July 11, 2004
It seems that Fort is all anyone can talk about - except Rhyena, who just turned 4.

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You head through the narrow tunnel and into the bustling living caverns.

Jorli is in the midst of doing the after dinner rounds, helping to pick up dishes left behind, clearing up spills, putting chairs back where they belong, all that fun stuff. It's a task interupted every few minutes to stop and talk with someone passing through, or still eating. A small group of weyrbrats are at the moment earning a fairly stern lecture on the finer points of table manners and not flinging vegetables at each other.

R'hyn lazes into the caverns, picking up a seeded bread roll as he passes the serving table, and then a mug of stew, the remnants still bubbling along at the hearth. He hesitates, his food in hand, and hazards a few steps forward to a newly tidied spot, not really paying too much attention to those around him.

"Next time you'll be cleaning the caverns, by yourselves." Jorli taps the nearest of the young boys on the head to accompany this warning and after getting a round of nods that suggest she might actually have been listened to, she heads off to continue her work. "Evening, R'hyn," is her polite greeting as she passes by, ducking down a few paces away to pick up a fork that's been kicked underneath the edge of the table.

R'hyn glances up - momentarily surprised - and nearly drops his mug. He sets it hastily down upon the table, turns, and smiles. "Oh, evening, Jorli. Being kept busy, I see." His roll joins his mug, and he takes a seat.

Jorli straightens up and twirls the stray fork in her fingers. "Always." A wryly amused sort of smile accompanies that word, followed by a more serious expression and question. "How're you doing?"

"I always wonder how people manage to spread their stuff so far," murmurs R'hyn, as he breaks off a chunk of his roll, carefully corralling the crumbs in front of him. "'Who cares, someone else can pick it up'." He shakes his head, dipping the bread into his stew. "Okay, I guess. Busy. Must be for you, too -- all these people packing up and moving."

Jorli nods as she taps the fork on the table a few times. "And sometimes they just don't noticed they've dropped something." The fork is tucked into a pocket, likely to keep her from continuing to tap it on the table. "Yeah, clearing out the weyrs of stuff they didn't take with them." She shrugs slightly, "The Fort folks have it worse, though," the word trails off as if there was more to the thought but that perhaps the sentence is best ended there.

R'hyn chews on his sodden piece of bread, and nods. "I suppose there's that, too," he agrees, once he's swallowed it. "True." He lets the word hang for a moment, then wrinkles his nose. "Poor people. I remember the 'fall when we lost T'rrent, and Llilian was injured. That was... bad enough."

Evening twilight disperses and the true darkness of a winter evening settles in fully. A steady rain falls from a dark, cloud-covered sky - dismal with only mild winds to disturb the gray streaks. The winter air is cool, especially for the tropics. (57F, 14C)

Dani comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Jorli makes a warning noise over towards the boys she'd been lecturing earlier, then turns her attention back to her present conversation. "I can only imagine how bad it is and selfishly enough I'm glad it didn't happen here." She shakes her head slightly, "You know this kind of think can happen, has happened before, but you never really think it will. Or at least I do."

R'hyn dunks another piece of bread, scooping up a piece of carrot with it. "I think we're all glad," he says, with a half-smile. "It's terrible for Fort, and I'm glad Ista is helping them out, but I'd rather them than us." Nodding, as he wobbles the bread into his mouth, and finishes chewing, he adds, "Yeah, exactly. It's possible, but you don't really expect it. That kind of decimation doesn't really happen often." He's sitting at a mostly empty table, Jorli standing close by.

Dani enters Ista's Cavern. Helping herself to a bowl of stew and a mug of klah she grabs a roll from the serving tray. Spinning around she smiles. Assistant Headwoman Jorli and R'hyn, rider of Arisvath in E'van's Wing. Just the ones who can fill her in with news of Fort! Balancing her late night dinner she heads over to them.

Jorli nods slowly, "Human nature, I suppose, to rather bad things happen elsewhere. I'm impressed with how many Istan riders have volunteered to go help out, given the past history. That at least shows the better side of human nature, being able to put aside disagreements for the better good and all." Her attention is once again caught by the boys being boys at a nearby table, "Excuse me a second?" And she steps over to snag a bit of carrot that was just about to be tossed at a tablemate. One boy is handed the rag that was tucked into her apron and the others, along with their dishes, are directed towards the kitchen. "Brats." She mutters, though not unkindly, as she returns to R'hyn, nodding at Dani as she comes in their direction.

R'hyn, expression slightly guilty, admits, "I wish fewer were going, though - I mean, I hate the idea of my friends being elsewhere. Why can't other weyrs send their riders, too, so we can send fewer?" Moodily, he stirs his stew with his spoon, watching - admittedly, with a brief smile - as Jorli deals with the children. "Well managed." Catching sight of Jorli's nod towards Dani results in R'hyn turning his own head and smiling at the bluerider. "Er, evening."

Dani carefully sets her dinner down. "Am I interrupting?" A wink at Jorli, "The natives (boys) are restless tonight?" A nod and smile to R'hyn. "How'r you doing? Any news of Fort?" Taking a seat and getting comfortable all at the same time.

"You'd think they'd send people," Jorli agrees, "But then I still don't have a clue as to how Weyr politics work." R'hyn's compliment earns a smile, "Thanks, I think they were just showing off." This second half is also directed towards Dani, "They always are. Truthfully, I'm more worried when they're not acting up, that usually means they're plotting bigger trouble, or something's wrong."

"Sending people means more work - wings need to be reorganised, and so on." R'hyn's nose wrinkles, as he explains. "It's a pain. It changes, every day, and who knows how long it'll take before we're settled again. It'll make thread more difficult, too." He laughs, in his usual, restrained way, agreeing, "Kids are good at that, I know." Swallowing another mouthful of stew, he bobs his head at Dani. "Oh, fine, fine. No more than ever. You volunteered, or are you staying home, looking after Ista?"

Breaking off a piece of her roll, Dani dips it in the stew before popping it into her mouth with an agreeing nod. With her eyes on her food, she answers, "I've volunteered to help Fort." Opinions have been split among riders and residents of Ista. Istans have had no qualms about their opinion of the Weyrleader E'van. Coming from a trading caravan life, always roaming the roads freely she's never really called any one place home.

Jorli snags one of the boys she's just sentenced to cleaning duty and hands him the fork she'd picked up as he goes about picking up stray dishes. "That makes sense, I suppose. Still, if all the Weyrs sent people..." she trails off and shakes her head, "yeah, never mind. Work avoidance and no one to force you to do it." She smiles slightly at Dani's admission that she's one of the volunteers, "Chalk up another one."

R'hyn nods quickly, his head shaking. "I don't know enough about the political climate elsewhere to really understand - I don't pay a great deal of attention, now. So there may be more to it." He groans good-naturedly at Dani's admission - "Another one! At this rate, it's going to be just me and my family left here, unless there aren't enough volunteers and E'van decides to get rid of me for once and for all."

"How many are you losing from your wing?", Dani asks. A raised eyebrow, "Rid of you?" An eye on the young lad as he heads off to gather dishes. "Are you Istan born and bred? It would be that difficult to leave?"

Serriena comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Jorli smirks slightly, "Oh I don't know, do you really think the Weyrleader would do something like that?" And in direct opposition to the words, the tone suggests she believes he would. "But, from what I hear it sounds like there are plenty of people willing to go. Then again..." A wry smile and a 'but I'm just a lowly assistant headwoman' sort of shrug.

R'hyn shakes his head, admitting, "I don't know yet. Final numbers aren't in. Enough." He picks up his mug of stew, and sips at it, attempting to grasp at a piece of meat with his teeth. "I know, I know, Jorli. Silly of me. E'van would /never/ do something like that... It's simply, Dani. I think he still thinks I might be a threat to him, if he gave me the opportunity. Yeah, I'm Istan. Impressed elsewhere, but I could never call anywhere but here home, now."

Serriena comes in from the bowl, carrying a little girl on her shoulders, a grin on her face. She has to duck slightly so that the girl's head doesn't get bumped on the entrance to the stone cavern. Rhyena has her hands fisted around Serri's neck so she doesn't fall off. The weyrwoman moves to a table as the little girl twists around and yells, "Daddy!" waving to R'hyn when she spies him from such a 'tall' height.

Dani shovels more stew in her mouth. Contemplating their tone of phrase she nods. It's been hard enough to remain neutral in the discussions of politics.

"Are you?" Jorli asks, though the question's pretty much rhetorical and becomes completely such when she looks up at the entrance of the weyrwoman and R'hyn's daughter. "And there's another reason you want to stay at Ista, I'm quite certain," her nod is pretty clearly towards the girl rather than the weyrwoman.

R'hyn is alerted to Rhyena and Serriena's presence by two things at once - Jorli's nod, and Rhyena's call. The bronzerider immediately swings around in his chair, face lighting up. "Rhyena! How high you are up there!" His nod, and the expression on his face, is more than enough to suggest that Jorli is, in fact, quite right.

Dani smiles, watching Serriena shouldering her daughter. Family ties indeed! "Yes it would be hard indeed." She can't help it. A child's laughter is infectious. She chuckles too. Whispering, "I miss Ista Hold's nursery at times." With a wink, "At least the good times."

A'raz enters from the direction of the Lower Caverns, his hair soaked - and he's got a letter in his hands, which he happens to be reading on his way in with a mild frown. The bluerider, once he's in, grabs himself a mug of klah and sits at a table not far away, giving a light "'Lo," to those present before getting settled somewhat.

"A hunnert feet!" Rhyena calls back even though that's not true. Serri carefully gets two glasses, still keeping her arms locked around Rhyena's knees as she makes her way over to R'hyn and Jorli's table. She sets the mugs down first before carefully lifting and putting Rhyena down in a seat. The little girl quickly clambers to her feet, standing on the chair. "Guess what!?" She peers at Jorli expectantly beaming. Serri in the meantime is flashing her fingers behind Rhyena's back at Jorli, mouthing the word 'four turns,' and holding up that amount of fingers. Someone's turnday obviously.

Jorli grins at R'hyn's reaction and smiles at Dani's words. "Family's good to have around." As the newcomers reach the table she tilts her head slightly to look down at Rhyena, "What?" she asks with a smile, sounding genuinely curious. Serriena's gesture is noted and earns a slight nod indicating that she's caught on to what's going on.

"You bet," murmurs R'hyn, reaching out towards his daughter. "Come to daddy, sweetheart. Tell us all about it." His food gets pushed to the side, more important business at hand, now. "Kids are great," he adds, quietly, to Dani. "One's own more than any others, though. Hey, Serri."

"Hello R'hyn," Serri steps aside in favor of giving the spotlight to her daughter who exclaims, "I'm four!" Holding up four fingers as she says it, "Today's my turnday!" She bounces out of the chair, running around the table to R'hyn to be picked up by him. "Tell him what we did today," Serri says. To which an excited Rhyena says, "Mommy took me to the really cold lake and then to a warmer lake and we had a picnic!" Her voice lilts higher on the notes of her voice, blue-green eyes sparkling.

Dani sips her klah. Nodding to bluerider A'raz and watching the antics of young Rhyena. A twinkle in her eye. Good timing. Kids can at times, do that. Bring a nice change to the conversations of the room. Whispering to the Jr. Weyrwoman, not wanting to distract the youngsters train of thought. "G'evening Serriena."

"Happy Turnday, then," A'raz reaches out verbally towards the youngster, nodding lightly. "Hope it's been a good one." The bluerider eyes the older riders for a moment before turning back to the letter in his hands. "Ki's adjusting, it seems," he says idly for a moment, before closing the letter and taking a large gulp of klah, continuing to watch the riders and the child.

Jorli grins at the little girl, "Four? Really? Well, happy turnday then, four's a big one." Her gaze flickers towards her earlier terrible trio of troublemakers, but since they look like they're doing she doesn't spare them more than that quick glance before going back to her conversation. "Sounds like you had fun, today."

R'hyn hoists Rhyena into his lap with a reasonably well practiced ease, his eyebrows raising. "That sounds like wonderful fun, Rhyena. What a big girl you are!" A'raz's mention of Kiora draws R'hyn's attention away from his daughter for a moment, his lips pursed. "Poor thing. She got no choice whatsoever - at least everyone else got some." He tickles Rhyena idly, bouncing her upon his knee.

Dani's ears pick up on the comment about Kiora. Another transfer to Fort perhaps. Shoveling more stew in her mouth she remains quiet.

"Good evening Dani," Serri smiles at the bluerider before her gaze jumps to A'raz as she asks, "She's doing okay then? Did she get settled in with Alyssa there to help her?" And while she talks to them, Rhyena's busy describing the lake, what they ate and to Jorli a beamed, "Thank you!" She has manners, she does. "Daddy what did you get me?" Not completely (with) manners it seems. Looking up at him with a coy smile, she knows for sure will get him wrapped around her little finger.

Jorli smiles and gives Rhyena a formal little nod. "You're welcome." The girl's question of her father earns a snicker from the young woman that's hidden behind a cough and hand at her mouth. When A'raz's comment registers, the laughter is more easily contained. "Oh, that's good to hear, it can't be easy for her."

"Mmmhmm. She did, Serriena." A'raz nods, pocketing the letter. Rhyena gets a light smile - must give attention to the turnday girl - before he gets up and moseys over. "So this one is... four?"

"Patience, sweetheart," chides R'hyn kindly, that smile still very much in residence upon his face. "You'll see - later, though. Daddy has to go do some work, first." It's reluctantly, that he scoops his daughter up again, and, standing, carries her back to Serriena. "Bring her 'round later?" he asks.

"If I don't she'll bust," Serri promises R'hyn. She takes Rhyena from him and deposits her in the chair again. Rhyena isn't still though because she hops back up and says, "Daddy! I want it noooo--ooowww." stretching out her syllables as if that might make it seem /that/ much more important. To A'raz Serri nods her head and says, "Four turns old and proud of it. She's getting to be a big girl. She's not my baby anymore." Serri looks slightly sad about that.

Dani tries to get things straight in her mind. Kiora's Siramyth mated with R'hyn's Arisvath. A'raz and Kiora have an ongoing relationship. Serriena's Niaryth mated with E'van's Jeirath. And R'hyn and Serriena share a lifetime commitment with Rhyena. A rider's life is complicated at times. Some of the adjustments of living at a Weyr. Looking around the room at those closest to her, she tries to read the faces. "Happy turnday Rhyena."

"She's spoilt rotten. A little brother or sister would probably do her the world of good, but I don't think either of us are in a position to supply one." He tousles Rhyena's hair affectionately, and leans down to plant a kiss on it. "Soon, darling, I promise." He straightens, bobbing his head. "Evening, Jorli, Dani, A'raz. See you soon, Serri and Rhyena."

R'hyn said that.

You head out through the narrow tunnel to emerge in the bowl.

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