January 27, 2002
The people of Ista Weyr head out to harvest numbweed.

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Sandy Inlet - Southern Continent(#280RFJ)

** From Fencyth's lower neckridges, Arianna shivers slightly as they come from *between*, gray eyes wide. Once on the ground she works at the straps binding her to Fencyths neck, eventually getting them undone so she can slide-stumble clumsily off. "Thank you again Fencyth, Xhatia." she says, dropping to the ground.

** Arianna slips down to Fencyth's bent foreleg, pausing a moment while the Green crouches before completing the hop to the ground itself.

** From Isyrath's neckridges, Llilian laughs, as she helps the last of ehr rider to begin the trip down, "You can either pick in the fields, or help keep everyone supplied in food, drink and redwort on the beach, the choice is yours." Down she comes, and a grin to Mechelle, "You should see her waddle when she's lying heavy close to clutching."

** Serriena drops down onto the sand dune, sandals filling with tiny grains that will go away once she removes her shoes and shakes them out. "First thing we have to prepare ourselves for Numbweed harvesting. After all you don't want to touch it with bare hands." A blush of pink comes to her cheeks as she relates. "I did that once.. numbed my hand for an hour."

** Llilian slips deftly down to the bent foreleg of Isyrath, the Gold lowering to a crouch and watching with gentle eyes as she hops to the ground.

** Arisvath glides downwards into a backswing, his wings arching as they outstretch and then contract, folded in as he makes a graceful, lazy landing upon the sandy coast. R'hyn peers about nervously - reluctant, by expression - before unstrapping, diligently moving to dismount and join the others: he'll do his duty. Good boy.

Arisvath crouches low, allowing you to swing your leg over his neckridges, and climb nimbly towards the ground, with the help of his straps.

Mechelle listens to Serriena, nodding her head slightly, "Katheia did that once..." she tells anyone who will listen. "She said it's not fun at all, having your whole hand numb.." she also says a quick "Thanks again for the ride, Llilian, Isyrath..." After all, she needs a ride home, too. It always is better to be polite!

Fencyth lands easily, crooning as Arianna slips off and offering a nose for balance. "You're welcome," Xhatia replies, dismounting as well before glancing at Serriena with a wince. "Oooh. Not fun," she mumbles, waiting for instructions of sorts.

Xhatia slips deftly down to the bent foreleg of Fencyth, the Green lowering to a crouch and watching with gentle eyes as the she hops to the ground.

Lynniya slips down to Isyrath's bent foreleg, pausing a moment while the Gold crouches before completing the hop to the ground itself.

Kytara slips deftly down to the bent foreleg of Vinrath, the Blue lowering to a crouch and watching with gentle eyes as the she hops to the ground.

Llilian laughs, "You're always welcome." Isyrath even throws in her two cents. A soft warble, befor her attention's diverted by the newly arrived bronze. He can join her if he likes of course, says her croon, but she's off to curl up just on the edge of the water. As for LLilian, she's off to do the dip, working her way along the sands to the redwort tables.

"I was helping J'nah add numbweed to a threadscore Myrdith got," Serriena laughs and grins at Xhatia, "I was talking and forgot to put redwort on to prevent my hand from getting numb." But luckily she doesn't talk as much this time, because she does move over to where redwort is being offered in a vat for some to dip their hands in after cleansing them first of course.

Niaryth walks away, a bit down the beach to relax in the sun. Her body sinks with a heaving breath down into the sands and she makes her own bit of wallowed napping place.

Lynniya looks down at her hands, and then watches as people begin to dip there hands and does so as well. "Do we just stick them in? Or do we rub it into our hands once it is on?" She stands waiting for her turn patiently looking around at the area. "It is very pretty here."

Mechelle smiles at Isyrath, and then starts towards the redwort table, wrinkling her nose slightly, "Oh, boy...here we go.." she mutters to Lynn. "The stinkiest job there is, and that's saying a lot, from some of the things that happen in the nursery." she says with a chuckle. Reaching the table, she slowly and /thoroughly/ cleanses her hands before dipping them into the redwort. "How long will this keep us from going numb?" she asks curiously, looking down at her hands, "It wouldn't do for the stuff to wear off, after all.

Arisvath's not about to refuse such an offer; instead, he lumbers after both golds, settling down - hide accented by the black sand - in a coiled position in sun and surf - the waves tickling at the tip of his forked tail. A low, lethargic croon marks his greeting, whilst eyelids shut out the light of day. R'hyn looks pained - he's been left alone. Nonetheless, he follows those others assembled, washing hands thoroughly without much more than a brief smile.

Vinrath wanders off in his usual hunched over lumber to settle down far from the other dragons, but in view of his rider. He settles down on the warm sands, taking this time to relax as well. Tara moves forward towards the vats of redwort as the other riders and harvesters have already begun to do. No need for her hands to go all numb. So she dips her hands and a bit up her arms in the stuff and thoroughly.

Lynniya follows suit as she watches all the riders and others who have done this before and follows their lead. Washing well and then dipping. "Oh I can't believe that... it is just a plant. And nanny stuff is digested plants and other stuff. It /can't/ be worse then that." She looks over to Ari and others smiling waiting for the next instructions.

With a laugh, Serriena says, "It lasts until the next time you need to wash them in it," This said with teasing towards Mechelle. She washes her hand in the redwort, the antiseptic not only doing its job, but also leaving a pink red stain on her hands after. She wipes them off, even though her shirt sleeves are stained with the same. "Hello R'hyn!" Serriena waves to the rider from Ista. "Feeling better now that you're back at home?" she sweeps her arms around at the Southern Continent and then grins at him.

Arianna crinkles her nose at the talk of entire hands numbing, slipping into the group waiting to dip the hands to prevent it. When she gets up to the vat she coats her hands thoroughly in the stuff. Better safe than sorry. A confused glance is sent to Lynn, "Nanny stuff is digested plants?"

Llilian washes her hands, dips them in redwort, and then she's ready for the job at hand. A few minutes to talk to people here and there, making certain everything's ready to go, before she grabs a basket for the collected plants, and begins the trek onward and upward towards the numbweed field.

Llilian walks towards the numbweed field.

R'hyn smiles shyly upon Serriena's greeting, flushing pink as he tilts his head towards her in response. "Something--like that," he agrees, somewhat lamely, "And you, too?" Following the lead of others, he finally dips his hands into the redwort, eyeing the red residue thoughtfully.

Mechelle shakes her head at Lynn, "Just wait, Nanny Lynn...You'll see." she says with a small grin. Serriena recieves a chuckle, "I'll be sure and not let my hands go numb, then." she says, though her words are probably lost as Serriena looks towards the bronzerider. She blots her now-red hands dry and then starts towards the field, laughing at Arianna's question, "No, but this will be much worse than anything you'd find in the nursery." And to think she actually /believes/ it!

Mechelle walks towards the numbweed field.

"Yes, although we're a far cry away from Cove Hold this time," Serriena says. She grins and then gathers up a basket. "Whenever you are ready please come help. Or you can stay here to help prepare food and drinks for those who come back from the fields." She nods as some are already coming out with baskets and baskets of numbweed.

Lynniya chuckles to Ari, "With the small children digested food tends to be an issue if you know what I mean." As Mech wanders off towards the fields she makes her way afterwards, "Well what about stuff they stuck in corners. My sister once left this bubblie under a cot..." Wait she is already out of reach, better catch up.

Lynniya walks towards the numbweed field.

"True," agrees R'hyn, although he's hazy on geography, and merely smiles. "All right, thank you." Already pink - and not from the sun - the bronzerider hesitates, and then moves onto the numbweed field. Big, brave boy. Or...something.

You walk towards the field of numbweed.

Arisvath> Serriena laughs. She turns and looks at Xhatia. "Coming?" The greenrider gets a grin. "Or if you'd like to fix drinks and food we could do that too." Basket is wobbled as she debates picking green stuff or helping prepare things. "Well.. I have redworted myself already.." she hesitates.

Mechelle saunters onto the field, shaking her head slightly at the thought of the task at hand. "Well...let's get to work..." she says, more to herself than anyone, not even sure what to do. She knows what numbweed is like, and has gotten a good smell of it being stewed up, but she hasn't actualy /helped/, so...She waits to see what everybody else does.

Llilian's already settled into one of the rows in the far corner, plucking away at the leaves of the plants that cover the field as thick as dust in an unused corner of a storage room. She seems to be working in tandem with one of the weyr's younger residents, a small girl, perhaps 9 or 10, blond haired, and blue-eyed and bright as sunshine. It's apparent from their conversation that they know each other, and while the little girl isn't doing much harvesting, she's doing the best she can, and Llilian's not at a loss for good company.

Arianna follows everyone else in, admittedly just a little behind. Heading over to stand new Lynn she questions in an undertone, "Have they said how we're supposed to go about this yet?"

Arisvath> Xhatia pauses, halfway to the redwort tables. "You know, I think I'll stick with the drinks and food. Want me to bring it around to folks, or just make sure it's here and ready?" If she doens't have to harvest, all the better. Fencyth wanders off to a random spot, settling in the shallows rather than on the sand.

Arisvath> Serriena laughs, "You took on that too easy greenrider," Her smile is jovial, not at all accusing, but teasing. "I'd say it'd help the pickers alot if you'd bring them water." She nods and then turns to walk towards the field.

R'hyn holds his hands well out in front of himself, somewhat dubious of this redwort that stains his fingers. Hesitating upon the edge of the fields, he takes a deep breath, and then, finding himself instructed by a young woman from the weyr - rather full of herself - attempts to get to work. Blushing furiously, as he is wont to do, the bronzerider only manages to nod rapidly to her imperious commands.

Lynniya looks over at Llilian, "Well it looks like we just collect the leaves off the plant. Mechelle how can that be so smelly. I would think that a child left overs stuck under their cot for a sevenday would smell much worse." Red hands are looked at, "We need a basket don't we..." Eyes search the area plants everywhere to be seen.

Mechelle watches Llilian and the little girl, smiling slightly once she recognizes the youngster. She turns at Arianna's question and gestures to some baskets, "It looks like we can each take one of these and..." she laughs at Lynn, "Just you wait..." she tells her before turning back to Arianna once again, " put the leaves in them...Then we can make a big pile of them, as our baskets get full." she decides, taking up an empty one and starting towards the row beside Llilian and the little girl. "I've got this row..." she says in a sing-song voice before bending down and examining the leaves before she starts picking, "One, two, buckle my shoe; Three, four, shut the door..." she sings under her breath. Ah, nursery songs! Always popular, right?

Arisvath> Xhatia lifts her hands in self-defense, grinning. "Perhaps. But at least I don't run the risk of numbing myself." Unless she's not careful, that is. A nod follows as she glances around for the water and foodstuffs. "Will do," she answers, already turning from Serriena's retreating back.

Arisvath> Dannivyr's old enough-- and expendable enough-- to be drafted for numbweed-gathering, but it's the first time the boy's been quite this far from home, or in quite such a manner, so he's a little unsteady on his feet while clambering down with a couple of the other Holdfolk from their 'borrowed' ride. He leans forward to brace his hands on his knees once he's on solid ground again, and casts uncertain but distinctly curious looks around the area as he gathers his wits about him again.

Serriena walks in from the inlet.

Arianna takes up a basket at Mechelles instructions, nodding, "I see...makes sense then." she says agreeably, taking the next row down, adopting a stooped stance as she begins to pluck at the leaves. Being short helps at times like this, she doesn't need to bend down too much.

Llilian's happily plucking away, keeping up a soft running conversation with the small girl, "I'm notsure if it's already warm at Igen, Danila, but you know, I'll ask your father if he has some time free next sevenday, and if he does, I'll take you there to see him." Now that gets a smile, and a rushed response before the girl goes back to picking. Llilian, for her part, offers a smile to the others as they set to work nearby, "There should be people coming around collecting full baskets and carrying off your old, so don't worry, just have fun picking."

Arisvath> Xhatia searches out, and easily finds, a bucket of suitable drinking water. Two cups are grabbed and she turns, offering a quick smile to Dannivyr. "You're gonna help, too?" she asks, even if the answer might be rather obvious.

Serriena walks into the field of numbweed and joins the rest of the busy workers. Some are just busy working, focused on their work. Serriena joins them in one of the rows, a whistle forming on her lips, a strange sort of melody. She plucks leaves from a numbweed stalk, beginning to work but looking to enjoy it.

Arisvath> Dannivyr heaves a whuffing sigh and straightens gingerly, brushing at his tunic front with a couple of self-conscious pats. "Uh-huh," he says, scuffing at the black rills of sand and casting another look up and down the shore, then toward the numbweed fields, before sidling toward Xhatia. "Um-- can I have a sip of that, 'fore I get to work? Promise I won't have but a sip," he adds. "Just to settle my stomach 'n such."

R'hyn burrows his head downwards, as if attempting to sink into the field, or at least blend in. Diligently working, the pile of plucked leaves in front of him grows, the faintest hint of a curving smile coming to lips as he settles into the work, and some semblance of enjoyment of it. As his hair falls across his eyes, the bronzerider hesitates, attempting to push it back behind his ears without touching it with his numbweeded hands - an effort which fails.

Lynniya find a basket and then a row of numbweed, she is not experiencing wha is so stinky about these plants yet. She crouches down on the ground wobbling a bit back and forth trying to keep her ground as she begins to pluck leaf by leaf of numbweed. Hearing Mech's voice chiming the nursery song, "five six... don't lick the sticks." See she applied it to the numbweed.

Mechelle has lost count of her leaves, and so her counting song stops, though she chuckles at Lynn's newly worded phrase of the same song. Instead, she starts to hum, first one song, then another, as she carefully picks the leaves, trying to make sure that nothing but her fingertips touch the plants. Every once in a while, she'll stand up to her full height to stretch the kinks out of her arms and back, her eyes surveying the rest of the crew. Her usual efficiency helps her here, however, and she is soon toting a half-full basket down the row.

Arisvath> Xhatia nods, dipping one of the cups into the water and handing it to him. "Certainly. Have more than a sip, if you want," she adds oh-so graciously. "Don't forget to wash and 'wort your hands before you head off, though." Ever the helpful one, she nods toward the redwort and the few other helpers dipping their hands in.

R'hyn's ear picks up the music - and then the humming - and despite himself, he joins in, proving to have a very melodious tenor, even when only humming. The former harper is evidently surprised, by his face, at his own efforts, and ducks his head lower to fill his basket in quick time.

Arisvath> "Thanks," Dannivyr says with almost effusive relief, and takes a quick slurp out of the cup. He hesitates before swallowing and does that a bit more carefully, with a pensive look as if he expects it to come right back up. After a moment or so, though, he relaxes and tosses back the rest of the water before offering the cup over. "Oh, yeah. I'll do that, for sure. Hard to pick if your hands aren't working, huh? Mum told me how to go about that." He blots his palms off on his trousers, bobbing a grateful nod. "Thanks for the water, ma'am. I better go, 'fore they start thinking I'm skipping out."

Serriena continues to pick leaves, working her way through several stalks only to get a partially covered bottom. "Gads, five minutes and it's already hot enough to fry bugs on the ground." She pauses in her work and rolls up her sleeves, sweat from the morning already forming on her brow. She hums, but soon gives up for the tedious work of plucking and plucking the leaves. She works her way over to Llilian somehow and greets, "Hello Llilian and Danila." She grins at J'sen's daughter.

Arianna smiles faintly, briefly at the humming darting around her, and though she doesn't join in one pale finger taps against the side of her basket, following the rhythm of the music as the level of leaves in the basket steadily rises.

Arisvath> Xhatia grins and takes the cup back, nodding. "You're welcome. See you in the fields." She takes a few steps, slowing to offer over her shoulder, "And it's Xhatia. I'm hardly old enough to be a 'ma'am'." Grinning, she carries her bucket and heads toward the harvesters.

Xhatia walks in from the inlet.

Arisvath> Dannivyr doubles over to the redwort tubs to douse himself as instructed before trotting in pursuit.

Dannivyr walks in from the inlet.

Falina walks in from the inlet.

Lynniya unlike many of the others is moving rather slowly as she plucks each leaf frm the plant, each one carefully twisted or crisply broken off to avoid hurting th plant as much as possible. "Seven, eight, we'll be here late." A little giggle to herself, "Okay I'll stop now." She listens to the conversations going on around her, "So about that messenger thing Ari... Would you really do that for me?"

Llilian's happily chugging along, moving from plant to plant. She doesn't strip each plant bare of course, since it's like there will be others who have to come after, and the plants needn't suffer, but on she goes. Danila's kind enough to hand off the basket, and to get a fresh one, which she carries after, and settles down beside, and the harvest continues, the little girl singing to herself as much as she remembers of the words that goes with the song Mechelle's humming at the next row over.

Arianna glances over at Lynn, "You mean passing messages between you and your stablehand?" Her shoulders move in a faint shrug, "Sure, why not? It's not that big a deal, you just need to tell me his name and everything. I can't promise we have the same shift, but if we do, I will."

R'hyn stretches his shoulders, giving up hes reticence over redworted hands to rub at a stiff muscle in his right shoulder. Having emptied his basket, he shifts his position to a new area of the field, leaning down gingerly to resume operations most diligently. This doesn't last long: a girl from the hold simpers up at him, as she notices his arrival, and he scoots, rapidly. Humming, however, turns into a song, sung softly beneath his breath as it sounds across the field from others.

Arisvath> Niaryth raises her head at the sound of the activity in the field. Sounds like a lot of people humming all at once or singing. What could be so fun over there they're making melodious noise?

Arisvath> K'ran slips deftly down to the bent foreleg of Gaieth, the Blue lowering to a crouch and watching with gentle eyes as the he hops to the ground.

K'ran walks in from the inlet.

Mechelle grins as she hears her own humming added to by the bronzerider, and she continues, idly stepping from one plant to another, being careful, yet also trying to get it done. She stops again, wiping her forehead with a cloth that's tucked into her belt, and then sighs as she surveys the large field.."We've got a /lot/ of work to do...." Newcomers are noted and waved to slightly, though they're probably too busy washing their own hands with redwart to really notice them. She gives up her full basket to a drudge, taking the new one with a word of thanks. Lynn's conversation to Arianna is noted, and she moves a bit closer, "What stablehand?" she asks curiously.

Arisvath> Arisvath stretches from top to tail-tip, ripples of silvery hues marking themselves out of the green-bronze of his hide. Niaryth's lifted head gains his attention through half-lidded eyes, his own neck twisting to watch far off towards the field. Curioser and curioser.

Xhatia comes into the field, a bucket carried by one arm, two cups with the other. "I've got water," she announces for the general good. "Let me know if you want some." And so she begins her walk through the field, watching for a person here, someone there, to hail her down.

Dannivyr eventually trails Xhatia and some others into the field, slowing from a trot to an amble as he finishes rubbing redwort salve thoroughly over his hands and wrists. He pauses a step or two into the spread of plants and eyes them with interest. Settling to a crouch, he prods at the nearer plants, pushing them into a lean so he can look up and down the stem and the leaves. After a moment he straightens again and checks around. Most of the Holderfolk he knows have spread off to different parts of the field, so he sidles over toward Lynniya with an almost apologetic air, hooking his own basket handle up to his elbow, more or less out of his way. "Haven't picked numbweed before," he remarks, more or less to himself, and watches the older girl's technique with an eye to copying it.

Serriena sits back on her heels after picking one particularly low plant and then waves at Xhatia. "Water..here." Humming and working don't go hand in hand without getting thirsty.

Lynniya almost instantly blushes when she realizes others can hear. "He isn't my stablehand... I hardly know him, but he is rather sweet." She shooshes quickly when the boy draws near though. "Oh hi, Dannivyr right?" She is still trying to remember faces and names so she could get it wrong. He is following her movements? Well, that might not be the wisest thing to do, Lynn is moving very slowly down the row, crowched down on the ground getting rather dirty from the soil.

Arisvath> Fencyth twitches her tail in the water, a rumble coming from her. Humming's not necessarily a -bad- thing. Maybe it makes it easier to work?

Arianna raises her head to nod to those entering, requesting of Xhatia, "If you've a chance can you bring some over here please? Thanks..." As Dannivyr approaches...or well, he comes towards Lynn, but she's near her too so it counts, she waves a bit, "Hullo." To Mech she explains, "Lynn met some nice stablehand at the Weyr, and I told her I'd give him messages for her."

Dannivyr gives her a quick, rather gratified grin. "Yeah," he says, picking off a leaf with a careful grip and twist. "That's me. Sorry," he adds. "Didn't mean to interrupt." Mechelle gets a quick, shy glance, Arianna another more curious one. "Hullo, ma'am," he says, then clears his throat and turns his attention studiously back to leaf-picking.

Xhatia catches Serriena's wave, heading her way. Dipping one of the cups, she hands it tfull to Serriena, nodding to Arianna. And hey, with two cups, she can get them both liquid at once. "Here." She waits for that cup before moving back to Serri.

Arisvath> Pyria slips deftly down to the bent foreleg of Artenth, the Blue lowering to a crouch and watching with gentle eyes as the she hops to the ground.

Pyria walks in from the inlet.

Mechelle grins at Lynn, "Sure...What's he like? Does he touch your hankie when you drop it in front of him?" she teases, giving Lynn some of her own medicine from earlier in the day. Dannivyr's appearance earns him a smile from the nanny, "Hi there..I'm Mechelle." she introduces herself, while picking more leaves. Her humming begins again as she moves off just a bit towards a row that hasn't been touched yet. No water for her yet...

Serriena takes a long drink from Xhatia's cup and then hands it back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Thank you Xhatia." She bends to do work again but then stands up and moves a few rows over to join some of the chattering ones. Always fun to listen to gossip. "Hello R'hyn," this said coming up around him.. intent to surprise him.

Whistle while you work - tra la...R'hyn 'eeps', if such is the right way to put it, Serriena's surprise greeting causing a physical jump - although he manages to save himself from knocking over his basket just in time. Blushing - again - the bronzerider turns around to grin somewhat nervously towards Serriena; "Er, hi. You...scared me."

Workers, residents of both weyr and hold are busy collecting the crisp numbweed leaves, breaking to talk or wipe sweat before getting back to work. A breeze does come through the trees from the inlet occassionally but mostly it's a heated breeze with little cooling opportunity.

K'ran nods toward Gaieth who is off in the landing area as he follows in. He was... erm... doing an errand or something. A look around as he attempts to sneak in, you didn't see him late did you?

Arianna blinks in surprise at that ma'am, hastily correcting Dannivyr, "Just Arianna." She requests, before smiling briefly at Xhatia, "Thanks so much." She says after sipping at the water. Face staying normally impassive laughter sparkles in her eyes as she hears Mechelle, "Did you get him to cross his legs yet?" She adds quietly to the tease.

Arisvath> Niaryth doesn't want to miss out on the fun. But the trees are too thick to walk through without snagging a wing in them. At least for her. She stands to her feet and shakes the sand from her hide. A whuffle is given around. Perhaps they should have their own adventure? The humans won't notice.. surely.

Lynniya is quite pink now, "Yes, he is nice... and I'd like to get to know him better... and I havn't tried yet Mech but rest assured I will." See she follows her own advise, "You really should try it, my mother told me about that one. The leg thing is just something I noticed." She has a lot more theories as well but she isn't going to bring them out here. So off of that topic, she doesn't like talking about that stuff around men, gets all her secrets out. "So Dannivyr which do you think is stinkier a dirty babie rump or numbweed?"

Kaoru walks in from the inlet.

Arisvath> Arisvath slides his tail from water's edge onto dark, drier sand, curiously tilting his head towards Niaryth upon her whuffle. A low - lazy - rumble marks his response, head moved to rest between forelimbs. Well - that could be interesting.

Llilian's moved down along the row, Danila having wandered off to join one of her friends who's a few rows down, the pair of girls claiming one basket and one plant for their own and setting to work with the help of one of the weyr's younger old aunties. LLilian, for her part, begins to work a bit faster, allowing the work to keep her busy. A few words here and there, but for the msot part, she's fairly quiet, all things considered.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Niaryth thinks if the humans can have fun. <> Fun in her mind and then directed towards Fencyth <>

"Yes'm, Arianna," Dannivyr echoes obediently, tugging without much success at a tough stem. After a moment he fishes out his belt knife and presses it through the stem braced against his thumb. "That works well enough," he mutters to himself, and turns a wry grin on Lynniya-- briefly, anyway. "Baby rump, for sure. Got four younger sibs, don't I-- got real tired of changing nappies when my sisters'd skip out."

Xhatia nods to both Serriena and Arianna, moving off to a girl who flags her down. Bits of conversation are caught, here and there, and a quiet chuckle is given to Lynniya's last question. The watercarrier glances around, attention not really lingerin any one place.

"Well hello there.. you'd think you'd forgotten there were others about. Are you alright R'hyn?" Serriena is not as ruffled as he is as she stands to the side and picks leaves from the stalks. "Shhh," she leans over a bit to nod her head towards the three girls centered together, "I'm trying to find out who this mystery man is." This said low but not whispered.

Arisvath> Fencyth watches the bronze and gold, rumbling again, and lifts her head at a slight tilt toward Niaryth. Hmm.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Fencyth perks at this. << Race... did we? I don't remember. But what's the point of a race? I'll be faster. >> No, she's not haughty, it's simply stated as a fact.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Arisvath considers this, mind flecked with pale silver and warm, rich browns. << A game. Yes - we *should* play a game. I believe that it would be good. >> Drawled, and yet sincere and focused, affirming in a ripple of warmth.

Arianna's lips twitch into an almost-smile, "Well you'll have to tell us if they work Lynn." She says about the hankie trick. "I don't know about legs though...that seems awfully chancy." Dannivyr gets a flicker of amusment, "Just plain Arianna, really. When you get stepped on my runners all day, formalities seem silly."

"Perhaps I did," counters R'hyn, the blush in his cheeks receeding as he ducks back to work, the majority of his attention focused there, although he continues the conversation. "I'm fine, Serriena, honestly." Head tilts to the side at her low comment, eyebrows raising in comprehension as he sneaks his own glance over to the group of girls. "Oh. I see."

Mechelle continues picking the numbweed leaves, but she does keep an ear open as she listens to Lynn and Arianna. She finally has to stop, however, as laughter bubbles up. "Arianna, I'm sure that she'll do it soon..." she finally gets out, nodding and waving an arm towards Lynn, as she confirms it. "I can see her sitting in the caverns, or somewhere, asking every man who comes in, 'Will you cross your legs, please?' I wonder how many of them will do it..." she says, two tears rolling down her eyes because of her laughter. She finally waves, trying to get Xhatia's attention. She needs a drink, now.

Lynniya smiles are Arianna, "I /know/ that one works my mother told me and I've tried it several times." She then hears and sees Mech laughing. Scrunching her nose, "I'm more selective then that.. maybe only third male who walked in the door." A quirked grin following that, "You two just don't realize how brilliant it is because you've never tried it." She hears Dan's words as well, "See Mech even he agrees with me... numbweed isn't half as bad as nursery stench." Trying to change the topic yet again, poor picked on Lynn.

Dannivyr, for his part, is trying rather desperately to ignore the 'mystery man' conversation, because it sounds downright embarrassing. He keeps ducking away from the girls to inspect numbweed with deliberate interest. Not listening, you see--though he responds astonishingly well when something's directed at /him/. "Arianna," he repeats carefully. "Yes'm-- err, sure. You work with runners?" he adds, daring a curious glance at the older girl in between clipping leaves into his basket.

Xhatia makes her way over to Mechelle, dipping her some water. "Men crossing their legs?" she wonders aloud, obviously having joined this group too late. Her attention flickers around the field, focusing on folks like Llilian, Serriena and R'hyn, and the like.

Time passes slowly it seems when working out in the open, and yet the sun travels across the sky becoming mid morning to noon with time. Workers fill and pick baskets taking them to the riders who tote them between to both weyr and hold for the next stage which will be boiling the numbweed.

Arianna just has to laugh, a soft, whispery chuckle escaping her lips at Mechelles scenario. "That could actually be rather fun to try." She remarks once the quiet laughter has died. "And /if/" she says, stressing the word, "they actually did it, we could see if it worked." Right. And it's all in the name of...science. Kind of. It's proving a theory anyway. Little sympathy is given to Lynn...after all, she was poor picked on Ari earlier. A nod goes to Dannivyr, "Yes, I'm a stablehand at the Weyr. What sort of thing do you do?"

Mechelle nearly wipes her face with her redwort'ed, numbweed'ed hands, but stops herself just in time, instead taking up her towel carefully and wiping away the tears caused by her laughter. "I think I'll just stay away from that sort of thing." she tells Lynn. "I don't have time for men, anyway. The children keep me busy enough, without having to deal with them." Uh-huh, sure! She takes the water from Xhatia, gratefully, sipping before replying to her, "Thanks Xhatia...Oh, yes...ask Lynn, here, about how she can tell if a man likes you or not." she says, trying to be serious, but not being able to in the end, a grin flowing across her face. "ANd as for numbweed..just wait until they start cooking it" she says knowingly. "It's a smell that'll never leave you, that's for sure. You'll hear the word, and you'll smell it, whether it's near or not."

Llilian finishes off a second basket, handing it off to the person collecting them. A soft word to excuse herself, as she works her way down along the row, moving back towards the beach, hands rubbing at the fluid from the leaves which have collected on her hands despite her best efforts, a pause, as she reaches the edge of the dune, before she starts back down and away.

Llilian walks towards the sandy inlet.

Lynniya sighs at them both, disgruntled at how funny they find her theories, "Well see if I tell you two any more of the secrets of romance." Humph. Yeah, thats right. What she has to explain it again? A look up to Xhatia, might as well nip it in the butt before and just spurt it out. "I have this theory that when a man that you are interested in initially crosses his legs the way his foot points tells if he likes you." Don't ask about the hankie one. Please. As for numbweed, "Well I suppose I'll see that later... Then I'll be my own judge of tha one."

"Whatever," Dannivyr says with a shrug, flicking a shred of 'weed leaf off his beltknife blade. "Fix things, mostly. Like, if there's a crack in the wall, or something needs painting or sanding or... whatever. Stuff like that. Pick numbweed," he adds wryly, stripping another leaf into his half-filled basket. "Oh, yeah." He glances at Mechelle, grimacing. "Boiling /is/ a bit different smell." Lynniya gets another bemused glance. "Points--" He hesitates and peers down at his own feet consideringly.

Arianna twinkles over at Lynn, eyebrows jumping in surprise, "You have -more-?" Oh dear. Where do they all come from? Hearing Mechelle her nose crinkles, "Oh dear...the boiling...have they started yet?" she asks, sniffing carefully at the air to see if she can tell.

Xhatia looks over at Lynniya, and raises a brow. "His foot? Huh. Can't say that I ever pay much attention to guy's feet in the first place." Numbweed cooking just earns a wrinkle in her nose. "S'why I'm here. Hoping I can hop out of the Weyr for a good portion of the boiling," she admits to no one in particular, since she's still glancing around the field. Only briefly does she skirt back to the beach, returning a few moments later.

Serriena picks off more leaves and then says, "I know girl gossip isn't that interesting for a guy." This muttered to R'hyn. "But how else am I going to keep up on what's going on between the weyr and hold?" She pauses, "Also it might give me information on what's going on at the hold. With all the thefts that happened there lately."

Dragon> All dragons sense that Niaryth supposes you're right Fencyth. << I know you'd win. But what about a race with you and Artenth?>> That might be fun.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Niaryth scratches that icly..artenth isn't here anymore

R'hyn waves a hand loosely, still busy picking. "It's plenty interesting," he assures, grinning wryly. "If somewhat peculiar to my ears." His head nods easily; with his body hunched over work, his face facing away, he's more comfortable - almost sociable. "Ah, very useful, then," he comments, head nodding once more. "Wise."

Serriena picks more and more and then finally sits back and wipes sweat from her head. "Alright," she eyes her full basket, the leaves having appeared there with a pluck of her hands. "I need a break.. and I also need some food." As if in agreement her stomach rumbles. "Whose up for a break?" This asked of those nearest her.

To be absolutely frank, Kaoru got coerced into this. Never having been one for charitable behaviour, he's got a decidedly irritable expression on his face, verging on pure annoyance. A slight wrinkle of the nose, as he rolls sleeves backwards, and starts on the nearest bush, basket already in place. Pick-place-pick-place: automatic movements that brings naught but a blankness to his face as he works, a little oblivious to the world at present.

R'hyn hesitates, his half-full basket given a thoughtful glance, but nods. "I am." Another handful of leaves is added to the basket, as if their arrival will make the difference between half-full and half-empty. As if on cue, his stomach rumbles, and he turns pink again. "Definitely time for some food."

Lynniya stands at Serriena's words, streaching almost instantly as she stands... "Yes I have /more/ and you will never here them. Look at how many men are here, that heard them, now it will never work on them." A slight blush as she looks down to Dan, "Not that I would ever /want/ to use them on you." A sigh, "I think I need some food and water..."

Mechelle gives over another full basket to the woman who comes towards her with an empty one, "Ah, one less we'll have to pick." she says cheerfully, smiling her thanks to the woman. She just grins at the comments between Lynn and Arianna. She'll stay out of any more of /that/ conversation. "Ah, yes..they do most of the boiling back at the weyr, then, don't they?" she asks Xhatia. "And believe me, you'll be able to tell when they start cooking it, Arianna." she says, wrinkling up her nose at the thought. She starts picking leaves again, but then, stands up straight, cracking her back and shoulders loudly as she stretches, "Ohh...food?" she asks, looking at Serriena, "That sounds good to /me/!" she decides.

Close enough to overhear's presumably close enough, so Dannivyr glances toward Serriena and nods in relief, rolling shoulders and leaning back until his spine pops softly. "Umph. Food! Lunch'd be awful good." He glances peculiarly at Lynniya, somewhere between-- amusement, and possibly a kind of sheepish disappointment that he tries to cover up. "Uh-- huh? Use what?"

Xhatia heads for an older rider, kneeling next to him with water to offer, though she glances up at Serriena. Break? Maybe. She stands once more, heading in the direction of Dannivyr and Lynniya: that group. "Won't be a doubt when they start boiling it," she agrees with Mechelle's words.

Arianna glances at Lynn and then around the field, "Oh surely not /all/ of them heard! The ones all the way over there couldn't have. So you can use your...your...whatever you want to call thems on them." How comforting. She nods at Mech, "Trust me I know...I've been around it before." She says, crinkling her face in a look of disgust.

"It is nasty smelling but necessary because it keeps us from feeling pain when we're hurting," Serriena says practically. Then a grin. "yes I think we've worked long enough this morning. Time for a bit of lunch and then we'll get back to work after this." She stands to her feet and stretches then picks up her basket. "Xhatia thank you for delivering water to everyone," she smiles at the greenrider, "however after lunch it might be good to let someone else do so for a break and help gather the numbweed."

Dragon> All dragons sense that Fencyth seems tickled by the thought. << Perhaps you and Arisvath could race, Niaryth? >> she suggests.

R'hyn lifts his basket, moving to add its contents to the rest of the numbweed already collected. Once again, his shoulder is given a long rub, a wince as he hits upon a tense place, walking very slowly back towards the beach. Stiffling a yawn, he mutters, "A nap might be nice, too."

Mechelle stares at her hands in disbelief, shaking her head, "What a mess..." she says, "I need to wash my hands /really/ good." she decides, "Before I do /anything/ else." she nods her agreement to Serriena, "I guess that would do it." she adds, before she starts walking towards the sandy spot where she can cleanse her hands.

Mechelle walks towards the sandy inlet.

Lynniya adds her basket to the pile as well she didn't get quite as much as everyone else but at least she didn't hurt the plants to much. "What are we going to eat?" She sees fruit off in the distance, maybe that. She sort of walks off to the side now, a mockery at some of her well held beliefs, poor Lynn. She then follows after Mech, in full agreement when she looks at her hands, and then instantly tries to get some dirt out form under her finger nails. Eww.

Xhatia mocks a pout at Serriena's words, letting her shoulders fall. "Do I -have- to?" she whines, though winks, already heading back to inlet. She glances at R'hyn, and what passes as sympathy crosses her face as he rubs his shoulder.

Lynniya walks towards the sandy inlet.

You walk towards the sandy inlet.

Dannivyr walks in from the numbweed field.

Arianna walks in from the numbweed field.

Mechelle rushes right over to the water's edge, kneeling down to stick her hands and forearms into the water. Thoughtful people have provided soapsand, as well, and she begins scrubbing, trying to get her ands clean. Cleanliness is one word this head nanny believes in.

Dannivyr tries to blot off more of the redwort absently, then catches himself and heads for the water, flicking ruefully at his clothes. "Who brought the food?" he wonders, padding up to fall in alongside Lynniya. "Didn't see if we did."

R'hyn gives Arisvath a long, slow glance as he steps past the bronze, washing his hands carefully in the salty water - before hesitating. "Is there any, er, fresh water to wash in? If we're going to eat?" He rises to his feet and steps back just in time to avoid getting his feet wet, continuing back up the shore thoughtfully.

Xhatia sets her bucket down near the food, glancing at the others at R'hyn's words. "Well... looks like there's plenty of water still. I'm sure you could use what's left in this one as a wash basin?" She's not in charge, but it sounds good to her.

Serriena walks in from the numbweed field.

R'hyn manages a broad smile, Xhatia's suggestion accepted with a nod. "Thank you - I appreciate it." If it's wrong, well, too bad. Hands are thus washed in fresh water, then wiped upon his breeches to dry them, although the southern sun makes short work of the damp in addition.

Lynniya goes to wash off her hands and then goes about doing what everyone else is for a while, talking of her love theories and basicly daydreaming.

Mechelle gets her hands relatively clean. She shakes her head and sighs at the redness still on her hands, however. "I can imagine the questions the children will ask..." she says with a small grin. "Oh, fresh water..." she hadn't thought about that, really. She moves towards Xhatia and the fresh water they had been drinking, though she lets R'hyn take his turn first, of course, then she washes the salt from her hands, drying them before heading over to stand looking at the food. "Now...well, at least they brought some healthy things..." she comments, as she tries to decide what to eat.

Arianna heads straight for where the land meets the water, dipping her hands in and rubbing them carefully, removing the residue of everything they're coated with, including dirt. The salt doesn't seem to bother her much and she doesn't go to get it rinsed off, instead just drifting towards the food.

Serriena got tripped up by some children, some she ws happily tripped by and played with for a while. Now toting a child and a basket within her arms she comes from the fields to join those who have started to eat and drink. "Hello hello," she greets again with a grin on her face.

R'hyn, still wiping, although for no real reason, helps himself to a slice of bread and some cheese, sitting down upon the sand in the sun with a sigh of relief - he looks tired. "Food tastes ten times better when you've worked for it," he notes, thoughtfully, stretching out his legs in front of him.

Dannivyr sluices down his arms, settling back on his heels to prod at a spot on the side of a hand--must've missed a part with redwort. Flexing that hand, he rocks back to his feet and goes wandering in to dig up something to eat. "Hallo, ma'am," he notes to Serriena's greeting, ducking away. "'Scuse me." Ahah--meatrolls, the easy stuff.

Down the beach a bit, Fencyth croons toward the harvesters. Look, they're all back. Xhatia dips her hand in the water, too, to wrinse them, even if she didn't get them really dirty. Food is picked over, nabbing several meatrolls, herself. R'hyn's words earn a chuckle, and she nods, heading his way. "I'd agree, even if you all worked harder than I," she comments with a brief duck of her head. "Mind if I sit?"

Mechelle finally picks up a meatroll, a redfruit, and a mug of redfruit juice, turning to look for a place to sit. She finally settles for a flat rock that's been dragged onto the sand for some unknown purpose. "Hello, hello..." she replies back to Serriena with a slight grin, watching the children as they seem to follow the weyrwoman towards the food. "Be sure and eat /healthy/ stuff first!" she advises the children, "Then maybe you can have something sweet." Well, it's what she'd tell her /own/ nursery children! She nods agreement to the bronzerider, "It definitely does! Though I'm thinking it's only because we're so tired and hungry that almost anything decent tastes like the best stuff." she quips, before biting into her meatroll.

Serriena moves over to grab a few things, meatrolls which are handy travel items, and a glass of water, as well as a few bread rolls, light food that won't sit hot on her stomach. "Everyone tired yet?" she jokes sitting in the sand, trying to keep grains off her food and failing miserably. What's lunch without sand in your food?

"I don't mind," allows R'hyn carefully, expressing himself with a soft, shy smile. "It's a different kind of work, from normal, too. Because it isn't as if we don't work hard." The sun's making him slightly sleepy, which is apparently relaxing him - and that leaves more earnest conversation, as, perhaps, does Arisvath's gaze upon him. "Exhausted," he admits to Serriena, quietly.

Mechelle swallows a drink of redfruit juice, and then yawns extensively. (Yes, she covers her mouth with one redstained hand, of course) "Tired...yes, and I'm sure that most of us will be a bit sore tomorrow." she says with a smile. "Much different from chasing children around, that's for sure." she says with a chuckle, "Though all the bending over should be normal for my line of work." she says, before quieting down again to eat her lunch, not to mention leave the others alone so they can eat or fall asleep, as most of them seem to be doing.

Xhatia sinks down onto the sand, crossing her legs as she does so. "Which gives some variety from our normal stuff. Fencyth's sure liking just being able to sit and soak." Agreeing croon. "How much more do we need to harvest, Serriena? Or are we just getting as much as we can?" she asks curiously before biting into a 'roll.

Serriena hungrily munches down two meatrolls without chewing hardly, swallowing big lumps of the stuff and then washing it down with water to help her. "I'm so hungry," she says before sticking more food in her mouth. Once those are eaten, she starts in on her rolls, a bit slower and finally says, "Who are you people?" This to the ones she doesnt know, eyes on Dannivyr, Lynniya and the like.

Arianna comes over, ever so behind, a couple meatrolls in hand, to sit near some of the others. A nod agrees with Mechelles words, "Sore, deffinatly. I'm usually reaching /up/ rather than down, so my backs bound to be complaining about this tomarrow." she remarks, picking bits of the 'roll.

Mechelle finishes her lunch finally, standing up for only a moment to shake the crumbs from her clothes, neatness is the key, after all! She sits right back down with a sigh and another yawn. She listens for Serriena's answer to Xhatia's question, even while turning to look at Arianna, "Well, it's the price one has to pay for helping out, I suppose.."

Dannivyr sprawls at the shoreline, out of reach of the waves but not too far from the water-washed area. The meatrolls long gone, he buffs off his fingertips of leftover grease with a few handfuls of sand, and sifts more handfuls. Here and there he picks out a rock, examines it, and drops it in a growing little heap just to one side of his knee.

R'hyn yawns as he finishes his lunch, rolling over to lie on his stomach, outstretched upon the sand. "Yawn," says he, rather than making the normal yawning sound or motion. He listens - apparently, although his eyes are closed, his head tilted downwards towards the sand.

Arianna nods faintly, "True, but it's worth it I suppose." It's that greater good sorta thing. Her eyes twinkle as she adds, "Until they start boiling it that is." Then nothing makes up for the stench. Her meatrolls are nibbled delicatly as she asks curiously, "How longs the break going to be until we go back to work?"

Dannivyr belatedly notices Serriena's attention and glances at her, looking uncomfortable. "Ma'am? Dannivyr, ma'am. Ista Hold." His knot says that, of course. "Just a Holder."

Serriena finishes eating and then nods. "Hello Dannivyr." She nods to the others as they introduce themselves. "Just a while longer. From the amount we have here I'd almost say enough but I want at least thirty more bushels full for another years worth of numbweed."

Mechelle nods her agreement to Arianna, and then turns towards Serriena, pointing towards Lynn, "I think she's asleep..." she tells the weyrwoman, "But that's Lynn...she's a nanny." she explains, "And a pretty good one, too." she says, "Though she seems to have some...ah...interesting ideas concerning romance." she says with a wink at Arianna. She knows what 'chelle means.

"That's a lotta numbweed," Dannivyr says, dropping his eyes back to his little heap of stones, fingers delved below the sift-soft top layer of sand in search of more as yet un-found. "Does it have to be chilled?" As long as he's not actually looking at them he doesn't seem to mind chatting with the older female types, at least. "Haven't used the stuff much, m'self," he explains. "Sometimes for pulled muscles 'n such."

Arianna covers a smile with her hand as she nods, "But you can't say they're not...creative." She pitches in. Dannivyrs question gets a shrug from the stablehand, "Don't know much about it 'cept you pick it, boil it creating the worst smell you'll ever encounter, and then it makes pain go away." She never paid much attention in infirmary duty.

Mechelle laughs at Arianna, "Creative...yes, that's one way to put it." she decides, trying to make her voice a bit more quiet as more and more of the crew seem to fall asleep. "I don't think so, Dannivyr.." she replies to his question, "At least, not that /I/ know of. But that's not much, I'm afraid." she says with a grin. "I know children, and that's about it." But she's proud of that!

Dannivyr examines a sand-caked rock, idly brushing grains off its top and out of some of the fissures. "Yeah, it's pretty awful," he says absently. "Useful, though. You use numbweed on runners?" he adds, daring a brief look up and down again to his rock. After a moment he shrugs and spins it out toward the water in a long, low arc that plops without a skip.

Arianna shrugs, "I don't do much with healing the runners, but we use it on ourselves." She covers a yawn, and streaches, "I'm going to see if I can't take a real quick nap. See you all later." she says, crawling off to her own little corner to conk out.

Mechelle gets up from her rock, and starts to say something to Dannivyr, but then she looks up as a dragon bursts in from between. She watches as it lands, and is surprised when the bluerider comes towards her, "Mechelle, right? You're needed back at the nursery." he tells her. "Well, it looks like that's it for me." she says, rolling her eyes, "You'll have to go and finish this without me." she says, though she doesn't look /too/ sad at the thought. "Probably some sort of minor crisis..." Or at least she /hopes/ it's minor! She gives one last wave, and then heads off towards the dragon.

Dannivyr nods after the Head Nanny-- one of the few people still on break that he's actually acquainted with. Although, to be fair... one of the few left, period. "I guess we ought to get back to picking," he observes reluctantly, gathering up his little rock collection to distribute into various pockets as he clambers to his feet.

Linnelei has arrived.

Serriena nods to Dannivyr's suggestion and hops up from her rock. "Yes we should get back to picking. I bet we're down to needing only thirteen bushels by now."

R'hyn groans good naturedly, shifting his position, whilst wiping sand from his clothes. "Sounds like just what we need right now," he comments, "More work. I could really use a long nap - but I'm not complaining."

"Only thirteen," Dannivyr says wryly, snagging a new basket from the heap of emptied ones. "I guess that's not too much. We're not s'posed to take too much from any plant, right?"

"No because there are many who need the same plant for aches and illness," Serriena agrees. She grins at R'hyn. "Just a bit more.. I almost think bathing a dragon is harder than numbweed harvesting." She picks up a basket and trots off towards the field with a determined face.

Serriena walks towards the numbweed field.

Dannivyr huhs, a wordless sort of 'how interesting' noise, and hooks the basket over his arm before wandering after the woman, after a bit of a pause.

Dannivyr walks towards the numbweed field.

You walk towards the field of numbweed.

Dannivyr sticks around near the edges of the field, knife-clipping leaves noticeably more quickly than his early harvesting, with the end finally in sight. Now and then he stops, stoops, and comes back up tucking something else into already bulging pockets. Souvenirs, perhaps.

Serriena is plucking leaves with newly re-redworted hands. She's also quick at it, tucking them off. Most people do it with a precise softness trying to care for the plant. Serri just grabs the stalk and pulls, because by doing so you can get more, faster. She looks over at others who join in and says, "One more bushel.. all of us and we'll be done."

Dannivyr learned from Lynniya, at least to some degree, so speed or no speed he's trying to do it with the same precision. "Yes'm," he calls back distractedly, pushing one of the plants over until he can get at some of the larger leaves farther down on the stalk. "A bushel-- that a basket's worth?" he adds. "Packed down or just tossed in?"

R'hyn attempts to hide a sigh, but fails at the matter, and instead kneels to get back to work. "Remind me to have sweeps next time we go on one of these trips," is his dry comment - more sociable than ever, now that the afternoon is wearing in, and he knows these people bettter.

Serriena chuckles at R'hyn. "Mmm we'll put you on the night sweeps." She grins and then nods to Dannivyr. "Yes, a bushel is a basketful. Just pluck till they overflow and then take it to the inlet." she nods her head towards th einlet. "Then we'll go home, rest and begin the process to make the medicine."

"Thank you," retorts R'hyn with dry amusement. "I knew, however, there was a reason I didn't want to be a healer." Didn't want to be a harper, either, but that's beside the point. His basket is slow to fill, perhaps because he moves slowly, perhaps because it's just big, but he keeps working.

"Yes'm," Dannivyr says again, shoving down his basketful until it's packed a little more securely--not without a touch of reluctance, since it leaves it that much emptier and needing that much more to fill. "You're taking 'em to the Weyr, right?" he adds. "So we don't have to help boil the stuff?"

Serriena chuckles as she says, "They're going to both the weyr and hold. You'll smell some around Ista Hold for a few days," she grins at Dannivyr. "Quite stinky actually."

Dannivyr grimaces elaborately. "Darn," he sighs, tossing more leaves into his basket. "I'll hafta see if anything needs fixing /outside/ for a while. They'll prob'ly make the littles help with the boiling. I hope."

R'hyn ducks down further to keep working: the faster he works, the sooner it's finished, and that will be a relief. He glances up, watching the sun, as if it willing for it to go down, and then turns back to work. "I think this basket is emptying itself constantly," he comments, with a cheerful, if small, smile.

"I think your not filling it fast enough," Serriena corrects with a grin that is teasing for her friend. She looks at her basket which is already filling itself. "Pick them quicker," she advises. "And you'll get to your nap just as quick." ah.. that's encouraging.

Dannivyr plows his way through a patch of tall wildflowers into another blanket of numbweed, this slightly less picked-over than the rest. "Gettin' harder to find some that haven't been all cut up," he remarks, snipping off a leaf here, a handful there. "So this is just once a turn?"

R'hyn bahs, but grins, filling as fast as he can. "I am, I am!" Well, he is: the basket is, slowly, growing more full.

Serriena places the last bit of leaves into her basket. "There," she says and then looks at R'hyn's and Dannvery's basket. "Looks like you need some of mine," Serriena grins to R'hyn. "Oh let's go ahead and go home. I rather think everyone has collected enough."

Dannivyr nods rapidly, relieved, and shoves his last handful into his basket. "Think my redwort's wearing off," he adds. "Better'n wearing out some more of it. Thanks, ma'am."

R'hyn's shoulders slump in relief. "Thank you, Serriena," he notes honestly, making rather rapid tracks back towards the beach. Woohoo - freedom.

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