Harper's Tale - Zi'n - Monday, October 16, 2000, 9:31 PM

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Orbyth> Down down down you go, heading along the well-worn path to the base of the Weyr's great falls.

Orbyth> Waterfall's Basin

Orbyth> The weyr's fresh-water pool flows clean and clear, almost undisturbed by the river that rests here after crashing down from the heights above. This small bay is neatly surrounded by a series of smooth stone steps and hidden beaches, a haven from the wider lake beyond before the water drops further to the sea below.

Orbyth> One gnarled, ancient tree has survived the ravages of time and Thread, reaching up towards the cliff above and the water below. A set of cruide boards makes the climb an easy one. The beach stretches, wide and warm, the waterfall quite a swim distant.

Orbyth> It is a winter midmorning.

Orbyth> On the perch is Gwyna.

Orbyth> Blue Celth is here.

Orbyth> You see Flamer and Calista's Cool-Cat Cot here.

Orbyth> You notice P'kar asleep here.

Orbyth> C'ran and Zi'n are here.

Orbyth> Obvious exits:

Orbyth> Branch Forest Path

Orbyth arrives from the Weyr-paths, accompained by the crash and tumble of the waterfall.

Zi'n half-runs towards C'ran, pausing respectfully before the Weyrlingmaster. Hair mussed, shirt only half-buttoned - in the wrong holes at that - and a generally rumpled appearance leaves suspicions of this weyrling being dragged away from whatever he was doing - probably dressing... "Oh! Sorry, am I late? I was just, um...." Orbyth is eyed significally.

C'ran cocks his head to the side, leaning against the small blue behind him "Was starting to think you weren't going to make it, shame on you lad." he waits for a moment, hiding a grin behind a feirce scowl "And you're supposed to be saluting weyrling."

Orbyth all but bounds in, stopping next to Z'in and looking very pointedly at the water. The bronze takes a testing step towards the water and then looks up at his rider before taking another step. A high, questioning note escapes the dragon, a hint of impatience tinging the sound.

Blushing feriously, Zi'n does his best to salute C'ran without poking himself in the eye or dropping the one boot that hangs off his hand. "I'm sorry, sir, very sorry," the crimson-cheeked weyrling gasps, looking as if he doesn't know whether to keep saluting, throw himself at the weyrlingmaster's feet or try to put on his right boot. Orbyth gets a disapproving look, even though that mushy mushy love shines through the hazel gaze. "Orbyth, /behave/!"

C'ran (#7643)

male Ista Weyr Weyrlingmaster

Upon looking at C'ran, attention is immidiately drawn to his eyes. Within the bright sapphire orbs glow a warm inviting fire that proclaims this rider to be your best friend and worthy of your trust and admiration. Below, a small nose is proportional to a pair of lips often set in a mischivious smile, one that speaks of a desire to play. Rounding out the picture, a full head of coppery red hair cascades down about his face. Much to his dismay, those shining locks never remain quiescent, blowing across his face or falling into his eyes at the worst moment. For all his prescence, the man is short of stature, having grown to a height of 5'6" and no heigher. Small or not, its still no stranger to work with a well muscled lean grace, every movement fluid and confident.

Liquid ebony pours over C'ran's lithe body, form-fitting leathers of cured, oiled wherhide leaving nothing to the imagination. Glistening jacket is devoid of decouration, cropped at his hips, small onyx buttons blending into shadow over his chest. A second supple skin of over-softened sable 'hide coats well-muscled legs; even his glossy black boots meld seamlessly to his calves.

IC Age: 33 Turns, 10 months, and 17 days

Zi'n (#17149)

Long strands of hair fall in errant strands over this young man's face, the color a darker brown than before, but the auburn refused to leave and is now showing in reddish highlights. Eyes, always half-covered behind the locks, usually gleam with humor and mischief, bright hazel orbs dusted with emerald flecks always alert and alive with curiosity. Well-tanned skin stretches over smooth, lean muscles, a sprinkle of freckles occasionally appearing around nose and cheeks. Although a bit on the short side, and rather lean, there isn't anything noticeable about this young man's body, except from a few small scars one might notice when his arms are bare.

Wherhide trousers of a dusty black color cling to the lean legs of this weyrling - obviously, tey've seen better times, but are still much to prefer over new, snaring leathers. Bright orange, bright enough to hurt the eyes of anyone but a persistent lifemate, drapes over his shoulders in a simple tunic which disappears into the waistline of black wherhide. Boots, well-worn as always, bear sign of being done in a hurry, the laces occasionally poking out of the wrong hole, or disappearing totally within the leather. Zi's bag hangs loosely over Zi'n's shoulder.

The darkest black of the universal sky is braided together with the bright orange of Rukbat's unsheated light, creating an Ista Weyr Weyrling's knot. In the middle is a ribbon of bronzen russet, a simple token of bronze Orbyth's constant presence.

Zi'n is 23 Turns, 2 months, and 1 day old.

C'ran just chuckles and shakes his head with amusement "My goodness, today seems to be a bit disorganized. Are you two ready to take a bath then? You could ceratinly use it to be sure." it'll be a cool bath, but a bath nonetheless.

Orbyth takes one more step towards the water, and then swishes his tail around behind his riders legs to try and give Zi'n a helping hand in the right direction. The bronze rumbles slightly at the telling off, but his attention is still on that pool.

"Ah, yes, very re..." Whatever Zi'n meant to say next is drowned - literally - as he suddenly finds himself very close to the water. So close, in fact, that he gets wet from falling headlong into the pool. Blob. Blob. "Orbyth!" The shriek is heard as the baffled weyrling resurfaces, spluttering cool water all over. "Control that tail!" How embarassing. What won't C'ran think?

More like when will C'ran stop laughing, he's nearly doubled over in stitches. "Oh my, you're going to have to work on that one aren't you. I'm sure you needed it though, feel free to swim around for a bit."

Orbyth happily splashes in after Zi'n without a shread of remorse, tail now thrashing to send waves at the weyrling rider. The bronze curves his neck around to sniff at the waters surface as he picks his feet up and puts them down on the pools bottom.

"But I wanted to take /off/ my clothes first," Zi'n scolds and then, realizing how /that/ sounded, turns scarlet once again, quickly ducking down behind Orbyth's bulk. Oh, look, there's a dragon! Hazel eyes turn almost pleading as the weyrling tries to catch the attention of his lifemate, his arms encircling that ever-craning neck. Focus. Eesh. Just for a moment, /please/. "So, um, now what, sir?" Squeak. Is he still supposed to salute..?

C'ran finally regains his composure, tossing his slacks aside and wading in "Now, we wash. A lot of the cleaning is actually done when the dragon swims around, they all seem to love it. Then you take some sweet sand, I hope you brought some, and start scrubbing, he'll tell you where he wants it."

Eek. Sweetsand? He was supposed to bring it? Oh, wait, he actually did... Zi'n smiles in relief, retrieving a small bag of 'sand from one of his pockets. "Alright... um, Orbyth?" Weyrling turns inquiringly towards his lifemate, smiling tenderly at the bronzen head in front of him. "Where d'you want me to scrub?"

Orbyth rather likes this water stuff at the moment, though he does gives his lifemate a quick whuffle before he goes back to trying out what he can do with this new piece of fun. The bronze ducks his head under the water, Zi'ns question seemingly not too important at the moment as one set of lids cover his eyes an he explores underwater a bit. Moving his head to get a better look, Orbyth soon pulls it out of the water again rather quickly as he gets a suprise. Bubbles!

C'ran chuckles and just shakes his head 'one of those..' the bubble type, they're always fun. "Okay Orbyth, come on. You've got to learn how to do this too." besides, it'll be fun.

Zi'n takes a rather off-clue and tentatively starts scrubbing a probably itchy spot on Orbyth's neck, all the while eyeing the bronze just in case he does it wrong. Just look what happened when he isn't agitating the big-big dragon.... meep. "Um, Orbyth... listen to the weyrlingmaster," hisses the weyrling through gritted teeth, nodding in said person's direction. Bad dragon.

Orbyth's attention does switch now, the dragon deciding to take a closer look at this sweetsand stuff his lifemate has decided to rub all over his neck. Interesting. The bronze manages to get some on the end of his nose as he complete his inspection, then placing his muzzle in a convient place for Zi'n to do something about that.

C'ran nods encouragingly, stepping around to watch with a careful eye "There now, that's it. Just listen to what he has to say, be gentle at the wing membranes and other delicate spots, but other then that, don't be afraid to really scrub. Especially when they're growing, their hides will grow patchy. After this you're going to want to oil him down, putting special care on any itchy spots."

Obligingly, Zi'n rubs sweetsand on Orbyth's muzzle, beaming a smile up into those faceted eyes. Awww. Bonding-mush. "Mm," is said to C'ran's instructions, and when the weyrling remembers his manners, a polite smile is sent weyrlingmaster-wards. "Of course, sir, I'll remember that."

Orbyth croons his appreication as his muzzle is shined up, an extra set of lids dropping over his eyes. Wiggling a bit, Orbyth decides that his other side is more itchy and quickly swaps ends, pushing his way through the water, to present his other side to Zi'n and still not really standing still.

<< You sense that Orbyth falls asleep. >>

C'ran smiles appreciatively, wading back to the shore to relax on the bank "There now, see, I told you he'd show you what he wanted. For now you shouldn't have much trouble, but when he's a great hulking behomoth, as he likely will be, bathing him will be an interesting time." he's quite happy with his rather small blue.

Squee. Oh, joy. Zi'n takes a step back to glance up at Orbyth, as if trying to gauge just how big this bronze'll turn out to be. Squee. Big. Big big bronze. Help. Weyrling throws C'ran a slightly helpless look. but upon his lifemate's insistence, hands go back to scrubbing russet hide. Scrub, scrub. Isn't weyrlinglife just fascinating and exciting and thrilling? Gee.

You better hope its fascinating and exciting and thrilling, because this is weyrlings do for a long long time. "There now, I think he's closing in on cleanliness, now... don't forget to do yourself as well. I'm afraid you do need it lad."

"Um, I know," Zi'n stutters, flushing scarlet yet again - you'd think he was trying to become permanently redskinned. "I didn't have time to wash because suddennly we were in such a hurry, and..." Blabber, blabber goes the poor weyrling, trying to make an excuse for looking like a mess. Meep.

C'ran just rolls his eyes "Fear not, all of the weyrlings rather need them as time goes by. Taking care of your new friends doens't leave much time for mundanities such as washing, especially when you can't leave the barracks. Feel free to avail yourself of the pool."

"Um, thanks," Zi'n says, the color of his cheeks slowly fading away to a more natural hue. "I never realized it'd take this much time, even if I used to live at High Reaches Weyr.... maybe the weyrlings there just used to sneak away and into the living caverns," the weyrling muses, receiving a rather impatient nudge in the ribs. "Oh, sorry, I know it itches there!" Sweetsand. Ready, set, scrub!

C'ran laughs softly, reclining back into the sand with his head cushioned by his arms. "Yes well, you're one of the last, so the barracks should start airing out again soon."

Zi'n chuckles despite of himself, dimming his mushy-mushy-love-glance down to a twinkle as eyes regard C'ran for a moment. "Maybe Orbyth'll stop sleeping with his tail would around his muzzle, then. It looks rather funny...... oh, and adorable," weyrling adds hastily upon getting a questioning glance and nudge by bronzen head. "Of course, very adorable." Aww. Feel the love.

C'ran *grins and smooches "and I'm gonna have to get back to work in a moment, at least too much to be rpign, congratulations, you've bathed.

Zi'n *yays! I'm clean! ;)

*** Disconnected ***