Carise is settled on a large blanket in the middle of the field, a few glowbaskets around as she holds a large book in her lap. Gazing around, she relaxes as she waits for the class to gather.

Slowing her pace and dropping with fluid slowness into her seat on her own brought spread of plain cloth, Kurenai, notebook in hand as always, brushes one of the lengthy raven locks back from her face, settling back to gaze at the sky first, then their instructor; from her collar pokes the head of Kouen, seemingly as interested in the class as she was herself, odd for a hatchling.

Neliar spots Carise in the middle of the field, those glowsticks are a dead giveaway. He walks slowly over glad of the light given out by the glowsticks to stop him stumbling on the ground as he makes his way to Carise. Once he has arrived there he folds his long legs beneath him and gets out some hide and a stylus. Ready.

Linora walks softly in from the StarCraft Courtyard.

Linora
Honey-blond tresses, sunstreaked with platinum highlights, fall just to her shoulders, curling slightly at the ends now that the weight of their previous mass has been reduced. A few wispy pieces refuse to be tamed, often falling into her face to be brushed impatiently behind her ears. She's more or less stopped growing, a mere fingerwidth above 5' tall, and though she'll probably never be overly curvy, she's lost the childlike look she once had. Her features are regular if not actually striking, except for her eyes: palest blue, nearly white, they shine in stark contrast to the smooth, even tan that seems never to leave her skin no matter what time of Turn it happens to be.
A lightweight cotton shirt, crisp and cool, is tucked neatly into a pair of tan trousers - sleeveless, with a softly scooping neckline, dyed a soft, robin's-egg blue. The trousers, amazingly, actually seem to have been made to fit her, tailored flatteringly to waist and hips, following the lines of her legs and hemmed neatly just below her knees. On her feet she wears a pair of knotted wherhide sandals. Spray is curled lazily on Linora's shoulder, tail wrapped around her neck, apparently dozing as usual.
Red and silver intertwine in a single loop at her shoulder, the small red tail denoting her status as StarCraft Senior Apprentice.


Kiyna
Before you stands a young woman who's almost done as her growing. She used to be tall honest.. At least compared to the others her age, but now they've all passed her height of 5'1 considerably. Widespaced sea green eyes are set into a slim freckled face that is devoid of all the reminance of baby fat. A long mane of curly dark red hair hangs well past her waist. Upon closer inspection it is plain that some strips of her hair have been dyed bright sky blue all around her head. Wisps are always dangling in her eyes and generally kept unrully by it's lack of tameness. Her body is whipcord thin but the muscles can be seen beneath the moderately tanned skin. The tinge of red sunburn and just a hint of windburn is a constant accesory to her face and arms a blatent announcement of her time outdoors.
Old Worn Sack hangs heavily from Kiyna's shoulder. Perched on Kiyna's shoulder is Risa. Perched on Kiyna's head is Umi.
Kiyna proudly wears the knot of a Sr. StarCraft apprentice the double cord of one red and one silver, looped once with a small red tail and tassel, intertwining with the knot of the Starcraft is one of blue and white double corded with a single loop but with a long tail signifying her as Second Mate aboard the Celestial Seafarer. A small badge is atached to the knot: On a dark blue background a bright silver sextant pointing towards a light red star indicates her speciality as Navigation.

Kiyna wanders into the field her green eyes scanning the ground before her. A younger apprentice tags along obviously enjoying the tag along game. A hand is waved at the other apprentice "I've lost something important now why don't you help or find someone else to track around Velar"

Carise catches Kiyna and the other Apprentice out of the corner of her eye, waving the pair closer as she glances at those already there. "Well, tonight is a study of the Night Skies... Lets start off by finding out... can any of you name any constellations?" Kiyna and the other apprentice are included in the question.

Kiyna grins wistfully at Carise as she more or less shoves the younger apprentice into her group with a beam "There you are a nightskys class and you need it no doubt." Velar just hmphs softly before hanging along the fringe blue eyes glaring at his older friend. "I don't want to Kiyna can't we look for your necklace now?" a shake of her head "Not at all Carise is a wonderful teacher"

Neliar looks around with interest, as the crowd grows larger. Turing his attention back to Carise he shakes his head. "Sorry I can't name any of them." As he hangs his head slightly ashamed of himself for not studying enough.

Kiyna smirks lightly plopping down onto the ground and drawing out her DV with practiced ease. "There's the white kitten up there too." Velar gets a look "Took me long enough to learn all of them might as well tell someone one or two"

Linora slips in from the courtyard, looking mildly surprised to see so many people in the field until she hears Carise. With a grin, she steps a little closer. "Hey," she greets everyone. Well, she might as well watch the stars with everyone else. Maybe she'll learn something new.. or not. She drops to the grass and sits back on her hands. Kurenai gets a surprised look for her comment. "Why? It's a circle." Could be any kind of circle, of course. Why not a gather circle?

Carise giggles, nodding her head to Kurenai. "Aye, there is the gather circle... Do you know the story behind it?" A wave to Linora, and she smiles as the class gets bigger. The more the better.

Vaguely the tall young woman shrugs, "Something about drunkenness, but then, they would have to be one supposes to see anything in that clump. Who was it who was drunk?"

Neliar decides to lay down on the ground that way he is not straining his neck to look up all the time. As long as he does not fall asleep....

Carise giggles softly, shaking her head. A finger pointed up at the constellation, and she leans back a bit. "The Gather Circle was named after a group of Journeymen Harpers who, at an Istan Gather, got very drunk. In the early morning, they were gathered around a fire, singing and carrying on, when one looked up at the sky. Noticing the stars, he thought they looked a lot like their own group, and thus the Gather Circle was named." A glance at Linora, and she grins. "Can you tell about a different constellation?" Time to quiz the Sr.

Laurel glides in with a smile in from the StarCraft Courtyard.

Laurel
With interesting green/blue eyes that watch all that happens, Laurel is an intelligent girl. Light hair frames an open face that reveals a curious and intelligent nature, and it is turned towards the waiting world and skies above. Soft spoken at first, she opens up as you get to know her. Golden hair that glistens when touched by light falls to her shoulders. Tall and slender, she carries grace not usually seen in one her age. Neither slight in frame nor bulky, she has the potential of being an attractive young lady, but she doesn't believe so. For now, her well-rounded figure accentuates her slender body. Her lips are turned slightly upwards, as if she could smile at any moment.
Brown boots with the appearance of suede reach midcalf, covering slender feet. Swirling about with an airy quality, a light skirt of a very soft material that goes from light blue to navy touches her ankles. Adding a darker edge to her soft features, a black shirt that fits her figure well makes her hair seem lighter and her face more mature.
Laurel wears the knot of a StarCraft Apprentice.

Linora scans the sky for a moment or two, and then points high in the sky. "That's the Golden Mark. That cluster of stars that looks like a splash." So it's a little hard to spot. Glancing at Carise, she continues, "It's a love story." A faint blush colors her cheeks, but it's hard to see in the dim light.

Carise nods to Linora, a smile encouraging her to go on. "You know the story, right?" If not, she can always look in the book. Glancing to Laurel, she waves her over to the blanket and the circle of glows, motioning for her to have a seat and listen to Linora.

Laurel walks quietly in, smiling an apology. She just couldn't get here soon enough. Going to take a seat with the others, she begins to listen in interest. This has always been one of her favourite subjects.

Neliar looks up as Laurel joins the class, glad of the darkness to cover the blush spreading across his cheeks. He turns away from her just encase she can guess what he is thinking, as he settles back down to hear the story.

Linora grins. "Sure." She lowers herself to lie on the ground, lacing her fingers behind her neck and studying the constellation, her face growing more serious. "This couple wanted t'handfast, only her father said no. He was so sad, he flung the golden mark into the sea." She chews her lip for a moment, then continues. "She found it later, an' kept it 'cause it reminded her of him... An' then she found him, right there on the beach!" A smile lights her eyes as she finishes the story. "An' they decided they didn't care what /anybody/ said, an' handfasted anyhow."

Carise nods her head as Linora finishes the story. With a grin, she waves her hand. "And that's how the story goes, anyhow." A glance at the others, and she holds out the book. "Is there any specific constellation you want to know about?" Because she can cover it.

Laurel grins, settling back on the blankets and looking to the sky. That's such a sweet story. Then again, she loves things like that. Must be because she's a young girl. She wonders. Anything she wants to know?

Neliar pipes up in a rather squeaky voice. "I'd like to know what that one is called." pointing in the direction of the blue dragon.

Carise nods as she identifies the constellation of the blue dragon. Settling down more comfortably on the blanket, she settles to tell the story. "Well, that one is called the Blue Dragon. It's called that because one time, many years ago, a group of travlers were moving through the forest to the Weyr. They had totally forgotten about thread, and were surprised when a blue rider appeared over head, warning them to get to safety. He shadowed their journey to a rock overhang, keeping them safe. However, they were badly scored as the group reached safety, blinking out to never return. When the group finally made it to Ista Weyr, they told the story. Looking up before they entered the bowl, they saw the stars, their savior rider and his blue lifemate immortalized in the sky above their Weyr." A half-smile stays formed on her lips as she glances around, to see their reactions.

Neliar blinks in surprise finding himself rather moved by the tale, thinking how brave the duo must have been. Imagine saving all those lives so selflessly. He shakes his head, "that must have taken some courage." not knowing what else to say for the minute.

Laurel's eyes widen at the story. She's almost glad she'll never be a rider in a way. "That's sad," she murmurs, not wanting to interrupt the class by her thoughts. She glances into the sky again, wondering what else she'd like to know.

Neliar risks a quick glance at Laurel, as she seems engrossed in the nightskies. Seeing that she looks as sweet as usual he turns away not wanting her to catch him staring like some kidlet.

Carise nods slowly as her fingers idly smooth out her skirt as she glances around. "Any others? And if something isn't clear, this book I have is always in the Archives, and you can look at it."

Linora tries, but can't really keep her mind on the class... or her eyes on the stars. The even cadence of Carise's voice as she tells the familiar tales lulls her, and soon she can't hear the words at all, just the tones, and the quiet noises of insects in the field, and her eyes flutter closed. Shh.

Laurel smiles softly. "Carise, which one is your favourite?" She figures that's a good way to learn. Glancing at the others, she hides a grin as she catches Linora and then smiles warmly at her fellow appy Neliar.

Neliar spots that Linora has fallen asleep, bad move when he is around! Slowly he plucks blades of grass and begins to gently place them on Linora's face one by one. He quickly glances around to make sure no on e is watching while he is doing this.

Carise smiles a bit as she shrugs. "My favourite?" Catch her off guard, you did. "I guess the sleeping firelizard... but you can't see it from here." A glance at the Apprentices and she tilts her head. "Did either of you agree to go on the Southern Venture? If you did, I can show it to you then, but I can still tell you about it." A pause, she looks at the others, waving Neliar off. "Let her sleep..."

Laurel laughs as she sees Linora's decoration. Sneaky Neliar. Shaking her head, she replies, "No, I didn't. I just became an apprentice so I wanted to stay here a while." Does that even make sense?


Neliar abruptly starts as he realises he has been spotted, guilty he puts the other blades of grass back down, "sorry." he mutters. He shakes his head in answer to Carise's question.

Carise nods her head slowly to Laurel, and to Neliar, as she shakes her head. "You might be missing a great time." After all, the best Journeymen are going and they'll be left with... dun dun dun. Toi. Lucky them? "Well, basically, a Harper Journeyman was sketching his sleeping brown firelizard one evening, looking up to glance out the window, noticing a similar shape outside." A glance at the class, and at Linora, and she slowly stands up, waving her hand. "That's enough for tonight... You'll get more as we go on. Go get some sleep."

Laurel grins. "Thanks, Carise. I appreciate it." She likes to study the constellations, so maybe she'll take a look at that book... Stretching, she stands and gathers her things.

Neliar stretches his long body out wincing as his bones crack, as he pulls himself up into a sitting position.

Neliar turns to leave the field, "Thank you Carise." noting he has lots of studying to do if he is going to learn all the constellations.

Carise nods as she gathers up the blankets and glow baskets, waving her hand at them with a grin. "Now get, and don't stay up all night. You won't make it to tomorrow's classes on time otherwise."

With a wave, Laurel starts to leave the field. "Oh, I won't stay up /all/ night," she says jokingly. Really, she'll fall asleep early anyway.

Laurel glides in with a smile to the StarCraft Courtyard.

Neliar goes home.

harpers tale - Sunday, July 15, 2001, 8:15 PM