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.

30-09-01: Arrival
Shuriken scampers quickly over to Raisha, nosing her affectionately. Before the trader girl can bend down to pat her, however,...

Shuriken scampers quickly over to Raisha, nosing her affectionately. Before the trader girl can bend down to pat her, however, the ferret is running over to the stranger, sniffing curiously. "Shuri!" Raish calls, apologetic smile on her face. "Sorry 'bout that," she adds to Relian, as Shuriken scampers back to her. "She's a pretty curious little girl. I'm Raisha, by the way."
Relian hesitates, visibly thoughtful, a smile blossoming upon his face as he leans down to pet at the ferret. "Oh, no problem," he notes, with a grin, moving to stand straight once more; "Well met, Raisha. Au--er, Relian. I just arrived." Sure enough, he swings a sack over his back, and carries a pile of rolled up hides.
Raisha looks Relian over, then grins. "Well met, yourself. New, huh? Want me to show you 'round then? Not hard to find ya way 'round the Weyr though..." Ferret chatters in agreement, nosing Raisha's leg. "Ya hungry, then, girl? Just get Kenshi, will ya?" the girl laughs, sending the ferret off to her wagon, hopefully to fetch the other ferret napping inside.
"New." Punctuated with a firm nod, the statement is nonetheless metered out with a drawl. Relian grins. "Showing 'round would be good. I'm just visiting -- but it'd help." He glances after the ferret, watching; "Pretty, that."
"Thanks," Raish grins friendly-like, then bends down to gather the ferrets in her arms as both come running up to her, chattering furiously. "C'mon, this way," she calls to Relian as she makes her way towards the living caverns. "Who're you visitin' then?"
Raisha walks to the Living Caverns.
You go into the living cavern.
Relian, impressed at Raisha's ability with the ferrets, follows with a rapid stride. "This way. Right. Will I remember this? Should I note it down?" His brow furrows; "My hold is a lot smaller, see. Oh, I'm not visiting *anyone*. I'm researching. Making a family tree. A round one."
"Family tree?" Raisha repeats, surprise creeping into her voice. "In the Weyr? Strange place t' be makin' one, isn't it? No 'fense." She glances around the caverns; not much food for ferrets here. "Ya wanna come wi' me or wait a bit while I get some food for these?" she asks, motioning towards the kitchens.
Relian flushes, swinging his sack over his shoulder more firmly. "In the weyr. My--great, great uncle came north. I think he came to Ista. I need to find out. For the family tree." The round one. "I'll come."
Raisha nods, heading into the kitchens. "Where're you from?" is faintly heard before she disappears completely in the warm depths.
Raisha walks to the Kitchens.
"My father is the Holder of Black Rock River," explains Relian, somewhat repentant, as if this should mean something. "I'm the youngest son, so I won't inherit."
Raisha says, "Can't say I've heard of it," the girl smiles, slightly apologetic again. "What's it like? Never been in the South, myself... Ista's far south 'nuff." Pushing her dark hair backwards, she nudges the persistent she-ferret away from the food with her toe while piling a plate with rolls - meat, sweet, and spiced. "Want anything else?" she laughs."
Relian stows his roll of hides beneath his other arm, so as to give himself a free hand to push back stray clumps of hair, "Most haven't. We're not all that big. It's hot, but we're on the river, so it isn't bad. Not *too* far from the Sea of Azov. Ista's not much different, in some ways." A pause. "Where are you from. Oh -- no, no thanks."
Raisha grins, picks up the plate - carefully! - and clicks her tongue to Shuri. "Telgar area," she responds, heading back cavern-wards. "Been a trader all my life, so I don't know much 'bout Hold life and manners and all... Most people are shocked by my lack o' manners and feminity when they first meet me," Raish chuckles, then steps out.
Raisha walks to the Living Caverns.
You go to the Living Cavern.
"Then we're equal," comments Relian, grinning. "I've never been there, either." His head tilting, he notes, "Mama isn't much feminine, and neither are some of my sisters. I suppose since we're only minor holders, it's not as important, as for major."
Raisha laughs as she sets the plate down on a table, then tosses a meatroll to each of the ferrets before grabbing a spiced roll for herself. "Telgar's even furthur north; 'most as far as the 'Reaches." She takes a bite, brushing back black locks of hair before continuing. "Then ya won't mind me 's much as most, I s'pose," she chuckles, only half-joking.
Relian sets down his sack, and his rolled-up hides, taking a seat. He nods; "So I've seen. I hope this ancestor of mine didn't get *that* far North. I don't think I'd like the cold." Grinning, the young man adds, "Guess I won't."
"Cold's all right once you're used to it, but I guess it takes some gettin' used to," the girl grins, then pushes the plate to Relian. "Help y'self... don't think we're gonna move on for some time, judging by those two," she laughs, motioning towards the ferrets before tosses them two more meatrolls apiece.
Relian accepts a meatroll with a smile, tasting it tentatively. "We don't eat things like this, at home," is his only comment, chewing and swallowing. "Guess it does. What was it like, for you, moving to the warmth?"
Raisha shrugs, polishing off her own roll. "Mama's always been sayin' how I adapt pretty quick. Guess movin' here proved her right," she laughs, hazel eyes clouding over slightly, but quickly regaining their usual sparkle. "What /do/ you eat then, back home?"
Relian, surreptitiously, places the remainder of his roll onto the table. "Guess so," he agrees, smiling. "We eat...chilled soups, salads, cold meats. Spicy food, but not like this. It's too hot, most of the time. My father, the Holder, likes spicy food."
Raisha says, "Don't like it?" Raisha asks bluntly, amused smile playing on her lips. "Plenty of other stuff in the kitchens, if you'd care to get some." Long slender fingers reach for another spiced roll, which is speedily chewed and swallowed before she continues. "I like spicy food, myself... can you tell?" she jokes, laughing."
"Not much," admits Relian, rueful smile and all. "No, I'm not much hungry. I'll be fine. -- Yes, I can tell." His fingers smooth over the hide set in his lap, as he adds, "You'd like it, at my home, then."
Raisha grins, raising an eyebrow at him. "Not gonna invite me there, then?" she grins, then shakes her head. "Just kiddin', ya don't have to." Hide is eyed as she tosses more rolls to the ferrets, silencing their loud sociable chatter. "How far've ya got?"
Relian laughs, magnanimously offering, "If you want to visit, I'd be more than happy to invite you. My father wouldn't mind." He glances back down at his hide, smoothing the leather again, "Oh, a fair way. I'm missing some of the oldest bits, and this particular great-great uncle, and his line."
"I just might take you up on that offer," Raish warns, smiling. Not much more she likes than going to new places and meeting new people - especially when the food's nice and spicy. Heh. "So how d'ya go 'bout this... just go 'round and ask if anyone's heard of him?"
"Wonderful!" enthuses the Holder boy, smiling brilliantly. "I'll look forward to that." His head is shaken, as he explains, "I don't think many would know of him, unless they're quite advanced in age. He left my hold about eighty turns ago, and I guess he's long dead. I'm hoping for written records."
"Records, huh? Then you'd best speak to Saria, I s'pose," the trader muses. "Not seen her 'round in a bit though. Guess you could try askin' 'round some for anyone who could get ya some of those. When'll you be stayin' here till?" Raish enquires, fingers going up to flick back long fringe.
Relian nods, repeating this carefully, to remember -- "Saria, right. Headwoman, Weyrwoman, who is she?" He twists his fingers through each other, resting them upon the edge of teh table, adding, confidently, "Until I find what I'm after."
Raisha grins, bending to hand Kenshi a meatroll. "Weyrwoman," she clarifies. "Though ya /could/ try lookin' for the Headwoman... forgot her name for a bit," she admits, smiling sheepishly. "What was your relative's name? I could ask 'round for ya..."
"Senior Weyrwoman," repeats Relian, promptly nodding. "All right. I'll ask around for her, and for the Headwoman." Tapping his fingernails against the table, he adds, "Togidun. Togidun, of Black Rock River Hold."
Raisha nods, silently committing the name to memory. "All right. Oh, and Headwoman is Annalysa. That's it," she smiles. "Ready to move on? I'll just send these two back to the wagon if you are; they've had 'nuff."
"Senior Weyrwoman Saria, Headwoman Annalysa. I can remember this," intones Relian, grinning. "Let's hope they're able to help me, somewhat." He nods, rapidly, tucking hides beneath his arm once more, "Quite ready, thank you."
Raisha nods, then gets on her feet. "C'mon, out ya go," she laughs, nudging the indignant ferrets out of the caverns. "We can leave the plate there," she notes, turning back to eye the rolls still on the table. "I reckon someone'll want them. Or some 'lizard. C'mon, this way," she smiles, gesturing towards caverns in one direction
Raisha walks to the Southern Caverns.
You go to the South Caverns.
With his sack swung over one shoulder, Relian follows, peering through the caverns; "This is neat. We don't have caverns, at home."
Raisha laughs, nodding. "Should 'pect so. Anyway, there's the Crafers' Area, and the Candy Barracks; can't go in there, 'less ya got permission. Corridor there leads to the offices and stuff; I'll just pop in and check t' see if any of 'em are in. Wait here," she instructs with a grin.
Raisha returns, shaking her head. "Nope, no one in," she smiles. "There's the dorms, for all our ressies," she adds, pointing in the appropriate direction.
Relian waits, and, upon Raisha's return, nods slowly. "Oh well. I've time." He turns his head obligingly towards the dorms, memorising their location. "Seen and noted. I guess I'll be allowed to stay there?"
Raisha nods. "Of course... where else wouldja stay?" she laughs, then nods toward the inside of the dorms. "Wanna take a peek for a bit?"
"I wasn't sure," admits Relian; "At my father's hold, we have a cottage for visitors." Without hesitation, he nods, remarking, "It'd be nice to put my things down, too."
Raisha grins, nodding again. "Sure, right this way, then," she chuckles, leading the way in.
Raisha walks to the Dorms.
You go to the Resident Dorms.
Relian peers through the dorms, noting, "Nice. Comfortable, anyway." He wanders up and down, finding an empty bed, which he places his things down on. "It's safe to leave precious things? Valuables?"
"Oh, sure," Raish answers, slightly surprised. "No one 'round here takes stuff without permission, or anything like that," she explains with a smile. "Just leave 'em togther in a corner or somethin'."
Relian, with brow furrowed, notes, "You hear stories, about the weyr. Like it isn't safe, compared to the hold, or something." His lips play a smile, while he adds, "I'll do that." He does so: hides carefully balanced together, his sack placed beneath his new found bed.
Raisha shrugs. "It's been fine since I got here, more than a Turn ago. Ready to go?" she grins.
"A whole turn!" Relian moves back towards the doorway, nodding his readiness; "Quite. Where else do we need to see?"
"You've seen most of the important stuff. Could just go wander 'round if ya like," Raisha grins. "See if any other people are awake... doubt it though."
Relian nods firmly, grinning. "Wandering might be good -- people aren't up at this time of day, around here, much?"