All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

You amble toward the Landing field, full of dragons.

+*> Iesath makes her way into the field, her rider atop her in a mass of blue satin that billows down the sides; and completely clashes with Iesath's hide. Save the green bits of it, I guess. She waves a hand to those around her, grinning brightly. "Hey!"

+*> High atop Albanth, K'tor grins at Iesath and Aura. "You're a bunch of ruffles tonight, Aura." He himself is garbed in green and black. And are those grapes worn round his shoulders.

+*> From her place on Breidith, Marila tightens the grip on her scarf. "Faranth.."

Auralia grins, smoothing some of the satin out of her way, "Isn't it a laugh? Found it in the donation bin in the Weyrhall. It's lovely, but definately not me. For the most part, anyway." With a nodding motion, she adds, "Grapes? Don't let me ask. You're not going as a grape or something like that, are you?"

+*> High atop Albanth, K'tor just grins at Aura and calls, "No. As a very fine vintage - what else? Are we all ready?"

+*> From her place on Breidith, Marila rolls her eyes, "Bet you its already vinegar.." She adjusts the hem of her skirt lightly.

Auralia snorts, shaking her head with a laugh, "Oh!" Marila's comment sends her laughing, and she says nothing more, just shaking her head back and forth.

+*> Albanth snorts lightly at Breidith's rider and Iesath's rider both, and crouches to launch into the air.

+*> Albanth gives a tremendous leap into the sky, getting his large frame up into the air with surprisingly few downbeats of his green tipped bronze wings.

+*> Albanth flies toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

You soar to the sky over Southern Weyr.

+*> Breidith flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Albanth disappears into Between.

+*> Breidith disappears into Between.

+*> Iesath disappears into Between.

+*> Iesath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

+*> Albanth flies toward the main fields at beast-farm-vintner crafthall.

You fly toward the main fields at beast-farm-vintner crafthall.

+*> Tris strolls into the Weaver Tent.
+*> Sian strolls into the Weaver Tent.

+*> Breidith flies over from the sky over the center of Honshu Weyr.
+*> Breidith warbles brightly as she lands. She tucks her wings carefully.

+*> Iesath lands gracefuly, with a gentle backswing, while her rider holds on a moment and prepares to dismount. A warble sounds from the green, and a greeting of, "Southern's Duties!" from the rider.

+*> Albanth crouches to allow Kat to slide off without damaging his costume. "Well, where is everyone?"

+*> K'tor climbs down off Albanth's neckridges to the ground. The bronze turns his head to whuffle his rider, as if to say 'sure, take the boring way down'.

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.

From her place on Breidith, Marila shrugs, "Don't know...."

Marila slides off Breidith after unfastening her riding straps. She lands nimbly on her feet.
Marila has arrived.
Marila oofs a touch, "That is not funny Breidith..."

K'tor arches his eyebrows. "What isn't?"

It takes Auralia slightly more time than usual to dismount; since the greenrider has to be careful about her long skirts, but she makes it eventually, and stands at the bottom, smoothing said skirts. Her hair is swung around quickly, and she adds mildly, "Hmm. I wonder."

Marila flushes angrily, "She threatened to do something to my dress..."

K'tor starts to laugh. "Well, you have to admit, it *is* a nice dress."

Marila grins, "Thank you K'tor. But what she wanted to do was not.."

Auralia raises an eyebrow, "She did? Kat's right, it is nice." She smiles, looking back at Iesath who simply regards her. "What did she want to do?"

Albanth whuffles first Breidith and then Iesath, blue whirling eyes amused.

Dragon> Albanth bespoke Iesath and Breidith with << They should have made costumes for us too. >>

Dragon> Iesath and Albanth sense that Breidith sounds perturbed, << Hide myself with a costume. I think not. >>

Iesath> I bespoke Breidith and Albanth with << Whyever for? I look fine as it is. >>

Dragon> Iesath and Breidith sense that Albanth sounds amused. << Girls. They all think alike. Do your riders look *hidden*? No! They look like they are ready for fun and dancing. I like to listen to the music. But I am too big for the dancing square. >> He sends an amused image of himself tromping around the square in time to the music.

Dragon> Iesath and Albanth sense that Breidith sends to Iesath, << Why do they think such strange things? >>

Iesath> I bespoke Breidith and Albanth with << My rider looks odd. >> Of that she's certain << She is all drippy or something. I don't like it. I wish she wouldn't wear it. Why does she have to wear anything at all? >> Back to Bredith is sent a quiet answer << Because they're male. And males are odd. >>

Marila glances to Auralia, "She threatened to put her talons into the dress and not let go.."

Auralia raises an eyebrow, "Ouch! Why'd she want to do that?" Her glance is sent towards the other green, watching. "That's not all that nice."

Dragon> Iesath and Breidith sense that Albanth relays Iesath's last comment to his rider and then offers, << Kat thinks she looks nice wearing nothing at all, Iesath. >>

K'tor actually flushes. "Albanth!"

Albanth rumbles an innocent little query at his rider.

Marila merely purses her lips for a moment.

Auralia blushes, and looks directly at K'tor, "I never thought you cared." Sweet smile. Alright, maybe she did.

Marila glances back to Aura, "She seemed to feel that I was better off wearing nothing if I was so worried about dirt.."

K'tor clears his throat and takes the only way out. He offers both arms out, one to each greenrider. "Shall we find the music and dancing, ladies?"

Iesath> Breidith and Albanth sense that Iesath replies gently <<My rider thinks you're not so bad yourself. Of course, she's not got all that much to compare it with. >> Then she shuts up.

Marila sighs and takes K'tor's arm. She closes her eyes for a moment.

Dragon> Iesath and Breidith sense that Albanth offers this pleasant solution, << Iesath, Breidith, you get your riders to wear nothing. And Kat will take off those twigs and wear nothing as well. Then they'll all be happy. >>

Auralia laughs, taking her arm quickly and swirling her skirt across to Kat, "Alright, sounds like a good enough idea."

Marila peers at Breidith, "No."

K'tor cleras his throat. "And will *someone* shut my ever-so-helpful lifemate up?"

Auralia gives her fellow riders an amused glance, "Maybe we just ignore them all, and it won't happen again?"

Marila smoothes her skirt out, "Won't happen."

K'tor grins at Mari. "What, we won't find the harpers? Or they won't shut up?"

Marila mmmms, "They won't shut up.. Breidith and one of the younger dragons today was talking for a long timeabout Nareisa's egg."

Auralia raises an eyebrow, "Nareisa's egg? Again?"

K'tor had started escorting the ladies towards the dim strains of music heard through the crowd. "What?"

Marila simply nods, "Believe it was Ziniath."

Auralia holds on to K'tor's arm, but glances past him at Marila. Intent looks follow, and she adds, "You mean Reisa is pregnant?"

Marila nods, "That is the sort of egg they were discussing."

Auralia bites her lip, "Wow. News to me. I was just remembering another gather, where such an egg was discussed." Her eyes drift back to K'tor, and she shrugs, "Guess that's her business. Where were we in this conversation? Ah yes, gossiping dragons. Yes."

K'tor actually blanches faintly. "Reis is pregnant? She hasn't said..." He frowns faintly. "She'll have to be transferred down to the queen's wing, which means I lose another rider."

Marila smoothes out her dress a touch. She sighs a touch.

Kayli has arrived.

Clinging to the hand of an over-burdened nanny, little Kayli fairly drags the woman toward the outskirts of the crowd, her eyes going everywhere all at once while the nanny seems to wish she was anywhere but here. Child - crowd of people - this can't be good.

Auralia sighs, and looks around, "Hey, look at that bonfire. Wonder where this ball is supposed to be. Hmmm." Time to change the topic, or something.

K'tor gathers his thoughts and nods to Aura. "Right. We were going in search of harpers, weren't we?"

Marila can't help but grin at Kayli, she glances back towards the bonfire.

"That's right!" Aura looks around the crowds, noting Kayli with a smile, and pulling at her bronzer-arm, "Come
on, people!" Impatient greenrider. Watch out.

Kayli is something of a dragonrider magnet and heads off almost instantly in their direction. The nanny is but a hapless victim along for the ride while the child navigates a course through the crowd. Not too bad for a three Turn old. She wants to sit with Marila, apparently.

K'tor is easily pulled, a greenrider on each arm, which steers them all into the path of Kayli and the nanny
straining at her leash. Magnet indeed.

Marila sighs as she is hauled about. She grins at the little girl again as she moves.

Kayjay gives a jaunty wave to the watchrider and giggles as she walks towards those from Southern Weyr.
Kayjay is looking at you.

Auralia swishes her skirt, and waves to Kayjay with her free hand. The other holding on to Kat, see. "H'lo, Kayjay!"

K'tor would wave to Kayjay, but he has both arms occupied with greenrider. And is a perfect target for a three turn old to bounce into, helpless as he is. "Heya, squirt!"

Kayjay smiles at Auralia and K'tor and does a swirl of her .. ahem dress?

Auralia blinks. She's just now noticed. And blinks again. "Blink." That sort of sums it up, doesn't it?

Kayli's near those Southern folks - rather, IS one of those Southern folks. She turns around to see who Kayjay is and then waves at her like she's known her all her life. The nanny takes this time to ditch her charge, blind faith in the riders not to lose her.

Marila sighs and steps out of the way. She then carefully extricates herself from K'tor's arm, "Excuse me..."

K'tor blinks as he loses a greenrider. "Where are you heading, Mari?" And then he offers to Kayjay, "I *do* like the costume."

Kayli looks up at Marila as she makes to leave, very sad suddenly - so much so she just has to pout. "Going?" she asks, giving the pretty skirts a light tug to assure she's noticed.

Kayjay winks at K'tor. "Costume? I thought this made me look older and sophisticated."

Marila opens her mouth to say something to K'tor, she then glances down at Kayli who has her hands on the rider's skirt, "Not going to leave.. just loook about and such." She grins a touch at the girl.

Auralia coughs into her hand, turning her head away. Has she just remembered something? Nah, Impossible. There's
nothing to remember. "Older, yes. But sometimes old isn't all that good."

Kayjay innocently looks at Auralia. 'Oh, I don't know, I have heard some people age well."

"C'I come?" is Kayli's next question, her eyes darting back to the other riders' conversation just long enough to catch up to it. She does seem to like Marila the best, though.

Auralia raises an eyebrow, "Oh really? I hadn't heard that. I suppose some would." A nod, and she adds, "Effective, that. Makes you look at least 20."

K'tor has the look of someone who isn't quite sure what is going on, but is pretty sure he missed something along
the way. He gives Aura and Kayjay a mystified look, and then asks Mari, "Who's your new friend?"

Kayjay grins up at K'tor "Why thank you."

Marila nods to Kayli, "Of course.." She spreads her fingers lightly to offer them down to the girl, "What's your name?"

Kayjay peeks down at the wee one and smiles. Unfortunately, she forgot she blackened most of her teeth, so the effect might be a bit startling.

K'tor adds to Aura, "Twenty isn't *that* old."

Reaching up with her own fat and slightly dirty fingers, Kayli seems about as happy as one little girl can get, beaming from ear to ear. "I'm Kayli. My daddy is The Weyrleader." THE Weyrleader. "And my mommy is The Weyrwoman."

Kayjay crouches down amazingly well for a girl of her advanced years and chuckles. "Oh! I know who they are."

Auralia just smiles up at K'tor, "Yes it is! Shards, that's absolutely ancient!" Another smile, and she watches Kayjay and Kayli, turning her head away from K'tor with a chuckle.

Marila chuckes a touch, "Then you are a lucky little girl. I had never been in a weyr at your age.." The assistant weyrlingmaster gently enfolds the child's in her own.

K'tor swats playfully at some of Aura's ruffles. "Watch it, there girlie, or I'll show you just how ancient it is." He rolls his eyes a bit.

Auralia pulls her ruffles out of the way with another laugh, and taunts, "Oh? Now you're threatening me. How absolutely like a man of your advanced years."

Kayjay giggles."Hey, respect your elders."

Kayli nodsnodsnods most agreeably with Marila, continuing along the same vein. "And Lady Tris is my foster-cousin. And who're you?" she asks, changing subjects abruptly.

Kayjay grins again, unfortunately for anyone who is squeamish. "I am Kayjay, I am a weyrling at Southern Weyr."

"Marila, Green Breidith's rider and Assistant weyrlingmaster.." The young woman answers quite amiably. She grins a touch brighter.

Kayli asks the very next important question. "Who's your dragon, Kayjay?" She swings Marila's hand a little, looking impressed by all the syllables in Marila's title. She could never repeat it, so she doesn't try.

Kayjay quickly adds. "I am lifemate to brown Suriath."
Kayjay slowly stands straight.

K'tor eyes Kayjay, not entirely pleased with the help. "If my years are so advanced, my dear, then you should have nothing to fear from me." Yeah, right. He gives Aura an innocent look and then tilts down to Kayli, "I'm Kat, Stormfall's wingleader, and Albanth's rider. And I think you and Albanth are right about the same age."

"Is he big?" the little girl asks, apparently oblivious to Kayjay's costume except when she comments, "You look funny." She points vaguely toward the hair and stuff, swinging Marila's hand all the while. "Kat's notta boy's name."

Marila grins down as the child hangs off her hand. She nods, "He should be called properly K'tor.." She shifts to heft the little girl up a touch higher. She does this with some care.

Auralia just rolls her eyes, joining the group around Kayli. Almost as if they'd never seen a kid before. "And I'm Aura, Green Iesath's, and Starflame Wingsecond. But you only really need to listen to the first bit." A wicked smile, and she adds, "Kat -is- a girls name. And if I didn't know better, I'd say that Kat was indeed a girl."

Kayjay grins at the child."Yeah, I don't have any pretty dresses like those two, so I decided to wear my old aunties dress as a joke."

K'tor pokes at Aura's ruffles. "Behave." He adds to Kayli, "But just ask your mommy. I never do what's proper."

Auralia obviously doesn't feel like behaving. But for the moment, she says nothing more. Well, except for, "Don't poke my ruffles! You're mussing it." You'd almost think she was proddy. Except that she's not.

Thank Faranth.

To show how smart she is, Kayli says, "Girls don't have bronzes." Speaking of dragons, the child seems to have found her next object of interest. She dislodges her hand from Marila's at once and darts off to find some to stare at for a while.

Marila quirks a grin as the child scampers off.

K'tor turns eyes on Aura. "Ancient? Old? Humpfh. See if I offer to escort you anywhere again."

Auralia just does more innocent smiles. She's good at them, "I'll believe it when I see it. You can't stay away."

Kayjay grins. "Hey, you are the one who calls me squirt, how else am I supposed to look at you?"

K'tor grins at Kayjay. "You're my little sister. I'm allowed to call you squirt. She, however," he points at Aura, "Isn't *that* much younger than I am. Besides, I like younger women." He gives a smile to Mari.

Marila glances back to the others and just sighs. She arches an eyebrow at K'tor, but smiles back a touch.

Kayjay hurmphs and shakes her walking stick at K'tor. "You had better respect your elders."

Auralia looks appalled, "No! I'm not that old. Someone tell me I'm not -that- old yet, please? Tell me it's not true."

Kayjay is looking at you.

K'tor eyes the ruffles, as if debating how many of them he might be able to dispense with, before he instead snorts at Aura, and offers his arm out to Mari. "We were looking for harpers? And I'd like to find them before my grapes all get squashed." The pun there *may* be intentional. It's difficult to tell.

Kayjay eyes K'tor and just shakes her head.

Marila looks as if she wishes she could scamper off after Kayli as she takes K'tor's arm.

Auralia looks about to say something more, but shuts her mouth, and follows after Marila and K'tor. After all, she can't let a bronzer win.

Kayjay shrugs and decides to follow along.

K'tor heads towards the bonfire, finally finding the harpers, who seem to be in a fair stand of dance tunes. "Finally! And wine and food to boot."

Morgan comes in from the direction of the Farmcraft experimental fields.
Morgan has arrived.

Kayjay looks rather uncomfortable but wanders up behind the others.

Auralia wanders after K'tor and Marila, looking at the wine a moment, passing it by as she stands by the bonfire. "Warmth. Nice."

<Southern Weyr> Marila says, "Hey I was waiting on you cowboy"

Marila chuckles, "You are on the southern continent and you are cold?"

Auralia snorts, "It's autumn, and we're right by Honshu. I'm cold." It doesn't help that she's showing a lot of skin, either.

Kayjay winks at Marila. 'It must be her advanced age."

K'tor sweeps a bow before Marila, as the harpers strike up another tune. "My lady greenrider, may I have this dance?" The grapes attached to his costume bounce a bit as he chuckles, hearing Kayjay's comment.

Marila returns the bow with a curtsy, "Delighted My lord wingleader.." She chuckles as she sparkles some.

Kayjay finds a spot to sit, coincidently beside an old auntie, and watches.

K'tor swoops Marila up and into the dance couples forming, though he does give Aura a rather impudent grin and wink as he does so.

Marila rests her head against K'tor chuckling.

Auralia pretends to ignore Kat, but winks on the sly just at the last moment. Her ruffles blow in the wind, and she shivers, holding her skirts down.

Zirax has arrived.

K'tor nods to Marila, murmuring something in her ear as he sweeps her around the square in time with the music, which is a rather spirited waltz. he doesn't dance badly, though that's rather in keeping with his image now, isn't it?

Morgan goes between the doors to the Crafthall, disappearing inside.
Morgan has left.

Kayjay fades a little further into the shadows.

Zirax sits down and sighs watching the on goings, a smile on her lips.

Marila shakes her head at K'tor, she moves with him easily.

Shiana comes through the Hall doors and into the main pastures.
Shiana has arrived.

Auralia finds herself a mug of klah and watches from the sidelines, still holding her dress down. The new arrivals get smiles, and she nods firmly towards them before leaning back against a chair.

Shiana would love to wave and such, but her hands are too nicely bandaged.

Zirax moves to the food and comes away with a plate holding a wherry kabob and a handful of nuts and a mug of cider.

K'tor sweeps Marila through a turn, chattering lightly at her under the music.

Elenor steps out into the field. She blinks and arches an eyebrow slightly. So she got here a bit late, no harm done. Tugging gently at her shirt, she smooths it over her bodice and walks along the out skirts of the dancers. She clasps her hands behind her back and watches as the couples twirl around.

Zirax strolls into the Weaver Tent.
Zirax has left.

Marila laughs delightedly as she moves with K'tor. She spins lightly.

Serna has arrived.
Serna walks in a sway on her hips and a smile on her lips... so what if she is late they say to be fashionably late
is in.

Sian strolls out of the Weaver Tent.
Sian has arrived.
Sian goes home.
Sian has left.

Laryn strolls out of the Weaver Tent.
Laryn has arrived.

K'tor laughs, nearly missing a step at whatever Marila was murmuring into his ear. He teases aloud, just designed to carry over the music, "Well, they *are* rather striking ruffles."

Laryn comes out of the Weaver tent and immedately turns to head north and back towards the Weyr.

Serna stands around and then shrugs not seeing anyone she would like to dance with.

Marila blushes now enough for everyone to see as K'tor says something to her.

Laryn goes between the doors to the Crafthall, disappearing inside.
Laryn has left.

Serna stands back and watches the others dance and smiles warmly.
Serna moves to the food and comes away with a mug of wine.

Auralia frowns, listening a moment, but shrugs, looking back down at her klah.

Zirax strolls out of the Weaver Tent.
Zirax has arrived.

Serna looks up and waves to Zirax and then flinches lightly and drops her hand back to her side.

Zirax see's the wave and nods back but doesn't make any more of a greeting to that and walks quickly away, could that
be shame in her eyes?

K'tor finally finishes the dance as the music draws to a close, the couples on the floor clapping for the Harpers.

Serna claps lightly for the music and smiles gently to a few that she knows.

Marila leans over and touches her lips to K'tor's cheek for a moment.

K'tor murmurs something to Marila, and then evidently heads off to get her something to drink, weaving his way through the crowd.

Marila taps her chin for a moment then gets a grin and trails out after K'tor.