A cup of Klah [open]

[archenstone]

For people of the Weyr it was either a very early morning or very late night. The dining hall was nearly deserted and Asharra had had to set her own klah pot on the kitchen fire. That was okay though. She didn't mind helping herself around a kitchen. Until joining the Weyr, she had done everything herself. She was still stubbornly independent in many ways, though she was now relying more on her cane than when she first came here.

She sat in the Dining Hall with a cup of warm Klah and sipped it occasionally. Her feet were propped up along the bench, no regards for decorum. She had been thinking of asking the other healers if anyone wanted to swap shifts. Sure, night shift gave her plenty of time to stock, take inventory, manage the hides, sanitize the equipment....but she yearned for some action. Not the hatchling maul type of excitement as she didn't like getting near the hatchlings...but other things would be good. No one, not one person, bothered to pop in at 3 am to say hi or ask for black root tea...or anything.

Even so, her shift was a tiring one. Twelve hours was a long time to sit in the infirmary with little to do. The chilly weather was a minor nuisance as she was used to the Northern cold. But still, the cold was enough to make her joints ache. It was enough to make her rub oitment on her fingers and ankles. So a nice warm cup of klah was a perfect way to finish up a night.

[Rowana]

At this hour, most sane beings were likely still asleep. The two running down the corridor to the Dining Hall, however, could hardly be considered sane. Six pairs of claws pattered on the stones as they race each other to be the first to find food. Normally they just waited for Farryl to get up, but this morning the odd pair smelled adventure and mischief in the making. Farryl would make them stop and that was no fun at all!

Rounding the door way, the green's voice rang out clearly. No catch Faii! she sang teasingly. Her blue brother was, of course, right beside her as always. Why catch? Kurro faster! They attempted to beat each other across the hall to the kitchen. This was, of course, impossible. Each one could only get a step ahead of the other at any time. That certainly wasn't stopping them from trying though.

Half way across, Kurro spotted Asharra and stopped dead. Faii, oblivious, kept going until her fore legs flew out from under her and she landed on her belly. Kurro mean! she wailed, nipping at his frill. For once, he ignored her as an idea formed in his mind. Play trick? he suggested. It was one of the only things they ever agreed on. Faii's eyes spotted the old woman and she grinned. Trick good! she agreed readily.

Stealthily, if it was possible after the noise they had made coming in, the pair slipped under the table. After a moment's pause, just to keep her guessing, they climbed up a bench leg to her feet. As one, they crawled up under her skirts. Ah yes, this would be priceless they were sure of it!

[archenstone]

Asharra blinked, lifting her head up. It would not be wise to fall asleep here. Her moment of drowsiness was fortuitous to the duo as she had missed the skittering of claws. She picked up the cup a Klah, now starting to chill after having sat a minute and took a drink. It was this moment that Kurro and Faii had chosen to crawl into her very skirts!

Asharra felt a small reptilian tail slither on her calf and spewed Klah. Her first reaction was to put her feet down on both sides of the bench to escape the menace that was assaulting her. Unfortunatly that gave Faii and Kuro nowhere to go. With a yelp, she realized this and swung her left leg out from under the table, feeling the dreaded presence pressed against her as she swept her leg over the bench and hit solid ground. "Get out! Get OUT of my skirts!" She shrieked, hopping on her legs and shaking her skirts vigorously to rid herself of the salamandyr menace. The cane lay forgotten for the moment at the table.

[Rowana]

How lucky that the woman hadn't noticed them. Kurro and Faii managed to get almost to her knee before their tail gave them away. The stomping and jumping around was delightfully hilarious! Even if it was a bit tricky to keep from being squashed. Within moments, the legs were on the ground and the whole world was shaking. Not to be removed so easily, Faii grabbed for the cloth the skirt even as Kurro wrapped around one leg.

No catch! they sang with evil delight. Carefully, they took turns crawling up Asharra's skirts. This was where being of one body really came in handy. If she got one of them loose, she still had the other to worry about! Then they were at the top and two heads poked out of the piece of clothing. They grinned up at the old woman, obviously to her anger. We climb... Faii sang sweetly. ...human tree. Kurro finished in a drawling voice.

[archenstone]

"Ewww Ewwww Ewww!" Became the new chant as Asharra felt them scamper up and down. Her mind was awashed in horror as the evil, creepy, disgusting things attacked her relentlessly.

No catch! The evil little things spoke to her, taunting her. She resigned to quit hopping in order to shake her skirts more vigorously. Shake! Shake! Shake! Alas but it was to no avail as during a tired lull of shaking she saw their heads pop out of top of her skirt.
We climb... ...human tree.
Her eyes got wide as she stared in shock at a creature with two heads grinning up at her. Asharra avoided all hatchings like the plague. So she hadn't heard about the two headed salamandyr. Her fear to the freak thing peeking up at her was akin to an earthman waking up to a demonic presence attached to him. Asharra felt her mind go into absolute panic. "GET OFFA ME!" She grabbed her skirts, trying to pin the salamandyrs with out touching them further which resulted bulking the skirt around them awkwardly and pushed.

The skirt fell around her ankles, hopefully trapping the demonic things inside. Asharra hopped out of the skirts, running down the hall in nothing but a blouse and panties. Surely she had never run so fast? Certainly not at her age! Terrified of the thought that maybe, just maybe the creatures hadn't been caught in the skirts, she slapped her thighs and butt as she rushed away. Hopefully dislodging anything still clinging to her. In the meantime, she was making quite a racket with the screaming and smacking sounds.

[Rowana]

Determined as they were, Kurro and Faii couldn't hang on any longer. They tumbled off in a tangle of legs and fabric as Asharra stripped off her skirt. They weren't disappointed though, as the woman's screams echoed in the Hall. Faii giggled evilly and Kurro gave a menevolent chuckle. Their plan had worked even better than they had imagined! She loose cloth! Faii cackled with delight. Scream good too, Kurro agreed happily.

It took a few moments for them to wriggle their way out of the skirt. The going was made more complicated when Faii wanted to go one way and Kurro another. After a bit of squabbling, they poked their heads out to see that Asharra was gone. Well that was no fun! They could hear her screams, so she couldn't be far ahead. This was just too interesting to give up. We run. We chase! they sang. Heads bobbing up and down, they darted down the passage after Asharra.

[archenstone]

Asharra slowed down. Her screaming reduced to nothing more than a ragged breath, she hurried along as fast as she could. Not very fast though unfortunately. Her heart pounded in her ears and she knew....just knew she was going to ache for the next few days! She turned down another hall, pausing to peek back around the corner for the fiends.

We run. We chase!

"GO AWAY" Screamed Asharra in response as she continued to hurry down the hall. She was now aware of just how embarrassing she was. She rushed for er apartment. If only she could reach it before they caught her?