An A-Maze-ing Opportunity (Open)

[Aftershock]

Lilu walked through the snowy streets of Fort Hold, her dark red hair flowing over the high collar of her flightleathers, well suited for the cold of a Northern Winter as well as between. Her pale cheeks were rosy from the chill as her breath puffed out in a cloud with each breath, and her grey eyes roved over the laughing children and hollering stall-owners trying to sell their wares.

Out of morbid curiosity, Lilu had flown down from Inverness to Fort Hold to see what this well-advertised Gather would be like, and so far she as unimpressed. She had participated in celebrations before, when her Wing returned from a battle, or a Threadfall fight, and she understood their purpose... celebrating the skill of a well-fought combat, showing off new scars from a battle nearly lost, and raising a glass in remembrance of those who were lost. This, however... what did these Holders have to celebrate? Another day of soul-crushing drudgery?

Shaking her head, she suddenly took notice of a sign... "Ice Maze". One eyebrow raised in interest... a challenge, that was something she could get behind. Hopefully they keep score, she thought as she approached the entrance to the maze. "Lilu of blue Venideth," she announced to the woman at the entrance to the maze, and was about to enter when the woman gently halted her progress by grasping her trailing wrist. "Couples only, ma'am," she said, with a coy smile.

Lilu was about to protest this silly rule when another person arrived at the maze entrance. Pointing to the individual, the woman said, "There's your partner. You may both enter... be sure to stay together, for safety," she added, a twinkle in her eyes as she turned to watch for other single people attempting to enter the maze alone.

[Tashe]

Man, the North was cold. The last time he'd been in the North was for the Summit and most of the time he'd been indoors, out of the chill. Having lived all his life in Blossom, Cavelieran was not at all used to the frigid weather and was therefore, bundled nicely in a brown winter jacket and a snow hat with rabbit fur lining. Black gloves and a matching scarf protected the rest of his visible skin (with the exception of his face), and he was quite toasty despite the wind on his face. Tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket the Dolphineer wondered aimlessly about with no real destination in mind. He'd hitched a ride up to the gather with his cousin but had abandoned him in favor of not being a third wheel. Well, fourth if you included his niece. Either way he felt like he was barging in on family time and had promised to meet up with them later.

Cavelieran was happy to be in Fort Hold, not only because they are known to throw amazing gathers, but to see so many people milling about. The war had ended long ago but it was still warming to see the humans and dragons who had so long ago been enemies, now walk amongst each other as allies and friends. He stopped momentarily to avoid the children running about his feet and offered a moment's safety to the boy being chased before the two scampered off. His eyes drifted upward, focusing on a sign. Tilting his head Cavelieran wondered over to the entrance of the maze, interested in what hidden little things could be found in it. He'd done mazes before, at Blossom they had a fall festival that had one, but they were made out of corn and grain stalks. Ice and snow walls were different by far, you couldn't see through them!

"Partner?" He blinked as the woman pointed to him. Glancing at the woman who'd been held back, the Dolphineer was reminded of a certain Greenrider he (for some reason) bumped into in the most random of times. She seemed... very... fighter-esk, if you will. Still it never hurt to be friendly especially with someone who didn't look terribly thrilled. "Well, I suppose they won't let us in unless we go together." He offered the red head a smile and his arm with a little mock bow. "Shall I accompany you into the maze Ms. Dragonrider?" He guessed at her profession, since there weren't many who let females fight.

[Aftershock]

Lilu looked over the man she had apparently been paired with, crossing her arms and heaving a sigh. "If those are the rules, so be it," she said to the woman at the entrance, and then turned towards the young man she'd been assigned to enter the maze with. "Lilu, of blue Venideth," she said in response to his greetings, "and yes, I suppose we are stuck together. I'd guess it's some sort of handicap, pairing you with a random other person so that those who are especially skilled might be slowed down with a less able partner."

Taking the proffered arm with a resigned sigh, she turned to enter the maze, dragging Cavelieran along if he did not proceed as well. "They likely have spotters in the maze to make sure the pairings stay together and prevent cheating," she mused as the two moved into the maze proper, the frozen walls rising up around them. Reaching the first T-intersection, she looked left, then right, and quickly made a decision, turning her head towards Cavelieran and asking, "I believe left is the proper path... do you agree?"

[Tashe]

Ouch. Handicap and less able? She certainly didn't have any qualms about telling it how she felt it. "Senior Journeyman Cavelieran, at your service." He nearly stumbled as the Bluerider eagerly entered the maze, practically dragging him along until he managed to catch up to her pace. The Dolphineer was glad for the brief moment's pause at the first intersection. "Well I suppose left is as good a direction as any." This time he was the first one to lead the way. Cavey was... debating on whether or not to tell the woman that the maze wasn't something to win. On the one hand, he felt it would be extraordinarily amusing once they reached the middle and she found out for herself, on the other he felt bad for keeping the information to himself. Humming, he decided to wait a little longer before divulging the secrets of the maze. "If they have spotters I have not seen one yet. I wonder, do you suppose they have them hidden in the walls somewhere?" The amusement in his voice was painfully obvious. "Or perhaps they are hidden in snow drifts."

Perhaps it was for Farnath's amusement that he was always being paired up with women like Lilu. He'd managed to put a smile on Elysia's face, so perhaps he could do the same with the Bluerider. So serious she looked. He delt with grouchy people the same way he dealt with everyone, with a smile. He believed that eventually a smile could be contagious. Hopefully this was the case here. Even if it wasn't Cavelieran was determined to have a good time.The next intersection came up and he pointed right. "Lets go this way." He turned the corner and managed to loose her arm but he flung his hand back and caught her hand instead. "Now see who is the slowpoke." He laughed jovially. "Come on then. Don't want someone who is 'less skilled' than his partner to beat you to the punch, do you?"

[Aftershock]

Lilu's face twisted into a slight scowl as he joked about where the spotters might be hidden, replying as she followed him along the left path, "Believe me or do not, but I will not be mocked, Dolphineer." Snorting a bit in irritation, she added, "If there are spotters, they will obviously be in plain sight... in a place such as this, they would be used as prevention more than punishment."

As the moved towards the next intersection, she thought on her forced companion... a Senior Journeyman Dolphineer. Not quite the simple Holder she took him for with his lack of knots... rather than simply follow the path of his family like many Holders did, he took to training in a Crafthall, so might not be quite as much of a detriment as she imagined he would have been. At least, the chance was lower if nothing else.

Reaching the next intersection, he apparently had decided to take the initiative and chose the rightmost pathway. Lilu, knowing that the first few turns in a maze were simply gut feeling and luck as you attempted to discover the overall size and boundaries of the maze in an attempt to better determine your next move towards the exit, allowed Cavelieran to take the lead, though as he began tugging her by her hand and teasing her about falling behind, she increased her pace and attempted to pull her hand free from his grasp, huffing, "We can stay close enough to be counted as a pair without the constant physical contact, you know."