Early Morning Klah (open)

[starshine]

Kess curled into her chair. The table closest to the Night Hearth was warm from the smoldering fire. The night was surprisingly cold, and Kess had been restless. She couldn't sleep.

Figuring that few would be awake at this time, she had slipped from her small room and made her way to the Weyrhall. Now she was comfortable, with her warm mug of klah. She leaned back into the chair and sipped quietly.

The early morning in was weyr was possibly her favor time. Before all the drudges were awake and the cooks had begun the breakfasts. It was almost quiet.

[LyricalBlue]

With a blanket pulled about her, Iaslia wandered down to the Hall. Maybe something hot would settle her stomach and there was always stew bubbling on the hearth. She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and looked around the nearly empty hall. It was always strange at this time of night, no people made the massive cave even more cavernous that it was.

But then, even when the whole of the Weyr were here it barely made even a fourth of the room full. Clearly the place was made to handle populations much higher than were here now. Red hair in its usual disobedient array, Iaslia turned towards the hearth and spotted Kess there. Now what was she doing up this time of night.

The lanky young woman walked up next to the chair and placed a hand on it's back. Green eyes peered worriedly down at her cousin.
"Kess? Are you alright?"

[starshine]

Kesstriel had been lost in thought. The flames of the fires reflection danced in her eyes as she stared into its light. Her mind wandered to thoughts of her father. It didn't make her sad, no, it took her to times in her life of great joy. Her mind took her to when she was a child. Running in the halls of the weyr. Time was slower then. The weyr felt larger then it is. Even now it was immense.

The silver of her eyes glowed in the light. She pulled the thick sweater around her, and ran her fingers over the lip of the cup. It was warm in her hands. In her dazed state she didn't hear her cousin approaching from behind.

"Kess? Are you alright?" Her voice caught her off guard. Silver eyes shot to the girls face, meeting her greens. A gasp escaped her lips.

"Ia, you scared me." Her lips curled to a smile. "I'm quite alright, couldn't sleep is all. Thought something warm might help? Can I get you something?"

[LyricalBlue]

A grin spread across her face as Kess startled and the taller cousin grinned broadly down at the shorter one, sitting or otherwise. Iaslia shook her head and moved towards the hearth. She picked up a bowl by the side and ladled out a portion of the stew, that was predictably bubbling in a large pot. Actually, she couldn't remember a time when the cooks didn't leave a pot out at night.

She turned back to Kess, still grinning.
"Nah, I can get things myself you know."
Her turn older cousin was notorious for mothering pretty much anything or anyone she could get her hands on. Not that Ias normally minded, it had made all the difference after her mother had died.

The lanky red head plopped down in a chair next to Kess, throwing long legs over the arm rest. She settled the bowl of soup on her stomach and sighed.
"Dreams? Or just restless?"

[starshine]

Kess watched as her waith like cousin strode to the hearth and got herself a steaming bowl of stew. She practically towered over Kess, even though Iaslia was a turn younger. "I know." She grinned at the girl.

"Dreams? or Just restless?" She sat in the chair across from Kess, who tucked her legs beneath her. She now clutched the warm much between her two hands.

After taking a sip she looked up. "Mostly restless." She grin"And what about you young lady," Her tone was teasing. "What is keeping you up?"

[LyricalBlue]

Iaslia shot another bright, almost challenging grin at Kess. That girl would never change, she would probably mother a rock if she got the chance. Iaslia tilted her head back to stare up at the cavernous roof of the hall above them. She was fairly sure you could fit several full grown dragons in here with ease.

After a moment she looked back down and proceeded to spoon some stew into her mouth, she then tilted her head to look at Kess.
"Stomach was bothering me. That and a certain brownrider was visiting the barracks again."

She shook her head, some candidates were a lot freer with their... favors than others. Not that Ias was at all opposed to such things, but if she got pregnant, she would not be allowed to stand at a Hatching. And Impressing... had a great deal more potential than having a brat.

And the worst part, is that there were only a handful of girls selected as Candidates and a great deal more young men. It was almost more than she could deal with, almost.
"I can't do it, I just can't. Aliath should rise soon and we'll have another clutch. I don't know how some girls could risk not standing."

[starshine]

Kess's eyes focused as the girl spoke. Her fingers danced slowly around the mug in her hands. "I can't figure it out myself. Granted, I want to stand, I hope to impress, but i will be happy any way my life decides to take me." She gave a warm smile to her cousin.

Another sip of klah warmed her belly. It was true, she too couldn't figure out why some girls would risk that. Why not wait, age out, then have all the fun they wanted. "He must have come in after I left. I didn't pass him." She smiled again.

[LyricalBlue]

Ias shook her head, red curls flying about. Dragons were... well, why wouldn't you want anything else. But they were all Weyrbred, maybe those crazy holder's she'd heard of would want something else. She really couldn't imagine it though.
"I can't wait... Just think... maybe she will lay another Gold. Not that its likely... Arizith only layed one."

She sighed and spooned some more soup into her mouth. It really wasn't likely... If Aliath layed one it would be close to a miracle. Iaslia sighed, ah what would it be like to ride Gold, or any color that matter. Her mind switched in a rapid way, characteristic more of her father than herself.

"Restless huh? Any reason?" Iaslia lifted her eyes to look back at her cousin and sighed once more. The soup was a good idea, it was settling her upset stomach already.

[starshine]

"A gold is a lot of responsibility." She grinned. Kesstriel really didn't care what color impressed her. Gold or green she would be happy. "Then again, any dragon is. I think you've got what it takes to become a leader in the weyr." If anyone did, it was her cousin. Spitfire though she was, she had a good head on her shoulders.

"I guess I don't really have a reason for being restless." She let out a small chuckle. In reality, she didn't have a reason. It had just been one of those nights, everything seemed to wake her. She took another sip of her klah. It was starting to get cold. She rose to her feet, "Do you want more?" She made her way to the hearth and refilled her mug.

[LyricalBlue]

Shaking her head quickly.
"No, thank you." Iaslia looked down at her now half empty bowl of soup. These things always did tend to disappear too fast. She spooned another bit into her mouth and sighed. To ride gold, dreams within dreams really. Being a leader... well that was a whole other matter.
"I don't know. I suppose that is up to the dragons."

Iaslia spooned another bit of stew out of the bowl. Restless did seem to be catching, it was almost like a storm was brewing, everyone seemed to be on edge. She set the now empty bowl down beside her chair. Her mind swung back to the dragons, there were so few now. If Aliath did not lay a gold... well she had plenty of time. Arizith did not lay one until very late in her life, and then that was her last clutch.

Iaslia looked back over at Kess and studied her cousin.
"You really think so?" Having Kess' good opinion meant a lot more to the young red head than she ever would admit. Even if she didn't Impress, at least Kess would always back her up.

[starshine]

"You really think so?" Kess turned back to her cousin, then climbed back into her chair. "Yeah, if you work hard enough." She grinned. She doubted her own ability to lead, but her cousin definitely had it.

She took a sip of the now warm liquid, then placed the mug on the table beside her. "I wonder how soon the next clutch will be. I can't hardly wait." She ran her fingers through her dark mahogany hair, then hugged herself into her sweater.

"Hows the stomach feeling?"

[LyricalBlue]

She pulled the blanket back around her body. Why was it so darn cold tonight, shouldn't it be starting the dry season? But then, being in a mountain did kind of lower the temperatures at night. Likely it was quite a bit warmer outside. Ias's mind switched paths back again with Kess's question.
"Hm, oh. Much better, I think its just nerves. Everyone seems on edge."

Iaslia's mind jumped to Kes's previous answer. Work hard enough, well she'd never had a problem with that. If there was one thing she had inherited from E'dian , it was work ethic. And maybe that odd sort of social awkwardness, but Iaslia tended to cover that up with attitude. Not that she thought there was anything wrong with attitude, it got work done.

"I don't know, but the clutch does seem to be most of what everyone is worrying about. Gaelle must be a mess with Aliath this close to rising for the first time."
Since Arizith had died, the whole Weyr had been a mess, it seemed like a miracle when Aliath hatched whole and healthy.

Ias couldn't imagine what sort of pressure that must be, as much as she wanted to ride. That was a daunting task indeed, but then being bonded with a dragon would make it all worth while. Or so she heard from every rider, constantly.
"Even if there is no gold, hopefully she will lay more eggs than Arizith did. We need em."

[starshine]

"Well with Arizith gone, and Aliath just a weyrling, I think people are a little nervous." She paused a moment. She didn't only think that, she knew it. People all over the Weyr were worried, uncertain of where the dry season was going to take them. "But I think we need to just wait it out. Take it one step at a time. We wont really know until Aliath rises, which i think should be soon." She grinned at her cousin.

It was exciting. Aliath about to rise, her clutch. It was only a matter of time before she wore that white robe again, and stood by the eggs, waiting for them to join the world. It wouldn't be long now.

She crossed her legs on the chair and took her mug back into her hands. Another sip of the warm klah made her belly settle. It left a pleasant bitter after taste on her lips. "I'm not looking forward to lessons today." It wasn't because she didn't like lessons, it was more because she would rather spend sometime outside, or doing something else for that matter.

[LyricalBlue]

Green eyes rolled dramatically at the thought of the exceedingly boring lessons. They all had to deal with them... but why, oh why couldn't they be more entertaining. And it didn't help matters that Ias tended to finish her work far faster than most of the group.
"Oh shells, A'rik will flay us if we fall asleep in lessons."

Crossing her legs, Iaslia groaned. Oh this was not going to be good. It wasn't that the brownrider was mean, but he was strict. And sleep or no, he expected attention.
"Remind me to sit in the back and not snore."

The red head giggled in mischievous glee. She gave everyone a hard time, well everyone accepting Kess. The Candidate Master was a favorite target, but then anyone with authority was a favorite target of Iaslia's. It wasn't that she was a rebel, it was more just testing what she could get away with.

[starshine]

"Only if I'm not sleeping right next to you." She grinned then took another sip, finishing the cup. She placed it on the table next to her. She hugged her arms around her small frame, not because she was cold, but more to stretch out her back.

"A'rik doesn't scare me, he's a big softy really." Her silvery eyes flashed at her cousin, who was giggling. "Oh no, what are you planning?" Her voice was amused.