From the Hatching Sands, Sabria is standing just below the railing that barricades the Galleries from the Sands, the cut off of where Fabrinath has marked off as /her/ territory. Sweating, the weyrwoman has tossed her jacket upon to the rail, letting her loose tunic and pants be all that covers her. It's /hot/ here. It's a pretty big cavern, echos carry like you wouldn't believe. Fabrinath gives a snort as she hears approaching footsteps, making her rider look up and peer through the shadows to see who's approaching. Despite the time, it's mostly dark in here, only the shaft of light coming from the tunnel in the mountainside providing natural illumination. The rest comes from the glow baskets strewn through the Galleries. "Who's up there?" she calls, squinting slightly.

"Lyllya makes her way into the galleries and studies the sands for a moment, finally catching sight of Sabria. "Lyllya. I brought some juice and a tray of food, the cooks said you'd be hungry and I can just imagine the heat down there." Because she can feel part of it up here. "Oh, and Karasa is here too." A nod is given to her fellow candie."

Karasa nods to Lyllya, then calls down as well. "Yes, it's just Lyllya and I. I brought dinner as well, but I haven't had any for myself yet, so if you decide to have what Lyllya brought I guess I'll eat it myself," she calls down. She brushes back her brown tresses, somewhat hot even up here, despite having worked in hot stables the past few Turns. Animal heat has nothing on this scalding air, at least what drafts she feels from it in the Galleries. Zelphyn burbles curiously, leaning ever so slightly forward from his shoulder perch, while the blue Danube sleeps in the sling Karasa made from the various scraps of material she found from a fellow candidate's robe making attempts.

From the Hatching Sands, Sabria positively lights up at the mention of food and drink. "Ah, bless you. Consider it a standing order to all of you Candidates to come by every few hours and bring something cool to drink." She doesn't mind the walk over into the weyrling barracks through the exit on the side where she can use the loo. "Pass the word would you?" She motions to both girls to come closer, to the side of the railing so she can reach through and take the tray. "So what was on the menu tonight?" Her eyes are slightly wary. "None of you 'helped' to make any of this right?" There have been incidents in the past where such pranks were not unheard of.

Lyllya moves over as indicated and gives a bob of her head. "I'll be sure to do so." If she can get anyone to listen. "I don't know if I helped make the rolls or not, they've got vegitables in them and I've been peeling and chopping a lot of those lately." When she's not running about like a headless wherry. "I filled half the plate with vegetable rolls and the other half is meat and cheese rolls. There's a sweetroll there too, just in case." The tray is held downward while the 'skin of juice dangles by its strap from her left hand.

Karasa promptly moves over to the rail as ordered, politely holding the tray down for the Weyrwoman to peruse. "I brought stew, which I did help with, but the cook did msot os it, mostly I stirred, and she added the ingredients." That makes it safe, right? Perhaps. "I did have cooking lessons from Celina at Herder Hall." She used to live here, ayup. A friendly smile is given and Zelphyn burbles a respectful greeting. Looks like he's learning manners. Danube, however, just lies in his sling, asleep. He''l wake up soon enough, creeling like mad. "And I'll be sure to help Lyllya pass the word along about the food and drink Weyrwoman Sabria," she acknowledges the command politely.

From the Hatching Sands, Sabria eyes the plate and sighs, reaching up for the food anyway. "Hmm, rolls? So tired of finger foods." the woman grumbles, taking the skin as well and making sure to loop it off her belt rather than setting it on the ground where it's hot. "I want real food! Maybe not hot food!" She adds that as she eyes the stew. "Too warm in here for that one. But surely the cooks remember how to make a cold soup, a bisque or something! Fresh fruit! Ohh, for some sliced wherry, a sandwich. That would be nice." It gets a little boring out here sometimes, particularly as Fabrinath doesn't make the most pleasant company at the moment, ever so fretful and fussy over her clutch. "Thank you though." she remembers to say to Lyllya, then pops one end of a roll into her mouth. After chewing and swallowing, she nods over at Karasa. "Eat your dinner then, you'll find that it'll be a bit overly warm for that, but you'll get to cool off later." Looking for a moment over her shoulder, she considers something. "Hmm... eat fast though, maybe I can convince Fabrinath to let the two of you come down here for a little bit. The eggs are getting hard enough to maybe touch."

Lyllya nods. "Fruit and perhaps some cheese? I'll ask them to make some cold soups too. Maybe some fresh greens and such." Hear the wheels in her head turning? "Touch them?" The mother of said eggs is glanced at once. "Well, if Fabrinath wouldn't mind.."

Karasa pulls the tray up and turns around, setting it on the nearest bench. She turns back around, and smiles at the Weyrwoman. "I think they had some wherry slices, I just didn't think about how hot is was, I haven't been down here much what with all my chores," she admits somewhat sheepishly. Not to mention the broody queen. Zelphyn peers around her shoulder at the stew, then back to Lyllya and the meatrolls. Is he drooling? Why shouldn't he drool, it's dinner! Sigh, flying stomachs indeed. Hazel eyes gaze questioningly at the Weyrwoman as she awaits her approval or disapproval of her offer to provide a meal. Perhaps she didn't hear the Weyrwoman mention egg touching?

You duck under the railing to the sands below.

Hatching Sands

Huge and echoing, it is by far the largest cavern beneath the mountain housing the Weyr. Heat rising from deep beneath the ground makes the imported sands just the right temperature for hardening dragon eggs, but creates a near stifling humid atmosphere. Darkness shadows the majority of the cavern despite what light cast by the gigantic tunnel overhead where the dragons enter or the multitudes of glowbaskets strung along the galleries. Closest to the ground tunnel are the risers and seats that form the Galleries, then farther into the back, yet another entrance leads off towards the weyrling barracks.

(OOC: For a visual depiction check out http://www.dragonsinger.com/sabria/cavern.jpg)

You see Covered Pot, Fabrinath, Tragic Trapped in Roses Egg, Egyptian Prince Egg, Casper the Friendly Eggie, Book of the Clow Egg, Shrine of Seiryuu Egg, Tweety Bird Egg, Eighth Level of Hell Egg, Righteous Combat Egg, Scottish Medieval Castle Egg, Shattered Hubris Egg, Shadowy Mecha Egg, Swingin' Sherwood Forest Egg, Down by the Sea Egg, Coveted Sea-Foam Egg, Crystalized Darkness Egg, Brush of an Angel's Wing Egg, Vines of Eternal Slumber Egg, and Kyrith here.

Sabria is here.

Obvious exits:

Entrance Galleries Dragon Hallway

You drop to the hot sands from the galleries' edge.

Karasa drops to the hot sands from the galleries' edge.

Lyllya slips under the rail slowly, dropping softly to the sand and looking about. As instructed, the ex-weaver makes her way to give a respectful bow to Fabrinath, not having the dress that would have required a curtsey, and returns. Sabria is looked to again, this time for instructions, and the candidate simply waits silently.

Karasa slips carefully under the front rail, and as she stands she bows respectfully to the great gold on the sands, inclining her head slightly to add to the bow. She really wants to be respecful and not dragon candy. Oh, wait, she already /is/ dragon candy. Oh, well. Zelphyn slides back into her hair and tries to keep from being eaten. fire-lizard memories are passed down you know, he knows of the usual gold amosity towards fire-lizards, oh, yes. Danube, however could care less in his slumper, and rolls over onto his side somehow in that constricting sling. Karasa picks up a foot carefully, and shifts her posture since the heat is already trying to seep through her reasonably thick soled boots. Imagine this in sandals, ouch! Sabria is given her attention as she tries to take her focus away from the sands that try to melt her shoes.

Sabria takes the lead, walking across the hot sands towards the mounds of eggs scattered through the cavern. It's a huge place, but it wouldn't have been chosen if the conditions hadn't been just right. "Follow me, and mind where you step." This might not be Bahrain where there have been hundreds of dragon clutches laid here with remnants of broken shells to glitter in the sand, but there are enough missed by the cleaning drudges after a Hatching to still be a hazard if one is not careful. She pauses the by the first few, looking up at the hovering Fabrinath who lumbered over to huff domineeringly over their heads. "Oh, stop that!" she admonishes the queen, receiving a stubborn snort in return. Gazing back at the two girls, she waves them to move towards the closest eggs. "Touch them, be gentle. They're still a little leathery I would think."

Lyllya bobs her head in understanding as she makes her way to an egg, keeping her motions slow and deliberate. The Book of the Clow Egg is approached and one long fingered hand placed upon its warm surface. The ex-weaver's feet shuffle slightly in reaction to the heat of the sands as she stands there, looking at the ovoid's hardening shell. "Warm out here."

Karasa nods, her crimped brown tresses floating up and then down with the movement. As she carefully picks her way through the sand, the queen's overhanging head in no way bothering the young girl. After all Pfelth tried to knock her down when she Searched her out, not to mention the fact that the green wrapped her tail about the Herder's torso. She wasn't afraid of that, she really shouldn't be afraid of this, so she isn't. Golden aubrun curls float to fallabout her shoulders, concealing the nervous brown on her shoulder once again as she stops at one of the eggs that just stood out to her when she spotted it at clutching, and today as well. The Crystalized Darkness Egg. Her breath catches in her throat as she reaches out with delicate fingers to light brush the still somewhat leathery surface of the egg. Surprise flickers across her face, and then a gentle smile. "How long do they take to harden?" she asks, caressing the egg's surface once again softly.

Sabria wipes at her brow, leaning down to regard the eggs a little closer herself, though she's had ample time to see them herself from the edge of the grounds. "Yes, it's hot in here. Imagine what it's like in here day after day though. She gives Karasa a look. "Oh, a couple of sevendays. It's still rather early yet." She shoos at the girls. "Go on, move along. Take a look at some of the others too."

Lyllya gives a shudder at Sabria's words. "I don't think I wouldd be able to handle it." She blinks for a moment and then shakes her head. "Nah.. couldn't be," is muttered as the candied weaver makes her way to Brush of an Angel's Wing Egg. Again, long fingers make contact as her hand reaches forward, giving a delicate touch to the still leathery egg.

Karasa blinks softly as the egg pulses beneath her fingers, and then goes back to being a smooth, if leathery shell. The Herder nods to the Weyrwoman, and obeys, carefully walking over to the Scottish Medieval Castle Egg, and running her fingers lightly over the surface, fingertips gently brushing the surface. "So we've plenty of time for making robes and stuff, right?" She wants ehr robe to be extra special, ayup. Zelphyn burbles curiously, starting to lean out to gaze at the egg before remembering the brooding queen and withdrawing hastily into his human-pet's hair. Chirp.

Sabria nods as she tugs at the front of her shirt, feeling way too warm for comfort. "Oh yes, still lots of time. Not everyone has to make a robe, we've plenty of used ones in the storage rooms. Have to get rid of them sometime." Or the piles would just grow bigger and bigger. Some riders like to keep their own robes though, as keepsakes.

Lyllya just shakes her head again, muttering something to herself as she makes her way slowly to stand in front of Tweety Bird Egg. The brightly colored surface is given a gentle touch, fingertips barely brushing the surface of the ovoid before her palms make a tentative contact.

Give and take meets your questing fingers. What could be an elusive birdsong teases, too brief to identify the species or the song. Perhaps 'I thought I saw a putty-tat'?

Karasa beams at the Weyrwoman. "Whether I Impress or not I'm keeping my robe so I can always remember the wonderful times I had as a Candidate," she tells the Weyrwoman, moving her hand slowly over the Scottish Medieval Castle Egg, running her fingers over it's almost hard, almost leathery surface. For a moment she closes her eyes as if hearing something, but then she opens her eyes and moves on to the Down by the Sea Egg, carressing the egg with delicate care that comes from Turns of dealing with infant animals. "I think all the stories that ex-Candidates share about egg touchings are right..." she murmurs softly.

Lyllya gives a faint grin and steps away, eying the egg for a moment before moving to place her hand upon Down by the Sea Egg. A glance is given back toward the clutch-mother before her attention is taken up entirely by the lovely ovoid before her.

Sabria wanders back over to her dragon, leaning against the queen's foreleg as she watches the candidates as avidly as Fabrinath is. Feel her eyes upon you? They whirl and spin, examining both of you critically.

Lyllya obviously can, as is evidenced by the furtive gazes sent backward now and again to ensure that that critical gaze doesn't turn into an angry one. Feet shuffle over the sand, bout out of nervousness and a need to find relief from the heat from below. "Is she becoming uncomfortable with us here? I certainly wouldn't like it if someone were to just come in and start pawing at my babies." Well, if she had any.

Karasa's head cocks for a moment. Are those seagulls, or something? And is it her imagination, or is she hearing waves? She shakes her head briefly, as if to clear it and the sounds and feeling suddenly cease. Perhaps she imagined it. She smiles at Lyllya, removing her hand from the Down by the Sea Egg and moving to another, this one the Vines of Eternal Slumber Egg, her mind half conscious of the whirling orbs of vision that flick back and forth between her and Lyllya scrutinizingly, yet somehow it doesn't phase her. Perhaps becuase she knows that the dragonet chooses their rider, not the queen that clutched them.

Sabria's head whirls as she stares at the entrance way, Fabrinath suddenly rearing up and roaring! "Aiee! Who are you and what are you doing out here?!" she yelps a bit belatedly at Ilithyia! "Get out! Out!" she says almost in a panic as she tries to restrain the queen from rushing the stranger.

Lyllya hugs Spryte! Spryte squirms and wriggles and then relaxes into your embrace.

Karasa's tresses fly out floatingly as she turns her head quickly to see the source of the brooding clutch mother's anger. Ilithyia is spied, and the Herder mouths to the woman: Get out! just as Sabria yells it to the girl. As the girl hurries out her attention is drawn back to the egg, an absent nod given to Lyllya's words as she caresses the vine egg with delicate care, as if feeling the thorns that bump just below the surface. Red and white attract her attention and she moves slowly toward the Tragic Trapped in Roses Egg, reaching out hesitantly to touch the surface, wary of possible thorns.

Fabrinath stalks back and forth across a clear portion of sand, her eyes red and whirling wildly. Sabria gnaws on a knuckle and shakes her head. "Sorry, girls. I don't think Fabrinath's patience is going to last after that incident. I don't know who that was that walked in here, but the dimglow won't forget it I don't think." She gestures for the candidates to circle around and move towards the exit, pointedly /away/ from the agitated queen. "You'll get another chance, don't worry. The eggs still have alot of hardening to go."

Lyllya nods and moves toward galleries, not needing to be told twice.

From the Hatching Sands, Karasa's hand is withdrawn just before contact with the egg at Sabria's words. She nods, and bows once again toward the great queen in an attempt to perhaps soothe the gold dragon's nerves. Whether or not it works, she did at least try. She quickly, but gracefully makes her way back to the rail, and into the viewing galleries with ease.

From the Hatching Sands, Karasa leaves the foot-baking sands for the cooler galleries.

Karasa climbs up from the sands onto the gallery steps.

Lyllya looks over at Sabria, still somewhat shakey. "I'll see to it that you get some fruit and juice.. would you like anything else?" Besides a cooler place to spend time.