Learning the Layout

[Samari]

(OOC: Open to all!)



Tahli was on the back of her faithful blue dragon, Relanth, as they banked over the Weyrbowl. The pair landed in a grassy clump on the western side of the lake area, below the bowl. The black haired rider slid off the saddle she'd had made for her before she left. She patted Relanth on the flank before walking over to observe some flowers she'd just spotted. She took a sniff of a purple looking flower and exhaled happily.

"Mine, This place is so much more relaxed than at High Reaches. I like it here.[/color]

Tahli nodded and sat in the grass, staring up at the clouds floating by. She spotted her friendly little brown, sending her vivid images of stunted wherry-like things and horned creatures that snorted in his face. She chuckled an stroked his eyeridge once he plopped in her lap.

[Topaz]

Being the frail little manboy that he was, Logan had curled himself up in his riding jacket, knees under his chin and eyes just peeking out from behind the fur lined collar, shielding himself from the mild wind that was wafting across the lake. Odiketh, meanwhile, was feeding on a sheep, not too far away; his eyes tightly closed as was custom for the phobic dragon. The white of both dragon and prey was marred with a ruby colored coating of blood, a color combination that Logan found striking and morbidly beautiful.

Just then, a big blue swooped down and let his female rider dismount a ways off. The girl curiously began to inspect some brush, maybe flowers, Logan couldn't be sure. But, girls tended to like flowers anyway, didn't they? Suddenly noticing his embarrassing position, Logan rose from the rock he was perched on and dusted himself off quickly. Since he had gotten up, he might as well go over and introduce himself, right? Yes. That would be polite.

Walking over with his hands properly clasped behind him, Logan stopped a yard or so away from the girl, smiling warmly. "Hi. Are new here? I haven't seen you around."

[Samari]

Tahli looked up from her now sleeping brown firelizard. She had been watching his weakly transmitted dreams of High Reaches when the boy approached. She smiled at him and stroked her little brown absently.


"Yeah. I'm new here. The name is Tahli. The blue you see over there is Relanth."


At the mention of his name, Relanth raised his head, a fish speared in his teeth.

"Tahli, look! I caught a fish! Oh, you have company! Hello, newcomer! I am Relanth!"[/color]

[Topaz]

Logan nodded at the girl's reply - Tahli, as she had said. He glanced over to her blue as his name was revealed, smiling at the fish in his mouth. "Hello Relanth." He said pleasantly, surprised that the blue would address him directly so immediately. He turned back to Tahli. "I'm Logan. It's nice to meet you. The white in the pens over there is Odiketh."

Feeling the shift in Logan's emotions, Odiketh nearly opened his eyes to see who he was talking to, but smartly remembered he was covered in blood. Who is it Mine? Someone is there? His voice was slightly panicked at his inability to see for himself.

It's alright, my dear. It's a new weyrling and her blue. He's in the lake fishing. Hurry and finish so you can meet him. An affirmative passed from dragon to human as the white took a large bite from the shoulder of the bloody sheep. A few chomps later, Odi was done and vaulted into the air before finally opening his eyes. Once he got his bearings, the young dragon dove into the deepest part of the lake to wash the terrible red stuff off of his body.

Surfacing, he slithered over to Relanth with a croon of greeting. Hello there Relanth. I am Odiketh. I hope you and Yours are well..? It was half statement, half question, but quite sincere.

[Samari]

Tahli chuckled at her dragon, glad that he was enjoying himself. She stood and brushed off her skirt.


"It is nice to meet you as well, Logan. I see your dragon is well."

Darwin chirped in confusion as he was suddenly dumped into the grass, but it was warm as well, so he rolled on his back and resumed his nap.


Relanth trilled joyously at the white that had joined him.

"I am well, White Odiketh. Mine and I are enjoying the sunshine. Fish are good."[/color]

Relanth crushed the flopping fish in his teeth, swallowing it bones and all. He expanded his wings a bit, stretching them out. Tahli zipped up her own loose jacket and shook her hair free of the ponytail she kept it in for riding.

"Its a beautiful day. I was just coming here to enjoy some fresh air. Its nice to meet new people."

[Topaz]

"Yes, he's fine. I should let you know though.." His voice lowered, as if it would shield the conversation from Odi. "..don't bring anything red out, if you have it, please. Odi is deathly afraid of the color." He nodded with widened eyes, quite serious. "He'll fly right out of the water and back to the Weyr if he sees it." Logan's features relaxed somewhat as he turned back to his white and the blue in the water. "Does Relanth have a.. a defect like that? How did you two find yourselves here?" He asked with interest. It was rather necessary to get such questions out of the way as early as possible so as not to trigger any dangerous tendencies. That's at least one thing Logan had learned quickly here at Rocky.

Yes, yes. I do like fish. I usually fish for my meals, but sometimes it is hard to stay away from the pens. The mindvoice of the white revealed a subtle hint of longing and sorrow. The bodies are warm. Not like fish. But they have so much.. of that stuff, in them. He snorted frustratedly. It is hard not to look at it when I eat, but Mine makes sure I do not give in. The blue might not even know what he was talking about, but Odiketh wouldn't notice.

[Samari]

Tahli nodded. "I have nothing..red on me. Relanth can't digest firestone, and he's deathly afraid of Thread."


Relanth bugled, his eyes whirling white with fear. He flapped his wings wildly and shot into the sky.

"THREAD! THREAD! RUN! RUN!"[/color]


Tahli covered her ears as her dragon screeched with fear. Darwin flapped up from the grass, screeching as well to hisbigblueone to calm down. The little flit knew that he could get to Relanth and show him the calm blue sky, free of the stringy silver Thread. Tahli reinforced the calming though, mentally straining to calm him.

"Relanth, you'll terrify every living creature from here to between with that racket!"

[Topaz]

Logan cringed at the sound of Relanth's screeching, almost certain that it was Odi instead. Upon whirling around to face the two dragons, he was surprised to see the blue launching up out of the water in a panic. Odi, see if you can calm him down as well. He asked, watching the little brown flit rise to sooth his blue companion.

Odiketh was frightened at first. Maybe Relanth had seen something red! but after a quick scan of the surroundings he decided it must have been something else. Bobbing up and down in the waves that the other dragon's take off had created, Odi's big yellow eyes looked after Relanth. My friend! There is nothing to be afraid of! Please come down.. ours are worried for you. Nothing will hurt you! Come! the white pleaded with the fearful blue the best he could, sending him waves of calm feelings.

A tiny pop was heard over Odi's head amidst the commotion, as Uffizi betweened into view. Landing on his prettyshinyone's head, the bronze began screeching right back at Relanth. How DARE he rouse him from his nap!

Needless to say, Logan was a bit to distracted by the large blue's predicament to even notice his little mindmate's appearance.

[Samari]

Relanth hovered for a moment before returning to the ground. He was huffing loudly, his eyes turning a soft blue.


"Sorry, Mine...But the dread menace was mentioned..I forgot we were on Earth..Forgive me...You as well, Darwin and tiny bronze. Odiketh, I am fine now."[/color]


Tahli sighed heavily, relieved that her blue had finally calmed. He hadn't done something like that in a while.


"Sorry...I should have expected that to happen. Please apologize to your little bronze for me and Relanth."

[Topaz]

Odiketh's eyes swirled back to their usual bright blue and gave a mental nod to Relanth. That is good. Let us relax now. Odi said happily, swimming into the shallows and lying down. He watched, amused, as the tiny fish nearby shimmered away from his great white body.

Uffizi had since took wing, and landed in a huff on Logan's shoulder, chattering angrily in Tahli's direction. Logan frowned and maneuvered to swat him off. "Stop that you little brat. Go away! It's not their fault." Uffizi was rather indifferent to Logan's reprimand, but left none the less, perching up in a nearby tree to preen.

With a last glare at the irritating bronze, Logan looked back at Tahli, somewhat apologetically. "Yeah, he's not really one for apologies." He said with a shrug. "So um.." the boy began tentatively, not wanting to trigger another panic attack. "..he does that even if it's mentioned? That must be tough.. Odi only spooks when he actually sees red."

[Samari]

Tahli sighed and nodded once more. "Yes. Even mention of the menace sets him off. That's the main reason it was hard for us to make friends at the Weyr, cuz every other word was..well..you know."


Relanth sat on the bank for a bit, trying to catch his breath from the sudden panicked frenzy.

"You are different from the other dragons at High Reaches. They all scowled at me whenever I panicked. You and Yours are very understanding. Mine used to be teased a lot when things like that happened."[/color]

Darwin flapped his little wings, returning to Tahli and landing on her shoulder. He chirped into her ear and nuzzled her. The blue weyrling stroked him on the head with a half-smile.

[Topaz]

"Ah, yeah. I can see how that would be tough. Good luck Rocky was built then, huh? All of us would be having a hard time on Pern, otherwise." Logan replied with a nod. "Here.." He added, shifting gears and gesturing to a nearby log. "..let's have a seat, huh?" He said, sitting down himself and patting the open space next to him with a smile.

Odiketh crooned with pleasure at the compliment from his new blue friend. Mine says that all of us here are different, and that even though some might be frightening, they do not mean to be. I would not wish to meet a dragon who would hold such a grudge against another. Odi was suddenly distracted by a shimmering in the water nearby him as a tiny school of fish came to inspect him. Lowering his head to say hello, the white was splashed by the fleeing creatures, making him snort rather comically.

[Samari]

Tahli sat on the ground and brushed off her jacket. Her little brown flit settled back down on her lap. Relanth watched the fish swim around near Odiketh. Relanth spotted one that might cause him to balk.


"White Odiketh, I suggest you close your eyes. I spot a fish that may upset you."[/color]


Relanth moved to snap up the reddish looking fish in his mouth, having heard what the white feared.


Tahli turned to Logan and sighed. "Not even my father, the Weyrleader at High Reaches, could not stop the prejudice."

[Topaz]

Odiketh was often being asked to close his eyes, either by Logan or Uffizi, so he didn't hesitate when Relanth asked him to. He did however flinch back from the water, and listened intently as Relanth moved. What? What is it Relanth? Where? He pleaded, his body shifting in agitation, making the water slosh around him.

At the sudden movement of the blue and Odiketh's clear discomfort, Logan's eyes were fixed on the scene. Odi, dear, what is it? I don't see anyth- Logan stopped mid sentence as Relanth quickly snapped up a reddish fish that had been swimming nearby Odi. The weyrling sighed with a smile. "Thank you so much, Relanth. Odi, you can open your eyes now. It's gone."

From his perch on high, Uffizi watched the near catastrophic scene unfold. The blue one wasn't useless after all! With a curt trill, the surly bronze thanked the larger dragon for taking care of his shinyone.

[Samari]

Tahli smiled proudly at her blue. He'd changed so much since he'd come to Earth.

"How sweet you you, Relanth. Looking out for Odiketh."


Relanth's eyes whirled a satisfied purple color, crunching the fish happily.

"The fish is gone, Odiketh. Friends look out for one another, do they not? And you are muchly welcome little bronze."[/color]

Tahli looked up to the trilling flit and smiled a bit brighter. "What is your flit's name? My brown here is Darwin."

[Topaz]

Hearing the reassurance from both His and Relanth, Odiketh cracked open the eyelids on his right eye first. Then, seeing there was no danger, opened them both. Thank you for taking it away. It's very dangerous, you know, those things. You must be brave, Relanth. He said, slinking up out of the water and going to nuzzle the large blue on the neck.

Logan watched the interaction of the dragons with a small smile, then turned to Tahli as she mentioned her flit. "Oh right. Sorry. That's Uffizi.." He paused, turning his head towards the bronze, who was growling at a squirrel who had come too close. "He's really not pleasant to know, honestly." He said, half jokingly.

[Samari]

If Relanth could have blushed, he would have. He crooned slightly and nuzzled the White back.


"It was nothing, Odiketh. It's what friends do. I was glad you helped calm me after my panic, so I wasn't about to let you be fearful either."[/color]

Tahli watched the bronze flit growl at the squirrel, chuckling slightly. She sound caused Darwin to raise his sleepy head and trill slightly. He pressed an image of his dream into her mind. He was dreaming about chasing tiny fireflies at night on Pern. She stroked his head and turned to Logan. "So where are you from?"

[Topaz]

Odiketh rumbled happily as Relanth spoke and then slumped down on the sandy beach, spreading his wings to soak up what little sun there was. He tapped his tail on the ground absently, expecting Relanth to sit and relax as well.

"So where are you from?"

Logan's face became slightly sour at the mention of his birthplace. "Tennessee, unfortunately. Nothing like out here. Scenery or people-wise." There was a hint of a snarl on his girlish lips, but he erased it with a quiet sigh and turned his attention back to Tahli. "I'm sure Pern is a lot different from here too, huh? Which planet do you prefer?" It was still strange talking about another inhabited planet, and Logan couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

[phyrstyr]

Mine, you need to lighten up. Have a little fun! Oh, i smell people! this is the perfect opportunity for you and me to get to know everyone and make new friends. Quith had been dragging Hers around the lake for a while now. Literally. The little green had a piece of Shasta's shirt in her mouth and was bodily moving the girl by force. Now, this is not because Shasta did not like the outdoors. On the contrary, she loved nature and everything about it. But Shasta had seen that there were people about and did not want to have to meet them. "Do we have to? is it absolutely necessary for me to be social?" Yes. Quith replied bluntly.

As they drew near, Quith let go of Hers and instead butted her along with her head. Initiating conversation, Quith said, Greetings all! It is good to meet you. I am called Quith, and Mine is Shasta. She is shy, be kind to her. "Quith!" Shasta said, outraged. "Why would you do this to me! now i HAVE to talk to them." She then made a pouting face at the Green and moved forward to talk to the other people. Thats the idea. Now, give me a picture so i can talk to the other dragons.Oh, alright. With that Shasta gave Hers a picture of the other two dragons by the lake.Have fun Oh, i will. And you should enjoy yourself as well, Mineheart.

With that, Shasta went over to where the two others, a boy and a girl, were standing. She bowed politely and said, "Hello, I am Shasta, as Quith said. She can be well..." She sighed, "She is just trying to make me talk to people." She paused, thinking of how considerate yet inconsiderate Hers could be. Then she smiled, continuing, "But anyway, it is a pleasure to meet both of you."

Quith kept the image of the Blue and White Ones in her mind and went over to where they should have been. Feeling sand in her toes and smelling the moist air in the breeze coming off the lake, she felt a little apprehensive. Not being able to swim would do that to you. Stopping a little before the surf, she said, Hello! It is a lovely day, is it not?

[Samari]

Tahli thought for a moment.


"I miss Pern, but I'm way more relaxed here. Where would Tennessee be?"


Relanth plopped down next to Odiketh, staring at the fish go by.

"Pern was nice..But I must say, this place is very beautiful..No..T-T-Threaaad....To worry about. Oh. I smell a Green. Greetings Green Quith! I am Blue Relanth, and my friend here is White Odiketh."[/color]


Relanth had mentally struggled over the simple name for the menace. It took a lot of encouraging from Darwin to get him to even think it at a fellow dragon! He touched the green's flank with his tail slowly. Tahli waved to the girl named Shasta. "Hello Shasta. I am Tahli of Blue Relanth."

[Topaz]

"Oh it's uh.." Logan paused, trying to figure out the best way to explain the location of his home state to a person who had probably never seen, much less studied, a map of the US before. "..to the south east of here. It's much warmer an-" The lad was then cut off by the approach and following introduction of the green and her bonded.

"Why would you do this to me! now i HAVE to talk to them."

Well that's rather.. rude. Logan thought to himself, making sure to keep Odi ignorant of the unnecessary feeling; Uffizi, however, shouted his displeasure from his high perch. At the girl's further pouting, Logan found his own facial features becoming subtly more sour. What a brat. At least her dragon is pleasant. Looking to improve his dampened opinion of the pair, Logan focused on the green, surprised to see that it was eyeless. An interesting appearance indeed.

Odi dear, keep in mind her blindness. I'm sure she wouldn't like to be snuck up on unawares. The weyrling said to his beast, his tone more observational than cautionary for once. I do not wish to offend her. Do not worry, Mine. The white replied plainly.

As the green approached, Odiketh sent an image of her, so she could see how far she had gotten. Though, he was impressed with how accurate her estimation was, undoubtedly since it seemed she had been blind since hatching. It is lovely, Quith. Come. Sun with us. The white crooned, encouragingly, as he fluttered his still damp wings.

Logan, meanwhile, was still a bit put off as his attention was inevitably dragged back to the greenweyrling. "Logan." He stated plainly with a nod, by way of introduction after Tahli had gone. He was constantly unnerved by some of the riders and weyrlings need to announce their titles so formally. He bristled at the sound of colors being unnecessarily stated most of all. They could all see, couldn't they? Ridiculous, sometimes, these Pernese were.

[Samari]

Tahli's brown flitter hissed at Logan, knowing that he was upset at the way hisTahli introduced herself. He projected the image of Tahli cowering in fear and timidness at High Reaches, having rank pulled on her everyday. The flit winged up to sit on top of hisbigblueone's head and balanced with his wings. Tahli sighed and shook her head.


"Sorry about Darwin. He's kinda sensitive."

Relanth turned to Odiketh and picked a clump of pine needles that had fallen from the tree above on to his left headknob.

"Hold Still, White Odiketh, I am picking pine needles from your head knob. The flapping of your wings knocked it down."[/color]

[yaoiwafflez]

((Sneaking in, just for a leetle bit.))

Kye stretched his arms over his head, arhcing his back. This place was really quite lovely, for being absolutely alien to him. He chuckled softly to himself as he realized what it was; the dragons. He'd spent his whole life adoring the creatures, and now it was their presence that was bothering him.

Well, that was to be expected. He'd never actually been to any ofthe Weyrs back on Pern, so maybe it just took some getting used to? A very faint thread of thought touched his mind; Kyesk was scolding him for being silly. The wordless tingle of disapproval made the redhead laugh, and quietly send back that no, he was just not used to seeing the dragon, but he was quite pleased with the bronze wher currently napping.

Kyesk replied with another wordless emotion; this time mingled satisfaction and smugness, then he went back to sleep. Kye rolled his eyes and kept walking- currently, he was just exploring. And it was nice out, so he thought Scout might appreciate a little adventure.

The green lizard suddenly invaded Kye's thoughts, sending frantic queries and curious thoughts his way. Kye tried to find the little green in the sky above, but she was apparently ahead instead. He jogged over to where she was just as she spiraled down to chatter excitedly at the loud brown flitter, and squeak at the bronze flit nearby. She dropped into the sand, scampering over and boldly inspecting each of the humans she saw, sniffing their clothes and peering inquisitively at each one by marching up their bodies to inspect their faces before galloping back across the small distance to leap into Kye's arms.

"Woah, little she-devil. Calm down a bit. You're givin' me a headache." He said, stroking the flit's head with one finger. He looked up and grinned at the three weyrlings on the shore, and waved without any sense of restraint.
"Ooh! Hello, weyrlings. Ignore the bubblehead here, she's just excited. We're rarely around dragons, and rarely in the daylight."

He ambled over to where they were congregated, figuring he may as well make conversation while he had the chance. He had to admit, though, he was distracted for a moment by the dragons; the opal shades of the white, and the jewel-like shine of the blue and the eyeless green- they were so...elegant. He shook his head, and tried to pretend like he hadn't been staring like an excited child for the past few seconds.
"Hi there, anyway. Name's Kye, Scout's the nosy one. Sorry if she disturbed you."

[Wolfy]

Snowfire woke up quite suddenly after his full meal earlier that day. Or was it yesterday? He shook himself quickly then sat up, flapping his tiny wings slowly, his bright eyes curious and seraching, somehow full of mischeif and drama. He cocked his head as he felt a searching thought from Lyrah.

He shook himself again, stretching, and ignoring the tendril of thought directed at him. He looked around instead.

After a moment, he let out an excited trill and launched himself at a white dragon he had spotted. He loved to be nearer to his much larger cousins, especially the white ones. He paid little attention to the blue of course, as well as the Riders. His eyes whirled different colors, blue, green, purple, yellow.

"Snowfire!"

The sharp exclamation brought the tiny white flit up in a dramatic swoop, squacking in indignation and annoyance.

Lyrah was hurrying toward him, leading the large dragon that he adored so much. The brown shuffled slowly after his annoyed Rider.

---

Be calm, dearest. He caused no harm to any of them.

But he could have! Lyrah replyed angrily. She knew none of the others, whether they were of Pern or of Earth, nor any of the dragon's own disabilities.

She glared at he tiny white flit, whom, after a moment, slowly flapped over to her and landed on her shoulder, hiding his head in her long hair and trilling pitifully. After a moment, she grinned and let out a tiny giggle at his dramatic beg for forgiveness. She turned toward the others whom were there and shrugged. "I'm sorry. Snowfire is a little much to handle at times. I've been looking for him for what seems like forever!"

Kyrinth rumbled with what could only be a laugh. He swung his head toward where he knew his Imprinted was. A good a time as any to make good friends.

Only too true, she replyed pointedly, sending a picture of the blue and white dragon there as well.

Kyrinth stiffenned, then hung his head sheepishly. Of course, Minelove.

[Topaz]

Logan barely registered Darwin's hiss, giving him an absent glance before the brown flew off to land on Relanth. Logan listened to Tahli's apology and shrugged. "It's fine. He's a sweet little lamb compared to Uffizi." The boy smirked slightly as he heard a smug burble from the branches above. The bronze certainly wasn't abashed by his behavior.

Just then a little green flit popped out of the treeline and began inspecting Logan and everyone else present. Past run-ins with little greens put the whiteweyrling slightly on edge, but fortunately the green wasn't frantic with her search, so Logan didn't feel the need to swat her off as she climbed up his body. Soon enough she scampered back to her owner, who had just emerged from the same bit of forest..

Oh crap.

The vibrant red hair of the man was the first thing Logan saw, and he immediately sent a command to Odiketh to close his eyes. Relanth had only just grabbed the foliage from Odi's head when his sharpened reflexes kicked in, and his eyes flicked shut. The white was noticeably shaken, jerking in surprise and then cowering in his place on the sand.

Feeling the pang of emotions flowing from both His and Odiketh, Uffizi shot down from the trees, screaming like a banshee, and landed on Odi's head. He flared his wings in front of hisshinyone's big dragon eyes to make a shield, still blaring reptilian swears at the innocent redhead.

"Shut it, Uffizi! He's fine, for Christ's sake!" Logan yelled back, irritably. Out of the corner of his eye, Logan then noticed the random white flit barreling towards the dragons. Fortunately, with a command from it's owner, the little thing pulled up before it slammed into Odi's head. Said white dragon and his bronze protector didn't even notice the newcomer in their fits of panic and rage.

What is it, Mine?! Please! Get it away.. I don't want it to hurt you. Odiketh whined pitifully into Logan's mind. Do not worry, my love. It can't get me.. I just can't make it leave. It would be rude. Do you understand? It's on a person. Will you be alright to just not look at it? He asked quietly, with a soft, encouraging tone. A mournful churring came from the white dragon at the thought of sitting only yards away from such a horrifying thing. No. No! I do not want to be here.. I will take Relanth and Quith..? At that thought he turned his bronze adorned head to the blue and green next to him.

Relanth, Quith. I do not want to be near it. I need to go away, to the other side of the water. Will you come with me? I can not stay.. I can not.. His voice was trembling slightly and his claws dug deep trenches in the sand below.

The stubborn little bronze finally settled for growling menacingly in the direction of the redhead, as hisshineone figured out what to do.

The redhead and the owner of the white flit had apparently already introduced themselves; a conversation Logan had unfortunately been pulled away from. Once the group was silent again he brought his hand up to massage the bridge of his nose, sighed, and looked to the newcomers, Kye in particular.

"I'm really sorry about him.." Logan said sincerely, jerking a thumb behind him at Uffizi. "He was trying to protect Odiketh from your hair.." Knowing how weird that sounded to most of the people there, the weyrling couldn't help but smile sheepishly and shrug. "Yeah, I know.." A small chuckled escaped his chest, as he could only imagine what they were thinking at this point. "..he's afraid of that color. Red. Like, deathly afraid. Sooo.. yeah." A slight pause and a smile. "Oh, and I'm Logan." He decided to add. Eloquent, as always.