Her weyr was large for one so low in rank within the Weyr. Two sections dominated the main area: One with a specifically-made sofa that appears to be crafted for a dragon, and the other with simple wooden human-sized furniture.

She sat at the table in the latter section with a hide and quill, her head bent over her work studiously. Hidework seemed the only respite from the numerous chores candidates were assigned around the place - cleaning, cooking, assisting various members of the Weyr.

A rap sounded hollowly on the door and Ainyah growled impatiently.

Since being Searched, she had found precious little time for her scribing and now, it seemed, was no better. With a sigh, she rose and opened the door. It was a fellow-candidate, a bulky boy named Tellas.

"Ani, you've got to come out see this!" he said excitedly, eyes alight.

"Hey to you too. Ah'm fine - and y'self?" Ainyah said dryly, her accent making the boy smile. Everyone seemed to like that strange accent, but from the small Hold where she came from, it was common.

"Billya's found something, Ani. You've gotta come see!" he repeated, double-chin swelling with each word.

Ainyah rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. She'd known Tellas since first coming to the Weyr a number of months ago. They had both come through two unsuccessful hatchings together and now stood to face a third. Tellas, however, had been Searched at a different Weyr to Ainyah and so they saw little of each other. The thought of some silly object the show-off Billya had stolen was not particularly attractive, but she did enjoy the company of the tubby boy, so she went with him.

As she stepped from the door, a loud chattering brought her attention back inside and she laughed, pointing at a small green firelizard flying in circles around the room noisily.

"Tiga, what's wrong with you?"

The green sent an image of Ainyah leaving Tiga alone and starving to death.

The candidate laughed. "Silly flitter. Would you like to come with us, then?"

Another image of Tiga wasting away to nothing.

"Yes, we'll find you some food along the way. How's that?"

The firlizard chirrupped happily and flew over to land on her mistress' shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately.

Billya was one of the older candidates at the Weyr, but that gave her little more maturity than some of the youngest. This current clutch was her first chance at Impressing and so she still held that all important sort of bounce in her step that bespoke volumes of her personality.

Today, however, Billya showed a different side. This amazing thing she'd apparently found turned out to be a tiny, mewling kitten. Caught up a tree nearby the Weyr, the poor thing was thoroughly stuck. it always amazed Ainyah how felines seemed to confident on the going-up part of the adventure, but as soon as they realised the ground was oh so far away, they seized up. Silly creatures.

"We've gotta get it down!" Billya whined petulantly, wringing her hands at her waist. "It'll die if we don't get it down!"

Ainyah raised an eyebrow at the girl's apparent anxiety, and stepped foeard to take charge. Because she'd been there so long, the other candidates often turned to her for advice or help in situations like these. Not that kitten-fetching was her specialty, but one had to be flexible.

"Alright," she said, putting a hand on Billya's arm. "It's okay, we'll get it down. Can anyone climb trees?"

Billya took a moment from her worry and turned up her nose at such a thing. "I am not climbing a tree!" she exclaimed, mortified.

Ainyah turned to Tellas, but the anxious look on the chubby boy's face answered her question for her. With a sigh fo resignation, she steeled herself, and started up the tree. Ainyah to the rescue, eh? Poor kitten.

It turned out to be easier than she'd initially thought, a few aptly-placed branches offering her some aid. And the kitten seemed incredibly glad to see her. The mewling increased in frequency and pitch and the poor thing actually managed to creep, tail between legs, across the branch and into Ainyah's waiting grasp. It locked its claws tightly into her tunic and refused to look down or let go.

The climb down was more difficult; she had to be careful not to squish the little creature against the tree and climbing with only one hand is harder than you'd think. But she made it, herself and feline in tact.

Billya was ecstatic.

"You're welcome," Ainyah said dryly as the other candidate grabbed the kit from her without so much as an acknowledgement of her presence. "The things I do," she muttered to herself as she joined Tellas, puffing slightly. But for the look on Billya's face, and the fact that she'd saved a life today, Ainyah smiled.