Alot on Her Mind (OPEN)

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn slowly made her way to the lake, green eyes sweeping across the busy waters. Lessons and chores had been rough that day, and the girl was looking forward to being absolutely lazy during her free time. She wasn’t sure where most of her fellow candidates were, although there were only a handful of girls anyway. Of course, there had been one other she knew, Iaslia, but now she had Impressed, hadn’t she? Rael scowled slightly. Nisurath had laid and hatched her first clutch; had it already been that long?

Approaching the lake and sitting to stare at the waters (though far enough away not to be drenched by the bathing dragons) the gold candidate slipped into deep thought. She remembered Nisurath’s hatching fresh in her mind, as if it were only days ago instead of two full turns. The little dragonet was pale, and seemed weaker than a gold should when she hatched, and Realwyn thought her heart would break. But that little queen had killed a girl right after her birth, and there was no room to feel sorry for Nisurath anymore. The pale dragon was a gold in every respect, and she had proved it further with her clutch on the sands. She doubted the queen wanted pity.

There were still those in the weyr that feared for her, though, that was afraid she wouldn’t live long enough to even produce a gold daughter. Raelwyn, though some might think her naïve for it, believed in Nisurath, and knew she wouldn’t let dragonkind down. For a brief moment, the girl considered what it would have been like to Impress the pale gold, and wondered what she was thinking. With the death of…with things the way they were, she was the only queen left on Pern. How did she feel about that?

Standing, stretching to work out her stiff muscles, Raelwyn began to idly wander along the lake’s shore. Heavy thoughts lay on her, and she wanted to take her mind off them for a while. With still plenty of free time left, the candidate looked about, hoping to find a weyrling bathing their dragon, or even a rider. She loved spending time with dragons, more than anything, and hoped to find someone who would let her help.

[LyricalBlue]

((Just a note, two years didn't pass for the Weyr, only about 6 months did. The weyrlings were sent back in time to age because of the last Queen's murder.))

The tall Weyrwoman was marching around her golden Queen, inspecting the oiling she had just done. Iaslia far preferred doing such chores in private, but Nisurath insisted on being out where she could see everyone and more importantly, that they could see her. The small Queen stood patiently, pale wings outstretched in the sunlight. The redheaded Weyrwoman ducked under one wing then straightened as she came back out from under it.
"Well, there you are. Everyone may admire you now."

The Queen tilted her head to regard her rider with one whirling, faceted eye.
They will always admire me. I am there queen. But I am no longer itchy.
Iaslia chuckled and wiped her hands on leather legging that had already seen much worse treatment. Dragons and oil had never been a clean task.
"Of course that is true. And if I don't miss my mark, you've put on a little length yet." Her dam too, had gotten some growth late, so it was a pleasure to see the Nisurath was running on a similar line. Though Iaslia doubted the pale gold would ever reach the size of her dam, seeing any growth on the dragon sent a thrill of pride through the lean woman.

Engrossed as they were in each other, neither noticed Raelwyn's approach around the edge of the lake. Both hot tempered females were enjoying some time alone that they really rarely got, though neither was ever truly apart.
The next time the bronzes chase me. They will have a much harder time of it.
Iaslia chuckled and scratched along the Queen's eyeridge. Seeing her interested in mating too, was a very pleasant sign. Arizith, her granddam, had gone an easy five to six turns between flights. Perhaps the hot blooded like Gold would show more ambition than her predecessors. Faranth knew that Pern could use a randy Queen.

[Redden]

It was a beautiful day for a walk, especially since today's classes had not gone as well. While the Harper tried his very best not to be discouraged at the face again during the music session most of the children stared at him. It seems his craft was slowly becoming unneeded, but alas it won't be this way forever and they have him still! The puny old man still had a lot of life in him and much song. Many were settling down for the day after chores so the old man decided to take in the lake for a bit before heading back to the Hall.

As he approaches the clearing of the sands he begins to sing a set of old lyrics his father had written about one of the first dragon flights he witnessed.

[LyricalBlue]

At the sound of the Harper's voice, the Weyrwoman lifted her head and a slow smile crept up to her lips. Nisurath too turned at the sound and the pale Queen rumbled from deep within her chest.
The Harper is not very happy.
Iaslia lifted her hand and waved to Zace in open invitation. Not Happy? That man was permanently in a good mood. Iaslia couldn't remember a moment when she saw the man truly upset.

The pale golden Queen shifted and looked down at the sand dubiously. If she laid down it would mar her hide so with a snort she looked back at her rider.
I shall go back to my ledge. There is no sand there to mess me up.
Iaslia nodded and the queen stepped back several feet before leaping into the air with a tremendous burst. With a few quick pumps of her wings she was back at the ledge outside of her weyr and she settled down comfortably.

The lanky Weyrwoman's eyes did not leave her dragon until the Queen was settled. She had lived with the dragons her whole life, but she was sure she would never tire of the sight of them in air. Almost reluctantly, she returned her eyes to the ground and waved to the Harper.
"Zace! Zace! You'll scare the herdbeasts into a stampede." The Weyrwoman found herself grinning mischievously. The herdbeasts were used to far less vocal skills than the Harper's. But still, it never hurt to prod the man with a jibe or two.

[Redden]

The portly Harper waves merrily back to Iaslia and chuckles at her comment calling back, "We can not have that now can we! My gracious that what must be what is going on! I have come out of tune! I shall have to have myself a little drink when I get back to see if I can get back in tune!" He laughs whole heartedly, he knew Iaslia was only having fun, but it did hit home a little. He still had his voice, right?

Still smiling he waddles up to the new Weyrwoman, "I see Nisurath is doing well, and how are you my dear girl?" He looks out over the lake for a moment catching a glimpse of another girl on the beach, it looks like one of the Candidates, hopefully one that likes his singing and give her a hearty wave before turning back to Iaslia. "I hope I did not burden your ears, is that why our fair Queen ran?"