A Different Cup of Klah (open)

[E]

Wisthia pulled the cinnamon stick out of the mug, sniffing the hazel colored liquid inside before taking a sip. A happy hum left her lips as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the taste of the warm liquid. Perfect. Wrapping the stick carefully, she returned it to a spice box she had labeled specifically for them before putting the box where it belonged. Turning, she put the mug on a tray before looking around the rest of the kitchen. She had sent all of the kitchen help to their rooms for the night except one, who was currently fetching more wood for the night hearth. The kitchen was as clean as could be hoped for so soon after moving to the Weyr and the Head Cook was content with today’s progress in sorting and taking inventory.

Picking up the tray, she moved through the curtained door to the WeyrHall. Here too were several hearth’s spread around the large room, though only three were kept happily going and even that would drop to two or one as the hours grew later. Seeing a couple of riders at one who seemed to be very engrossed in each other, Wisthia decided to let them have their privacy. Moving to an empty hearth with three couches around it and a small table in front, she set her tray down and took a seat on the couch.

It was a warm night, but even so Wisthia found the hot mug of Klah a pleasant feeling in her hands. Picking up a freshly baked cookie from the tray she had brought to share with any who may desire one, she dipped it into her Klah before taking a bite. Yes, this was a perfect way to end a long day in Wisthia’s opinion.

[Kayla]

Once a seven-day, or more if her schedule allowed for it, Neory made a point to visit with Netory and Neoret, spending some time with them and tucking them in at night. She had often wished that R'net felt the same affection to their children that she did, but she had long since stopped trying to wheedle him into that, though she did on occasion have the kids stay with them for a night.

She smiled as she came to the weyrhall from tucking Netory in - who obviously went to bed later than her toddler brother. She always enjoyed the time she got to spend with her children, and while being a Gold Rider meant that the Weyr came first, her own children held a very special place in her heart.

Seeing the Head cook, Neory decided to move over to join her. It was always a good thing to be friendly with the woman in charge of one's food! Besides, Wisthia was a person who was easy to like, apart from how she could affect one's every day life.

"Mind if I join you, Wisthia?" Neory smiled warmly to the other woman, though she did not take a seat, though her rank warranted her the right to take a seat pretty much wherever she wanted. She was not here out of business, but just to socialize for a bit before going to her own weyr for the evening.

[Zenniel]

If she had any more chores, she probably would have not been in the area, and then the accident wouldn't have happened. As it was, she really had to find out what was happening with Darloon in Star Hold. She had heard something was up, either Darloon was pregnant again, or little Kishdan had just celebrated his first birthday. Of course, no one in this dratted Weyr had a fire-lizard, and so she would have to wait for the weekly updates. It was so hard being in a Weyr but having all the remaining (or current, really) family members situated in a Hold, a place where she could not readily go on a daily basis. Otherwise, she would be there now, happily.

Of course, she was not, and she knew it. Liv walked into the Weyrhall in a disgruntled fashion. She was unhappy about not being able to know the day's events. 'But,' she reminded herself as she pushed a dark brown strand of hair behind her ears, 'I have the profound pleasure to try and be Searched for a dragon Hatching!' Her eyes brightened at that thought, and she much rather liked the appealing notion of standing before the many rocking eggs in the Hatching grounds.

'One of them,' the girl surmised, thinking about the nonexistent eggs, 'will hold my dragon! One of them will be mine, and I will be hers!' Then, after a moment's consideration, she said aloud, "Or his." It did not matter what type of dragon she got. If she got a Green, she would be fine, a Blue, she would be fine. Even if she got a Brown she would be fine. A Gold, now that was wishing, but she knew that, if a Gold chose her as her rider, she would be elated. But she didn't really think a Gold would choose her, or at least Liv denied that consciously (whoever actually wanted a Gold would probably never be a good candidate for one). A Bronze... well, Bronzes never Impressed to females... but a female Bronzerider would be funny.

Immersed in her fantasies, the girl stumbled over who knows what. She didn't know what had happened, but before she knew it, she was on the floor. Her knees smarted, and she could tell that some of the skin had been scraped away. Her hands were in much of the same state. Her hair, which had been safely tucked behind her ears, was askew. She didn't feel anything, because, of course, her mind was still dawdling over her future dragon, and the future things she would do with that future dragon.

After a moment, which in reality was only about four seconds but in her mind was about five minutes, she sighed explosively. Then she began to feel pain, and it lanced up her legs as she moved to position herself to get up, just like it lanced up her arms when she set them on the ground in order to push herself up. "Ouch." She said after a moment, as if the pain was an afterthought.

'Come on, Liv!' She cursed herself in her mind, 'You know you should have watched where you were going instead of thinking of dragons!'

[E]

Wisthia heard the Telgar goldrider approach and smiled at her as she came closer asking if she could join her. Oh what a delight! Coming from Telgar Hold, she had not had much communication with the goldrider before the mission, but it was easy for the Headcook to tell in her short time here that the woman was a likeable one.

“Well of course, Neory.” She said with a smile, patting the seat next to her, frowning almost immediately afterwards. “It is okay that I call you Neory right? What title do I give you if neither gold has risen yet? I’m afraid I’m not used to all of the Weyr politics.”

Just as she was about to wait for the gold rider to take the seat, Wisthia caught the quick movement of color out of the corner of her eye. Turning she seen that the color had been a young woman falling to the floor.

“Oh dear.” She muttered as she put her mug down and stood up to help. “Please excuse me Gold Rider, I will be but a moment.”

Kneeling down in front of the girl, the older woman offered her hand to the younger with a smile. “Here, let me help you up. Are you alright?”

[Kayla]

Neory chuckled, "The correct title is Gold Rider, but I'm happy to be called Neory. And don't worry. Weyr politics are not that difficult to figure out. It won't take long, I'm sure." It was relatively simple once there was a Weyrwoman and a Weyrleader. However, that did not mean that it was that easy to navigate.

She heard the crash and turned to see what Wisthia had already seen. "Of course." Seeing the young woman, possibly a candidate from her age, though it was possible that she appeared younger than she actually was.

She moved over to her to see if she needed any help, though she did not crowd her. After all, she remembered that sometimes there were times when what you wanted was less help and more for no one to have noticed your moment of embarrassment.

[Zenniel]

Indeed, all that Liv wanted was to be left alone. She didn't think that she, a candidate and Lower Caverns woman, needed the intention of a woman and, she noticed with horror, the Gold Rider. She didn't want to take any time out of the Gold Rider's schedule, and she certainly didn't want to make the two women concerned.

"Oh, please!" She said, hurriedly, trying to wipe the blood that came from her ragged hands away onto her jacket. "I'm fine, please don't fret over me!"

But she knew she wasn't as fine as she said. Her knees smarted, and she would have bruises for the better part of a week. Her hands would be raw for at least that same week, and she wouldn't be able to do finer tasks such as sew clothes. She cursed herself for being like a child, she was nineteen Turns, Thread have it! (Random made up curse... xD)

More horrifying than her injuries, of course, was the fact that a Gold Rider was actually worrying over her. She could not imagine why a Gold Rider was worrying over her, a Lower Caverns woman, and future candidate! Unless that was it, because she was a candidate and they needed as many candidates as they could get. Liv silently cursed herself, again. "I'm fine, really." She pleaded, but her voice was light, and she knew that the Gold Rider would think her weak. Stupid her! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

[erasmus]

V'reno entered the Weyrhall with a purpose. His stomach rumbled, and he was much obliged to quell the beast of hunger! The greenrider grinned at his thoughts, even when doing something so simple as retrieving a snack his mind managed to turn towards the grandiose.

The greenrider's eyes fell upon the two riders enjoying their time together near one of the hearths first. He recognized them both, a blue and greenrider from his wing back in Igen Weyr, and he thought of joining them just to stir things up. He knew the bluerider to be a open minded fellow but, if he calculated correctly, the greenrider's dragon would be rising within the sevenday, and he hardly wanted to spend the evening with a man who would grumble, complain, and snap at him.

With a shrug at the lost opportunity, V'reno made his way to pour himself some klah and scope out the prospects for his far too empty stomach. He had just taken a sip from his mug, sighing with delight as the hot liquid moved down his throat, when he heard quite the commotion.

Turning, V'reno the outcome of Live's fall, and the two women move to help her. Seeing the damage the young woman had done to her hands, V'reno set his mug down, picked up two clean cloth napkins, and made his way over to the scene. He too decided to let the girl have her room, and he ended up standing slightly behind the taller of the two rescuers. Realizing who the woman was, V'reno held out the two napkins, meant to be used to wrap Live's hands, out and spoke softly to make sure they would be noticed, "Gold Rider."

[E]

Wisthia heard the young woman’s words as she pleaded to not be fretted over. It went against the older woman’s nature to not be motherly, but it was obvious as she closed her mouth that she would try to follow the young woman’s wishes. Her lips thinned with worry, she took a step back to give the girl room.

Then she spotted the blood on her hands as she wipped them on her jacket and any determination she might have had to follow the younger woman’s request was suddenly forgotten.

“Oh sweetie, look at your hands. You can’t tell a mother to fret when that obviously hurts. You sit down with Neory and I’ll fetch some clean water and Klah for the both of you.” She almost spoke to herself as she listed off what she would need to grab from the empty kitchen. Glancing back up at the younger woman, she gave her a sweet smile. “And that’s an order dear.”

Turning to head to the kitchens, Wisthia noticed the man who had joined them and smiled as she passed. “You are welcome to join us as well. I have fresh cookies on the table.” With that she made her way quickly to the kitchens for that hot water and fresh Klah.

[Kayla]

Neory turned slightly, hearing herself being called "Gold Rider." Seeing the young man holding out napkins to her she smiled warmly to him, "Thank you." She felt bad for the poor girl getting so much attention for a moment of clumsiness, but at the same time, it warmed her to see the way that the people of the weyr responded to someone in need.

When Wisthia lead the girl over to where they had been sitting, Neory sat beside her, taking the blood hands into her own, and pressing the napkins against them to staunch the flow of blood, at least some, until Wisthia returned with water and hopefully some bandages. While cloth, napkins did not breath correctly for bandages, though they would work until Wisthia came back with something more.

"Poor dear. They should heal up fine though. Just make sure that you're careful until they do. Though I'd imagine that they're going to be rather tender, so you're not going to have much of a choice about the being careful." She smiled warmly to her, not saying anything at all about the fall, knowing that in her place, she'd rather no one had seen it.

[Zenniel]

Oh, shards! Live felt her cheeks stain red with embarrassment. Now another dragonrider was helping her! At least the other dragonriders had come to help--they seemed contented on just minding their own business. Liv held her useless hands up for inspection. Already the blood was seeping less and less, she noticed this by the fact that no blood dribbled down the back of her hands. But her tunic and pants were stained with blood. She would need a good bath, but her clothes would have to be scrapped. And she liked these clothes!

Liv's face fell, but the bright red on her cheeks lingered. Her knees smarted, but they had been covered, and the worst they would get was bruises and a couple scrapes. Her pants had taken the brunt of the damage. She felt the Weyrwoman--Gold Rider, she reminded herself, for neither Sheluth or Elfreth had risen yet--take her hands and press napkins on them. Pain shot up her arms, but it was nothing she couldn't take. Liv had always prided herself on her strength, and she still did not cry, though it smarted mighty fiercely. She didn't know how she could work for a while, but if she just used some numbweed once in a while... she supposed she would survive.

After a long moment, Liv smiled. Though the smile betrayed her pain, it also showed that she was thankful of all the help. She didn't feel fine, but she knew that riders felt much worse pain than that almost daily. She must be strong if she were to have any chance of Impressing a dragon (she still didn't think of Impressing a Gold, since to think about Impressing the Gold--to her--meant to be weak, and therefore she would not Impress the Gold). "Thank you, Gold Rider and Greenrider." -- (Liv could tell from his shoulder-knots that the man was, in fact, a Greenrider) -- "I must thank the other woman when she comes back, too." Then, after a second, and almost jokingly, she asked, "Do either of you happen to carry numbweed around on a daily basis? My hands are smarting."

The hands in question throbbed in response, and even though the Goldrider had mopped away most of the blood, she could still feel it welling up. Then Liv, who was not at all squeamish at the sight of blood, looked down at her hands and scowled. There was a large stone stuck in her left palm, which would have to be dislodged and removed. Her right palm wasn't much better, but it didn't hurt as much, and it was no longer bleeding. Gingerly, Liv moved her pointer finger of her right hand to touch the stone embedded in her left.

Almost as an afterthought, she asked, "would someone be so kind as to take the stone out of my hand? I would, but I don't think I can do it myself." Then, after another moment, "It sorta hurts."

[E]

Wisthia walked back from the kitchens with a whole tray of assortments; several clean mugs, a fresh pot of Klah, a bowl of warm water and several bandages she had made sure to keep in the kitchens for accidents as well as a small pot of numbweed for when the careless kitchen folk burned their hands for being silly.

Setting it carefully on the low table in front of the pair, she had missed the young girls question about the stone. She did see, however, the gold rider tending the young girl and so Wisthia smiled and busyed herself with fixing fresh Klah for everyone around before picking up the pot of numbweed and holding it out to the gold rider and speaking to the young girl.

“What’s your name darling? You look about a candidates age yes?” she asked, smiling sweetly.

[Kayla]

Neory carefully picked the stone out of the young woman's hand after removing the cloth from the hand, trying not to pull at the skin, trying to be careful not to make the bruising or cutting worse as she extracted the foreign object from the tender skin.

"You're quite welcome." Seeing that Wisthia was holding the pot of numbweed, Neory avoided making a face - after all there were more than one time that she had not gone into a flight for one reason or another and had instead helped tended to dragons and riders when they returned from fighting thread.

"Let's get this washed before we put numbweed on it. I know, it stings, but you don't want it getting worse." She grabbed one of the rags that Wisthia had brought and dipped it in the warm water, carefully cleaning the raw hand.

Once that was done, she then dipped her own fingers into the pot of numbweed Wisthia was holding and spread it generously over the young woman's hand.

"Wisthia, I'm going to need you to wrap her hands now. I'm not sure I could since my fingers are going numb now too." Which was why even minor flight wounds were usually tended in pairs.

[Zenniel]

Live looked up as the woman, Wisthia?, came into the room, carrying Klah, and then getting some numbweed. Great! Just what she needed! She was so grateful, she almost slumped, but remembered her manners at the last moment. Instead, she just sat stock-still.

'Huh?' Live thought as the woman cleaned her hand. The initial 'taking the stone out of her hand' was horrible, but Live had tried not to flinch. Had she done a good job? It didn't matter anymore, and Live, still sitting still, watched as the queenrider washed her hand. It stung, and she could see the rag come away even more bloody than it had started. Was that dried blood, or was the wound still bleeding? Liv didn't care, and didn't care to care. All she knew was that she was getting expert attention from a queenrider[/b] who certainly had things better to do than baby her. She was a queenrider, or Faranth's sake!

Then she noticed that the other woman had asked a question. Liv's head felt out of sorts - loss of blood, maybe? - but she answered, anyway, "Yes'm. My name's Live, spelled l-i-v-e, and pronounced the same. I'm nineteen Turns, but haven't been Searched yet. I'm hoping to Impress, though!" When she spoke, Live's lightheaded-ness vanished. Maybe talking took her mind off of her hand, or maybe she had just thought she was going to faint. She had to be strong, she knew. She had to be strong to show a queenrider that she was a good choice for a candidate!

Liv noticed that her hands did not hurt anymore. In fact, she did not feel them at all. She flexed them, but the action did nothing, she could not feel it when she moved her hands. They were numb - the numbweed had done its job. The queenrider was talking again - about her, she presumed. "You know," Liv said absentmindedly, because the light-headed feeling was coming back again. "I wasn't paying attention, and because of that I got hurt." She sheepishly added, "I was wondering what color dragon could possibly Impress itself to me. I guess I wouldn't be a good choice for a dragon if I can't even keep my head." She smiled, joking.