Wyvern Quest 2: Scene 1: Meeting Imp and Sprite

--[ Wyvern Weyrs ]-----------------------------------[ The Warden's Seat ]----

It took some climbing to get this far. This area, roughly halfway up
the mountain, is relatively flat - though the edges are quite steep.
As with any flat or even slightly-non-precipitous surface on a
mountain, it's covered in trees, mostly wind-toughened evergreens. And
thank goodness for them, as they serve as natural windbreaks for the
constant breeze.

Liyandra is here.

Kiernan has arrived.

There are wyverns here. Sure, there's the two in the cage, less than a year old. Alive, unhappy, but surviving. And there's the eggs, four of them now, as one did not make it. Sadly. Then there's the other three - one a miniature one, that settles on Liya's shoulder contentedly. The other two about shoulder high, nearly big enough to ride, certainly older than the others. Yes, Liya has brought her own wyverns here, and is working with them as the learn to wear a riding harness. No rider, but the harness. So far, they've eaten three of them, and torn one to shreds, to judge by the remnants piled nearby.

Kiernan has been here, at least once a day, for the last several weeks, checking on the eggs and the babies. Mostly in the middle of the night, when most sane people are asleep. He wings in on silent white wings, a snowy owl. He comes in for a landing, and once on the ground shifts to his human shape. "Hallo Liya," he says.

Someone has to take the late shift. The three with Liya have not been here, until today. But today, Liya judged it time to bring the two groups together. Mayhem is around somewhere, lounging, as cats do. The shoulder wyvern squawks and flies up to land atop the cage. The two wyverns within hiss, but don't try to hide any more. They just keep saying don't touch me. Which of course the little one atop their cage isn't going to do. Imp and Sprite pause what they are doing, wings fluttering threateningly, and then at a command from Liya they settle down. "Kiernan. Good day. I think you are hear early today."

Kiernan smile sat the little wyvern at op the cage, and seems pleased that the two caged babies aren't hiding anymore. He approaches their cage, keeping a safe distance between himself and the two bigger ones Liya's working with. "Aye, I am. Thought I'd come check to see how these two're doing," he says, nodding toward the cage. "How are ye?" He stops before the cage, not touching it but very much in the space of the two wyverns within, murmuring to the pair soothingly, even as he's sending soothing and reassuring feelings toward them.

"I'm good. Have you met Imp and Sprite?" Liya asks, with a smile. "These two are older, and have been with me for some time. I think they're almost big enough to ride, but not quite yet." She shrugs, and then says, "And of course Pixie over there is the one that Dirk rescued and brought to me, but she doesn't seem to be about to grow any time soon at all."

Kiernan concentrates on the two within the cage for several moments, murmuring to them all the while. Then he turns away and pads toward Liya. He shakes his head. "I dinnae think so," he says. "They're gorgeous." Something of his feelings of admiration for the two bigguns and the little one are broadcast toward all three of Liya's companions. "Simply breathtaking."

Liya waits patiently, her own empathy for the moment on her own wyverns. Pixie flies back and lands on her shoulder again, then cranes her neck out much like Mayhem usually does, sniffing at Kiernan. Liya chuckles, and then calls Imp over. He pads over and settles on his haunches, snuffling a bit, and giving Kiernan a wary eye. "They need a bit more socializing, but they are used to people and other animals," Liya says. "At the house, there's the kids and the dogs, not to mention Mayhem who I think they believe is an oddly shaped wyvern. And how are you doing?"

Kiernan grins at Pixie's antics, and then nods to LIya's words. "Socializin' is importan'," he agrees. "Moran Cheann still doesnae like people save for a few. 'course, tha' may have somethin' tae do with how often I'm away from people.." Oh yeah, nobody else to blame but yourself for that, Kier! Speaking of Moran Cheann, the white eagle still flies overhead, riding thermals. Scouting, probably. "I'm doin' okay, more 'r less. Y'know. Bein' a hermit 'n all." He grins.

Liya shakes her head, glancing up at the eagle and sending a brief empathic greeting its way. "They are coming along, but they won't be rideable for some time, if we let them age naturallly. I have been wondering if we need to consider some way of - making them grow faster, but I don't know much about any such things. And I confess, I am not convinced it will work. I know that training while they are young and growing is very important to almost any beast, especially the dangerous ones."

Kiernan nods his agreement. "How would ye go about gettin' them tae grow faster?" He sounds curious about that. He glances to the two older babies getting used to harness. "How're they takin' to th' harness?" He looks back to Liya, the question clear in his eyes and expression. "Why do ye think 'twillnae work?"

"I have no idea how one would go about doing that, but if we want them to be rideable faster than nature intends, then something will have to be done," Liya says, a little wryly. "It's totally outside of my area of expertise." She gestures to the ex-harnesses on the ground. "So far, they're winning, and the harnesses are losing, but give it time." That said, she reaches to pet Imp, who nearly purrs, happy with the attention. Certainly they've bonded to Liya very nicely. "I also think - the riders will have to be involved in training them, because they do seem to bond to a person," she adds slowly. "As for why it wouldn't work? It's a difference between 3 months of training say, compared to 2 years."

Kiernan looks to the ex-harnesses on the ground, and laughs aloud. "Well then! How'd they get th' harnesses off? Bitin' or fire 'r somethin' else?" He walks over to the harnesses to look them over, to note what materials the harnesses happen to be and the damage to them. "Oh, aye. 'tis goin' tae be a matter o' discoverin' wha'll work for wyverns, I imagine. Do Imp 'n Sprite fly yet?"

"Yes, they fly very young, actually," Liya says. "The ones in the cage are capable of it, but so far, there's a bit of an issue with letting them out." She grins, as Kiernan laughs. The harnesses so far are leather, hardened perhaps, but obviously not something the wyverns have any trouble biting or melting with fire. "Both, I think - biting and fire, they are quite determined." And also they are good watchwyverns, since Liya can trust them to come back to her, even if they do go off for a bit.

Kiernan looks closely over those harnesses. "Hrm," he murmurs. "I think a' a star', the harness material needs tae be fire resistan' if we cannae find somethin' fireproof, and toucher so they cannae bite through i'." He turns from the harnesses and walks back over to Liya. "Y'know, we can probably ge' chain o' th' righ' shape, jus' tae ge' them used tae wearin' somethin'."

Liya considers for a moment and then she nods. "That might be a requirement, especially if we can get a very lightweight but strong chain. Can you make something like that?" Hopefully she looks at Kiernan, not at all sure who might be able to. "And if not, I bet we can ask the rest of the rangers. Someone is bound to know someone."

Kiernan shakes his head. "Nay. I cannae make anythin' like tha'. You're goin' tae need a smith for somethin' like tha'. Migh' be somethin' tha's goin' tae have tae be go' ou' in shadow. Hrm. Maybe somethin' can be found a' th' docks. They use chain for anchors, aye?" He grins and perks up. "Aye, someone else is bound tae know someone."

"I am sure we can work that out," Liya says. "We've got House Gozar working on building them and us a home here. Now we just have to figure out how to get the eggs to hatch, and how to teach them to let us ride them." A pause. "Oh, and how to grow them faster, I guess. Maybe." She shrugs. "I think there's tea. Someone said something about tea earlier, before they beat a hasty retreat when they saw Imp and Sprite."

Kiernan nods his agreement. "Things'll work out," he says. "The eggs will hatch when they hatch. Maybe we need to get them warmer?" He considers, and glances between Liya and her two larger wyverns. "Have you ever tried to sit on them?" He eyeballs the wyverns, then Liya. "Or, I suppose, drape yourself over their backs, maybe? You're pretty small, so just leaning on them should be fine."

Liya laughs, and nods. "They'll let me lean on them, at least." She is closest to Imp, so she puts her hands on his back, and leans. "And I do know how to ride a horse pretty well," she adds with a grin. Imp rumbles a bit, but stands, and lets her do so.

"Well, that's a good start," he says. "And a good indication that when they're big enough, they'll probably let you ride them without too much fuss. Getting them there though..." He grunts and shakes his head. "Growing. There's a lot of odd things out in Shadow. Maybe we can find something."

Liya nods her head after a moment. "I think it can work, but of course, I've had these two for a couple years already training them. So one of the things to note - is that with time, all things are possible. If we speed up their growth, that eliminates some of that time, repetition and getting to know them. I am concerned that they will be untrustworthy."

Kiernan considers that, and nods slowly, thoughtful. "Well, maybe to get by that, they'll have to be with their trainer as much as possible. I dunno. It's possible that though the development of their bodies speeds up, maybe their minds won't and they'll still be immature. That has it's own problems, though." He shakes his head and moves over to have a look at the eggies.

The four remaining eggs have strong live sources, and they have perhaps doubled in size. "I think they will hatch soon," Liya says. "Couple weeks, no more." They are near a couple fires, and with nice warm bedding around them. There is definitely a temperature difference in the area they are in, protected from the elements.

Kiernan doesn't have anything to allow him to sense life sources, but he does have really good hearing. Maybe he hears something within. Of course, he can likely sense what little emotion they have too. He smiles at the eggs, and nods to Liyandra. "I'm looking forward to them hatching."

"Me too," Liya says, with a smile. She lets Imp go, and he turns to nuzzle her arm, before he heads over to where Sprite is hanging back. "I should go pay some attention to Sprite now, so she doesn't get jealous. I'll leave you to working with the littler ones, and keep working with these two."

Building a Wyvern Home

--[ Wyvern Weyrs ]-----------------------------------[ The Warden's Seat ]----

It took some climbing to get this far. This area, roughly halfway up
the mountain, is relatively flat - though the edges are quite steep.
As with any flat or even slightly-non-precipitous surface on a
mountain, it's covered in trees, mostly wind-toughened evergreens. And
thank goodness for them, as they serve as natural windbreaks for the
constant breeze.

Liyandra is here.

Down --> Immeraus


Liya is where she can often be found - in the Eyrie looking after the wyverns. There are two of them free, as well as a large jaguar, and one wyvern - a miniature one - on her shoulder. There are two in a large cage, and four eggs, that have not hatched yet, being kept warm and toasty, with a fire nearby, and lots of padding. And whatever else the rangers have been able to think of. The two in the cage can move with ease, walk around, probably even fly a bit, but they can't escape. At least not easily. Liya is seated by the cage, and is currently singing.

Olumus hikes up the side of the mountain toward where Liya and the wyverns are. He has with him only the essentials. After all, with it being his first visit to the place, it's usually a good idea to see what's needed before starting a big project like this. As his path levels out, he lets out a "whew" and rubs sweat from his brow. He turns to look behind him a moment and then begins mumbling something about a shortcut while digging through the bags at his waist, from which he eventually pulls a hammer made entirely of stone. Before he can to anything with this tool, however, he looks over in Liyandra's direction to greet the singer. And it's only then that he seems to notice the wyverns, and a grin splits his face. "They're absolutely adorable!"

Mayhem, the jaguar, noticed Olumus, perhaps first, though it's hard to say, as Liya seems to notice him at the same time. "Good day," she says, her voice musical, and lilting with the rhythms of Sukho. "Might I help you with something?" The two wyverns that are loose, start to lumber over, curiously. They're getting big now, definitely over half grown. The ones in the cage are obviously younger. The one on Liya's shoulder hisses and then takes to the air, moving to find a spot it considers safer. Liya chuckles at the silly thing. "They are adorable, I agree. Just don't tell them that."

Olumus chuckles as the smaller one hisses and flies off, looking only slightly disappointed. "I'll have to be careful of that," he says as he takes a few steps closer. "Oh, and I'm Olumus Gozar, by the way. So, I hear you need a better place to raise these guys in?"

"Oh!" Liya says, sounding quite pleased. "I am very happy to make your acquaintance, m'Lord Gozar. I am Liyandra, though my friends call me Liya. I am one of the Rangers here, and am working on learning to take care of and train these beautiful beasts. We have enough room here, but could use stables and room to sleep in. Cover from the inclement weather, and at the same time, wyverns fly - so it is not so easy as to build a house, I think." The two wyverns that came over stop a bit aways, obviously far more comfortable with people than the others. The jaguar comes right up to sit by Liya's leg, offering a mrowl.

"Good to meet you. And that should be doable," Olumus says with a nod as he looks about him. "Did you want it to be an external structure, or hewn into the side of the mountain itself?" When the jaguar comes closer, Olumus' eyes light up. "Can I...pet it?"
Liya pauses for a moment, and then she laughs. "His name is Mayhem, he's playful, and yes you may. At least if he comes up to you first," she offers. She signals the cat who inches forward and cranes his neck towards Olumus. This is 252 pounds of full grown jaguar with jaws that can crush skulls. And yet, he cranes his head forward so he can stuff his head under Olumus' hand.

Olumus grins and rubs the top of the big cat's head before scratching it behind its ears. "What a good kitty," he murmurs to Mayhem as he continues to deliver pets and scritches, even tucking his stone hammer into his belt so he can use both hands, his purpose of coming here utterly forgotten as he gets this rare opportunity to pet a jaguar.

Liya watches, grinning for a moment as well. Eventually, Mayhem pulls back, returning to lean against Liya. Sort of. He is bigger than she is, after all. Liya glances at the mountain, and then she says, "I think we may need both? The idea is to house a flight of wyverns, and their riders, so that Arden and the Rangers are able to more quickly assist when needed."

Ah, right, business. As Mayhem walks away, Olumus straightens himself once more and follows Liyandra's gaze toward the mountain. "In that case, it might be easiest to hollow out the mountain to how you want it first and then turn what stone I remove into bricks to build the outer section."

"I am not so good with building things," Liya admits. "Home on Sukho, we have little need for large structures. But - I think you might be right. We will not anger the mountain god with such, will we? There are many such gods back home, often they demand tribute."

Olumus worries his lower lip as he considers this. "Well," he eventually says, "if it's something that we need to worry about, then I don't mind doing whatever rituals I may need to perform and paying whatever tribute I might need to pay. How would one find out if we need to and what needs to be done?"

Liya blinks and she says, "I do not know this mountain, so well. It might not need any such thing." She shrugs. "Perhaps not, I am not certain Amber would let a god so close to their city, do you think?"

"I don't know much about gods, to be honest," Olumus says. "And I suppose I could always try to feel what the stone itself may want, but that's completely different from the wills of gods."

Liya thinks about that. "This is not Sukho, so perhaps we shall expect no gods unless they show up and knock on our door," she decides. "I will leave what the rock and stone wants to you, as that is something I cannot tell."

Olumus nods, seeming to find that reasonable. "Do you...have any rough plans drawn up for how you'd like the finished building to look?" he asks.

Liya considers that, and she says, "I do not. I suppose that Moxon and Harper and I could do so, if it would help?" A half shrug, and then, "I had heard that House Gozar would be contacting us, but I confess I had gotten busy and lost track of time. It might be that Harper or Moxon or Kiernan do have such a drawing."

Olumus nods. "I don't know Kiernan, but I'm familiar with Harper and Moxon. I helped them build the towers in the forest. I'll see about finding one of them and ask them about any drawings or other notes they might have."
"I can also let them know that they should come find you," Liya says, softly. "If it will help?"

"That would help. Thank you." Olumus smiles warmly. "They should be able to find me at my house. Moxon knows where it is, and I think Harper may as well."

Liya hesitates, and then she says, "If I need to speak with you, is it okay if I send you a dream?"

Olumus stares. "A...dream?" He chews his lip. "You don't mean a message sent in my dreams do you?"

"Yes, that's what I mean," Liya says, almost apologetically. "It's either that or a letter. I'm afraid I don't have any good ways to send messages otherwise."

Olumus shakes his head. "No, that should work," he says quickly. "I'm just not familiar with all these different magics and such."

Liya inclines her head, gravely, though her blue eyes sparkle. "Thank you," she says softly. "Do you have other questions I might help answer?"

"I think that's it for now," Olumus says, "though, do you think anyone would mind much if I were to build a stone cairn off to the side and out of the way?"

Liya considers that for a moment. "How big?" she asks, curiously. "I think it should be okay, but I am curious as to why."

Olumus gestures with his hands to demonstrate, pantomiming something roughly as tall and wide as himself. "It's so I can return and begin construction without having to walk all the way out here whenever I need to go home or elsewhere," he explains.

"Can anyone else use it?" Liya asks, thoughtfully.

Olumus shakes his head. "It would, essentially, be a door that only I could use."

Liya inclines her head. "Then please do so. At least for the time while you are building. We should let the Warden know, and also the lieutenants." The rest of the beasties have long since gotten bored, and wandered away.

Olumus nods. "Thank you," he says with a slight smile before turning to gather up a variety of stones of different sizes, with which he begins to build this structure by merely balancing one upon another. If a stone doesn't seem to perfectly fit his needs, he pinches the surface of the rock, and it moves like clay to form whatever new shape Olumus sees for it. Once thus altered, the stone is carefully balanced among the others.

Wyvern Quest 1: Scene 12: Not always Joy and Happiness

As evening's chill settles over the land below, the soft sounds of a flute piping a lulliby from a distant Shadow rises and falls in slow, measured rhythm. The song might pull up images of family, of wild skies and the security of home. Harper is sitting near the caged wyverns and the eggs. Kind of half way between them. Clearly, her aim is to lull the hatchlings to sleep while also reassure those growing in the eggs that there is no danger here.

Moxon, having been back-and-forth between city and forest of late, arrives in storm-blooded fashion, barely dressed against the mountains' icy chill. "Rrrr. Hah. Rrraaa. Rrf. Hup! Ho!" he climbs, chalk-dusted hands all he appears to need -- although there might be an emergency spike under the eyepatch. Topping the mountain, he slips his coat back on to conceal the trap-and-tool-laden harness beneath.

Liya comes in, taking a look at who is here and smiling briefly. She looks a bit tired, but not overly so. She heads over to check on the five eggs, kneeling down and gently touching the first four briefly, and then she looks at the fifth, reaching out a hand, but she stays there for a long long moment.

Harper hears Moxon before she sees him. The song fades away to the faint snores of the wyvern in their cages. Rising, she dusts herself off as the flute is secreted away somewhere on her person. Perhaps it is sheethed along a hem so that it is invisible unless one knows where to look. He is offered a wave and a smile though the smile fades as she notes Liya reaching toward that fifth egg. Concern flares in her eyes and she moves closer to wait.

Moxon was likewise going to rib Liya about -- well, something -- and that is suddenly less important. "... everything okay?" he asks, breathlessly, brows knitted as only ogres can knit brows?

Liya's expression goes very tight, and her eyes look like they're just shy of tears. She shakes her head, sadly. "This one - it didn't make it; there's no life in it any more."

All joy in the encroaching night flees on hearing those words. Skirting the effs, she makes her way to Liya's side. One hand moves to rest a little awkwardly on the woman's shoulder, "Oh...no." Her own pain rises to echo Liya's, or ring on its own, "Ah, poor little thing." Pain and guilt. A heady mixture.
Moxon hangs his head.

Liya takes a breath and then she says, "That is how life goes. It's fleeting and should be full of joy." A moment, and she touches that one egg again, leaving it for now in the nest. "D'you think we should get someone else to look and make sure I am right? I would hate to be wrong, and not care for the egg if that's all lit needs."

Moxon says, "... who else? Mandrake, mebbe?"

Harper nods slowly, her brow furrowing, "That is my guess, Moxon. A Mandrake might be able to tell. I do not personally know any that I can think of off the top of my head, but can travel into the city to see if I can find one." Her gaze slips to the one egg there, Poor lost little thing. Sober, she gently squeezes Liya's shoulder and steps back, "I will need to prepare."

Liya takes a breath, before she admits, "It's the Mandrakes who trained me how to use my life sight, but they may have a few tricks I do not. That would be a very good idea, if you are able to do so."

Harper looks back at the two by the nest as she heads to where she was camping. "Let me just get a few things and I will head back now. I will get a horse from the stables to speed the process."

Liya stays by the nest, settled down and watching over the eggs, with every bit as much brooding care as a wyvern egg-caretaker might. "Thank you, Harper," she says softly.

Moxon says, "Can I send anything with you? To help?"

Harper looks over her shoulder and her expression moves between her friends and the eggs, "You are welcome, Liya. Moxon? Not that I can think of. I wish I knew one. I would send an arrow." One shoulder lifts and she turns to head down. Although she does take an expedient route, it is not quiet as dangerous a path as Moxon took on the way up.