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.

27-01-01: Promotion!
Byre sits on a bench near the windows, leaning forwards with his elbows resting on his knees, a scroll stretched...

Byre sits on a bench near the windows, leaning forwards with his elbows resting on his knees, a scroll stretched out in his hands. He looks up as Hanneke enters the hall. "Hanneke. 'Lo there."

Bobbing her head towards Byre, Hanneke makes further into the room, until a yelp makes audible further movements: the probationary apprentice trips over the doorway, and, still bouncing, rights herself with a plant that will probably never be the same again. Straightening, she greets, "Hi, Master Byre!"

Byre rolls up the scroll and tucks it away into his ever-present pack. "How are you?"

Hanneke rubs at her knee vaguely, but, with a brilliant smile, insists, "Oh, I'm excellent! Just wonderful. It's all wonderful, you know." She pauses, biting at her lip, before, more restrainedly, she adds, "And you?"

Byre cracks a hint of a smile. "I'm well," he says. "I liked the song you submitted with Julen and Brigid."

"Well is good!" Then, a flush of sorts. "You did? Oh--that's very nice, of course."

Byre actually does smile, then. He reaches into his pack and withdraws an apprentice's knot. "Trade?"

Hanneke's eyes near bug out of her head. "Oh!" The smile is radiant--not that you'd expect less from Hanneke. "Oh, you're wonderful! Perfect. Amazing. Can I hug you? Can I?" Can one kill her, can they?

Byre actually does laugh, a little, which is pretty rare for Byre. "Just don't tell anyone," he says. "I have a reputation to uphold."

Hanneke emits a giggle, and rushes forward, arms outstretched to make for a big hug. She stops however, quisical, a few steps away. "A reputation for what?"

"Being big and scary," Byre says. "It's all an act."

Hanneke's eyes show dull uncomprehension, before her lower lip juts out, and she says, intelligently. "Oh. That's silly though, isn't it?"

"It is," Byre confirms. "But it's occasionally fun."

Hanneke says, shortly, "Oh. Maybe. I don't understand, but maybe." A skip sends her into her more normal posture, smile returning brightly. "Then we shouldn't be scared of you. I mean, I'm not, but some of them are, and I think it's silly." She giggles, adding, "But if it's fun, then that's okay."

Byre thinks. "I think I was supposed to ask you something like, "Are you still enjoying your role as an apprentice," or "are you sure you want to continue with blah blah," or something like that." He mulls over his oversight for a moment before dismissing it. "Oops."

Hanneke hesitates, nose wrinkling, smile not abating. "You think so? I don't think so--because if I wasn't happy I'd have told you, wouldn't I? I mean--it's silly not to be happy. I'm always happy." She shrugs, remarking, "Oops is right."

Byre chuckles. "I'm glad you're so happy here," he says, only a little wryly. "I hope we manage to keep you at the same level of enthusiasm."

Hanneke beams. "Oh, you will. I'm always enthusiastic!"

Hanneke gives Byre a blank glance, digging her hands into her pockets. She nods, once, affecting understanding.

Byre laughs once more. "Okay," he says. "Can I have that hug now?"

Hanneke pauses, then brightens, and then resumes her dash, moving in for the hug with wide arms. "Of course!" Aww.

Byre is a big, reasonably well padded guy. A natural at hugging. Except that he seems kind of embarassed. No matter. "Okay," he says, "Thanks. Don't forget to see Master Gaelin about getting into one of the beginning theory classes. Everyone always wants to skip theory." He has no idea if this is actually true of everyone or not, but it seems to be a reasonable thing to say.

Hanneke is quite the opposite. In all ways. Grinning brightly, she nods her head, adding, "Oh, theory! I can do theory--Mother told me that theory was the most important part of being a Harper. I know an awful lot about theory."

Byre looks surprised. "Really?"

Hanneke knows something. Amazing, but true. "Mother always said that it would put me at an advantage."

Bettse enters through the western archway.

It's entirely possible. "Could be," Byre says. "It makes composition and improvisation easier, anyway," he says. Then, with a wry smile, he rises from his seat. "But if you'll excuse me, I need to be back to the workshop. Comission to work on."

Hanneke bobs her head downwards, stepping backwards. "Work well, then, Sir! Thank you!" Bounce, bounce, chirp.

Byre winks once before disappearing down the stairs.

You venture down the nice, wide, really rather steep staircase. Down and down and down some more, into the blue-laced white of the main hall.

Pushing the door aside, you pass into redolent chaos.

Hanneke bounces, quite visibly, into the dining hall, a real spring to her step. "Apprentice! I'm an apprentice!" Her giggles; rather high pitched in tone, echo slightly about her, as she makes a dash for a meal, nearly tripping over a table on her way.

Dinara grins and fills two cups of juice. "Well here's the juice, what else did you want?" Her eyes widen at Hanneke's entrance, "That's nice. I'm a journeyman." Gee put a wet blanket on the girl's enthusiasm.

Bettse is sitting at one of the benches, torn between eyeing the harper apprentice a few rows down and the lump of tastefully fried meat on her plate. To make things more difficult, there's another girl beside her with an occasional nudge and tons of gossip to pour in any willing ear. So it is that Hanneke's utterance merely raises her head and earns a grimace or two, while the other newcomers are only glanced at.

Not even a wet blanket could in any way diminish Hanneke's enthusiasm. "No--I'm a -new- apprentice. I'm not a probationary one!" Brilliant smile follows her as she serves herself, slopping stew about without hesitation, and darts towards a table. Bettse, her reaction noted, is beamed upon. "Hullo!"

Krystara takes the juice, taking a big drink, then ohhing, "Thanks!" She hrms, "Do they have anything /good/ for me? I'm trying to grow real big and strong." She looks at Hanneke and smiles, "I'm a fosterling!!" Just as excited, her position now seems cool to her.

Zidane emerges from the main hall.

Zidane:smiles, looking around at the party assembled. "How is everyone today?" he asks with a bow.

Elhalyn *Okay, just the basic rules. Don't touch a hatchling until it impresses to you and all that. If you don't want to impress please page Breas so that I don't impress one to you. Feel free to change the desc's as I wrote them while sick with the flu and they're probably horrible.

Z'ryel emerges from the main hall.

Smith's Hammer Egg rocks slightly in place.

Z'ryel looks around at everyone and smiles real big. "Hey there." He calls.

Dinara chuckles finally at Hanneke. "Well welcome." she greets, before going back to the sidebar to see what could help Krys 'grow'. A few meatrolls are scooped up along with a bit of fresh mango. "Here you are." At the various greetings, she glances up startled. "lots of people in here today."

Savannah emerges from the main hall.

Zidane:smiles to the newcomer and turns his attention to Dinara "Well, it is a wonderful hall you have here, M'lady"

Hanneke's smiles are issued all 'round, as the newest full Apprentice harper takes a seat, and a bite of her meal. "Lots and lots of people!" Her usual delight in life is tenfold today--and increased as she espies the egg currently rocking. "Firelizards!" The child at heart, apprentice by rank, removes herself from her meal, waving people over, "Look!"

Bettse puts down her fork and waves two fingers at Hanneke. "Nice to meet you," she intones coolly, resisting the urge to wave that knife in her other hand. As for the apprentice at her elbow: "Not now, Sirra. You can tell me about you and he later on." After her dinner, that is.

Z'ryel looks around. "I'm here with a message. For one of the Master's from someone at Ista." He grins "Whats going on here?"

Krystara takes the meatrolls and mango, sitting on the ground and remembering to say thank you first this time. Wide eyes wonder around the room as she tries the mango and makes a slight face. Okaay, time for meatrolls. To the greetings called out, tiny hand is outstretched in a wave, "I'm eating..." That's what's going on. Everyone came ot watch her eat.

Dice Egg rocks against the other eggs.

Zidane:smiles "I have to admit, this is an exciting thing to watch.. reminds me of when my Nin was hatched." he says lovingly at the green on his shoulder.

Savannah walks into the room looking for something to eat seeing all te people around she smiles and says "Hello" to everyone as she makes her way over to the hearth for a cup of klah and a plate of fruit.

Dinara wanders over to the circle forming around the eggs, and gives the rider a warm smile. "I've yet to capture the fancy of one of those beauties." she admits while nibbling on a meatroll she kept back from Krys for herself. Brown eyes watch the eggs begin to rock, "Do you think I could have a chance?"

Smith's Hammer Egg rocks more violently and hairline cracks form along it.

"I have," begins Hanneke, illustrating her point with a movement of her hand towards her shoulders, "Two. Blue ones. I think everyone has a chance. Oh--goody!" She retracts from the eggs, gaining access to a bowl of raw meat which she shares about genially, crouching close by the rocking eggs with the anticipation of a child.

Z'ryel grins and says "I don't really want one, but I'm sure you will. Seems to be more people than eggs cracking." He tells Dinara.

"A chance at /what?/" What are they talking about? She stands, shoving some meatrolls in little pockets full of...everything. Krys blinks around and sees some eggs, "How they get on the floor?" Arencha spose to cook eggs, or sumthin?

Smith's Hammer Egg shatters into a thousand fragments, leaving its occupant out in the open.

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling

Dark brown hide covers this large hatchling. He appears very strong and looks clumsy until he moves and shows his grace. He is trim and well muscled with good body proportions.

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling looks startled for a moment then looks around from inside the remnents of his shell crooning pitifully.

"Handsome," decides Hanneke brightly, extending her meat-filled hand towards the brown with wide eyed innocence, and innate delight. The newest harper apprentice wrinkles her nose in concentration, her mental abilities proving less than adequate at concentrating on just one thing at a time.

Dinara smiles at Hanneke and Z'ryel. "Well I suppose I could give it a shot." Seems she still has some 'child' left in her too as she hikes up her pants and settles tailor-style on the floor. "Oh." she remembers a twinge of adult duty, "I'm Journeyman Dinara. I could make sure that message could get to the Master." Her attention is quickly drawn back to the floor as she hears an egg shatter and a little flit announce his presence. "Oh.." Hands dart for some raw meat to entice the fellow. "umm..here?" she gives it a go.

Savannah looks over at all the fuss and takes her plate of fruit and meat and her cup over to the circle and looks down at the eggs. Seeing a hatchlign she sets the cup down and kneeling grabs a piece of meat off her plate. ripping it into small pieces holds a piece out of the brown and wiggles it just slightly.

Krystara crawls up next to Dinara and watches her. "Whatcha doing?" She points to the firelizard hatchling and smiles, "I bet he'll like you..." She's kinda got the idea after a few moments, but decides to lean back and take notes for this one. "This is where anyone Impresses these guys, right?" She asks Dinara, then shrugs and bit, though excitment sparkles in her eyes. She'll at least root Dinara on!

Dinara shrugs at Kyrstara, "I think so...We didn't have alot of hatchings back home." A few bits of raw meat are offered to her young friend, "Give it a try yourself. I'm sure he'd like you too." Typical Dina, help out someone else.

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling looks at the food offered for a minute before stepping gracefully out of his shell. He steps on it and squeels in shock, sitting down right where he is, on the shell shards.

Hanneke wiggles slightly closer, her tunic earning stains from someone's spilt dinner. "Don't you think he's cute? Awfully cute, I think. He's just lovely." Meat wiggles within her hand, clutched tightly.

Krystara is watching Dinara right now. She's try for the next two. There are two more anyhow. She voices this all and in an instant of rambling, then laughs at the hatchling. "He fell." She points out in an obvious manner, then nudges, "Go pick him up, huh?" *knows that you're not spose, but don't worry, Krys will be good :)* She'll get him then, right?

In the distance, the drums announce the departure of Asst. Librarian Patika.

Dinara watches the little brown for a moment. "Um, I don't think you are supposed to do that Krys. You could scare them and make them go wild." She nibbles on her meatroll, luckily not the raw meat. "I think we'll just let him figure out what he wants to do by himself." With a bit of guidance. The juicy meat bits are laid in front of Dina, in a nice neat row. "This is the biggest." she mutters, and carefully danglings it near the flit. "You can have it fella.."

Z'ryel runs out on his errand and soon has to leave.

Zidane:sits down with Ninatta on his shoulder, looking at the hatchling "Isn't he cute, Nin? This is exciting, isn't it?"

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling sniffs catching the scent of meat. He slowly stands back up and lumbers forward looking from offering to offering creening softly.

Hanneke gazes intently upon the brown, wide eyes regarding him with certain authority; lashes barely blinking in their obsessive glance--eyes only moving to take a glance at the remaining eggs. Meat wiggles once more, held forward, breath held within her throat.

Savannah smiles at the little brown and holds out her meat a litle bit closer to him wiggleing it still. "This is for you little one eat it I have more if you want some." she says to him placeing the plate of fruit and meat on the floor infrount of her.

Krystara ohhs and nods, "Seem logi-logee-..smart." She finally ends. She's smart, but not too well versed in every aspect of vocabularly. The brown is pointed to, "I bet he likes you! Look! He's hungry or sumthin!" She then blows at the meat, trying to send her breath and the smell of meat towards him. Okay, she wasn't trying for the breath, but you get what you can get.

The bit of meat Dina was offering slips from her fingers, perhaps helped by Krys blowing. "Slimy stuff.." she mutters, picking it back up again after wiping her hands on her pants. "Ok, try again." Long nails are dug into the flesh of the meat and she begins dangling it again. "I think he's hungry."

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling sniffs at the fruit and backs off creeling. He backs right into Dinara's meat path slipping backward. He falls face into a piece and nibbles on it. Hey, this is good. He gulps more down following the meat path.

Dinara giggles at the brown's antics. "You can have it all fella. Just don't make yourself sick!" The last piece is laid right at her foot.

Callandor Egg stays still waiting for it's time.

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling eats the meat and licks her foot then looks up at her meeting her eyes.

Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling Impresses to Dinara.

Zidane:cheers for Dinara "Good show, M'lady" he says as he leans back in a chair.

Krystara claps wildly, "Look! It's eating your food!" Then, watching something different happen she blinks, "Did you just get'em?" Idly, she blinks then shrugs,m "That'ds pretty neat!" So how'd she do that? Okay, meat. Check. Krys. Check. Hatchling? OOps...

Dice Egg rocks violently shattering completely.

Dice Egg shatters into a thousand fragments, leaving its occupant out in the open.

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling

This little fire lizard is flambountly blue. He seems to swagger as he moves, very sure of himself. He's perfectly formed with his wings in good proportion to a sleek body. He's a bright blue evenly distributed over smooth hide.

Dinara scoops the little brown up with a laugh. "Well hello there!" At Zidane's cheer, she smiles at him. "I suppose I should scoot out of the way!." The small creeling brown nestles in her arms, "Ack and he's still hungry! Here Krys, you take this bowl and I'll get some more for him." Keeping her balance, Dina stands and slips from the circle.

Dinara calls to Perran Aybara Brown Hatchling, who flies over and lands on her shoulder.

"Congratulations," issues Hanneke, brightly, towards Dinara, as she wiggles into a better position for regarding the newest hatchling--blue. Her pair of blues trill a bright greeting, as she beams towards the lovely hatchling. "Sweet! Oh--aren't they all lovely."

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling looks around and steps out of the shell swaggering forward. He walks in a circle not sure where to go, but not willing to show it.

Dinara carefully cradles the brown and gives him some fresh meat. "I think I'll call you Wolf.."

Zidane:smiles at the little blue and says "Well, speaking of food, these flits aren't the only ones hungry." He gets a meatroll from the tray and begins eating, remembering to feed some to Nin.

Krystara smiles brightly and takes the bowl, then points, "He's dancing, Dinara!" Her little rear kinda moves, but she doesn't get down quite yet. Then, she looks at the bowl, and dabs at the meet with a icky finger. Ick. Ick. Then, she picks a small piece and swings it slightly, "Eww! Hurry and come take this!"

Dinara glances down at the little blue. "I bet you could teach him some moves Krys! Give it a go." Wolf glances from his meat down to his clutchmate and croons a welcome.

Savannah smiles at the little blue "Hello there little one." she says and holds th meat still in her hand out to the little blue the plate of fruit and meat still on the floor as she turns it around so the meat is faceing out just incase he wants to take some off her plate he won't see the fruit.

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling's stomach rumbles, and he jumps then tries to cover his startlement by moving towards the appealing smells.

Savannah starts paying attention again.

Zidane:chuckles as he takes another bite off of his roll. He looks to Hrystara "Good luck, little one"

Hanneke's meat, of course, is kept held out, while the apprentice herself attempts to raise herself upon her elbows, keeping in a halfway upright position. No good should a master walk in, and find her lying all over the floor. "Who do you think'll get him? Good luck, everyone."

Krystara looks back to Dina, "Really? You think he maybe wants to?" She looks at the other hopefuls, wide-eyes innocently curious. She watches him jump and she stands jumping back to, then jumps forward twice. "Hehe, this is fun!" Then, she drops to all fours, remembering she had to have meat for him to like her. ";Lookit!" She waves it wildly at the blue, trying to get his attention. In her attempt to do so, the bowl knocks over, spilling into a large pile of meat. Of sacred treasure for hungry hatchlings.

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling's stomach rumbles, and he jumps then tries to cover his startlement by moving towards the appealing smells.*repose*

Dinara stifles a few giggles at Krystara's antics. "Um, try not to scare him though.."

Zidane:chuckles as he takes another bite off of his roll. He looks to Hrystara "Good luck, little one"

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling looks at all the pretty women comtemplating. He takes his luck and closes his eyes moving forward at random.

Savannah smiles at the little blue and holds her meat out for him to take "Here this is for you little one." she says. The plate is still on the floor meat towards the little blue as she reaches down and grabs a piece of fruit off the plate eating it wiggleign the piece of meat in her hand as well.

Hanneke moves into a seated position, rather than her previous lying down one, offering meat with intense thoughtfullness, hand outstretched.

Krystara watches him moving at random. So she decides to crawl into his path, but then stops. Oh yeah. Don't scare him. So instead, she tears off a tiny piece of meat, tossing it a little further from him, then placing one closer to her after that one. And so forth. It worked for Dina, and she copies everything she does, right? Or maybe not, Krys, cus she kinda humms a bit, making up a song in her head about all the firelizards Impressing to her. Or at least this one.

Dinara starts paying attention again.

Dinara has connected.

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling bumps into Krystara and falls down. He covers smoothly pretending he wanted to sit like that. He looks up at her meeting her eyes. Yep, his luck is holding.

Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling Impresses to Krystara.

Zidane:lazily tears a piece of meat from his roll and tosses it in front of the child, secretly hoping she impresses the blue.

Krystara smiles brightly at the meat that Zidane had tossed, picking it up and giving it to the blue, "Thanks!" Then, she scoops the tiny blue up and smiles brightly. Wow, that certainly feels neat. Kinda like she can read his thoughts. Or what there is of them besides 'HUNGRY!'ND SO SHE SMILES, "Ok, we'll learn how to dance later, ok?" And so she sets him down in front of the large meat pile, stroking him while he eats.

Brell walks in.

Hanneke's smile is wide, and plentiful: "Congratulations!" The final egg is given a hopeful glance, and a wiggle of movement from her torso, which has not yet lost it's celebratory dance.

Brell wanders in holding a small piece of message hide clutched in her hand , then stops and looks around in some confusion.. "The.. healer hall.." murmur'd softly as she looks around again, her sharp eyes notice a crowd and proceeds to patter over to ask about the hall, and to see what there is to gossip about back at the weyr.

Dinara claps her hands, "Way to go Krys! He's a beauty!" Wolf creels in her lap, and she quickly adds, "Well for a blue. See you are a brown, so it's ok." Long fingers slide down his neck, scritching here and there, causing the fella to croon appreciatively.

Callandor Egg doesn't rock. It just shatters all of a sudden.

Callandor Egg shatters into a thousand fragments, leaving its occupant out in the open.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling

Creamy brown hide covers this firelizard. He has a regal bearing, tending to do the unexpected. He's of a normal size with slightly oversized wings. His hide is speckled on his belly with darker areas.

Zidane:jumps a little as the egg shatters "Wow.. this little one has some spirit." he smiles, rather impressed, if you dont mind the wording.

Krystara carries the soft blue up into her arms, forwning as he's quickly falling alseep, "Why's he falling alseep?" Whine. Cus he's tired. But he's gotta play with Krys! Later. Ah well. She then grins as she sees another hatch, "Go everyone!" She calls brightly, prancing towards Dinara..

"Another brown!" So is Hanneke delighted in her usual, childish glee; holding out her meat towards the regal brown with a wild-eyed certainty. "Rather sweet, I think."

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling looks around comtemplating his next move.

Wolf does an almost canine move as he twirls three times in Dina's lap before curling up and tucking his snout under the tip of his tail. His clutchmate gave him a good idea. Sleep. Dina lazily strokes his hide, "So Krys, do you know how to take care of him?"

Zidane:smiles and leans in.. why not? He takes another piece off his roll and sets it gently on the table "There you go, little guy. Have some" he smiles, beaming at the little brown.

Krystara calls to Matrim Cauthon Blue Hatchling, who flies over and lands on her shoulder.

Hanneke, crossing hands in front of her, simply regards the brown, then those still sitting about her, meat held tightly within one fist.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling steps carefully out of his shell and continues to look around building his strategy.

Zidane:makes some clicking noises under his breath at the brown, dropping a couple more pieces of meat on the table "You're a stout little fellow, arent you?" he says in a proud but loving voice.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling steps forward slowly looking at one of the girls curiously.

Dinara continues to watch the firelizard while stroking Wolf. "Sure does seem to take his time, doesn't he?"

"He does." Impatiently, Hanneke wiggles about, regarding the brown about her eyelashes. "Come on!"

Zidane:smiles "He's proud. He's looking for the one he wants..." he says. "It may be you, M'lady" he beams at her.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling suddenly changes midstride and heads for Hanneke creeling at her sounding almost annoyed. He looks up at her and snaps his mouth open.

Hanneke, delighted, holds out her meat towards the brown, "I just -knew- that that would work."

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling snaps at it and then looks up at Hanneke meeting her eyes.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling Impresses to Hanneke.

Rand al'Thor Brown Hatchling looks at you with whirling eyes. You have Impressed him.

Dinara chuckles at Hanneke. "Imagine that, you are an apprentice and get a flit all in one day." She sighs as she looks down at Wolf in her lap, "The dorms are going to be noisy with you and I feeding these fellows all night."

Hanneke stiffles a yawn, and stands, glancing at Dinara. "You're right! It's been a wonderful, wonderful day." And off she trots--delighted.

Drawing open the door, you pass into the yet more chaotic outer hall.