Gather Festivities

[kesomon]

"Like you said, Tikal, drop the title. I'm only an apprentice, anyways." Kaelin smiled at that, and began walking back towards the nearby tack area where her runner was lodged. A few strides away she pivoted, walking a few steps backwards. "If you don't mind talking while walking, I'm going over here. Figure even the runners should get a smidgen of Gather cheer?" She held up the apple core with a bright sparkle of amusement in her eyes and turned back around the right way, narrowly missing bumping into someone else. A quick-murmered apology and she was free to approach her mount, feeding the grateful beast the remaints of the northern fruit and wiping her sticky hand against the hem of her skirt.

"For all our unorthadox meeting I'm glad we bumped into eachother," she at last remarked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and squinting up at Tikal. "I was beginning to wonder."

[kestrel]

Tikal grinned, glad that he hadn't offended the young healer, and apprentice, was she? While, she looked a turn or so older than he'd first guessed she was, and he now gave her a second look and rethought his first guess, before replying,
"then that makes two of us. I, too, am technically apprentice healer. However, when I have time to, I'd like to return to walk the tables." He'd not told many about his healer background before he'd been searched-his master had told him to return to get his knots after Weyrlinghood-the 'if you don't impress' remained unspoken. Tikal had every faith that he wouldn't be left standing, and nor did he wish for anyone else to be, at that.

He walked alongside her in compliance, replying to her with a 'not at all', made curious by her next words. He wasn't sure as to why she'd be glad to have bumped into him-perhaps she didn't know anyone at the Gather, and was glad for the company? Well, for that he couldn't blame her. He was friendly with everyone in the Weyr, but hadn't exactly taken a shine to anyone in particular. Never one to pick favorites, Tikal was readily a friend to just about anyone and everyone. If they could put up with him, he would befriend them. He had a ready sense of humor, a quick wit, and more charm and enigmatic air about him than was really fair. To top it off, he was more like the 'shopping friend' than anything else. He tried not to overstep boundaries in his 'fun' but often he managed to make a blunder that ended up with him with foot in mouth, so to speak. So when he met someone who could handle his jests, he took it all in good measure. His curiosity piqued, he asked with a quirky smile,
"oh? Why do you say that-about the 'beginning to wonder'

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]" He grinned and then added, "I don't have to ask why you're glad we met-who wouldn't love to meet me?" He put on a faux stance, one hand on hip, the other he ran through his hair in front, giving her a dashing smile.[/font][/size]

[kesomon]

Kaelin laughed at that, and waved her hand dismissively, shaking her head. "You're rather full of yourself, Tikal," she chuckled. "When I arrived here this morning, I'd been riding runnerback all the way from the Crafthall. Three days in saddle and I'm glad to meet anybody." She grimaced at that, and cocked her head lightly. "Of course, once I'd arrived, I started to wonder where those from Dark Moon Weyr had vanished Between to." A light shrug, she waved a hand over the tableau of the Gather square. "I saw a few riders and all, but they all had colours of other Weyrs, and I was beginning to fantasize some cataclysmic event had occurred preventing your presence here. Someone dumping a bucket of raw boiled numbweed in with the morning's drinks, for instance." The young Healer's eyes twinkled. "I don't recommend doing that, by the way."

[kestrel]

Tikal only laughed when she asked if he was full of himself, and then with a sniffle,
"who, me? Not at all. I just know I'm that important-there's nothing full of oneself about knowing ones own worth, now is there?" He raised an eyebrow, but to her next words he replied with an understanding nod, "and so you should be, at that. Three days on the road can be a tad trying-did you travel alone?" When she mentioned she was looking for Dark Moon Weyrfolk, his curiosity was piqued to a new level. "Well, it'd be funny for a joke, but I doubt the victims of said joke would see it that way," he said with a shrug, and then, "you've business with someone from Dark Moon, or within Dark Moon itself?" He wondered if she was a transfer healer-he knew that they hadn't many actual apprentice or Journeyman healers at Dark Moon. The incident with the blue, Warth, and his rider, had told him as much. He had assisted that day, even though they didn't know he was an apprentice healer-but so had many who were not. Or, perhaps she was another new Candidate? Well, either would have been nice. Whether fellow healer or fellow Candidate, it would give him someone he could relate to.

[kesomon]

"Just me and my friend here," Kaelin replied, patting the runnerbeast's neck. "And really he isn't much of a friend. No conversational skills whatsoever and he smells funny to boot." She smirked, then shifted into a more professional smile and nodded. "Business...in fact I do...well, sortof. But hey, that can wait till later, right?" She smiled brighter and took the young man's hand, tugging him lightly out into the open square. "This is a Gather-day. No one wants to talk work. It's all great food and sticky sweets and dancing and singing and the oggling of shiny objects of which we, lowly apprenticees, have not enough marks to purchase, but can still enjoy." The redhead grinned. "And it's always best with a friend. Even someone you've only known all of fifteen minutes."

[kestrel]

Tikal chuckled lightly at the comment about the runner's smell, and then said in the beast's defense,
"well, he wouldn't smell so if you'd given him his own sweet sand and some hot water to bathe in-or assisted him in doing so, even?" He winked at her, and then at her next words nodded solemnly, saying, "well, it's no secret that the Weyr could use extra healers. We've a Journeyman Healer by the name of Araceli, but besides myself i haven't seen anyone who is technically qualified for the post." He shrugged, and then said with a smile, "if that's why you've come, I am quite sure Weyrwoman Christae will be quite relieved to have you join us at Dark Moon."

He was a little surprised when she abruptly took his hand and began tugging him into the general Gather vicinity, but smiled and said agreeably,
"I really couldn't agree with you more...and I wouldn't worry about your marks too much when you're with me. I seem to always have plenty to go around and share with one or two friends come Gather time-even ones I've only known for fifteen minutes or so," he said with a lopsided grin.

[kesomon]

"Hey, your marks, suit yourself. I like a bit of oggling." Kaelin replied with a shrug and a smile and immediately swept the area with a hawk-eye, looking for...well, what, she wasn't sure, but at Gather-time, one needed not to be sure of what they were hunting. The bustle and lighthearted atmosphere just aroused cravings and desires for the most random of things, be they food or drink or the delightful ditty of music that set one's toes tapping. For Kaelin, her senses were tingling, and that tingle told her that what she desired most was right...about...

"Tikal, do my eyes decieve me? Does that vendor have on display what I think he does?" She asked, mesmerized in the discovery.

[kesomon]

The sun was high, the breeze was cool, the weather was perfect and the rocks were warm. None of the party at rest on Southern Hold’s sunning rocks could say they were wanting of anything more.

The eldest of the group of four, a young man of 30 turns, rust-brown hair mussed by flight and helmet, leaned back against the warm leather-soft belly at his back and let out a satisfied belch, locked his arm behind his head as a pillow, and began digging a stuck something out from between his teeth with a fingernail.

“I do believe our expedition has been a success, P’mar,” he drawled with pride, inspecting his nail for evidence and licking his teeth. “30 days, 6 regions, 8 Gathers and perfect skies the whole way; this, my friend, was a trip away from home worth taking.”

P’mar, younger by about six turns, opened one lazy hazel eye to witness his companion’s activities, and winced, grimacing in distaste as he shifted his body to find a more comfortable sprawl between the forepaws of his lazing green. “That’s disgusting, A’ton.”

“What, the belch?”

“And the teeth-picking.”

“Belching’s supposed to be a sign of gratitude towards the cook, you know,” A’ton replied haughtily. “As for the picking…well, there isn’t much else I can do for the beast stuck in my fangs.”

“Carnivore,” P’mar replied good-naturedly, closing his eyes again and letting his head fall back against his dragon’s forearm, soaking in the rays. “Even Altoth doesn’t pick wherry from her teeth in front of company.”

~There is never any wherry to pick; she just swallows them whole, ~ the great lounging brown at A’ton’s backside commented, a thought heard only in the elder rider’s head. The man snorted back a laugh and patted the brown’s shoulder.

“Now that’s carnivoracious for you,” A’ton chuckled.

“Hm?” P’mar lifted his head to better situate the brown-rider in his sight. “What’s carnivoracious?”

“Altoth. Hey man, it wasn’t me, it was Roanoth,” A’ton pled, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. P’mar gave a grunt and let his head loll back again.

“You’re lucky I’m so comfortable,” he jested.

~Sun feels ni-i-ice, ~ agreed Altoth, who was lounged out mostly on her side, her front paws stretched out to encompass her rider and her wedged head nestled comfortably in the depression between Roanoth’s neck and wings. ~And after sun, we can swim and cool off, yes? ~

“Depends on how far,” P’mar replied laconically, shaking his head when A’ton looked his way curiously. “Altoth suggests swimming.”

“Then I concede to your logic,” A’ton tipped his head. “If the closest dragon-sized body of water is of short distance and easy access, I’m game. No trips Between.”

~Quite in agreement, ~ Roanoth rumbled, shifting his bulk as his jaws parted in a wide yawn. ~It’s a waste of good sun to blink away into the black and cold. ~

The entire group let out intangible grunts of acquiescence and peace settled on the ledge once more.

“I have a sudden and intense desire to obtain cold drinks,” A’ton announced after a moment’s more lounging, sitting up and glancing around their gathering. “P’mar, want something?”

“’m good,” the green-rider answered sleepily.

A’ton watched the man for a minute before shrugging and climbing to his feet, dusting his hands off and trotting down the stairs that had been constructed along the side of the sunning rock.

“A-Gathering I go, a-Gathering I go, there must be some drinks ‘round here, so a-Gathering I go,” he hummed, walking into the square and scanning through the crowds to find someplace selling drinks.

[Akki]

Akki waved off Wolf's compliment, "Now, now Wolf. Just take the compliment, don't worry about returning one." She nodded in agreement, "At least we know that one day Serinth will be big enough to come to a Gather with us. Who knows, we might be able to find you a pretty lad while were there today!". She watched with faint curiousity as Wolf pulled her brother away from the group, but shrugged figuring that they just needed some brother-sister bonding time. Ebbeth also watched as the two Weyrlings seperated themselves from the group, realizing that he could hear what they were saying since they were close by. Now, the dragon knew eavesdropping wasn't a good thing, and was about to politely tune them out when he heard his riders name. Of course his interest was snagged, and he soon found himself listening in on their conversation.

Hasima also cast a look around the WeyrBowl, noticing that more people were coming in now. Soon people would be put into groups, sorting themselves to find out who went with who and then the dragons would start transporting them to the Gather. Her stomach flittered for a moment, nerves affecting her as she thought about how many people would be at the Gather. Hasima jerked her head upwards in agreement, "I'm not very good at dancing." She wasn't worrying about having to really dance with anyone, she figured that the only person who would ask her to dance would be Akki. She couldn't even begin to imagine anyone else asking her to dance, so she just put that thought out of her mind. Hasima's face turned into a deep red as her outfit was compliment, and she stumbled out a soft' Thanks', obviously embarassed. She looked up as Kestrel said someone's name and noticed the newcomer and wondered slightly if she should walk towards the other group and leave these two alone so they could catch up.

Akki shook her head with a grin, "No, no. That boy right there is a complete delinquient, believe me." Of course she didn't think that about Rhiyo, and was pretty sure that the boy was anything but a troublemaker. "Huh. I won't lie, I never thought of that before." Akki admitted, not even thinking that Rhiyo might in fact accidently offend someone. She gave the bronze rider a salute, "I vow to keep him by my side at all times. Even if he tries to struggle and run away." Akki looked over to where Hasima and Kestrel was and shrugged, "She seems nice enough. Maybe she's just shy? I normally see her with Hasima too, which I'm glad for. Otherwise, I'd feel bad for leaving her all alone.". The blue rider rocked back on her heels, blowing some hair out of her face, not able to keep up with all the plans. "Wait, who am I taking? Radim and the new girl, Kestrel and Hasima? Or am I getting this completely wrong?"

Akki turned and grinned wildly as Rhiyo appeared at her side. She patted the boy on his cheek and asked, "Excited about the Gathering? I plan on wondering the entire time, and meeting as many people as I possibly can. Want to come with?"

[Kino]

Kiran nodded in reply to her question, "Certainly have." he answered, "It came as quite the surprise, though of course my parents were delighted." The boy looked over to Hasima then, blinking once and asking, "Is this a friend of yours?" he offered a warm smile and a light dip of the head in greeting. "Pleasure to meet you," he spoke, having always been a bit on the formal side, "My name is Jilstherakiran, though you're welcome to call me Kiran. I'm a friend of Kestral's from our Hold."

[Annd, I figure I'll bring Khris in xD No reason for him to be left out of the gather.]

Khris was one of the later arrivals to the Weyrbowl, but he hadn't been about to pass up the opportunity for going to a gather. He'd never been to one before, after all, not even when he'd been close enough to take a runner to one. And luckilly there was no worry of him getting lost on this jaunt around the Weyr, he knew where the Weyrbowl was by now, especially after the incident that had occurred on his first day to the place.

It'd been at least a few good days since then, and Khris had managed to get a bit more used to hearing the non-verbal voices on top of the usual verbal ones. He was sure that there would be more things to learn about his quirk, but it wasn't something he was planning on worrying himself over. His jittery attitude the first day he'd arrived hadn't been anywhere near his usual demeanor, and he didn't want to keep that persona up.

The boy wasn't wearing anything special, though he had the distinct feeling that he should have been. And if he'd been able to, he most certainly would have. The only issue there was that he...didn't exactly own the vastest amount of clothing. So he'd simply given his usual cloths the best clean he could, and tried to straighten some wrinkles out of them by hanging them while they were drying. It wasn't much, but at least it was an attempt. Khris meandered his way into the Weyrbowl now, letting his gaze flick around at the various people and dragons, and wondering who would be his best bet to catch a ride with. If he ended up needing to be on the group of second trips? That was fine, too.

[velcro]

Velarios turned at the sound of a voice calling her name. It was a girl about her own age, that's she thought she'd seen in passing last night. She directed her line of travel towards the other girl. She trotted over without much hesitation, as knowing one person was better than being all alone. Vel looked at Kaiya for a second, before deciding she had completely under-dressed. She's put on the nicest clothes she had though, which consisted of a pair of green velvet trousers and a darker green velvet shirt that fit her well. Coming from the Beastcraft hall as an apprentice, she hadn't had very many reasons to have any nice clothes. She had liked the green of the outfit her parents sent her for her turn-day, though, and hadn't worn it much because she didn't want to ruin the outfit. It was nothing compared to the dress Kaiya had on though. It was very becoming on the other young woman, and she blushed a bit in embarrassment for her own state of dress.

"Hello there, I'm Velarios, Vel for short. Thanks for inviting me to wait with you. I'm a little confused about everything, having only gotten here last night." She hoped she didn't sound ruder or anything, but the boy that was with the girl didn't seem like he wanted to talk. Then again, Vel was pretty sure her comment was open enough he could join in if he wanted.

[kesomon]

((A'ton needs something to do. I know; I'll ferry folks to the Gather. Is anyone besides Tikal and Kaelin actually AT the festivities yet? XD))

A'ton took that first sip of rich, cool juice and let out a sigh of appreciation as the tart liquid flowed over his tongue and down his parched throat. "Ahhh...that hits the spot. You do pretty good business on a day like today," he remarked to the stallkeeper. The man squinted and scratched his brow beneath his hat before resettling the brim.

"I reckon," he agreed amiably. "Not many folk arrived yet though. Things should pick up later on."

"Yeah, I noticed that," A'ton remarked, glancing curiously around the square. "Where do you suppose the Weyrfolk are?"

The stallkeeper gave a vague shrug and turned away to help someone else. A'ton sniffed curiously at his drink and took another sip, walking away from the stall.

~Roanoth,~ he summoned, concentrating his thoughts as he formed a mental picture of his brown in his head, looking towards the sunning stones. ~Feel up to a little ferrywork, mate?~

A distinctly irritated blossom of emotion trembled down the link they shared and the brownrider cracked a grin. ~I thought not, but there's folk stranded at Dark Moon.~

~We will lose all our sunning Between,~ Roanoth growled.

~The day is still young, my friend, and you know the sun is always best in the afternoon. Working with P'mar we can ferry quite a few in little time.~

The idea that the lazy green Altoth would also be losing her suntime seemed to lighten Roanoth's mental nature and he sent an agreeing pulse of resignment to A'ton. With a smile, the brownrider strode across the square, finishing his drink and discarding of the cup in the washing fountain before making the climb back up to the ledge.

P'mar was already awake and giving him a baleful stare, his arms crossed over his chest as he sat between Altoth's forelegs. "Ferrywork?" He demanded.

"P'mar, I...look, it'll only take maybe half an hour to make a couple trips," A'ton reasoned, hefting the riding straps onto Roanoth's neck and securing them firmly. "Roanoth can carry two more besides me, and Altoth can carry one, and with three people a trip, it should go smoothly."

P'mar continued to glare silently, but after a moment's use of a pleading return gaze, he sighed heavily and hauled himself to his feet, snatching his own riding harness from a rock. "You owe me," he warned. "Berry pies. Two of them." He paused. "If there's trouble, you buy the food all day."

A'ton opened his mouth as if to protest...then snapped it shut, figuring the point was conceeded.

"For Altoth too."

This time he really did protest. "Oh come ON-"

Altoth let out a low-volume, finalizing bugle, her eyes sparking her irked nature in flecks of red on yellow. A'ton sighed heavily and his shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine, fine. Altoth too. Geeze, gonna be broke before this Gather's over," he muttered, using Roanoth's leg as a step as he mounted up and secured himself. "Hi-yup Roanoth!"

~I am not a fleabit runner,~ the dragon replied, spreading his wings and launching from the ledge in a flurry of dust and pebbles. ~Where do we go?~

~Dark Moon Weyrbowl,~ A'ton replied, forming a picture of the bowl from above. Suddenly they were Between, and

-there was cold, so much cold, darkness all around, closing in, no air, and-

the sunlight returned and A'ton let out the breath he had held, shaking off the chill as the wind whipped past. The bowl was below, and it was towards this Roanoth spiraled in descent. Altoth blinked into existance just below and to the left, and did a rather dizzying dive that left P'mar's stomach rolling.

"Altoth!" He admonished, gripping the straps, and the green gave a chuffing sound that was supposed to be laughter, her eyes whirling with amused greens. She was first to the grass, and reared her torso, powerful wings backswinging to hover before her paws touched firmly on the soil. Nearby, Roanoth touched down with a low rumble and folded his wings to his back.

"Dark Moon Weyr?" P'mar asked, pulling his helmet off and addressing a nearby waiting Weyrlad, who wasn't wearing as fanciful a cloth as some of the others. Meanwhile, A'ton had unstrapped and used the stirrups of his gear to stand up in his harness, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"A'ight, listen up folks!" He shouted, as if the arrival of two full-grown dragons hadn't already garnered everyone's attention. "Hear ye all who be attending the Southern Hold's Gather! My name is A'ton. That charming fellow," and he swept a hand towards P'mar, "Is P'mar. We will be providing rides for anyone who needs one! Two to me, one to the lovely green. If you're not first in line, we will be making several trips, so don't worry!" He grinned and slumped back down into his saddle. "Now, has anyone herenever been Between before?"

((P'mar is addressing Khris, A'ton is addressing anyone in general. You all seemed lacking for rides.))

[Kino]

Khris had looked over as the two dragons appeared above the Weyrbowl, taking a few steps back to give them enough room as they came down to land. "Yeah." he replied with a nod to the greenrider's question, though he wasn't entirely sure why the rider had to ask. When the brownrider spoke up Khris shifted his gaze over to the man, smiling lopsidedly at the convenience, considering he'd just been looking for a ride as they'd entered the bowl.

"I have." he replied to the question, giving a light shrug as well. "Once. When they searched me." He'd leave it at that; the boy wasn't too picky on which rider he got a ride with, anyway.

[kesomon]

P'mar smiled at that. "A Candidate, then." The boy's status seemed to please the greenrider, however few words were said. "I wish you luck in future. C'mon." He leaned down, offering out a helping hand to the young man, the movement made precarious as Altoth dipped her shoulder and bowed, her blue-green eyes whirling slowly with interest. "What's your name, lad?"

[Kino]

Khris shifted his gaze back over to the greenrider when he spoke again, offering a lopsided smile to the comment and taking a step forward as he offered his hand out. "Thanks." he replied to the wish for luck, looking towards the green's head as she shifted lightly, assumably to give him an easier time getting up. He blinked once at the expression in her eyes, not quite sure if there actually was an expression or if he was just picking up on...vibes, or whatever, again.

Turning again to tug himself up, he stepped lightly onto the green's leg, remembering that the searchrider that'd found him had given him the same directions. "Name's Khris." he replied to the question, carefully swinging his leg over and settling into the part of the saddle behind P'mar and adding in a bit of gratitude with, "Thanks for the ride."

[kesomon]

"Pleased to meet you," the greenrider returned, twisting around and tugging the straps tight, securing Khris in the harness. "P'mar, and her name's Altoth. Hang on tight, she likes to show off sometimes." He shifted back around and focused his gaze on the dragon's face. ~Don't frighten the boy, pet.~

~Aren't I always careful with hatchlings?~ The green answered, giving a low rumble, the shamrock colouration in her eyes picking up speed in amusement as she pushed herself to full height. The straps strained lightly against her passenger's torsos. P'mar gave a light good-natured smile. ~With hatchlings, yes. Not so often with passengers.~ "Back to the hold, Altoth," he added out loud, for his companion's benefit. With a responding warble the green stepped back from the standing crowds and spread her wings, crouching back. With a lurch she swept the canopies down and launched into the sky, gaining altitude with just a few swift beats.

The sharp chill of Between was of stark contrast to the warm weather and P'mar counted the seconds, 1, 2, 5, 6, and they were back over the Gather square. Altoth glided in a lazy arch towards an open patch of ground before making a less-than-smooth touchdown, jarring her passengers. She crooned an apologetic note as P'mar unbuckled the straps and helped Khris down. "Sorry about that."

[Wolf]

The two siblings separated rather quickly when two hands, belonging to one person, came flying at them. Before Wolf even turned to look up on J'red she recognized him from somewhere by his voice, which was familiar to her. She shook the offered hand, spotting her brother do the same out of the corner of her eye.

"Its nice to meet you sir J'red of Bronze Hikanth," she didn't feel right being informal-especially since she'd spotted him around Christae... somewhere... Ah, the crisis here! That had been him helping Warth. She grinned widely; any friend of Christae's was regarded highly by her. "Its a pleasure to meet you. I'm Jr. Weyrling Wolf, Rider of Gold Serinth," she introduced herself. She gave a small bow, doing it the feminine way for once. She nearly fell backwards, and R'xis caught both her arms from behind, helping her to stand up proper. She blushed, hating it when she constantly made a fool of herself. Oh well, she couldn't help was so typical of her to do! She muttered a "thanks" to her brother, leaving it at that.

R'xis chuckled at his sister, grinning as well. "And I'm Jr. Weyrling R'xis, Rider of Brown Ersith." Wolf seemed to know the Bronzerider by the way she was acting. He shrugged it off, figuring that Christae had probably been around many various riders when his sister was around her.
"Excited about the Gathering?" he asked J'red, having a feeling that it was going to be fun-perhaps. The whole thing that was getting to him was that he didn't know who he was going to walk around with. He supposed Wolf, since it seemed as if she wanted him to accompany her. He looked behind him, seeing Akki standing with the newly arrived Rhiyo, along with a few other Candidates. He turned back to J'red, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He hadn't the faintest clue that Ebbeth had overheard what Wolf and him were talking about otherwise he would've been completely nervous for a whole new reason.

Wolf too looked back at the group, except then her eyes scanned the entire Weyrbowl-wondering if Riler was coming or not still. She was thinking of avoiding him, but would that really be best? He was her friend after all-oh; whatever-she didn't want to think about it any longer. She'd walk around with who ever, talk to who ever, after all; Gatherings were part for socialization. Her eyes then fixed up on Hasima and a warm smile spread across the Goldrider's face.
"Hasima!" she called out, waving a hand wildly. She felt a bit silly, especially since she'd nearly fallen over just before, but it was clear she didn't care all that much. She just wanted to be herself. When Akki called out to the Bronzerider to clarify who she was taking Wolf’s expression showed clear shock when she heard that she wasn’t being taken by her friend, and either was her brother. She didn’t look to R’xis’ face because she knew she’d probably start laughing at his expression (knowing that he’d heard too). The boy always heard every word uttered out of Akki’s mouth, and analyzed each and every one she bet.

[Riler]

Riler was frantically going through his chest, pulling out nearly his entire wardrobe as he searched for his Gathering clothes. He could’ve sworn he had packed them into his chest when he was taken away on Search, but a sickening feeling was rising in his stomach as he began to suspect that he had left his best clothes back at home.
“Aha!” He let out a yelp of success. There, sitting neatly folded at the bottom of his chest was his garb. Grinning at his triumph at being able to find it—‘I knew I brought it with me!’—he quickly laid it out on his cot so that he might be able to examine it once again, for the first time in ages. It had been years since he had last been to a Gathering, so Riler, like many of the others in the Weyr, was anxiously excited at being able to get out of Dark Moon and spend the day relaxing and having fun and letting his marks fly out of his pockets. He tried to think of the last time he had a delicious bubbly pie; it had been so long that Riler had forgotten the taste. He made a mental note to hop on over to a stall that sold them and gorge on one. Maybe two.

The attire that Riler had laid out wasn’t anything particularly special. It had previously belonged to his eldest brother, who had given it to him shortly before he had been chosen on Search. It consisted of a dark red shirt, stitched neatly on the black collar and on the black cuffs with curving silver lines that seemed to make no sense whatsoever, yet their twisting and twirling, if looked at from afar, seemed to make out the picture of the head of a dragon. Riler fancied this as an illusion, of sorts, though, sadly, it seemed like everyone was able to notice it. The pants that Riler had laid out were made of a light, black fabric that Riler thought to be extremely comfortable, sturdy, and easy to dance in. Riler dug into his chest again, throwing a couple other pieces of attire that helped to complete the outfit. A belt with a silver belt buckle landed with a dull thud on the cot, followed by a pair of fancy-looking black dress shoes. It came in handy to have a cobbler for a father, Riler thought smugly to himself.

Riler slipped into the outfit, feeling rather silly of himself. He was never one for dressing up. He knew that once he arrived at the Gather, he wouldn’t have a care in the world about what he was dressed in, but it was as he dressed up that he began to think of how ridiculous he must be looking. Riler touched at his head, trying to feel how his hair was organized; it was a mess. He, again, reached into his chest and pulled out a steel-toothed comb and began to work on his hair, trying to make sure it was straightened. Parting it to the side a ways so he could actually see, he set the comb aside when he was satisfied that he looked well enough to venture out of the abandoned Candidate’s Barracks to the Weyrbowl, where he would hopefully still be able to find a ride to the Gather. He grabbed all of the marks that he had and pocketed them before exiting the room.

Riler arrived at the Weyrbowl just as a Green suddenly blinked out of sight and into Between. Looking around the area, Riler noticed—much to his relief—that there were still a few riders and dragons scattered around. He could still catch a ride! Heaving a sigh of relief, he dutifully trudged over to where it seemed like people were gathering. There was, much to his pleasant surprise, a large amount of his friends, along with a few others that Riler wasn’t acquainted with. The first person he obviously noticed was, of course, Wolf.
“Oh my,” Riler exclaimed as he entered the circle of conversations floating amongst the peoples, “Wolf, you look stunning!” And she did. He thought her to be beautifully dressed and shaped. He smiled to himself, wishing he could say a lot more than that without drawing much suspicion. Alas, he must be kept quiet.
“And Akki! You look splendid!” A grin shot across Riler’s face as she turned to the young, cheerful rider. “Are ya excited for the Gather? I know I am,” he said gaily.
Out of the corner of his eye, Riler noticed that Hasima was standing off to the side, looking very well dressed herself. “Hasima, that dress looks marvelous on you!” He beamed, nodding his approval at her.
“Now,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “which one of you lucky folks wants to be the one to take me to the Gathering?” He asked with a grin on his face, his eyes darting around from person to person, dragon to dragon. He didn’t want to impose it upon someone that they must take him, he’d prefer it if they offered the opportunity to him.

[kestrel]

Tikal let his eyes wander over to the vendor Kaelin had been addressing, and felt his mouth begin to water, as he replied with a large grin,
"spotted the bubbly pies already, have you? Good eye-or was it the smell wafting from freshly baked pies that caught your attention first?" He had begun to smell the aroma himself, but hadn't quite spotted said vendor yet. Putting a hand on her shoulder, he asked with a twinkle in his eyes,
"so, how many will it be? One, three? Five?" Obviously five was a bit of a joking stretch-they could come back and in total day eat five, or even more, if they wanted-but he thought that most usually ended it at three, wanting to leave room for other treats. Two was usually his starting bout of pies, but he always came back for more, and added,
"we could come back for more after we've walked around a bit-why eat them all at once?" he asked rhetorically, and then, "shall we?" With a sweeping motion towards the pie vendor. Bubbly pies were always a hugely popular treat come gather time. The vendors there were professionals in making the pies. They specialized in what they made, because whoever was at a Gather had won the right to be there by skill of his or her craft. Not that anyone couldn't come and sell what they liked-it was simply that 'he who made the best pies won the most sales'. This looked to be the biggest vending space he'd ever seen for pies, and he was ready to bet his marks that this vendor's pies were therefore of top notch quality.

~~~~~~

J'red grinned, as he could see that Akki was obviously poking fun about Rhiyo being troublesome, and then, when she mentioned that Kestrel might be shy, he agreed,
"well, that's my guess, anyhow. Either that or she comes from a small hold and isn't used to being in the Weyr with so many others. It's good that she has Hasima here-especially as Hasima seems to have taken a shine to Kestrel, if I'm not mistaken. Having a Weyrling for a friend can be a good thing. Hasima seems to have a good head on her shoulders, as well," he said with a smile and a definitive nod in the girl's direction. He chuckled at Akki's next question, then replied by way of explanation, "since there only appears to be you and I here, we'll likely have to make more than one trip. So I'll take R'xis, Wolf and Rhiyo on one trip, and then come back to see about taking Kaiya and a couple others. You can take Radim and someone else on the second trip, and Hasima and Kestrel on the first..." he trailed off as he looked up at the skies, and spotted two dragons he didn't recognize. He turned to Akki and asked, "do you know them?" Then he paused and added, "because if they're here, we may only have to make one trip after all-maybe two depending on how many more come.

He smiled warmly at the Weyrling, Wolf, as she made her introduction, and did his best to keep a straight face as her 'feminine bow' almost turned into what was best described as a 'feminine fall'. He put a hand on her shoulder and then said with a twinkle in his eyes,
"now then, Jr. Weyrling Wolf, Rider of Gold Serinth-no need to be calling me 'sir'. I'll have none of that, it's just plain J'red, nothing else on top of that," he gave her a friendly wink before he turned to R'xis, and replied, "pleasure to meet the both of you, you and your lovely sister," he complemented the girl, and then, "you both look very nice tonight-and do you know anyone, might I add, who isn't looking forwards to the Gather? First I'm going to go and stuff my face full of bubbly pies, and then I'm going to see if I can find a pretty lady who's willing to dance with an old Dragonrider like me!" He folded his arms across his chest easily, leaning back on Hikanth's leg comfortably, as he grinned at the pair. The fact that he was only 21 turns and that mostly any lady would love to dance with the Bronzerider seemed altogether adding to the good-natured hilarity of his statement. He then took Wolf's hand, and said with a smile, "I know! You'd be so kind as to save me a dance, wouldn't you?" His lip quivered as he made nothing short of puppy eyes at the girl, and added in a forlorn tone, "because I don't think anyone else will want to..." he 'sniffled', dabbing at the corner of his eyes before returning his 'pouty' look to her-even though his eyes were still twinkling merrily. Of course the first person he was planning to request a dance from was none other than the Weyrwoman Christae herself! But he would have to keep up appearances by asking others to dance, as well-though if Christae didn't mind, he'd have made her his sole dance partner-save the dance he'd begged of Wolf, mind you!

~~~~~~

Kestrel smiled a little when Kiran said he was to be a Candidate, and congratulated him with a polite,
"congratulations, and I hope you'll impress," and then, with a nod at his queries about Hasima, "yes, this is my friend, Hasima, Weyrling rider of yellow Rimith," she introduced, taking pride in her friend-she knew Hasima was shy, so she made this first introduction as was customary when introducing someone you considered to be a friend-in saying it aloud, she was once more reaffirming that they were, indeed, friends, in her mind. She was more grateful for Hasima's friendship than she would ever be able to express, and so she tried to express it by actions rather than words.

It was true that Kiran and Kestrel had been friends, but he never heard about the incident with one of his friends that had happened and caused her to run to Dark Moon...that was for the best that he didn't know, however. They had probably still been friends, Kiran and that other boy, and it was then that Kestrel had stopped hanging around Kiran very much at all. She hoped he wouldn't bring that up-and was glad he'd merely introduced himself as a 'friend' of hers from the Hold-even if they were merely more of acquaintances now, she was a bit glad to see that he regarded her as such, anyhow. That would mean that maybe Hasima and herself would have another person to talk to-maybe. She was still wary of men, but she knew that Kiran was a good person, and perhaps she could overlook the fact that he wasn't female...it seemed at the moment rather silly of her to even think that she ought to base opinions on gender, on what one person had done to her. She smiled, then, at Kiran, and said by way of explanation to Hasima, "Kiran and I grew up in the same Hold. So we know each other well enough, at that...we were friends back then." She didn't add how far 'back then' had been, and hoped the boy would retain his discretion and politeness and leave it at 'they'd been friends'. She wasn't ready to talk about why she'd become so reclusive to Hasima, not just yet. She knew that she would be, eventually-but now wasn't that 'eventually'.

~~~~~~

Kaiya grinned at Vel and replied,
"well, don't worry about being new here-most of us here are fairly new-I've only been here about a sevenday or less myself-though in truth it really feels like a lot longer," she admitted, thinking of all that had gone on since she'd arrived here. She then added, "I'm sure that you'll be able to find your way around here easily enough soon-and there's lots of great people here willing to help out with that," she nodded in the direction of the small cluster of people, including Akki and J'red, Wolf, Rhiyo, R'xis and probably a couple of others by that time. "I'm here trying to get a ride-so you're probably here for the same thing, right?" She jerked a thumb at the new riders who were already seemingly strapping in another boy she had seen around the Weyr-another Candidate-to a green, before saying, "one of them-dragonriders, that is-can take us to the Gather. One of the bonus' of being in a Weyr," she added with a grin. Then, realizing she'd forgotten, "oh! I'm Kaiya, by the way-a Candiate here. How about yourself? Have you come to stand, or for something else?"

[kesomon]

Kaelin made a pitiful sound in the back of her throat and groaned with unrequited desire. "Fifteen," she wished, "but you're right. Shouldn't eat all the sweets in one sitting or else it'll ruin your pockets, your stomach, and the festive activities." She looked absolutely dejected for a minute before the mood was shaken off and she patted down her pockets. "Pie later, I guess. There are some things more important, like new boots. Or at least to repair the holes in my old ones." She finally came up with a low-grade mark and looked up at Tikal. "Split one with you though. Gotta have a bit of sugar in the system to last the day."

----------------------

A'ton watched as his oldest friend loaded the first of many passengers and vanished Between, and shared a feeling of warmth with Roanoth as he slid down the brown's bowed side. He and P'mar had shared a friendship for nearly four turns now. The thirty-turns rider checked the straps for extra weight and fingered a tiny blooming fray in the leather with a slight frown. That needed oil, it did. He'd have to take care of it after the Gather. Crossing his arms over his chest, A'ton lingered at his dragon's shoulder as they waited for ride-seekers to approach, scratching the proffered eye ridges as Roanoth leveled his head with his lifemate's waist. The brown purred contentedly, his eyes shifting a slow prism of blues.