A Night to Remember (HATCHING FEAST)

[kirensilverfox]

Megdela twirled in her dark blue dress as she waited for her mother to join her. She had cye perched on her shoulder and he chirped at her as she twirled almost as if he was scolding cause she almost unseated him at the movement. Her dress was pretty and a bit more older looking now that she got a new dress but she still had a pocket in it for cye to curl in even though he was getting bigger and could barely fit in the pocket any longer. She was a bit worried she had noticed that he still wasn't between as much as the other bratpacks flits. She hurried ahead to the party knowing her mother would just join some of the other women and she went to go looking for other members of the bratpack. She worried a bit though the others were getting older and soon they were gonna move on and leave her behind as they either impressed or became apprentices.

She was thinking about being left behind soon and didn't notice the others at first and past by them lost in her thoughts.

[HG]

He nodded at T’mar and walked with him to the Dining Hall where once more the splendor and abundance of food and goods overwhelmed the Holdless bred lad. G’off liked nice things and often felt compelled to have them for himself. One could say he was greed driven but at such a young age it was hard to judge him solely on the fact that he wanted things that he saw other people have. He was born to a world where eating was something that happened irregularly and people did not keep belongings that did not serve a direct day to day purpose.

In answer to the other youth’s question he shrugged, “As Danuth says, the dragon always knows what is best for them. He would not have chosen a girl if it was not the absolute best fit for him. Should be interesting to see how other people treat her though. They say she has been given an honorific as well. Now won’t all the female greenriders be clamoring for them too?” He did not really mind one way or another. Girls were an enigma that only some people seemed to be able to understand. He was glad his name had not changed too much but losing three or four letters in a name meant a completely different sounding one. G’off was pretty sure that would have not only confused him but made him a little angry. He had been given his name on purpose. The thought of changing it entirely would be like losing part of his identity. He would no longer have had a part of himself. Luckily Geoff and G’off sounded remarkably similar.

With his blue dragon sleeping peacefully at the Barracks despite the commotion of all the new additions, he found himself wondering where they were going to fit the next batch? He needn’t be concerned it was obvious what was going to happen. The Cosmic Weyrlings could fly now, with riders. They would be given their own personal weyrs. It was almost Graduation as it was though G’off was not certain he would be allowed to Graduate just yet. He was fourteen going on fifteen and they often held back the younger boys and girls an extra Turn to ensure they were able to be responsible to join a wing and could handle the physical demands of being a full-fledged rider.

Once they entered the Dining Hall, G’off slid through the masses of people gathered for the event. The small but growing youth moved with ease and grace through the crowds and quickly lost T’mar. He was going to get some food and sit down, T’mar would find him later.

[HG]

Her brother was more right than he could know. Of course she would make them all jealous, thought the red haired girl to herself. What did they have in their souls that shined any brighter than her own. She was younger besides. The future was hers just as the present and past were theirs. Kreallie would have her day in the sun when she would be looked on as the most powerful and beautiful woman on Pern. When this day came, she would be free finally to do whatever she wished without whispers of rumors or slanders sent her way. She would no longer be treated as an outsider as she was now. Being from Haven had had its disadvantages to be sure but no one could doubt their family now. J’ldaem was Weyrleader . No one could take that away from them, not now, not ever.

With Refuge Weyr now under her brother’s control all that she had to do was be the good little lady they all believed her to be. Of all the pretty young girls she knew herself to be above them. All flowers were pretty but roses had thorns. Aware as she was of the other young folk spreading rumors about her, she tended towards ambivalence when it came to her age-group peers. The young girl would be a woman soon and able to make more decisions for herself. Whether her brother wanted her to or not, next Turn she would be standing for one of these clutches. No dragon would turn her down, at least, not one that was sane.

She watched as her self-proclaimed nemesis walked into the Dining Hall. She was flushed, perhaps embarrassed? Kreallie never felt flustered just entering a room. Maybe Seirsha was going to fall ill? Wouldn’t that be nice? A smile lit her dark eyes that glistened beneath the light red of her eyebrows and stood out against the paleness of her flesh. She would revel in finding out the cause of the other girl’s unease and inflicting the most suffering as she could on her when she did. Siersha was nothing more than a girl who did not know her place in the grand scheme of life. Kreallie knew hers. It was at the top, above all the people who sought to make her a compliant, baby making whore. That was not something she was okay with. Not in the slightest. Men here passed women about like they were playing with toys the others wanted. It was disgusting. While she wanted to believe her brother better than the rest of them, she knew it was just as true for him.

Deciding watching the Brat Pack stand around and do nothing was almost as tedious as talking with one or more of them, she sauntered off to find something to nibble on. She was certain the music would keep her entertained for the entire evening for Kreallie had yet to hear a song which made her anything but happy to have heard it. The dancing would be fairly amazing too from the people she had witnessed entering.

[hbk]

Suynie didn't pay much attention to Hinuk's behavior, he was a young boy after all so she was sure that he had more "important" things on his mind than the woman his dad was taking to the Hatching Feast. In fact, she believed that the weyrbrat's young friend, Thoran, had Impressed to a brown. Walking in to the Dining Cavern with D'seus, Suynie was acutely aware of what a striking couple they made and was once again so very thankful that Zorometh had caught Rhiannoth.

Keeping her hand tucked into the crook of D'seus's arm, the goldrider smirked to herself at the looks that D'seus earned from greenriders, and weyr women alike. Yes, she was certainly the luckiest woman in the Weyr that night.

"Some wine would be lovely." She smiled at D'seus as he asked. Scanning the crowd she looked for the Senior Weyrwoman and Weyrleader, thinking that she should congratulate them on the success of their first clutch at Refuge. If you call several duds a success.

[freya]

A'on was excited about attending the hatching feast for Gold Issarith latest clutch. He'd heard that the hatching had been one of success with several new weyrlings though there we're a few duds. The rumors that A'on had heard that this was the normal with queens from long ago. His smile was apparent as he got dressed in a white shirt and black pants. A cocky nature was a trait of A'on and it showed as he left his blue dragon in the weyr to attend the feast. He wore a pair of black boots that we're shined to show off how confident A'on was on this night. The blue rider would congratulate the young girl that had impressed a blue it was almost unheard of in the last few turns.

He entered the hatching feast to see everyone in their finest clothing and he smiled. The young man was glad to see everyone had their best on and we're enjoying themselves they all deserved this very much. When he walked over to the nearest table to get something to eat and to find someone to dance with on this night. A'on had quite the repetition with ladies at the weyr and this was a night for him to have fun. His eyes wondered over the different young female riders and knew that this night would end well as he started to mingle.

[HG]

She did not have time to meet up with her twin before a man found her. And not just any man. The Weyrleader, which to some might have made no difference but Vaylee found men in power to be very attractive for just that reason. “Good evening to you Weyrleader J’ldaem. Congratulations.” Her blue eyes looked up at him and she smiled the words coming smoothly off of her tongue without rehearsing, “Compliments from you are always welcome.”

The greenrider was not going to pretend she wasn’t interested. She never had before with any man she found interesting and or attractive. It was no secret that Vaylee went through men the way some of the male dragonriders went through women. She saw nothing wrong with having a good time. She made sure nothing more came of things. After all, she was well aware that J’ldaem was otherwise ensnared.

Vaylee was looking him over with a practiced eye. His clothes were impeccable, matching his position well and not to mention his looks. “You were going for the sexy and unattainable Weyrleader look right?” She asked with a small, lighthearted chuckle. No woman in their right mind would ignore such a man. So she wondered if maybe Sakorai was not in her right mind at the moment. With a slender hand bringing the wine to her lips she mused about her current situation before addressing the dark haired Bronzerider again. She was fairly certain he would rather be with Sakorai at that moment but the evening was young, if he did find his way back to the Weyrwoman, she would have plenty of time to find someone else to fill her night with.

“Care to dance?” She asked, although she could not quite remember how good or bad a dancer he was. Since the Weyrwoman was on her way to the dance-floor already it seemed this would be a good way to gauge the waters. As she waited for a response, she finished her glass of wine and caught site of her sister, who was also busy at the moment. Well at least she had not blown Zaylee off.

[HG]

He never forgot the feeling of his first Hatching Feast as a newly Impressed rider. The whole night he had spent wondering about Zorometh and thinking perhaps he would rather be watching the Bronze sleep than celebrating his Impression. T’ran would probably be a busy lad tonight so D’seus would make it a point to congratulate him quickly. First thing was first though, the Junior Weyrwoman wanted a glass of wine. He nodded to her, “I’ll be just a moment then.” D’seus walked neither quickly nor slowly, admiring the Hall as he made his way to the crowded wine table.

Like any home, he knew most of the people who mattered and a good deal of the people who might not seem to matter. So walking to the wine table and back was quite the endeavor as more than a few people stopped to say hello to the Weyrsecond. Some from his wing had already had their fair share of wine. To a couple of them he reminded them that Feasts did not mean drills were cancelled the next morning. Not the most popular of sentiments. Some of the people he only commented about the clutch, in a positive way and moved a little farther forward.

By the time he got back to Suynie he felt as if a half a candlemark had passed and it probably had. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” He lifted the wine goblet to put in her hand. He had chosen a white wine to start the evening as he preferred red wine with food. “I see the Harpers have already begun to play for the dancing.” He looked out to see who exactly was on the dance floor. It looked as if the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader were on their way…but with other people.

Did he have to remind everyone that appearances were everything in politics? Running a Weyr was more political than they obviously realized. To be a public figure meant to create a feeling of security and stability for the people whom one was serving. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as he pictured it being. Perhaps they were only starting out with other people and would end the Feast together. A couple dances shouldn’t ruin one’s reputation but in the Weyr, it very well could. The way rumors spread it would not surprise him if people began to say some very awful things about J’ldaem and Sakorai.

The Weyrsecond decided he need not be babysitter. The only thing he had to do tonight was be there for Suynie and congratulate the Leaders as well as the newly Impressed. “When we’re done would you like to dance?”

[SnickersPods]

The wind caught at Briac's messy mop of black hair, fruitlessly tossing it haphazardly as his ride spiralled down into the Weyrbowl. The blue he was strapped too announced himself as they drew nearer, at a point where the wind would not snatch the greeting from the air and carry it asunder. Briac gripped the straps around his thick waist tighter, the thick leather curving against the inexorable pressure. Instinct prodded him to reach out and grasp at the reassuring solidity of the Blue Rider ahead of him, but pride kept his hands welded to the harness instead. The Blue coasted across the floor of the Weyr, neatly flaring his jewel-toned wings and dropping to all fours in an efficient manoeuvre. Briac instantly unbuckled the contraption that held him in place and swung a thick tree trunk leg over the ridge of his escort. He dropped to the ground in a single unbroken movement, if not for the ungraceful stumble the unexpectedly high drop forced on him. The Blue rider took a more sedate pace to disentangling himself, sliding down to the graciously lifted foreleg of his life-partner and hoping a short distance to the ground thereafter.

Briac waited with a scowl plastered on his face, his defensive facade his reaction to feeling out of depth and outnumbered. Beast and man spent some time removing the harness and communing silently, ignoring Briac as he stood there watching them. He curled his fists into balls, fighting his mounting anger with what he thought was herculean effort. Feeling vulnerable and self-conscious were two experiences Briac liked to pretend did not happen, the very fact that they were stubbornly happening despite his best efforts to ignore them was making him tempestuous.

The Blue Rider sensed Briac's mounting anger like an incoming storm, heavy and very surely on the horizon. He had grown weary of his constant dark cloud of hostility and was more than willing to hand the boy over to the Candidate Master and join in the merry making going on in the hall. He knew of one place were S'nuo would be, exactly the same place everyone else was sure to be. He looked woefully down at his riding gear, very different from the fancy outfit he'd had tailored for the occasion. There was nothing for it, as the Rider that had Searched Briac it was his duty to deliver him safely into the hands of S'nuo before he could kick up his heels. Not for the first time he cursed the wound that prevented him going between that would have had him here in time to witness the hatching.

Briac was stiff all over, muscles creaking with each minute shift in weight. Finally, he was gestured to follow, and he jerked into a strangely fluid march after the taller man. Watching Briac cover the ground was like watching a well-oiled machine, one that had no intended purpose other than to go on gyrating smoothly for the ineffable future. Approaching the WeyrHall Briac, and several blind and deaf monks for that matter, couldn't fail to notice the party in full swing, the colourful people creating a glorious kaleidoscope of dazzling jewels as they danced and mingled. Briac halted at the edge of the gathering, toes just short of the indefinable line between outside and in, as his guide walked straight into the ensemble. He returned quickly, an expression of annoyance clear on his handsome face, and instructed Briac to stay where he was whilst he found someone called S'nuo. Briac scowled at his retreating back, but finding no suitable alternatives in the unknown Weyr, he waited.

Briac watched the crowd from his disappointing vantage, that is to say he watched the outermost people, as he couldn't see over even if he tried an undignified jump. What he could see was a milling collection of what he privately thought of as 'the beautiful people'. They were all stunning, and tall he spitefully thought. He knew he wasn't ugly, but with his height and near constant aura of simmering anger, which was constantly mistaken for dislike, people who looked like them generally avoided him. He wondered if that would be any different in a Weyr, having no experience of them for the most part. He had heard stories from the people at the cothold he'd been with in the area up until recently, but most of them sounded like legends and fairy tales, of a people far too noble to be real. Still, unfamiliar hope stirred in his bosom and Briac crossed his massive arms across his chest, shoulders swelling as muscles struggled to move aside for each other, unconsciously holding it close. He shuffled slightly to the side and leant his back against the stone wall behind him, his brown eyes following scraps of movement in a constant flowing pattern as he waited.

[hbk]

Suynie, fortunately, hadn't noticed that it had taken D'seus a while to make it back with his drink. Just as he had been busy greeting people on his way to gather refreshment, she had been smiling, nodding, and having polite conversations with the dragonriders and weyrfolk that milled around her. Since she'd only been back a few months from her one Turn leave from Refuge, Suynie was still getting reacquainted with people and the Junior Weyrwoman could tell that people were finally starting to warm up to her again. She was certain that once Rhiannoth had a strong, healthy clutch on the Sands their attitudes would change completely.

"Thank you, D'seus." She smiled at the Weyrsecond as he rejoined her, one slender hand taking the glass of wine that he offered. White wine wasn't her favorite, but it was nice enough to sip since the Dining Cavern was hot with the amount of people pressed into it.

At D'seus mention of the harpers, Suynie looked out expectantly to the dance floor where couples were beginning to meander. Dancing had always been something that Suynie enjoyed, although there hadn't been much occasion for it in the past Turn.

When the Weyrsecond offered a dance, Suynie raised both eyebrows, "I would love to, in fact, I can finish this glass of wine in a flash for the chance at a dance." She grinned and winked at him. Suynie wasn't going to pass up the opportunity at dancing, especially with D'seus.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

J’ldaem of Tseravith
Weyrleader && Pyralis Wingleader

”Thank you, my sweet Vaylee. Here’s to a healthy and bright future for these new dragons of Refuge Weyr.”

Her congratulations for the clutch were welcomed, the man pouring a cup of white wine before he made a small toast between them. Duds aside he had been rather pleased with the clutch’s results; not a bad one considering the small size of Issarith and her arduous timed jump between just before her flight. In all honesty the man had expected half of that clutch to not even make it, though he had kept those thoughts well guarded from his Tseravith. He made a mental note to keep tabs on the bronze and two browns produced in their union – all three dragonets looked promising; as well as their Chosen ones.

”You were going for the sexy and unattainable Weyrleader look right?”
”What can I say; as leader of the Weyr appearances have to be maintained. Plus I’ve heard women are fairly attracted to unattainable things.”

It felt goodto have some time to relax and just enjoy himself, the sevendays from Issarith’s flight until now had been exhausting and daunting; from getting up to date with the previous projects started by A’lez to dealing with the North as well as dealing with the moody and broody Tseravith ever since the eggs had been laid in the sands. His wing had also had it rough honestly, much to their chagrin J’ldaem liked to relieve stress by drilling as hard as possible his squad (when he wasn’t drilling someone else of couse) in order to keep them in tip-top shape. It had been this factor that had lead him to give them the day off tomorrow to enjoy the feast today as they saw fit – Faranth knew the men and women in Pyralis deserved it with the practices he made them go through with.

Some time had been spent in small chit-chat and flirting with Vaylee as each continued to drink their wine, small conversation to get to know one another just enough to not make an evening awkward. He’d just been about to offer to dance when the greenrider spoke up first, a charming smirk lining his lips as the man also finished his wine, a hand extended and offered to Vaylee in an affirmative response. ”I would be but a foolhardy wherry to deny myself the honor of dancing with such a charming young woman as yourself, Vaylee. Shall we?” He waited enough for her to grab his palm, deftly leading her into the dance floor and avoiding any of the current dancing couples.

Dancing had been something J’ldaem more than enjoyed; and the man was fairly good at it if he said so himself. Nimble and swift on his feet movements came to him just as fluid as water running its course through a stream; and he was not shy of showing off his talent. With ease he caught to the current beat of the music, soon enough having led themselves to the center of the room as he took the lead in their dance. His right hand caressed the dragonhealer’s waist tenderly, the faint and gentle pressure applied on the off occasion enough to hint at the woman to where he wanted her to move as the dance progressed.

”I have to compliment you, Vaylee, your dancing is exquisite.”

He had continued to dance, up until the point the man stumbled for just a sliver of a second in his feet before regaining his composure. His eyes however had adverted away from the lovely young woman within his grasp; turning instead to watch over R’kin as he led his younger sister to the dance floor like a hawk. If stares could kill there was no doubt soon to be graduated Weyrling would not have lived to see that joyful day; but as it was R’kin was lucky this was a public activity, and that he was currently engaged with beautiful Vaylee.

”Sorry about that, my dear, it will not happen twice.”

Excusing himself for his slight miss-stepping moments earlier his eyes returned to regard the greenrider; though he always kept the other pair close in his rear view as much as he could.

[Lady Smara]

The blue rider finally returned with one of ‘the beautiful people’ in tow. The man stood a solid 6’2” and could easily tower over the glass-maker. Tanned skin from turns in the southern sun and the chiseled physic that betold the man’s hours of physical work as a dragonrider was shown off to its best in the loose white tunic who’s V’neck center was untied and hanging open.

What was different, however, was that this man kept his hair cut close, just a stiff stubble covering the top of his head that really could use to be shaved short again before the endless drills would turn the mess into a mop of sweat that he despised. Better to let the skin breath and feel the cool air when riding helmets were removed.

The man, however, had been scowling at the blue rider before the man finally gave an exasperated wave of his hand toward the Glass-maker. S’nuo lifted his eyes to the shorter man before letting out a sigh. Tipping back a glass to finish it, he handed the empty glass to the offended bluerider and took another two glasses from a passing greenrider. Ignoring the shouts that followed, the Candidate Master gave the stranger to the Weyr a smile.

“I hear your looking for the Candidate Master? From up North. Tell you what, We’ll get you something to eat then I’ll show you the Candidate Barracks and get you settled in.” he offered, offering the second glass of Southern Wine in the same movement. The Southern Wine was similar to Benden Red, but with a bit more of a spice to it that stung the tip of the tongue and left the gullet warm.

[SnickersPods]

Briac straightened as the Blue Rider returned, a veritable mountain of a man in his wake. He couldn't help it, he stared. Though Briac's personal tastes veered towards a more feminine type of man, even he had to appreciate the raw male beauty this one portrayed. Plus, he loomed, with very little effort, which was always impressive even as it was aggravating. Briac very nearly sniggered as S'nuo neatly dismissed his escort, sensing the Blue's dislike like an abused canine learns to sense meanness.

Briac opened his mouth to tell S'nuo that he had in fact been told very little, and wasn't aware he had been looking for the Candidate Master. His stomach gurgling audibly interrupted him however, and Briac would have flushed if his pride didn't stamp it down with a vengeance. He cleared his throat instead, "Food, would be good." He wasn't much for words except when they suited him, but the inflection in his tone clearly spoke of his gratitude for the offer.

He eyed the goblet for only a shade longer than was technically polite, but eventually accepted it with a murmured thanks that sounded rusty even to him. He took a sip, wary of Southern Wine from his previous experience with the alcohol. Actually, alcohol in general was a bad idea with Briac, despite his sturdy build he was something of a lightweight when it got right down to it. He nursed it in his mouth, savouring the spread of the slight sting across his tongue. It scorched on its way down, though not unpleasantly, and removed any lingering chill the flight in had left. He knew that if he wanted to maintain any dignity he would nurse this single glass for the rest of his time at the feast, and would avoid any and all refills.

[Lady Smara]

S’nuo did not miss that the man’s mouth and stomach seemed discordinated as his mouth fell open to a loud grumble and a quick clearing of the throat. Despite himself, the Candidate Master knew he would need to slow his own celebrations tonight – at least until the boy was put away safely – or else he would end up laughing at everything like he laughed now at the man’s quick coverup. Ah well, one slip while wine was in his hand did not mean that he was not a respectable ranker in the Weyr. Sure, the man just gotten here would be gathering his first impression tonight, but S’nuo knew he’d have more than enough time to remedy that first impression and set it straight.

“Right. Food it is then.” He said, clapping a calloused hand on the shorter man’s shoulder, probably a little heavier than needed as he then used the same shoulder to steer the man through the crowd toward the fire pits and tables laden with food. S’nuo, not the shy type, picked up a plate for and handed it to the man before taking the liberty of deciding what looked good to go onto the plate. A good helping of roasted wherry, dripping in a brown gravy was followed by mashed tubers and a pile of various green plants that had been steamed and buttered. Tossing two plain rolls on top to help soak up the butter and gravy, S’nuo then pointed toward a table that held not one dragonrider, but three. Two men and a woman laughing heartily.

“Go and sit and eat. I’ll be right back.” And by right back S’nuo really meant only four steps behind as he moved to another table to swipe a bubbly pie as well as two sweetrolls on another plate and followed his shorter charge. Sitting down heavily next to the man, he slid over the second plate to show it was meant for him as well before stealing one of the sweetrolls and picking it apart to munch on.

“Where are you from in the North?” he asked curiously as he eyed the man and thought upon the accent that was slightly different than his own. Easily accountable simply due to distance of hold and Weyr.

[SnickersPods]

Briac's brows winged down as S'nuo laughed at his unfortunate gaffe. A scowl curved his mouth for a moment, displeased with the imagined slight from the older man. It cleared up quickly though as he promised food, the hunger for once trouncing Briac's desire to defend his pride. He was baffled to find himself rather deftly steered through the crowd with a minimum of fuss; something about this man seemed to part the milling group like a feline through a herd. The hand on his shoulder was firm and uncompromising, and Briac was too tired and out of his depth to rouse himself to care enough.

The broad plate was delivered safely into his large hands, and quickly piled high with food. Briac stared at it as the good fair filled his plate to the edges. He'd gone a large portion of his life with barely enough to keep him going, and even after that time he'd only had enough to feed him, and it was all relatively plain. He'd never once eaten himself into satiation, and had discovered to his chagrin a massive appetite went with his shorter stature. He could have teared up looking at all the decadent food S'nuo was just giving him, without even a second thought.

Too distracted with the smorgasbord before him Briac obediently went to the indicated table, sitting and digging in without ceremony. Chew, chew, chew, swallow, groan with pleasure. The dragonrider closest to overhear him tossed a perplexed look at the glass-smith as he continued to devour his plate. Thankfully, even soaked in his gravy-induced insanity, Briac remembered to chew with his mouth closed and not drool. S'nuo was barely a few steps behind him, and as the sweet treats came into Briac's view, he nearly choked on his mouthful. He carefully finished chewing and swallowed, and without consciously considering it, S'nuo suddenly popped into the category marked 'people I like.'

He considered his question, not sure what he should and shouldn't tell him. He found a napkin - where had that come from? - and wiped his mouth before speaking. "I was apprenticed over at Ista Glass Hall," he explained as he loaded his fork in preparation for the next delicious taste explosion; when did he last have butter, maybe three years ago? "I was on my way to a senior apprentice position, not sure entirely what happened, still a little fuzzy there. In any case I was found washed ashore down the coastline from a cothold, the one on the northern most tip of this continent. I stayed, since passage back was out of the question. S'been probably a year since then, the rest you know." Story told he shovelled more food in, suppressing another groan less successfully than he would have liked.

[Lady Smara]

“The Glass Hall? You know, you might just become the healer’s best friend. Last I heard they were upset over the quality that they were able to get from a Glass crafter a few cotholds over. We don’t have many left in the south. I admit, A’lez had the right idea bringing crafters South again.”

Watching the young man eat with quite an appetite made S’nuo grin. He loved to see an individual eat when they were not carrying around extra weight – it meant that they worked for a living. And Faranth only knew that candidates were put to work around here helping with the basics of the Weyr. With this man knowing how to work glass, S’nuo was sure that someone – be it the Weyrwoman herself or the Headwoman – would set to work setting up a workshop for him so that they could get some much needed containers and implements to restock the caverns.

When the man finally finished his plate, in apparent extacsy, S’nuo pushed over the bubbly and sweet roll with a grin. “It’s a hatching feast man. Eat up. Do you want seconds? To be honest I’m not sure how much more you can fit in there, but rest assured there will be leftovers tomorrow.” Raising an eyebrow he grinned wider and decided to add, “And you’ll not be going hungry if you earn your share.”

About this time a woman walked up to tap S’nuo on the shoulder and ask him for a dance. Glancing at the young man to make sure he still had a bubbly pie to occupy himself, he smiled and obliged the woman. “I’ll be right back.” And with that he whisked her off for a quick dance before returning to the young man.

With S’nuo’s uncanny memory for names, he had only needed the other bluerider to tell him once for the candidate master to remember. “Alright Briac, if you are done eating, I’ll take you to the Barracks. We’ll get you a bunk and a chest. Then you can turn in for the night or return to the party.” Tilting his head toward the entrance they had come in, S’nuo lead his way through the crowd – caught only once more by another woman who he politely declined this time. When the woman looked at S’nuo’s company she put her hands on her hips and huffed.

“Oh S’nuo, when will you ever settle down with a good girl?”
“When you find me one, Estrali. Shells know you don’t fit the description.”

At that S’nuo had to dodge a playful swing of fist as he finally lead Briac out the WeyrHall and into the darker and quieter Weyrbowl.