Work Day {D20, Open}

[Or'west]

OOC - if one wishes to directly interact with Makkeneth, he is on the beach. Post a thread on the appropriate board and by all means, tag me.

Time - Quarantine Day 20

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Mayhap an unusual place to find the Weyrleader indeed; however, those who sought him would find the Weyrleader sat upon the bottom three steps that led upward to the dragonrider weyrs and eventually to the Rim. Above and around him other riders and dragons and Weyrfolk went about their lives doing chores and preparing for the upcoming day. No one had thus far troubled the Weyrleader which wast a surprise to him as he did not often have the luxury of so much time alone and unimpeded by inquires (as of late) about the plague. He had no answers for them. Only what Masterhealer Lyxias bestowed upon him ere the other man took ill with the same plague he fought so hard to cure.

I wonder how our ‘errand girl’ is doing... Yet Makkeneth provided no immediate answer and the bronzerider sensed his bonded too warm and comfortable to e’en make the simple effort to reach out voluntarily to another dragon. Or’west decided to leave him alone for the time being. They both needed this mental break from their duties made all the heavier as of late due to the plague and the absence of a senior Weyrwoman. A few days prior, the Weyr’s leadership convened to send her away from the Weyr for her own safety put them into the uncomfortable position of having no senior Weyrwoman for the time being. Whether or not Valencia would take up the mantel again when she returned had not yet been decided.

Meanwhile, the Weyrleader kept his attention focused before him and his gaze upon the ground or in the least upon the items in front of him. The calls of G’naro to one of the Weyrlings made Or’west look up in brief yet as t’was of no consequence, only a happenstance meeting in which the Weyrling Master imparted some information to the Weyrling, Or’west returned his attention to the important task at hand. Long lengths of leather lay sprawled before him, huge loops of buckles and straps that made up the bulk of his riding straps. The Weyrleader wore simple garb - a shirt and trousers, his boots and work gloves. His riding jacket and helm lay in a neat pile on the step next to him. His sleeves pushed as far back as possible, fastened or rolled to keep them from falling, Or’west had within his gloved hands the leather oil and dirty rags he used to keep his straps smooth and supple. T’was with long strokes that he rubbed the grease into the straps and paid each portion mind for several minutes as he rubbed the oil into the thick hide.


Elsewhere -
Not far to the south the mighty Makkeneth sprawled on the white sands with his belly flush against the morning warm grains and his forelegs and hind legs sprawled so he looked much like a massive metallic canine in the “frog position”. He had his eyes half-lidded in a restful repose; however, the end of his kinked tail slid back and forth acrost the ground so the tines of the forked end shivered and wiggled as though they wert two massive tunnelsnakes, leaving gritty furrows in their wake.

[Or'west]

Makkeneth broke their mutual silence with the sudden phrase. We should inform them. Yes, we should. Or’west set down the rope upon which he current worked and pushed off the steps. He groaned as various joints shifted and his back made a show of creaks and crunches. The Weyrleader set his hands on the base of his back and arched backwards to stretch out the kinks from sitting upon the stairs for such length. Ah the days grow longer. Referring both to the coming summer and the duo’s passing Turns. Or’west rolled his neck to further loosen the strains caused from his head being tilted forward at such an angle for prolonged moments of time.

As he stood in place and lingered at the bottom of the steps yet a little while to loosen the kinks and his muscles, he saw descending the steps above him closer to the Rim still but in a hurry to go down, the young green rider Jasmine. Jindyth will be ready to Rise soon. Yes... so she will. She’s near two turns. The comments nonchalant because they both knew Makkeneth would not bother to chase such a lesser dragon. Or’west felt anticipating when a green (or gold) might Rise important so he might know how his riders’ attitudes might be for that day. If they reacted to him poorly he knew it to be the fault of their eagerness and lustful minds rather than any truth and gave them the space they needed to recover their senses. A worthy Weyrwoman anticipated the needs of the ‘riders too, and set up food and refreshment for winners and losers alike to imbibe after the chase.

This need a short time away as of yet, two mayhap three months, so Or’west merely nodded toward the green rider so that if she should be looking at him she could see his silent greeting. She did not acknowledge him appearing much lost in thought though her expression wast difficult to discern at such a distance there was something in her stride and movements that suggested as much to the Weyrleader. He did not; however, linger upon the steps to greet her further or the other scattered Weyrfolk that he saw thereon. For now he had pressing matters elsewhere. T’would be a simple task to reach out via dragon to inform her of the change in leadership. However, the Weyrleader felt such news something that should be spoken rider-to-rider. To ease her into the knowledge and weight of her new responsibilities. Too, he had a feeling that a discussion might ensue afterwards, questions better answered in person. He walked then toward the Weyr Offices with a meandering path that led him toward Ariana’s for he had an important thing she needed to hear. News that she would both revel and revile.

[Or'west]

The Weyrleader did not live in a void and so he passed numerous people on his way to his destination, which based on her behavior over the last few days, was the Weyrwoman’s office. Long strides ate the distance between here and there. Only slowing so he might greet in passing the other Weyr residents who he encountered, Or’west moved with purpose and in his thoughts dwelled on the hope that Ariana was, in fact, within her offices. He bespoke Makkeneth to ask him such a thing and the great bronze bespoke Syndoreth¹ to seek out her rider. The genial gold disclosed the intel without a qualm and Or’west corrected his course toward her actual locale. Rescue appeared long enough from wherever he’d disappeared to land on Or’west’s head and sneeze. The blue then with a chirp disappeared from whence he’d come.

While Or’west used a hand to wipe his hair clean of draconic boogers, Makkeneth shifted uneasily. I-Makkeneth sense much concern in Syndoreth. Taken back by both his fire-lizard’s display and his dragon’s statement, the Weyrleader slowed his pace though he did not stop. Why? I do not know but dare not ask. Perhaps the eggs? Makkeneth had no answer for him for Syndoreth did not confind in the bronze dragon it was only by his empathy toward others of his kind that he sensed something amiss with their queen.

Though the Weyrleader knew it not unheard of for first-time clutch mothers to have concerns about their eggs, Syndoreth had already clutched in the past. Perhaps tis her newness to the Weyr? This too held weight in his mind as the change in atmosphere and enivornment might affect dragon as easily as rider. Had he not witnessed human transfers with fatigue for days afterward? A pity Kaine is not here... Well, I’ll ask Ariana about too that when I arrive. Or Ja’ryns later. If anyone else at White Sands would know what concerned Syndoreth about her clutch, he felt certain that man would be Ja’ryns.

Makk, ask Torvaneth to have C’zar meet me at Ariana’s office. Of course - replied Makkeneth and reached his mind out to the younger blue dragon. Across the Weyrbowl went the Weyrleader and at last found himself in the corridors that led to the Weyr Offices...

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1 - Syndoreth used with permission.