. And he'd never been in one place of residence long enough to hear rumors or talk from Weyrs. Come to think of it...someone with an ability like him probably wouldn't have been spoken of outside a Weyr. It seemed like one of those secrets.

When she first gave him the insructions he was unsure of himself, because he'd been having such difficultly concentrating. But she'd told him what was going on, had given him a confirmation of what was 'wrong' with him (nothing at all, as it turned out), and her orders to listen to that one dragon in particular actually helped him concentrate. He remembered what the dragon's 'voice' from a moment ago, when he'd initially picked up on it. Even if he had no idea what he was doing, simply trying to listen to one dragon at a time seemed to help him organize the various other voices in his head. It actually started to sound like a sort of collective background noise.

It was surprising to him how quickly he'd come to feel important in the Weyr. Under an hour ago he'd been a holdless fosterling traveling from hold to hold wherever his help was needed, and now he was a candidate, and an apparently special one at that, in a Weyr that currently was in need of his help. At least in this moment, anyway. "It runs down the outside length of his wing, too." he noted. Now that he was concentrating a bit easier he could see that where he was hearing about the pain coincided with the burns he was seeing. Funny, that. Maybe if he'd actually been looking before, he might've noticed. "But the burn messed all the nerves up," he went on, "It hurts away from the edge, too; sort of...just outside the burn."

[Kestrez]

Radim had followed the other two Candidates when they had been called over and had followed suit with giving up the supplies he had brought so that they could be put to use. Gray eyes looking around briefly, he too couldn’t help but overhear Khris’ conversation with the Weyrwoman. Well, why the other young man had been looking uneasy suddenly made sense at least. He could imagine how hard it would be to focus on anything when there were multiple voices running through your head. Though it was useful to the Weyr, the ability had to be trying to the gifted person.

But now Radim felt like he was being useless again, just standing there. So when Tikal cleared his throat he waited for the Weyrwoman to respond to the Candidate. If anything he could just help with whatever she told Tikal to do.

><><><><

Araceli hadn’t really been paying attention to anything but her work, until she too overheard Christae talking to one of the three Candidates that had brought supplied. So the Weyr did have someone with the ‘hear all dragons’ ability. It would certainly make their work easier. There were plenty of people helping now, and the worst of the situation was most likely over and one with. The Healer thought about going to check on the injured dragon’s Rider, but she was already helping with the Blue.

Like several others she had been moving from one charred patch of hide to another, and when the HAD Candidate indicated where Warth was feeling prominent pain she finished with the spot she had been covering in numbweed and moved to look the said area over. If nerves were damaged then the dragon had a good chance at never being able to fly again.

“Is there an area on the wing that is hurting more than everywhere else around it?” She asked, glancing at the Candidate and going off the bit about nerve damage. If they could pinpoint the center and soothe that then the areas that weren’t really charred would possibly stop causing the dragon pain.

[Akki]

Hasima was glad that she wasn't being sent off alone to find Uslanee. She didn't want to think of having to go off alone, she'd probably have a panic attack or something because she wouldn't be able to remember anything. She threw a look over her should, watching everyone around them move as quickly as they could, shouting things to one and another as she chewed on a piece of her hair, a nasty habit she did when she was nervous. So in other words, she did it alot. Hasima looked at Kestrel as the girl said words of support and a unwavering smile, and offered her her own smile. Except her own smile wasn't as big or as confident, but at least it wasn't quivering which was good enough.

Hasima let out a soft, almost uneasy laugh as Kestrel exclaimed that Hasima would do a better job at remembering than her. Yes, she was glad that Kestrel was with her. If she was with someone else, she would definitely feel awkward and her head would probably combust with all the tension going on around them. The candidate was good at lightening up a darker situation, even if she didn't mean too. As Hasima and Kestrel crossed to the Weyr Bowl, heading straight to the kitchens to do their job, Kestrel inquired about the Weyrleader.

Now, Hasima didn't know too much about that. Everyone knew the basics about it, only a few knew the exact details about what had happened. She removed the hair from her mouth, and chewed on her bottom lip instead for a second. "I don't really know everything about it." Hasima admitted softly. "I know that he abandoned Dark Moon and took the Weyrwoman's son with him. There was a meeting about it a while back, about what we should do. It was really chaotic." She continued, frowning slightly. She didn't like the Weyrleader, though she didn't know much about him. Anyone who could snatch someone's child and run away with it and have no regret, or good reason, didn't stand for much in Hasima's books. She blushed for a moment, thinking back to Rimith and how she was originally stolen. But that was a different scenario, Hasima held no dislike for Rimith's captor. After all, Rimith was returned unharmed just in time.

Hasima turned into the kitchens, stopping at the entry. It was mostly empty, almost everyone had run out to see what was going down in the Weyr Bowl. Only a few people remained behind, standing at the work table, doing their jobs. Hasima noticed Uslanee almost immediatly, all she really had to do was look for the older woman with her hair being held back. "Excuse me." She said softly to the woman, not wanting to interrupt anything, "The Weyrwoman sent us. She wants us to tell you to make a hearty stew for tonight and to have lots of fellis juice and klah for the riders.". She paused for a moment, the gears in her mind turning as quickly as they could in order to remember what the other stuff was said. There was something about water and riders wasn't there? Hasima's face fell, and for a second she looked almost desperate because she couldn't remember. But her face soon turned back to normal as she sputtered, "Oh! And water and juice need to be spent outside to the weyrbowl and some riders need to be sent out to get more fruit if you don't mind.". She cast a look at Kestrel, her eyes questioning if there was anything else that had to be said.

She was glad there were few other people in the kitchens. Have you ever had to speak in front of someone really important, someone who could decide your entire future, and when you tried to speak your skin turned into paper, your bones into glass and suddenly your lips were glued shut as words bubbled up and got stuck in your throat? That's what it was like for Hasima whenever she had to speak in front of a lot of people, people that she didn't know very well.

[Spirithawk]

((Painted dragons wouldn't really understand about nerves. You could describe the sensations he is feeling but he wouldn't know that it was something wrong with the nerves just fyi))

Christae smiled absently at J'red when he told her that he was glad to help. "Thank you." she said. She was turning to check on Wolf's progress when Khris spoke again. Her attention was rivited on the new Candidate as he reported where Warth said he hurt.

"It sounds like there is a bit of minor nerve damage. I hope it will heal on its own but, if there's major nerve damage he might not fly the same, or at all again. We will hope for the best but we need to be realistic. Khris keep up the good work."

"We won't be able to tell the full extent of the nerve damage until he is no longer in pain and his wing starts growing back. It's a waiting game now."

She turned to Wolf. "Wolf I need you and J'red to listen to Khris and cover the parts that he says hurts. Araceli, I need you to help me start on the wingsail. The sooner we start stitching it up the sooner it will start to heal."

"Khris just tell us what he says." She glanced around and saw some of the other Candidates. "You two, come here. Listen to Khris and J'red and put numbweed where they say. Wash your hands and put redwort. Wolf I changed my mind I am going to need you with me because you need to learn."

The WW washed her hands again and reapplied the redwort. She opened a needlethorn packet and thread from the table. She demonstrated how to thread the needlethorn and then unrolled a part of the linen she would use to attach the wingsail membrane to the frame. "Make sure the linen does NOT touch the ground. Don't let anyone else handle it unless they have washed and put redwort. We need to prevent infection." She started stitching, pushing down her revulsion at having to pierce the membrane of a conscious dragon with a needle. "Try to do even stitches so it doesn't pucker or create bunches."

[kestrel]

J'red only gave a nod in reply, as he set to work on his task of applying numbweed to the injured Warth. In truth he was more than just a little interested in this Candidate who was a H.A.D. He'd heard of them but had never, in actuality, met one before. So the fact that this new Candidate was a rarity indeed made him wish he'd more time to ask him a little about it. J'red was an inquisitive person by nature, and anything new and unusual usually riveted his interest until his curiosity was sated. However, it was mildly apparent that when he was not slathering numbweed on Warth, it was not the new Candidate that he was watching, it was Christae. He noted, then, the tiredness that was apparent on her face-she looked more than a bit over-worked, run down, even. He wondered when the last time she'd taken a break from Weyr duties was. Since he'd been here, anyhow, he had not seen her take any time to herself, she was always from one task to another, and non-stop at that. Even later at night, when others were sleeping, he could have sworn that the Weyrwoman was still tending to Weyr matters. Where was the headwoman in all of this, he wondered? He'd briefly met Uslanee upon his arrival here, and seen her in bare glimpses as the woman made her way around the Weyr-perhaps the headwoman was busy, too, and had not the time to notice Christae's exhausted appearance. He was of half a mind to suggest that she get some rest, but no, that was not really his place. Bronzerider though he may be, no Bronzerider save the Weyrleader had right to speak his mind so to the Weyrwoman. That was the duty of healers, and even the headwoman, before he would be thought proper to say anything. However, just because he could not be so forthcoming, did not mean he couldn't ease her burden in other ways. As a dragonman, he could most certainly help her out in any way he could find. He wondered if she'd been eating enough-it was apparent to him she'd not been getting her due rest. But eating and keeping fluids in ones body...he was no healer, but he was not an un-knowledgeable person. Everyone needed sustenance if they were working away like Christae did-even more so than normal! Hikanth, listening in on his rider's thoughts and concerns, agreed wholly with them, and sent by way of suggestion,
*Perhaps you could bring her food and drink? She may wish for it but not have time to always get it. I am sure Kaith does her best to watch over her.*
~Yes, as am I,~ J'red sent back, his tone full of concern as he added, ~but Christae seems to me a strong woman-one who would not always back down from doing what need be done just because her dragon wishes it so. Who else will do it if not she?~
*You could.* The reply was matter-of-fact, but there was a hint of something more there, and J'red sighed heavily inside, his next reply a little terse, for Hikanth knew as well as he did that he was not of proper rank or position to do as much as he'd like for her.
~Yes, I could-but I am not Weyrleader, and nor is there anything to suggest that I ever will be. However, a Weyrleader is needed-that much is apparent. Whoever he be, I would be happy just to see him lighten her load and aid in caring for her.~
*Hrmph,* came the reply, and then, *You like her, and I think she would be good for you. You would be good for her. I will win at Kaith's flight. You will see.* The dragon's tone was all confidence, the pride of a bronze who has every belief that he can achieve something as long as he says he can.
J'red smiled wryly. Hikanth was a strong dragon, the largest bronze that J'red himself had ever seen. However, there was always a chance that the biggest was not always the winner, and he knew this from having seen how many times a smaller bronze won. However, J'red had much faith in his dragon. Hikanth was fast, agile and intelligent...even for his large size he moved with the speed and agility of the smaller bronzes. Yes...perhaps he could win, at that...but was he worthy to be Weyrleader-or even the Weyrmate of Christae, whom he both liked and respected? Well, he would have faith in Hikanth's words, for now. The flight could not be too far away, could it? This would be one flight, however, that J'red and Hikanth would participate in-they would not be elsewhere like he had made sure they were for other Gold-flights.

Tikal gave a small start when the WW addressed him and his fellow Candidate, Radim, and immediately set to work cleaning his hands and applying redwort thoroughly to them. It was all too obvious that Tikal was behaving professionally, as if this was standard procedure for him, and he'd done it before. He was going to let the Weyrwoman know that he was trained for this, that it had almost been the craft he'd been given the Journeyman's knots for...just before that he'd been searched. Now that she'd assigned him the same task he was going to offer aid in, however, he decided that his words to her could wait-she looked awfully busy, and he didn't think she'd really need to be told about it just yet. Later, however, when things calmed down he might. He couldn't help but feeling lighthearted, even with the dreary situation they were in. For all that this was a bad situation indeed, it was a beautiful day outside, people were working together to accomplish things, and the cool breeze blew through his crimson hair, whipping it away from his face. He had to smile, then, thinking how fortunate he was to even be here. He'd only arrived a seven-day ago, to announce to the WW that he was to stand at this next hatching, a Candidate. He was rather proud to have been chosen, though pride was not something he was big on, he knew the honor. He did well to consider himself as lucky as lucky could be. To him, there were no differentiations between what he impressed. Bronze, Brown, Blue-he doubted he'd get a Green, he had no tendencies to which male greenriders did. He took a breath of fresh air, exhaling deeply, and almost sneezed at the strong scents of healing aids. Oh well-the air was still clear and good, and his lungs exhaled slowly-he ignored the slightly bitter aftertaste in his mouth. He began applying numbweed in a quick but wholly efficient manner, his deft hands left no spot un-numbed. He was so adept at the task that he could easily afford to inspect those around him. So it was that he did not miss the look of concern that crossed the Bronzerider's face when he was eyeing the Weyrwoman, and nor did he fail to guess at the reason. He was not so inclined towards not speaking what was on his mind, he did not have J'red's sense of 'what would be proper to say or no'. His had been a life led to be a healer, and healers, they made sure that those they saw were in good health, and so, without further ado or much thought to it, he addressed the WW, his tone, even for one of seventeen, rather strict as he told her,
"Weyrwoman, you are not getting enough rest. You should have food brought to you, and make sure to drink plenty of that juice. If you are not sleeping correctly, you should at least keep your strength up by other means...did you miss your breakfast this morning? I would recommend that after this you go and at least try and get some sleep. If you do too much you will wear yourself thin until your body resists and you collapse from exertion." His were the words of a healer, spoken with assuredness and strictness, no matter whom he was speaking to. It was a tone many would easily recognize, having been in the infirmary at some point or another.

J'red paused long enough to glance in surprise at the boy's direct manner, and secretly applauded him for saying what he had not. Perhaps it would be less frowned upon for a Candidate to speak so than for him, a Rider, who knew his place in things. He knew that every word the boy had said was correct, and he eyed the crimson-haired lad, with his unusually long hair and icy blue eyes, wondering where he'd learned to speak to people in such a manner. His words were unafraid of anything the WW would have thought about him almost ordering her to eat and drink more, his strong suggestion that she ought to go recline and get some sleep after this ordeal were pointed and sounded almost like chastising. He couldn't keep the corner of his mouth from turning up, and restrained a chuckle at the boy's out rightness.

Kestrel, meanwhile, was busy reassuring her friend, Hasima, that she'd done a great job of remembering everything-as, of course, Kestrel had known she would.
"You got it all, I believe-unless we're both not remembering something," she said, her tone full of good humor. She was in a surprisingly good mood today, for whatever reason. Maybe it was merely that she realized that she actually considered someone a friend-something she'd not had or done in a very long time. She had to admit, it was nice having someone she could talk to and do things with. Even though she was only a Candidate and Hasima had impressed and was a Weyrling, she appreciated the way the quiet girl never made her feel like less for it. Hasima was a person who treated her as an equal. Akki, Hasima's other friend, made Kestrel feel out of place and ill at ease. Akki had so much life, and energy...and questions and talkativeness, and forthrightness...things that Kestrel couldn't handle very well just yet. She tried to avoid Akki, though she made it very un-noticeable that she was doing so. She just 'happened' to have somewhere else to go or be every time Hasima mentioned seeing Akki. She just 'happened' to have to use the washroom or have forgotten something important if she saw Akki coming. She wondered if Hasima ever noted this, but so far it didn't seem to Kestrel that she had. Maybe, just maybe, there was a day when she could handle people like Akki...but today wasn't it. She smiled absentmindedly to herself. In her mind, she'd come so much further in just accepting that Hasima was someone she could call friend. She wasn't about to start thinking about the fact that in a whole sevenday, the only person she'd bothered with much at all was Hasima. The only time she talked to anyone else was when she was spoken to directly, and then her answers were what they always had been-short, concise, to the point, as few words as possible. With Hasima, however, she spoke freely and didn't feel she had to hold anything back. Yes, it was nice to have a friend indeed. And so,
"do you recall what we're doing after this? I guess maybe we should report to the Weyrwoman that we've done as she asked-but that large group of people kind of makes me a bit nervous," she admitted , only a little reluctantly. She'd have rather been given more chores to do away from the large gathering, but didn't think that it was too likely they could avoid going back and having to do more within the group. She sighed, and wondered where Roksha had gotten to. She received a sharp mental picture of the little firelizard devouring a fish on a rock near the lake, and sighed, envying the little creature the solitude of a nice place to just relax and be away from people. She wouldn't have minded Hasima's company, however...

[Kino]

Khris shook his head very lightly in reply to Christae's comment on nerve damage. "I don't think it's very bad." he replied, blinking roughly once in a further attempt to get his thoughts focused. It was helping, as was focusing on one dragon. He was starting to get the hang of blurring out the mass of voices as he would do to a mass of verbal voices. "When I was a fosterling," he went on, pausing then and shaking his head once, "a younger fosterling," considering he still was, technically, a fosterling, "I burnt my hand on one of the first homes I was brought to."

The candidate took a moment to tell those applying the poultice where the dragon was hurting before continueing on with his explanation. "I only hurt the side of my hand, but every single one of my fingers hurt." he wiggled a few of the fingers in question, "It was like my hand was burnt, but my fingers were being jabbed at with needles." A few more directions on where to put the poultice were given. "I don't think it's any bad nerve damage, I think it's just that the nerves are...confused?" he gave a shrug, "If that makes any sense." it wasn't as if he were a healer, after all. Even if he'd helped at a healer hall once before he hadn't done anything that needed real training. He'd brought supplies to them, gathered materials, did small jobs like that, but he didn't know how to give any technical terminology.

[Spirithawk]

Christae began sewing the wingsail to the linen so that the charred and shredded wing would have a better chance at healing. She had just neared the end of her piece when the Candidate she had set to slathering Warth with numbweed spoke and began berating her for not sleeping or eating properly. She stared at him, her face surprised for a few moments before she carefully tied off the knot and set the now-dull needlethorn aside to be disposed of.

"Young man, I don't think you know what you demand." She said quietly. Kaith growled at the tone but she couldn't help but agree with the young man.

Healers rarely talk to my Chosen in that manner youngling so you had best be a Healer. But Healer or not, show a bit more respect. I agree with you though. She had been running herself ragged.

Christae gaped openly at her Queen. So, her soulmate had decided to side with the others in this matter. Kaith of all those around her should understand that she couldn't take the time to rest, not with the weyr in the state it was in.

"I will rest when I am able. There is much I must see to. I am running the weyr by myself. My Headwoman is busy with her own staff and thank Faranth she has that under control because I cannot handle the rest of the weyr and the Lower Caverns. I drink when I can and I eat when Kaith reminds me to. There is only so much one woman can do and since I no longer have a Weyrleader to lead at my side and my Jr. WW is gone for reasons that I could not change nor fault her for, I have to make do. I have to train Wolf and Serinith and train the riders for Thread. I will not let this weyr be caught unawares when Thread comes again. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to thread another needlethorn and get back to work."

At least I am not the only one worrying. Hikanth said that J'red agrees with the Candidate and would have said similar if you were not the WW.

"Let's get back to work. The quicker this is done, the better. Kaith, fan yoiur wings a bit so that we can keep the flies away. When you get tired, ask Hikanth or another dragon."

((ill let this go for a few more posts and speed it up after))

[kestrel]

Tikal's face took on a curious look, as the WW turned to him and said that 'he didn't know what he was demanding'. Well, he hadn't meant to sound demanding; his had been a healer's advice to someone he could see was not taking care of her well-being as well as she ought to have been. However, just as he was about to speak this thought, another voice cut him short, and he turned his head to see that it was the WW dragon, the Queen, who was addressing him. Well, people were one thing, and dragons were another. He was used to dealing with both, but not usually the Queen, and the thought that he'd somehow offended her made him redden almost to match his hair, as he quickly replied,
"I meant no insult, Weyrwoman, Queen-yes, I am a healer. If I do not impress I will be going back and immediately receiving the knots of a Journeyman Healer-however, a sevenday before I was to walk the tables, I was searched. My Master, though, still will allow me to walk the tables once I've impressed and am able to visit my old Weyr again-if I impress, that is," he added. He had confidence that he stood as good a chance as anyone else, but nonetheless he knew that standings did occur. For some reason he didn't think he'd be left standing, though-but he'd been proven wrong before. Then, more respectfully, "I am glad you do think I have made an accurate diagnoses, however, Queen dragon". He didn't know what to call her, as he didn't know the Weyrwoman's or her dragon's name, and so, "I was only speaking as a healer-I must admit I'm not the one who heals the Weyrwoman or her dragon, because there has never been much need for it. I am perhaps too ill-used to dealing with people in positions of higher rank. I apologise if I seemed to you at all disrespectful-it was the Weyrwoman's well being I was merely thinking of," he admitted, glancing over just in time to catch J'red's slight nod of agreement, though the Bronzerider said nothing.

As the Weyrwoman went on to list all the things she had to do around the Weyr, Tikal's eyes widened-how could she be doing so much all by herself? With no Weyrleader or Jr.Weyrwoman, at that? He paled a little, but it was J'red who spoke up next.

~~~~~~

"If you lack someone to train the Weyrlings, Weyrwoman, I might be able to at least volunteer my services there. Hikanth and I are not ill-used to Weyrling training, to say the least-and I too believe that thread will return. If the stones are correct, it will be sooner than many of us think," he said solemnly. Woe to the Weyrs who didn't have a good wing or two of dragons on that day. How would they be able to protect the Weyr and Holds if they did not? He silently added up the number of dragons that were currently in Dark Moon, and he realized that there weren't as many as one might have liked for the making of wings. There was himself, Christae, Akki, Hasima, R'xis, Wolf...and whom else? He'd seen a female brownrider around, and a greenrider, as well as one or two more-but that had been about it! He realized that the Queens could not chew firestone, they'd be fighting in the Queen's lower wing. How would so few individuals even hope to make up a wing. He said a silent prayer in his own mind that there would be another hatching or two before thread came down from the skies-or at least a handful more of transfers! Were there any other bronzeriders in the Weyr? Not that he'd seen, at least. Perhaps the female brownrider could lead one wing, but who would lead the other? If there even was an other? He then began to understand better the situation that their poor Weyrwoman Christae was facing. She had so many responsibilities, and yet she still had to worry about the same things like this, that he was now thinking about. He began cautiously on this next subject, wanting to make sure he was not taken the wrong way, and said in a level and querying tone,
"Weyrwoman? If I may? Are we expecting any transfer riders from other weyrs? Or, perhaps, a flight anytime in the near future?" He reddened very faintly at that last, he didn't want her thinking he had ulterior motives on that angle, as he quickly explained, "in the matter of training for thread, I was inquiring because we seem to have scarce few riders in which to make suitable wings. Therefore I was hoping that, on either aspect of transfers or flights, we might be able to expect more dragonriders by the time thread falls..." he was still mildly red, and trying to keep himself looking at her in the face rather than anywhere else-which might betray only further his slight embarrassment in regards to 'flights'. He knew Wolf's gold wasn't old enough to rise...so that only left Christae's dragon in the query.

[Wolf]

Wolf remained doing a she was instructed, but couldn't help hearing the ongoing conversation between the Weyrwoman and the Bronzerider. She had never met him before, yet she'd keep her distance seeing as there affairs weren't any of her business as a Weyrling. She looked over to the Healer, a Candidate boy she had recognized associating with some of the other new Candidates before; who had all just recently flocked to the Weyr. She nodded to him, wondering if he'd even seen. She wanted to be polite, after all, and get to know every one around here. That was something unusual for her but she knew that in a crisis, when names needed to be shouted out, it'd be nice to actually know what names you needed to call.

"Hello," she said to him in a low voice. She looked around for Akki, Hasima, or even R'xis and didn't see any of the three. She frowned a bit, coming to realize that she didn't really have all that many friends here at Dark Moon. There weren't too many Weyrlings, and there weren't all that many Riders. She could tell where J'red was going with his question and she knew that he was right-they would be in trouble when Thread came...
She looked over at Serinth, who was hard at work, and she admired the little Gold for trying to keep up with the bigger dragons. She looked back to Tikal, wondering if she should introduce herself. Were introductions really proper when there was a job to complete? She looked away, focusing on Warth.
"Shush, just calm down big fella'," she said to him soothingly. She offered the dragon a gentle smile but she bet more then anything that he wasn't paying attention to a young girl's facial expressions.

[Spirithawk]

((there are more dragons than are actually rped..most of them are npc though))

"I have a Weyrlingmaster. I only sit in occasionally while Rhia and brown Mneith train the youngsters. I mean Thread drills with the Wings. Since there is no Weyrleader to give the orders to the Wingleaders I need to take over that. I only hope that Kaith flies before Thread falls and the new WL has time to train with the wings so that I can take over my Queen's wing. The copper dragons will be flying with me as will Wolf and Serinith and any pregnant greenriders. We have many transfer riders in the Weyr and we also have the riders from Kaith's last hatching but they will likely be Sr. W'lings still by the time Thread falls. We also have a few riders from her first Hatching although some have tranferred out. Do not worry aobut Dark Moon's numbers. Most of them have taken their dragons away so that they are not upset by Warth at the moment. Kaith is not due to rise for several months maybe sooner, maybe later now that Reinath is not here."

"We will discuss this later. Candidate, J'red, I thank you both for your concern but right now Warth needs to be tended to. Wolf, come here after you have washed your hands and reapplied redwort. You are going to learn how to stitch wingsail. J'red, I need you and the other Candidates to listen to Khris. If he says Warth hurts somewhere, slather it with numbweed. Khris is a Hear all dragons and he can tell us what's going on faster than waiting for Kaith to tell us what Warth needs."

[Kino]

[before I post again (And as usual, you can of course delete this ooc once it's been answered xD) I was wondering. Is there any qualms if I were to have Khris say that they numbweeded all the painful areas?]

[Spirithawk]

(ooc: thats fine with me lol))