"It's you two's lucky day. Chaerath has itches and needs oiling." - R'kan

Central Bowl

Although Ista is smaller than the other Weyrs, the bowl still stretches over 3000 feet in length. To the north and east, you can see the jagged rock fingers towering thousands of feet above you. On the tip of the most northern finger lay the Star Stones, the heralds of the coming of thread. The Queens' Weyrs and the Hatching Grounds lay to the northeast, while the Weyrling Training Grounds and Barracks lie to the north. To the northwest lies the waterfall, where the weyrlings and full-grown dragons alike are bathed, and the weyrfolk can enjoy a swim. Due east, you will find both the Living and Lower Caverns, and to the west is the Feeding Corrals and the Plateau on the edge of the Bay. Great gaping maws dot the inner mountainside and occasionally you can see dragons swooping gracefully in and out of their rocky homes.

A cold winter afternoon in Ista Weyr and R'kan walks through the bowls with a large bucket of oil and several brushes somehow precariously balanced in his arms. Chaerath, his lumbering bronze moving along just to the side and behind him. "Too many itches for me and too cold too. BUt you know, that's why we have the white knots." he states up towards the bronze. You keep an eye for them and snag them when they show, I'll set up and get everything ready for you. And if you have any friends, chaerath, let them know it'll be oil time for any and all. These candidates have been lazing about too much."

Darius strides out of the barracks, adjusting his shoes as he goes, balance on first one foot and then the other. It's exercise time and the bowl is just about empty enough of injured dragons so that he can jog the perimeter. Straightening, the candidate looks left and looks right, trying to decide which way to go.

Orinlatan is a few beats behind Darius looking a bit harried as he tries to simultaneously shoo two firelizards and pull on a bright harper blue tunic, "Darius, wait up! you owe me a race,"

R'kan moves to a space a good ways before the living cavern entrance. After all, that's where most of those white knots tend to go when they think they can relax in the heat for a while. Large bucket is set down and then brushes of many different sizes are laid out. It's Chaerath who then spots the first bit of white coming from those barracks over there and gives a quick, loud trumpeting to try and get their attention. Even his wings unfurl a bit as he focuses his gaze upon Darius and Orinlatan.

Darius looks back at his brother, grinning. "You really think you're going to beat me, Orin? By all means, you can have your race." He jumps at the dragon greeting, though, and stares at Chaerath. "Which one is that, Orin?" Because Orin knows everyone.

Orinlatan gives a surprised yelp at the unfamiliar bronze's sudden attention, cutting off all thought of a race, "shards, he's big, innit he?" He peers up up up at Chaerath, I dunno, bro. He's a bit older… before I started watching hatchings…"

The large bronze lumbers towards the two as he refurls his wings upon his back, stepping to the side as he lowers his head towards them and then looks back towards R'kan. The older rider gives a wave and then motions for the two to come join him across the way by the things he has laid out.

Darius looks at Orin, up at the bronze and shrugs and relents, heading out to meet the bronzerider. "Hey, I'm Darius. That your bronze, rider?" Knot says he rides bronze, it's fairly likely. "Something my brother and I can for you and your bronze?"

Orinlatan strikes out towards R'kan as well when the bronze's desire became obvious. He stops a few feet away and salutes, "Candidate Orinlatan, sir." He pauses to greet the bronze as well before asking, "What can we help you with?"

Chaerath follows the two back as if he were herding them. A quick salute is given back to the white knots by R'kan before he motions towards the brushes and the large bucket. "It's you two's lucky day. chaerath has itches and needs oiling." the bronze rumbles in agreement as he moves to a clear spot and settles down, lifting a wing as if to show where one such spot is. "So guess what you two get to do. Plus, if you give up any of your fellow candidates, maybe he's the only one you get to oil today."

Darius stares at the bronze, then the rider and glances at Orin and then back to the bronze. "We'll point anyone out as they come out of the caverns, sir." Darius offers, though he doesn't look like he seems to mind oiling the bronze. "Where do you want us to start, sir?"

R'kan eyes the two lads with a critical eye for a long moment. "There beneath his wing. He's not just holding it up for show. Don't touch the wing sails, but there on his side near where the wing connects." the bronzer moves slowly over to stand next to his lifemates head. "and trust me, you want to do this right and quick. that includes pointing out any cracks you might find as well."

Darius grabs up a bucket and a brush, or whatever setup R'kan has and walks over to the bronze, looking at the spot on his body just under the wing. "I see. There's a little crease there, but it's not a crack yet." He dips the brush and then gets right to work. He's done this before.

A large bronze head is craned around to peer closely at the white knotted one, keeping one large eye upon the lad as he works. "I'm sure you've heard it before, but you'll hear it again now and again if you impress and probably a few more times. Oiling is one of the most important things to do for your dragon. Checking the hide as well. The larger the dragon, the longer you'll be oiling on a regular basis. Don't do it, and you're risking your lifemate and yourself." R'kan seems to have slipped into teacher mode. "scrub a little harder, he says it's a deep itch."

Darius looks up at the rider, dips the brush in more oil and uses those muscles he's been working on in his 'man up' training to really scrub at that spot in the bronze's hide. He nods at everything R'kan says and then dips for more oil. "Yes, sir."

Finally Chaerath seems to feel that itch beneath his wing going away and rumbles a little in appreciation while his gaze continues to scan sky and bowl for fellow dragons who might like a fresh coat. "now you're getting it. Don't worry about hurting the grown dragons with the brushes. It's only the young ones, for the most part, that you need to be careful with." The sight of a couple more dragons in the area has Chaerath calling out greetings and offers of oilings!

Orinlatan's been working on a different itch, working the oil in far too gently until he's corrected. As Chareath greets the arriving dragons he just frowns and mutters a soft "Shards," before going back to work on that itch.

Darius looks up, another bronze, blinks and then returns his attention to the oil scrubbing on again. Dip for more of the stuff and then back to work, spreading the oil out over the surface of the dragon. "Rider.. here, there's a hint of what might start to be a crack. You might want to take a look."

R'kan steps forward as his attention is called to a particular, possible trouble spot. "Hmmm. Good eye. We'll have to keep a close watch on that spot." he offers after a close look to the hide. Chaerath turns his head around to peer at Orin and the spot he's working on before moving his tail up towards the lad and thumping it to the ground near him. "If you would, get the tail tip." R'kan calls over to the candidate.

Orinlatan jumps as the tail thumps, "Yessir!" Look at those wide candidate eyes. Chaerath must be the first dragon who's been so… communicative. Or at least communicative that way. He gives one final swipe to the tail, then scurries over to the tail to oil the itchy rough patch there. Not without a quick "Suck up" to Darius, though. It's rare he's the one who can say it, but he keeps it soft enough not to carry.

It's some time after the candidates already tending to one dragon may find themselves in the company of another. If it's not for the shadow that approaches, then the more than slight dust stirred up and around Einarth's landing. I'es, on the other hand, is taking the long way into the bowl with an arm lifted in a wave while seeing the commotion thus far. "Einarth said something was going on over here!"

Darius is scrubbing his way over the little crease in the bronze's hide as I'es approaches and he lifts a hand up in greeting before he goes back to work. "Hey I'es." He doesn't try to explain what's going on because.. it's pretty obvious. Spot under wing oiled, candidate starts to move forward on the belly toward the foreleg.

Chaerath lifts himself up a bit, providing a space beneath him for the candidate on his side to dare to go under. "Get his belly if you would. Don't be afraid to lay on the ground beneath him as you get it." just hope the bronze doesn't forget you're there and lay back down again. The approach of another dragon and then rider distracts R'kan for a moment. "Free oiling! Just have your lifemate line up and the candidates will do all the work. They'll even get the messier spots."

Orinlatan shudders at the word 'messier', but keeps up the oiling, raising a hand to I'es as he approaches, "Afternoon I'es, sir, and to you, Einarth. Isn't it a," grunt, "glorious day?" So chill with Ista's winter and full of oily bronzes. He shifts his angle of oiling a bit to get into the nooks and crannies, "Y'hear that, Dar? We're getting to learn the messy stuff, today. Won't the others be jealous?"

"Will they also sharpen talons and claws?" Asked even as one armored hued bronze lowers his head towards I'es and then the candidates, the dragon rumbles before a snort is given - as if putting his thoughts in on the matter. The resulting action is an amused laugh and a mock-serious expression, "Yes. Yes. I see what you mean." Noted to his lifemate, he regards Orin and Darius with a wave towards Einarth. "When you finish the first task, Einarth will let the two of you oil but that's about it."

Darius stares at the thought of sharpening already sharp points and stares wide-eyed at Einarth before going back to Chaerath. He sticks his tongue out at Orin in a clear display of maturity and then drops to the ground with a freshened brush and goes to oiling said belly. Yes there are easier ways to do this, but this isn't about easy. Riders torturing candidates is legendary. So this candidate just sighs and does what he's asked to do.

R'kan smiles a little bit as Chaerath raises his tail to provide access to the underside of it to the candidate. "I'm sure they'll polish them up for you if they don't sharpen them. Stepping away from the bronze and towards I'es, R'kan motions back to the activity. "I'm hoping to get all of them out here pretty soon. Two is just slow for such large dragons."

Orinlatan meets Darius' eyes for just a moment, then rolls his own. Work, work, work. He flips the brush over to refresh the oil on the underside of the tail now, "Whatever you'd like, sir." He smiles just a bit sneakily at I'es before turning his attention back to Chaerath's tail, though he's glad to provide, "Most of the candidates are in lessons now, sir." Grin.

Einarth isn't some lazy arrogant dragon. He's a fit to form and always ready to go dragon. It doesn't matter the task. But, I'es does look to R'kan with a contemplative stance. "I think you're right. There's nothing wrong with a spit-polish.. or oil-polish as it were. When there's more outside and not dealing with either dinner or chores… it shouldn't be much longer, I think."

Darius wouldn't mind the help and he sticks his head out from under the dragon to look at R'kan. "Since there are no other candidates, bronzerider, I have trained my green to help with my father's dragon, if you don't mind her helping." She might splash the oil on the dragon morethan scrub, but that's what the candidate is for, right?

R'kan nods towards I'es. "A shame we can't just go in and drag them out." he states before looking towards Darius. "You can let it try with Einarth, Chaerath is quite alright with you two." That tail that Orin is working on, slips away quickly and then snaps out straight in order to send some excess oil towards Einarth.

Orinlatan takes half-step back as the tail whip-cracks itself clean at Einarth, which at least draws a grin from the lad as he glances at the not-arrogant bronze, then nods to his rider, "Hopefully. It's a right chore doing this much yourself. How d'you guys do it?" He never stops working on Chaerath's hide, though. scrubby scrubby scrub.

In the distance, the drums announce the arrival of Goldrider of Doom Iona.

"Well.. I suppose that I could summon some of them to assist in this task, but it wouldn't be fair." Gesturing for Einarth to get settled for his turn of the candidate attention, the whip crack tail is regarded with all the interest of a firelizard. Before a bemused sound reverberates from the bronze. Usually, if it was anyone other than his brothers… he might be offended. "Usually, firelizards are a huge help. But I'm not quite ready to add another to the growing fair. Yet, anyways. Amin's too smug these days to allow me that kind of luxury."

At R'kan's answer, Darius slides back under the bronze, along with one of the buckets and the sound of scrubbing along with the plop of oil on both clothes and ground echoes out from where he lays. "I have my hands full with my green, even though she's so sweet I don't mind having her at all. Why is Amin smug, I'es?"

Chaerath must be feeling a little mischievious for when darius heads back underneath him, he ever so slowly begins to lower himself down upon the lad. Slow slow slow, let's see how long until he notices. "You know, while we're having them do this, we should really relax. What do you think? Should we send one for chairs and refreshments?" R'kan questions of I'es.

"My bronze hasn't cleaned a dragon yet." He starts actually moving up the big bronze tail with the oily brush, "And did you see the way he throttled me at that firelizard hatching? I probably wouldn't have Sweet if he'd stayed. And Sweet's still too young to be useful." One hand comes up to brush at his bangs, but they fall right back where they were before, then he casts a scared glance at R'kan and reapplys himself all the more to his work. The only thing worse than being a glorified slave is being just a slave.

Darius is slowly being crushed under bronze dragon and he reaches up and plants both hands ineffectually on the big dragon's belly. "Uh, R'kan, would you remind him I'm under here. I won't be much use for the rest of his scrubbing if I'm flattened."

"He finally caught himself a gold." Replied to Darius without any further information, I'es lifts both shoulders in an absent rise and fall which is a shrug no matter which way it's said. "I'm fine with a wall to lean against for now. Having been a candidate once, I haven't gotten fully into the swing of things now that things are on the other side now." Benevolence? Who would have thought.

R'kan shakes his head, "then perhaps some day soon, we shal have to introduce you to the fine things that are candidates. Afterall, how can we expect them to be ready for the rigors of riding if they laze about during candidacy." He turns back to chaerath then as the draogn stops in his lowering, only to lower his head to peer upside down at Darius beneath him while waggling his hind quarters at Orinlatan's climbing. "he's asking, What do you say."

Darius is nose to bronze belly by now and peers at it cross-eyed before a sigh escapes and he wrinkles up his nose. "Please don't smash me into candidate pancake. I like life." Next time, Orin gets to climb up under the dragon and he gets the tail scrubbing. Sharding brothers.

Orinlatan lifts a brow at I'es' revelation, pausing momentarily in his scrubbing, "He did? Well, good for him. Now just tell him he has to take in one of his brood." He starts up the scrubbing again, hiding a chuckle at Darius' predicament in his tunic as he goes scrubbing along.

That's enough to get a good laugh out of I'es as he gestures to anything that might be worth sitting on - besides the ground. Even he has limits at the moment, under the currently opinionated and clean bronze. "In due time, I'm sure, R'kan. For now, I'm interested to see how they handle sharp claws. It proves that not only hatchlings are dangerous, but depending on the dragon's tendencies…" It doesn't end.

R'kan nods his head as Chaerath raises up from the candidate that was being crushed beneath him. A low rumble coming from the dragon as he does so. "Alright, I think Chaerath is good for now. You two can get to work on the next dragon." As his rider speaks, Chaerath strides right over Darius as he moves out of the way. "If you move quick, he won't even have to move from the ground there."

Darius can follow direction exactly when it comes to avoiding death by dragon and folds his arms in and rolls his way out from under Chaerath as fast as he can. By the time the candidate is visible and out from the spot he had been in, it's obvious he's covered in oil, and then dirt packed on top of the oil. He looks like a dripping mud pie from head to foot.