Ista Weyr Log: Aerianth and Volath's Clutching - August 2005

Aerianth and Volath’s Clutching - August 23, 2005

The hatching cavern, as always, is warm. But tonight it is also damp - in fact, it seems to be growing outright sticky. Slowly, the most distant wall of the cavern seems to be more and more mist-cloaked, until the details of the rock wall are blurred by the water hanging in the air.

V'lano walks onto the sands from the entrance to the Hatching Grounds.

Griere walks down from the galleries.

In the galleries, Crispin nearly trips as the youth races up the stairs, dodging people with light feet and murmuring barely intelligible "'scuse me, pardon me, ow, that's my foot!" until he spots his mother. He flops onto the stone seat beside Mohria and gives her a bright grin, "Hi Mom! I made it, I said I would, didn't I say I would? Cedar told me." He pants for a moment to regain his breath and smiles as the brown firelizard Cedar settles to the young boy's shoulder, still nearly dwarfing the lad's head. "Food?" he asks, perking up, "Someone said food, I think. And butt." He giggles.

Aerianth moves around the sands with a halting combination of contemplative slowness and decisive industry. She gives one expanse of sand a good long inspection, turning on the spot to consider the view and the space, and then moving on to try another one. At last she seems ready, the perfect location chosen to begin.

V'lano arrives at a trot, but his gait skids to a sandy stop only a few steps onto the sand. "Ugh," he cheerfully remarks, taking the pause as opportunity to wipe dampness from his tanned brow. "Great weather for it, Aerianth," he murmurs, but has a broad grin for the queen just the same. Slowly, he ventures out toward his own counterpart, whose bronzen nose prods experimentally at this or that patch of sand.

In the galleries, Ellery just happens to be jogging up the stairs to the galleries a few steps ahead of a sulking Reachian visitor. "Ista's duties," she tosses over her shoulder, "For food, you might want to check back in the kitchens." Over the other shoulder comes an inquisitive look for the Istan Headwoman behind her. "Right?"

In the galleries, Cynara climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, "I said Butt," Elaia responds cheerfully. "Butt butt butt. I know ruder words, but I'm way too ladylike to use them," liar. "Oh hey," to Ellery, "Right, well, sweets too? Course you don't have master Dendra or Master Myriana here, but... Oh looook, a negg!"

In the galleries, Mohria pulls her jacket out from beneath her son Crispin and chuckles, "Yes, you made it." She playfully ruffles his hair, even though she knows he hates it. The same way she hates it when his father ruffles -her- hair. Some traditions just have to be suffered through, though. "And there's the first," she says, shining eyes regarding the egg. "Beautiful." She smiles a bit at Elaia, hoping the other woman won't teach her son the ruder words.

In the galleries, Cynara comes up the stands with a plate of food in one hand, a green firelizard on the other arm and a blue on her shoulder, trying to keep the last from stealing from the first. "Don't...oh, I /missed/ one," she grumbles, shouldering her way into a good position to watch the sands.

Griere is hovering near her lifemate, quick to get out of the way when the gold moves. She's looking anxious and a touch pale and hardly seems to notice the amassing people in the galleries. "The weather is always humid this time of year," she says to V'lano, too nervous to realize that he wasn't really blaming the busy queen.

In the galleries, Crispin grins impishly at Elaia, "I know bad words too, like when Daddy hit his hand with the hammer, remember mom? He said-" He knows she's going to cut him off, so he does it himself, snapping his mouth shut with dancing eyes. Then he ducks his head with brows furrowed at the ruffling. Sitting up in his seat he twists around to see who else is here. "I'm Crispin," he announces proudly to the person sitting next to him.

In the galleries, Telana says "I'm Telana" she ducks her head a bit flustered, dust from her travels still covers her."

In the galleries, Lyss trails Ellery up the stairs, and though she seems to have little idea what the question concerned, she confirms, "Right." And then takes the time to search out the bearer of the question, and to slide into a seat, gesturing for the greenrider to follow.

"Is it always -this- humid?" V'lano is plainly skeptical, but it's a good-natured, grinning skepticism. After all, Aerianth's already started to dually excellent results - and though the bronzerider's path marks a wide swath around them, not to get close enough to anger either parent, he does take a moment to admire the newest arrival before murmuring aside to Griere, "She's a natural."

In the galleries, Drek climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Her eyes following the procession of food-bearing spectators that trail in from the bowl, Ellery answers Elaia, "Here comes some of that food, and it's Master Kaimi's baking that you can sample at Ista." A small quirk of a smile flashes, while her tone morphs into a teasing mock-challenge. "We'll see whose you prefer?" Then she's busy picking her way past ankles and knees to take a seat beside Lyss, right in the thick of the crowd.

In the galleries, Telana nods to the bronze rider that had directed her earlier.

In the galleries, Cynara furrows her brow. She'll be munching on a meatroll, feeding part of it to the blue, and considering that egg. "Somebody painted that one...which gold is this?" She doesn't know the Ista golds, apparently, or at least...she peers at the queen.

In the galleries, Mohria glances over her son's head and smiles at Telana, "I'm Mohria," she adds, "Nice to meet you." Then she turns to continue watching the eggs be clutched. A challenging tone heard, the former Reaches bluerider looks around and grins, "Personally, I like Dendra's pies, but Kaimi's bubblies." She shrugs helplessly.

In the galleries, Drek squirms through knots of people who are talking, laughing, eating, and all in all taking up room that a young boy could put to much better use. He finds a spot in a cluster of other kids, stealthily passing around rolls of something, the kids laugh, look around to make sure no one's really paying attention, and stow their prizes quickly.

"No, tonight is exceptionally... wet, it seems," Griere admits, dabbing her brow with the back of her wrist. But her response is distracted as she watches her lifemate with rather undue worry - Aerianth seems to be doing just fine.

In the galleries, Crispin tilts his head at Telana before grinning, "Well met. Where'd you come from? You're all dirty, were you exploring?" His voice rises in excitement at the idea. He turns to blink at Cynara. "That's Aerianth!" the boy says with surprise, "I've only been here a sevenday and even I know that." He puffs up in pride.

A faintly acrid, sulfurous smell can barely be discerned in the heavy, damp air. The heat and humidity create ideal conditions for droplets to coalesce on eggshells and skin alike. The wet warmth makes breathing slightly unpleasant.

In the galleries, Jillah climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Telana squirms a bit. "Ah no not really," she admits, "more, trying to find my place."

In the galleries, Mohria absently pats Crispin's shoulder, "Be nice," she reminds in the tone of one who knows he is nice, he just had a slight slipup. She coughs a bit into her sleeve and glances aside to make sure her son isn't having any trouble with the humidity.

In the galleries, Cynara glances at Crispin, then taps her knot. "I'm visiting from Igen, so I don't know the Ista dragons." She grins a bit. "Aerianth...and that...is a gorgeous little egg. I bet it's got a blue in it."

In the galleries, "I bet I know worse words," Elaia shares cheerfully with Crispin. "Like..." she leans over, to, if she can, share all the expletives in her rather extensive vocabulary, her voice low enough so it won't reach anyone else. "Huh, Master Kaimi?" That to Ellery. "Well, huh, she's not /so/ bad. Master Dendra is best though," biassed? Never.

In the galleries, Crispin's inquisitive gaze spots Drek, and most importantly those rolls he's passing around. He strains to see and then flops back in his seat, a little disappointed he didn't get one of whatever that was. Then he grins at Cynara, "We visit Igen all the time! I like it there, but I like it here too." He seems conflicted for a moment and then it passes. He smiles at Telana, "Do you want to? I'm finding all sorts of neat stuff here!" He pauses when Elaia whispers words to him, and his eyes go -wide-. "Wait, say that last one again?"

V'lano dabs his own brow openly with the back of a hand, pushing damp curls up from his forehead. "There's something on the air, too," he notes. "Aside from water." But the arrival of another egg helps his smile and innate good-naturedness recover, and soon he's beaming out at the dragonpair once more.

A snort of displeasure at the conditions - a violent exhale to clear nose and lungs of the acrid stink - becomes a lengthy shudder of golden sides as Aerianth adds another egg to her clutch.

The upper contours of this egg swirl with blues and greens, broad strokes of oceanic teal splashed by blotches of oily black and interrupted by hurricane spirals of cloudy gray. The lower hemisphere tends more to warm shades, with fiery licks of orange streaking contrast against smoky browns and desert sands. Tiny seabird shapes, mere calligraphy-marks of pure white, ring the shell in a rising formation, ever migrating northward to the egg's apex.

In the galleries, Telana frowns at Crispin, "You really shouldn't be trying to learn those sorts of things, they aren't really for polite company you know."

In the galleries, Mohria coughs a little sternly, "Please don't do that," she says to Elaia, "he'll learn them naturally." Her eyes spark with good humor and then she gives Crispin a look of 'don't use anything you just learned, understand? Especially not in front of your father'. "Is it always like this?" she asks the population at large, coughing again - but this time from the smell.

In the galleries, D'ar climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Nolee climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Cynara peers back to the sands. Twilight watches with interest, but doesn't lift off. "What...oh, bad words?" She shrugs a bit, as if not really caring. As for the smell, it earns a wrinkled nose, but she's more interested in the eggs. And her food, of course.

Volath startles visibly at the displeased snort from the queen, then creeps forward to follow alongside her - until the muscles along her sides ripple and her posture changes, at which point he stops all notion of crowding her. He, too, snorts disapprovingly, then rises up on hindlegs to lift his head high and scent the air. No improvement, apparently - the bronze whuffs abruptly, almost like sneezing, and dips back down to nose thoughtfully at their latest egg to make its entrance in such muggy, unpleasant environs.

In the galleries, Jillah had paused, waiting for someone, evidently D'ar, given that she smiles at him and indicates some open seating with an inclination of her chin. "Looks like we haven't missed too many," she mentions casually, climbing over a rakishly angled pair of knees and a skirt spread too wide over vacant seating. "Sorry, excuse me. Oh, was that your skirt I stepped on? Clumsy of me..." Said skirt is whisked in with a flummy hmmmph, and Jil slides into a covetous spot with a great view.

In the galleries, Lirit climbs up some stairs into the seats.

Griere frowns at that, finally glancing away from her lifemate to look around the cavern as if this other thing can be seen. Her nose sure notices something, though. She sniffs, makes a face. "What -is- that?" But another egg distracts her and she turns to murmur encouragements to the queen.

In the galleries, "I saaaaid," Elaia begins, for Crispin's question, but then she pauses, looking up at Mohria, and positively beams. "You're cute, are you available? Or... hey, who cares, want to kiss me even if you're not?" She's so subtle. "Aren't you kind of hot in that?" Even more subtle, "You should take it off." Rooooowl.

In the galleries, Crispin looks innocently at Telana, "I wasn't tryin' to learn anything! She just told me and now they're in my head..." He waves his head back and forth a bit, giving the impression that the words are indeed rolling around in there. Cedar rumbles a little bit and the boy absently strokes the brown firelizard's head. He straightens a bit at the other woman's advances towards his mother. Ewwww. Mushy stuff.

In the galleries, Lirit strides up into the galleries, looking a little damp and disheveled as she pauses to scan the assemblage there. Edging closer to the Sands, she stands atiptoe to peer over the crowd, looking for....someone.

The humidity seems to be growing thicker, becoming visible as a fog in the air. As it becomes apparent that the damp is more than just heat-induced haziness, it also becomes apparent that it has a source - it's rolling in from the bowl.

In the galleries, D'ar's eyes half crinkle shut in amusement as he follows after Jillah, "I see now why they made you a Wingsecond...that was you, right? Lots of things sort of all blended together there just before..." well, she knows what he means, he figures as he takes his assigned seat, managing to not dump his food or the basket of sweets in his efforts.

In the galleries, Telana smiles at Crispin indulgently, "Then maybe you should try and roll them out?"

V'lano laughs softly as Griere and Volath perform similar efforts at raising noses and scenting the air. He paces across the sand, something still stuck in a fist balled at his side - the other hand reaches out to dare a pat at the weyrwoman's shoulder. "How's she doing? Seems effortless, but perhaps that's the fact I'm neither a dragon nor a female talking."

In the galleries, Mohria lifts a brow at Elaia and smiles, shaking her head, "No." To all questions! Ha, that was easy. She gives the woman a wink and turns back to regarding the haze with a frown.

In the galleries, B'rakis is sitting by himself up in the top of the stands, a stack of hidework on his lap. He looks up now anda gain, nose crinkling at the cloud floating in.

In the galleries, Lyss takes a shallow breath, fanning one hand in front of her face in an attempt to filter the humid air before it enters her lungs. "Even for summer, this is a bit much. Maybe this seat wasn't best chosen." A slightly distasteful glance is sent at the crowd of people that could only make it worse, which leads her eyes straight to Lirit. Whoever the young Wingleader is looking for, Lyss raises her hand for a wave.

In the galleries, Drek eyes Crispin through the mass of adults. His mouth is settled in a half-sneer, not aimed at anyone in particular. Flick flick, eyes alight on all the adults around the kid. That's enough to make Drek turn his attention back to his own little band of merry mischief makers who giggle behind hands and share sticky treats without any regard to how dirty then get in being passed.

In the galleries, Cynara blinks at the person talking about taking clothes off, blushes and pays even /more/ attention to the eggs. "Brown," she says, studying the latest one. "And the dark one...green." A pause. "Wish I'd brought a hide." Then she smiles, and focuses for a moment. The blue firelizard lifts off, then blinks out.

In the galleries, Crispin giggles at Telana, "I don't want everything else to fall out too!" He also looks around at the haze and scoots a little closer to his mother. He's going to protect her. Right. It's not him that needs the comfort, it's her. He looks over again at Drek, wistfully watching the sweets be passed. He hesitates and then slides off the bench and cautiously moves towards the group of kids.

In the galleries, Elaia pouts. "Meanie," she sulks. She peers at the bunch of kids around Drek, and asks, "Got any clean sweets? I ate all mine." How nice. "Hey, Igen-girl!" Cynara is the next to merit her attention. "What're you doing here anyway? Want a ride home? When the gold's finished pooing eggs, I mean."

In the galleries, Sneaking in on the coattails of several riders, Nolee squeezes in behind them, only stumbling over a few pairs of feet. The size of the gathering brings wide brown eyed amazement, and she finally sits down. A damp towel over her shoulders blots at her hair occasionally, fluffing it dry, though impeded by the humidity.

In the galleries, Jillah laughs, and nods, pausing to study the egg just making its appearance on the sand. Her smile dims, and something...wistful slides in to change the entire cast of her face. But, it's a momentary dreamy state and she remarks to D'ar, "Aye, Wingsecond. Yes...things were rather a welter..."

In the galleries, Cynara indicates further down the stands. "Got one, but thanks for the offer. I'm looking for Gerand...I've been helping him a bit with one of his Harper projects...which is indirectly how I acquired the second flying stomach." Which is now a little ball o'green in her lap.

In the galleries, Ellery just so happens to be seated one row below Jillah, right next to Lyss and pretty much in the thick of the crowd. She echoes her sister's comments with, "Worse than I'm used to, certainly." The volume of her voice drops a few notches. "And /someone/ needs to use more sweetsand." The shuffling and flurrying skirts just behind her draws her attention, and her eyes light on first Jillah and then D'ar. Reminiscing about something that brings that predictable color to her face. Or maybe it's the heat? "Oh, ah, evening, you two."

In the galleries, Mohria turns to regard Elaia more closely, and then she laughs. Ruefully shaking her head, she watches as Crispin goes off to the group of children. She sucks in her lower lip in thought, and then lets him go with a smile. He's a capable young man.

Griere actually chances a little smile for her lifemate. "She's doing well. It's... it's going alright." She seems a touch surprised at that. "The air is so thick, though. A stronger breeze would be nice." She runs a hand through her curls to lift them off her damp neck for a moment.

In the galleries, Lirit espies a familiar face, and elbows through the crowd to Jillah's side. "Jil!" she calls, frowning, all business. "Jillah! Is B'rakis here?"

In the galleries, Mohria hears the voice of her wingleader and turns to seek Lirit out in the crowd.

"I'll get right on that," laughs V'lano. He squeezes the shoulder beneath his hand, then steps back to allow the weyrwoman and her queen room to work in. After a moment, however, the bronzerider's smirk has telling results - Volath prowls reluctantly from the eggs to the edge of the sands, rises up again, and spans his wings wide for a single, experimental, air-pushing flick. Breeze!

In the galleries, Two people to respond to, Jillah leaves the basket in D'ar's capable hands, and pauses with a forkful of her dinner in mid-transit. "Evening, Wingleader." Her greeting to Ellery is smooth and pleasantly nuanced. Lirit's more agitated call has her poking the fork, with a bit of meat on it back up in the direction of where B'rakis is settled with his hides. "Up there, Lir."

In the galleries, D'ar has his hands rather full still as he can't quite decide where to put his precious cargo of edibles in the heat and press of the crowd. Jillah's regard of the eggs would have reminded D'ar of the reason they're here in the first place were it not for a very familiar voice just behind him. He twists in his chair, smile nearly splitting his face, though he casually greets, "Evening, there, Ellery, and 'lo to you," he notes to Lyss, not having been introduced.

In the galleries, Naemyr climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Cynara blinks at the egg. "Okay. That is the weirdest shaped egg I've ever seen, I hope the hatchling won't get cramped!" Lirit's voice...is ignored, but the sound of it actually produces another blush. Funny...Gerand doesn't get this reaction.

In the galleries, Lirit nods curtly as Jillah points, her eyes following the fork to the Weyrleader. "Thanks, Jil" she says, wheeling to begin pushing through the gathering, trying to wend her way to B'rakis' side.

In the galleries, Lyss can't help but follow Ellery's glance backwards, in the wake of all those seatings and greetings. "Evening, Jil..." She begins her offer of greetings pleasantly, but at D'ar's smile, and Ellery's clear recognition of the rider, she halts mid-word, a curious expression settling on her features. "You two? Going to introduce me, Ellery? And hello," she adds for the Telgari brownrider, smiling faintly.

In the galleries, Never one to turn down a close look, Elaia winks at Mohria, and says, "The offer's still open. I'm a pretty good kisser. I get lots of practice." She eyes D'ar, and hmfs, "Didn't say hello to me, did he?" Well, there were a lot of people he didn't say hello to. Details.

Griere reaches for that hand before it can quite slip from her shoulder entirely. "It's happening so quickly," she says. But then her eyes widen at the more recent egg and a surprised sound breaks her lips before she can stop herself. Despite her queen's lack of notice, the weyrwoman still looks rather apologetic for her reaction.

In the galleries, B'rakis looks amused by Volath's fanning and breeze creation but he's not going to comment, anything will help at this point. As another egg is laid, he makes a notation on a hide, then swaps to another continuing to read. A weyrleader's work is never done..

In the galleries, Drek has his head down, the kids huddling around some sort of secret game or world-shaking kid topics. He misses the question about sweets, and only one girl looks over at Elaia, and shows her empty, sticky, really dirty hands in a silent negative.

In the galleries, Mohria watches Lirit for a moment before her eyes go back to scanning the sands. She replies absently to Elaia, "I do too," and continues looking at the walls of the cavern.

As the fog thickens, it nearly obscures Aerianth's movements, making of her a golden blur. Then it clears again, revealing the latest additions to the clutch.

In the galleries, Crispin edges closer to the group, "Hi," he offers with a smile, "I'm Crispin." He speaks mostly to Drek, though he doesn't limit his introduction to just the one person.

In the galleries, A Weyrleader's work is never done indeed....Lirit finally shoves her way to the Weyrleader's side, manner _all_ business. "B'rakis" she says, a little sharply. "A moment?"

In the galleries, "Eeeeeeeew, gross," Elaia says, eyeing Drek's grubby hand. "Not eating anything that's been /there/, nope." Mohria's response earns her another pout. "Why won't you kiss meeeeeeeeeeeeeee then?" Life is so cruel.

In the galleries, Cynara frowns a bit at the fog. "If this fog gets any thicker, we're going to start missing eggs," she predicts in Elaia's direction. Which is when Twilight comes back with a scrap of hide. She starts to write down eggs and colors.

In the galleries, Nolee, after being told to lower the towel so the people behind her can see, blithely complies, accidentally elbowing some the end of a line of children. Quiet apologies are mostly ignored, so Nolee shrugs, raptly watching the gathering cloud of fog, then its dissipation. "Oh, there are dragons out there," she tells those nearby. As if they hadn't noticed.

In the galleries, Drek looks up, and the scuffling of kid feet push something out of sight. Six pairs of eyes stare up at Crispin in unified weighing and measuring. "Hey, Crispin," Drek responds in a semi-bored sounding voice. "Have a sit. You got any good treasures with ya?"

In the galleries, Naemyr stands way back as Lirit barges through the crowd. He actually smiles brightly, nodding once for good measure. "In a hurry? Did someone bring your favorite drink?" Seeing several Istans he knows, a wave is sent to each, in particular Lyss. "Hey!" he calls out, waving to her.

V'lano steps back to Griere's side at the reach of her hand, and puts his own into hers. "What?" Apparently he noticed the surprised sound, and alongside the weyrwoman considers the strangely greenish-grayish-brownish egg for a moment, then splits a perfectly pleasant grin. "That's the gray one, then," he observes, as if it was wholly expected. "Blame Volath." Who, for his own part, provides another flap of wings to help circulate the wet, heavy air.

In the galleries, Mohria chuckles softly and turns to look Elaia in the eyes, her own eyes twinkling, "Because withholding only makes it that much sweeter. Besides, with this stench in the air it's sure to mar the taste of your lips." She winks, and it's really hard to tell if she's being serious, or mercilessly teasing.

In the galleries, B'rakis blinks, looking up at Lirit. A frown appears on his face, and he asks, "Sure, Lirit, what's up?" He pauses, and then leans toward Lirit, muttering something.

In the galleries, B'rakis mutters to Lirit, "This... have... little conversation... her liking... the kiss?"

In the galleries, Jillah returns Lyss' greeting with a casual heyo. She in the midst of an interrupted dinner, and even the arrival of a certain boat-wrecking, tale-telling, dead meat for canines dockworker can't keep her from eating. Naemyr gets...a steely-eyed, suspicious glare, and her hand fondles the well-worn handle of the knife in her sash, but...she relaxes and directs her attention to the knot of people closer by.

In the galleries, "This fog...smell it" Lirit says to the Weyrleader. "It rolled in from offshore -- the smell was worse on the beaches, the fog thicker. We tried to find a source, but...it's not a sea-fog, B'rakis."

The wet haze has a name: steam. Warm and carrying that odd burned smell, it is thin enough not to threaten visibility halfway across the cavern - or from the galleries to the sands - but it does make the heat less comfortable.

In the galleries, Crispin brightens and points to Cedar, his greatest treasure. "I've got him. He can deliver messages and find stuff and everything." He digs into his pockets, "And I've got this shell that Riordanth and I found, and this little farviewer that Uncle D'san gave me." Obviously his greatest treasure, he holds it close.

In the galleries, "Ooooooh, really?" Elaia sidles over to Mohria. "I could come by later, or we could let the gold lay her silly old eggs all by herself." She'll take seriousness for 200, Alex. "It /is/ pretty horrible in this weather."

In the galleries, Mohria glances back to the Weyrleader and her wingleader and winks. No worries, she's just playing. Her ears catch Lirit's words and she frowns. She rises to her feet and absently pats Elaia on the shoulder, "Some other time, perhaps," and moves closer to try and hear what Lirit and B'rakis are talking about.

In the galleries, Cynara nods to Crispin. "Cedar's a pretty brown." She keeps writing on the hide. "I have Twilight and Damsel...Damsel's the baby, and she'll probably be an airhead, green firelizards tend to be."

In the galleries, Drek eyes said treasures, "Got my own firelizard." And indeed, a small brown head pokes around from beneath Drek's tangled, filthy hair. "Other stuff's pretty good though. Okay, you're in." A hand points at a small spot between a pair of mud-covered kids. They look like twins.

"Do you think there will be more like that?" Griere asks V'lano quietly, aside in hopes that the queen won't hear her. "Oh, that one looks quite..." A waft of steams draws her attention, though. "Does that... does that look like a normal fog to you?" It obviously doesn't seem that way to her.

In the galleries, "Oh, yes," Ellery acknowledges both hints calling for an introduction, and then hurries along into one. "This is Lyss," and she rests a hand briefly on the Headwoman's shoulder, "my sister." To Lyss, then, "And this is D'ar." Apparently that's all the intro her sister should need to the brownrider, for she adds no more, but merely sits with a shy smile and a vaguely disgruntled look, as though she's well aware the smile's there but has no way to get rid of it.

In the galleries, Crispin grins proudly at Cynara, "He's handsome," he gently corrects. He blinks back at Drek, "In what?" Always know what you're getting into before you get there, Pa always says.

In the galleries, B'rakis nods, sniffing the air. "I can both see and smell that it's not a normal fog. Did you find anything out? It smells... familiar to me, for some reason. I can't quite place it."

V'lano leans a bit closer to the goldrider to assist in discussing things which are secret from the clutching queen. "Maybe," he quietly responds. Then, a bit louder, with excessive cheer: "Hopefully in...other shades of gray. Or white. Josilina claimed it was Volath's fault there were all the gray eggs in that clutch - well, I couldn't deny it, it's not like we had any experience." Of the fog, he just shrugs: "Smells like dead fish. Sort of. Or old eggs, but not nearly as strong. Does the ocean stink like that when it's too hot?"

In the galleries, Naemyr was just stepping through several folk, "Scuse me.. scuse me.." he says to each, offering a hopeful smile that they'll excuse his bumping and jostling. "Hey, look at all the eggs so far! And that last one! I bet a full mark those two down there are proud." Spotting Jillah, the smile he sends is his most charming. "Well look who's here, good to see you!"

In the galleries, Nolee leans over toward the gaggle of plotting kids led by Drek, trying to get a peek at Crispin's precious possession. The scent off the fog reaches her nose, and it twitches, looking suspiciously at the people on either side, then in front and back of her. Bright tones adventure, the towel creeping up slowly to filter the air, "Someone's dinner isn't setting well? Or maybe someone needs a bath."

In the galleries, Drek shrugs back at Crispin, evidently his cautiousness isn't seen as a point in favor, but he says easily, "Playin treasures. Everybody puts somethin' in, whoever tells the best story about where one came from, an' not his or her own, gets to pick one from the pile."

In the galleries, Crispin ohs and sits down between the twins, tucking his farviewer into his shirt and setting the shell down in the pile. "Where we came from? Or do I have to make up stories about you?" He glances at Nolee and gives her a quick grin.

In the galleries, Elaia's lip starts to tremble. "Nobody loves me," she moans. "Here I am so lonely and...hey did someone let one off? I mean really? This place STINKS! Was it /you/?" She gives Drek and Crispin equal portions of an accusing stare.

In the galleries, D'ar may not be so much oblivious as distracted by the introductions taking place, so he misses Jillah's whole knife-fondling gesture, thankfully. He finds a place to set down the foodstuffs he'd brought up into the stands, heedless of the fact that both plate and basket are unlikely to emerge from the bustling area unscathed. Perhaps the funky-smelling fog has absconded with his desire for dinner altogether. Regardless, he extends a palm to Lyss, "Nice to meet you, Ellery's sister," he quips, sneaking a quick wink over at the greenrider.

In the galleries, Lirit's nose wrinkles. "Rotten egg, B'rak. Or still-steaming fewmets" the bluerider states. "Got more of a nosefull on the beaches. Couldn't find the source, but.... I.... Eleketh is edgy over it, and Fidget is sending me all sorts of images of flame falling from the sky."

Aerianth fans her flaxen wings at the encroaching steam, making swirling eddies in the colorless clouds. She sweeps one wide pinion over her eggs, peeking beneath as if to confer with them in secret before turning to add to their number.

In the galleries, Lyss' curious gaze turns appraising once the brownrider is properly introduced, and she extends her hand in kind. "D'ar. I'm pleased to have a face to put with the name." It's difficult to catch words called over the hubbub of spectators, but not all of Lyss' attention is reserved for the pair behind her, so she notices Naemyr over the tops of a few hands, and returns his wave in kind. She scoots into Ellery, crowding her to make space, should the dockhand wish to join them. Jillah is eyed uneasily, now, but she gestures anyway.

In the galleries, Telana says "The smell appears to be coming from the fog, which in turn seems to be coming from the direction of the sea. Do not blame the children.""

In the galleries, Gerand climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Mohria takes a seat closer to Lirit and B'rakis and her eyes unfocus for a moment and her frown deepens. Flame falling from the sky? That doesn't sound good. Well, she's here if her wingleader needs her, but for the moment she contents herself to continue watching the eggs.

In the galleries, Cynara considers the egg. Writes 'green' on her hide. "Handsome...so's Twilight." And then Damsel's pretty. Well, if one looks past the fact that her tail is a good fingerlength longer than it 'should' be.

In the galleries, Jillah is, for now, listening to Lirt, and so Naemyr's in no danger, probably wasn't anyway, but you never know. Her pleasant expression starts shutting down and she leans slightly, drawing the quarter who are casually conversing into a tighter circle, "Talked with some friends of mine that sail. Fisher folk. They were tellin me that they ran into bloated, dead fish off shores a way, and no live ones come up in the nets."

In the galleries, Gerand steps in and glances around, looking a bit on the sheepish side as he tries to find an open spot over near Lirit, once he spots her in the crowd, listening and watching things as he goes.

In the galleries, B'rakis echoes, "fire from the.. " he sits up straighter in his seat. "I know what it is. Haven't you guys ever been tot hat volcano on the southeast tip of the island? Must be erupting again. Maybe winds are blowing it all this way. Currents."

In the galleries, Elaia eyes Telana, "How would you know?" she asks rudely. "Anyway, I think it was the dragons. Have you ever smelt a dragon when they let one off? Pee-ew."

In the galleries, Drek shrugs, "No, you make up a story about somethin in the circle..." the adults' concern pulls his head up and around, and he glares off into the distance, then forces himself back into his cocky, know-everything state. Nolee's arrival gets a grudging nod of recognition, "Got any good blown glass?"

Griere just shakes her head, "You mean like low tide? No, no, there's something else." She sniffs again, though loathes to do so. "It does smell salty thought. It -tastes- salty." She covers her mouth with her hand, tasting is apparently not a pleasant experience.

In the galleries, Lirit's eyes flick toward Mohria, and she nods a quick acknowledgement to the newest member of Timor. Standing beside B'rakis, she seems almost at attention, alert and ready...alert enough to also catch Gerand's approach and flash him a quick (if mildly worried?) smile.

In the galleries, Nolee unwrinkles her nose, grins out from behind her towel-nose-shield. Telana's clarification leads to Nolee looking out toward the bowl, watching clouds of the incoming mass shift about in the air. "I didn't realize the fog was smelly this time, except for all of the dead fish." Cheerfully, she nods to Drek, bringing her small pack off her shoulders, and out from under the towel. "Sure. Can I put one in?"

In the galleries, Naemyr notes the wave from Lyss, once more pressing across onlookers to find the spot she's made for him. Right in front of Jillah. How convenient for him to wiggle into the tight seating arrangement by Lyss, and be able to turn around to offer that grin again to Jillah. "It's pretty hard to hear, so I'll just say heya again! Glad to see you, Jillah!" Back to Lyss, the smile remains, now coupled with a wink. "So thanks for the seat. I can't imagine a nicer place to sit than beside you."

In the galleries, Crispin startles at Elaia's accusation, and then gives Telana a winning smile. He ooohs at Drek and glances to his mother before he selects a bit of string to talk about. "That string was found washed up at SeaCraft hall. It came all the way from Southern, but was swallowed by a fish, giving him an awful stomach ache. He asked a nice shipfish to help him, but the shipfish couldn't quite reach it, so the fish continued to swim. Then the fish got surrounded by some bigger fish, who started to bully him. 'Please,' he said, 'I've got a tummy ache'. They didn't care and started to tease him. Just when he was about to shout at them for teasing him, the string came loose and shot out of his mouth! It hit the head bully fish on the snout and so startled him that he went swimming back to his mommy. The string then...ended up at SeaCraft, and...a firelizard picked it up, no, a dragon got a handful of sand for his rider's firelizard's clutch, and got the string in there too, and dropped it here, and someone picked it up and brought it in here, and, here it is." He shifts his weight, hoping it was a good enough story.

In the galleries, Anyone acquainted with Ellery would expect the reaction she gives that wink from D'ar, a twitching of her flight jacket and a small half-laugh. She then obligingly does her own scooting act, away from Lyss, though under cover of her own bustling whispers, "Are you sure that's the best idea?" with a significant, though brief, glance toward Jillah. And then she's paying much more attention to that Wingsecond, as dead fish are no laughing matter to the former captain of the Filly. Indeed, it draws more of her worry than B'rakis's half heard mention of a volcano. "What? But--that's awful."

In the galleries, Drek grudgingly nods, and everyone shifts, in that sidle-shuffle kids do, to let Crispin and Nolee in. And then ranks close, heads bend, backs curve over, and the kids are talking secrets and laughing in high-pitched yelps as stories get told and treasures claimed.

In the galleries, R'din climbs up some stairs into the seats.

"I hadn't considered tasting it," V'lano merrily admits, slipping his hand from Griere's to begin a pacing trail toward two of the first eggs clutched, now rather distant from the active queen. At such distance he seems to consider it safe to distract himself from the hot, wet, aromatic air with closer consideration of his lifemate's shell-contained offspring.

In the galleries, B'rakis waves his hand dismissively, "Ista's nearly as unstable as some parts of Southern, I've heard. I'm sure it's something minor and will all end soon, nothing too serious."

In the galleries, Mohria nods a bit at B'rakis. She's seen that volcano from height. She brings a mental map of the island forward and studies it with her eyes closed. Hmm. Her eyes open again and she waits for orders. She has to remind herself she's not a wingsecond anymore as she shifts her weight on the stone and then settles.

In the galleries, Gerand steps over near to Lirit, scanning the spots nearby, "Any of these free?" he wonders, reaching to rub the back of his neck, "Just got word things were happening over here, not doing all that great a job of keeping up on things." he grins faintly. "Volcano, huh? That'd explain the smell.." he looks around the crowd, spotting mostly familiar faces, but a few new ones.

In the galleries, Nolee parts the ties that keep her treasures within, balancing the wobbly pack between her knees. Fishing blindly through it with her hands, she dons a wrinkle-mouthed expression of concentration, coming up with a malformed fishing float and a trinket that appears to be a glass mutant canine, then she ducks her head to overhear the tales, laughing with amusement or wide-mouthed in horrified (impressed) surprise as they are told.

In the galleries, D'ar's smile fades as more of the general conversation is audible, though, not knowing much about the Istan climate or history, he notes only, "Must be why there wasn't much seafood at dinner, then," before lapsing into listening mode.

In the galleries, Cynara hrms a bit, watching the eggs come out. For this one, she hesitates, then writes /bronze/ with a bit of emphasis on the hide. Her baby green wakes up and makes a sleepy chirpling sound, then turns around like a canine on her lap.

In the galleries, Jillah nods, abruptly, at Naemyr, and her hand isn't near her knife now. She's gone dead serious, as she continues her quiet talk with the folks around her, though now and then she simply has to stop as another egg is produced and placed in a careful position, "I hope it's not a wide-spread thing, otherwise...no fish." She leaves that just hovering there to sink into consciousness.

In the galleries, Lirit frowns at B'rakis. "I thought of that, B'rak....one of the first places I overflew. Dead silent -- not even th'usual fume-holes venting. This....I think it's out to sea, B'rakis."

In the galleries, R'din steps up into the seating area, peering around for an empty seat. Finding none after a quick glance, the bluerider simply settles back on one leg and watches the ongoings.

In the galleries, Telana smiles reassuringly at Crispin. Growing up as the youngest of four (and the only girl) had pretty much made certain that her skin was as thick as a dragon's. "Perhaps I would know because I make certain to pay attention to the world around me."

In the galleries, Drek goes quiet, and a slashing hand signal to the rest of his gang of eight restless, reckless...okay, motley crew of kids is a demand for silence. He eyes Crispin warily, then leans to whisper in the ear of the girl next to him, the whisper going around and stopping at Nolee.

In the galleries, B'rakis thinks that over. "Well it smells like a volcano. So maybe it's a new one. Like, one we haven’t seen before. Out in the middle of the water."

In the galleries, "Well, I'm not going to stand around here any longer," Elaia announces, as though everyone might just die of sorrow through her departure. "I'm sure this stinkiness is going to get through my clothes, and uhg..." she just /eyes/ Telana. "So do I," she lies, and flounces off.

In the galleries, Elaia walks down the stairs towards the entrance.

Griere follows along, keeping near V'lano, though her attention is split between the eggs and her lifemate. "You haven't places any bets, have you?" she asks suddenly, a curiously narrowed eye for the bronzerider. "On the number?"

The steam is continually renewed by damp, swirling puffs that slip in on even the slightest breezes. As the water cools in the air, it coalesces and falls in droplets. Where droplets hit the hot sands, they almost immediately become steam anew, making the cavern into a large open-air sauna.

In the galleries, Nolee's turn to tale-tell to the huddled children-group comes, and she picks a crustacean-claw, long hollowed out and dried, spinning a yarn about its origins and subsequent usage by a pirate as an utensil to eat his enemies, ending with him becoming a diaper-changer. Then the blonde leans down to the girl, murmuring to be sure she's catching the gist.

"I - " V'lano has a hedge all ready, perhaps, but it turns into a wry, slanted grin as he straightens from eyeing one of the bluish shells in profile. "No. Why? - Oh, there it is - look." As Aerianth moves on after clutching an egg in tones of white and cream to prepare for a much darker deposit, the sire's rider points out across the sand at the pale egg. "Another one. That one's whites. So there's a gray and a white - figures. She'll be pleased if she hears."

In the galleries, Crispin gasps softly at Nolee's tale, and shivers in delight. Tucking his knees to his chest he almost forgets about the smell, listening with rapt attention.

In the galleries, Lyss takes another glance in Jillah's direction at Ellery's whisper, but only shrugs her shoulders up lightly in reply. She's much more interested in Ellery's twitching, and in the Wingsecond's words, which she confirms. "The catch has been down, lately. We've had to resort to stew; there's not much by way of seafood available for any other dish." A nod to D'ar is given at this comment, though unlike the brownriders, she doesn't seem quite willing to lapse into complete seriousness, and aside, offers Naemyr a faint grin. "Given the present company and the way you've spend the last few sevendays, I could imagine better."

In the galleries, Gerand finds a place to sit in the row behind Lirit, squeezing into it with apologies to those on either side, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward to watch the eggs fall onto the sand, head shifting position every few moments as he hears a new snippet of discussion.

In the galleries, Lirit reaches absently for Gerand's hand as she looks once again to B'rakis. "Permission to take some of Timor off regular Sweeps to make some extra off-shore passes, see if we can find this thing? And if it looks to be a threat?"

Griere blinks, looking a little indignant for her dragon's sake. "What's wrong with gray or white? I've seen eggs of all color hatch perfectly lovely dragons." Betting, it seems, is forgotten.

On the Dragon Ledges, Nepenth flies in from the bowl.

In the galleries, Like a small nest of insects, the children suddenly break, and spread out in random directions, running for the exit, jumping benches, sliding past adults, ducking under ranks of seats and the seats on them when the way is blocked. Drek stays where he is and leans to say something quiet, and apologetic-sounding to Crispin.

In the galleries, Kaelyn climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, Drek mutters to Crispin, "Nothin... We got... things to... times are... the island.... prepare."

In the galleries, Crispin is surprised, He mutters to Drek, "Bad... My... can... care... I'm... Can..."

In the galleries, Naemyr waves a dismissive hand, grin ever widening if that's possible. "Oh, Lyss, today is not the day to think of the past. Not with all those out there! It's a pleasant sight to behold, isn't it? Tomorrow's soon enough to get back to worrying about problems. Right?" Now he catches sight of Gerand, sending him an enthusiastic wave.

The thickening steam leaves a shimmer on Aerianth's pale hide, as though the exertion of her work has left sheen of sweat. But she's not finished yet.

In the galleries, Ellery shakes her head at the doom and gloom that Jillah and Lyss are relating, clearly less than pleased. "I'd been starting to notice the food was a little less, er, than usual. Not that it's anything against the kitchens," she hastens to assure her sister, "I'm sure you're doing all you can." Seeing D'ar's smile slipping, she replies, "Yes--sorry about that. Between the food, the heat, and the smell," and here she makes an accompanying grimace, showing that the smells are probably getting to her, "I'm afraid your Istan visit probably isn't all you were hoping for."

In the galleries, Kaelyn steps into the gallaries and looks around the stands. She steps forward with a smile as she spots her mate and heads over to them with a wave.

In the galleries, Mohria is sitting up in the galleries, a frown of concentration on her face as she fiddles with her wing patch. When Kaelyn enters the rider's expression smoothes and she smiles, waving her over.

In the galleries, B'rakis nods at Lirit, "That'd be fine. Make sure you keep close records of where you're going, charts and stuff."

In the galleries, Gerand reaches forward and smiles as he takes Lirit's hand, nodding down to her as he catches sight of Naemyr's wave out of the corner of one eye, waving over with his free hand, "Heya, Naemyr." As the next egg is laid, he looks back down to Lirit, "How many I miss? Can't make out the number..."

In the galleries, Drek throws a soft, man-to-man punch at Crispin's shoulder, along with a grin and says, "Thanks, we got it covered. See you if yer back this way again, a'right? We'll go fishin or somethin." Then he's up and gone, not even waiting to see if Nolee's coming or not.

In the galleries, Nolee mutters to Drek, "... I get to... too?... all... password...."

In the galleries, Eslyn climbs up some stairs into the seats.

In the galleries, R'din watches the Hatching for several more moments before raising his eyebrows briefly, turning from the scene and withdrawing back down the stairs towards his dragon without a word.

In the galleries, R'din walks down the stairs towards the entrance.

In the galleries, Drek pauses to nod back at the older girl. "Get stumpin." And then he's gone, a flash of grime, agile legs, and tattered clothes.

In the galleries, Crispin takes the punch easily. "I've had wrestling training," he calls after Drek, "And I live here!" He bites his lip for a moment and then shrugs, turning to head back to his mom. Seeing Kaelyn, he joyfully bounds up towards her.

In the galleries, Drek walks down the stairs towards the entrance.

In the galleries, Lirit nods curtly. "I'll break out m'old fishing charts, B'rak. I'll put former sea-crafters on it, where I can...." she smiles faintly at Mohria as she says the last, lapsing into pensive thought. "Not much else to do" she finally sighs, relaxing from her more businesslike stance and leaning a bit against Gerand. "Hi, love. Sorry for leavin' so abruptly earlier.

In the galleries, Ashewyn enters the galleries, followed by her ever-present brother. Hesitating when she sees all the people, she's eventually prodded forward and moves to sit on the edge of one of the tiers, leaving enough room for A'ryn to join her. Stroking the small gold firelizard in her arms, she peers down at the Sands. "They're all sorts of colors," she murmurs to her companion. "I didn't know dragon eggs came in so many colors."

In the galleries, Eslyn goes home.

"As have I," V'lano replies, voice low and rich with a half-suppressed chuckle. "I impressed one, in fact. But gray and white were -not- popular colors with Josilina." He puts out a hand, to offer the weyrwoman an arm to stand in if she wishes, to watch the clutching continue.

In the galleries, Kaelyn smiles warmly at Crispin and holds her arms out to him. "Hey there buddy. How are you doing? Did I miss many eggs?" She walks with him over to Mohria and leans down to kiss her cheek. "Hello dear. How was your day?"

In the galleries, Mohria nods at Lirit, understanding the smile. She makes a mental note to brush up on chart reading. She smiles and returns Kaelyn's kiss, "Getting more and more stressful," she says with a wry grin. "But good. I've lost count, honestly, and with this haze and heat it's hard to see the sands..."

In the galleries, Crispin leaps into Kaelyn's arms with glee, upsetting Cedar from his shoulder so the brown hovers patiently. "I'm great! I told a story and won a string!"

In the galleries, Gerand looks down to Lirit and shakes his head with a smile, "S'alright, Lir." he leans forward and places a kiss on the back of her head from his spot in the row behind, then leans back up and watches things, "Sorry to interrupt. If you find this volcano, I'd like to see. Could be interesting."

In the galleries, Nolee stands up quickly after Drek takes off, giving Crispin a bright smile. Having reclaimed her bauble, but not more than that, she offers it to him as a consolation prize, then takes off after the dirty boy, treading on toes and apologizing as she goes. By the time she reaches the entrance, he's vanished, and she stands there, lost, brown eyes wide, as though Drek'd magicked himself away. "The fog. It /eats/ things. And people." Or else he's just fast.

Volath, for his part, seems to tire of creating breezes - or has forgotten that was his set task - and sidles around the perimeter of the cavern for a while, then steals inward toward the sand disturbed by draconic mothering and the placement of eggs. He stops near one and eyes it for a long moment with head tilted. A hundred multi-hued red, orange and verdant green shapes whirl in the facets of his near eye for that moment, then the bronze whuffs thoughtfully and shores up some sand against the colorful shell.

In the galleries, Kaelyn kisses Crispin on the cheek after giving him a huge hug. "That is wonderful honey." She reaches up and scritches Cedar, "What story did you tell?" She looks around the group and smiles. She settles herself next to Mohria and nods as she looks out at the sands, "Yes it does seem quite hazy. I barely saw the last one. Hey Nepenth was wondering where Rio was."

In the galleries, Crispin accepts Nolee's bauble reverently, "Thank you," he whispers, tucking it safely away before he waves after her. He looks back at Kaelyn, "I made one up, but I can't remember it now." Cedar settles again to Crispin's shoulder with a warm wuff for Kaelyn.

In the galleries, Lyss seems unsure quite how to regard Naemyr's enthusiasm, so she settles for a nod just brief enough to keep amusement from spilling into her words. "I'd be well pleased if you postponed your worries indefinitely; it's far nicer to see you in a good mood. It is quite a sight, isn't it? Your first, perhaps?" To Ellery she awards another half-shrug, commenting wryly, "Like I said, stew. That's the only way you're going to get fish into you right now."

In the galleries, "Just do the best you can, Lirit," B'rakis orders. "If you need some help, I'll asign more wings to it as part of sweeps."

In the galleries, Mohria smiles, "He's up exploring his new ledge." She sits again, "You don't have my sea charts of Ista, do you? F'min probably has them, actually," she muses.

In the galleries, Cynara blinks. "Best so far." She scribbles 'green' on her hide, but her eyes are on the gorgeous little whirlwind egg, and she grins broadly. "'Course, it's what's inside that matters, right, Twilight?"

Griere settles beneath V'lano's offered arm, watching over eggs and dragons with a mixed expression of pride and anxiety. "I think the gray and white ones are fine," she says quietly, another nose-wrinkling for that pervasive smell that continues to linger in the thick air.

In the galleries, Kaelyn thinks for a moment and shakes her head as she settles Crispin on her lap, wrapping him up in an affectionate hug, "So how do you like your new home? I haven't even had the chance to get up to the weyr being so busy with duties. I really need to speak with Josilina." Her eyes stray to the sands.

In the galleries, Lirit nods. "M'sure many'll find it interestin' Ger" the bluerider muses. "Hopefully not _dangerous_ as well" she adds, eyes roaming the galleries and finding Lyss and Ellery, with Naemyr nearby. And for a moment she's distracted from thoughts of worrisome offshore volcanoes as she takes in the trio. Something's not right there.....something....'Myr. The way he's treating Lyss? She looks over her shoulder to Gerand. "Be right back, love" she murmurs quietly, padding forward through the gaps she can find in the milling crowd, aiming for a spot directly behind a certain dockworker.....

In the galleries, Ashewyn tugs a strand of hair from her eyes and peers hard at the newest addition to the eggs on the sands. Finally, she pronounces her approval solemnly to A'ryn, who laughs and tugs on her runner-tail. "I'm sure the queen would be quite happy to hear that you approve." Ignoring her stuck-out tongue, the bluerider turns back and studies the eggs musingly. "I like clutch times. Means more people here. And maybe Kianth will Search some, wouldn't that be nice?" Laughing, Ashe places her hand on his arm and gives him an adoring look. "I bet every one he does will Impress."

In the galleries, Mohria tilts her head a bit, "Is she overworking you?" she asks with concern. "Oh, we love it here. Even if it is really, really, really hot. I've been tapped into Timor wing, and so far I'm really happy with it. I haven't been pranked yet though, so we'll see." She grins.

In the galleries, Naemyr sits back, leg tucked up to rest on the opposite knee. "I just decided today was a day to enjoy, you know? I have to admit it's not my first. Hmm. Let's see. Before I came to Ista, I saw 'Reaches and Igen. People seem more talkative here, though." That sends him looking about the area, even waving to those he's not met: Mohria, Crispin, Nolee. "Heya!"

In the galleries, With only an overdone sigh for the comment on stew, Ellery sits back for a few minutes just to examine the eggs--something she hasn't had time for in the midst off all the chatter she's been involved in. Soon she's stirred by another bit of a comment caught that comes from B'rakis, something about sweeps. The rider leans back in her chair slightly, expression pensive, and then addresses her Wingsecond. "Hey... Jillah? You know that Drek kid?"

V'lano's arm settles behind the weyrwoman's shoulders. "They made some lovely dragons last time. I think they're all nice." Even the greenish one, though since the bronzerider's eyes skate toward it and just as quickly dart away - all innocence - that might be all bluster. "She still doing well? Not the best... conditions." His free hand again pushes limp curls back from a condensation-dampened forehead.

In the galleries, Jillah settles back into her seat, smiling in a thin manner at Naemyr's oh so chipper tone. She methodically finishes her dinner, and nods to D'ar's very quiet excused and understated leavetaking from the small group he'd been talking to.

A few gentle nudges press Aerianth's new treasures more closely together and the sweep of her talons mounds the black sand safely around them. After her last egg comes, she settles down contentedly to curl around her clutch with protective pride.

In the galleries, Gerand watches Lirit make her way over toward the others, with a little chuckle, turning his own eyes to observe that direction as well, after a glance toward the next egg to arrive.

In the galleries, Crispin beams, "I love it here! I don't get sick all the time." He cranes his neck to wave back to Naemyr, "Hi!" Then he wiggles free from Kaelyn's grasp with a kiss to her cheek. His mom gets a quick kiss too, "I've got to go," he says, dancing for a moment before he turns and dashes out. Cedar rumbles softly and wings after his charge.

In the galleries, Jillah ayeps at Ellery's question, eyes turing in the direction Drek sped away, "I know him. Little sneak."

Volath knows, instinctively or from some cue of the queen's, that it's over. His attention turns from the egg he'd been shoring sand up around to Aerianth, and after she's finished with that last egg, he wanders over toward her and dares to take up a place curled at her side, keeping watch.

In the galleries, Crispin walks down the stairs towards the entrance.

In the galleries, Kaelyn chuckles as she thinks back to their weyrling days, "Oh so they still do that even if you have been a rider for turns huh? Remember when G'non got in his bed full of fish?" She grins and reaches up to play with Crispin's hair before he dashes out. "I'm glad you don't sick anymore love. See you later."

In the galleries, Cynara hrms. "Looks like she's stopped...only fourteen. Smaller clutch than Igen's last one." A certain amount of pride there for her home Weyr. "But still nice eggs, for sure."

In the galleries, Nolee's now standing indecisively on the stairs, and from here she can see past the taller people to notice that there are eggs out on those dark sands. After admiring them open mouthed, she whiffs the scent, which is a persuasive deterrent. Her towel is lifted to cover her nose and mouth, and she takes a guess about the direction of departure of filthy Drek, only slipping once on the steps before regaining her balance.

In the galleries, Nolee walks down the stairs towards the entrance.

In the galleries, Mohria laughs and nods, "Aye, I do remember that." She nods after Crispin, "I'm so glad he doesn't get sick anymore." Her eyes flicker in remembered worry and then she straightens. "How's Reaches?"

In the galleries, Ellery seems a touch surprised, and perhaps a bit hesitant once Jillah voices her less-than-glowing opinion. "Oh? Huh, you don't say? I hadn't gotten that impression, we've only just had the one conversation..." But she trails off, apparently unwilling to go into that talk before she figures out the "sneak" label. "He's done something more annoying than your typical weyrbrat, then?"

"Fourteen," Griere says, grinning a little more broadly now that it's all done, now that the bronze has taken his place at the tired queen's side. "Fourteen eggs." She's quite satisfied.

"Fourteen -lovely- eggs," V'lano corrects, cheerfully indulgent. "Have you had dinner? We can go get - or if you don't want to leave her yet, I'll bring you some. I should try to track down D'ar."

In the galleries, Jillah shrugs, and fishes out a bit of white candy, nibbling it as she says, "I don't trust him. He's too...he reminds me of a wild canine. All guile and wiles, and smart. And bite you when you don't see it comin."

In the galleries, Kaelyn sighs softly and shrugs, "Its alright I guess. I miss you guys a little even though it only takes 5 heartbeats to come home here to you. Things seem different. I'm not sure how to explain it. I barely see the kids. Jarcyn seems to always be in some sort of trouble. Shar and I are thinking of sending him to Keroon or something." She chuckles at the thought of her other son.

In the galleries, Lyss can't help but notice Jillah's thin smile--or, so looking, the approach of Lirit. "We can just hope you're not the only one to have decided to be happy today, because look who's on her way to join us." It's a carefully bland look that Lyss throws back at the approaching bluerider, clear enough, to those who can interpret her expressions, that she's worried about a scene. "Your first at Ista, then," she agrees amicably. "And I could do with a little less talk. It can't be helping with the heat."

In the galleries, Mohria applauds, "Fourteen, that's very good for an interval." She wraps an arm around Kaelyn and gives her a hug, "It sounds like you need a vacation."

The steam plumes have slowed, but still occasionally roll in from the sea on thick, heated waves, making the air heavy and damp.