Eyeing the Eggs

Azarin
At a height of nearly 5'10 this young man is hardly one of the shortest people on Pern. His cool gray eyes look out from underneath dark, straight eyebrows. A fairly straight narrow nose lies right in the middle of his face, a minute scar on one side only perceivable because it is lighter than his tanned skin. High cheekbones make his cheeks look hallow, giving him an almost gaunt appearance, which his sharp chin does nothing to amend. Wiry muscles of arm and leg, and a slim overall figure gives him an rather menacing look, though the light in his eyes is quick to turn warm. Short, dark hair has recently been cut close to his scalp, leaving his face open for view, rather than keeping it hidden behind the long strands he used to carry around.
A simple knot of three cords twisted together hangs from his left shoulder. Orange, black and white announces him to be a Candidate at Ista Weyr.
Midnight's blue is the color of the sleeveless shirt, hanging limply from Aza's shoulders. Stitched into the thin fabric on the back is a large dragon, embroidered in silver thread. His tattered black pants are cut off just above the knee, loose threads, caressing the pale skin of his thighs. Thick straps of black-dyed leather keeps well-fitting sandals in place on his long narrow feet.
Azarin is 19 Turns, 5 months, and 23 days old.
He is awake and looks alert.

Hatching Grounds (#1689DJ)
This large entryway leads to the Hatching Caverns proper. The sand here is of moderate warmth. Its intensity grows further in, a short ways ahead. Dragons tend to watch the hatchings from the ledges above while other guests gather in the galleries.
Obvious exits:
Bowl Sands Galleries Ledges

Galleries (#1816J)
The stone tiers curve around almost half of the immense hatching cavern, providing ample seating for guests to get off the burning sands and watch the spectacle of the hatching. The hatching ground spreads out below across the vast cavern. To one side is the egg mound, upon which rests the queen eggs when there happen to be any, for attentive brooding.
You may 'look on sands', or 'look on ledge', or even 'look <thing> on sands' (or ledge).
You see Scarecrow, Trin, Pip, Adrienne, Fluffle, and Freya here.
Klari is here.
Obvious exits:
Stairs Ledge

You climb to the top of the galleries and find yourself at their very highest, backmost level.

Klari
Silky blonde reaches close to the bottom of her shoulder blades, catching just the slightest breeze. It seems to suit her perfectly, flirting with her facial features. Like her icy blue eyes that sparkle as she stands tall, prob'ly about 5'10, a good bit of her height going to long, toned legs. Perfect for poking, a small and cute nose might seem to make her lips seem fuller yet go so well with one another. Her arms look of a definite strength yet still end in delicate fingers, all covered in creamy skin like the rest of her. Well-defined muscles are visible all over the young woman's rich Istan-tanned body along with eye-catching curves of the hips that sway in her walk, and a bosom worthy of making quite a few jealous.
Twisted strips of black and orange, with a strip of blue mingling into the loop to represent Klari of Ista Weyr and a bit added to show her as the Siren Wingleader.
Her black top of sisal hugs her chest, stomach, and back while its thin, orange straps are the only sleeves to it, revealing her well-defined arms that still have an over-all feminine appearance. The black top ends just touching the top of her leather pants. These, of course, are black as that of her jacket and top, fitting snug on her hips, thighs, and bottom before flaring out slightly around mid-calf and drag on the ground behind her boots.
Klari is 24 Turns and 10 days old.
She is awake and looks alert.

On the sands, It's hot. Oh, it may be nice and breezy outside, a partly cloudy, gentle afternooon and all that----but inside the hatching grounds, and especially on the sands, it's hot. Which is probably why Zureile looks sweaty and slightly irritable. Of course, it could also have something to do with the fact that she's been up all night with Suryareth while M'gael is Pern-knows-where. Whatever it is, the expression on her face as she perches on Suryareth's back-- kneeling to rub cherry-scented oil into the little cracks where the wing joins the body-- well, that expression is anything but cheerful.

Poor Zur. She's down there probably about to catch on fire and Klari's up in the back of the galleries. Not that *she* isn't working, Klari's got scrolls scattered out a good ways all around her but for now she's taking a break and watching Suryareth and Zureile before noticing Azarin and pointing out to the sands, "That's another reason I'm glad mine's a blue."

Azarin fairly stumbles up the steps, his eyes wide and staring at the Sands, staring at the eggs there, hardly even noticing the queens guarding them. "Wow," he whispers as eyes dark from one egg to another, and trying to make out those that are covered or hiding behind the dragons. So engaged is he, in the egg-watching, that he doesn't even /notice/ the heat. Or Klari making a comment.

On the sands, Zureile has actually been too caught up in her own self-pity and ill-temper to even notice Klari way up there in the back. Rub, rub, rub. "Who does he think he is.... leaving the clutch overnight.... mumble, mumble, mumble," and so on, and so forth. Actually, it's been going along the same vein for quite some time now. And frankly, she probably wouldn't even notice the muted conversation in the galleries if it weren't for Suryareth, who suddenly tenses beneath her. "What's up, honey?" She follows the gold's gaze, shading her eyes to try and get a glimpse of the lookie-lous in the back.

Which is why Klari's way up in the back of the galleries, so as not to be noticed. And if reports were due *today*, Klari wouldn't notice much or anything else either. She just wanted a quiet spot to work in and her place wasn't that. What with the twins crawling around with their non-stop racket, even Daemith wanted to leave. But she can't help but laugh once at Azarin's marvaling over the eggs before going back to her hidework.

Azarin takes another step up the stairs, still not watching where he's going, but the voice coming from the area below, freezes him in his way upward. "Zurry...?" he calls out, his eyes torn from the eggs to search out his friend. "Zurry? Is that you?!" Eggs forgotten, he runs to the edge of the Sands, stopping short of actually running /out/ there, remembering a warning from someone back in the barracks. "I was hoping to see you, but I couldn't find you yesterday.."

On the sands, Good move, Azarin. One more step, and you'd have probably been lunch. As it is, Suryareth lunges to her feet with a startleing suddenness for a dragon of such bulk, whirling around to face Azarin with a menacing rumble. And don't think it's by accident that the gold allows some of those big, shiny teeth to peek through. Zureile barely manages to avoid being catapulted onto the sands, hooking a knee around a neck ridge at the last moment. "What the...?" It takes her a moment to get her bearings. Whew. Head rush. But finally, she notices the familiar figure at the edge of the sands, and it all clicks together. "Aza!" Her voice is exultant, and she slides down Suryareth's side, wiping her hands on a towel tucked in her waistband. "Is that you? Wow! What are you doing here?" She glances up the gold, laying a hand on the smooth shoulder. "Surya, it's okay. He just wanted to say hi." Zureile tilts her head in the direction of the galleries. "We should probably talk up there."

Klari jumps up as she sees Azarin running to the Sands but once noticing Zureile's got it underwraps she slows and turns back to make her way back to her seat. And it starts. All the making sure Candidates make it to the Sands alive for the hatching. Sheesh. Should've just brought the little munchkins of hers.

Azarin stays rooted to the ground, waiting for Zureile to join him. And trying not to appear to frightened of the huge dragon looming over him. "H-h.. H-h-hello Suryareth," he whispers, having trouble controlling his voice. Looking to the goldrider, he grins crookedly motioning with a shaky hand toward the knot on his shoulder. See? Candidate knot. "They came to Fort, y'know? Three of 'em.." Nevermind that one had been from Fort Weyr and not Ista, such petty little details wasn't important, were they? "'n one of 'em asked if I wanted to come Stand. Said her dragon wanted me for a pet," he continues, still not getting all the detail right. "I didn't know it was /your/ dragon's eggs..." Once more, Aza's attention is drawn by the ovoids on the Sands. "They sure are pretty." And he's not just saying that..

On the sands, Suryareth's apparently decided that Azarin isn't worth the effort. She slumps back down on her pillows, though still facing him and keeping a distrustful eye on him. He may not be up to anything now, but what if it's a ploy? What if he's waiting for her to take a nap before he runs in and steals an egg? The gold rumbles yet again, but seems content to leave it at that.

On the sands, Zureile gapes. "You're a candidate?" Yes, Zureile. That's what he said. And that little white knot on his arm? That's what it means. "You mean, you're a candidate for Ista Weyr?" Duh. So sue her. "Wow." Yes, apparently Zureile's a little shocked. "Wow." She grabs his arm, leading him up into the galleries behind her. And now that she's up here, she can see who that shadowy figure in the back is. "Klari! Did you know anything about this?" This, of course, being the candidate she's towed up behind her.

On the sands, Zureile leaves for the galleries.

Zureile
Tall--but no longer gaunt--and with features that are probably too strong to ever meld together smoothly, the end result is that Zureile is more arresting than beautiful. Her skin is creamy and pale, with a small smattering of freckles dusting the bridge of her nose. Large gray eyes peer at the world with an unnerving intensity from beneath a thick fringe of lashes, and her hair falls in thick, chestnut waves past her shoulders. Generous lips are usually pulled back into an infectious grin, giving her normally earnest face an impish expression. Her previously slender body is slowly reemerging after the recent birth of Catrina, though she's still a far cry from the scrawny specter she used to be. In fact--- looking past the still-drooping segments and the stretch marks---she seems to have actually benefited from motherhood, the rigors of childbirth and a nursing child softening her shape to a pleasing roundness.
High on her left shoulder is a knot of black and orange, the braided gold looping indicating her status as one of Ista's Jr. Weyrwoman.
Pristine white linen hangs in folds to her knees, the fine weave cloth light and cool. The robe is well made and fits her well, draping her slender form attractively. The stitching is simple and the cut is plain, but the fine weave cloth it is made out of is undeniably quality material. Her feet are encased in plain, sturdy sandals, their thick soles providing a good protection against the heat of the sands.
Zureile is 19 Turns, 5 months, and 1 day old.
She is awake and looks alert.

Klari was the first there of the 'rider trio! Not that she had been paying attention to the conversation since she ventured back to her seat. Holding a scroll up in her hands, Klari's blue eyes go wide as she's addressed. "Me?! N.. No! I don't know what you're talking about!" Okay, so Klari's a little edgy since the clutching. But can you really blame her?

Azarin willingly lets Zureile lead him away from the Sands, though he glances multiple times over his shoulders at the eggs. At the goldrider's comment to Klari a look of utter confusion crosses his face. Someone else was /here/?! He hadn't noticed the other rider there in the shadows, but now that he sees her a smile broadens on his face. "I remember you," he says, pointing at her with no regard for rank or respect. "You were there too. When that brownrider.. What was her name... Meso.. Mespo.. Something. When she aksed me to come back here with her."

Zureile's been a little edgy since the clutching, too. Maybe all of Ista's been edgy. Maybe it's a permanent state. Wouldn't that be scary? "Mesopha? Hwyllth chose you?" And he came? Of course, Zureile's spent too many turns having etiquette drilled into her to let that one slip. The side of Zureile's mouth quirks up, but she manages to muffle any further reaction. "I can't believe you're a candidate. Wow. And for this clutch. I didn't even know that the barracks had started filling up yet!" Shows how well Zureile's kept abreast of things. Oh, and back to Klari. "I was asking if you'd known that Azarin---meaning him---had been searched."

"Mesopha." Klari nods as she presents the name to Azarin, calming her nerves a little. And the pointing with no regard or respect, it doesn't bug her. She's not really a fan of being called 'sir.' But *that*, neither Azarin or Zureile or anyone else will likely ever know. It's just a part of the job. Then Klari blinks a couple times at Zureile, thinking she might just actually be getting off scott free, "Oh. That, yeah. I was there... Me, Meso, and R'ish."

Carise appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.

"All he wanted was to be scratched on his eyeridge," Azarin explains, shrugging with an air of confidence, a glance shot at Klari. Don't let the goldrider know that the hunter nearly fainted when those three dragons crowded him in the courtyard. "He was actually kinda sweet, I think. Hwyllth is his name? I don't remember that..."

Carise slowly climbs up to the top of the galleries, crossing her arms infront of her as she glances down at the area below her, tilting her head curiously. Starting to disappear from the galleries once more, she pauses at the tale being told, moving towards the trio instead. She has to find out how much it changed, afterall.

Klari's not getting off. Zureile just doesn't want to start in on her in front of a candidate. You know, that whole 'don't dress down others in front of their inferiors' thingie. Zureile's got plans for the bluerider, never you fear. But for now, she'll have to avoid the subject. "So you /were/ there, huh? When did this happen? Why wasn't I told?" She's back to sounding alittle grumpy. "Yes, Hwyllth is Mesopha's lifemate. A compact-looking brown?"

Klari isn't going to mention a word of it, honest! It's not her business to tell, but Mesopha will probably beat anyone to it. "It happened... yesterday?" She looks over to Azarin for reassurance on this and shrugs, "I dunno, Zur.. I would've told you if I had seen you before now." If she remembered to, that is. Then, before Zureile can notice, "Carise was searched too, right after Azarin." This, of course, is brought on by Klari's noticing Carise and gestures her to come over.
Mailth arrives to carry Klari off into the mail room.

A sheepish grin at Klari's announcement of Carise's search was well, and the candidate ducks her head as she continues down the stairs. So much for going unnoticed by anyway. "Yes ma'am..." It doesn't hurt to agree, does it? A shy bob of her head to Zureile and then a more sure of her herself smile to Azarin, pale eyes slip back to Klari quickly without another comment.

Azarin nods at Klari's statement, grinning crookedly at his Good Friend Zureile, "yesterday, yes.. I didn't even have time to come see the eggs 'fore I was set to sort laundry," he mutters, winking at Carise. At least he didn't have to /carry/ it anywhere. Suddenly beginning to feel the heat of the Sands, the hunter-candie, wipes his brow, looking quizzically at the riders, "is it always so hot here...?"

Zureile sighs. "You'd think they'd put up some sort of statement, somewhere, about the candidates coming in. I'd like to get a chance to know some of the, afterall." Don't mind her. She's just grumpy today. "Well, welcome to the weyr, Carise and Azarin. I'm sure someone already went over the rules with you?" Shells, she just feels so out of it, stuck here on the sands like she is. Running a tired hand against the back of her neck, she crooks an eyebrow at Azarin. "You think it's hot here? Try the sands. Oh, and here's my advice to you guys---get thick sandals. When you stand out there, don't worry about fashion, or anything like that. The thicker the better." She crooks a foot up for them to view her own sturdy pair. "Isn't that right, Klar?"

Klari rolls up the scroll she had been working on and shoves them, neatly, into her bag and makes her way down to the others, nodding to Zureile, "That's for sure." As for hot, Klari's used to the weather at Ista. Not that she's been here for *ages* but let's not go into the life history of Klari today. Then, Klari glances toward the ledges at her blue that gives her a gentle rumble and sighs, glancing then to Zureile. And Klari thought she was gonna let it slide... Kinda.

Carise nearly giggles, before she stifles it quickly, shaking her head at Azarin, voice soft and nearly squeaky as she responds. "Perhaps you'll have to mend it, too, later.." That's when it starts getting heavy. Pale attention turning to Zurelie she nods quickly with a shy smile. "Yes ma'am... thank you, I'll remember that..." Shuffling nervously from foot to foot, she glances back at Klari before plopping quickly down into a seat. Better then just standing there.

Azarin grins at Zureile, nudging her with an elbow, "you know me, dontcha?" he quips, standing taller if at all possible. The boy is just beaming with pride that he's a candidate for his friend's dragon's clutch. Could it possible be any better than this? Turning to watch the eggs, he points one out, nodding slightly at the coloration of it. "I like that one.. It's green, y'know? I always liked green." So he's rambling again, saying things that really had no relevance what so ever. Carise is given a distraught glance. No. No mending, right? Aza'd only ruin the clothes even more than it was to begin with..

Zureile rolls her eyes. "Yes, I know you Azarin." In fact... her grin widens, and she winks at Carise. "Carise, if you come to me for the right price, I'll share some really embarrassing stories about Aza. Like the time he wandered off to head out in the woods right in the middle of a crucial stage of the wine processing, and the vat exploded?" Zureile begins to snicker. "That one's a freebie. Of course, there's always the time that---" Apparently Azarin's going to be saved from further embarrassment, and Klari's going to get a reprieve from her own lecture, because Zureile breaks off, and grimaces. "Oooh, I've got to go. I need to finish oiling Suryareth, and then I'm meeting up with the dignitaries from Nabol to escort them to the viewing galleries." It's just so handy, sometimes, having a lifemate to remind you of these things. Annoying, but handy.
On the sands, Zureile walks carefully onto the hot sands, making sure not to disturb the queen or her eggs.

Carise looks distracted.
Carise has disconnected.

Klari can't help it and lets out a sigh of relief as Zureile wanders back to the sands. And Carise leaves as well? Someone must've forgotten a chore or two. So then she crosses her arms before glancing over to Azarin, hey... He's still there. "So what duties did they stick you with?"
I don't understand that.

Azarin's jaw drops all the while his face turns red as he watches Zureile disappear. "That's not true, Zurry!" he calls after her, flopping down on a seat, crossing his arms in front of him to pout. "I have some stories 'bout her too, y'know.." A comment obviously meant for Klari since no one else was around anymore. Blinking, he frowns, grimaces and finally grins lopsidedly, "so far just the laundry... I'd rather go after the tunnelsnakes, though. I /am/ a hunter, y'know?"

Klari nods to Azarin and wrinkles her nose, "I had that duty *both* times I was searched. It's almost like they liked the way I did laundry." Of course Klari also had three duties at one point to keep her out of trouble. "Yeah..." This said after his mention of being a hunter and then a little bell seems to go off, "Hey.. You're done with your chores, right? I mean... Surely you're not the only one on laundry duty."

Blinking, Aza turns to look straight at the rider, "you were searched /twice/?!" See this is what sticks with the hunter, his expression becoming more serious. "That means.. You were... " Waving a hand toward the Sands, you can almost /see/ how he's trying to come up with a polite way to pose his next question. Alternatively, he says, "at least you Impressed the second time, right?" Beam, see him smile with pride for having found a neat way out of his blunder. "Chores...? Well, I was just taking a little break, y'know. To come see the eggs? Everyone's talking about them and all, 'n I only just had a chance to see 'em. 'N there aren't too many candidates yet.. Although, there're the weyrfolk, of course.. But they're all talking how they're gonna be off easier now they have /us/ to help." Stop. Breathe. Relax. And let the rider get a word in edge-wise.

Klari grins as she says it herself, "It means I was left standing on the sands once, yes." Klari laughs and shrugs, it happens. And look, the second time was the charm. As for chores, she frowns slightly and sighs, "Oh. Well if you're just breaking, nevermind. I was gonna ask if you wanted to get away for a while but.." Then a rumble comes from the blue on the ledges and she sighs, "Well... Looks like I don't have time anyway. But whenever you do want to, find me and I'll take you hunting, okay." And with that she's off.

Klari climbs up toward the ledge.

"Hunting.. Wow, yeah, that'd be good," Aza says, watching the rider take off, and then realizing that he himself has things to do. Even if it wasn't anything he liked. Scurrying down the stairs, he gives the queens on the sand a wide berth before darting toward the caverns.

You walk down the stairs to the entrance of the grounds.

*** Disconnected ***

Aza's History

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