You walk over to viewing Galleries around the hatching sands.

Auralia half-skips into the galleries, brushing hair back from her face with an excited grin. Well, hand, but her grin is broad and all that. "Evening, folks. How many eggs?" She peers down at the sands, taking a seat with legs splayed pretty much everywhere, "Fun."

Down on the Sands, Telinda smiles, patting golden hide, "Alright then, I'm going to try and get something to drink" she adds, tottering off the sands in a zig-zag, wavering line.

Down on the Sands, Telinda strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn follows Telinda quickly, still silent with the anger from earlier. HE does give Rnayth a solid pat before leaving the bronze with the queen.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Alianne taps another tally- the final one, this time- glancing only slightly towards the source of a new entrant. Tap-tally completed, she turns towards Auralia. "If I counted right, 32." She probably didn't count right.

Aithne manages to cover a yawn...barely as she peers around at the others..."I lost count after 15" She admits as she rubs her temple.

Largon drops the stone and walks quietly past Alianne, keeping his head bowed slightly and his step quick before he exits.

Largon walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Auralia grins, some more, anyway. "32, or thereabouts? Shards, that's wonderful. I -told- Iesath that we should get back, but she insisted I stay and talk to the holder..." She trails off, shaking her head at herself, "Anyway. Wonderful."

Alianne smiles and nods at Auralia, merely bobbing her head along with the words that mean absolutely nothing to her. Well, discounting the last two. "Aye, wonderful." she agrees, hunter gaze sent back on the crowd of new eggs.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Ardanth warbles with no small measure of excitement, << Does this mean I can start looking for them! >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath considers, with the measuring silence of a wafting tide << Them? I don't see why not. But only if you see them. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Ardanth sounds thoughtful. << Or feel them. It will take a little bit for me to focus, though. >>

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath agrees, thoughtfuly, her voice patterned with trailing greenery << It will. You're still very young, and will need to practice. >> She, of course, is the expert.

Kenla finally finishes her tally, and yawns. Her eyes go distant and she mutters, "I'll bet you do" to the air.

Aithne rises and slowly makes her way out of the galleries, rolling her shoulders back as she does so. "Should have known better than to have sat for so long."

Aithne walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Alianne retallies, as she has been for the past few moments, hrming to herself. "I was wrong. Thirty-six." she says, aiming it at no one. Then, resigning to the desire to just admire, she falls completely silent.

Auralia raises her brow, considering the eggs, "That's a fine number. 36. Wonderful news. I suppose," she says, with a long sigh, "That Iesath will be picking up folks now. Joy."

Tolas walks up to Alianne, actually finding someone he recognizes in the crowd. "Have you been here the whole time Alianne?" he asks with curiousity.

Kenla eyes Auralia and giggles. "Same here. Ardanth's good, I have to admit it. But he's not sure immediately. /That's/ the headache."

Auralia laughs easily, nodding towards Kenla, "I can understand that. Lucky for me, Iesath is so sure about everything that she knows right away. Only, she decides to make it hard, just for the fun of it."

Alianne mms, looking between the two rider carefully for a moment. Tolas' question catches the assistant steward off guard, and she nearly jumps out of her skin because of it. Calming herself, and turning towards the source of the voice, she ohs, chuckling and shaking her head. "No, came in time to see the last ten or so, though."

Kenla grins. "Well, with that Fall today I think he's fine with waiting at least a day. But we'll be flying tomorrow, I'm sure."

Tolas smiles and turns his gaze to the sand. "Yeah, it's my first one. I missed a lot of it. I saw the last couple or so." he sounds disaapointed.

Auralia glances back out at the sands, her eyes glazing. Wordlessly, she nods, and then adds, "That's good. Dunno about Iesath. It just depends on if she feels anything." Her eyes cast around the room, as she notes, "If she does, she won't wait."

Alianne mmms and nods at Tolas, smiling faintly. "There'll be more, you can lay your marks on that." she says, casting a quick glance towards the sands. "Ah, well."

Tolas nods at this, "True. I still would have liked to see the whole thing. If only to get a good seat at the beginning. You doing ok today? Any mugs I have to feed to the dragons?" he asked with an amused voice.

Alianne chuckles at Tolas, nodding. "Aye, it's something of a sight to see, I'll agree." She pauses a moment, eyeing Tolas. With a chuckle, Ali nods. "Oh, I've been fine. Not much to do today. Though it all happened to fall around this time. Feed mugs to dragons? I'd still like to see you try..'

Tolas smiles in amusement, "I still say I could at least get them to taste it. Maybe chomp on it a few times. Who knows?"

Alianne grins at Tolas, crossing her arms in doubt. "Like I said, I'd like to see you try. Who knows, maybe you'll find a dragon curious enough. Though it couldn't be /good/ for them."

Tolas laughs at that, "I never said it would be good for them did I. Maybe they can bring it back up, like firestone. Oh yeah, thanks for the kitchen duty, it was a lot better than the cleaning stuff you had me doing earlier."

Auralia leans back, listening silently, with a thoughtful look on her face.

Kenla glances at Auralia, and furrows her brow. She's concentrating hard. Then she sighs. Nothing.

Auralia raises her brow at Kenla's furrowing, but shrugs, and glances away, eyes taking in the eggs. Again.

Alianne mms at Tolas, bringing a finger to her chin in consideration. "I suppose so. But I don't think I'd really like to figure out the hard way." She pauses, a slight grin flashed, and then, "Oh, yer welcome, really." she says, with a grin, passively noting the riders in the background,

Tolas chuckles, and notices Alianne's glances, and he too notices the riders in teh background. "So how many eggs were there? 32?"

Dragon> Ardanth bespoke Iesath with << My rider forgets that it's me who can feel them. >> He sounds rather drowsy. << But now I'm going to take her to bed. /Tomorrow/ we look. >>

Kenla yawns and stands, taking one more look at the eggs and then heading down toward the outside.

Kenla strides over to the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Iesath> Ardanth senses that Iesath smirks, with further brushes of greenery << -My- rider never forgets. Good night. >>

Alianne mms again, shifting her gaze fully towards the sands below. "Thirty-six, I think. I might've counted wrong though. Again."

Tolas nods absently to the remark, still gazing at the eggs.

Auralia mmms, thoughtfuly. "Thirty six? It keeps on going up. More than were at my clutch, I think." Her brow furrows, as she tries to remember, "At least, I -think- so. It's hard to remember. Was a long time ago."

Alianne glances away from the eggs, hearing Auralia, and turns towards the speaker, listening quietly. "They do seem to keep going up, don't they? Which clutch was yours, then?"

Auralia counts on her fingers, a look of intense concentration passing across her face. "Well. It wasn't last clutch, that was Belira's. And the one before was Josy's. Not the one before that, although I can't remember whose that was. Telinda's, it was. Some turns ago. In the middle of a heat wave, too." Her eyes cloud over, her lips curling into a smile. "Memories."

Tolas just looks confused at listening to events he has never heard about. He watches both women intently.

Alianne curls her lips to one side, nodding at the greenrider. "Ah, I heard of that one. Before I came, is when that was. Can't help you there. If you'd really like to know though, I can most certainly look it up." Though it isn't very imporatant.

Auralia nods, curling up her legs around her, and smiling encouragingly to Tolas to join in. "So how long have you been here? Both of you?" She shakes her head, after a moment, replying, "No, I think I'll survive not knowing. It doesn't hugely matter."

Alianne sends a quick glance over to Tolas-- apparently having forgotten her was there, for the moment-- before focusing on Auralia again. "Me, about two turns I think. Well, less if you don't count the time I was at Honshu." Face clouds a moment at the thought, but she shakes her head to clear it, and mms. "About two turns sounds right."

"Honshu?" Auralia's brow furrows again, her eyes narrowing. "Oh! Of course. You were a candidate there, were you not? I remember that. Two turns. Fairly long time, really."

Alianne smiles ruefully, having forgotten, no doubt, that not /everyone/ knows her whereabouts. She can be so self-centered sometimes, yeesh. "Yes, I was." Shrug is offered at the last, but a grin spreads. "S'been lovely. I can't say what I did all those turns I /wasn't/ here, including Honshu."

Auralia emits a long, deep sigh, "The time just flies. I can't believe its been so long since I left home, myself. But that's the way it is, I suppose." Cheerily, she nods, "Oh, I can imagine. Southern's a wonderful place to be. And Honshu...Well, Honshu isn't so bad."

Alianne crosses her arms in front of her, leaning back and to the side minutely, falling into her 'conversation' stance. "Yes, it does fly, doesn't it? Of course, it's been slowing a bit. Not so much to pass the time with anymore." is commented, punctuated with a chuckle. Ali, with no work? Impossible! Grin turns a touch wry, a nod offered. "It's not so bad. But, I guess it's easy for me to say, it doesn't compare to Southern."

Auralia's brows go up. Shoot up, in fact. "NOt so much to pass the time with? I must say I'm surprised. I would have thought thinks would stay busy. Very busy." Her feet wiggle up into a more confortable position, making her look slightly like a pretzel. But with a head and torso sticking out. "Glad to hear you're loyal to Southern."

Alianne seems amused at the response to her simple statment, and she shrugs because of it. "Oh, I can always find things. But, they've been easing up, amazingly. There's always things to keep me busy- just not so that everything else flies by." she explains. Or attempts to, anyways. One eyebrow quirks in response to the funny position, but she doesn't seem to think too much of it. "Glad to /be/ loyal to Southern."

It could be worse. Auralia's animated toes could be wiggling. Oh wait, there's movement from within her boots. This is not good...Anyway. "Really? I must say that that is slightly odd. In fact, it's very odd. No matter. With candidates and all, I'm sure it'll get busier."

Alianne has no mind to the motions around her; not even that of the retreating Tolas. Instead, her eyes seem rather blank as she stares at some point in the tiers. She grins ruefully, checking back over her shoulder at the eggs- almost as if to make sure of their existance. "Oh. I'd forgotten that part." It's amazing what she can forget. Especially when you take in to consideration what they were just talking about. "That's very true.."

"Indeed it is." Auralia is, after all, always right. Because of Iesath, most likely. One hand waves at Tolas' retreating back, but it goes unnoticed, and she turns back to the conversation. "Hard to forget. But I suppose for you, it's not quite so important. I like it. Lots, actually. It's wonderful watching the smiles on people's faces when we bring them back to the Weyr."

"Ah, but the work also spreads out, too. Among many hands." Alianne amends, with a wide grin. Everyone knows what the candidates do, though it may mean a little extra work on the Weyr's part. "Mm, that's true. I just kind of watch most of them, pass and go. Trying not to do that though. I did see the looks of other candidates when they arrived at Honshu, and I can scarcely doubt I was the same."

Auralia reflects for a momentary pause, wondering, "What about yourself? Don't you remember that feeling when it was you?" Her fingers tap on her folded legs as she peers across at Alianne. She half blushes, as she evidently realizes her question has already been answered. "Ack, never mind. You did say that. Don't mind me, I'm a little tired."

Alianne mms at Auralia, smiling faintly. She did already answer, and, while it wasn't entirely detailed or any of the sort, it was an answer. Smile twists off to the side at the apology, of sorts, and she shakes her head. "Of course, you should be. Thread today." she says, as if this were common knowledge. Which it most certainly would have to be. Hard to miss, Thread.

Auralia's reply is bland. Almost dry. "Was it? I hadn't noticed." Her lips break into a smile, and she nods, stretching out her arms, "Indeed. And as Wingsecond, I have extra duties. You can imagine. I stayed after a while to make sure that everything was okay, which meant we missed most of the clutching." Faintly disapointed she looks. "But anyway."

Alianne deserved that. Should've expected it to. With nothing offered in reply aside from the plastered grin on her face, she remains the way she is. "Wingsecond. I can imagine so. And everything was okay, right?" Assistant steward has a right to ask, right? At mention of clutching, she glances down at the sands. "Well.. I would agree that there was a bit to be missed, with the last of it I saw." Pause. "Yeah, anyways.."

Auralia gives a sort of long, weary, but certainly content sigh. "Yes, it was all fine. As far as we could see, anyway." Of course she has a right to ask. Anyone does, really. Her eyes move back to the sands again, thoughtfuly regarding them. "Yeah, well. Anyway."

Alianne can see the weariness, as anyone would could, and it does seem to be wearing off on the no-need-to-be-so-tired-you-didn't-do-much-anyways assistant steward. Stifling a yawn, she mms, nodding again, shifting her hunter eyes to the basis of the conversation. "Lovely clutch, it is." And the comments float. As they will until those little ovoids hatch.

Auralia opens her mouth to say something. Then shuts it. Then opens it again. It becomes rather amusing. Very amusing, in fact. Her legs uncurl, then curl up again. She frowns, then smiles.

Alianne can't help but notice the fish-impression, for this is what it would appear to be, hiding a grin behind her hand. Of course, it does become rather obvious that the greenrider has /something/ to say, and so Ali remains fixed, watching, waiting. -Maybe- she has something to say?

Auralia has something to say, it would appear. She just can't get it out. And so the impression continues. Madly. Finally, she manages to croak, "Um. Can I? Ask? Something." That's between the facial changes. At odd intervals.

Alianne almost slips into a giggle- or maybe even a laugh, who knows- before the hand is dropped and assistant steward regains all seriousness. She nods, bobbing her head up and down a few times, in confirmation. "Of course." Facial changes are still watched, naturally, though Ali doesn't seem to find them quite so humorous. She's found out there /is/ a reason to them. Maybe.

The giggle causes Auralia to break into a handfull of her own giggles, which prolongs the process further. "Can we go outside?" She wonders, finally, as she gains some composure. Of a sort, anyway.

Well, that did it. Giggle replied to, Alianne just has to dispel herself of anymore and, doing so, she nods in reply to Auralia's question. "Of course.. S'getting just a touch warm in here." Of course, it's likely to be cold outside.

Auralia moves to her feet, completely unfolded now. Rather tense, too. "Good."

You walk over to the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Alianne walks over from the Galleries above the Hatching Sands.

You walk toward the Lakeside Meadow.

Alianne walks over from the main tunnel into the Hatching Cavern.

Iesath is all curled up. Sleeping, perhaps. But then again, probably not, since her tail flicks. And flicks some more. Being rather anti-social, that same green tail pokes its way out, and creeps towards Alianne. Silently, of course. Auralia stands there, unamused. Well, okay, she's still giggling. Madly.

Alianne makes her way out of the heated hatching grounds, taking a big, deep breath at the outside air. Cool, crisp and quite a bit different from the inside sands. Iesath, spotted only belatedly, is blinked at a few times before the brain in Ali's little head tells her to stop. A curious glance is sent over to the giggling Auralia. The madly giggling Auralia?

Auralia is madly giggling. Yes, that's probably the case. In fact, definately the case. And she's still giggling. "Um. Will you do something for..Iesath? Please? Just humer her? She's in an odd, odd mood."

The tail doesn't stop.

Alianne has her eyes locked on Auralia for the moment, wondering just exactly what it is that's got her giggling so madly. A very slow nod follows the question, eyes flickering towards the green. "Um.. I guess I could, yeah." Shouldn't she learn not to volunteer until she discovers what exactly it is she's volunteering for? Breaking her eyes away from the body of the green, optics focus instead on the flicking tail.

"Excellent. Hop aboard." Auralia smiles, brightly, still giggling. And giggling. And giggling some more. Just to get that across. Iesath, slowly, uncurls herself, and lowers herself, the tail retreating.

A hand placed on an edge of Iesath's straps, you swing yourself up, standing on her foreleg for only a moment before swinging yourself up the rest of the way. She watches you, warbling excitedly, happy to be flying with you once more. You lean over to pat her neck affectionately, and she warbles again, eyes whirling happily.

+*> Alianne is very curious as to /why/, but, seeing as she's already agreed to comply, she shrugs, hopping up on the green dragon, careful as she can.

Alianne climbs up Iesath's side, using her straps carefuly to swing up to the higher neckridges, to perch between them behind you.

Auralia turns back, smiling, "Excellent. You're good at obeying commands. And dragons who are bored, and want to cause mischief. Strap in?"

Alianne mms at Auralia, nodding. Again, slowly. "Well.." She doesn't have time to finish that comment, as she's then requested to strap in. With a shrug, she complies, checking to be sure that she won't tumble off. That'd be bad.

You fly toward the open sky above.

You soar to the sky further north.

Auralia just smiles, shaking her head, "Don't ask me what we're doing, or where we're going. Iesath's in charge, here."

You fly toward the broad Landing Field below.

Alianne mms at Auralia again, nodding acceptance with that. "If you say so.." And she did.

Auralia peers, as they land. And then frowns. And frowns some more.

You lumber toward the Lakeside Meadow.

And now, they're back where they started. Odder and odder. Auralia frowns. "Sigh. Um, Alianne? Will you be a candidate?"

Alianne looks over the side of the green as the land, blinking. And then, suddenly, with the simple question from Auralia, she falls silent. Bad timing, Ali, bad timing. "Be...a candidate?" Oh.. "I.. I guess.."

"Wonderful."

With a parting pat, and whispered word of love, you slip down Iesath's side, barely using the straps, and her offered foreleg, with much practice at this. A moment later, your feet touch the ground again, and you lean up to touch 'Sath's head softly, as she leans down to nudge you gently.

Alianne slides down Iesath's side, using the offered foreleg and straps as a guide, finally reaching the ground with a light thud.

<Southern Weyr> Auralia says, "Congrats, Alianne :) First candidate."

You walk over to the Candidate Barracks.

Alianne walks over from the Lakeside Meadow.

<Southern Weyr> Alianne woos. :)

Auralia says, calmly, "I'm sure you know the drill? Choose a cot and all that? Talk to Kayjay and Baelen about problems."

<Southern Weyr> Kinoa mutters. Auralia always *was* fast

<Southern Weyr> Auralia grins. Yup. Have to be first at everything. ;)

Alianne mms and nods, following after the greenrider and shaking her head in disbelief. "Yes. Get a cot. Talk to Kayjay and Baelen, huh?" She chuckles. "Well, considering I do that on day to day basis, a problem arisen shouldn't be too badly ignored."

<Southern Weyr> Kinoa beams. Less work for me!

<Southern Weyr> Kayjay grins, Coolest

<Southern Weyr> Alianne hees.

Auralia laughs, and then moves away, "It'll be a bit lonely tonight, I suppose. But I'm sure there will be more soon enough. I'm tired. Heading to bed."

You walk toward the Lakeside Meadow.