Wher Meets Seacrafter

Xanadu Weyr - Forest's Edge

While the forest is thick for a long while, in time it begins to thin, as the ground becomes rockier to the south western stretches of the Weyr's land. The trees are further apart, and the rocks become larger, before rocky outcroppings seem to be more prevalent than the trees around them. As the hills begin to gain in height, the shruberry upon them become more stunted.

What's this, though! It seems with all the recent earthshakes from the south, the ground has begun to realign itself, and one hillside has shifted, revealing an opening into a small cave. At least, that's what it appears, as the whole is just large enough for an average sized man to sneak through.

A series of 'dens' sit into the rocky outcroppings, showing signs of the whers who make their home within them.


Rukbat has barely disappeared below the horizon. Thankfull, the forest's edge was only lightly singed by the raging fire before the torential downpour started. However, the downpour has essentially halted work in the mines for safety reasons. Until the water can be pumped back out, the mine remains quiet. It wouldn't do to have another cave in or a drowning. Still, many of the local wherhandlers are among the best in all of Pern (or so they say) and are insisting on training despite the rain. It is for this purpose that Hyrlon stands, drenched despite his slick wherhide jacket while Hysk runs the obstacle course, currently jumping through hoops with a practiced ease.

Drip drop, drippity drop, the sky is falling down. And what should one do when the clouds have opened up and let down a surge of rain? Why, go walking in it, of course! Geneir is steadily wending his way around the forest's edge, wearing a thick coat that brushes his knees and a wide-brimmed hat off which water streams. He is whistling brokenly, as he dodges tiny veins of mud and water, and rocks too. But it's the action ahead, between a wherhandler and his wher, that makes the lively tune stop altogether. His shuffling steps cease and he squints through the curtain of rainwater spilling from his hat. "Nice day for some funnin'?"

Hyrlon coughs quietly, then turns towards the new arrival, trusting Hysk to move onto the next obstacle. His voice is even more gravelly than usual due to his recent bout of pneumonia, but it's understandable, "Hrm? Oh. No, just training Hysk. Can't let the whers get lazy just 'cause the mine's closed." He glances back to where the blobby blue wher is now carefully navigating the maze, "Don't climb, Hysk! Just walk." The blue looks a little abashed as he'd been about to climb over one particularly irritating obstacle.

Rain isn't particularly warm, and it's got Geneir having the sniffles. He rubs the tip of his nose before replying, his eyes glued to the activities of the blue wher. "Can't let no body get lazy, huh, but even in the rain? No restin? That seems a shame for a beastie. Couldn't get away wit' what he's doin' on no rest and in this right down mess, eh." Seems he's forgotten the state of things, even as he mentions them, and tilts his head back, sending a downpour of water into his face. "Shardit."

Hyrlon peers at the younger man, having to work a bit to process his speech for a moment, "They sleep all day. They've gotta work at night or they get restless." Hysk has managed to navigate the maze, poking his blunt nose out the far end with a gleeful chirp that makes his bonded chuckle some, "'Sides, it's hard enough keeping the dens dry without staying in 'em all the time." He peers closer at the seacrafter, "You met a wher before?"

Gotta love the rain and all its intricacies. Busy wiping the rain off his face, Geneir misses the look he's receiving from the wherhandler. "Like them felines that stays up all night and sleeps away their days, huh?" He grins as he looks up again, catching the wher's nose in his peripherals. "Met a wher, eh, not by much I'd tell ya." Taking some steps forward and sticking out his hand, he does the introduction half. "Name's Geneir, from Tillek's way. Holdbred I'm afraid, so's there ain't much I've seen at all. Sides some incidents on the ships." To end, "Apprentice seacrafter."

Hyrlon grins, "Pralius, Journeyman miner, and that pretty little blue is Hysk." He chuckles some, then whistles and hysk approaches carefully, pausing several feet from the Geneir, "Unlike felines, whers are only dangerous if you don't train 'em. This one's Hysk and I'm his handler." The rain is mostly ignored, which can only aggravate his condition, but he holds his hand out in greeting none-the-less.

"Nice ta meet ya, Hyrlon and.." He pauses, nodding his head at Hysk and bearing a goofy grin, "Hysk." It's another thing to have the creature of your admiration and focus come up to you so close though, but Geneir remains rooted to the spot, his boots sinking into the muddy muck. "Like I said, ain't ever met no wher or no wherhandler. Seen one or two from fars away. Ain't the same though." His brown eyes are scrutinizing the blue, sizing him up and absorbing all the details. "Doesn't mind if I touch him, does ya?"

Hyrlon grins, recognizing something of the look on Geneir's face, "He doesn't… he just always waits for permission before he approaches someone." He glances at Hysk and nods, "It's okay, Hysk." The blue steps forward slowly, looking up at Geneir with a gentle hwrrrr, « scritch? » Hyrlon chuckles softly, "You seem to have a liking for 'em. More so than most non-miners."

"Sounds like ya trainin him well." Geneir takes a step up too, even if it's a hesitant one; this all is a new script. "What if he didn't have a likin' for somebody?" He looks back at Hyrlon, inquisitive and genuinely interested. "Thatta good boy." Reaching out a hand, he oh-so obediently gives the blue what he seems to be hankering for, a solid scritch-scratch. "Ain't supposed to like 'em? Ain't ever heard nothin' like that before, but ain't heard much about no whers anyhow."

Hyrlon nods, rubbing Hysk's nobby head some himself while the blue makes a happy churring sound. "I like to think so. Janelle and I have worked together and with both our whers to try to get them as much experience as possible." He grins a little, "Hysk hasn't disliked someone yet, but it'd probably end poorly if I wasn't here to call him in." He chuckles then, "It's good to like 'em, just a lot of people are scared of 'em, so I'm a bit more used to that, I guess."

A few more scritches and scratches there, and Geneir steps back, putting a hand to his hat. "Looks like ya know what you're doin' too. Didn't mean to interrupt ya though. I was just thinkin'. Wander when I'm thinkin'." He grins sheepishly and shrugs his shoulders. "I'll be lettin' ya get back to you're trainin' now. Ain't no sense in wastin' this good weather." Sarcasm.

Hyrlon chuckles and shrugs, "It's good for Hysk to meet new people. We'd normally be down in the mines now, anyway. The obstacle course is just to relieve boredom." He glances over at the closed mine, then shrugs, "Just did what seemed right. I suppose if ya wanna go I won't make ya stay, though." He shrugs again, absently stroking Hysk.

"I suppose," Geneir says thoughtfully, chewing the side of his lip. "Twas nice ta meet ya both, really. Wit'out a doubt, I'll be seein' ya around or might drop in time to time, see how's he's doin'." His is a full grin, filled with less-than-perfect teeth. "I should be getting' back though, before it gets too dark and I can't find my way. New and all." Tipping his hat, he says his last goodbye and shuffles off the way he came, the familiar whistle picking back up.

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