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.

01-09-01: Blistering
Lobster-read Lydiere seeks refuge from the sun in the cool caverns.

You walk out to Living Cavern.

Lydiere's skin has taken on the hue of a lobster--she's almost magenta with sunburn, and, wincing with each step, weaving her way through the caverns towards the serving table, serving herself a glass of water with still, unweildy movements.

J'ran chuckles at Ly'ette's quip. "Magicara, rider of Green Eunith," he clarifies, knowing that may riders remember dragons better than people. "More of an olive green, actually," he admits. "We're...were...both Search and Rescue riders, and--Shards!" he interrupts himself as Lydiere eases her way into the room.

W'yn chuckles and nudges ly'ette. "Remember lys. Magicara brough Maisy over that time, to visit her family here.." Nodding with his words about this so he then turns to J'ran. "I hope it was not all bad that she said?" Sipping his Klah quickly then he adds. "ahh but your right warm we do well." He wonders what happened, and nearly asks but then a lobster walks in, and he just gapes. "Oh Lydi..tell me you did fall asleep on the beach?" the only thing he can think of as a comment.

Ly'ette stifles a giggle, but not very well. "See, told you we did the occasional scorching." She waves over "Morning Lyddie!"

Lydiere's head raises with some trepidation, a less than hearty, although nonetheless amiable greeting sent out towards J'ran; "Ista's duties--does it look that bad?" By the coy movement of her head, she knows quite well that it does. Ruefully, she adds, "Can I help it that Llysereth is only comfortable in the water, and that it's so hard to get her over there that we have to stay all day?" She winces once more, as she sits down, adding, "Flame broiled Lydiere, at your service. Morning!"

J'ran winces. "That looks...painful," he says candidly. "Shouldn't you have some sort of salve for that?" he asks, then belatedly scrapes back his chair, bouncing to his feet to offer a quick salute. "My pardon, Weyrwoman," he says apologetically before sitting again.

Ly'ette tries once more to stifle that giggle, settling on a gulp of klah instead which just manages to burn the roof of her mouth.

W'yn cant help it. It was bad enough seeing the redweyrwoman but at J'rans repsonse, even if it is the correct one and the respectable one sends him into a sudden burst of laughter. Shaking his head then he offers. "My apologies to you now J'ran.. Lydiere here was a candidate with us.." he indicates Ly'ette and himself. "so, well ive become rather layed back in showing my respect.." he smiles and lowers his head in a polite nod to Lydiere. "Or at least yu should have gone in the shade.." he suddenly adds.

"Lydiere," corrects the Weyrwoman with a still shake of her head--"No pardon necessary, please. I've got a numbweed type thing to put on it," she adds, dourly, "Which helps. For a little while, anyway." The respose of Ly'ette and W'yn, and their laughter, is met with the almost impossible raising of an eyebrow--ouch. "Yes, yes, laugh all you want." She doesn't care. "There isn't," she notes, candid, "Much shade down there."

J'ran shrugs, taking no offence. "That as it may be, but she," he points at the reddend goldrider, "is still a Weyrwoman, while I'm just a vagabond bluerider. Pleased to meet you, Lydiere," he says with a slight smile, picking up his klah again.

Ly'ette has permission and uses it, the giggle bubbling out. "Im sorry Lyd." she finally says when she gets some control back. "But you do look silly. Couldnt you cover up a bit when you were down there? Make some shade?"

J'ran chuckles. "And neglect her poor, put-upon dragon to do so? For shame!" He grins. "Or so they'd have us believe, right?" he asks.

Squire chirrups in agreement from his position on the next table, toying with the shiny clutched in his foreclaws.

W'yn does look apologetic to both J'ran and Lydiere then and as he controls his giggles speaks this outload. "Im sorry, it was the situation at hand that was funny, not at all that you are sunburned.." Curious then, still grining with J'rans words he asks. "So Lydi..is Llysereth still down at the beach? its goto be getting close to the clutching?" A ruffle of wings is heard outside as Zymanth settles himself down and grumbles something to his rider.

Lydiere rests her lips on the edge of her glass with some asperity, commenting mildly, "And the same to you--J'ran, did they say? -- My poor dragon, indeed. Floating about in the ocean all day, even if she *is* fat, and bad tempered." She winks, evidently regretting the movement as soon as she makes it, adding, "I should've covered up, some, or done something, but I didn't really think of it, I admit. And no offense taken, honest." She shakes her head, explaining, "She's in the hatching grounds, digging herself out a wallow so that her belly sits there, and she can be comfortable. Won't be long, now."

J'ran looks pleasantly surprised. "A clutching?" he asks. "I've never been to one," he admits. "Frankly, until I got my wings out there," he says, nodding in the direction of the main bowl, "I'd never been more than thirty kilometers or so from home." He flashes a grin, suddenly looking younger than his nineteen Turns. "It's a big world out there."

[DTU/Project] Llysereth senses that Zymanth slips into your mind, his iced touch a caress. >>Soon love..<< He mutters lightly.

[DTU/Project] Zymanth senses that Llysereth pauses within her digging -- black sand swirls through her mind, caressing it -- to respond, almost without discontent, << Soon! Then, I will not be fat. >>

Ly'ette grins at J'ran. "Not that big when you've got the wings to explore it, but then I've lived all my life on the island so I didnt have the exploration chances either."

W'yn thinks as he sips his Klah and then smiles. "It was such a shock when I was searched, going from Igen to Ista so fast.." he clicks his fingers to exadgerate the point before he adds. "But looking for somewhere to live had let me see a little of the land.." he shrugs lightly.

J'ran nods. "True enough," he agrees. "So," he says, glancing around the table and wincing again slightly as his gaze falls upon Lydiere. "You're probably the best folk to ask," he says, quirking one eyebrow. "What's life like here at Ista?"

"A clutching," agrees Lydiere with a long sigh, resting her arms gingerly upon the table edge. "You should stay--come watch it! Or come back, whatever." She adds, approvingly, "Ista's a good place. Hot, but lots of beautiful beaches, and nice ocean for sailing."

A smile crosses J'ran's face. "Sailing's good," he says. "I come from a FishCraft family, so I'm as at home on or in the water as above it. Magi, on the other hand," he says critically, shaking his head ruefully. "I'd like to see it," he says earnestly to Lydiere, returning to the other topic. "Do you have any idea when it might happen?" he asks.

Ly'ette nods. "Its not all sunbathing though, no matter what you'd think from looking at our Weyrwomen." there goes that giggle again. "Its a nice place though, friendly. Everyone lends a hand with things."

[DTU/Project] Zymanth senses that Llysereth considers, her mind whirling with rapid hues, rapacious colour tingling--this is good, this is productive. << Maybe. >>

J'ran nods. "What's a rider do around here?" he asks curiously. "I'm finding every Weyr has a different set of duties for their Wings."

Fair Maiden has arrived.

J'ran shrugs as Fair Maiden takes flight from his shoulder.

W'yn frowns as he tries to think before chuckleing. "And over to the lady in red.." he smiles quickly before turning to Ly'ette and adding. "You know, we have not done a set wing duty for a wile, preparing for candidates and such.."

Lydiere sits up straighter, beaming towards J'ran--"You've just made a friend for life; I'm a seacrafter, by trade." She hesitates, glancing out towards the bowl, considering; "Within a few days, I'd imagine. Can't tell for sure." She winks at Ly'ette, easing back within her chair gingerly; "Not *all*. Just most." Another wink. "Search and rescue is good, here," is offered, thoughtful. She downs part of her water, soothing her hands upon the cool glass.

Fair Maiden glides over to the next table, perches, and chirp imperiously at Squire. Immediately the blue launches himself into the air and flutters over to the serving table, returning in a moment with a meatroll clutched in his claws. He sets it down in front of the half-grown gold, who daintly begins to eat.

J'ran huffs lightly. "Search and Rescue isn't good anywhere," he says, a shadow briefly flickering across his face. "But I know what you mean," he admits with a wave of his hand.

Ly'ette nods, setting her klah mug aside, not much having been drunk from it. "And soon we'll get even busier if the clutching is /that/ close. Ack, we might even have to Work." she nods to J'ran. "Search and rescue can be very rewarding, but hard."

Lydiere offers--"We've the usual things, as well. Running errands, whatever all the other weyrs do; I admit, I'm not an expert on the subject, myself."

W'yn winces. "I dont do work you know!" he chuckles as this is a jest. "Ahh but it will be a new adventure." Suddenly W'yn perks up with one of the suggestions. "Delivery/messanger is great! You get to see so much and meet so many people.." he turns to ly'ette then and smiles, a hand lowering to hers and giving it a little squeeze before it is back to his mug and he is sipping his Klah.

"Sorry," J'ran says, apologizing for his mood. "I think I was prejudiced by my first S&R operation," he admits. "The High Reaches avalanche a few months back," he says. "Leea and Jalilth almost didn't make it, and then F'ound and Wandereth...." He shakes his head at the memory of the brown going *between* after the death of his rider.

Lydiere's eyes briefly catch upon W'yn's hand and Ly'ette's, the faintest twist of a smile following--broken, abruptly, by J'ran's explanation. "Oh! Oh, I am sorry; that's awful. At least we don't have avalanches, here."

W'yn goes rather pale, his hand rubbing his own arm for a moment. opening and closing his fingers for a moment he sighs. "A terrible experience, not one I wish to experience again.."he looks up and smiles. "Ive never known a search and rescue wing like that one..so many different Weyrs.."

Ly'ette nods, not saying anything, shed heard the story of W'yn and that was bad enough.

Ly'ette's face pales suddenly, a hand going first to her stomach then to her mouth. "Excuse me I just have to.." she stands up quickly. "Nice meeting you J'ran" and she runs to the door.

Ly'ette walks out to Bowl.

W'yn is standing and looking in the direction of Ly'ette before slowly turning back to the group. Slipping into his seat then he looks about and shrugs lightly.

J'ran blinks with surprise. "Is she all right?" he asks quietly.

"She's not," begins Lydiere blankly, staring after Ly'ette. "Oh." Expression changing, she manages to plaster a -- painful -- smile onto her face, shifting her arms from the edge of the table. "She'll be fine, I'm sure."

J'ran nods, then pales slightly and grips the edge of the table for support. "Whoops," he says, blinking. "Looks like I should get going myself," he says, giving a twitting whistle in the direction of his flits. "The tour another time?" he asks, carefully getting to his feet.

"Certainly!" agrees Lydiere, raising her hand in farewell; "Visit; come for the clutching. We'll see you again, I'm sure."

J'ran nods. "Have someone give Maxanth or Eunith a shout when it starts," he says. "Thanks for the klah, the hospitality," he says, nodding to each rider.

W'yn watches J'ran go and smiles. "Cirtanly, always welcome.." his words echoing Lydieres. "Ahh but be warned of the clutching..Llysereth is rather tempered at the moment.." he chuckles and winks to Lydiere as if to show he is joking.

J'ran chuckles faintly, then turns and carefully paces his way out of the cavern.

J'ran walks out to Bowl.

"You're not kidding," responds Lydiere to W'yn, although after J'ran has gone; "I really hope she gets better after the clutching, else we're in for a *long* haul, let me tell you."

From afar, to Lydiere and W'yn, J'ran hrms. Nope, you're right. Silly me! I'll try to be there.

W'yn smiles and leans his elbows on the table. "Im sure she will, from Zymanth he thinks it is the weight, being fat which she does not like.." He offers this tentativly, as surly the rider would know. Shaking his head then he sighs. "Ahh and I hope Ly'ette is better soon, asked her to go to a healer but..you try arguing with a greenrider!" he offers, turning his head to the side so he can smile at you.

Lydiere nods -- although slowly, taking care not to pull at her burnt skin too much -- as she responds, "Maybe. She never seemed vain before, but...Well. We'll see." Her eyes flicker briefly, as she comments, "You don't think that she's pregnant, maybe? Pregnant women do that. I did."

W'yn allows his eyes to follow the line Ly'ette's exit had taken. "I just dont know Lydi..I mean" He shrugs his shoulders for a moment before smiling. "There was Ayaths flight as well as other instances.." he does not embellash but you get the feeling he was not to pleased about them.

Lydiere's eyebrows raise to a painful height, but she doesn't ask any questions. "Oh. Well--I guess you'll have to wait and see. It might be nothing." She's doubtful, though, by her expression.

W'yn raps his fingers, like a drum beat on the table and is curious. "When you were expecting lydi, if you dont mind me asking..what other symptoms?" is this rider pulling at stras to see if he can work it out for himself for he really cant get her to go to a healer.

Lydiere counts off on her fingers, evidently ignoring the stinging pain of her sunburn, "I wanted to eat strange things--but that happened a bit later, I guess. I had to use the necessary more. I was always tired. I missed a bleeding cycle. Things like that."

W'yn mentally takes not and smiles. "Thanks Lydiere.." As if he is now going to look out for this. "Hey, maybe you could poswade her? pull rank or something?" the secret thing is, that W'yn would be happy with a child, though hoped it would be his and not anyone elses.

Lydiere slips a smile onto her lips, noting, "It's not a problem. I'd love for Ly'ette to have a child." And if that's a brief expression of jealousy, it doesn't last long. "I doubt it, but if I see her, I'll mention it. Maybe she'll listen to me more than you."

W'yn chuckles and smiles. "Aye she might.." he doubts it. For a moment he is silent before adding. "I think it might be in response to Zymanths emotions, but fatherhood would be a wonderful thing.." He chuckles then before streching. "Ahh but ive a good few turns in me.." he adds with a chuckle. "you know, still aint seen your nipper about, guess theres just too many things to do in Ista!"

Lydiere laughs softly, commenting, "It might be. Then again, if Llysereth was more happy about being pregnant, I might be jealous of her--I loved being pregnant." She rests her fingers upon the edge of the table with a sigh of relaxation, adding, "You do. Plenty of time! Oh--I know. I've hardly seen Keid, myself! Very distressing."

W'yn has to admit he is surprised of the line of this conversation. "You did? i though it was supposed to be a well..awkuard time?" hes a male, he dont understand but as his mind turns to the gold he smiles. "I guess she just expands more or something, and is not happy about being weyrbound.." he does not know the answer to that either, nobody does though Zymanth croons encouragelingly about these thoughs.

Lydiere shakes her head, although she notes, "Most women apparently don't like it, but it--was nice. In a lot of ways." She gives a stiffened shrug, adding, "I guess so. She's always liked flying, and *between*, and this is all not good with that."

W'yn sips his Klah for a moment before sighing. "Ahh but it will be over soon eh?" he shudders adding. "I would be shaking in my white robes if I was a candidate who had to stand infront of Llysereth.." he smiles to show he is joking before it falls and he sighs. "By the egg I hope Ly'ette is ok.."

"It will be," smiles Lydiere, stretching her legs out beneath the table. "Now *that* is an interesting picture: she's usually so sweet. I think Ysmalath is coming out in her." She grins, winking, adding, "Me, too. Poor thing."

W'yn thinks about Ly'ette for a moment before suddenly laughing, seems the image of Ysmalath and Llysereth combined just burst into his mind. Convaying this picture to you he then chuckles. "They always did say there would be traits of parantage..though it is strange how each dragon seems to know itself at birth..Imean look at M'kans brown, fussed from the word go, but Ive never seen Zippith fuss.."

Lydiere gives a nod in response, draining the last of her water, her hands moving to hold the cool edges of the glass. "It's amazing, I know. I wonder what Llysereth and Zymanth's hatchlings will be like--and how many there'll be, all that stuff."

W'yn winces in a humorus way. "well if we merge what they are like now? were going to have alot of bad tempered and clumbsy dragons waddling around.." the immage makes him chuckle before he smiles. "I wonder if thell be a gold.."this thought had never entered his head before but then he chuckles. "faranth no please, his muzzle would swell more than it is now.."

"Scary thought," declares Lydiere with a firm tilt of her head, rubbing at her hot skin with one hand. "I hope not," she notes, briefly; "I don't wish gold on anyone, not that I resent Llysereth in the slightest."

W'yn had not heard that tone in Lydi's voice and frowns. "you would not wish gold? or is it the paperwork and hide reading that you dont like.." not to mention the clutching etc.

Lydiere gives her shoulders a minute shrug, considering. "Mostly, I think, it's the lack of choice: you could go independent if you wanted, but I can't. You can choose what kind of duties you get involved with, I can't. People expect things of you." She gives a wry, pursed smile, "Just little things, like that."

W'yn raises one eyebrow and chuckles. "Not really little are they.." he offers shaking his head. "Maybe after the eggs have hatched, you should perhaps request a vacation yourself? like J'ran has.." though the lack of knot was noted in the riders dress. "No, I can see what you mean Lydi.."

"No," agrees Lydiere, expression returning to a brighter smile: "Maybe. We'll see what happens."

W'yn chuckles and nods. "Join search and rescue for a while, Llysereth enjoyed that.." he offers with a remembered smile.

W'yn slowly rises. "AHH but the pressures of dutie.." he shakes his head and smiles. "you know, you should see a healer about your burns..you look like Llysereth finally drew flames on you.." he looks worried before adding. "AndI hate to leave on this note, but like we just thought..dutie calls.." he is also going to run up to Ly'ettes weyr, check his mate is feeling better.

Lydiere gives her sunburn a rueful glance, and nods, waving her hand, "It does look a sight--Llysereth's going to get the blame, I tell you!" More soberly, she adds, "Understood. Tell Ly'ette that I hope she feels better, too, will you?"

W'yn stands and smiles, resisting the urge to give Lydiere a huge bear hug, and nods. "I will do so..now, you get some slave on that red skin of yours..thanks also for your thoughts on, you know.." he means the preggers thing before he smiles. "Take care you and if you need a break anytime..come visit eh?!" he offers before leaving.

W'yn walks out to Bowl.

W'yn has left.