[G] [C] 734.05.15 | All Fun and Games... [Ameris, Peorray, Open]

How could anyone do this to her?

Tsuen let out a cry of indignant rage as he stalked onto the sands, a piece of crumpled parchment clutched in one aging hand. The Weyrwoman kept the corner of her eye on Jada as the younger goldrider followed behind, murmuring a string of apologies with dark eyes locked firmly on her feet.

“You’re lucky I need your dragon, you fat whore!” Tsuen screamed angrily as she began to pace back and forth. Nirinath’s wary orange eyes swirled anxiously, tracing her rider’s movements with caution but not daring speak up in Jada’s defense. The queen dragon creeled and rested her head on the sand, trying to take some comfort in its warmth, but there was nothing she could do to block out Tsuen’s anger.

“If I didn’t need you, I would have your head cut off for this, you stealing witch!” Tsuen went on, stopping suddenly and spinning on her heels to face Jada. Tsuen cared nothing about the younger woman’s tears and stuttered apologies. All Tsuen cared about was seeing the little wench punished for daring to go anywhere near her man! Tsuen balled the paper up and tossed it in Jada’s face. “D’ren is mine, and you have no business going anywhere near him!” Nevermind the fact that Tsuen never visited the bronzerider anymore, or had even truly come to terms with his illness, or with the fact that he wasn’t her Weyrleader anymore…

Nirinath creeled again, eyeing the paper as it hit the ground. She wasn’t sure who’d tossed it out or how long it had been laying around, but she knew it was trouble the moment Tsuen happened upon it. There was no use telling Tsuen that it was just a prank, a falsified story posted for the amusement of the Weyr dwellers. But what was worse? Tsuen taking the story as truth, or Tsuen learning what the Weyr really thought of her? In her madness, was there any difference?

Tsuen’s hand snapped out to slap Jada. “Touch him again, and you’ll regret the very day you were born!” she howled. “And where are those other little sluts?! Nirinath, summon them!” Ameris and Peorray! Tsuen needed to make sure that those little skanks learned to stay well away from her dear bronzerider! She would use Jada as an example, yes! It would be glorious?

Nirinath reluctantly made the call. It wasn’t like it would be necessary…Enough had already overheard the ranting that there was no telling who might show up…

Kahleena looked up with a slight frown from where she had been quietly repairing one of her dresses, the expression marring her features. Freeing one hand, Kahleena brushed back stray strands of blonde hair, and gently set the dress down beside her. Whatever was going on? The Weyrwoman is displeased. The gold dragon was curled up not far away, her slowly expanding belly visibly enlarged. She would clutch soon, her flight the third month having once more been secured by N'kal's bronze Torath. Both girls were excited, and while the number of gold dragons was clearly on the increase, neither were sure they dared hope for another one. It would be lovely, though!

Frowning brown eyes darted across the sands to where Krypth was with her hardening clutch, and Kahleena frowned at the distressed colours in teh dragon's eyes. What could be upsetting her? Krypth usually got angry, as opposed to upset, and that alone was more than enough to make Kahleena wary. She was not, however, expecting Tsuen to come storming in screeching at the top of her lungs with a crying Jada trotting along behind her. Eyes widening dramatically, Kahleena darted behind Okalinath, and out of sight, leaving hte dress sprawled on the sands and her dragon to roll up and stare at the bickering humans. Hopefully, it would simply look like Kahleena had been called away from her task.

What's going on? Kahleena whimpered as she clung to Okalinath, peering cautiously around her dragon as the gold rumbled unhappily under her breath. Nirinath summons Ameris and Peorray. A pause followed, and was broken by a suddenly grumpy huff. She forgets you and Rhaedalyn! How rude! Before her dragon could get rolling on a sudden rant about how forgetting her Kahleena and the ever lovable Rhaedalyn was a terrible move and incredibly insulting, Kahleena jumped in, urging her dragon to encourage Rhaedalyn and Aradissicath to stay away - out of the Weyr if they could! - Rhaedalyn would handle being screamed at no better (probably worse) than Kahleena herself.

For her part, Kahleena remained hidden behind and under her dragon's wing, hoping desperately she wouldn't be remembered (even as Okalinath huffed with indignation at being forgotten) by the raging lunatic that was their Weyrwoman.

A clutch on the sands and from what she heard, a likely gold egg. Arddra was more keen to impress now than ever thanks to her friendship with Morith and V'riy. Thus when she heard one of her fellow candidates turned gold dragonriders, one of the first she seen impressed, was in the Hatching Circuit, her own golden dragon near to clutching, Arddra volunteered to take her refreshments.

Unlike other Candidates who had stood at almost as many Hatchings as her, or even more, Kahleena Impressed two years ago or there abouts from what Arddra remembered. She had not made close friends with the girl but did recall speaking with her time to time. Either way, by bringing refreshments to the goldrider it gave Arddra the excuse to see the eggs recently lain by Krypth. She wouldn't go near them, it wasn't time for Candidates to touch them but she could at least look at them.

Just as Arddra entered the Hatching Sands, her spirits high with excitement, her eyes scanning ahead to see the golden form of Krypth curled around her eggs, she heard the sound of angry words. Her eyes snap towards the source and she spotted Tsuen of all people, and Jada. Also in the Hatching ground, Arddra saw, was Nirinath looking quite upset with her eyes whirling orange.  Off to the side, looking quite rounded in the belly from the developing eggs was Okalinath. Arddra knew it wouldn't be too much longer before another clutch laid upon the sands.

Tsuen's harsh words cut into Arddra's silent observations, drawing her attention towards the older woman. Deciding she rather avoid the angry Weyrwoman as she berated Jada over apparently having an affair with D'ren? Arddra didn't know but that was what it sounded  like. Looking away she quickly carried the tray of refreshments over to where she saw Kahleena looking up from her mending.

Behind her the sound of a slap cracked behind her and Arddra winced. Like any woman she didn't like having violence done to her and she didn't particularly like to see it either. Yet she didn't want to flee from the hatching grounds. Something told her that would draw Tsuen's attention more than her continuing on her way to Kahleena.

By the time she reached Kahleena the young dragonrider was huddled behind her dragon. Arddra didn't blame her. She ducked low to peer under Okalinath's wing she gave the golden dragon an encouraging smile and slight bow, finding she really was beautiful. Arddra hoped her future gold would be just as pretty.

"I was on my way to bring you something to eat and drink while you are here, I didn't realize the Weyrwoman would be here with Jada making a scene." Arddra said to Khaleena very softly, not wanting anybody but Kahleena to hear. Setting the jug of klah onto the sand nearby, twisting a bit to sink it enough in the sand to make it stand securely, she looked over at Kaheena. "I don't think you feel hungry at this moment. I have some bread, cheese and meatrolls when you are and some klah."

Rislan screeched. His laughter ringing out as he was swept off his feet by a golden tail. They had been going at it for hours. Rislan shrieking and Mizeath rumbling her amusement. Ameris sighed as her son darted to his feet to tackle the dragonet again. It was good to get out for a bit, away from the people even if it was only just a few minutes away. Rislan had been having such a hard time with being sequestered in the creche for a large part of the day these last few months and Ameris missed her son. "Ama!" the little boy yelled, "I want to ride!"

Ameris chuckled at his enthusiasm. She'd only recently allowed the youngster to hitch rides on Mizeath at the gold's insistence and he couldn't seem to get enough of them. It is no trouble to give him a ride, the gold remarked, He is rather light compared to you. The last was said with a hint of deep amusement and Ameris sent the young dragon a baleful glare as the gold shifted to kneel. Catching her son beneath his arms Ameris swung the lad onto the dragon's back and settled him firmly against Mizeath's neck. It was a good thing Mizeath was shorter than usual or the young woman would never have gotten the boy up there alone for he'd grown again.

Amidst giggles and shouts Ameris and Mizeath lead Rislan on a merry little ride, the boy's face lit up like a glow. Ameris laughed at his joy and the deep blue of Mizeath's eyes as the dragon rumbled at the giggles and light kicks the boy gave. But her laughter was cut off as she watched Mizeath stiffen, her long wings held slightly out and her tail began an agitated sweep. Mizeath? What's wrong? she said silently to the dragon, unwilling to upset her son with the concern she was sure would lace her voice. We are being summoned. Or rather you are being summoned, Mizeath replied, a slight tremor to her voice. Summoned? But by who? Tsuen and Nirinath, Mizeath replied tartly They are on the sands but I do not know why.

Ameris's eyes widened at that news. A curse was forming on her tongue but died away at the arched look her dragon threw her. She knew Mizeath disliked foul language and Ameris tried to keep the cursing to a minimum to avoid any arguments with the gold. Her mind churned with the knowledge that their weyrwoman was demanding her presence. Nothing good could come of this. "Come along Rislan, its time to go back to see Everitt," she told the boy with a strained smile.

Pointedly ignoring the glares and fits her son began to throw, Ameris and Mizeath made good time depositing the boy with his friends at the creche and making for the hatching sands. She skittered to a stop just outside and reached out to slide her hand along Mizeath's neck, seeking comfort from her bonded. The gold flooded her mind with love and acceptance before they stepped into the building. She stood silently as she waited for the weyrwoman to acknowledge her. Mizeath stood just beside her and slightly forward, as if the five month old dragonet could protect her bonded from their crazy weyrwoman. She cleared her throat and called out, "You called, weyrwoman?"

T'ken had just finished Indrith's oiling when the brown had spotted the flit and instantly took off after it.  Kela looked up with a sigh, the canine eyeing T'ken then getting to her feet.  It looked like another game of chase the dragon.  She was getting tired of chase the dragon, mostly because the dragon didn't seem interested in playing fair. 

T'ken chased Indirth, and Kela jogged after T'ken.  The little brown flit darted here and there, Indirth having a ball chasing the flit.  T'ken sighed as he chased him.  There were days he was (privately, very privately) convinced that Indrith was secretly a canine in a brown dragon's skin. 

The brown bugled happily as he closed the distance between him and the flit, scrambling after him with a happy snap of his jaws.  T'ken was relieved when the little thing popped between.  But...I just wanted to play...

I know.  We'll play late...

Ooh!  What's that?  Before T'ken could stop his dragon, the brown poked his head into the hatching sands.  He slipped into the sands after his dragon, then tugged on Indrith when he saw Tsuen.  It's no business of ours.  Lets go!  T'ken avoided Tsuen, strenuously.  She reminded him too much of his mother and...well she scared him.  The dragon paused, seriousness showing on his mind.  Something's wrong here.  I don't like it.  We should stay and protect the golds.

No.  We need to leave.  Now before she...  The sound of a slap echoed through the air.  Getting the sudden feeling that things were about to go pear shaped, T'ken froze.  Kela paced in front of him, eyes alert, head lowered and a low rumble, mostly inaudible passing through her.  T'ken whispered an order to stay to her, and focused on his dragon, who was quite intent on Tsuen and T'ken could tell, about to do something truly idiotic. 

T'ken reached up, put a hand on him, trying to tell him to be still. Indrith ignored him.  Rage was coursing through the beast.  He hissed at Tsuen, eyes flaring red with anger.  One more move, one more move.  He'd stop it, he'd protect the golds.  She couldn't stop him.

Casa knew something wasn't right about the general state of things. The nasty rumors that had started a while back and been creating quite a stir, and everyone seemed to be on edge. Little did she realize just how much it would affect things, but it didn't take her very long to find out. She had been between chores near the Hatching Circuit when the first hints of the shrieking had begun. It wasn't a pretty sound, and it was a concern to her that a fight might break out. Sending Edge and Kaylee off to inform someone, she cautiously begin to prowl into the grounds.

The scene that met her eyes there was awful. Tsuen seemed to have lost her temper, and this was a temper tantrum to a degree she had never seen before, not even in the small children around the weyr. Eyes wide, she further crept closer. Tsuen didn't seem to notice her - she was too busy ripping the other goldrider to strips - and she finally settled herself against a wall where she wouldn't be too noticed. She didn't understand what was fully going on, but she got that sick feeling in her stomach that came with big change and problems arising in the Weyr. This might become another B'jin incident. This might become something worse.

"Please hurry," she whispered to herself, thoughts trailing out to the two firelizards she had sent out to find help. She thought of the people she trusted most - B'jin, T'lian, R'nd, K'ton, someone and added further urgency to her request. Knack quivered from her shoulders, his eyes dark and fast. She shivered as she finally heard the slap, eyes blinking back tears of anger and confusion. Who did this woman think she was? Assaulting gold riders and threatening others?

She almost cried out in protest, but saw T'ken show up, saw her friends and common weyr faces tucked in corners here and there. Stepping out a little further, she came to stand near T'ken but not beside him - she didn't want him to get in trouble - and watched further, trying her hardest to school her face to blandness. She wasn't dumb enough to call the seemingly childish and crazy weyrwoman out, but she did want her to know she had an audience. Maybe that would help her come to her senses.

Tsuen scowled, looking harshly at Jada as the younger goldrider continued to mutter her half-assed apologies. Pitiful little wench! "Keep crying, you little whore! Do you have any idea what D'ren and I have been through? How we've suffered? You can never take him from me, you ugly, wher-brained little tunnel snake! If I ever see you near him again, I'll wring your skinny neck, goldrider or not!" She snorted incredulously. "I'm the Weyrwoman! You are mine! All of you are mine!"

Her wicked eyes turned from Jada to Ameris, then finally to Kahleena. They were hers! She rode the oldest Queen! They had once been the last hope on Pern! She would not allow this gaggle of flimsy, loose-lipped, no-morals goldriding bitches take that from her! She wouldn't let them or anyone else forget that she and Nirinath had saved the world! Just because there were more golds now didn't mean that she and her Nirinath could be discarded, mocked, and stolen from! Why, someone had already tried to take her D'ren's life! Now they were trying to take him away in other ways!

"That's right. If I see a single sharding one of you anywhere near D'ren, I will make you regret the very day you were born, do you understand, you ugly little whores?!" she asked. Her gaze lingered on Ameris for a long while. "Don't even think about it!" Tsuen hissed at her under her breath, then took a few long steps backwards.

Idiots, all of them! They just needed to be reminded of her power and importance. She was Weyrwoman! S'kef and his arrogant followers had already pushed her aside and made her feel and weak and powerless over the other riders in the Weyr, but there were still two things she could do: she could keep them in her beautiful hidden Weyr, and she could control her little goldriders. If S'kef and those other filthy men wanted to take as much as they could from her, she would hold to what she had!

What was worse, Tsuen could practically feel the accusing eyes of the disgusting, nosy bastards around her, all undoubtedly getting themselves worked up over poor little Jada. Her goldriders were hers...how dare the others judge her for keeping them in line? Tsuen spun around, severe expression sliding from one onlooker to the next.

"What are you all looking at?!"

T'ken was petrified, but didn't let it show.  Oh so casually, he short leashed Kela, wrapping the end of lead twice around his waist temporarily.  She would obey a command to stay but if the madwoman struck him, there was nothing that would be able to pull her away from biting Tsuen.  He truly didn't want his favourite girl to loyal herself to death.  Looking around, he found a sturdy pole, fastened the lead around it so tight she wouldn't have room to lunge.  Rejoining the crowd, he listened, feeling Indrith's concern over his fear.

Tell Casa that I'm about to be stupid and that this is very much a do as a say, not as I do moment.  He felt the dragon move to back him up, and spoke, his voice tight with rage, his fear way deep down where noone could see it except Indrith.  He did truly hate a bully and while he would have previously backed down in the face of a superior force, Indrith behind him gave him courage when his own would have faltered in the face of bad memories.

"I'm watching our beloved weyrwoman throw a tantrum a toddler would be proud of over a badly written work of fiction."  He strode forward, part of him praying that rescue was on it's way, and the rest focused on the weyrwoman.  She couldn't do much to him, right?  He could take a lashing.  If Ravana, B'jin, Brun...so many others could, so could he.  They wouldn't execute him, not over this, right?  He believed so.  It couldn't possibly be worse than his father's punishments.  "Or do you mean to tell me you are stupid enough to actually believe that story, Goldrider Tsuen?"

Too far...

You said we were going to protect the golds.  Well, she has someone to focus on now until help arrives.

This wasn't quite what I had in mind.

Casa's face tightened when she heard the relayed message, but her expression went slack when she heard what the brown-riding weyrling said. All of her emotions were roiling through her at once - fear, rage, disbelief. This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. This was a bad, bad idea.

She stepped up to Kela, lying an easy hand on the canine's neck as she watched. Even the brown seemed unsure what to do; everything seemed to be in a frozen, warped point in time, and she had no idea what was going to happen next. T'ken was going to be in trouble. He was going to get hurt. She couldn't allow that! But she was just a candidate - she had no right to stand up to any of the people here, especially not the Weyrwoman, but she found herself agreeing with T'ken. The woman was being nothing but a bully.

Hurry, hurry, get someone quick - trouble, trouble, trouble! Her words and emotions flung wildly through the firelizards, sending them scurrying to find someone who could at least keep this situation in check. She was genuinely afraid that someone was going to be hurt or worse, and that was the very last thing the Weyr needed right now. Especially with a crazed Weyrwoman at the head of the whole thing.

Elisel had been busy copying notes over from a set of old notes that had been rotting away to a new set when she heard the howls of rage that appeared to be coming from the Hatching Circuit. Frowning, she finished the section of notes she had been translating, stepping firmly out into the weyr proper and towards the Sands to handle whatever situation was at hand.

As she entered into the warm enclosure, she immediately began to evaluate the situation: Tsuen, screaming at the girl and manhandling her; the other goldriders, bunched together and tense; Casa, quivering behind a canine, and the idiotically bold brownrider standing up to the Weyrwoman. The pit of her stomach dropped away immediately, sending a thrill through her body that helped her to ground herself. Taking a deep breath, she walked in and immediately began sorting matters out.


She walked up past the weyrling at hand, eyes sharp and full of warning. Brushing past him, she hissed a soundless warning, her expression trying to warn him his actions were going to get him in trouble. But she ignored him once she was past, her mind more worried about bigger matters. Turning to face the Weyrwoman, she bowed politely, keeping her eyes down and not locking her gaze with Nirinath or Tsuen.

"Weyrwoman Tsuen, my apologies to hear there is such a problem that has arisen..." She left her voice trailing off, murmuring softly and trying to be as soothing as possible. "I cannot imagine the level of distress you must be feeling right now. You have done so much for this Weyr." She kept her tone soothing and neutral, slowly moving to stand between Tsuen and her target. "Is there anything I can do to help? I am sure we can arrange for D'ren or one of the other riders you trust to find a way to keep track of the Goldriders, ensure an issue of this magnitude shall never rise again."

She slowly raised her eyes to the Weyrwoman's, her eyes soft and sympathetic. She stood still, head tilted to the side, trying to seem as unobtrusive as was possible, all the while her heart pounding against her ribcage harder than she had ever felt. She prayed she would not be beaten for this, but she could not stand to let anyone else be hurt. "Would you like me to get one of them for you, ma'am?"

Rage. Tsuen's eyes boiled with hated as she glanced at the little brownrider who'd spoken such hurtful words to her. Her lined face grew even harder and her eyes welled with tears of anger, her thin hands curling into fists at her sides as her chest swelled in preparation to respond. She stormed over, all but charging the young man, eyes neither wandering nor blinking.

She tried to speak, but she couldn't find the words. In all her turns, people so rarely spoke against her...She couldn't believe what she was seeing! Where was D'ren to protect her from this brat's unbelievable accusations? Why was no one defending her? Was she, Tsuen, the last Weyrwoman of Pern, seriously going to have to waste her precious time and energy defending herself?

Outrage didn't begin to describe it. This idiot boy had made an enemy today! She lifted her hand just as she had to Jada, preparing to slap the child for his insolence, when a familiar voice caught her attention.

She spun around, eyes narrowing at Elisel. "Stop flattering me!" Tsuen barked, her anger lingering. She turned on the other woman, T'ken seemingly forgotten in the wild tempest that were Tsuen's emotions, as if he never existed or at least never mattered. "You don't know a thing about me!" Tsuen said, voice shaking as hot tears streaked down her cheeks. Her hands shook. Her lip quivered.

"Liar! You don't know a thing about me!" she said, pain and anger resonating in her quavering voice. She snorted indignantly at Elisel and huffed away quickly, before the weight in her chest could turn to full blown tears. She left Nirinath confused on the sands, heart heavy and eyes betraying her worry. The gold dragon rose to her feet and slowly ambled after Tsuen. Even Nirinath was cautious.

Tension rose in the Hatching Circuit like the heat which hardened eggs. Arddra had hoped Tsuen would calm down but the arrival of others just seemed to escalate the situation. From the growling canine to the tense brown dragon. It wasn't surprising Tsuen responded in such anger. There was going to be violence she was certain of this and Arddra was more than content to stay hidden behind Okalinath with Kahleena.

Then Tsuen was yelling, telling how D'ren was hers and hers alone and none of the goldriders could touch him. Then she claimed they all belonged to her.

Arddra clenched her jaw at this statement. A part of her was tempted to stand up and tell Tsuen just because she was stolen from the North didn't mean Arddra belonged to Tsuen, but Arddra held her tongue. It wouldn't have helped any of their position and just make the situation worse.

Besides, for all Arddra knew, Jada did sleep with D'ren. When Krypth rose last Arddra had not paid much attention on who caught her, but she was pretty certain it wasn't D'ren's Ronarth.

Arddra peaked over Okalinath's rump to see Tsuen glaring at them all, demanding to know what they were looking at. Arddra looked away from her, trying to see how upsetting this tension was having on the dragons. Every one she could see had whirling orange eyes of stress and worry. Didn't the Weyrwoman see how much she was upsetting not just the junior golds but her own as well?

Then T'ken spoke and his words made Arddra wince. Some men had no sense.

"Casa," Arddra gave a harsh whisper, hoping the younger girl will hear her over the noises in the Hatching Circuit. The bold young candidate didn't deserve to get caught up in the backlash likely to unfold in seconds.

Tsuen reacted to the Brown rider's words in much the manner Ardda expected she would. She tensed, ready to see the slap and hear the report echo through the hatching ciruit but it never came.

Next thing Arddra knew some other woman, somebody she had seen around but didn't know her name off the top of her head, spoke to Tsuen in more empathetic ways. Arddra bite her lip, not sure how Tsuen would react to that. A part of her felt it would have been better to just let the crazy old bat do her rant and leave it at that.

Yet the girl's mix of soothing and flattering words had an effect on Tsuen Arddra didn't expect. From where she stood Arddra could see the tears glistening on the woman's lined face before she turned and stormed out of the hatching ground. What happened? Was the other woman's words believed enough for Tsuen to be touched by it or was it more being confronted by two people unafraid to speak which shocked the weyrwoman?

"Is this really the end of it?" Arddra said softly, not expecting anybody would hear her, save perhaps Kahleena.

When Wydrith had passed on the summons from Nirinath, she'd warned in a quavering sort of tone that Nirinath seemed upset. Peorray's repeated reassurances that they hadn't done anything wrong (they hadn't- she was sure they hadn't. Right?) had failed to persuade her gold of their innocence. As a result, she spent the walk over to the sands listening to a series of ever-worsening -and increasingly unlikely- imaginings of how they could have caused offense, mixed with fretting over how they could fix it.

So Peorray wasn't in the most serene of moods by the time she hit the hatching ground itself. She'd also tried to convince Wydrith to stay away, knew of the rumors of Tsuen's increasing instability and had a feeling that whatever it was was going to be bad. Peorray had faith in her dragon, but Wydrith had never lost her sensitivity to upset. The gold wouldn't hear of it, however, insistent on being there for her rider. So the pair quietly followed Ameris and Mizeath in and steeled themselves for what was to come.

When the Weyrwoman began her hate-filled rant at them, Peorray didn't want to believe it. This was over D'ren? She didn't have anything to do with the man. Right now, she added somewhat sourly in her own thoughts, she didn't have anything to do with any man. And when she did, it would be with M'din. So what was this? This throwing about of childish insults and slurs?

I do not think that is all. The gold stayed close to Peorray, scrunched down to the ground and pulled in on herself as much as she could managed as her muscles bunched and shifted, torn between the impulse to present a smaller target and the need to be ready to ready if she had to. Her eyes whirled quickly red with alarm. She also seems concerned with establishing ownership over you. But you are already hers, so why would she do that? Nirinath was senior gold, so they all followed her. Tsuen was her rider, so their riders did the same. It was a a basic fact to the young dragon and she didn't understand why the Weyrwoman seemed confused and upset about it. And that worried Wydrith. What she couldn't understand, she couldn't avoid.

I don't know, but we'll deal with it. Peorray had never been so glad they'd learned silent communication as at that moment, when any sign of life seemed to attract Tsuen's rage. There didn't seem to be anything to say, no magic words to make this better (and she wasn't all that good with words in the first place), so she waited it out in hopes of at least not making things worse.

She watched with appreciation at their bravery as first T'ken, then another woman spoke up to answer the crazed woman- the brownrider saying what they perhaps all wanted to say, but going just a bit too far. But is was possible that the Weyrwoman in her current state would have taken anything as 'going too far'.

She tensed as Tsuen lifted her hand to slap him, worried anew if this was going to come to physical blows. Because Peorray would stand there and take this verbal abuse all day, if that was what it took to defuse the situation -it was just words, after all- but one thing she would not do was stand there to be hit. If Tsuen hit her, the woman would get hit right back, even if it got Peorray lashed for insolence later. It wasn't the wisest policy of Peorray's, but it was who she was all the same.

Thankfully, Elisel's words, if not producing exactly the desired effect, at least got the Weyrwoman to go away. Success enough in Peorray's opinion. She mouthed a 'thank you' in the woman's direction, not quite getting her own voice back yet in the wake of the storm.

Arddra's words were loud in the sudden silence of Tsuen's departure and Peorray found herself reluctantly shaking her head as she finally unlocked muscles that had been coiled with tension. "No." She said flatly. "No, it's not." If Tsuen was so touchy that this could be triggered by some random note, something else would set her off again. It was just a matter of time. She felt so sorry for poor Nirinath. After months of familiarity with Wydrith's body language, it was fairly apparent to her that that had been one unhappy gold who'd trailed her rider off the sands.

But they should deal with the remains of this battle before the next one came along. Peorray tried to catch Kahleena's eye with something of a pleading expression on her face and tilted her head toward the upset Jada, hoping that the more senior goldrider would go over to comfort her. Kahleena probably knew her best of those present, she figured. "We should probably report this to someone. The Weyrleader, or maybe his second?" She concluded dubiously. Expressed as concern for the health of the Weyrwoman and her dragon, of course.

Meanwhile, Wydrith had other concerns. To Imdrith, she queried Are you two alright? That was terribly brave of your rider. Could you thank him for us?. She crooned gratefully at the brown.

"It's not their concern," Kahleena spoke up, her voice strong and clear in the silence though her face was wrought with her worry and her concern over the events that had just occurred. Everyone knew Tsuen was getting out of hand, and that her mind was going places no weyrwoman's mind should go. But she was still their Weyrwoman, and more, she was still the woman in control of the goldriders. "It's goldrider business." She said pointedly, her gaze hardening for a moment on the brown weyrling. "You wouldn't play tattle tale on a bronzerider for scolding his wingriders!" Regardless of how immaturely Tsuen had handled the situation, that was all she was doing.

Kahleena smoothed her dress down. She was standing tall and proud, but her heart was still pounding and she was shaking slightly. Adrenaline; she was terrified and she was, in a way, excited. It wasn't the first time she'd had to deal with one of Tsuen's tantrums, and she doubted it would be the last time. She'd been a godlrider long enough to be slapped, like Jada, but Tsuen had always issued her random doeses of punishment in private before. The girl nodded slightly to the other young woman, who had calmed Tsuen. The nonrider servers usually got under hte woman's skin in just hte right way  - because they were nonriders. Kahleena would have guessed one of them to sleep with D'ren before Jada or any of her fellow golriders, but that was neither here nor there.

"You should all leave. Krypth and Okalinath do not need to be fretting more than they already are." A pointed look was given to the elder gold dragon, who was curled protectively around her eggs, and her words seemed to shake Jada out of her stuper and the girl trotted off to tend to her dragon. Okalinath crooned softly, her eyes concerned but sparking with flickers of excitement. She wasnt' due to clutch for a while, she'd be fine. Besides, that was hilarious. Kahleena ignored her gold's random babbling. Her gaze shifted to the other goldriders. "We should probably speak to Tsuen when she's calmed down." Her expression was thoughtful. "Make her a nice dinner. She is the Weyrwoman," and maybe none of them  would help her, but Kahleena had no desire to be woken up by the cold bite of between because she'd upset the woman.

Where is Rhaedalyn? Probably cooking bubbly pies already, Okalinath babbled cheerfully, and Kahleena sighed softly. Could Okalinath take nothing seriously?

T'ken had backed off instantly in the face of Kahleena's anger.  Say whatever you would about his mother, but he'd learned well to fear an angry woman.  For a moment, he didn't understand why the gold rider would defend his moth... Weyrwoman Tsuen 

Tsuen then.  He didn't understand why they would let her bully them like that.  Why they would let her make their dragons unhappy?  There wasn't a happy gold on the sands right now, with the exception of Okalinath, who he had never seen upset.  Terken didn't think that particular gold was capable of getting upset, though he know Kahleena only by face and the fact that she was kind.

Indrith replied to Wydrith quietly, He's okay.  I will thank him later for you guys.  For now, I think we should obey Okalinath's and go.  He was as confused as his rider, and not ready to admit to being wrong.  He wasn't wrong.  The golds had needed protecting and while T'ken might have gone a touch too far, he was still in the right.  The brown lashed his tail then settled, docilely following his to the exit of the hatching sands.  The dragon even paused while T'ken collected Kela, the canine nosing him worriedly, then relaxing when she was petted.

Ravana was waiting by the exit.  T'ken froze a bit, then looked at her.  "You know I seem to remember telling you not to do anything stupid when you went out this morning."  Ravana looked up to the sky then at him.  "In fact I'm positive that I told you not to do anything stupid when you headed off to lessons this morning."  She grabbed his arm then, and headed with him for her hut.  Stubborn appeared, chattering angrily to T'ken then Indrith, the tiny gold having to perch on Indrith's nose in order to do it. 

Can I eat her?

I'm fairly certain that would be bullying.  And I suspect it would be unwise to piss of Ravana any more than she is now.  T'ken wasn't 100% sure, but he had the strong and sinking feeling that essays were in his future.  And more lessons.  Just frickin' great. 

A part of Arddra suddenly felt the Weyrwoman must realy feel alone at times. Nobody seemed to like her and somebody had tried to kill D'ren. Nobody seemed to be on her side either.

Arddra felt going to talk to Tsuen wouldn't help, like the other young woman who tried to compliment the Weyrwoman and hopefully calm her that way didn't have much success. Obviously it wouldn't be easy to gain the Weyrwoman's trust. For now Arddra felt it was best she stay out of it.

Looking over at Kahleena she nodded. The goldriders fell under the Weyrwoman's control as far as Arddra was told. She was just a candidate and certainly had no place to say anything. If Tsuen was doing something to other dragonriders then maybe the Weyrleader should be told, for now, Arddra doubted S'kef wanted to know.

"I hope everything calms down," Arddra said then gave a light smile to Kahleena. "Perhaps we can talk later. See you later."

Arddra started to head across the sands then paused, her eyes falling on the crumpled up ball of paper lying on the sands. She remembered Tsuen had threw it into Jada's face and suspected the whole blow up had something to do with it. As nobody else was paying attention to it, as far as she could tell, Arddra changed her direction and headed towards it. Bending down she grabbed it and shoved it into her pocket. Without looking back she left the Hatching grounds. Once in the safety of her room she will see what the note was all about.