PLOT ~ A clandestine meeting {Liyanna, open}

[Neeuqtar]

Clandestine meetings were not all that uncommon in the Lower Caverns, which made Yn're's predicament all the more difficult. The Weyrwoman wasn't supposed to call secret meetings! Particularly not with mindhealers who might think about her too much. This is bad? Yukasth asked, confused, as she drifted above the Weyr, a glory of green, and definitely picking up a hint of glow. Lucky for Yn're, he could always tell when she was going to Rise... he had at least a sevenday to fret about her.

Not... bad, Yn're replied with a sigh, trying to dampen his emotions a bit for his skittish love. Just strange. I did not expect a... well, a summons like this, without any explanation... Yuka twirled on a thermal, her hide soaking in the fresh sunlight, hide gleaming, clean and brilliant. She was flawless, and Yn're caught a murmured comment or two about her glow, making him flash his green. He was always quite admiring of Yukasth when she was getting just a touch proddy.

Yn're ceased his restless pacing, leaning against the junction of hallways Liyanna had asked him to meet her at. He was early, of course... he wouldn't have dared been late. Sabu startled a very girlish giggle from him, nibbling on his ear. The little gray treehopper was quite the cute creature, and retreated back into his mane of dark hair after a moment, beady eyes watching the dimly-lit hallway, fuzzy ears twitching to catch the sounds of distant footfalls. Forcibly, Yn're calmed himself down.

He was meeting the Weyrwoman. Not Liyanna. Not a beautiful woman. The Weyrwoman. No other thoughts were allowed, and just as his training had built within him, he became the person he wanted to be. Not influenced by Yuka's faint glow, not influenced by his eyes or the minds of other dragons. Just... Yn're, mind-healer, rider, without any desire but to serve his Weyr. Yes... that would do.

[Symphony]

[ Candidates, feel free to EAVESDROP *dies* I encourage it! Participate in this~ <3 ]

You called him, didn't you, beautiful?
I did. He comes now.
Good, good.

Liyanna walked silently down the hallways, her arms folded behind her back. It was probably strange that she had asked Yn're to meet her some place so obscure as a hallway in the Lower Caverns, but there was a reason for it. She did not want anyone to realize that Yn're was meeting with her. Contrary to the suggestion, she had no scandalous intentions, merely a... request. A request that the former Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader would have scorned. A request that would change everything at Sanctum if she did it right, and who better than the only person in the Weyr who could hear all dragons? Oh, she didn't know much about Yukasth's rider aside from that, having never paid much attention to the mindhealer. He was able to hear all dragons, and that made him ideal for the ... assignment she had before him. It was an assignment that she didn't want everyone to know about.

As she came upon the corner (where three corridors connected), she stopped. Had she turned to look she might have seen that down one of them was a cluster of rocks oddly formed, ideal for someone hiding should anyone have happened upon the pair. Someone choosing to eavesdrop might have found it in their best interest to stay put out of the Weyrwoman's sight. She had eyes for Yn're alone at that particular moment and was oblivious.

"Yn're of Green Yukasth," she said with a slight bow of her head, a polite greeting. She remembered his name only because Ariannalyth had supplied her with it when she decided to call the greenrider. Condescending? Perhaps. She had trouble recalling anyone but the Wingleaders and that was because they were acting as a council, a group who would control the Weyrleadership until her beautiful queen flew. She had to remember who they were, and bronzeriders were often easier to recall. She liked to try and decide if any of them were worthy of her acknowledgment outside of flight lust. So far no luck. Men tended to disappoint her. Scratch that, people disappointed her. "Your green is close to flying if I recall - not too close that she should be grounded, I hope?" What a way to bring a conversation about - but at least she'd noticed. She didn't have to pay attention to greens. They flew so often it was hard to keep track of them really...

[Shrimp]

The crèche was no fun. The crèche was boring and crowded. Hinuk didn’t liked it. So Hinuk got out.

The boy had currently been strolling around the Lower Caverns, having found his way to the kitchen. He was hungry, yes, and he wanted to eat. A nightheart was available, as always, though what the boy aimed at was at a plate of meatrolls. A bit cold, they had been left there for a few hours at the very least, but they would do. Quietly, the last roll was popped into his mouth, the boy slowly nibbling at it without letting the object drop. Why not use his hands, you say? Simple. They were busy with something else.

A rather large pitcher of klah, still lightly warm, had caught his attention, and the boy was currently in the process of dumping some of the brown liquid into a mug. He finally succeeded, placing the jar back where it was, before taking the mug. By now his last meatroll was gone, and he focused now on drinking some of the warm liquid to shoo his thirst away. Ah, so warm... And yet not scolding hot. It felt so good. He had been wandering aimlessly now, more focused on his mug and the warm it brought to his body every time he took a sip. This Weyr had been so cold lately, what with all the downpours of rain. One would think the skies were crying themselves out until they were dry.

A cluster of rocks was in view, and sapphire eyes blinked as he inspected them. What, in Faranth’s name, where a bunch of rocks doing set to one side of a corridor/ The strawberry blond boy scowled, seeming displeased, though the reason was unknown. He had been just about to quick some of the stones, before a voice drifting from in front of him caught his attention. Yes, perhaps these rocks weren’t bad to be here after all... Making sure to hide his small frame well, he only allowed his head to peek out slightly, trying to get a good view. Was that Liyanna...?

” Yn're of Green Yukasth,”

It was her! The boy felt a thrill of excitement course through his body, doing well to hide as bet as he could while continuing to eavesdrop. And he felt no remorse about it, either. So caught up he had been in this new fun game, he hadn’t noticed the tall, ghostly white creature in front of him. And when he did, he almost yelped. Almost. Hinuk remembered where he was, and what he was doing, he did not want to let Liyanna know he was here. And so his blue eyes conformed to just glare at a set of crimson. The other was about to speak, scold him by the looks, but Hinuk managed to stop him as he waved his arms around. He indicated for Keizo to keep his voice in whispers, before talking in murmurs himself.

”Shh, be quite you dimglow.”
“Quiet wh- Is that the Weyrwoman I hear?”
“Yes! Now stay quiet, I wanna know what they are talking about.”
“They? Who is she with?”
“Some Y’fe of Yuath, or something like that.”
“Y’ren and Yukasth, you mean?”
“Yeah, that. Now shh!”
“You know, for an eavesdropper you make a lousy job of it.”

A scowl met the faint smirk the albino sported on his lips, both males now crouched close to the rocks to be out of view. Sure, the drudge should have been scolding the Weyrbrat, not eavesdropping along with him... But, Keizo could not deny this seemed far more interesting and amusing to do as such an hour, than scolding the brat. And if they were caught, he could just pretend he had just come across Hinuk, and scold him. That should be enough to save his hide. Good thing his little blue bundle of a flitt was currently sleeping back at his bed, Wit would not wake up any time soon, not after gorging himself with so much food.

[Yakura]

Tenmor was hardly to the sort to wander aimlessly, but he found himself doing just that on this particular day. He had finished his chores in record time, having replaced glows in quite a few of the tunnels and rooms, and done the less enjoyable chores as well. He had been unable to find anything at all to do, which was quite the anomaly in the Weyr, and had thusly resorted to wandering to pass the time. The Lower Caverns, with their seclusion and cool air, had called to him above all else. Tenmor was hardly one to ignore such a calling and had sidled down there, though he hadn't expected to encounter anyone. His surprise wasn't exactly unfounded when he saw the backs of two fellow Candidates. What were they up to?

He approached in complete silence, vaguely aware of a pair of voices speaking somewhere nearby. From the sound of them, one male and one female. He came to stand behind the pair of males without thinking much about it, until it began to dawn on him that they were eavesdropping. Eyes narrowing, Tenmor leaned forward slightly, so that he was closer to them than he had been a second earlier. "What are you doing?" He at least had the foresight to keep his voice down to a low hiss, less they be spotted and he be implicated into whatever they were doing. He would hate to be considered an eavesdropper.

Tenmor paused to leaned out slightly and snatch a glance a the pair. He withdrew immediately, blushing slightly. They were spying on the Weyrwoman. And someone else, but Tenmor didn't know quite who he was. He cast a flustered glance at Keizo and Hinuk, a frown darkening his features. "What are you doing?" he asked sharply, if a bit louder than intended. He spared another quick glance at Liyanna and Yn're, then stared back at the other males, taking a few quick steps back, as if to disassociate himself with them. What were they doing, after all? What were all of them doing down here?

[Neeuqtar]

A soft footfall in the hallways caught his attention, and Yn're looked up just as Ariannalyth reassured Hers that he had arrived. "He comes" indeed, he thought, a bit ironically. More like "he waits. Yukasth laughed at Hers, dancing on the winds above, testing the air made clean from the cathartic rains. The skies were perfectly clear, a bowl of blue turned over the mountains and forests of Sanctum. She trilled, glorying in her own voice echoing back in parodies of itself. So dark there, when you could be flying with me! the dragon teased, flipping into a heart-stopping spin, listing upside-down before tumbling in carefully-controlled chaos to catch a thermal, shooting up along the side of a mountain to skud against the cooler air where the thermals slowly died.

"Weyrwoman," Yn're replied to her non-greeting, inclining his head a fraction more than her, a loop of dark hair escaping from behind his ear to brush against his cheek until he restrained it again, tucking it back into place. Sabu nibbled his finger momentarily, looking for a salty treat and only finding finger. He was a bit startled by the subject material Liyanna decided to broach first--it wasn't often that queenriders paid any attention to the state of the Rising greens! But perhaps it had something to do with what she had actually asked him down here for...

"Yukasth has gotten a hint of glow, but I estimate it will be at least a sevenday before she actually Rises," he replied, voice sounding rather grave, even to his own ears. "I am lucky that she deigns to give me that little warning," Yn're added with the faintest hint of a dry chuckle. The tendency of greens to Rise at the most inopportune and least expected times was something of a joke among dragonriders--Yn're had woken up in some very odd places with some very odd people until he had learned Yuka's cycles and how to read her better. Indeed, the young man was probably the best judge of when dragons were to Rise, though he kept his opinions to himself. Better to see the reactions, of course...

"But surely you did not ask me here to speak of glows and Risings," he added, lounging a little so that he wouldn't tower over the Weyrwoman. But Yn're had appearance to an art, so he managed to look both entirely relaxed and entirely attentive, while not staring down into Liyanna's golden eyes with untamed interest. Such twin suns could burn so easily... Mine, can we go see if the lake has frozen over yet at Tower Hold? Yukasth asked suddenly. I want to see a frozen lake!

Yn're fought back the grin that threatened to spread across his face. Secret excursions to the North were something of a sport with the youngest generations of dragonriders--including himself, and no few of his Clutch-mates. They had discovered Tower Hold, a minor Hold that looked to High Reaches Weyr, several Turns ago, in the height of the Northern summer, but had never been there during the winter, despite enticements of a winter Gather and the lake in full freeze. Tempting, Yuka... but we will have to do as the Weyrwoman wishes first. If there is time... well, why not?

I... I... the dragon mentally crumpled, trying to come up with an answer to Yn're's question, not realizing that it was intended to be only a rhetorical question. Her wingbeats, so secure moments ago, fluttered, and Yn're instantly began to soothe her. All of Yukasth's fears stemmed from the same core thing--that somehow she would be alone, separated from Yn're in the same way she had been separated from Tsakyyth--and sometimes it took a lot of work to convince Yuka that everything was really okay.

Luckily for the eavesdroppers, soothing Yukasth's irrational fear of rejection and aloneness, of not being good enough, while still looking completely attentive to the Weyrwoman (and indeed, actually listening to what she was saying) kept Yn're from paying attention to anything else, like the murmured sounds from behind the possibly-decorative rock formation, or the mostly-hidden form of the three boys. But it didn't keep anything from Sabu's ears.

The little treehopper slid down Yn're's back, ears twitching as he followed the sound. Having never known fear of living things, unusual sounds were for investigation, not for fleeing. Tunnelsnakes weren't fast enough to catch him; people gave him treats! What wasn't to love? Bu bounded across the short distance from Yn're to the rock formation, his lithe body snaking across the rough stone with the same ease as if it had been bark, and not rock, to which he clung. Poking his head around the formation, Sabu caught sight of the boys, and leapt to a nearby knob of rock, six legs scrabbling for purchase before he got himself situated, bushy tail curled against his back, beady eyes watching the trio of boys.

'Treats?' he seemed to say, ears curled forward in rapt interest. Surely they would have good things to eat!

[Katy]

Though the thrill and novelty of Weyrlife had kept Iolanthe amused for longer than she'd anticipated, even the most radical changes in lifestyle became mundane after sevendays of repetition. Freseath's Clutch had long been on the Sands, a fact that did not go unnoted by the many anxious candidates. Even with the impending Hatching-- and event that had once seemed so far into the distant future it might as well never come to pass-- Iolanthe was beginning to hunger for alternate means of entertainment. It was with this in mind that the girl headed to the Lower Caverns. Of course, she was no stranger to the Caverns. Between chores, meals, and bathing, it was rare to find her anywhere else. It was not often, however, that the location was home to overtly interesting events. There was always the element of the unpredictable; with so many lives intersecting, diverging, then coiling back in on each other, occasional turmoil was inevitable. Naturally, it wasn't the most favored spot for those with hidden agendas; secrets didn't keep well along walls that echoed, within hallways so heavily trafficked. But, as with everything, exceptions were made. It was an interesting exchange that the girl stumbled upon, halting her muffled footsteps immediately upon catching the last few words delivered by a strikingly familiar female voice.

"...too close that she should be grounded, I hope?"
She glanced around the hallway, spotting an interesting formation of rocks, with the forms of two boys crouched behind it, a third standing a few paces away, spine straightened defensively.
"Weyrwoman," was a man's reply.
So she hadn't been mistaken.... Names, she was admittedly bad at, but she never forgot a voice. She made no attempt to move further down the hallway; the larger the clump of candidates concealed behind the rock, the greater their chances were of getting caught. She didn't have to watch the exchange; listening served her well enough. How could she pass up an opportunity witness what she could sense was a conversation of importance involving the Senior Weyrwoman? She was listening so intently to the talk of greens rising that she failed to notice the approaching form behind her.

"Up to no good, I presume?" It was an unmistakably masculine voice, with a muted hint at lofty self-possession that Iolanthe was sure she recognized....
She whirled around silently, using the strange grace acquired from years spent swordfighting to complete the turn and catch the unlucky man behind her by the neck of his shirt, bunching the fabric tightly in her hand as her eyes narrowed in warning.
"Cador. I am unsurprised. Since you're here, join the party. But be sure to keep that voice of yours down, if you'd like to keep your vocal chords intact. Liyanna would take far more pleasure ripping than out than I would if she caught you--" She paused, before swiftly amending, "If she caught us eavesdropping." Her voice barely a whisper, she leaned into Cador to be sure there was no mistaking her words. "Hard as I'm sure it is for you, be quiet, and listen." Pressing her back to the wall, she slid down it silently, into a sitting position, knees pulled tightly to her chest. She motioned for Cador join her. They were still at such an angle that the clump of rocks afforded them cover, but they were far enough away from the already assembled boys to avoid becoming part of the pack. If the Weyrwoman-- or whomever she was carrying on the conversation with-- was to come down the hallway... she would figure out an escape when it became a necessity. Besides, she was almost certain that the Journeyman Harper seated next to her could talk his way out of any situation. She cast Cador a sidelong glance before returning her attention to the voices drifting down the hallway in time to catch a final sentence.
"But surely you did not ask me here to speak of glows and Risings."
The conversation, then, was not the result of a chance meeting. And, if the Weyrwoman's true concern was not the green's flight schedule, what was it? A small smile drifting onto her features, Iolanthe settled her head against the wall and prepared to listen to the rest of the exchange.

[Symphony]

"You're correct," Liyanna replied with a light nod. She hadn't called Yn're about his green because she couldn't care less when a green flew. They flew so often that keeping track of their cycles was like trying to count how many grains of sand were on the Hatching Grounds. Ridiculous, time consuming, and ultimately not beneficial to anyone. She was a creature of practicality beyond all else, sometimes to the point of being outright unfair. Yes, Liyanna was conceited. No part of the Weyrwoman had ever tried to hide that she felt she was superior to most people, particularly those of lesser rank. She had yet to meet an equal amongst the riders and people at Sanctum Weyr, and the Holders were her inferiors by far. Hmph.

It was fortunate, perhaps, that Liyanna was quite so conceited. She did not even think anyone would dare to eavesdrop on her and she did not pay much mind when the greenrider's little furry pet left him. Her gaze was, instead, on the younger man with her arms folded over her lower stomach. If she had known there were people listening she would have punished them severely - and probably dropped all of her plans until a later date. She was blissfully oblivious.

"I would like a favor of you, Yn're, a favor that is to be kept a secret between you and I. None of the Wingleaders are to know; indeed, I would have that none of the other riders know, though I expect keeping Yukasth from telling Tsakyyth might be a stretch. Instead I ask that if you must tell K'lir and Tsakyyth that it remain between us three." She was well aware that Yukasth and Tsakyyth were close. In her experience, K'lir was rather rude to everyone except the rider of his green's twin and she knew better than most that the green dragon had her rider wrapped around her claws. Liyanna was sure that Yukasth and Yn're would be incapable of keeping a secret from them and besides, Tsakyyth would probably notice there was something off, unfortunately. She was rather ... perceptive, particularly for a green.

Clucking her tongue, Liyanna lifted one hand to look at her nails, her image the perfect posture of composure and relaxation. Nothing more important to discuss than the weather, or so she intended to look. Not that she expected anyone to happen upon them. If someone were to inquire to why she wanted Yn're's presence alone, she would have happily fibbed that it related to just how 'attractive' he was. (She did not even acknowledge he might be good looking - he was a greenrider and therefore not even an option to her. She wouldn't consider anyone less than a bronzerider.) She could feel Ariannalyth's amusement at her plan. Liyanna temporarily blocked out her dragon, instead humming to herself, "Tell me, Yn're, have you ever been to the North?"

[Shrimp]

"What are you doing?"

Hinuk flinched somewhat, while Keizo simply sighed lightly. Ah well, it was only a matter of fact until another person wandered down the hall, or so the drudge supposed. AFter all, if he and Hinuk had encountered one another, what would avoid others from showing up as well? Great, now there were two relatively grown men hidding behind the rocks, along with a small Weyrbrat -- though Keizo did not made that comment known out of his mind. The boy would blow in rage at being refered to as small, and get them all in trouble while he was at it. Keeping his voice low, the albino turned to Tenmor, replying calmly -- as if their actions were completely normal.

"Nothing much, I just happened to be walking down a few halls just like you -- and came across Hinuk here. As for the Weyrwoman, this was not my doing -- though I must admit that if I had tried to leave and made a sound I would be skinned alive. Thus, I preffer to just wait quietly until this ordeal is done. And, frankly, I'm finding it quite amusing."

Hinuk had been glaring at the other two, clearly unamused by their talking and their presence. The boy snorted, taking another zip of the warm mug of klah he had brought, before turning to look back down the hall. Instead of darkness and figures, his sapphire gaze met with two round eyes that stared right back at him, in almost an innocent and pleading look. He shifted back, almost managing to fall -- though thankfully the mug's content had been low enough to avoid spilling. What exactly was this thing? Keizo had also noticed the treehoper's presence, blinking before extending his arm in welcome to the little critter, a few seeds prodded out of his pockets. They were left overs from the grains he fed some of the runners, though the drudge hoped the little critter would like them as well. He offered a small piece, careful not to let the creature run off and back to his Master with any food. That would surely ruin their hiding. The presence of two more people a little ways behind them had gone unnoticed for the time being.


"You're correct,I would like a favor of you, Yn're, a favor that is to be kept a secret between you and I. None of the Wingleaders are to know; indeed, I would have that none of the other riders know, though I expect keeping Yukasth from telling Tsakyyth might be a stretch. Instead I ask that if you must tell K'lir and Tsakyyth that it remain between us three."

Well, this was an interesting conversation indeed. The drudge blinked, wondering just what exactly could the Weyrwoman be planning. Well, she definitely had something under her sleeves, if she was so intent of keeping it a secret. His reddish eyes narrowed lightly in concentration, though he was careful not to ignore the furry creature and the treats he offered the treehoper every now and again.

"Tell me, Yn're, have you ever been to the North?"
"The North?! I want to go th-"
"Shh, you fool. Or you blow us all out into the open -- and I swear I will let Ariannalyth eat you then."

Keizo had managed to give Hinuk a sharp nudge on his side with his foot, silencing the younger brat's whispers for the time being. The blond haired brat glared backa t him, though he was clever enough to follow directions. He remained silent. For now.

[Neeuqtar]

"You are probably correct in that... Yuka might be able to keep it a secret from Tsakyyth, but I would not count on it," he said, lips pulling to one side as he thought it through. They'd managed to keep secrets from the other greenpair before, just not many of them. And whatever this was, Yn're was almost entirely certain that is was going to be a big secret, not something that Yukasth would be able to keep quiet about from her twin sister. And indeed, Liyanna's next words confirmed that and brought a sly smile to his face.

"The North? Yes... I have been to a good number of Gathers, but never to Weyrs, though," he added, eyes searching her face for some indication of what she was thinking. It truly was a pity that she was the Weyrwoman, and as such, completely out of his reach. There was no doubt in his mind that most of the men in the Weyr (the ones who liked women, at least) were as wrapped around Liyanna's perfect fingers as-- as K'lir was wrapped around Tsa's talons! Himself included. No matter how dangerous (actually, he would like dangerous. Perhaps no matter how boring and routine) the errand she was about to send him on, he knew he would agree instantly, and Yukasth would cheerfully come along.

Can we go to the lake then? Yukasth asked eagerly, soaring higher and higher on a thermal, before letting herself plummet almost to the ground before catching another thermal, whirling through the sky with the ease she breathed. I do not see any reason why we could not, if we are sent to the North. But if you fall through the ice, I will not rescue you! Yn're responded cheerfully. Yukasth purred at him. I only want to see it, not touch it. I'd probably fall through into the cold deep, she informed him, a quaver in her voice. Good girl, the man said quickly. I wouldn't want you to crack the pretty ice.

"I do not suppose you are thinking about sending me to the North, my Weyrwoman?" he asked, the expression on his face saying that he was quite eager to do such a thing. Especially if he would finally get to see the Weyrs... "Such a thing would be quite... unprecedented." He lifted one perfect arch of an eyebrow, intent look in his eyes. If she was thinking what he was thinking, the result could be... interesting. But why shouldn't Sanctum Weyr be part of Pern again? And not just part--better, because Yn're was sure they were entirely self-sufficient and needed nothing from the North. But they could certainly stop hiding like frightened children. I want to go! Yuka trilled, excited. Can we go even if she says we don't have to go? If you want, Yn're chuckled back.

The man was paying attention to Liyanna, it was true, but the hiding children were certainly making a lot of noise. At one outburst, the echo enough to reach the talking duo, Yn're's head whipped sideways, staring at the outcropping as if he could see through it. Luckily for those hidden, though, Sabu hopped up, chattering madly, and then returned to eating the seeds he had snatched from Keizo's hands. Yn're narrowed his eyes before turning back to Liyanna. "Pardon my rude pet," he apologized. "He must have found some creature's store of seeds."