Tarred and Feathered

Feeding Grounds, High Reaches Weyr
The wall of the ancient caldera arches upward and outward in a graceful curve here at the eastern edge of the bowl, where the weyr's flocks and herds are corralled for the dragons to feed upon. The air here is relentlessly dusty due to the the lack of true pasture necessitated by Thread; what little grass does manage to grow is either grazed or well trampled by the herdbeasts. Cow herdbeasts lead their calves to drink the clear water of a tongue of the weyr lake which extends into these fenced off grounds, and feeding troughs ring the perimeter of the paddocks. A group of wherry hens, wings clipped, squawk noisily under the natural overhang which shelters the creatures during bad weather; the wherries' cries reverberate against the stone walls around you. Behind you is the gate that leads west, back to the bowl proper.

Niena looks around the feeding grounds. "I like this place much better when there hasn't just been a green flight."

The clear evening is ideal for those seeking a bit of fresh air, which Lujayn is taking full advantage of. The girl sits perched on the feeding ground fence, shifting from side to side as she watches the herd animals go by. "No kidding." She turns to Niena, then slips nimbly to the ground. "Think you can help me get a wherry?"

Niena grins. "So long as I get to keep one of the feathers. Are we going to try to pluck it live?"

"Yeah," Lujayn replies easily, sneaking around towards the noisy flock. "At least, I don't want to kill it just for feathers." She stops, eyeing the wing-clipped hens. "Which one looks slow to you?"

Niena giggles. "I suppose we could make a mad dash toward them and find out which are the fastest."

Lujayn faintly echoes the giggle with a louder laugh. "I'll get them moving and try to chase one towards you, all right?" That's all the reply the girl gives before she takes off, scattering the flock in several directions with her gleeful charge. "Yah! Wherries, move it!"

Niena manages to make a grab at one. She doesn't catch it, but is rewarded with a handful of wherry feathers for her trouble. Unfortunately she also gets some scratches which develop into some angry welts. "Mission accomplished!" she calls out cheerily, just as another candidate hurries over to tell them to get to the barracks immediately.