Central Garden (#477):

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You stand within the pale of the Gardens. You are surrounded on every side by glorious flower bushes, elegantly trimmed trees, and verdant shrubbery. Low hedges define a half dozen meandering paths, and beneath the bushes lie beds of shade-loving herbaceous greenery. In the broad central plaza there stands a rough-timbered building. It is square and unadorned, and yet beautiful in the simplicity and function of its form. Its tile roof sweeps down to pointed gables. Around the building there stand a handful of sasaki trees; their twisted boughs are a tribute to gardencraft and prudently applied pruning shears. Beneath your feet lie smooth, well-fitted paving stones. The gardens lie in amongst the skybrooms of Gar, and paths lead off to the north and south between the trees. To the southwest the reflection of light upon water can be seen, and to the due west that same light is reflected from greenhouse glass. StarCraft Hall looms to the east, the way in opening northeast from here.

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Here at the site of the Old Southern Weyr, the day is yet young, but for explorers from the current Southern Weyr, it's definitely lunchtime. Aren't time differences wonderful! Even after a leisurely start, Skailah and R'zel have already been looking round for a couple of hours, wandering overgrown paths and the remains of once-ornate gardens. There's not much trace left of the actual weyr buildings, not least because they mostly were actual buildings - and the centuries, Thread and the weather have all had an impact. But here, in what was the Central Garden, there are still hints of what once was. Ancient trees and stone paving have held back the encroaching jungle, and a heap of terracotta tiles shows where a wooden building once stood. There's plenty of shade here, but Verokanth has found a spot to sun himself in, and waited patiently while his rider and Skailah explored. He greets them with a cheerful bugle as they return. R'zel says, "And here we are. Lunchtime, do you think?"

Skailah gives a nod, her stomach rumbling after a morning of exploring and looking around. Despite the age of the place, the grounds are still beautiful, if a bit wild. "Aye, it's a good time for it. This is beautiful land. And you mentioned before that no one but the free folk use it?" Skailah had been quickly reprimanded by a wildling when she had called them as such, since then the words free folk have been the only ones that have left her mouth in reference. "It's a shame, I'm betting a hold could be built here, or a small cot." It's the assistant headwoman in her, she has an eye for good spaces and what to use them for. "Has Southern ever considered it?"

"I don't really know," R'zel admits. "Not since I've been at the Weyr. I suppose they must have considered it as a Weyr site at the start of the Pass. But when the current place was found, intact, it must have seemed a much better proposition. There aren't the caves here that we have there." He walks over towards Verokanth, still speaking, but he's actually heading for a tree beyond the bronze, where their lunch, in a knotted bag, is hanging from the branch - in the shade, unlike the dragon, and away from insects. "This afternoon, though, we can go and look at the old Hold. That took bad damage too, but parts of it still look as though they might be used. Of course, now there are free folk using it for part of the year, anyone else moving in could be tricky." Bag in hand, he turns towards Skailah. "Where do you fancy sitting? Out of the sun, I should think." It's hotter at these latitudes than back at the Weyr.

Skailah nods. "That makes sense, and I suppose the free folk need space as well. It was just a thought." She smiles and tries to help R'zel where she can, retrieving their drinking skins while R'zel grabs the food. "I'd love to see the hold, if it's as pretty as the old Weyr it'll be well worth it." She takes a look around when R'zel asks where they should sit and she agrees whole heartedly with his last. "Definitely in the shade. My skin doesn't take a burn too well." She's fair, it's safe to assume she burns quickly.

"I think I'm getting acclimatised. I don't seem to burn as much as I used to." R'zel glances round. There's a nice shady spot under tall leafy trees, with clean-looking paving and some smooth stone blocks that might do duty as a bench. "We could sit on those, maybe? I can't see anywhere better." He gestures, open-palmed, towards them. "The Hold had some actual caverns. Some good sea views, too." He carries the food bag towards the spot. It seems quite full, for a meal for two!

Skailah looks around with R'zel and nods in agreement when he spots the stone blocks. "Those look perfect, let's do." She begins moving that way, her blond hair glinting in the sun. She's left it loose today, its tawny locks soaking in the light of Rukbat. "I love a good view over water, sea or lake. I look forward to it. What's your favorite place to visit out here? I think these old gardens might be mine so far." She slips onto one of the stone blocks and sets the drink skins down. Her hazel gaze roams over the lush greenery and the open space where Verokanth takes his nap. "There's a sight for a Harper artist, eh?" She asks, tipping her chin towards Vero in the sun.

"Well, I reckon he always looks good, but I might just be biased," R'zel laughs, following where Skailah's pointing. "And I'm no artist. But it's a good view, you're right. Look at the shapes of those trees! You'd think they'd been pruned like that. Maybe they were, hundreds of turns ago!" Reaching the stones, he dusts off the surface with his hand, then sets the bag down on a central one and unties the neck, so that they can get out the various smaller parcels inside and share what they've each brought. He takes a seat on the other side of the food from Skailah. "I like the beaches best, I think. There's a little cove, separated from the main Hold beach - though the whole stretch is good. But we shouldn't go on the beach today."

Skailah looks around at the trees and shrubs. "One can train the way a plant grows, I've heard… Perhaps this is the result of that, as you said." It's something to think on that is. "OH? Why not?" Skai knows headwomaning, not weather. She helps R'zel unpack. "Is the spring weather here rough?" The smells of the food are beginning to waft around as they unpack and get ready to dine. "What a lovely day to eat outside, I'm glad we decided to come out here. Did you ever go visit your mother?" She remembers that being mentioned when last they talked.

R'zel shakes his head. "It's not the weather - that's pretty much the same all year, here. But, do you know about firehead? You don't get that on the Northern Continent, but they reckon you get it from something that washes up on the beaches round here in spring, and it's really not something you want." By the time he's finished speaking, the various packages are spread out on the table. Rummaging in the bag further, he brings out plates and a couple of beakers, solid enough to withstand a picnic. He examines the skins they've brought. "We have white wine, or citrus juice, or water."

Skailah nods. "I know of it, I don't think I've ever seen it though." And she's been a fairly healthy woman her whole life, so sickness of most kinds is foreign to her. "Good thing I have such a knowledgeable guide to warn me of such things." And it doeasn't hurt that he's handsome too, she thinks. "I would think the citrus first, it'll be just the right thing after a walk, refreshing, and hydrating." Water is fine, citrus is better! SHe chuckles and takes the top off of a small basket of dinner style rolls, still somewhat warm in the middle. She's excited for that! "That gingham cover really kept the heat in the buns, I love warm bread. Would you like one of these?" She offers R'zel a bun while scoping out one for herself. Then she needs to find the butter…. she knows she packed some.

"Thanks, I'd love one." R'zel takes the offered roll and puts it on his napkin while he pours juice for them both and sets one mug in front of Skailah. "I've seen it - we had an outbreak at the Weyr when I was a weyrling. Though that was a bit different because the healers reckoned it was spreading between people. One of the Assistant Weyrlingmasters lost his sight from it." He unwraps a couple of smaller packets. "Wherry slices, and cheese slices. And the bowl there has salad leaves, if I'm not mistaken." He's not, and he removes the cloth that's tied round the bowl as a lid. "And I think there's a pot of pickle somewhere - yes, there it is." He removes the cork from the small jar, returns it to the 'table', then waits for Skailah to serve herself.

Skailah nods and takes utensils for herself before serving herself some salad leaf and shredding meat and cheese into it. She'll go the salad route! She'll take sips of her juice here and there too. "That sounds awful, glad you warned me of it." AHA! She's found the butter! She spreads it liberally over her bread and offers it to R'zel, who will surely have started serving himself by now. The pickle she leaves strangely alone, perhaps it's not a favorite of hers, or perhaps she just doesn't want any for the moment. "Did everyone affected suffer from such serious things as blindness?"

R'zel takes the butter with a murmur of thanks, and starts spreading. "No, most people recovered all right. It's a horrible thing, though, and people are out of action for a couple of months at least - you can't Between after it for several sevendays. I was lucky, and didn't get it." He's constructing open sandwiches on the two halves of his roll: meat, leaves and a dab of pickle on one, and cheese, leaves and pickle on the other. Apparently he does like it. "The pickle's from Mother," he explains. "So I suppose it's from the Harper Hall kitchens. She sent me back with a ton of food when I visited."

Skailah looks mildly horrified at the idea of firehead, and really, it's a good reaction to have. She'd heard of the disease, but never the details and the thought makes her shiver a little. "That sounds horrid." She also has to wonder how the healers found out that riders can't ::between:: after for about a seven. And she almost asks about it, but decides it's too morbid a topic for such a lovely day. "I'm glad to hear you went and visited, it's so much better than just writing. And it's always nice to have a hoard of food from one's mother, it shows they care." She smiles softly and begins to eat her salad, tearing bits of roll to eat between bites. And just now, there seems to be a hum coming from somewhere. She looks around, kind of wondering what it might be.

R'zel grins at the thought of his mother's unusual attentiveness. "There's also a very large fruit-and-nut cake - the sort that keeps for ages. And jars of sweet preserves, and a cheese, and bags of spiced nuts - I should have brought some of those - and I'm not sure what else. It's funny: she doesn't normally do that. Maybe she thinks I'm going to console myself with food." He does seem rather amused by the thought, not being one for comfort-eating. "She can't possibly think the Weyr doesn't feed me!" He picks up that Skailah is listening to something. "What is it?" Gold Zhiva swoops down from somewhere or other and starts circling the picnic table, chittering urgently. Puzzled, R'zel reaches an arm up towards her, then says, "Oh!" and starts looking round himself.

Skailah snickers. "I think that's just mothers, even if they don't do that sort of thing often. They hae to make sure their children are set, grown or not. Sounds like she left you with a good spread!" The humming continues and R'zel's little gold shows up. "Do you hear that humming?" She asks, still looking. It's a moment before she can hone in on the sound. She finds the source of it a few moments later however. "Oh! Look!" Near the treeline, the flash of firelizard wings can be seen as some land in branches. But most land around a pile of old stones, eyes whirling and the hum becoming louder by the minute, though not nearly as loud as when dragons do it. "Do you suppose there's a nest about to hatch?" She asks, sort of excitedly, she's been on the hunt for a firelizard…maybe now is her chance to get one!

R'zel watches the activity for a few moments, then nods. "I think you're right. Zhiva's giving me pictures of a nest, anyway - though it's a funny place for it, so far from the beach. You wanted one, didn't you? Shall we go and have a look?" Although it's Skailah who's supposedly the one wanting a firelizard, he's smiling and seems quite eager to have a look himself. He reaches for the packet of meat slices and folds the wrappings closed, then stands, evidently planning on taking the meat with him. Looks like lunch is going to be interrupted!

Skailah nods. "Sure! I've never seen a 'lizard hatching before, and they do seem rather useful." Skailah quickly covers the food they'd opened, and tosses a couple of napkins over their exposed lunches, and since R'zel grabs the meat, moves to follow him. This is exciting! She watches as they move closer, the different colored wings of the firelizards and how they flash in the sun. "Do all firelizards group like this when a nest hatches?" She has to ask, after all, she's not at all familiar with how the little buggers function.

R'zel heads towards the firelizards, slowing as they get closer. "I think so - wild ones, anyway. A queen's whole fair will bring food and defend the hatchlings from predators - which might include us, from their point of view, so watch out." As they reach the spot, it's clear that this is indeed a Hatching, and they've arrived at just the right moment. Eggs are rocking and cracking, and a couple of greens have hatched - though there are also some empty shells. "Looks like something got some of the eggs, though. But there are plenty of viable ones - how many do you want?" He scans the eggs that he can see, while Zhiva circles overhead, warning away any of the other queen's fair who attempt to dive on the two humans. "If you want a gold, there are no guarantees, but do you see that big bright-coloured one over there? The biggest eggs are usually gold or bronze, but you can't tell which until they hatch."

Skailah takes in the sight of the hatching, once they reach it, listening to R'zel's lesson on Firelizard mating and hatching with a keen ear. "Oh! Look at those two little greens, they're so cute." She too, is on the look out for diving 'lizards once R'zel's warning is out, and she seems glad for the protection of R'zel's little gold. "How many? I can control that???" News to her. "I think I'd only want one… perhaps two. From what I'e heard, dealing with the babies can be a little intense…" She looks over to the egg R'zel indicates and a look of excitement sort of crosses her face. "Really? I'd love to try that one… if you don't mind?"

R'zel grins broadly at Skailah's reaction to the prospect of Impressing more than one. "Of course I don't! And if you feed more than one, you may end up with more than one. But one at at time was quite enough for me - Zhiva wasn't exactly quiet, and she's quite demanding." He unwraps the meat again and holds it out to Skailah - though he seems to have kept a slice or two in his hand. "When it hatches, feed it small bits - not enough that it can choke. If it'll let you, stroke it and hold it. And talk to it - think warm thoughts." A blue's hatched now, and a brown. The older lizards seem to be bringing small fish from the beach, and the odd spiderclaw.

Skailah beams at R'zel when he says he doesn't mind if she goes for the larger egg. She takes the meat from his hand, her fingers brushing his, and moves over to where the larger egg begins to rock a little. There's a few hisses from the wild lizards, but they stay mostly away and Skai tosses a particularly grumpy blue adult a piece of meat to assuage him… it works. She listens to R'zel's instructions and then watches. The others hatching definitely catch her eye and she looks over one or two of them, almost tempted to feed them. But she's got her eyes set on this one for now and she probably won't have to wait too long for it to hatch because it begins rocking almost violently to the left and right. And being on a heap of rocks, well, that's bound to help crack the shell.

R'zel isn't going to get another firelizard. Really he isn't. The meat in his hands is just for diverting any adults who get too pushy, honest! Though in fact, he's got a secret weapon for that. A deeper note joins the humming, and a shadow falls on R'zel as Verokanth comes to watch, causing a flurry of wings as the firelizards notice him. They aren't deterred from attending to the hatchlings, though. R'zel smiles as he becomes aware of his dragon's presence, then moves closer to the eggs to see how Skailah's doing with that large rocking egg. "Well, the tunnelsnakes certainly didn't get that one!"

The larger egg rocks back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until it hits the sharp edge of a stone nearby and cracks all along the shell, looking like a spinner's web in the end. Then with a few bounces, and another hard rock, pieces of shell go flying everywhere and what is left is a small gold hatchling, a piece of shell still stuck to her head.

Happy Birthday Gift-Wrapped Egg shatters into a thousand fragments, leaving its occupant out in the open.

Needy Gold Hatchling
This adorable little firelizard is wandering about, piteously creeling for food, and you cannot help feeling sorry for the poor thing, so obviously needing companionship and nourishment. Perhaps you can give the starving thing a piece of meatroll?

Skailah laughs at R'zel's comment and the appearance of Verokanth. "No, they most certainly did not. I'm thinking this one's a strong one. Look how big,,," She trails off as the egg begins to rock harder and makes a happy little squeak when it hatches out a gold, though she has to put her hands up to protect her face from flying egg shell. "Oh, look, R'zel!" She exclaims and very slowly moves to peel the eggshell off the little queen. The little gold seems to allow it, and sniffs at Skailah's fingers. OH! The meat! Skai almost forgot! She tears off a wee little piece and offers it to the little queen.

Zhiva croons a greeting to the newly-hatched little queen. R'zel sounds quite delighted as he exclaims, "Oh, it is a gold! Feed her, Skailah!" Even Verokanth rumbles a little. R'zel idly shreds the meat he's holding into strips as he watches Skailah and the new hatchling. To be strictly accurate, he's watching Skailah rather more than the hatchling. So he doesn't notice at all when an egg hatches right in front of him, and the little brown that emerges turns towards him, attracted by the scent of good roast wherry.

Reflecting Emerald Egg shatters into a thousand fragments, leaving its occupant out in the open.

Amusing Brown Hatchling

With a comical grin curving his tiny mouth, and brightly whirling eyes, this hatchling seems to have no desires other to amuse. His hide is an odd shade, with dappled spots over shoulders and hindquarters. Paws continuously trip over each other as their owner forgets them in pursuit of other interests. Wings askew, and tail twisting, the little lizard delights all that set eyes on his.

The little gold hatchling was already sniffing at Skailah's fingers, but now she snatches at the tender pieces of meat she's offered, gobbling them down greedily as if she might not be even chewing them. She turns back to Skailah, maw wide open. MORE PLEASE.

Skailah is very excited when the little queen takes the food offered and she's quick to feed her more, even as R'zel encourages her to do so. She smiles when again the little gold snatches the bit of wherry out of her hand. "I think she likes me…" She says in a bubbly tone, her excitement showing in the flush of her pale cheeks. She chances a look at the bronze rider and giggles when she notices the brown hatchling trying to steal food from him. "I think you've made a friend too." And she points at the little brown.

Needy Gold Hatchling's cries turn joyous, and she turns towards Skailah, creeling piteously. Skailah has impressed her.

R'zel looks down and mutters something under his breath. He could dump the meat and walk away. He could! But… the hatchling trips over its own feet, and rights itself with such a droll expression to go with its pained creel… He shakes his head in resignation, and can't bring himself to do it. He holds out a strip of meat. The hatchling cranes his neck, not yet wanting to approach too closely. Wings flap as he tries to balance himself. R'zel holds the meat closer, and the little brown snaps it up, devouring it rapidly. R'zel offers another piece, which is also taken, and then the brown is nudging his fingers to demand more. Zhiva croons her approval - this will be the first addition to her own personal fair!

Skailah picks up the little gold when she is busy munching and sets her in her lap, stroking her as she feeds her. It's not very long before the little gold is yawning her maw off and looking sleepy. Skailah is absolutely besotted with her, scritching her between the eyes. She's completely forgotten about the rest of the meat in her hands until she notices another egg rocking right next to her leg. A smaller one and it's struggling a bit more than its golden sister had. "Oh, come on little one, you can do it!" She croons encouragingly, earning an odd cock of the head from a few of the wild fair.

Amusing Brown Hatchling's cries turn joyous, and he turns towards R'zel, creeling piteously. R'zel has impressed him.

R'zel keeps feeding the gawky brown hatchling, chuckling a bit at the little firelizard's ungainly poses. "You're quite the comic turn, aren't you, youngster! Well, I expect you'll grow out of it." The brown looks up at R'zel, eyes whirling, then pushes his head against the bronzerider's hand again. R'zel picks him up and continues feeding, and the brown croons with contentment. "I swore one of these was enough." He sounds rather thunderstruck.

Skailah chuckles. "Well it seems he had other plans." THis said in reply to R'zel's last. She pets her gold again and looks down sighing. "I can't believe we were here for this. I was sure it was going to take forever for such luck." She beams in R'zel's direction just when the smaller egg near her leg takes a hop and cracks open after a bit of a struggle. It spills out a little green and before Skai can really think about it, she's starstruck by the idea of these little guys, she's sticking out a bit of meat to the wee one.

Irritable Green Hatchling

As this egg shatters, a small firelizard climbs out, falling down into the hot sands in her rush to discover the outside. With a twitter of irritation, she balances herself back onto her rear claws, and stretches her still-damp wings. With slow beats, her wings move, catching slight wind breezes. As hunger sets in once more, she crawls forward, searching for food.

Irritable Green Hatchling's cries turn joyous, and she turns towards Skailah, creeling piteously. Skailah has impressed her.

"Twice the luck?" R'zel enquires - he seems highly amused that Skailah has acquired a second hatchling. "I wish you peaceful nights! And days. They don't do much except eat, sleep, and make noise for the first few sevendays, you know, and Zhiva was operating on entirely her own schedule for ages." The little brown has worked his way through the meat supply, but fortunately his appetite seems to be waning and he settles down to sleep, stretched along R'zel's forearm. "We picked a good day to come! I'd have given you one of Zhiva's eggs next time she lets me find any, but that's not exactly predictable - either the clutching or the finding!"

"Apparently!" Skailah says as the little green snatches the meat and comes in for more. She looks a little nervous when R'zel brings up sleepless nights though, however, the mental bond already forming between herself and the little 'lizards has her seeing thorugh rose colored glasses for the moment. "Oh surely they can't be that bad?" Sure they can honey, sure they can. R'zel's semi-offer of one of his gold's eggs is recieved with a smile. "That's very thoughtful of you R'zel, thank you. But I guess it's a moot point now, eh? Talk about luck, because aye, I agree, we picked aa good day to come. Do you suppose we ought to go back now though? Before one of us winds up with more mouths than we can feed?" She giggles and carefully picks up the newly hatched babies and cuddles them in her arms. "I suppose there will be supplies I need to get when we get home, hmm?"

"Yes, the kitchen will give us meat scraps. Zhiva pretty much feeds herself, though - she fishes, or picks the bones after Verokanth's hunted." R'zel's not taking his eyes from the little brown, who is eating his way through the offered strips of cooked meat. "You'd better not get used to roast wherry, young sir! Or getting my lunch." Speaking of which, he looks over at Skailah. "When they're full, they'll sleep." Other eggs are hatching, and the wild lizards are in attendance, though some are circling rater than approaching with the food they bring. "I think we should move away now and let the wild ones get on with looking after the rest. We could finish lunch, too. But I don't think we're going to be walking again this afternoon. We could perhaps find somewhere with a nice view and sit for a bit."

Skailah nods. "Aye, lets. I don't want to deny the wild younglings their breakfast." She moves off back towards their picnic area, babies in arm and smiling like an idiot. What a lucky day. "I think I agree. Walking aorund anymore today might be haphazardous. I could be up for a sit after lunch, and then we'd best get these wee ones home." She finds a place to lay her sleeping charges and returns to her food, snatching up her salad as if she never left it. "That's alright though, it'll give us an excuse to come out here again. Take our time exploring things."

"Yes, we could do that. And this afternoon, I know a place over at the old Hold where we might sit. Verokanth could drop us close by." R'zel follows Skailah back to the lunch spot, and brushes a couple of beetles off the 'table' before he carefully sits down, laying his now-sleeping little brown gently in his nap. His sandwiches are still there, and bug-free, though the cheese looks a little sweaty. He picks up that piece of bread first, but holds it before eating as he realises, "They'll need names. Do you have any ideas for yours?" He munches thoughtfully as he considers what to call his brown.

Skailah beams. "Sounds like a plan then." She watches R'zel settle himself and return to his own lunch and nods in agreement when he speaks of names. "This one's wingsails look like lace… so I might name them after some of my favorite fabrics." She points at the gold and smiles. "Chantilly, or Tilly for short. And maybe something related for the green." She eats some of her salad, more than happy to continue conversation as it goes, or to stare dreamily at her new fair, or at R'zel himself. She's in a fine and gay mood, soaking up the fun whilst she can have it.

"Fabrics…" R'zel sounds uncertain, then admits with a grin, "I don't think I've got the first idea about that! At least, I know about wherhide and linen and sisal. And canvas. None of those really has the right ring. But something about lace, lacy…" He tails off, having exhausted his knowledge of this domain. "As for my lad - well, when I was a boy, I had visions of one day having a bronze one, and I was going to call him Toby. And I'm really not going to get any more, so I reckon that will do for him." He looks down at the hatchling in his lap. "It's hard to tell whether a name's going to suit. I reckon dragons have the right of it - they just seem to know their own names when they hatch."

Skailah chuckles. "Aye, well, you were saying that earlier too, you never know!" There could be another suprise impression in R'zel's future yet! "I think for the green I might go for Chiffon." Chantilly and Chiffon. Yup. THose work for Skailah just fine! She seems to like the name R'zel picks for his too, despite it ringing slightly like something one would call a favored canine, but to each their own. "Toby sounds like a good, solid name." As to dragons knowing their names, well, that's something that Skai knows not much about. "They choose their own names?"

"I'm not sure," R'zel admits. "I'm not sure anyone really knows: it's one of those things, like how they know who their rider should be. Some people think their dams name them. But when you Impress, the hatchling always tells you his or her name. They hatch able to talk and everything, so… maybe they do choose their own? I asked Vero how he knew, but he couldn't tell me." He pauses to eat, then goes on, "Chantilly and chiffon. Those are pretty names." And he's not going to admit that he hasn't a clue what either of them means.

Skailah looks impressed. "Well isn't that convenient? If only all intelligent living beings worked the same way, eh?" Skai giggles and goes about finishing her lunch as the two new additions to her Southern family snooze, gluttonous and full. She really has no idea what she's in for. That R'zel likes her names for her lizards is enough, and shows in the way Skailah beams another smile in his direction. Something he says strikes a chord and she looks curious. "Do you think the dams talk to their hatchlings while they're still in the shell?"

"I'd be surprised if they didn't," R'zel says, frowning, "but I don't really know. One of the goldriders might be able to tell you. I'd ask Verokanth, but…" There's a pause, during which his gaze drifts. "He doesn't remember if Zymuraith did. The queens pay a lot of attention to the eggs, though, so maybe it's like a human mother-to-be talking to the baby. My mother used to talk to Morrey like that - she sang to him, too. She's a harper, of course - but maybe all mothers do it?"

Skailah nods. "That's a good way to look at it I suppose. I might just ask one of the goldriders if their queen remembers talking to the babies. I have to admit, I am rather curious about it now." Her salad and juice are soon gone and she's looking around and wondering if they shouldn't get going. If they want a sit in somewhere pretty before having to go home, now would be the time to do it. "Shall we pack up and move on? I have a feeling it won't be too long before we have to get these babies home." She points at the three newborn hatchlings and grins.

R'zel has nearly finished his second sandwich, which is all he's going to get of the meat they brought, given that certain small creatures have devoured the rest. "True. Best to move while they're sleepy, especially as they'll probably want more once they wake up. Oh, do you know about oiling their hides? You'll need to do it at least once a day - more than that, at first. They're like young dragons: for the first couple of sevendays it's all eating, sleeping and oiling. If they need it before we get home, I've got a bottle in my kit." He takes the final couple of bites, and then starts to pack up what he brought. "There's fruit, and pastries, but we can take them with us. They'll go down just as well sitting on the cliff."

Skailah shakes her head. "I didn't know about the oiling. Perhaps I should take down a few notes when we get back to the Weyr." She helps pack up what they're done eating while putting the desserts near the top of their basket, but away from the bread to prevent smooshing. She looks grateful that at least R'zel knows what's up and has some supplies at the ready if needed. Once all done, she retrieves the skins and her two baby lizards while she waits for R'zel to grab his brown and the basket. "Are we ready, got everything?" She looks around, but other than a few crumbs, it's as if they never intruded.

Verokanth ambles towards R'zel and Skailah, eyes whirling cheerfully blue as he comes to see the new firelizards. R'zel stands up, cradling young Toby against his chest, picks up the basket, glances round, then nods. "That looks like everything. Let's go and find ourselves a sea view." With Verokanth's help, they find a spot on Southern Hold's cliffs, and there Skailah is initiated into the mysteries of firelizard-oiling, and a pleasant hour passes in conversation before they decide it's time to take their new friends home.